Shannan carefully examined his status panel.
Compared to the surprise of having his attributes quantified, his actual stats weren't particularly remarkable.
All six attributes were at "5," likely the level of an average person.
The status panel itself was extremely basic, looking like something from an unfinished, third-rate game, revealing almost nothing useful.
The only noteworthy element was the lone skill listed in his skill column:
[Whirlwind Slash] Lv4 (99/100)
"Just one more point to level up?"
Shannan muttered to himself.
Though he knew there was no rush, the fact that he was only one experience point away from reaching Lv5 made him itch with anticipation. He was eager to see what improvements the next level would bring.
His mind replayed the moments when his proficiency increased.
"I wonder if using skills in actual combat gives more experience compared to regular training."
Having only recently arrived in this world, Shannan was still a novice adventurer, with his only skill being one inherited from his predecessor.
The status panel had only a few lines of information, and staring at it wouldn't make anything new appear.
After glancing at it a few more times, he refocused his attention on his night watch duties.
The Next Day
At dawn, the Stinking Fish and Rotten Shrimp party packed up their supplies and left the campsite.
The morning mist in the forest was as dense as during the night.
A thick fog filled the air, and the lush vegetation—indistinguishable to Shannan's eyes—made it nearly impossible for an ordinary person to navigate.
After walking for half a day, he started to feel like they were just going in circles.
Yet the two experienced members leading the way moved with unwavering confidence, as if they had a mental map guiding them.
Shannan chose not to question them and simply followed along like a little tail.
When they stopped, he stopped.
When they lowered their voices, he followed suit, moving cautiously.
Why a bottom-tier adventurer party like Stinking Fish and Rotten Shrimp could navigate the Foggy Forest as if it were their backyard—and even locate the general direction of a goblin nest—was a mystery to Shannan.
But he had some guesses.
One possibility was that their past experiences as "veterans" allowed them to recognize details in the forest that he couldn't.
Another clue was the way the exiled hunter among them would occasionally stop, crouch close to the ground, and sniff like a tracking hound.
It suggested he possessed a skill similar to [Whirlwind Slash], likely a specialized ability tied to a particular profession.
However, just like how Magi and Gagu didn't mention Shannan's skill after their previous battle—acting as if they hadn't noticed it—Shannan didn't ask them about their own abilities.
He simply noted in his mind that it was best to avoid discussing skills openly with other adventurers to prevent unnecessary trouble.
After trekking through the forest for another three hours, a small dirt hill came into view.
At its center was an earthen cave entrance, clearly carved out by living creatures. The area was littered with signs of activity.
A faint stench lingered in the air.
"We're here!" Magi whispered excitedly.
"So, do we just go in?" Gagu gripped his iron axe tightly, his pupils slightly red with anticipation.
"This kind of cave shouldn't have an escape route." Magi carefully examined the mound, hesitating for a moment before concluding, "We can go straight in."
"Gagu takes the front, Shannan in the middle, and I'll cover the rear." He adjusted his longbow. "Stay sharp and don't let your guard down!"
Hearing this, Shannan voiced a concern that had been nagging at him:
"The entrance is wide enough for two adults to walk in side by side…"
"Is it normal for goblins to dig their nests this big?"
"Uh…"
Magi hesitated, clearly caught off guard by the question, and went silent for a few moments.
"The main force was already wiped out, so why do you care?!" Gagu snapped impatiently, his greed for treasure overshadowing his patience. "If you're scared, then leave! But don't expect a share of the loot!"
Despite the argument, the group kept moving forward into the cave.
"Damn it…" Shannan cursed under his breath, scanning the cavern's size and feeling a growing sense of unease.
"These bastards have me boxed in."
"If I try to back out now, I'll probably be the first one to suffer."
At this point, he had no choice but to follow them all the way.
Had he spent more time as an adventurer, he might have understood something sooner.
The reason bottom-tier adventurers are labeled as such isn't just because they lack strength.
It's also because of their misplaced bravado, their "perfectly timed" cowardice, and their willingness to sell their morals for a few bags of coins.
Constantly shifting party members, years of adventuring without upgrading their worn-out equipment, and the fact that a newbie like Shannan was allowed to join them so easily...
All these signs should have been a warning.
But it was too late to reconsider now.
All he could do was grip his sword tightly and stay on high alert.
The cave wasn't very deep. Before long, they reached what seemed to be the end.
Gurgle…
A strange noise echoed from around the corner, accompanied by dim firelight.
Unable to contain his excitement, Gagu—leading the party—tensed his muscles, his eyes glowing red.
With a wild, undisciplined roar, he raised his axes and charged ahead.
Then—
Like a dog strangled mid-howl—
His voice was abruptly cut off.
Though startled by Gagu's outburst, Shannan was quick to follow.
So, the next moment, he too saw what had silenced Gagu.
As mentioned before, goblins, being a mono-gendered species, rely on females of other races for reproduction.
And among the intelligent races of the multiverse, humans—despite their extraordinary elites—had the largest population of common individuals.
Thus, most of the females abducted by goblins for breeding purposes were human.
Due to their frail physiques, many human women didn't survive beyond a second pregnancy, perishing due to the goblins' brutality and the harsh conditions.
Naturally, these vile creatures had no concept of funerals.
Living on the edge of starvation, goblins prioritized their own survival over anything else.
And so, what Shannan saw was exactly what one would expect.
For a modern person like him, this sight was nothing short of soul-crushing.
Even if he became a seasoned adventurer in the future, this memory would be burned into his mind forever.
Yet, for someone like Gagu, who had lived in blood and violence since childhood, it wasn't this familiar horror that stole his voice.
It was the massive figure sitting in the depths of the cave, shrouded in shadows.
Behind Shannan, Magi let out a shrill, terrified cry:
"Bear Goblin!!!"