Rowan jolted awake to the blaring scream of an air horn exploding in his ear.
"I'm up, damn it!" he yelled, clutching his head. "Why are you bothering me this early?!"
Sora stood there with an unbothered smirk, air horn in hand. "It's half past noon, lazybones. Far from early. Get up already."
Rowan groaned, flopping back onto his bed and pulling the blanket over his head. "Give me a minute…"
Sora rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Just my luck. I get stuck with a lazy host," she muttered, sighing dramatically. "Whatever. I knew what I signed up for. I'll just have to break you—I mean help you," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye.
Before Rowan could react, the entire room vanished.
He found himself lying on a dirt floor inside a massive, tribal-style arena surrounded by towering wooden walls. No exits. No way out.
Groaning, he sat up and looked around, blinking in disbelief. On a throne atop one of the walls sat Sora, now dressed like some kind of tribal queen, munching on popcorn.
"Time to whip you into shape, pervert," she grinned. "Try not to die!"
From the far side of the arena, several creatures shimmered into existence. Small, green, ugly things carrying rusted blades and clubs. Their beady yellow eyes gleamed with malice.
"Goblins," Rowan muttered. "Wow, cliché. But knowing you…" He narrowed his eyes at Sora. "This isn't going to be simple."
---
System Notification:
[Quest Updated]
Title: "Sora's Trolling… I Mean Training: Part 1"
Objective: Don't die. Or do.
Reward: 1 Basic Combat Skill, 1 Basic Life Skill
Penalty for Failure: Sora will teleport you naked into Serafall's office… while holding a very inappropriate Sona body pillow.
Rowan's eyes widened in horror. "Nope. Not happening."
Fueled by terror and newfound determination, he charged forward. Brawler's Instinct activated—his body moved on its own.
The first goblin swung wildly—Rowan dodged, caught its wrist, and yanked the weapon free. He stabbed it in the throat. [25 EXP Acquired]
The next two came at once. He ducked a clumsy swing, twisted around, and slammed one into the other before finishing them both off. [50 EXP Acquired]
The last goblin, an archer, loosed arrows at him. Rowan grabbed a fallen shield, blocked the shots, then sprinted forward. He threw the shield to distract it, lunged, and drove his weapon into its heart. [25 EXP Acquired]
---
System Notification:
Congratulations! You've reached Level 2!
Status Tab
Name: Rowan Bael
Race: Devil
Age: 17
Level: 2
HP: 500 | MP: 500
Strength: 32 | Agility: 27 | Endurance: 22
Intelligence: 52 | Charisma: 47 | Luck: 17
Available Stat Points: 5
---
Rowan wiped sweat from his brow and looked up at Sora. "So? Good enough for you, gremlin?"
Sora clutched her chest in mock offense. "Why, master, you wound me! I only want what's best for you!" she said, tears fake and tone smug. "But if I'm being serious? Meh." She gave a "so-so" gesture with her hand.
Rowan glared. "What now?"
Sora grinned wickedly. "Bad news~ That was only round one."
"…You're kidding."
"Nope!" she sang.
Two massive hobgoblins appeared in a flash, twice his size and heavily armed.
"Oh hell no," Rowan groaned.
"Round two!" Sora cheered. "FIGHT!"
One charged—Rowan used Devil's Grasp, shadows binding the further one. He ran, dodging the other's swings thanks to his instincts, waiting for an opening. He spotted a weakness on its back—Arcobaleno's Instinct lighting the target. He drove his blade into the weak spot.
[50 EXP Acquired]
The other hobgoblin broke free.
Rowan grabbed a fallen bow and arrows. Brawler's Instinct kicked in again, helping him dance around the brute while loosing arrows.
---
System Notification:
Skill Gained: Basic Archery – LV 1
Archery accuracy increased
Critical hit chance against weak points increased
---
Ten minutes later, the hobgoblin collapsed. [50 EXP Acquired]
Rowan collapsed too, gasping. "That had to be it."
Sora giggled. "Ehhhh… no."
A massive goblin champion appeared, taller than any of the rest, wielding a monstrous battle axe.
"Oh, come on!"
The goblin charged.
Rowan raised a fist and muttered, "Screw this."
Normal Punch.
The goblin exploded into a shower of gore.
[100 EXP Acquired]
---
System Notification:
You've reached Level 3!
Quest Complete: "Sora's Trolling: Part 1"
Rewards Gained:
Skill Unlocked: Reaper's Flow
Type: Active Combat Skill
Style: Gun-Kata / Close-Quarters Combat
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Description:
A ruthless, fluid combination of gunplay and hand-to-hand strikes. Chain attacks seamlessly. Kill swiftly.
Effects:
+25% firearm accuracy while moving
Allows chaining ranged + melee attacks
10% chance to disarm nearby enemies
Fighting 3+ enemies? Gain +10% Reflex for 5 seconds
Skill Unlocked: Culinary Calm
Type: Passive/Active Hybrid
Category: Life Skill – Cooking
Cooldown (Active): 30 mins
Description:
Master the kitchen like a culinary sage. Cook with serene perfection.
Passive Effects:
+20% cooking speed, no quality loss
+10% food buff effectiveness
Waste reduction
Higher satisfaction for served meals
Active: "Master's Focus"
Duration: 10 mins
Cooking effects doubled
Infuse meals with minor magical buffs
Rowan stared up at her. "How are those basic?!"
Sora shrugged. "First one's because you suck. Second's 'cause I'm hungry and your cooking's lame."
"You gave me a skill… to make your life easier?"
"Uh huh!"
Rowan facepalmed. "What's next?"
Sora grinned.
"Oh… you'll see."