I stood still, breathing heavily, feeling how the blood on my face had already dried. The air was thick, reeking of metal and death.
"Damn… I need to recover," I muttered and, wasting no time, approached the corpse of the slain goblin.
Blood Absorption.
A faint red glow enveloped the body. I felt a pleasant warmth roll through my body, knitting my wounds back together.
[30 HP restored.]
I slowly straightened my back and looked around. The corridor was empty. Only blood, shattered glass, and bodies remained. But there was no time to rest. Before I forgot, I had to settle one important matter — the level-up reward.
The panel before my eyes flared up:
Choose a reward:
Stat points (20)
Increase HP and MP (+25)
100 coins
Random weapon
Random skill
I hesitated. Stat points… sure, tempting. But I still had unspent ones, and I hadn't even properly distributed them yet. More HP and MP? For now, I had enough. Coins… of doubtful use. Weapon? I still had my pipe, and honestly, it was doing the job.
But a new skill… that could change the course of battle.
"Skill," I decided firmly.
The screen flickered, and a new message appeared before my eyes:
[Congratulations! You have obtained the skill: Berserker's power (Level 1)]
When used on a summoned creature, doubles its stats for 1 minute. After the effect ends, the creature dies.
I frowned, studying the description. A powerful skill. Maybe even too powerful. But the price... was steep. I would have to use it only as a last resort.
"Still... nice to have such a trump card," I thought, clenching my fist.
Footsteps echoed through the corridor as I moved forward, slow and wary. The walls were scarred with claw marks, the floor cracked and broken. Occasionally, a whimpering goblin would dart past me, disappearing around a corner without noticing my presence.
I walked with the tension of a hunted animal, feeling every nerve stretched taut.
Passing by a shattered window, I caught movement in the schoolyard out of the corner of my eye. I froze, then cautiously peeked outside.
On the scorched grass stood a group of four.
At the front — a tall guy in a gray hoodie, wielding a massive shield. Above his head glowed:
Lee Sung Guk — Paladin [☆☆] — Level 3
Behind him, taking cover, were two more: a boy with a shortbow, also level 3, labeled Archer [☆☆], and another wielding twin daggers: Assassin [☆☆☆]. Between them, timidly clutching a staff, stood a girl in light robes: Min Ran — Healer [☆☆☆] — Level 2.
"Players…" flashed through my mind.
They looked organized. Like a real team. And who were they planning to fight? I shifted my gaze forward… and almost cursed aloud.
On the opposite side of the field stood a huge creature, easily three meters tall. Its skin was dirty gray, covered with warts and sores. Its massive belly shook with each breath. In one hand — a rusty, but terrifying axe.
Above its head glowed:
Evil Orc — Level 7
"What the hell is that thing doing here?!"
— Guys! — shouted Sung Guk, turning to his group. — We can take it down! There's more of us! It's alone!
With those words, he raised his shield before him. A bluish glow wrapped around him. A skill.
[Magic Shield activated.]
— This skill withstood hordes of goblins! — he shouted. — I can handle this monster too!
The archer drew his bow, the assassin tensed for a leap.
The orc let out a roar so fierce that the windows shuddered, then lunged forward, gripping the axe with both hands.
Impact.
I didn't even register it at first. The blue shield burst like a soap bubble. Sung Guk flinched — and the next moment, his body was sliced clean in half.
Blood soaked the ground.
The archer fired a trembling arrow, but the orc snatched it out of the air with his bare hand. Playfully, he dashed forward, grabbed the boy by the head — and with a sickening crunch, crushed his skull.
— Wh-what… — the assassin tried to activate stealth, his figure beginning to blur — but the orc was faster. A swing — and the assassin's severed head rolled across the blackened grass.
I stood frozen, paralyzed.
"This isn't a fight. It's a slaughter."
Only one remained. Min Ran. She stood frozen in terror, paralyzed, unable to move.
"I have to help her."
My gaze flickered to my character panel. I still hadn't distributed my stat points.
"To hell with it! Now!"
I yanked open the distribution window and, without hesitation, dumped all 10 points into Endurance.
[Endurance increased! Fatigue reduced! Body's resilience enhanced!]
Energy flooded me like a crashing wave. My legs steadied, my heart pounded in an even rhythm.
I took a deep breath, then ran — without the slightest hesitation — and leapt from the second floor.
Glass shattered around me as I flew through the window frame. Wind howled in my ears. I tucked and rolled on landing, spreading the impact.
Pain tore through my side, but I forced myself upright.
The orc had already turned toward me.
"Well then…" I thought, raising my pipe, summoning two imps as I moved.
This time — we'll win.