A red slime, one meter tall and slightly wider, emerged from the bushes heading in my direction, leaving a trail of goo behind. It trembled like jelly. I quickly looked at its status.
- Enraged Red Slime HP 67/75
- Due to being attacked he is now furious and will attack anyone and anything mindlessly.
*John, the way to grow stronger just came to you—kill it,* Clare said, pleased with the turn of events.*I will!* I assured her telepathically, then charged at the red slime, which did the same. Despite its blobby mass, it moved rather swiftly and leaped up to the height of my head, even though standing it only reached my belly button. As soon as it jumped, I struck it with all my might using a torch that was getting more fragile and brittle.
- Enraged Red Slime HP 52/75
- Due to being attacked he is now furious and will attack anyone and anything mindlessly.
- On fire (fire resistance level F-) loses 1 HP per second, needs water equal to 10% of its mass to stop burning
*WOW, I knew fire was their weakness, but to think it worked this well—it's going to be an easy win,* I proudly declared, realizing how simple it would be to defeat it. But suddenly, the slime began fleeing rapidly in the opposite direction. Unsure of why it was running, I looked toward where it was heading. When I noticed a few puddles, I was surprised. I couldn't recall it raining, but when I realized those puddles might be enough to save it from certain death, I rushed after it. As I sprinted, I clenched the torch to ensure it wouldn't slip from my hand, but it was so weak and frail that it snapped, and the flame quickly spread from the tip to other untouched areas. The wooden torch was now unusable, so I dashed after the slime. I managed to catch up and kicked it as hard as I could, slightly burning myself since it was red-hot, blazing like coal, and still had a small distance left to the puddle. I blocked its path to the small water pool by hurling stones at it and grabbing random sticks, hitting it with all my strength, breaking them against its body, occasionally glancing at the gap between it and the water, and checking how much HP it had left. When it was just about to reach the water—only about 3 or 4 meters away—in a desperate act, I punched it, burning myself in the process, but it stopped moving. I quickly checked its status:
- Enraged Red Slime HP 4/75
- Due to being attacked he is now furious and will attack anyone and anything mindlessly.
- On fire (fire resistance level F-) loses 1 HP per second, needs water equal to 10% of its mass to stop burning
Exhausted as if I'd just run a marathon, I kicked at the ground, throwing dirt onto the puddles to create mud, then watched as the slime burned away entirely over the next four seconds, filled with joy at how this kind of monster hunt would help me grow stronger.
- Enraged Red Slime HP 0/75 *dead*
- Due to being attacked he is now furious and will attack anyone and anything mindlessly.
- On fire (fire resistance level F-) loses 1 HP per second, needs water equal to 10% of its mass to stop burning
- +1 Exp +2 Good Exp
After the slime died, it left behind a large amount of material usable for torches, but it was more elastic—like slippery clay. Surprised, I asked my friend,
*Clare, am I right to think the longer the slime survives, the better material it leaves behind?* I asked, nearly certain it was true.
*Yes, when you killed small slimes and used their material on wood, it was weak, damaged the wood, and didn't last long. But this slime's material will burn much longer and doesn't even need to be used on wood—it's enough by itself to burn for a long time on any hard material like stone,* she confirmed and added how useful the slime's material was.
So I decided to use it to create a much better torch. While looking around the forest for strong and sturdy branches or tree roots, I heard a boy's cries in the distance. I hurried cautiously in that direction and, hiding behind a tree, peeked at a group of merchants who were being attacked by goblins—specifically, seven goblins were assaulting an elderly man, a grown man ready to fight with a drawn sword, likely the boy's father, and a boy around 11 or 12 years old who was crying, looking at the wounds of the brave man bleeding from the shoulder. Most likely, he had been attacked by the largest and most threatening of the goblins—taller and more muscular than the others—holding not a sharp rock like the others, but a dull, rusty, dirty kitchen knife dripping with blood.
At the back was likely the boy's mother—pregnant, looking much younger than their defender, and I deduced she was part of their family. The elder was protecting the mother, holding a smaller sword against three smaller goblins at the back of the wagon—thankfully ones that closely resembled the one that had attacked me before. The boy's mother held him tightly, not letting him go as he struggled to help his father, but it was far too dangerous. The father had to personally defend them from the three goblins at the front of the wagon, including the fourth and strongest one. Their horse was also severely wounded in the hooves and, terrified, stood to the side of the cart. Seeing the situation, I couldn't just stand by. I felt like I finally had a chance to do something heroic and help them. I quickly checked the statuses of everyone, and what surprised me was that they all had significantly more max health than I did. The mother had 175, the son 150, the grandfather 140, and the man 200. Unfortunately, they weren't in perfect condition—most of them were just 10 points down, but the father had only 130 left and was seriously injured. He clearly had a bleeding condition, and without quick treatment, it could seriously endanger his life. They were all tall, had blond hair—the boys had short hair while the woman had long, wavy and straight —slim and well-built. For a moment, I was shocked that such strong people could fear goblins, but then I realized it was because of the sharp weapons. Even I had fled from them in fear before. I figured I wouldn't be of much help, but I wanted to try. By checking statuses, I identified the weakest and concluded that it would be best to help from the rear, and then, with the grandfather, the father, and me, the three of us could handle four goblins. So I quietly approached when suddenly I heard strange sounds—it was a conversation between people. I didn't understand it, so I asked Clare,
*Could you help me understand what they're saying?* I asked hesitantly, hoping she'd assist me.
*Of course—just let me listen a little longer so I can translate better,* Clare replied, eager to help even before I asked.
After a few seconds, I clearly heard a worried, fearful voice,
"If only I weren't sick right now…" the elder said regretfully, clutching his stomach.
"Father, it's not your fault—we can only hope Adrezz will pull us through," the young woman responded uncertainly to her own words, looking sadly at the old man and then at her wounded husband, fearful for his life.
The boy's cries echoed, desperate to help his father, though in his state, he would only get himself killed. Seeing that, it was hard not to worry about my own safety, but their situation didn't allow me to ignore them. I jumped out from behind the tree as fast as I could and, without hesitation, stabbed a stone knife pulled from my pocket into the neck of the goblin with the lowest health. I immediately checked his status:
- Green Goblin HP 12/100
- Bleeding effect (2x) will cause loss of 0.5 health points per second
- Fatal wound (neck) cannot speak
*Alright, this one definitely won't get up again,* I reassured myself. Then, taking the goblin's knife and leaving mine in his throat, I rushed at the next one who had managed to react—so I could only slash his belly with all my strength. I almost vomited from the feeling and seeing the amount of blood pouring from the cut. I quickly checked his status and began to think what to do next:
- Green Goblin HP 71/100
- Bleeding effect (1x) will cause loss of 0.2 health points per second
- Fatal wound (stomach) difficulty moving and severe pain
Like a killing machine, even though it was my first time doing something like this, I knew I was doing it for the good of these poor people. Without a hint of hesitation, though with disgust in my eyes, I stabbed the knife into his eye while he was still reeling from the stomach wound. While doing that, the family, the elder, and the mother with the child quietly whispered about me. I didn't hear them, but I noticed the old man stood with his sword and moved toward the last healthy goblin. When that goblin attacked me in retaliation for his fallen comrade, I barely avoided a serious wound but got cut on the shoulder. I quickly checked my status:
- Mitsuaki HP 84/100
- Bleeding effect (0.25x) will cause loss of 0.05 health points per second
- Medium dangerous wound (shoulder) problem with moving left hand
- Adrenaline rush, greatly increased concentration, survival instinct and body strength (physical strength increased to 110%)
- Ambitious (wants to save victims from danger)
I looked only at the health and bleeding rate. After some quick calculations, I knew it wasn't too serious. So I took the knife from the previously killed goblin, leaving the old one in the eye, and glanced quickly at the one-eyed goblin:
- Green Goblin HP 35/100
- Bleeding effect (2.5x) will cause loss of 0.7 health points per second
- Fatal injuries (stomach and eye) difficulty moving and seeing, severe pain
And saw that the other goblin had already died, granting me:
- +2 Exp +6 Good Exp
Seeing how much the situation had improved, I immediately wanted to capitalize on it. Holding the next stone blade, I was ready to take out the last goblin behind the cart—when suddenly, both I and the goblin locked eyes. The green creature was suddenly stabbed from behind by the grandfather. It was clear he knew what he was doing—even I hadn't noticed when he got behind the goblin.
- Green Goblin HP 64/100
- Bleeding effect (1.25x) will cause loss of 0.2 health points per second
- Fatal injuries (back) difficulty moving and severe pain
As soon as I noticed the goblin trying to turn around to attack the elder, I lunged at its belly, knocking it to the ground. Then I stabbed its hand with the sharp-edged stone and began pounding its face relentlessly with my fists. As it started to struggle, I let go and kicked it, making it fall again. Then the elder finished it off with his sword.
- +1 Exp +3 Good Exp (Alliance help reduces rewards by 50%)
I noticed the sad message about reduced rewards due to the old man helping me finish off the goblin. But then I remembered the bigger picture and focused on the worried elder.
"Thank you, young man, for your help, but could I be selfish enough to ask you to help with the four goblins in front of the wagon too?" he asked, unsure whether I'd agree or mock his audacity.
"Umm… you understand me?" I asked in my earthly language, surprised that I understood him so well.
"Yes, I understand you. Is there a problem?" the elderly man replied, even more puzzled, as if he wanted to ask me a thousand questions—but there was no time.
"I understand. I'll help however I can," I firmly assured him of my willingness to cooperate.
"Thank you again—let's go help my son," he said, and even before he finished speaking, we were already on our way to help the brave father who had been protecting his family behind the cart at all costs. When we saw him, he was even more bloodied, battered, and exhausted. I quickly checked his condition from afar:
- Adrezz HP 47/200
- Bleeding effect (3x) will cause loss of 1 health points per second
- Fatal injuries (stomach and arms) difficulty moving, inability to use hands, severe pain
When the grandfather saw him, he almost thought his son was dead. The man was in no shape to fight—his entire upper body, except for his head, was drenched in… his own blood. Based on the system, he wouldn't last more than 47 seconds in the best-case scenario. Then I received a message about the goblin I had left behind dying from blood loss:
- +2 Exp +6 Good Exp
"Rejtor, bring me that health potion now—quickly!" the elder shouted, ready to give anything to save his son, with determination in his voice and hatred for the goblins who could kill his beloved child. He ran to help with all his might, but we were still about 4 or 5 meters away. The mother, without hesitation, let go of her son, knowing the rear was now safe. As a pregnant woman, she couldn't help much physically.
"Be careful, Rejtor, my dear boy," she said as the son grabbed their most expensive and precious potion.
He ran toward his father as fast as he could, not even turning back, saying,
"I will, Mom—I will. Don't worry," happy that he could finally help his dad. He gave it his all, running toward his grandfather. The old man rushed to meet him so they could help his son as quickly as possible. Everyone was so focused on healing the father with the potion that they forgot to physically protect him from the goblins. That's why, at the last second—when the goblin was about to strike him…