Mahi exited the dungeon, his body exhausted but his mind brimming with excitement. The system was real, and it had given him the opportunity to grow beyond his F-Rank limitations. He clenched his fists, still feeling the lingering surge of energy from leveling up.
"Level 6 already…" he muttered to himself, staring at his status panel.
[Player Status]
Name: Mahi
Level: 6
Strength: 28
Mana: 17
Stamina: 12
Health: 700/700
Durability: 2
Intelligence: 92
Stat Points Available: 0
His body had clearly improved, though he still felt a deep soreness from the repeated failures against the slimes. I need to get stronger. He had just barely managed to kill ten slimes. If he were to face anything stronger, he wouldn't last long.
As he walked out of the dungeon, he noticed a small crowd gathering near the Hunter's Guild bulletin board. He approached, curious.
"Did you hear? Another mid-tier dungeon opened in the east sector."
"Yeah, but only C-Rank and higher can enter. I heard a Hero-ranked Hunter is going to handle it."
Mahi listened closely, absorbing the information. The world outside is still too big for me. I need to keep grinding.
The First Upgrade
Returning home to his tiny rented apartment, Mahi collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. He still had so many questions. How did the system choose him? What was its purpose?
A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. A new notification appeared before him.
[System Feature Unlocked: Inventory]
[Inventory is now available. You can store non-living objects and withdraw them at will.]
"An inventory?" Mahi whispered in awe. He tapped the floating window, and a grid-like storage space appeared before him. It was currently empty, but the possibilities were endless.
He grabbed the iron sword from beside his bed and willed it into the inventory. The sword shimmered before vanishing into the digital space.
[Item stored successfully.]
He willed it back out, and with a flash, the sword reappeared in his hand. A slow grin formed on his lips. This is incredible.
A New Challenge
Just as he was getting comfortable, another notification appeared.
[New Quest Available!]
Goblin Extermination
(Eliminate 15 Goblins)
Time Limit: 6 Hours
Reward: 200 EXP, 8 System Points
Accept? [Yes] / [No]
Goblins were significantly stronger than slimes. They were cunning, often working in groups. This wouldn't be easy.
Mahi took a deep breath. "Bring it on." He tapped [Yes], and the quest was locked in.
The Goblin Hunt Begins
The next morning, Mahi entered an F-Rank dungeon notorious for goblin infestations. The air inside was damp, filled with the faint scent of mold. The cave walls twisted into dark tunnels, perfect for an ambush.
As he moved deeper inside, he heard faint chattering. Peering around a corner, he spotted his targets—a group of five goblins armed with makeshift clubs and daggers. Unlike slimes, they had intelligent eyes, filled with malice.
Mahi exhaled. This is my real test.
He gripped his sword tightly and stepped forward. The goblins noticed him immediately, screeching in their guttural language. One of them rushed forward, swinging a club toward Mahi's head.
Mahi ducked and countered with a clean slash. His improved strength allowed his sword to bite deep into the goblin's side. One down.
The other four attacked at once. He barely managed to dodge, but one of them grazed his arm.
[Health: 680/700]
"Damn, they're faster than I thought."
He adjusted his stance, focusing. He couldn't fight them like the slimes—he needed precision.
As the next goblin lunged, he sidestepped and stabbed through its chest. Two down.
He blocked another strike, his stamina depleting faster than expected. I can't drag this out.
Activating his newfound instincts, Mahi moved fluidly, predicting their attacks and countering with swift slashes. Within minutes, the last goblin collapsed.
[5/15 Goblins Defeated.]
Panting, Mahi wiped sweat from his forehead. Ten more to go.
The hunt was far from over.