Town of Veylith, Central Square
Piles of bodies lay stacked atop one another, limbs scattered carelessly, and the fountain's basin overflowed with a pool of thick, dark blood.
The air was heavy, reeking of iron and smoke.
Inside a broken house, Shanz pressed himself deep into the hollow of an old barrel, barely daring to breathe.
His eyes fixed on the monster outside—the massive silhouette of a Goliath Goblin.
Its grotesque form towered over the ruins bulging arms, thick legs, hands large enough to crush stone, and a massive wooden club gripped tightly in its clawed fingers.
The beast sniffed the air, its head twitching unnaturally, human-like eyes narrowing with suspicion. Each step it took made the ground tremble beneath Shanz's barrel.
It stopped.
The Goliath turned toward the house. Slowly, it crouched low, its sharp, shark-like teeth glinting as a guttural voice spilled from its throat, deep and screeching at once.
"I swear… I smell something. A human scent. The Grobe squad already left before me, but… I'll double-check this place."
Its monstrous gaze scanned the wreckage—broken carts, shattered crates, scattered barrels—until its eyes lingered unnervingly close to where Shanz hid.
Shanz's thoughts raced as sweat dripped down his face, his hands trembling uncontrollably. His chest rose and fell in quick, shallow breaths, each one a struggle to quiet.
"Fuck! What am I supposed to do? My hands won't stop shaking—I'm drenched in sweat! If I move now, I'll get caught… how the hell do I get out of here?"
Fear gripped him tighter than ever before. The confidence he once held shattered under the crushing weight of dread.
His mind screamed at him to stay still, but every fiber of his body begged him to run.
The Goliath leaned closer, nostrils flaring as the stench of human sweat grew stronger from the barrels. Its shark-like teeth gleamed as a twisted grin spread across its face.
"Hmm…" The monster's deep voice rumbled, its gaze fixed on the row of barrels. "Five of them… and one of them smeeeeells… human. Alive."
It straightened, massive shoulders rolling as it turned slightly to the side. Shanz's heart pounded. His thoughts spiraled into panic, begging for a miracle.
"This motherfucking giant… just get out! Leave me alone! I wanna live! Wait… why's he turning? What's he—"
The thought froze as the Goliath raised its massive wooden club, towering over the barrels. The air seemed to crack under its strength.
"You think I didn't notice you there?" the monster growled.
Shanz's body locked, terror gripping him. The shadow of the club loomed, but inside his head a voice screamed back.
"Is this it?—nah, hold on this isn't anime shit, this is reality. shut the fuck up. I'm not dying here. I'm not pathetic like in my old world. No shit, Sherlock."
Biting down hard on his tongue, he forced his body into motion. Bursting from the barrel at the last second, Shanz dashed to the side, breath ragged, sweat pouring, clothes torn and soaked through. His legs trembled, but with each step they steadied.
His eyes sharpened, fixing on the Goliath. He planted his feet, katana at his side—no longer running, but standing face-to-face with the beast.
The Goliath Goblin shoved aside the barrels, hefting its massive wooden club onto its shoulder. Its predatory gaze locked onto the boy before it.
"A young… child? Hmmm. Seems like another lucky human survives," the monster rumbled, curiosity sparking at the sight. A survivor here was impossible—especially when their raids left nothing alive.
Shanz straightened his posture, katana still held firmly at his right side. His eyes didn't flinch as he met the beast's glare.
"Oi, goblin." His tone was calm, steady—without fear. "Tell me what happened to this town."
The Goliath's jagged grin stretched wider, a chuckle rolling from its throat. It lowered the club to the ground with a thud, scratching its head with one massive hand.
"A mere child… trying to fight meee?!" it laughed, mocking him.
Shanz's voice cut through the laughter like steel. "Seeing me as a child doesn't mean I can't at least scratch you. Now, again… what happened to this town?".
The Goliath eyed the boy, a rumbling chuckle slipping from its throat before letting out a long sigh.
"Hmm… you really want to know? Fine. We raided this town. Burned it, broke it, took everything worth taking." Its grin widened, exposing rows of jagged teeth. "And yet… you. A child. Standing calm in front of me, not even trembling. Strange. For all my size—for being a monster that terrifies grown men—you don't flinch."
Its brows furrowed, almost puzzled, as its gaze lingered on Shanz. Why did this boy not cower?
Then, without warning, glowing text shimmered into existence above the monster's head—its letters burning blood-red.
-
[Evolved Rank 3 – Goblin: "Goliath"]
-
The name popped above the goblin in a sinister red glow.
Shanz's legs began to tremble, his body tingling with a faint numbness as his gaze locked on the glowing red name hovering above the goblin's head. His thoughts swirled, sharp and restless.
"If I don't get out of here, I'm really gonna die. My stats are way lower than his… but damn it, I wanna test myself."
A strange feeling crept through him. Fear should have crushed him, but instead his confidence—though faint—refused to vanish. His body was trembling, yet the terror seemed to slip away, fading faster than he understood.
"This is new… why the hell am I not scared? Seeing this big-ass monster in front of me—shouldn't I be breaking down? The trauma's fading so fast… Is it because of the people back in the old world?"
Memories clawed their way back, racing through his mind. Faces, voices, moments that scarred him.
"People there were worse than monsters. Men, women—it didn't matter. They were cruel, traumatizing, selfish… far worse than this beast. If this goblin were human, he wouldn't bother talking to me. He'd cut me down right away."
He tightened his grip on the katana, jaw clenched.
"Humans… they're worse than animals. Worse than monsters. They're monsters themselves."
"Hey." The Goliath's voice rumbled deep, terrible and cold. "Don't look at me like that… I hate it. The reason we raided this place is because we were running out of—"
Shanz cut him off, his voice shaky but firm. "I know. I've heard it before, big head. You goblins raid, kill, destroy—because that's the way nature works, right? Like animals. Survival… population… nothing more."
The Goliath froze, its eyes narrowing. Slowly, its grin twisted into something darker, its brows lowering as its gaze bore into the boy.
"Youuu… make funnnn offff meee??" The monster's voice cracked with anger. But then, it leaned closer, squinting. "No… you're not ordinary. Not just a child… not even a simple human. You're different. I can see it. Behind you—an aura, glowing like light. What are you? An… ASCENDANT?"
The world seemed to still at that word. The air hung heavy, silent except for the faint breeze rustling through the ruins.
The giant's expression shifted, voice deepening with a strange respect. "You're right. This is nature. It's how this world works. You're smarter than you look… aware for your age. I'll give you that. This world—free from the rules humans cling to. 'Don't kill'? Hmph. Empty words. Humans, demi-humans, monsters, animals—it's all the same. Life exists to fight, to take, to survive. Why act like it's some sacred gift?"
The Goliath's teeth gleamed in a grin. "This world is free. And freedom… is nature."
Shanz let out a long breath, the weight of his fear slipping away. For the first time, his eyes looked straight at the monster without wavering.
"You know… I'm comfortable now that you know too. I don't care about this 'Ascendant' thing. Maybe I'll learn about it later. Peace is all I ever wanted. As long as there's no trouble, that's enough for me. Because… that's the nature I choose."
The Goliath's grin widened, baring rows of jagged teeth.
"I myself have been aware, child. But things have changed…" His massive body straightened, wooden club shifting into position. "So… are you ready to die?"
Shanz slid his feet into stance, gripping his katana in a reversed back-hand hold. His other arm rose, steady, crossing in front of his mouth like a guard.
"If I'm going to die here…" his voice sharpened, steady with conviction, "then maybe you'll die with me."
The silent ruins trembled—not from quakes, but from the tension between them.
The Goliath goblin lunged forward, massive frame shaking the ground as it swung its wooden club in a brutal arc.
"Hrrghhh!"
The air whooshed as the strike came down.
Shanz dashed toward the attack instead of away, sliding low beneath the club. The edge of the wood scraped his head, tearing a line across his scalp.
"Tch— too slow! But…!"
He surged forward, feet pounding the dirt, katana flashing as he aimed for the giant's exposed heel.
The Goliath sneered. "Clever child!" With a sudden lift, its massive foot swung toward him.
Shanz barely twisted aside, his blade grazing along the thick skin. The steel bit in, carving a shallow line near the ankle.
"Arghhh!" The goblin roared, staggering slightly from the sting.
But the counterattack had cost Shanz. His left arm, struck by the sheer force of the monster's kick, throbbed with pain. The limb hung numb, refusing to respond.
"Damn it… my arm—" Shanz hissed through clenched teeth, sweat dripping into his eyes. Still, a crooked smile pushed through the pain. "But I landed the hit! Let's go—"
The goblin let out a low chuckle, its jagged teeth flashing.
"Just kidding… You think that little scratch really hurt me?" Its grin widened, eyes gleaming. "You've got a long way to go before you can hurt me for real!"
A sharp chime rang in Shanz's ears, cutting through the forest's silence.
-
[SYSTEM]
Notice Warning:
High-level monster detected.
Danger Level: Lethal
-
Shanz froze as his eyes flicked back to the towering goblin. The monster inhaled deeply, its massive chest rising. Then—
"HRAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
The roar tore through the air, shrieking and guttural, rattling the ruins.
Suddenly, a glowing text flared into existence beside the goblin's massive body, burning crimson like a cursed sigil:
-
Enemy Skill Activated
Goblin used: Terrifier
-
Shanz's body stiffened on instinct, his katana trembling in his grip. His eyes widened, terror crawling like ice through his veins as his thoughts spiraled into chaos.
"Am I… gonna die here? For real? Shit! I thought I'd pull some plot armor around here— but this… this feels too real!"
The goblin advanced slowly, every monstrous step making the ground quake beneath its colossal weight. Its grin stretched wider, eyes gleaming with a cruel hunger, as though savoring the fear radiating from him.
Shanz's breath hitched, his stance faltering. It's too fast… way too fast for me. I didn't land anything— not a fatal strike, not even close. Just a scratch… and it didn't even matter to him.
His mind screamed, a frantic storm of denial and disbelief crashing in his skull.
Fuck! What am I supposed to do?! I'm not ready for this… I can't… I can't win!.
The Goliath's voice rumbled like an earthquake, long and drawn out, each word dripping with menace.
"Are you ready… to dieeee?" it shrieked, its deep tone vibrating in the air.
The monster leaned forward, grinning with jagged rows of teeth. "It was too quick for you, wasn't it? Your potential… maybe, just maybe, if I let you live, you'd grow strong enough to defeat me someday. But not happening. Too bad—you'll die here."
Shanz's knees trembled, but his eyes didn't leave the monster's. His chest rose and fell sharply, fear gnawing at him, yet something hotter, heavier, fought back inside his core. He didn't want to give up. He couldn't.
His determination burned, though he knew—deep down—that it wasn't about courage or willpower. It wasn't even about skill. The truth was harsher. His enemy was far, far beyond him.
The thing that Shanz do not know, the towering goblin before him carried a level far beyond his reach—132.
His stance shifted, katana raised firmly with both hands, feet spread wide as his body leaned forward. "Yes… and I am not going to give up until I reach farther than I can achieve.
I will never break this promise. Even if no one helps me get stronger, I'll grow on my own. Whoever stands in my way—like you—shall die."
The Goliath's grin stretched wider. A low chuckle rumbled from his chest before erupting into booming laughter, echoing through the ruins, vibrating the very air. "You seem determined to defeat someone like me, huh? Very well… I'll let you live.
But I'll wish for you to grow stronger alone—so you suffer more! Many enemies will rise against you, and you will die before you ever reach me. Then—"
he raised his arms into the high rise,
"—I shall wait! Days, months, years! However long it takes, I will wait for you!"
Shanz couldn't help but smile, even letting out a laugh, almost childlike despite the blood and exhaustion clinging to him. "You'll regret this… You know… I'm different, after all…" His vision blurred, eyes heavy, legs trembling until his body gave out. He collapsed onto the cold ground.
The Goliath turned away, laughter fading into the distance as he walked off, leaving the boy lying broken yet alive. The clash ended in a draw, unseen by any living soul. But high above, countless eyes stirred—watching.
Beyond the skies, past the stars, and outside the cosmos itself, in another dimension, many gods gathered.
Their gaze fell upon Shanz, their whispers weaving through the void, wondering who he truly was… and what he might become.
-
{PERSPECTIVE}
As the gods whispered and wondered in their minds, the vision shifted—drifting away from the divine gaze.
It fell, descending past the stars, sliding through the earth's layers, cutting through the thick atmosphere.
Through heavy clouds, the scene returned… to the fallen Shanz.
Time marched on mercilessly. Days bled into nights, nights into days. The pool of blood around him dried into a black crust, and the corpses around him rotted into bone. The stench of death swallowed the air, thick enough to choke, but his body remained.
{END}
-
He wasn't saved by miracles.
No healing light. No divine blessing.
Only the stubborn rhythm of a heart that refused to stop.
A twitch.
A cough.
A sharp gasp of air that clawed back into his lungs.
Shanz opened his eyes to the world of ruin. His vision blurred, his body trembling like a twig about to snap, but he pushed his palms against the ground. His arms shook violently, veins straining as if his body rejected the effort. He forced himself upright an inch… then collapsed.
"…Damn it…" his voice cracked, weak and hoarse, but alive.
Pain crawled through every muscle. His left arm felt like fire, his chest heavy as stone. Yet he didn't stop. Again, he pressed against the ground, his whole body screaming. Again, he fell. Again, he rose.
Minutes turned into hours. Hours into a day.
Until finally—his body stood. Wounded, drained, but standing.
Shanz spat blood onto the dirt and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. His face pale, his knees weak, yet his eyes burned—not with strength, but with the will to crawl forward no matter how much it tore him apart.
Shanz staggered, clutching his chest as his lungs burned with every ragged cough.
"I even collapsed in front of my enemy… that's an embarrassment," he muttered bitterly, spitting blood into the dirt. "I will never do it again."
Another violent cough wracked his body. His knees threatened to buckle, but he steadied himself, jaw clenched, eyes sharp.
"What the fuck happened to me? Ugh—what the—" his nose wrinkled, and his expression twisted in disgust. "What is that smell?"
The air was foul, rancid, clinging to his throat like rot. He froze, his gaze sweeping across the ruined square—then realization hit.
"Ohhh… I forgot." His voice dropped, half disgust, half resignation. "The dead bodies… rotting all around me. Well…" He covered his mouth with his torn sleeve, coughing again, weaker this time. "…those gave me sickness, one hundred percent."
The silence pressed heavy, broken only by the whisper of the wind through shattered beams.
Above, the gods still watched.
Not with mercy.
Not with pity.
But with curiosity.
For the child that stood in a town of corpses, too weak to fight yet too stubborn to die.
And so ended this day in Veylith—
not with victory, not with salvation,
but with the quiet, bitter promise of a boy who refused to stay on the ground.