While the forest was quiet and the wind blew gently, Zokaro was resting after a fierce battle against two goblins. He had killed two of them, while the third had fled.
He thought deeply:
"If I kill all the goblins here, will my level rise?… I want to become stronger, stronger than ever before, so I can succeed in what I desire. I must move forward, not stay sitting here."
Zokaro stood up and began walking among the trees, but the place was eerily silent. No sound of footsteps, no movement at all. He was cautious, for this silence felt like the calm before the storm.
Then, after a few minutes, the system screen appeared:
System Ratio:
"Use the energy-detection indicator to locate their positions… they are hiding their energy so you won't sense it."
Zokaro grew tense; if they had this ability, it meant they were plotting against him.
A small, vertically rectangular screen appeared before his left eye, and the process of energy calculation began. But this time, it was different.
System Ratio:
Number of goblins (Yellow type): 47
Power Level: 40
Zokaro couldn't move. They were right in front of him, approaching in a steady rhythm behind the trees.
Sweat dripped down his forehead and his body began to tremble:
"Impossible! Their number is too great… even if their power level is only 40. But forty-seven goblins together? Fighting them alone? This is madness… I'm not a strong person of a high rank like B or A. Even if I were rank E, am I supposed to feel no fear?"
Zokaro felt this was his end. He dashed quickly between the trees, knowing that facing such a number meant certain death.
With every step, he felt the weight in his legs, recalling the corpses scattered around, and how no hunter had dared to come here to finish this place. He decided to stop for a moment, gathering his scattered breaths, focusing on everything around him.
Fear was crawling through his body, his breathing grew heavy:
"What should I do now?... I can't leave until I kill all the goblins."
I can't go back even if I wanted to, but I must decide. Defeating this place means these corpses will rise again and may return to the world, where their families would see them... and to do that, I must make sure I don't become one of the corpses here.
No matter their strength or their numbers, I will defeat them. I'll end this alone, and I'll also earn the reward: raising my power level.
Zokaro gripped his sword tightly, waiting for their arrival. Sparks of defiance and courage flared in his eyes—he was determined to end everything here.
From the darkness and behind the trees, countless green eyes lit up. Goblins began emerging from between the trees, heading straight toward Zokaro.
With sharp eyes he declared:
"Let's begin our battle... there's nothing left to lose by fighting you."
He had failed many times before this... but here was the true beginning. This felt like the day he was struck by a car. He had to survive, no matter the cost.
The goblins all charged at once, while Zokaro advanced forward without retreating. All he could do was dodge—rolling left and right, swift evasions, crouching, stepping back quickly.
But then Zokaro realized—he was faster than them. He tightened his grip on his sword and lunged forward, deflecting their axes with his blade. His movements were sharp, cutting down one goblin after another.
However, the goblins grew enraged and attacked with reckless fury. Two leapt at him from the front; he dodged their strikes, but one swung its axe at him with lightning speed.
Reacting quickly, Zokaro tried to evade, but the strike left a deep surface wound along his side and back.
He staggered backward with weak steps, surrounded by goblins on every side. His thoughts were in chaos. Was this going to be his end?
Fatigue and fear returned, his heartbeat racing, sweat dripping heavily:
"Is this my end?... Impossible."
And in that moment of despair, a screen appeared before him:
RATIO SYSTEM:
Your Absolute Healing Level: Advanced.
Would you like to heal yourself?
At that moment, it was as if the sun shone its light and warmth upon Zokaro. Joy filled him:
"Heal all my wounds... and my exhaustion too."
Zokaro was fully healed, his energy restored. Then another screen appeared:
RATIO SYSTEM:
You have 9/10 daily healing uses remaining.
Warning: If you suffer a critical wound or a strong poison, Absolute Healing may not be able to cure you, as it is still in the process of upgrading.
Zokaro felt a tinge of unease, but still decided not to give up. This battle was no longer a simple level-grinding fight—it was a struggle for survival, a chance to return everyone home, and to prove his resolve.
With fierce eyes he roared:
"Come at me... I'll cut you down one by one!"
With determination, Zokaro launched his attacks. He fought with his full strength, swinging his sword with balance and precision, body steady with each motion.
His movements were swift and fluid, slaying goblins alone, cutting them down one by one. With every strike, his mind drifted to his past and present:
"I am Zokaro... and Iyad. I bear two names, and together they form our will. We will not retreat a single step. This is our new destiny. With every movement, every second, every minute... everything changes. This chance comes only to one person—the one who conquers himself."
But exhaustion began creeping into his body. Blocking wave after wave of heavy strikes was becoming far too difficult.
Each clash of his sword against their axes sparked fire. His blade barely endured, yet he refused to think of retreat. Because retreat meant death.
The battle grew fiercer and fiercer. The goblins unleashed fast, powerful attacks, and Zokaro matched them blow for blow. His breathing grew ragged, his face drenched in sweat.
He wanted to surrender—but then he remembered his new life, and the happiness he had found in his new family:
"I won't die here... My life blossomed after I was an orphan. Even though I am different from the true owner of this body... where is he? Where did he vanish to? And why am I here in his place? ...But I will continue this life."
"I want to see my mother's smile... I want to sit at the same dinner table with them, even just for a short while... And I want to become strong, so no one ever mocks me again, so I'll never be insignificant... I'll change this cruel fate completely."
Zokaro gripped his sword tightly, letting out a thunderous cry:
"I will not die here—come at me!"
The goblins roared back with fury, and the battle between them erupted once more. With every swing, every ounce of strength he channeled into his blade, Zokaro carved through them swiftly, left and right, until he had slain them all.
The roar of the wind echoed like a victorious anthem for Zokaro. Alone, he stood tall upon the battlefield—proof of his strength and his unyielding resolve for change.
Then, a wide horizontal screen appeared before him:
RATIO SYSTEM:
You have faced the Yellow Goblin Army—and defeated them all.
Each goblin's power level: 40.
You have gained 10% of their strength (4 points each).
You have slain 49 goblins: Congratulations!
You've earned an additional 196 power points.
Open the status page to see your new power.
Zokaro opened the status page, and the main screen appeared:
RATIO SYSTEM:
Warrior Name: Zokaro
Power Level: 296
Available Upgrades:
- Speed: Lv1
- Strength: Lv1
- Attack: Lv1
- Body: Lv1
Special Skills: None yet. You must raise your power level further.
Zokaro felt the power welling up inside him, and decided to move forward. But before he could take a single step, he heard heavy breathing and thunderous footsteps shaking the ground.
From the shadows emerged a massive yellow goblin, its belly bulging, its body fat, towering nearly two meters tall.
Zokaro resolved to face this battle—no matter how strong his opponent was.