After defeating forty-seven goblins in a battle filled with despair and fear, yet also pulses of courage and hope…
A massive goblin emerged from behind the trees, its eyes blazing with crimson sparks, wielding an enormous axe.
Zokaro froze in place, his eyes widening as he fixated on that colossal weapon.
"If that axe hits me… I'll be finished."
The goblin advanced with a fierce, unrelenting glare, gripping its axe tightly. Its breaths were deep and heavy, like it was exhaling fire, as it stared at the fallen goblin corpses.
"Were you the one who killed them all?"
Zokaro's eyes widened in shock, his mouth agape as though time itself had stopped.
"You… can talk?! I thought goblins could never speak."
The goblin's voice rumbled like thunder.
"We can speak… just like you, filthy creatures."
Zokaro smiled with firm resolve, his eyes filled with confidence, his breathing steady and calm.
"Filthy, huh? Don't make me laugh, monster. I'll kill you just like I killed those rotten beasts."
A heavy silence fell over the forest, broken only by the soft whispers of the wind and the swaying branches.
Then, the goblin charged at Zokaro in a frenzy, its axe trembling under the crushing grip, each swing carrying the weight of its accumulated rage.
But Zokaro stood his ground, unshaken, watching every movement, eyes locked on the axe. Suddenly, the system screen appeared before him.
---
System Ratio
Fat Goblin: Classified as Pack Leader.
Power Level: 120.
Attacks and Speed: Enhanced by uncontrollable rage.
---
Zokaro grinned, gripped his sword tightly, and dashed forward. His movements were fluid and sharp, dodging the axe with graceful precision.
But the massive goblin spun around with brute force, swinging its axe toward Zokaro. He narrowly evaded with a quick, agile leap backward, retreating a full meter.
Their eyes clashed, sparks flying like an erupting volcano. In mere seconds, they both lunged at each other. Sword and axe collided, producing a thunderous crash and a shower of blazing sparks.
Yet Zokaro's strength overwhelmed the goblin's, forcing the beast backward, trembling. Its eyes widened in disbelief, its breaths heavy, as though the air itself had turned to lead.
With a swift, decisive move, Zokaro surged forward. The goblin flailed in a desperate counterattack, but Zokaro evaded with a flawless aerial roll, his sword spinning at a precise 60-degree angle… and in one stroke, the goblin's head was severed from its body.
The massive corpse collapsed lifelessly to the ground. But Zokaro immediately sensed two more presences lurking behind the trees. Their power levels were ordinary, yet the one behind them was far stronger. Zokaro knew at once—it was the true leader.
He crept forward cautiously between the trees, scanning left and right for any sign of the foul creatures. Soon, he heard heavy footsteps, mixed with guttural growls and ragged breathing.
He stopped in the middle of the forest, waiting. The goblins stayed hidden. Then, the system screen appeared again.
---
System Ratio
Info: Fat Goblins have the ability to sense danger. They hide themselves to lower your guard or force you into retreat.
Strength: Comparable to the first Pack Leader you just defeated.
---
But Zokaro could hear and feel their every movement. A grin crossed his face.
"Unbelievable… moments ago, I was the one forced to hide and flee. Now, they're the ones cowering in ambush. But this ends now—I won't give them a single chance."
He spun suddenly toward one goblin lurking behind a tree. The goblin froze, trembling, then staggered backward in fear.
But in that instant, Zokaro cleaved it cleanly in two.
At the same time, the other goblin lunged from the shadows with incredible speed, axe swinging. Zokaro barely evaded in time, sweat dripping down his brow as he staggered back, gasping for breath.
He glanced at the tree, now split clean in half from the goblin's strike, and muttered in shock:
"Damn it… if I hadn't dodged that, I'd be lying where that tree is now."
Clutching his sword so tightly that his veins throbbed like bursting volcanoes, his eyes narrowed, blazing with searing fury. His breath quickened. Then, with explosive speed, he charged forward, swinging his blade with unstoppable force.
The goblin tried to block with its axe, but the weapon shattered in its hands. Blood sprayed as a shallow gash tore across its chest.
Its body shook violently, stumbling back in horror. But before it could react further, Zokaro vanished from sight—appearing high above, his sword raised.
With every ounce of his strength, he brought it crashing down… slicing the goblin's body from head to ground in one decisive strike!
Zokaro leaned against the trunk of a tree, gasping for breath.
His mind was clouded—he couldn't tell how much time had passed, nor what was happening outside. The only certainty was that he was trapped here, and the only way out was to defeat the King of the Forest.
After a few moments of rest, he regained some of his strength and resolve, deciding to move forward.
With every step, sweat trickled down his forehead, and a voice inside whispered:
"I have to face this cursed beast… But something feels different this time. This won't be an easy battle."
The deeper he went, the darker it became. The air grew heavy and suffocating, laced with a foul stench that nearly made him gag. He wondered to himself:
"Is his power so great that no hunter has ever made it this far?"
But he clenched his fists and declared firmly:
"No matter the cost… I have to see this through to the end."
He approached the mouth of a vast cavern veiled in shadow. Suddenly, white smoke rose, and a mysterious sound echoed behind him. Before he could react, concentrated gusts of wind rushed toward him. He dodged swiftly, but his body trembled and his stance wavered.
A second strike came almost instantly—stronger than the first—sending him crashing against a massive tree. A violent cough escaped his throat, followed by blood spilling from his lips.
He tried to stand, but his legs refused to support him. His heart pounded wildly, breath ragged, hands shaking, thoughts completely clouded.
"Impossible… what kind of ambush is this? Is this the end for me? He tricked me with the first strike just to catch me with the second…"
As the smoke cleared, the Goblin King appeared.
He was unlike anything Zokaro had faced before: a massive frame, corded muscles, skin tinted pale yellow, eyes gleaming with feral malice. In his hand, he wielded a colossal sword.
The monster stepped forward, his deep voice rumbling:
"You're the one who slaughtered my followers… I'll tear you apart, and you'll be my prize for their deaths."
Then he unleashed a savage roar that echoed throughout the entire forest.
Zokaro looked at him with weary eyes, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth, and muttered through ragged breaths:
"So… you're the leader… you bastard. But… I didn't come this far to give up. I'm stronger than you."
He forced himself onto his feet with sheer determination, eyes locked on his foe, breathing slowly to recover focus. With his sword tightened in his grip, he lifted his head with defiance and advanced toward the Goblin King.
The monster towered over Zokaro, yet suddenly, before him, the system appeared:
---
System: Ratio
Goblin King: Specializes in ambushing prey.
Power Level: 280.
To defeat him, you must fight with your full strength. You are already stronger, but your body is damaged. Recommended: use Absolute Healing.
---
Zokaro exhaled sharply.
"Damn it… only 280. That means he's weaker than me, but the reason he had the advantage was because I lowered my guard. Ratio system… heal my wounds and this exhaustion!"
In an instant, vigor surged back into his body. Power coursed through his veins. He gripped his sword tighter and dashed at blinding speed toward the Goblin King. At that very moment, both swung their swords.
The clash thundered across the forest, shaking the ground as the sound of shattering steel echoed through the air.
But it was no ordinary clash—both swords shattered at once.
Zokaro and the Goblin King stared in shock, eyes wide as shards scattered around them.
Through gritted teeth, Zokaro growled:
"Damn it… the sword I always relied on is gone… What do I do now?"
But there was no other choice… even if he had to fight with his bare fists.
Zokaro threw aside his shattered sword and clenched his fists with all his strength. His right hand aligned with his shoulder, his left hand pulled back under his chin, his left foot sliding back and his right foot stepping forward into a balanced stance.
When the goblin king saw his posture, he too threw away his weapon and roared with a beastly challenge.
The two charged forward, exchanging blows in rapid succession. Every strike was met with a counter, every punch with a dodge. Zokaro weaved left and right, reading his opponent's movements with sharp focus and reacting faster than the giant's heavy body could keep up.
He concentrated on every strike he blocked or evaded, countering with swift attacks of his own. The goblin's massive build slowed him down, and Zokaro seized the advantage.
Gathering power in his legs, Zokaro prepared for the decisive strike. When the goblin king lunged at him with a punch, Zokaro ducked low in sync with the attack, seized his fist, and spun at an eighty-degree angle, slamming into him from the side. The goblin staggered backward in pain.
Zokaro's gaze sharpened.
"What I see before me isn't just a monster… it's the miserable past that haunts me."
He remembered the ridicule, the contempt, the insults… how people called him a failure. All he ever wanted was to become a renowned game designer, yet society treated him as if he were an outcast.
Clenching his fist tighter, he pulled it back and leapt high into the air. With every ounce of strength left in him, he unleashed a devastating punch that sent the goblin king crashing to the ground. He didn't stop—he hammered him again and again, shouting:
"Take this! And this! Die already—just die!"
He pummeled the king mercilessly until the giant lay broken in silence.
Far away, dusk had fallen, and the clock showed 6:23.
Zarko turned to his wife.
– "Has Zokaro returned yet, Daliana?"
Daliana glanced at the clock with worried eyes, her voice trembling:
– "He left in the morning… and still hasn't come back. Could something have happened to him?"
Kairon muttered with unease:
– "Strange… Zokaro never comes home this late."
Daliana lowered her head sadly.
– "But what if something bad has happened to him?"
Zarko answered with firm confidence:
– "Don't worry. He's strong. He has to shoulder some responsibility too. When he returns, I'll scold him—and you encourage him."
Back in the forest, Zokaro had finished the fight, crushing the goblin king at last. He lifted his head toward the sky, his eyes gleaming with pride. He let out a powerful breath, as though the entire world had grown lighter.
"Amazing… I've defeated him. It's finally over."
Collapsing onto the ground, he lay back on the soil, closing his eyes in relief. In the darkness, a figure appeared before him—someone who looked exactly like him.
– "Well done… You've changed my fate, and yours. From this moment, you and I are one."
The figure began to fade away. Zokaro rushed toward him, shouting:
– "Wait! Don't go! Let's talk!"
But the figure vanished completely.
Zokaro's eyes snapped open. He looked around—night sky above, torn clothes clinging to him. Then the familiar screen appeared before his eyes:
---
System Ratio
Congratulations on your victory.
You have earned 1000 points, added to your total, now at 16,900 points.
Your power level has risen to 360.
---
A wide smile spread across Zokaro's face. He decided it was time to return home.
The road was long, so he took a bus. People stared at him strangely because of his battered appearance, but he didn't care. His heart was full of joy.
After twenty minutes, he arrived home. Entering the apartment, he was startled to find his mother waiting at the door. The moment she saw his torn clothes, she grabbed his arm and anxiously checked for injuries.
Zokaro reassured her that he was fine, but she wouldn't listen. Then she pulled him into a tight embrace, her voice trembling:
– "Thank goodness… you're safe."
Zokaro felt her warmth, their heartbeats intertwining. In that moment, he knew that his fight, his victory, and his struggle in that dark forest had all been worth it—to stay strong in this world.