Solian closed his laptop and looked over the test hall.
"Not as bad as I thought it would be."
He collected his pen and eraser, stuffed them into his bag along with his laptop, and walked down the auditorium steps.
"I put my name on the backside of the paper."
The professor gave him a silent nod before taking the sheet and adding it to the pile on his desk.
Solian rolled his neck and walked out of the hall.
The university was considered one of the most respectable in the country, and it showed.
Even though it was not old, the government had spent unfathomable amounts of money to build it and to hire well-known lecturers from across the world. Before long, it reached the top of the country by competing in mathematical competitions and events.
"Why did they have to go with such a bland interior design though?"
Solian glanced over the black painted walls and the gold colored decorations scattered through the interior.
He stopped when he passed a periodic table containing physical pieces of each element.
'Hope I can get one of these into my future house.'
He crouched down to read a short description of Actinium before continuing on his path.
He made small talk with another student as the elevator descended to the first floor.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" the student asked with a friendly smile.
"No promises," Solian replied, adding a small laugh.
'You won't…'
Solian walked out of the elevator and waved goodbye before heading to the coat hanger.
'Wonder what I should eat today…'
He wrapped his beige coat around himself and tied a scarf loosely around his neck.
He pushed on the revolving glass doors and stepped out onto the open street. A strong gust of wind swept over him, carrying powdered snow.
"Damn these winters."
While the season brought beautiful scenery, the cold it carried was impossible to ignore.
He reached into his inner pocket to pull out a pair of gloves.
"What's this?"
He looked down to find a single black, left-handed leather glove resting in his palm.
"Tsk..." He slid it onto his hand. "Where the hell did my other glove go?"
He looked back at the university, debating whether he should return to search for it.
'Meh… someone probably already took it anyway.'
Whatever someone would do with a single leather glove, he didn't know, but at least he didn't have to turn back this way.
He proceeded down the hill, resting his uncovered hand in his pocket while using the other to keep his balance. The road was icy, with patches of gravel tossed around in a half-hearted attempt at traction.
The ground only started to level out when a crossing came into view.
He looked up at the traffic light and watched as it shone with a mocking red.
With nothing else to do, he tucked his other hand into his pocket and waited for the light to turn green.
His eyes lost focus as his thoughts started to drift.
"RAAAH!"
He snapped back to reality when something grabbed his shoulders and a poor attempt at a scary yell rang in his ears.
"What the?!"
"DID I GET YOU?"
Solian turned around, only to be met with the empty hill he had just walked down.
"Must have been the wind," he murmured.
"Hey, you bastard."
He looked down to see a short girl with hazel eyes glaring up at him with a death stare.
"Holy... I almost missed you," he said, trying to sound shocked.
Liliane gave him a doubtful look before a grin spread across her face. She threw a playful punch at his chest.
"You really are a bastard, you know that, right?"
They both laughed before Solian opened his arms and wrapped them around her.
"How's life been treating you?"
Liliane returned the hug, smiling warmly.
"I've been managing."
Solian loosened his hug and rested his hands on her shoulders, returning her smile.
"Is that so? Can't wait to hear it all over a cup of coffee."
Liliane had been Solian's childhood friend for as long as either of them could remember. They had grown up in the same small town, surrounded by the same old shops. As time passed, they had grown closer and closer, and before they even realized it, both had become young adults attending the same university, standing out as exceptional students.
Solian leaned back in his chair, stirring his coffee slowly as he looked across the table at Liliane.
"You'll probably die young if you put any more sugar in your coffee," he said, watching her drop a fourth cube into her cup.
"It tastes really good though." She paused, wearing an expression like she was solving a complex equation. "You should try it sometime."
Solian just shook his head.
They kept talking, taking their time and enjoying the calm atmosphere of the small café.
Only when the bottoms of their cups were visible did the conversation fade.
Liliane looked out the window at the sinking sun.
"Days sure become short when winter comes."
Her tone was almost reminiscent.
"Indeed. You have to force yourself out of the house not to get depressed." Solian turned his head to watch the view with her.
The café sat along a river, where the sunset fell behind the trees at the city's edge.
"Want me to walk you home?"
"Sure." Liliane flashed him a smile. "Why not?"
They walked along a stone path beside the river in comfortable silence, occasionally pointing out small, unnecessary details just to make their presence known to each other.
"You know... I'm wearing two pairs of mittens right now. You could just ask if you want to borrow a pair," she said mockingly, having noticed Solian's bare hand.
Solian snapped back to the present and looked down.
"Ah, no worries. I don't get cold easily."
Liliane raised an eyebrow, then rolled her eyes.
"Whatever..."
The sun had completely sunk below the horizon by the time they reached her apartment.
"Will you be going to school tomorrow?" Liliane asked.
"No. I'll probably stay home, rotting in bed."
"Typical." Liliane smiled and waved goodbye before closing the door behind her.
'Me, myself, and I again... I guess.'
He turned to look at the street, lit by the soft orange glow of the lamps.
'She sure managed to find an apartment in a quiet neighborhood.'
Solian was genuinely impressed. Getting a place that peaceful and beautiful as a student was no small feat. Most apartments were taken by other students, and the cheaper ones were in rougher, noisier areas.
Whether he admitted it or not, he was jealous.
The streets were calm, and with the snow absorbing every trace of sound, the silence felt almost comforting.
His steps slowed when a bench came into view.
Out of boredom, and with nothing better to do, Solian decided to sit for a while and enjoy the fresh air.
He removed his backpack and set it on the road, leaning it against the bench. Then he brushed off a thin layer of powdery snow with his gloved hand before sitting down.
He had taken a slight detour, and the bench was lit by a single streetlight.
"This would be a perfect place to bleed out," he said with a quiet laugh to himself.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin, flicking it into the air absentmindedly.
He watched as it spun, reflecting the light in even flashes.
'I wonder if the starting side really has about a one percent higher chance to win?'
His thoughts clouded his focus, and he missed the coin by a hair's width.
"Dammit."
A metallic ring echoed as the coin hit the road and rolled a few meters away.
He stood and walked toward it, eyes following the faint glint in the snow.
"Don't think I'll let you escape."
He bent down and reached for it with his gloved hand. The moment his fingers touched the coin, he froze as a burst of information invaded his mind.
THE HEAVENS ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE.
"What?"
Suddenly, every sensation he felt changed.
The biting cold that had gnawed at him turned into a humid warmth.
The ground beneath his boots no longer felt slippery, it felt solid.
The dim orange glow of the streetlights was replaced by a bright, torchlight.
Even the pull of gravity seemed lighter, as if he himself had become stronger.
"What is happening?"
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, but when they did, any sense of understanding shattered.
The ground beneath him was no longer covered in snow. It was uneven rock, cracked and filled with dark blood.
The open street that had surrounded him was gone, replaced by rough stone walls.
He was just about to stand when a rough hand clamped down on his shoulder, followed by a panicked shout that echoed through the cave.
"Solian! What the hell are you doing? Get up!"
The grip on his shoulder tightened and yanked him upright, giving him no time to resist.
"Ugh."
Solian stumbled onto his feet, almost losing balance from the sheer force of the pull. He turned toward the man, confusion written across his face.
"Where... where am I?"
The man stared at him in disbelief, as if Solian had completely lost it.
"What are you on about? We're on an expedition to clear the goblin cave. Have you lost your mind?"
The words left the man's mouth in short, sharp bursts, like there was more he wanted to say but no time to waste.
"Goblin cave?"
Solian was dumbstruck. He turned, scanning his surroundings in a daze, trying to grasp the situation.
Four other humans surrounded him, all clad in some sort of protective gear, swinging their weapons in desperate attempts to survive.
Green, grotesque creatures lunged at them from every direction, brandishing crude knives as they aimed for the humans' throats.
"Arghhh!"
A man wearing chainmail swung his bastard sword with all the strength he could muster, cleaving a goblin clean in half.
Blood sprayed through the air, splattering across Solian's face and coat, followed by the wet slap of entrails hitting the ground.
He saw it all, the movement, the sound, the smell, yet to his own surprise, he felt an unnatural calm.
His mind pulsed. New words carved themselves into his mind, uninvited.
NEW PASSIVE:Calm
Even though he had never seen anything like this before, his thoughts remained steady. His breathing slowed.
He was thinking clearly. Too clearly.
Not sure why, Solian spoke intuitively in his mind.
"Information."
As if willed, something responded, forcing knowledge straight into his thoughts.
Hunter's Leather Glove
Passives: Impenetrable, Weak Spot
Active: Parry, Summonable
Hunter's Gold Coin
Passives: Indestructible
Active: Summonable
Even though Solian had never seen or heard of anything like this before, he couldn't form a single question about it.
He already knew.
Each of the relics made perfect sense to him, every function, every limit. as if they were extensions of his own body.
A goblin swung its knife through the air and, by chance, struck one of the men in the throat.
Solian watched as the dull blade tore through flesh, slicing skin, muscle, and artery alike.
"GAHHHH!"
The goblin let out a shrill victory roar, its momentum carrying it into the collapsing man.
A wet, choking gurgle was all the wounded man could manage as he clutched at his throat, blood spilling through his fingers.
The goblin grinned, flashing uneven yellow teeth as it raised the knife and drove it down, piercing the man's chest with a wet crunch.
Then it struck again. And again. Over and over.
Each thrust grew wilder and more frenzied until the man's body was nothing but a mangled heap of flesh. Blood pooled beneath them, glistening under the torchlight. By the time the creature stopped, what remained was a goblin kneeling on a broken chest, strands of lung tissue poking through the shredded ruin.
Solian stared at it with eyes cold as ice. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face.
As soon as the goblin decided its victim was dead, its black eyes snapped toward him. It screeched and lunged, knife raised high, desperate to draw more blood.
In the blink of an eye it was upon him.
Solian did not flinch. His gaze stayed fixed as the blade came down.
He raised his hand, thumb and middle finger tense. Just as the knife descended, he flicked his finger.
The motion was effortless, a simple snap, almost lazy, but when his fingertip met the flat of the blade, the goblin's arm snapped back as if struck by a hammer.
The force threw it off balance, leaving its chest wide open.
Solian's muscles tightened. He drew back his free arm, fingers aligned, and thrust forward with precision.
His strike landed dead center on the goblin's chest. The contact lasted less than a heartbeat before his hand rebounded. No visible wound appeared.
Solian did not move. He did not even brace.
The goblin froze mid-motion, eyes widening. It wheezed, clawing at its chest, gurgling incoherently as confusion twisted its face.
Then it collapsed.
Solian looked down at the body. He did not need to see the damage to know. He had felt it.
The instant he parried, a weak point had opened. The strike had not been deflected. The force had traveled through its flesh and detonated within. The heart had simply burst.
Solian rose to his full height inside the cave. Blood ran along the floor, and the metallic ring of blades clashing echoed between the walls.
'What's happening?'
His expression stayed indifferent, but beneath the surface his mind worked overtime trying to understand the situation.
'I'll have to think about it when things calm down.'
"Arghhh!"
Blood gushed as the man who had pulled Solian up was slashed across the leg.
"Die, you ugly bastards!"
The man roared and swung his hammer at a pair of goblins standing in front of him, crushing their skulls with ease. The hammer's momentum carried it forward, slamming into the cave wall.
'He won't last long.'
Solian's eyes fell to the man's leg as blood poured out like a waterfall.
As if in answer to his thoughts, the man collapsed into a pool of his own blood. A goblin had managed to slice open an artery, delivering a death sentence that could not be undone without immediate help.
Solian's eyes snapped to the side as he sidestepped a spear flashing through the air, missing his abdomen by mere centimeters.
He flicked his finger down against the wooden shaft. In that instant, the spear was forced toward the ground with the momentum of a falling mountain.
The goblin staggered and froze, unable to move for a heartbeat.
Another weak spot had appeared.
Without hesitation, Solian raised his arm across his chest, stopping near his left shoulder, then brought it down in a swift chopping motion aimed at the creature's neck.
The strike looked almost gentle, his hand rebounding lightly off its skin without leaving a bruise.
A moment later, a streak of green flashed through the air as the goblin's body shot toward the ground, hitting the stone with a sickening crack.
Even if the head had not shattered, the creature would have died. Two of its vertebrae had already splintered from the first touch, leaving it paralyzed before the fall finished the job.
"I need to get out of here."
He murmured to himself.
Even though the group had killed many times their own number, the goblins seemed never-ending.
Solian glanced at the three different openings in the cave before picking one at random. Then he sprinted.
He jumped over corpses, side stepping daggers and spears that came flying toward him with an ease he couldn't understand himself.
"Wha— WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SOLIAN?"
One of the two remaining humans screamed in panic as they saw Solian sprint past them.
"If you leave, we won't be able to hold them off!"
The other man shouted before deflecting a knife aimed at his throat.
Solian only gave them a cold shoulder before dashing past, not even looking their way.
"He really left?"
The words left as a whisper as the man watched Solian's back disappear into the distance.
'Not here. Not here.'
Solian's eyes scanned his surroundings, not missing a single cave opening.
Instead of slowing down, he increased his speed when an old wooden door came into view.
Wood splinters flew through the air as he crashed through the door, rolling across the floor before landing steadily on his feet again.
Huff. Huff.
"I haven't run this far since PE in high school."
He let his head fall back, looking at the ceiling as he tried to steady his breathing.
"Fuck me..."
He lowered his gaze, only for his face to pale.
A few dozen meters ahead, an unusual goblin sat on a throne made of nailed-together boards.
Solian squinted, trying to get a clearer view of what stood before him.
'Is that a goblin?'
It had the same green hue as the others, but its size and presence were completely different from anything he had seen so far.
The creature slowly opened its eyes, visibly irritated that its slumber had been disturbed. It reached to its right, wrapping its fingers around a golden crown resting on a podium beside the throne, and placed it upon its head, grunting and snarling as it moved.
Solian froze.
For a moment, he stood there, hoping for some divine miracle to save him, but of course it didn't come.
He took a slow step back, never letting his eyes leave the goblin king.
But it was too late.
The crowned goblin launched from its throne toward Solian with such speed that he couldn't follow the movement with his eyes.
He whipped up his arm on instinct.
A metallic ring exploded as their hands collided, the impact sending a sharp vibration through the cave and a ringing into Solian's ears.
He flinched and covered one of his ears, but the ringing only grew louder.
"God dammit."
He cursed under his breath, realizing his mistake.
He had wasted precious seconds.
The goblin king staggered back, its hand still pressed against Solian's glove. For a brief instant, a weak spot shimmered across its head.
Even though he had missed the perfect opening, Solian could still sense it. The weak spot was fading, but it was undeniably still there.
He clenched his hand into a fist and struck toward the goblin king's face.
A sickening crunch echoed as his fist connected.
Pain shot through him as his hand recoiled, fingers bending at unnatural angles, tendons around his knuckles torn and exposed.
He had failed to hit the weak spot in time.
Solian tore his gloved hand free from the goblin and shifted it to guard his right side.
Another metallic clang rang through the cave as his fist intercepted a heavy left hook from the goblin king. Sparks flickered where leather met iron-hard skin.
The gloved hand moved like a serpent, sliding from the parried motion into a counter. His fingers aligned, and with a swift, precise thrust, he struck the goblin king's elbow.
A sharp crack filled the air, followed by a high, guttural screech. The creature stumbled back, clutching its arm as the joint collapsed inward.
White bone splinters jutted beneath its skin, the rest reduced to fine dust.
It leapt backward, putting distance between them, eyes wide with fury and disbelief.
Its left arm hung useless at its side, twitching once before going still.
The goblin bared its teeth, saliva trailing from its lips as it hissed.
Solian stayed silent, his gloved hand lowering slowly to his waist.
Across from him, the goblin king trembled with rage, its good arm tightening around the hilt of its blade.
Even with its arm thrashing behind it, the goblin king lunged forward once more. Each motion tore at the broken bone inside its flesh, forcing out another guttural scream.
Solian tucked his mangled right hand into his coat pocket and turned his body to the side, raising his gloved hand. He forced the agony deep into the back of his mind and focused solely on the monster before him.
The goblin king's sword whistled as it sliced through the air.
Solian's gloved hand moved in silence.
Sparks burst as the two forces met, lighting the cave in flashes of orange.
The instant the sword ricocheted back, Solian shifted and drove his palm into the center of the goblin's chest.
His hand bounced away, the force echoing through his arm, but he felt it.
He had missed the weak spot again.
With only one working hand, moving from parry to counter was nearly impossible, especially against something this strong, where the weak spot vanished faster than he could react.
Before the goblin could recover its balance, Solian kicked it square in the chest, throwing every ounce of strength into the blow.
The impact sent both of them flying backward. Solian rolled across the floor, his shoulder scraping against the rock before he forced himself back to his feet.
The moment his vision cleared, he froze.
The goblin king's face filled his sight.
Solian's instincts flared. He snapped his hand down to guard his abdomen just as an overwhelming pressure slammed into him.
It felt like being hit by a charging bull.
His body folded, blood forcing its way up his throat and spilling past his lips. The world blurred into streaks of color as he was launched backward.
His coat whipped violently, torn by the air rushing past him.
Gahhh!
The sound ripped from his chest as he crashed into the cave wall. The impact shook the ground, causing dust to rain from the ceiling.
For a brief second, there was silence, only the ringing in his ears and the pounding of his heart.
And then, against all odds, he forced himself to his feet.
He dragged his shoulder across his mouth, wiping away the blood. Then, with slow precision, he pulled his mangled right hand from his coat pocket and stared straight ahead. His eyes locked onto the monster, glowing with a determination bright enough to blind.
The goblin king did not hesitate. It roared and launched forward with its blade held ready to strike..
Solian moved.
With a motion as fluid as it was precise, he ducked beneath the swing. The sword screamed through the air above him, cutting through where his head had been a second earlier.
In the same heartbeat, Solian's gloved hand snapped upward, fingers closing, and drove forward like a spear.
A metallic crack rang through the cave.
The goblin's sword shattered on impact, and for an instant, its body froze mid-motion, completely staggered.
Solian clenched his teeth and ignored the pain burning through his arm, pulled back his ruined hand, and threw it forward.
Blood spiraled through the air as his broken fist slammed into the goblin king's lower jaw.
The bones in Solian's hand shattered on impact but his expression remained indifferent.
The shock of the strike traveled through the goblin's skull like a calamity, splintering its jaw and shattering teeth as the vibration climbed upward.
It did not stop. The force moved through its head until the crown cracked and flew free. A heartbeat later, the upper half of the goblin king's skull burst open, sending pinkish gray matter across the cave ceiling.
The body stood for a second, trembling as if unsure it was dead. Then it collapsed forward, striking the stone floor with a heavy thud.
Solian stayed still, his breathing heavy but steady. Blood streamed from his hand and dripped onto the rock below.
And then the cave went silent.
The body lay motionless at his feet, steam rising faintly from its open skull. The crown had rolled a short distance away, its gold dulled by streaks of blood.
Solian stared at it for a long moment before lowering his gaze to his gloved hand.
"Guess that's that."
He let himself fall to the ground, one hand supporting him as he sat there, eyes fixed on the corpse ahead.