[Ping — System Notification]
[Kill 5 Goblins – 0/5]
[Reward – 5 Experience Points]
"…Five goblins, huh. Alright," Eokimo muttered as he studied the nearby trees.
"If I use that branch… I can rig it as a swinging trap. And just in case it fails, a pitfall should work too."
He crouched, examining the ground.
"…Yeah. Not a bad plan."
---
Two hours later
"Phew…" Eokimo wiped sweat off his forehead.
"Spikes are done… the trap is set… and— Tada."
He held up a roughly sharpened wooden spear.
"I used the same thing for the branch trap and the pit. Simple, but it'll work."
He exhaled.
"Alright. Now to actually find the goblins."
---
Five minutes later
"Huh… six?" Eokimo whispered from behind a boulder.
"Well… an extra one wouldn't hurt."
He stepped out.
"Hey! Over here!"
The goblins' heads snapped toward him.
Their voices were harsh, clicking growls.
"Ghrik-krii!"
"Kraah-kiik!"
"Yeah, yeah, come chase me, you little gremlins," Eokimo said, turning around and sprinting.
The pack shrieked.
"Krii—GRAAAH!"
"Oh shit," Eokimo gasped as the sound of multiple feet closed in behind him.
His legs burned as he ran, pushing through the underbrush.
"Huff… huff…"
He leapt over the camouflaged pit.
"Humph!"
Two goblins didn't react in time.
"KRAAK!"
They collapsed inside, injured but still twitching.
"Nice!" Eokimo grinned.
But the remaining four skidded to a stop, snarling louder.
"Grrih-RAAH!"
"…That's not good."
They charged.
Eokimo jumped again, this time triggering the branch trap.
"NOW!"
The branch swung with a loud WHUMP!
Three goblins were smashed to the ground, groaning and stunned.
The last one—Goblin 6—dodged with a twisted smirk on its face.
"Oh come on—really?" Eokimo said, backing up.
"Now this is actually bad."
The goblin slowly advanced.
"Krrhii…" it hissed.
Eokimo swallowed.
"…Eek."
Eokimo's heart pounded.
The sixth goblin—bigger, meaner, smarter than the others—stood a few meters away, its yellow eyes fixed on him.
"Okay… think, Eokimo… you've handled five already. One more can't be that bad," he muttered, gripping his spear tightly.
The goblin crouched low, muscles tensed, tail flicking.
It hissed, almost mockingly.
"Krrr…"
It lunged suddenly.
Eokimo barely rolled to the side, dirt spraying up where he had stood.
His breath came fast; his chest heaved.
"Not bad… not bad at all," he whispered.
"Just… one clean hit."
The goblin circled him, claws scraping the ground, tail swishing. Every movement felt deliberate, calculating.
Eokimo eyed a nearby fallen branch.
He could trap it… or force it toward the pit. He had to be precise.
He jabbed the spear forward, trying to bait the goblin.
The goblin lunged again.
Eokimo jumped backward, dodging just in time. His spear swiped the air as he twisted.
"Ha! Think fast!" he muttered.
It charged, teeth bared. Eokimo feinted left, then swung the spear at its side.
The goblin twisted midair, evading, but its momentum carried it closer to the pit.
"Come on… come on…"
The goblin's eyes narrowed. It hissed, almost in frustration, and charged again, claws slashing.
Eokimo barely blocked with the flat of his spear, staggering from the impact.
"Ugh… this thing is fast…" he groaned, backing toward the pit.
He noticed a small incline near the edge.
If he could push it just right…
The goblin lunged one last time. Eokimo pivoted sharply, using the spear to hook the creature's arm and shove.
It skidded across the dirt—its foot caught the pit's edge.
"YES!" Eokimo shouted, heart racing.
The goblin tumbled into the trap. Spikes caught it lightly; it scrambled and flailed, but couldn't escape.
Eokimo sank to his knees, panting.
"…Finally. Done."
[Ping — System Notification]
[Task Completed — 5/5 Goblins Defeated]
He stared at the floating text.
"…Wait. I killed six."
The system didn't respond.
No bonus. No acknowledgment.
Nothing.
He clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Figures."
Eokimo wiped sweat from his forehead.
"That was… actually terrifying. But I survived. That's what counts."
A soft chime echoed in the forest.
Another task had been assigned.
Eokimo groaned.
"Of course… this isn't over."