As we stepped into the ruined temple, the air grew heavy, thick with the scent of blood and decay. The only light came from glowing red runes along the cracked stone walls, pulsing like a heartbeat.
And then—THUD.
The ground trembled as something massive shifted in the darkness. A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the chamber, followed by the sound of metal scraping against stone.
Then, from the shadows, it stepped forward.
A hulking hobgoblin, easily twice the size of the ones we'd fought before. Its greenish-grey skin was covered in jagged scars, and yellow eyes glowed with pure malice. Clad in crude iron armor, it gripped a massive bone club, taller than I was. Fangs jutted from its mouth, drool dripping onto the floor as it let out a thunderous roar.
[Hobgoblin Chieftain – D-Rank Boss]
I felt a cold sweat run down my back.
"This bastard's big," Dane muttered, tightening his grip on his warhammer.
Vance smirked. "Yeah, but big means slow. Let's end this quick."
The Hobgoblin Chieftain lifted its club and swung.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the stone floor, sending dust and debris flying.
But Dane was already moving. With inhuman speed for his size, he sidestepped, avoiding the club by inches before counterattacking. His warhammer swung upward, aiming for the hobgoblin's exposed ribs—
CRACK!
The sound of bone breaking echoed through the temple as the Chieftain stumbled back, roaring in pain.
With unnatural speed, it lunged at Dane, swinging its club again, but Dane barely raised his hammer in time.
CLANG!
The force of the blow sent him skidding backward, boots scraping against the stone floor. He grunted but held his ground. "Fast bastard," he spat.
Moving like a shadow, he circled behind the Chieftain. Twin daggers flashed as he struck—one blade slashing the tendons behind the monster's knee, the other sinking into its side.
The Chieftain howled in pain, dropping to one knee.
"NOW!" Vance roared.
He dashed forward, his greatsword glowing with mana. With a powerful leap, he brought the blade down in a deadly arc, aiming for the creature's head, but the Chieftain wasn't finished.
In a blur of motion, it swung its massive arm, swatting Vance mid-air.
THWACK!
Vance crashed into a pillar, stone cracking from the impact.
"Shit!" Roth cursed.
The Chieftain roared, eyes burning with rage. Then it turned to me, and the Hobgoblin Chieftain charged, my system screen flickered
***
[System Assistance Activated]
[Adaptive Growth: Combat Synchronization – 5%]
***
"What is this Combat Synchronization?" I brushed the questions off for now. And suddenly—time slowed. I could see everything. I brushed the questions off for now.
The way the Chieftain's muscles tensed before a strike. The small gap in its armor where Dane had shattered its ribs. The weak point Roth had exposed behind its knee.
My body moved on its own. As the club came crashing down, I sidestepped instinctively, the wind from the attack brushing past me. The Chieftain's overcommitment left it open.
For the first time, I attacked.
I grabbed a fallen dagger from the ground and drove it into the creature's exposed ribs.
SCHLK!
The Chieftain screamed, twisting in pain.
Dane saw his chance. "Nice work, kid!" he bellowed, rushing in.
With a roar, he swung his warhammer one last time—directly into the Chieftain's skull.
CRACK!
The impact sent blood and bone fragments flying. The monster's eyes rolled back, its massive body collapsing with a heavy thud.
As the Hobgoblin Chieftain's massive body collapsed, a familiar ding echoed in my mind.
***
[Quest Completed: Watching is Not Enough]
Objective: Enter a Gate and Slay a Monster (D-Rank or Higher) – Completed
Rewards:+10 Stat Points, Unlock and Select One Exclusive Skill
***
At the same time, something clinked against the cold stone floor.
A Lesser Mana Crystal rolled to a stop near my foot, pulsing with a soft, blue glow.
Vance, still rubbing his ribs, whistled. "Not bad, kid. First kill, huh?"
I nodded, my grip tightening around my weapon.
Scarface smirked. "Heh. The look in your eyes changed."
Roth walked over, picking up the mana crystal. He gave it a quick toss in his hand before tossing it toward me. "First kill, first loot. Keep it."
I caught it, feeling the faint thrum of mana inside. This wasn't just a drop. It was proof—proof that I had stepped onto the battlefield and survived.
But I couldn't celebrate just yet.
The system window was still open, waiting for me to check my rewards.
I quickly closed it for now and focused on helping the others collect loot—extra goblin daggers, some scattered coins, and a few torn monster hides. Once everything was secured, I finally took a moment to breathe.
And check my stats.
***
[Status Window]
Name: Ryzen Kael
Level: 2
Class: System's Avatar
Adventurer Rank: E
Title: First Blood
[Effect: +2% Attack Power Against Monsters]
[Stats]
Strength (STR): 12
Agility (AGI): 13
Vitality (VIT): 18
Intelligence (INT): 12
[Exclusive Skills]
Adaptive Growth
[Special System Stats]
Fatigue: 5/100
HP: 95/100
MP: 10/10
[Unallocated Stat Points: 18]
***
Ten free stat points plus the 8 stat points I already had to allocate.
After my first real fight, I realized speed and power mattered most. I wasn't a tank like Dane, and I lacked experience, so I needed to be fast and hit hard.
I quickly distributed my points:
Strength: +8 – To deal more damage.
Agility: +7 – Speed was key to survival.
Vitality: +3 – More endurance for prolonged battles.
***
[Updated Stats] + [Status Window]
Name: Ryzen Kael
Level: 2
Class: System's Avatar
Adventurer Rank: E
Title: First Blood
[Effect: +2% Attack Power Against Monsters]
Strength (STR): 20
Agility (AGI): 20
Vitality (VIT): 23
Intelligence (INT): 12
[Exclusive Skills]
Adaptive Growth
[Special System Stats]
Fatigue: 5/100
HP: 95/100
MP: 10/10
[Unallocated Stat Points: 0]
***
As soon as I finalized the allocation, a rush of warm energy spread through my limbs. I did not allocate points into intelligence for now as I still have no use for it. My body felt lighter, my reflexes sharper. Even my breathing felt different.
Then, the final part of my reward appeared.
***
[Exclusive Skill Selection Unlocked]
Choose one of the following exclusive skills:
1. Predator's Instinct (Passive) – Enhances combat instincts. Allows the user to sense hostility, track wounded enemies, and react faster in battle. The stronger the opponent, the sharper the instinct.
2. Limit Break (Active) – Temporarily removes all physical and mental limits for 10 seconds. Increases all stats by +50% for the duration. Causes Fatigue +30 after use.
3. Phantom Step (Active/Passive Hybrid) – Enhances agility-based movements. In combat, momentarily boosts speed and evasion. Outside of combat, allows silent movement.
***
I stared at the choices, heart pounding. I took a deep breath, my gaze shifting between the glowing options before me.
Predator's Instinct was tempting. Sensing hostility and tracking enemies would be a huge advantage in battle. But right now? I wasn't a tracker, and I wasn't skilled enough to take full advantage of it.
Limit Break was raw power. A temporary surge that could turn the tide of battle—but at a cost. Fatigue +30. That wasn't just a number. It was a risk. If I used it at the wrong time, I could collapse mid-fight.
That left Phantom Step.
At first glance, it seemed the least impressive. It wasn't a power boost. It wasn't a combat sense. It was just… movement. But movement is everything.
I replayed the battle in my mind. Dane was powerful but slow. Vance and Roth had skill, but even they had to react to attacks. If I was fast enough, I wouldn't need to block. Wouldn't need to react. I could just move.
My thoughts sharpened. Even outside of battle, this could be my advantage. Hunters and monsters relied on sensing mana and sound. If I mastered Phantom Step, I could erase my presence. Move unseen.
That settled it. I reached out. I choose..