[Information: You have received a new side quest. Would you like to check it?]
[Y/N]
"Let me guess… defeat the Grand Goblin?"
The request window disappeared, replaced by another window describing the quest. I sighed as I read the description, already expecting it:
[Side Quest: Defeat the Grand Goblin!
Grand Goblin Defeated: [0/1]
Rewards: Points allocated to STR and INT, 1 three-star card
Quest Failure: Death of player Kim Sugil]
[Alternative Side Quest: Survive against the Grand Goblin!
Rewards: Few points allocated to INT.
Quest Failure: Death of player Kim Sugil
Time limit: 5:00 minutes]
[Quest Difficulty: E+]
"Of course..."
I quickly glanced at the Grand Red Goblin, who was staring at me like a juicy piece of meat ready to be sliced. A vein pulsed on my forehead.
"And the reward for defeating him? Some points allocated in STR and INT and a three-star card ?! That's basically nothing!"
In reality I was pissing myself just seeing him, it was a simple excuse to avoid combat, fighting against goblins, wolves and all that is acceptable but there are limits to everything... don't you think?
I gritted my teeth and raised my sword, taking a defensive stance.
"No, seriously. Why does this damn system think I'm going to fight this monster head-on?!"
The Grand Red Goblin slowly twirled his massive axe between his fingers, his grin widening as he stepped toward me.
"HeHe... MaKe Me FeEl... YoUr FeAr... BeFoRe I TaStE YoUr DeLiCiOuS FlEsH..."
A shiver ran down my spine.
"Okay…"
Option 1: Fight and die like an idiot.
Option 2: Survive for five minutes, find the exit, and keep my body intact.
My eyes drifted to the countdown timer at the bottom of the quest window.
[Time remaining: 4:59]
"Five minutes… what is that to a desperate man?"
Then, without warning—
I turned around and ran as fast as I could.
"See you later, asshole!!"
The Red Goblin was momentarily stunned by my sudden escape, but within seconds, his surprise turned into rage, and his furious roar echoed behind me as I leaped over the city's debris, zigzagging between rocks to avoid being an easy target. A sharp whistling sound reached my ears, and the next instant, an axe grazed past my back before violently embedding itself into the ground.
"HE ALMOST GOT ME AGAIN!!"
I glanced back and saw the goblin violently pull on the chain attached to the axe's handle, retrieving his weapon.
[Time remaining: 4:37]
"Oh crap…"
Without hesitation, I used [Dash].
"Swoosh"
"Hukh—"
"KAAH!!"
I should have expected it, but—
A cloud of dust formed, and a few moments later, it dissipated, revealing my curled-up figure against a rock.
"Damn—I didn't pay attention to the environment and used Dash right away—"
[Cooldown time before Dash can be used again: 6 seconds]
I struggled to get back on my feet and immediately started running again, feeling the ominous aura behind me.
'Dash has a range of 11 meters, allowing you to close the gap between you and your enemy for a surprise attack or to escape. But it also depends on your environment. Imagine fighting on a plain—using Dash would be easy. But now, in my case…
Dash is completely disadvantageous. Against the six goblins earlier, there weren't many obstacles, so I could still use it. But now, against this monster, I have no options—I'd crash into every rock in my path—'
"Argh, damn it, just what I needed…"
[Information: Player Kim Sugil's morale has significantly dropped.]
[Warning: Would you like to use the skill *The Path to Victory* to boost your morale?]
[Highly recommended]
As I was running, a notification window popped up before my eyes, and upon reading it, a long sigh escaped my lips.
"You think you're fu—"
"BOOM"
But before I could even finish my sentence, a rock exploded right next to me, sending me flying.
"WOAH!!"
"Hurk—"
I crashed into a wall, and as I looked up, I saw the [Great Red Goblin] gripping his axe by its chain, spinning it and smashing it repeatedly into the already fractured ground.
"EnD... HiDe..."
"Oh crap! Sae-Jin, Eve, someone, help me!!"
At that moment, I was already regretting coming here.
___
While Sae-Jin and Eve were training in the simulation room, Sae-Jin felt something tap his back and turned around.
"Hm? What is it, Sae-Jin?"
Eve asked.
"Did you feel something?"
Sae-Jin said. Eve simply scratched the back of her head lightly.
"Mhh… now that you mention it… but more importantly, I wonder what Sugil is doing. He missed all my calls…"
"Hahah…"
[Quest: Reach Level 5 during the entrance exam
Rewards: New card abilities of 1 or 2 stars, gain points in STR and END.
Failure to complete the quest within the time limit will result in penalties for the next 10 days. Quest difficulty: RANK F.]