The world didn't end with a scream or a bang. It ended with a flicker—a white flash, a heartbeat of nothing, and then stone. Cold, damp, endless gray stone.
I staggered, catching myself on rough walls slick with something I didn't want to think about. The air was thick, heavy with the stink of sweat, old blood, and fear. My ears rang, my mind scrambling to catch up with my body. For a second, I just stood there, breathing, letting the shock settle. Then the system message appeared, burning blue in the darkness.
[Tutorial Start]
Objective: Kill 20 goblins within 1 hour.
Stats equalized. All injuries healed.
Please select your weapon:
- Rusted Sword
- Cracked Spear
- Chipped Axe
- Splintered Bow
- Dull Dagger
My hand hovered in the air, fingers trembling. The weapons materialized in front of me, each one battered and worn, like they'd seen a hundred deaths already. I glanced at the options, weighing them in my mind. The bow was tempting—distance meant safety—but I'd never shot anything but rocks with a slingshot. The spear and axe looked heavy, awkward. The dagger felt like a last resort.
That left the sword. Rusted, yes, but familiar. I'd seen enough street fights to know that reach and balance mattered. I could use both hands if I needed to. I could swing, stab, block. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
I reached out and gripped the hilt. The sword was cold, heavier than I expected, but it fit my hand like it belonged there. The system chimed again.
[Weapon Selected: Rusted Sword]
A faint warmth ran up my arm, settling in my chest. I took a shaky breath, rolling my shoulders. My body felt… new. No pain, no bruises, no hunger gnawing at my gut. For the first time in years, I felt whole.
But that didn't make me safe.
I took a step forward, boots scraping against the stone. The corridor stretched out ahead, lit by flickering torches that cast long, twitching shadows. Somewhere in the dark, something moved. I tightened my grip on the sword, forcing myself to keep moving.
The first goblin appeared around the corner, hunched and ugly, skin the color of bruised moss. Its eyes glowed yellow, teeth bared in a twisted grin. It was smaller than I expected—maybe the size of a child—but the knife in its hand looked real enough.
It saw me and hissed, darting forward with a speed that made my heart stutter.
I didn't think. I just moved.
The goblin slashed at my legs, but I jumped back, swinging the sword in a wide arc. The blade caught its arm, slicing deep. Black blood sprayed, hot and foul, splattering my hands. The goblin shrieked, stumbling, but didn't stop. It lunged again, knife flashing.
I blocked with the flat of the sword, the impact jarring my arms. Pain flared, but I gritted my teeth and kicked the goblin in the chest. It crashed into the wall, stunned. I didn't wait. I drove the sword through its throat, pinning it to the stone.
The goblin twitched, then went still. Black blood pooled at my feet.
For a moment, all I could do was stare. My breath came in ragged gasps, heart hammering against my ribs. I'd fought before—on the streets, in alleys, against people who wanted what little I had—but this was different. This was survival, raw and ugly.
A chime echoed in my head.
[Goblin slain: 1/20]
Time remaining: 58:47
No time to rest. I yanked the sword free, wiping the blade on my pants. The blood left a sticky, tar-like smear. I swallowed hard, forcing down the bile rising in my throat.
The corridor split ahead—left and right. I listened, straining for any sound. A faint shuffling echoed from the left, low growls from the right. I picked left, moving slow, sword raised.
The next two goblins came at me together, screeching, knives flashing. I backed up, using the narrow corridor to keep them from flanking me. The first one lunged; I sidestepped, swinging low, catching it in the gut. It screamed, dropping its knife. The second tried to leap over its fallen friend, but I caught it midair, slamming it into the wall.
Blood sprayed. My arms ached. My breath came in short, sharp bursts.
[Goblin slain: 2/20]
[Goblin slain: 3/20]
Time remaining: 56:15
I kept moving. The corridors twisted and turned, each corner hiding another threat. Sometimes I heard them before I saw them—goblins chattering, arguing over scraps of meat, fighting among themselves. Sometimes they found me first.
I learned fast. Don't let them surround you. Keep your back to the wall. Use the sword's reach. Don't hesitate.
By the time I reached the fifth goblin, my arms were shaking, sweat stinging my eyes. The sword felt heavier with every swing. My knuckles were raw, my breath ragged. Blood—black and sticky—coated my hands, my clothes, the floor.
But I was still alive.
I paused, pressing my back to the wall. My mind raced, replaying every fight, every mistake. I couldn't afford to slow down. The clock was ticking.
I thought of Eli and Lila, waiting back home. I pictured their faces, the fear in their eyes, the hope they tried to hide. I couldn't let them down. I wouldn't.
A goblin burst from a side passage, shrieking. I spun, sword flashing, and caught it across the chest. It fell, twitching, knife clattering to the stone.
[Goblin slain: 6/20]
Time remaining: 53:02
Halfway there. My arms burned. My legs felt like lead. But I kept moving.
The next room was larger, lit by a single torch. Three goblins waited, crouched low, eyes gleaming. They saw the blood on me, the sword in my hand. They hesitated.
I didn't.
I charged, swinging wide, driving them back. One tried to circle behind me—I kicked it in the knee, sending it sprawling. Another lunged, knife raised. I caught its arm, twisted, and drove the sword into its chest.
The third ran. I chased it down, cutting it down before it could escape
[Goblin slain: 7/20]
[Goblin slain: 8/20]
[Goblin slain: 9/20]
Time remaining: 49:37
I leaned against the wall, gasping. My hands shook. My body screamed for rest, but I forced myself to keep moving.
No rest. No mercy. Only survival.
The Tower wanted blood. I'd give it blood.
One step at a time.
One kill at a time.
Until I reached the end—or died trying.