The goblin didn't stay down for long.
It hissed — a horrible, wet sound — dragging itself off the wall, leaving a dark smear of blood behind. Its jagged teeth glistened under the faint dungeon light, spit dripping to the cold floor.
Leo rolled his shoulders, adjusting his stance.
"Alright, Shrek's malnourished cousin," he muttered. "Round two."
The creature screeched and bolted toward him, faster than it had any right to be. A crude dagger flashed in its grip, a rusted thing that looked like it belonged in a junkyard.
Leo's body moved before his brain had time to catch up.
A quick step left. A twist at the hips. His palm smacked against the goblin's wrist — the one cracked.
The dagger clattered to the ground with a metallic ping.
"Oops," Leo said flatly.
No hesitation — his other hand shot forward, wrapping around the goblin's throat. The monster thrashed, clawing at his arm, but it was like trying to bend steel.
"Man," Leo gritted his teeth, "I could get used to this."
With one brutal motion, he slammed its head into the wall.
Once.
Twice.
The third time, the skull gave way with a sickening crunch.
The system chimed in his vision.
──────────────
[Goblin Soldier Defeated]
+50 EXP
──────────────
Leo's breath came heavy, but his hands… were steady.
No shaking. No panic. Just a strange hum in his chest.
So this is what power feels like.
He bent down and picked up the dagger. Ugly as hell, but better than bare hands. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt—
──────────────
[Item: Rusted Goblin Dagger]
Attack: +3
Durability: 14/30
──────────────
Leo snorted. "Guess beggars can't be choosers."
A sound echoed from deeper in the tunnel — heavier footsteps this time. Several. And the faint, wet sound of growling.
Leo sighed, dagger in hand.
"Guess your friends heard about the party."
They emerged from the dark a moment later — three goblins, each bigger than the last one. Two with spears, one with a crude axe. But they didn't rush him. They spread out, circling him like wolves.
"Smart little bastards."
He backed toward the wall. No way was he going to let them flank him.
One of the spear-goblins jabbed at him. He sidestepped, grabbed the shaft, and yanked hard. The goblin stumbled forward, and Leo's dagger sank into its chest.
The second spear-goblin lunged from the side. Leo ducked low, shoving the dying one into its path. Both crashed together.
The axe-goblin roared and swung high. Heavy, reckless. Leo stepped inside the swing, ramming his shoulder into its gut. The air left it in a wheeze.
Then his dagger found its mark.
The last one tried to crawl away, but Leo grabbed it by the ankle and dragged it back across the floor. He didn't bother with a speech—one quick thrust — done.
The system chimed in quick bursts:
──────────────
[Goblin Soldier Defeated] +50 EXP
[Goblin Soldier Defeated] +50 EXP
[Goblin Soldier Defeated] +50 EXP
──────────────
──────────────
Level Up!
──────────────
Leo exhaled slowly. His heart was pounding, but it wasn't fear anymore.
It was adrenaline.
And maybe… excitement.
He checked the timer in the corner of his vision.
54:37.
Less than an hour left to "Eliminate the threat."
And he knew — it didn't mean killing a couple of goblins.
The deeper he went, the heavier the air became. A faint orange glow pulsed from ahead.
Leo pressed himself against the wall, inching forward. He peeked around the bend.
The chamber beyond opened wide, jagged stone pillars stretching toward the ceiling. And there, on a crude stone throne, sat something far larger than any goblin he'd seen so far.
Its skin was pale gray, muscles coiled tight beneath it. Two curling black horns jutted from its head. A chipped greatsword rested lazily against the throne's side.
The Goblin Chieftain.
Leo swallowed. "Oh… crap."
Even knowing the Solo Leveling story, seeing it in person was something else entirely. He remembered old forum posts about bosses like this: higher stats than a player's, unpredictable attacks, strong enough to crush cocky C-rank hunters.
His brain whispered one thing: Run.
The system disagreed.
──────────────
[Primary Objective: Defeat the Goblin Chieftain]
──────────────
Leo let out a humorless laugh.
"Figures."
He crouched lower, dagger tight in his grip.
If he was going to make it out of here alive… he'd have to do the one thing Sung Jinwoo was a master at.
Fight way, way above his pay grade.
---
A/N: How is the system interface? Is it good? I'm trying my best to keep it simple yet unique.