In a small house on the outskirts of a village…
...…
"Begin."
Tak! Tak! Tak!
The sound of wood clashing echoed, breaking the silence of the morning. Two figures stood facing each other..... a teenager and an old man.
Their movements were swift.
Precise.
Flawless.
The boy stepped lightly, evading an attack, then countered with a sharp swing that was nearly perfect.
His name was Aldric Owlblade.
He was only sixteen years old.
Though the match seemed even, the master… was starting to be pushed back.
Tak!
One final strike sent the master's wooden staff flying.
"Hah…"
The old man smiled faintly, his breath heavy.
"That's enough… you win."
He looked at his student with pride, and a hint of sadness.
"You've mastered my techniques… and even surpassed them."
Aldric fell silent.
"Go out and adventure, my boy. The world out there… is where you belong."
The master's voice softened.
"Don't worry about me. For these past twelve years… you've already been my finest student."
.....
Aldric looked annoyed.
"Haaaah… what do you mean, Master?
Can you even hunt monsters without me?"
(With a provoking tone)
"Don't be ridiculous. I'll stay here… until every last one of those damn creatures disappears from this world.
Those creatures-"
MONSTERS.
Since the king's disappearance, the world had changed.
When Aldric was four years old… his family was slaughtered by a rampaging group of orcs.
Right before his eyes.
He was supposed to die that day.
But someone came…
His master.
He killed the orcs… and saved the only survivor.
...
Aldric.
...…
(Back to the present)
"Stubborn brat…" the master muttered.
"Even a Hero might not be able to wipe them all out, let alone someone reckless like—"
.
.
.
BOOOOM!!
A loud explosion shook the ground.
"What was that?!" Aldric shouted.
From the distance,
a horde of goblins could be seen running toward the village.
Their numbers… were unnatural.
...
"There are too many…" the master muttered, his face tense.
"Find their nest, boy. There must be a Goblin Alpha. You need to defeat it."
He turned away, taking a deep breath.
"I'll protect the village."
Aldric nodded.
"Alright… be careful, Master."
"You too… good luck."
Without wasting time, Aldric dashed forward.
He circled around the goblin horde,
moving like a shadow. One by one, he silently took down the separated archers.
But… something felt off.
"Where did they get weapons like these…?"
Aldric frowned.
"The quality is too good to be scavenged from adventurers…"
...…
Beyond the forest, he found it.
A large, crude structure.... but clearly man-made.
"Their nest…?" he muttered softly.
But before he could approach....
"-!!"
BOOOM!!
His body was sent flying.
"Argh!!"
A massive hammer struck him from behind.
A Goblin Alpha stood there…
grinning cruelly.
"Since when—?!"
Aldric staggered, blood flowing from his mouth.
But
"No…"
His eyes widened.
"A hammer.…?"
His breathing grew ragged.
"I see… there's a blacksmith here…"
He gritted his teeth.
"And if that's the case… there must be something higher…"
His body was knocked away… landing near a large tent.
The curtain slowly opened.
Out came… a far larger figure.
An overwhelming presence. Cold red eyes.
A Goblin Emperor.
"So… not just alphas…"
...
Aldric's voice weakened.
His body trembled.
The wound on his back was too deep.
"This… is far worse than I expected…"
The sky felt dark.
"I'm sorry… Master…"
His voice was barely audible.
"It seems… I'll be going… ahead…"
...
...…
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[System Detected]
["Hero" Candidate has met the requirements]
Are you interested…
in becoming the "MC"?
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