Jin did not enter the deeper section of the gate to test himself anymore, because that phase had already passed the moment he understood how the system responded to strength, and now everything he did inside the gate had a single purpose—preparation. The difference between fighting casually and preparing for something stronger was not in how fast he moved, but in how deliberately he chose each fight, and as he stepped past the outer ruins and into the denser, quieter section where the goblin presence shifted from scattered to structured, his hand settled more firmly around the grip of his sword, the leather wrapping slightly worn but familiar against his palm, grounding him as he adjusted his stance to match the terrain ahead. The broken stone under his feet forced shorter steps, tighter control, and he didn't fight against it, instead letting his movement adapt naturally so that nothing felt forced or wasted.
The first encounter came quickly, not as a direct charge but as pressure from two directions at once, a goblin archer perched above on a fractured wall already drawing its bow while two ground goblins rushed in to close distance, and Jin didn't hesitate because the order was already decided before the fight even began. His body shifted forward instead of back, his sword held close to reduce exposure as he angled his approach, stepping into the path of the ground attackers just enough to force their timing to overlap, then cutting across in a tight horizontal motion that didn't overextend, the blade passing cleanly through the first goblin's neck before his wrist turned slightly to redirect the momentum into the second, the edge catching it across the face as he moved past them instead of stopping. The moment the path opened, he pushed upward, using the uneven stone to propel himself onto the broken structure where the archer stood, closing the gap before it could release the arrow properly, his sword driving forward in a short, controlled thrust that ended the fight before it had fully begun.
[+2 Free Stat Points]
[+18 EXP]
He landed without losing balance, his knees bending slightly to absorb the drop, his off-hand briefly hovering near the dagger at his waist as he scanned for the next movement, because in this zone, fights didn't come one at a time anymore. A low chant reached him almost immediately, faint but steady, and Jin didn't waste time locating it slowly, instead moving toward the sound directly, his steps controlled as he cut through a narrow passage between collapsed walls where two goblins attempted to block his path. He didn't stop for them fully, his sword rising in a diagonal arc that deflected the first strike rather than clashing with it, his body rotating with the motion as the blade came back down in a tight vertical cut that forced both enemies to hesitate just long enough for him to slip past them without committing to a full fight.
The shaman came into view behind them, its staff glowing faintly as the chant intensified, and Jin closed the remaining distance in three steps, his sword moving forward in a straight line, precise and efficient, piercing through before the spell could complete. The moment the shaman fell, the pressure shifted, the remaining goblins losing coordination, and Jin turned back, finishing them quickly with controlled strikes that didn't waste time or movement.
[+2 Free Stat Points]
[+19 EXP]
[+2 Free Stat Points]
[+15 EXP]
He exhaled once, steady, his grip loosening slightly before tightening again as he moved forward, deeper into the zone where the structure of the tribe became clearer with each encounter. These weren't random creatures. They functioned together, each role supporting the others, and that meant mistakes here would cost more than before. Jin didn't need to think about it deeply. The pattern was already clear enough.
"Archer. Shaman. Then everything else."
That was enough.
The next fight proved it again, but this time the pressure increased immediately as a goblin champion stepped into his path, its presence heavier, its stance stable, its weapon larger than anything the others carried, and Jin slowed slightly, adjusting his footing before the first clash. The champion moved with force rather than speed, its swing wide but powerful, and Jin didn't try to block it directly, instead angling his sword so the impact slid along the edge rather than stopping against it, the force redirected instead of absorbed, his body shifting to the side as he used that opening to step inside the champion's range.
His sword came up in a controlled arc, not wide, not exaggerated, just enough to cut into the exposed side, the resistance heavier than before, the blade not passing through cleanly, but that didn't matter because the purpose wasn't to end it in one strike, it was to weaken it. The champion reacted immediately, turning with surprising speed, but Jin was already moving, his steps short and precise as he repositioned, forcing it to overcommit its next attack before stepping back in and driving the blade forward into a narrower opening near the torso.
The fight lasted longer than the others.
Not long.
But long enough.
And when it ended, Jin stepped back instead of forward, letting the body drop before confirming the result.
[+3 Free Stat Points]
[+27 EXP]
"Good."
That was enough.
The return justified the effort.
Jin didn't stop there, continuing his path around the central zone rather than entering it directly, repeating the process against stronger groups, each fight reinforcing the same pattern, his sword movement becoming more consistent, more efficient, his body adapting to the rhythm of these encounters instead of reacting to them individually. Time passed without him tracking it directly, measured only by the accumulation of results, and when he finally slowed, it wasn't because he had to, but because he chose to.
He opened the system.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Jin Vale
Level: 4
EXP: 108 / 320
Strength: 10
Agility: 16
Vitality: 17
Mana: 1
Free Stat Points: 96
Job: Rogue
Skills:
Uncommon Extraction (Uncommon)
Ninety-six.
More than enough.
Jin closed the panel and lifted his gaze toward the center of the zone where the presence he had felt earlier remained unchanged, heavier than anything else, unmoving, waiting. This time, he didn't turn away. His grip tightened around the sword again, the weight familiar, steady, and he adjusted his stance slightly before stepping forward.
The space opened gradually as he approached, the ruined structures giving way to a wider clearing, and at the center of it stood something larger than anything he had faced so far, its form unmistakable even before it moved.
Goblin Warlord.
It didn't rush.
Didn't react immediately.
It watched.
And that alone told him enough.
Jin stepped forward anyway, his movement controlled, his sword angled slightly downward as he closed the distance, not rushing, not hesitating, because the fight would be decided by execution, not speed alone.
The warlord moved first.
Faster than expected.
Its weapon came down in a heavy vertical strike that forced Jin to step aside instead of blocking, the ground cracking slightly under the impact as the force traveled through it, and Jin used that moment to move in, his sword cutting upward in a tight arc aimed at the exposed side, the blade connecting but not cutting through fully, the resistance far greater than anything before.
"Too tough."
He adjusted immediately.
Didn't force it.
Instead, he moved again, circling, forcing the warlord to turn, its attacks powerful but slightly slower in recovery, and that was enough. Jin stepped in and out of range repeatedly, each strike placed carefully, not trying to end it quickly, but wearing it down, cutting into weaker points, avoiding direct clashes whenever possible.
The fight stretched.
Longer than anything before.
Each exchange tighter, more precise, every mistake punished harder, but Jin didn't rush, didn't lose control, his sword moving in controlled arcs, each motion calculated to reduce risk while increasing damage, until finally—
An opening.
Small.
But enough.
He stepped in fully this time, his body committing to the movement as his sword drove forward in a precise thrust, the blade finding its way through the resistance where it mattered most.
The warlord froze.
Then fell.
Silence followed.
Jin stepped back, breathing heavier now but still controlled, his grip loosening slightly as the fight ended.
The system responded.
[+6 Free Stat Points]
[+60 EXP]
Jin looked at the fallen warlord for a moment longer, then a faint smile appeared on his face, not wide, not exaggerated, but enough to show that he understood exactly what this meant—he was getting stronger, and this time, it was undeniable.