The blue edge of Mark's short sword pierced in the goblin Taskmaster's throat. The magical energy of the critical hit of the Heavy Strike skill exploded with a painful snap.
[Critical Hit! Heavy Strike Activated! You dealt 68 physical damage to the Goblin Taskmaster.]
The big brown goblin froze. His yellow eyes rolled back and with a metallic clang, the iron battle axe slipped from his fingers. Taskmaster emitted a gurgling sound and, like a felled tree, his bulky body twisted to the floor at Mark's feet. A moment later, the Taskmaster's body disintegrated into the ashen dust from which the goblin had been born.
[Elite target defeated! Goblin Taskmaster (Lv. 5) killed!]20Please respect copyright.PENANAGRxumkRo26
[You gained 150 Experience Points]20Please respect copyright.PENANAIjVvycKKQD
[Experience: 155/300 to Level 4]
Mark panted and leaned against a tall pillar in the corner, sliding down to sit on the floor. He pressed a hand against his ribs, massaging the painful place where the Taskmaster had smashed him in the stomach with an axe handle. His health was at 65%. "That was close," he groaned, wiping sweat and dirt from his brow.20Please respect copyright.PENANAxWXh8fKGMU
Mark rummaged through his inventory. He pulled out the last Low-grade health potion in the world. He did not want to waste the two remaining potions, and right now, health regeneration on a low level was definitely not an option. He unscrewed the glass cap on the bottle and drank the bitter green liquid.
A warm glow rose from within, soothed the pain in his ribs, and Mark's health was back to full.20Please respect copyright.PENANAaqw995DGG0
[Health potion used! +50 HP restored. Current health: 100/100]20Please respect copyright.PENANAnBXwOv7Giw
The warrior stood and walked over to where the Taskmaster had died, inspecting the items that had fallen from the giant goblin's body.20Please respect copyright.PENANAoHR0yFOlDi
First, a leather wallet full of coins.20Please respect copyright.PENANAHnwUua7th5
[You found: 15 Silver Coins, 50 Copper Coins.]20Please respect copyright.PENANAXPFtDvX071
Second, a pair of leather boots with knee-high shin plates.20Please respect copyright.PENANAirDnOGJSbO
[Taskmaster's Iron-plated Boots (Uncommon)]20Please respect copyright.PENANAfVWQJZPKsg
Defense: +820Please respect copyright.PENANAb33pXrWMUc
Attributes: +1 Agility20Please respect copyright.PENANAp1MWa3YfmR
Durability: 40/4020Please respect copyright.PENANAN9spbk1Au2
Description: Heavy leather boots typical for goblin leaders. The iron plates provide good protection against low blows.20Please respect copyright.PENANAYmRsz48jwN
Third, a glowing triangular crystal.20Please respect copyright.PENANAGNPp8KGdxY
[Skill Crystal: Minor Cleave (Common)]20Please respect copyright.PENANAMg5BYcdV4K
Description: A disposable crystal used to permanently learn the Active Skill: Minor Cleave. To learn this skill, 15 points in Strength are required.20Please respect copyright.PENANAx1pSvc9r1b
Mark's eyes narrowed. A skill crystal was an extremely valuable find. He looked at his character sheet. After leveling up to Level 3, he had 5 attribute points to spend.20Please respect copyright.PENANA5bn340kibr
[CHARACTER SHEET]20Please respect copyright.PENANAlUrnp0aSHc
Name: Mark Vance20Please respect copyright.PENANA2j3yjBDl7v
Class: None20Please respect copyright.PENANAbBm25f1nd5
Level: 3 (155/300 XP)20Please respect copyright.PENANAMaOPzlLlJM
Health: 100/10020Please respect copyright.PENANArPYQISqO30
[STATS]20Please respect copyright.PENANA4yBjfiG47t
Strength: 16 (14 + 2)20Please respect copyright.PENANA0ao6F0IXDR
Agility: 14 (12 + 2)20Please respect copyright.PENANAN4TT53Ts9c
Constitution: 16 (15 + 1)20Please respect copyright.PENANAsHDRlYzIKs
Intelligence: 1020Please respect copyright.PENANAUSY9bK7C0X
Wisdom: 1320Please respect copyright.PENANABTVxGutfVh
Willpower: 1820Please respect copyright.PENANAXHQubH7m9f
[ATTRIBUTE POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE: 5]20Please respect copyright.PENANA7Vt0on8ftq
20Please respect copyright.PENANAoaPYNiWRuh
Mark's Strength was at 16, which was enough to learn the skill written on the crystal. The warrior thought it over. Heavy Strike was a great skill, but if he were to find himself in a bad situation with several annoying goblins again, he would be glad of an AoE skill like Minor Cleave.20Please respect copyright.PENANADZWeFdHUFD
Mark distributed the 5 attribute points. 2 points in Strength, 2 points in Agility, and 1 point in Constitution.20Please respect copyright.PENANAFjacTXe8mo
20Please respect copyright.PENANAhXaXW6rygv
[Stats updated. Strength: 18, Agility: 16, Constitution: 17.]20Please respect copyright.PENANADdpfKR1MCn
[Current maximum health: 120.]20Please respect copyright.PENANATRhyeruMOp
Grinding his teeth, Mark examined the skill description.20Please respect copyright.PENANAIELQl8otSL
[Skill Learned: Minor Cleave (Active - Level 1)]20Please respect copyright.PENANAMiVojlWIGp
Cost: 15 MP. Swing your weapon in a wide 180-degree arc in front of you, dealing 110% physical damage to all enemies. Cooldown: 15 sec.20Please respect copyright.PENANA5ywfcPatjl
20Please respect copyright.PENANAOLEHbIOVeB
"Perfect," Mark muttered. Now, he had a single-target burst damage skill and an AoE utility skill. He took the glowing green crystal in his right hand and crushed it. A bunch of bright green particles shimmered in his palm and disappeared inside his skin.20Please respect copyright.PENANAepf0b1nzcV
Mark unfastened his old, torn combat boots and slipped on the new Taskmaster's boots. He tied the straps and immediately felt a warm comfort around his feet. The +1 Agility bonus gave him a nice burst of speed. Mark walked a few paces and took a look around the Guard Room. The bonfire in the center had burned out, casting ghostly shadows on the opposite wall. At the far end of the barracks, where the goblin Taskmaster had been sitting, there was a set of broad stone stairs leading upward. According to the mini-map in his field of vision, these stairs led straight to the surface.20Please respect copyright.PENANA8eOVLU00kN
Mark walked up the stone stairs. With every step, he left the dungeon's foul-smelling and damp air behind. He climbed higher and higher, and the stench of dirt and old wet concrete faded away. A light breeze touched Mark's skin, carrying the scent of pine needles and freshly cut grass. The young man sighed happily; he longed for the open sky, although he did not know if it was still there. Earth was gone, and he would never return to its dusty embrace, but the instinctual yearning to see the sun remained in his bones.20Please respect copyright.PENANAUbBuu6s2ic
The steps led upward for ten long minutes until Mark reached the top. The warrior found himself in a huge stone hall. The ceiling was open, revealing the sky above the ruins.20Please respect copyright.PENANAfQQ2tK6m15
Mark stared in disbelief. The sky of Aethelgard was mesmerizing. Two moons hung in the darkened sky, one large and pale, the other smaller and violet. Millions of unfamiliar stars glittered like bright diamonds.20Please respect copyright.PENANATYlSWlQvPG
"I'm really not on Earth," murmured Mark, feeling his tears slide down his face.20Please respect copyright.PENANAVjQsxr6FV8
He stepped out of the stone hall and into the open courtyard. The grass was long and wavy, and the remnants of broken stone pillars stood like petrified trees around the building. Mark took a few hesitant steps when his Danger Sense warned him. Something was wrong.20Please respect copyright.PENANAIQFGerdm0F
A growl reverberated from the darkness, and two glowing red eyes burned in the distance, fixing their gaze on Mark. The warrior immediately took a combat stance, raising his short sword.20Please respect copyright.PENANAubZZVM8AS7
Whatever it was, it had come out of the bushes to one side. Mark did not know what he was facing, but he was no longer the helpless and frightened human who had stumbled into this world. Mark Vance was a Level 3 Soldier, and he would show this mysterious predator who was the stronger of the two.


