Chapter 8 — Unfortunate Circumstances

[Both enemies are within user's sight.]
[Critical Eye Skill activated.]
[Critical Eye Skill activated.]

Pulling out the Eldwood stick, I eye the two goblins eyeing me. One of them looks a bit closer, and its eyes begin glowing.

[Cunning Goblin (Lv. 3) has used Analyze.]

[* Tutorial will find information about the skill— *]

"No need, I've watched enough anime in my life," I say, dismissing the messages that I had set up to appear in my peripheral vision. Doing this allows me to keep my eyesight open as I travel. It had only been half a day and here I was, already being attacked again.

The goblin who had probably seen my stats, smiles mischievously.

[* Ah! Almost forgot. Pulling up average stats for Cunning Goblin. *]

I raise an eyebrow at the message. 'How the hell does a tutorial 'forget?' Maybe it's one of the dumb jokes it's been telling lately.'

[* Ding ding ding! Anyways, here's the stats.*]

[Cunning Goblin]
[Estimate Age: 6]
[Lv: 3]
[Health: 20]
[Mana: 31]
[Stamina: 25]

STR: 2 MAG: 3
AGI: 8 DEX: 4
VIT: 3 INT: 6

ACC: 6
DEF: 2
POW: 4

[Skills: [* Analyze (Rare), *]Plead (Uncommon), Coward's Will (Uncommon), Slash (Common), Bound (Common)]

'Huh. Not very strong, but looks like they're fast and smart.'

They were faster than me, but with the new Arm guards I had I hope to myself that I would be okay.

"See, tutorial, this is closer to a fair fight. You should've told me to run from that Boar."

[* According to my nonexistent calculations, it wouldn't be a fair fight unless you had beaten the Boar. *]

"Shut up."

[* Please preface questions with 'Tutorial.' *]

"How about you take this stick and shove it up your—"

To accentuate my point, I ram the Eldwood stick upwards in a suggestive manner. Belatedly, I realize that the second, smaller goblin had leapt towards me, arm raised to strike with a makeshift dagger.

[Cunning Goblin has used Bound.]

Both me and the goblins' eyes widen simultaneously as we realize the trajectory of the stick and where he was jumping, but none of us have time to react.

I watch horrifically as the end of the stick slams brutally into the goblin's crotch. Blood spews from its mouth, but the worst has yet to come.

[Critical Mark has been hit. Dmg is being adjusted to 350%.]

POP!

[Estimated Health remaining: 12/20]

The goblin, who only hasn't died because I hadn't really swung the stick, drops to the ground like a rock dropped into water, writhing in pain. Even though it only took 8 damage, getting hit there wasn't something a man, whether human or goblin, could shake off. It was clear the other goblin felt the same sympathetic phantom pain I was feeling, as we both hold our stomachs solemnly.

We give him a moment of silence for what had clearly popped, before the other goblin screeches and runs towards me. It had clearly learned from its partner's move, and instead sticks low to the ground as it dashes in to attack me from the side.

[Cunning Goblin has used Slash.]
[User may learn this skill if conditions are met.]

The shock from a second message delays my reaction time again, and I falter slightly as the goblin's poor excuse for a blade was covered in a subtle green glow, a color that matched the color of its skin underneath all the dirt and grime.

The goblin swings, and I have to twist my body at an awkward angle to push the stick in between the blade and my body. The dagger sinks into the wood, and while worried the wood might break, I was more relieved it hasn't sunk into my side. I had to use both my Agility and Dexterity to the max, even for that simple move, and my body aches lightly from pushing it to the limit. My feet are barely holding their balance, even with my decent positioning. Well, due to my current coordination, it was actually an incredibly awkward pose. I just knew I would've already fallen if I hadn't forcefully raised my DEX. However, I am soon rewarded for my action.

[The user pushed past their limits and blocked an attack from a faster enemy.
This achievement forcefully rose one or more stats.
+1 AGI, +1 DEX]

"Worth it!" I laugh, using my strength to push the goblin back. Wood chips fly in the air as chunks of the tree branch are torn free due to the exchange, but with the low Health the goblins have I could finish this easily.

[New stats taking effect in 3…]

Rather than wait for the countdown to be over, I rush right in, pulling the stick back the way the goblin had when it used the Slash skill.

"Tutorial, how do I do it?"

[* Use your mana, duhh. *]

'I swear to—'

"How do I do that?" I groan, knocking the backhanded dagger swipe coming at me away as my Agility rises to match the goblin's.

[* Like this. *]

I feel a strange movement form in my chest. It is rather pleasant, and feels like a strong warmth that moves easily within me. Letting instinct take over, I direct the warmth through my arm, outputting it into the stick. I deflect two more attacks from the goblin, absentmindedly smacking the top of the stick with my hand to cause the top, about 4 inches, to fly off. The stick could've broken while I was blocking, which would not end well for me. A 'ding!' notifies me it's Defense and Attack have dropped, but I focus on shaping the mana around the stick. Then…

[User has learned the Skill Slash.]

It clicks, and a purple glow rushes over the stick, glowing brightly. I feel like some of the warmth has been pulled out of me, but that didn't matter. With one swing of the stick, I strike at the goblin. It blocks the blow, but thanks to the new skill I've learned, it manages to shatter the dagger entirely. A small smirk slides onto my face at the goblin's expression as the glow from my stick disappeares gradually.

"Analyze this, you asshat."

With another swing of the stick, I smack the goblin's side.

[Critical Mark has been hit. Dmg has been adjusted to 350%.]

BAM!

The goblin's body takes off from the ground, flying horizontally towards its comrade. He still hasn't gotten off the ground, but at least he wasn't writhing anymore. The flying body collides with the goblin's rear, sending him rolling until his groin meets a tree trunk with a loud THUNK.

I wince, then creep over to inspect him. The poor goblin was so far gone it just stares at me with lifeless eyes, waiting for it all to be over. Immediately, I oblige.

[Target in sight.]
[Critical Eye Skill activated.]
[Critical Mark has been hit. Dmg is adjusted to 350%.]

With that last swing, I gave the smaller goblin peace at last. I bow my head. "May you be reunited with your nuts in the afterlife," I murmur, before popping back up on my feet, and… losing my balance. I wave my arms frantically before falling on my back. With a sigh, I sheepishly stand up normally, brushing myself off. "C'mon, I know it's not 100 DEX or anything, but even with 4??"

Flicking off one more piece of dirt clinging onto me, I decide to check the rewards from the messages that were slowly starting to creep into my main field of vision as more of them spawn in.

[User has learned Skill Slash.]
[The user learned how to use Mana. Bonus: Mid combat.
This achievement forcefully rose one or more stats.
+2 MAG]
[The user learned their first new Skill. Bonus: Mid combat.
This achievement forcefully rose one or more stats.
+1 INT, +1 VIT]
[Obtained 10 EXP from the Cunning Goblin.]
[The user showed extreme ruthlessness in battle.
This achievement forcefully rose one or more stats.
+1 STR]
[Obtained 10 EXP from the Cunning Goblin.]
[Cunning Goblin description unlocked.]
[User forcefully gained an extra 3 exp for fighting multiple enemies at once.]
[Obtained Crude Dagger. (Please touch the Cunning Goblin to collect.)]
[EXP: 18/50]

I blink slowly several times after reading all the messages. I had received several Stat raises, but the EXP gain was a lot lower than with the Boar. I wasn't expecting such a difference from only one level.

"Tutorial, why'd I get so little EXP? I was excited for this part."

[* The difficulty class to defeat the goblins was incredibly low. The risk was far lower; therefore, the reward was too. *]

I look at the message, thinking it over deeply. 'That wasn't a bad answer, for once,' I think to myself, finally finding myself happy with the tutorial.

[* The tutorial never has a bad answer! *]

As soon as I see the new message, I spit at it, but of course it passes right through the screen and lands near the dead goblin. With an aggravated groan, I place my hand on the back of the corpse to receive my reward. Just like with the Boar, a transparent book appears. This had confused me the first time, until I remembered that my Statscreen was originally called my Life Statbook. I just assumed this was the dead beast's and monsters' Statbook, even though there was nothin I could see on its pages.

[* Ding ding ding! *]

"I haven't prefaced or even asked a question."

[* Please preface questions— *]

I swipe the message away, focusing on what I got from the goblin.

[Obtained the Crude Dagger.]
[Bonus reward obtained: Analyze Skillbook x3.]

I blink. "Now that's more like it!"