Chase

In the dead of night, the forest near the goblins' village came alive with the sounds of pursuit. The rustle of leaves, snapping of twigs, and frantic animal calls echoed through the air, mixing with the harsh grunts and barks of the goblins as they chased Adam. He sprinted through the underbrush, branches whipping at his face as he tried to escape the relentless hunting party of four Level 8 goblins hot on his heels.

As Adam activated his [Sprint] skill, attempting to put as much distance between himself and his pursuers as possible, a surge of adrenaline coursed through his body, propelling him forward with a burst of speed. His muscles tensed, and his breaths grew more rapid, but he knew he could only maintain this pace for a short time. Behind him, the goblins were also using their [Sprint] skill, determined not to let Adam slip away.

Adam knew his activities wouldn't continue to go unnoticed, with goblin patrols and hunting parties frequently not returning back to the village; it was only a matter of time before someone came to investigate. He just didn't expect for it to be a party of goblins that were all higher level than him.

As he ran, Adam frequently glanced over his shoulder, monitoring the goblins' progress. The forest floor was a treacherous terrain, littered with roots, rocks, and patches of slippery mud. Adam's heart raced as he navigated the obstacles, knowing that one misstep could mean his demise.

Suddenly, he saw one of them release an arrow, which whistled through the air, its lethal tip glinting in the moonlight. Adam could feel the rush of wind as it narrowly missed his head, the sound of it embedding into a nearby tree serving as a chilling reminder of the danger he faced.

The goblin took another shot with his bow. With a desperate lunge, Adam dodged the deadly projectile, but in doing so, his foot snagged on an exposed root, causing him to tumble to the ground.

The goblins seized the opportunity and slowed their pace, encircling Adam to ensure he couldn't run away. Adam quickly got back on his feet, raising his fists in defiance. He had lost his spear during the earlier confrontation, leaving him with no other choice but to engage the goblins in hand-to-hand combat.

Adam fought with reckless abandon, his every punch and kick fueled by anger and desperation. He threw a powerful right hook at the closest goblin, who managed to duck just in time, cackling as it narrowly avoided the blow. "Is that all you got, human?" the goblin taunted.

Adam gritted his teeth and followed up with a swift kick to the side of the goblin's head. The force of the impact sent the creature stumbling to the ground, momentarily dazed. "Shut up!" Adam shouted, not letting up on his assault.

Another goblin lunged at him from behind, attempting to land a debilitating strike with its crude, yet effective, weapon. Sensing the attack, Adam spun around and caught the goblin's arm, twisting it violently. The goblin howled in pain, its weapon clattering to the ground. "You'll pay for that!" it hissed through clenched teeth.

As Adam fought the goblins, a mixture of fear, rage, and desperation surged through him. He knew that every blow he landed was not just for his survival but also for avenging Lancer. Despite his exhaustion and injuries, he refused to back down, his determination to make the goblins pay fueling his every move.

The goblin from earlier, who had shot the arrow at Adam, put away his bow and drew a dagger. He grinned maliciously as he approached, clearly eager to join the fray.

Two other goblins flanked Adam, forcing him to divide his attention between multiple attackers. They exchanged a series of rapid blows, their weapons connecting with sickening crunches. One goblin managed to land a powerful strike to Adam's ribs with the hilt of its sword, eliciting a grunt of pain from the young warrior.

"I bet you're regretting picking a fight with us now, aren't you, human?" the goblin sneered, landing another blow to Adam's face with the flat of its blade.

Adam spat blood, his vision blurring from the impact. "Never," he growled, launching a desperate counterattack. He landed a solid hit to the goblin's jaw with his fist, but the creature retaliated with a swift kick to his knee, causing Adam's leg to buckle beneath him.

The goblins cackled and sneered as they continued to evade his blows, landing their own vicious attacks with their weapons in return. Adam could feel his strength waning, his movements growing more sluggish with each passing second. His body was battered and bruised, but he refused to give in to the pain.

As the goblins pressed their advantage, Adam mustered the last of his strength for one final, desperate assault. He managed to land a series of powerful blows on the nearest goblin, sending it reeling backward. The other goblins hesitated for a moment, momentarily taken aback by Adam's ferocity.

But their momentary surprise quickly turned to cruel delight as they closed in on the weakened warrior. One of the goblins, sensing Adam's vulnerability, activated a skill Adam was all too familiar with: [Cleave]. The powerful attack struck Adam square in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground, unable to move.

As the goblin loomed over him, it sneered, "I don't know why a human boy is attackin' us, but it ends now. Just die, filthy human. You've killed enough goblins tonight."

Despite the pain wracking his body, Adam stared back at the goblin with a defiant, burning rage. "I'm going to kill you all. Your days are numbered." he spat.

The goblin laughed, "Oh, really? And how do you plan to do that when you're about to die by my blade?"

The goblin's grin turned malicious, "You're not gonna kill anyone else little boy." and it plunged its dagger into Adam's heart without a moment's hesitation. The pain was excruciating, but through the haze of agony, Adam locked his gaze onto the goblin's eyes. As his vision began to fade and the world turned black, he noticed something unexpected—a flicker of fear in the goblin's eyes.

The goblin quickly pulled the blade out, stepping back and watching as Adam's life ebbed away. But even as darkness claimed him, Adam clung to that brief moment of fear he had seen in his enemy's eyes, and a fierce determination took root within him.

'I'm going to make you all pay for Lancer death, this is just the beginning.' He thought weakly before his world fully faded to black.

*You have died*

*Trait: Immortal activated*

*Your soul sustains damage Instead of being destroyed*

*Entry to the Dreamverse is restricted until your soul recovers*

---

Adam jolted awake, gasping for breath as a searing pain tore through his head. He found himself back in his bedroom, but the sensation of dying in the Dreamverse still haunted him, leaving him drenched in cold sweat. His head throbbed, pounding as if trying to escape his skull, and thinking became a struggle. Each thought sent another shockwave of pain throughout his head.

For several agonizing minutes, Adam couldn't think or process anything beyond the torment that consumed him. It felt as if his very soul was being torn apart, shredded into pieces by some cruel, unseen force.

Gradually, after enduring several minutes of agony, the pain began to ebb, leaving him trembling and weak. Adam curled up in his bed, his body still aching but now capable of forming coherent thoughts. 'I killed more goblins than I thought,' he mused, reflecting on his recent experience in the Dreamverse.

Adam gazed at the wall and attempted to tune out the pain using various techniques, from meditation to focusing on the new furniture he had purchased with his dad to replace some of the damaged items in his room.

He winced as a sudden wave of pain pulsed through his head, clouding his thoughts once more. 'Consecutive deaths suck,' he thought, struggling to see through the haze. 'I accomplished a lot in the Dreamverse, but they're going to have more than…' he glanced at his new digital clock next to his bed, which read 3:30am, 'two days before I can strike them again. I hope my preparations will be enough to deal with a possible awakened Skab.'

As he contemplated his immortality in the Dreamverse, Adam saw it as a powerful advantage. He could push himself to the limit without fear of permanent consequences, and this knowledge emboldened him to take more risks in his quest to avenge Lancer.

Another wave of pain washed over him, accompanied by a phantom sensation from where the goblin had run its weapon through his heart. It served as a stark reminder of the brutal reality he faced in the Dreamverse. 'I think I might need that painkiller,' he decided, grimacing as he forced himself to sit up.

Carefully, Adam made his way downstairs, doing his best not to exacerbate his pain. He reached the kitchen and grabbed a chair, using it to help him reach the medicine cabinet. There, he found the painkiller he needed and swallowed it with a glass of water, hoping for some relief.

As the painkiller dissolved in his stomach, Adam felt a gradual easing of the pain, like a warm wave washing over him. His tense muscles began to relax, and the throbbing in his head lessened, allowing him to think more clearly.

Adam couldn't help but think about his next steps. He was eager to return to the Dreamverse and continue his crusade against the goblins, the prospect of vengeance fueling his determination. But first, he needed to recover.

He let out a deep, weary yawn as he trudged back to his room, his body still exhausted from his vigil at the goblins' village and subsequent attacks on their patrols. The thought of a long, uninterrupted sleep was enticing, and he was grateful that it was a Saturday, allowing him to sleep in without any obligations.

As he crawled back into bed, a flicker of annoyance crossed his mind. He remembered that later that day, he was supposed to go to the Emmanuels' with Stella. He needed to get enough sleep after all—Adam had scores to settle with some of his cousins.

While Adam didn't fear the consequences of his actions in the Dreamverse, but he realized that his actions in the waking world could have lasting effects on him so he needed to be careful. He considered how to strike a balance between seeking revenge and maintaining his relationships outside the Dreamverse.

'I won't do anything permanent to Rupert even if he deserves it. But, I'll make him suffer.' With the pain finally subsiding, exhaustion overtook Adam. His eyes fluttered closed, and he drifted off to sleep.