After slaying the final goblin, Alex swiftly retrieved his throwing knives and took cover behind a massive tree. Within moments, a group of five goblins approached the scene, conversing in an unknown language that Alex couldn't comprehend.
Restless and alert, the goblins scanned their surroundings, searching for the culprit responsible for their fallen comrade. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a loud crack as Alex accidentally stepped on a dead tree branch.
The five goblins turned their gaze towards Alex's location. Taking a deep breath, he whispered to Sil, "Be prepared, Sil. I hope you can synchronize perfectly with me."
"I can, Master. Do not worry," Silveria replied.
Encouraged by her response, Alex sprang from his hiding spot, catching the goblins off guard as they approached him. With swift precision, he hurled four knives towards the goblins on his left and right, catching them by surprise and causing them to stumble.
Meanwhile, Alex continued his assault without hesitation, swinging his blade, Razor, towards the goblin in the middle, aiming for its ribcage. In a split second, their weapons clashed, producing a resounding clang. Due to the difference in height and strength, the goblin was pushed back by the force of the impact.
As if anticipating his next move, Silveria seamlessly synchronized with Alex, materializing in his left hand. With her assistance, Alex fired two bullets towards the approaching goblin from his left side.
Without even checking if his shots hit their mark, Alex swiftly switched his weapons, transferring Razor to his left hand while Silveria appeared in his right. He then fired two more bullets towards the goblin on his right.
All of these actions occurred in a matter of seconds, leaving the goblins no time to react. Thuds echoed through the air as the fallen bodies hit the ground. The goblin in front of Alex froze in fear, realizing that he was facing a monstrous opponent.
To be precise, the goblin's fear was directed towards Silveria in Alex's right hand. Overwhelmed by terror, it turned tail and fled. But Alex wouldn't let it escape so easily. Seizing the opportunity, he hurled Razor with all his might, aiming for the retreating goblin.
The blade narrowly missed Alex's head, carving a few strands of hair and embedding itself in a nearby tree. His heart hammered in his chest. He had almost become careless and paid the price.
Remembering Silveria's timely warning, Alex sprung into action. Capitalizing on the goblins' moment of surprise, he aimed and skillfully disarmed the attacker. With two decisive blasts, he rendered the remaining ones harmless.
Breathing heavily, Alex acknowledged his near miss.
"Close call, Sil. Thanks for being there. I won't let myself get caught off guard again."
Silveria's voice resonated with concern, "this isn't a mere game. There are no resurrections. Be vigilant, never assume a fight is over until the very end. You have potential, a unique destiny awaits the one we chose. Don't let carelessness cut it short."
Alex took her words to heart. He may not fully understand his purpose, but a youthful death wasn't part of the plan. He had stories to tell, adventures to experience.
"I promise, Silveria," he vowed, "no more recklessness. I'll value this life you helped me secure."
With renewed focus, he called up his status screen. Had he leveled up during the encounter? What new possibilities awaited him?
[Alexander Kael Touch]
Experience Value (XP): 330/800
Intelligence: 160 ? 170
Gift: Two Guns * Semi-sealed*
Skills: [Normal Appraisal Level 1] [Language Comprehension] [Item box Level 1] [Swift Fingers Max] [Presence Detection Level 1] [Throwing knife Level 3]
Titles: [Otherworlder] [The one who can't use Magic] [The one whose fingers are faster than Flash] 』
Reaching Level 7, Alex surveyed his status with a sigh. He'd gained the level, but the cost of using Silveria's bullets left him with only 950 MP, even with the 20 MP boost per level. His ambition to reach the next Rank before returning now required eight more levels, translating to a daunting 6100 XP and 61 goblin kills.
Venturing to a different hunting ground with more plentiful prey was tempting, but his lack of armor, a crucial defensive layer, made him hesitate.
Inspiration struck. "Sil," he called out, a hopeful tone lacing his voice, "would you lend me a hand?"
Silveria's voice echoed with a theatrical sigh.
"Alright, spill it. What do you need?"
"Just a small favor," Alex began, carefully choosing his words.
"Could you use your Divine Sense to scan the forest for a location teeming with goblins, perhaps even a settlement?"
Silveria scoffed. "Scan the entire forest? You make it sound so simple!"
Alex knew better than to argue. Instead, he offered a quiet explanation, "I understand it's taxing, especially given my current limitations. But I trust you see the logic behind my request. Your power grows alongside mine, Sil. So, what do you say?"
After a moment's pause, Silveria conceded. With a focused hum, she swept her divine vision across the forest. A minute later, she announced,
"Five kilometers west, I detect a potential goblin settlement with around 20 inhabitants. However, I'm quite drained, so please wait for me to recover before engaging them."
"Westward it is," Alex confirmed, a determined glint in his eyes.
"I'll head there and be back after handling those 20. Should grant me at least two more levels, which is progress."
With newfound purpose, he set off towards the marked location.