Chapter 4

# 4

Unprecedented Tutorial (2)

In that sense, the 'Normal' grade title 'Born Fighter' was a trivial level for Lokan, but it was now quite useful.

Since he couldn't level up and was at a disadvantage in all aspects, it was much better than nothing. It would serve as a foundation for achieving greater accomplishments.

'If only I could level up, I could have cut them all down...'

But if that were the case, the others would be in the same boat.

Lokan, feeling regretful, smacked his lips and then began to move stealthily.

The next target was the general store.

'Damn, again...'

Lokan's expression crumpled as he approached the general store.

Just like at the weapon shop, goblins were gathered in front of the general store, and this time there were five of them.

He had obtained a weapon, but that didn't make him invincible. With his current health, a few blind stabs could be dangerous, and his options for ranged attacks were limited.

There were more weapons at the weapon shop, but he had only taken one main weapon and two throwing axes.

He could have taken a few more backup weapons using his inventory, but the weight gauge would have slowed his movement, so he restrained himself.

But he didn't expect to regret it this much.

'At least they don't have paralyzing darts.'

The only consolation was that the goblins didn't have ranged weapons.

The most terrifying aspect of goblins was their paralyzing darts, but that was only in the main game. The creators had some conscience, and the goblins in the tutorial were only armed with hand knives and leather armor.

Of course, even that was dangerous enough for ordinary players.

At that moment, something caught Lokan's eye as he was hiding and observing the goblins.

'That is... '

An opening leading into the general store.

He had thought his map luck was terrible when he saw five goblins gathered in front of the general store, but it wasn't a death sentence.

'Good luck.'

Sssss...

Avoiding the goblins' eyes, Lokan circled around and crawled through the opening into the general store.

He then collected all the items inside.

'With this... I can give it a try.'

Three lowest-grade health potions, two each of the lowest-grade enhancement potions that boosted strength, health, and agility. They were more precious than gold to Lokan now.

The last item he obtained was a lowest-grade fire resistance scroll. In this place, which was a sea of flames, it would help him endure the gradual loss of health.

'Not yet.'

Even with his limited health being reduced by 1 point at regular intervals, Lokan held back.

The duration of the lowest-grade fire resistance scroll was 10 minutes. With a base health of 100 and the 'Intense Heat' effect reducing health by 1 point every 20 seconds, he could last 20 minutes and still have 40 health left. Plus, he had a lowest-grade health potion that restored 40 health over 10 seconds, so using it immediately wasn't necessary.

So, he had to use it 'at that time.'

Gulp, gulp, gulp...

Instead, he drank the lowest-grade enhancement potions one by one. They were expensive and the amount was like birdseed, but a sip was enough to swallow each one.

The moment the enhancement was complete, Lokan's eyes turned predatory.

Goblins were no longer fearsome predators; they were merely easy prey.

"Huff."

Squeak!

A throwing axe flew from Lokan, who had a predatory look in his eyes.

"Keeek!"

"Keeek!"

Two throwing axes accurately pierced the forehead and neck of a goblin that was among the group. It was a truly ghostly skill.

"Kekeke!"

Three goblins remained.

It wasn't an easy number, but Lokan confidently charged forward, taunting them in a language they couldn't understand.

"Come on, you dirtbags!"

"Keeek! Keeek!"

Curses are understood even if you don't know the words.

As the excited goblins charged one by one, a crude axe appeared in Lokan's empty hand. It was the 'Woodcutter's Single-Blade Axe' he had taken from the weapon shop.

When he first picked it up, his strength stat was too low, and he received a penalty, but now, after drinking the enhancement potion, he could use it without any penalty.

"Hmph, where do you think you're going!"

A nimble goblin lunged at him with a hand knife, but the reach was different.

Crack!

Lokan, who had calculated the goblin's speed and position, swung the axe and shattered the goblin's skull.

That was the end. The goblin couldn't move anymore, and Lokan retrieved the axe to prepare for the next one.

Lokan's charge wasn't just out of excitement. He had chosen a favorable position for fighting multiple enemies, aiming to fight at the entrance of the general store.

"Of course, this is it!"

Once he secured the perfect position at the entrance, Lokan shivered slightly, feeling the heavy sensation in his palm and the pungent smell of blood. It was a thrilling sensation he had longed for over three months.

"Come on!"

He showed the goblins a devilish smile.

'Still a long way to go.'

Lokan swiftly decapitated five goblins, thanks to the 'Frenzy of Battle' that made them charge without thinking of fleeing.

This was both an advantage and a disadvantage of the tutorial. It was an advantage when you were winning, but a terrifying charge when you were struggling.

However, Lokan, who had defeated five goblins without a scratch, had an unsatisfied expression. Compared to his movements when he was called the 'King of Violence,' he was now crawling.

Moreover, his body had rusted more than he thought during the three months he hadn't played. It would take a bit more time to move as he intended.

Your talent for defeating multiple enemies, who are at least three levels stronger than you, is truly a gift from heaven.

You are the first to obtain this title.

-Strength +3

-Agility +3

-5% increased critical hit chance in battles with five or more enemies

"Wow, it even has a first-obtain bonus."

This time, it was a 'Magic' grade title. Originally, it was a 'Superior' grade title, but because he was the first to obtain it and didn't take a single hit, the grade and effects were enhanced.

If it wasn't perfect or the first, it would have only increased strength and agility by 2.

"This... is sweet."

The special effect obtained from the first-obtain bonus was quite useful. It only activated in battles with multiple enemies, but the increased critical hit chance was an effect he preferred even in his previous life.

However, it was too early to relax. He had only killed seven goblins, and there were still over twenty goblins roaming the village.

'And there's that one too.'

The most concerning was the goblin leader, the armed goblin.

Although downgraded due to the tutorial, the goblin was at least a level 10 powerhouse. Moreover, it had decent iron armor.

Even at the beginner level, it was a godlike force in the early stages. With just the lowest-grade enhancement potion, it would be difficult to even fight on equal terms.

Tolkien had failed several times when he attacked the goblin and eventually cleared the tutorial by circumventing it.

'And he said it was made to be caught.'

No one had succeeded even with the promise of a huge reward and a guild recruitment for capturing the goblin on video.

Lokan agreed with this opinion. Although he had only seen it in videos due to skipping the tutorial, the goblin was clearly not something a level 1 character could defeat.

'An ordinary player would need to be at least level 15 to fight one-on-one, not level 10.'

But that was for later. Now was the time to focus on reducing the number of goblins.

'13 minutes so far. Still okay.'

Despite the time it took to move stealthily, it was still manageable. The enhancement effects were still barely active.

The last set of enhancement potions would need to be invested in the plan, but this was a good start.

'First, the isolated ones.'

Lokan quickly searched the area.

He lured the goblins that moved in groups into buildings and hunted them, and quickly dispatched the ones that were alone.

By the time the first set of enhancement potions wore off, only sixteen goblins remained.

He had killed fourteen, and sixteen remained.

Mathematically, he could kill all of them with the remaining set of lowest-grade enhancement potions.

Moreover, the armed goblin always had at least five goblins as bodyguards, so even if he avoided the goblin and only killed the others, he could kill twenty-five goblins.

Tolkien became famous because he killed more than that.

But Lokan wasn't satisfied with that. Taking away the achievement the goblin was supposed to have was meaningful, but he needed greater results to walk the path he wanted.

'17 minutes so far. Time is... okay...'

While slowly catching his breath and observing the goblins' positions, Lokan's expression hardened.

The armed goblin's movement path was unusual.

The direction it was heading was clearly toward the building where Mark was hiding.

"Damn!"

The 0 minutes to hide Mark was not a fixed time. It was an average, and it could vary depending on the goblins' search direction.

Even so, it was too much to be advanced by more than 10 minutes.

"Damn system."

This could only be seen as the developer's manipulation. It was as if they had smeared honey on Mark, and the goblins were sensing the direction with incredible accuracy. If this continued, he would be discovered for sure.

'Let's try it.'

There was no choice now. He had to execute the plan, whether it succeeded or failed.

Gulp, gulp, gulp!

Lokan drank the enhancement potions one after another. Feeling his body heat up, he stepped onto the path the goblins were walking.

Squeak! Thud, thud!

Instead of attacking the armed goblin, which was immune to his attacks, he threw his throwing axes to reduce the number of its subordinates.

"Keeek!"

Perhaps because the subordinate next to him died, the armed goblin turned its head angrily.

Clang!

Lokan threw a rock he picked up at the goblin. It hit the helmet, causing almost no damage, but it perfectly drew the goblin's 'aggro.'

"Keeek!"

With the enraged armed goblin's cry, all the surrounding goblins began to chase him.

But Lokan was no longer looking at the goblin. As if he had anticipated this, he was already running away.

"Ha!"

Not only that, he threw rocks from his inventory to draw the attention of the goblins who weren't looking at him and maintained the 'aggro' of the ones following him.

They would chase him to the death due to the 'Frenzy of Battle,' but it was a precaution.

The cumbersome axe was already in his inventory.

He found himself playing tag with over a dozen goblins.

"Ugh!"

Running as fast as he could, Lokan turned when he saw a goblin suddenly appear in front of him.

He could crush a goblin's head with one hit while the enhancement effect lasted, but the time it would take to do so was too precious. It was that tense a moment.

He could maintain the distance with the lowest-grade agility enhancement potion for now, but once the duration ended, he would be gradually caught.

'Alright!'

And then, the key location of Lokan's plan appeared.