On The Way Back

Achievement: You have slain an elite monster.

The elite monster: [Goblin Commander] was a species leader. For defeating a species leader, goblins will no longer spawn within the dungeon.

Reward(s):

+2000 exp

+20 unallocated points

I stared blankly at the new panel scream that popped up immediately after I dealt the final blow to the goblin commander.

I had an inkling that I’d earn something from beating that level 20 monster, but I didn’t expect another achievement panel to appear.

Like before, I had only ever seen an achievement panel when I first killed a goblin, back when the countdown hadn’t reached zero. This time around, the panel congratulated me for killing its superior, the goblin commander.

I mused over its contents while I lazily stared at the panel.

Apparently, this creature was what you’d consider an elite monster. Now, usually, elite monsters were a tier above regular monsters, most commonly followed by either a mid boss, or skipping straight ahead to boss level monsters. Really, the power structure largely depends on the type of rpg one plays.

But anyways, that wasn’t really what caught my attention. It was already dead obvious that the Goblin Commander was a bit more special than a regular mob.

What was interesting was the title that the system gave to the monster; “Species Leader.” While it was readily apparent that the Goblin Commander held some sort of rank within goblins, to think killing it meant that those green buggers would no longer spawn… this was a conclusion outside my original expectations.

Honestly, I didn’t know whether that particular detail was good or bad. On one side, there were no more goblins. On the other side, I would lose my source of what I had began to consider “easy experience.”

“...”

Well, there was no point dwelling over the matter. What’s done is done.

Rather, I’ll focus on something a bit more positive. Like the rewards. Added with the 2000 exp from this achievement, as well as the accumulated exp I recently received from killing all the goblins, I rose by a whooping 3 levels, bringing me up to level 15.

If compared objectively, then I was on even grounds with the minotaurs that had scared me half to death a while ago.

On top of it all, the 20 free points basically gave me extra stats that, usually, I’d need 4 additional levels to achieve.

This was indeed a very generous reward… In fact, I played with the thought of attacking the minotaur spawn point just because of these bonuses. If stopping goblins from spawning got me such a great boost, I could only imagine what sort of rewards I’d get from doing the same thing with the minotaues.... I thought about it, but, for now, I’ll save such a thing for later.

Fully satisfied, I mentally closed the panel, and immediately brought up my status window.

[Status!]

Status WindowNameHide MayoAge17RaceHumanLevel15GenderMaleTitlesPioneer, PyschopathHealth230/250(16)Health Regen.0.005 / SecMana

(unavailable)250(16)Mana Regen.0.01 / SecStamina250(16)Stamina Regen.0.05 / Sec-Strength16(10)Agility29(16)Vitality7(16)Dexterity30(16)Intelligence11(16)Wisdom11(16)Leadership0(8)Luck0(8)-SkillsEquip (Active)

Identification (Active)

Dissection(Active)Current Status Effect(s)n/aUnallocated Points45

I briefly looked at my current stats.

I lamented over the new boost I recieved from my [Psychopath] title. As expected, even if the boosts were surprisingly beneficial, I was still a bit apprehensive over being called mentally unstable.

I continued to examine my status, and the section labeled ‘unallocated points’ brought a tight smile to my face.

I hadn’t distributed any points since I reached level 10, and with the +20 I recently received, well, suffice to say, I had accumulated quite a lot.

For a brief moment, I lamented on dumping all these points in agility. After all, it would have been interesting to observe how such a great boost affected my current speed.

In the end though, I decided I wasn’t quite that stupid, and instead choose to distribute my accumulated points rather smartly.

I placed most of the points on strength, vitality, agility, and dexterity.

Like always, I avoided intelligence and wisdom, since I really didn’t find any point in adding stats in that particular field. I also decided to forgo rising my luck and leadership. As expected, I really couldn’t put my trust in an arbitrary thing like luck, and leadership, in my eyes, was a pointlessly unnecessary stat.

I disliked crowds (and people in general), so it’d be quite odd for a loner like me to have any investment in leadership.

In the end, I placed 15 in both dexterity and agility, 10 in strength, and 5 in vitality.

Actually, I was a bit apprehensive about the vitality stat. Previously, I had never distributed any of my points in this particular stat, so I was still blind as to what it affected. Now usually, vitality is something that affects the hp or stamina bar in most rpgs. An increase in vitality would subsequently increase either stamina or hp.

This wasn’t the case for me. After I allocated the appropriate points into vitality, there wasn’t an increase in my maximum hp or maximum stamina. Similarly, my hp regeneration and stamina regeneration didn’t increase as well.

This led me to one conclusion; vitality affected something else entirely. The most likely affect it had was probably on my defense capabilities. Something like making me more impervious to attacks wouldn’t be far off.

Anyways, after I finished distributing my stats appropriately, I gleaned over them one more time.

Status WindowNameHide MayoAge17RaceHumanLevel15GenderMaleTitlesPioneer, PyschopathHealth230/250(16)Health Regen.0.005 / SecMana

(unavailable)250(16)Mana Regen.0.01 / SecStamina250(16)Stamina Regen.0.05 / Sec-Strength26(10)Agility44(16)Vitality12(16)Dexterity45(16)Intelligence11(16)Wisdom11(16)Leadership0(8)Luck0(8)-SkillsEquip (Active)

Identification (Active)

Dissection(Active)Current Status Effect(s)n/aUnallocated Points0

I smiled whilst nodding to myself.

I felt satisfied with this level of growth. While I didn’t have anybody to compare my stats with, I at least thought I was somewhat decent.

Not one to get to stuck up on past achievements, I quickly closed my status window with a thought.

Next, I scanned the corpse and its immediate area. I was looking for some sort of item. I mean, its natural logic to think I’d get some sort of special drop after defeating an elite monster.

After a few minutes, my assumption was proven true as my eyes caught hint of something thin and jagged that poked out from underneath the goblin commander’s body.

Using the end of my sneaker, I roughly pushed the corpse aside and looked down at the new item.

It was a weapon.

A short, and sharp looking dagger with a monotone hilt. The blade itself was rather unique. It was an immensely dark shade of black. The blade let out no reflection, it was the very definition of incarnation of darkness.

I quickly picked it up and used [identify] on the new object.

ding!

Efhermet Dagger

A dagger crafted by the famed goblin blacksmith, “Efhermet the Odd” using meteoric iron ore. It holds a mysterious sheen to it and appears to be finely crafted.

The weapon looks to be crafted especially for human usage.

Damage: 75 - 95

Critical hit rate increase by 20%

+25 strength

+ 35 agility

+17 dexterity

[Equip] Skill Bonus

+35 strength

+5 luck

(????)

Level Requirement: 25

My jaw gaped open as I stared dizzily at the blue status screen in front of me.

“T-these stats….” I could only muster to say while my eyes fixedly stared down the numbers that hung luminescently to the faint blue box.

Suffice to say, this weapon was incredible. No, rather, this was a godsend.

The stats were insane, and the brief description left a lot to be pondered.

For one, it mentioned the maker of the weapon, a goblin blacksmith named Efhermet. Now, usually this wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but in my current situation, it was amazing news.

It meant that there was someone on the other side. And by other side, I meant the other side of the spawn point. The goblins didn’t just spawn from non-existence, rather, they seem to be teleported here. And the existence known as Efhermet just proves that there’s another world past my own. Efhermet was someone who, more than likely, lived and crafted this dagger in that "other" world.

Through some stroke of luck, Efhermet's dagger winded up in this world. As loot. As loot for me who killed a Goblin Commander.

It was a lot to handle, but it wasn’t something I hadn’t thought of before. I mean, I’ve had a few theories as to where the monsters came from, so “Efhermet” not only brought a bit of light to my situation, but also gave me numerous questions.

It was an issue I’d seriously like to investigate someday, but for now, I’ll put it to the side.

I once more drooled over these amazing stats. Plus aside from the stats, there was also a (???). I could only anticipate what type of bonus my [Equip] would give me.

While I was ecstatic at receiving the new dagger, what instantly poured water on my parade was the level requirement. I had to be at least level 25 or above for this weapon!

This was fairly depressing news, considering it would take a bit more time if I wanted to use that. But in retrospect, the issue about the level requirement also brought up a few questions of mine.

A level up requirement hadn’t appeared before… but then again, I guess this was the only time I ever acquired a ‘system’ weapon.

Plus, my main concern was what “requirement” entailed. In a sense, I obviously could weild it, since right now, I was holding the dagger quite firmly in one hand. Would this requirement label show its effects during mid battle? Maybe something bad will happen if I fight with a weapon I’m not high level enough to use?

While I thought this, funneled by curiousity, I brought up my status window again. There was something I wanted to confirm.

I gripped the dagger comfortably in my left hand and checked my status. Like I half-expected, the given bonus like +25 in strength, or the +30 in agility didn’t take their effects on me.

“So this is what level restrictions mean in this world…” I sighed.

While this was disappointing, it at least confirmed what the level requirement did for me. It didn’t stop me from wielding the weapon, but merely stopped me from taking in its added effects, which, for me, was probably the most important aspect in this whole weapons system.

Although, in my case, there was still some viability in using the Efhermet dagger in combat. For one, despite the original weapon bonuses not taking effect, the bonuses I received from [Equip] strangely still applied.

And since it gave such an amazing boost to my strength with just the [Equip] bonus, I had decided from here on out, that the Efhermet Dagger was my premiere weapon of choice.

Satisfied with that decision, I gripped the dagger once more in my hand before I proceeded into the restroom. I went and promptly picked up the health potions that I haphazardly left behind. I also checked the new corpses, both inside the restroom and out in the hallway, to see if they dropped anything important.

Luckily, out of the 10 corpses, two dropped basic health potions, so I was quite satisfied for now. Not including the two I had to use during the battle, I had 9 health potions left and 1 mana potion.

While I checked for any loot, I also scavenged a few short swords as well, since I’ve completely realized how important my throwing capabilities can get in a fight. An extra short sword not only gave additional boosts, but with my throwing, I could easily turn a short ranged, close quarters fight, into a mid ranged battle.

Besides, it was always important to have a surplus of weapons, especially for someone like me, who relied on [Equip].

I collected some of the better swords that the goblins left behind and in no time, I found my way back to the Goblin Commander’s body. I looked briefly at the monster before I bent down, and yanked out the last dagger, which was still embedded onto the Goblin Commander’s cranium. After I pulled the blade out, a short squirt of blood stained my uniform as I looked solemnly at the creature one last time.

I glared at it rather intently, mulling over a mental debate I was currently having. I thought for a moment before I finally used [identification] on the goblin corpse.

“....”

Like I thought, after 5 seconds nothing happen--

Ding!

A blue screen floated from up above the corpse.

Goblin Corpse

A corpse recently killed. The quality of the body is acceptable.

RANK C++ Necromancy ingredient

Simple information decorated by two words.

“Necromancy..?” My mind hung up on this one phrase.

So even something like that was possible huh? I lamented over this. The body was useless to me, who couldn’t even use magic, let alone necromancy. But anyways, its not like I’d ever want to bring back the dead even if that were possible...its just that… it worries even me that someone would be capable of that.

Bringing the dead back to life was a novel idea that, unfortunately, usually had several setbacks, both for the necromancer, and the people around him. I can’t count how many stories I’ve read where a willfull necromancer either turned evil, or died in vain.

I frowned at the thought that something like that would bound to exist in this new world.

I glanced briefly once more at the body before I turned around and began to make my way back.

I had collected the health potions necessary to heal Hina, the next step now was to go and give it to her. While I thought such, I couldn’t help but lament over how I kept them waiting for more than 5 hours. Rather, if I looked at the bigger picture here, this whole thing started about 8 hours ago.

That amount of time was both long and short. That amount of time was also enough to make someone like me starve.

I hadn’t had a proper meal in so long. My stomach reflexively growled as my mind began to mentally complain. Aside from that granola bar I had earlier, I didn’t have anything else. And honestly, granola bars aren’t very filling.

I contemplated for a brief moment whether or not I should take a detour on my way back to the art room to go scavenge some food. It wouldn’t take long, just a brief in and out of a few classrooms.

“....”

No, doing something unnecessary like that is uncalled for. Honestly, just the fact that I kept the girls waiting for 5 hours should be enough of a motivator for me to make haste on my way back. I mean, 5 hours is a long time. It wouldn’t be surprising, really, if they ended up thinking I had died or something.

That would only be a natural outcome anybody that anybody would guess.

But its not like I could have helped it, I was a bit caught up.

I chided myself, but I continued forward. I had kept them long enough, it would be even worse if I delayed any longer.

I continued onward, faintly hoping nothing bad had happened to them while I was away.

***

While I walked down the decrepit old hallway, I couldn’t help but notice all the corpses.

Now, this particular area of the school was pretty secluded. At most, during pre-apocalypse, there were probably around 100 students who had class here when the countdown striked. From the looks of it, the majority of that 100 were dead.

What exactly was capable of doing such an amazing feat… I could only shudder at the thought.

It obviously weren’t the goblins, since I’ve fought them, and I fully understand the extent of their strength. And, while I hadn’t seen any minotaurs (mostly since I avoided the hall they spawned around) recently, I doubt it was them.

While it's true that those bull headed beasts were strong, and no doubt they at least managed to wipe out a classroom or two, I had to bring my attention to the corpses in the hallway. From their posture, and look of fear, the bodies around here had died while in mid run.

What was capable of something like that… well, suffice to say, it wasn’t a minotaur.

A minotaur would have trampled and smashed the bodies, like what they had done with that carefree teacher from earlier. The scene before me… it was unnatural.

Also, there was a strange lack of, well, a strange lack of monsters.

The only monster’s I’ve come across were the goblins, which by now, would never respawn ever again (well, at least in this dungeon) and the minotaurs, who moved the opposite direction going directly towards the main building.

Aside from them, the West wing 2nd floor was completely devoid of anything else.

This realization brought a shiver down my spine. How ever you looked at it, this situation, was unnatural. It was an unnatural situation within in an already unattural situation.

“....”

With the same attitude I used to get through most of my mental trauma, I pushed the concern back. There was no use being bogged down by depressing thoughts like that. At the very least, everyone’s killer doesn’t seem to be around anymore, so that’s a bit comforting for someone like me.

For now, I won’t worry about it, but I’ll keep the concern alive, while I try to live through the rest of the day.

****

Halfway through my return, I came across a hallway with windows. The windows overlooked the courtyard, and from across the school grounds, it was possible to see the newer, more improved Eastern wing of the school.

I walked nonchalantly through the hall, my eyes briefly glancing outside.

“!”

My mouth gaped at the scene I saw through the transparent material.

In short, the East wing was currently on fire. Plumes of smoke rose from the rooftop and the transparent glass resisted the licks of fire red and orange flames as they continued to ravage both room and hallway.

It was a pretty amazing scene. The flames danced wildly, quite beautifully too, if you looked at it from another perspective. But nevertheless, it was still quite a worrisome view.

I briefly pondered whether the flames would burn the whole school down, but that was a stupid conclusion.

If you looked closely, it was possible to observe that the flames, while they looked like they were endlessly growing and eating its way through the school, in fact, they stopped around near the border of what connects the main building with the east wing. Now, I don’t know what exactly stopped the fire from spreading, but for now, it had my thanks. After all, I didn’t necessarily want to burn to death in this decrepit high school.

The flames were quite eye catching, even to the point where they sucked up all my visual attention and I completely looked over something equally as amazing yet equally as frightening.

Down below on the courtyard, lazily sat an enormous creature. It was somewhat chimera like, with parts of different animals all congregated and mashed up into one incohesive ball of confusion.

A donkey’s tail here, eagle like talons, panda eyes, crocodile mouth, a turtle shell that sprouted wings from its back… really, it was quite odd looking.

While looking at the creature, I also marveled its size. It was around 3 times bigger than one of the minotaurs I saw, and from the looks of its composed sleeping face, I deemed it probably had a level to match its size.

If you told me this creature was the final boss, then I’d think that’s a valid assumption. Although, after thinking about it for a while, I doubted that was the reality. The chimera was outside the school, and since we couldn’t leave the building until the boss was dead, it would be rather unreasonable to have the final boss be outside, where it was out of reach from the players.

At most, this chimera like monster which guarded the courtyard was probably like a secret boss, or something extra the system put in there after it decided it hadn’t fucked with you enough yet.

***

I continue walking along the hallway, and in a little less than 10 minutes, after I rounded one last corner, I made it back to the art room.

The pile of corpses that sat besides the door was almost a bit nostalgic for me. Its kind of weird. Its almost a bit comforting to see them piled up here, unchanging from when I first saw them.

I gave an odd mental hello to the layers of dead, before I reached for the door.

With one twist and a gentle push, I entered the art room.

*****

Author's Note:

Sorry for the delay, I was sick.

Rate,follow, favorite, etc. to show support if you enjoy this fiction. This fic is still "relatively" new, so it needs all the help it can get. I'd greatly appreciate it.