Zero soon spotted a lone goblin in an empty clearing after a few minutes. He breathed out and took out an arrow from the quiver. He needed to practice. The last time he had held a bow, he was fourteen. He wasn't bad, as it used to be one of his hobbies before he eventually lost interest.

Zero nocked the arrow to the bowstring as he held the bow up. He pulled the arrow and aimed. The goblin was walking, clueless that it was being watched. Zero took in a deep breath and activated {Piercing Shot}. The arrow started humming and glowed a faint green before Zero released it.

The arrow whipped through the air, aimed straight for the goblin's head.

[You have slain a Goblin. +10 Experience Points.]

The rusted sword it was holding clattered to the ground as its dead body thumped to the floor. The wooden arrow surprisingly shot through the goblin's head and struck the ground before it shattered into pieces. It looked like the wooden arrow wasn't durable enough to survive the harsh impact, especially after Zero cast {Piercing Shot} on it.

Although I've gotten a bit rusty, I should be able to get the hang of it after I use it a few more times, but this shortbow is not exactly well-made. And also...

"System, I leveled up, right?"

[Correct, host. Congratulations.]

"Status panel."

0/200 EXP

Name: Zero

Title:

Race: Human

Class:

Level: 4

HP: 180/200

MP: 25/29

STR: 4+

END: 5+

INT: 7+

AGI: 4+

My attributes are mostly equal to each other, with the exception of INT. Is it because I'm smart? Hehe... but for now I'll upgrade AGI, since I'm going to be doing hit-and-runs.

Zero clicked the plus for AGI and could swear he felt a burst of energy throughout his body.

"Hey system, how exactly does upgrading my attributes work? Unless you can't tell me that either," Zero asked.

[I absorb some of the life energy of the enemies that you kill and I forcibly implant it in your body, host. You leveling up is simply an accumulation of all that life energy that you collect being ingrained into you.]

"Then why can't we just go around collecting some of everybody's life energy without killing them, if that makes me stronger?"

[Gods exist in this world. I am already bending the rules quite a bit by collecting some of the life energy of the enemies you kill, host. If I simply start forcibly stealing away everything's life energy and stuffing it into you, host, the gods will not simply stand still.]

"But aren't you the system? Can't you just wipe them from existence?"

[I am not omnipotent, host. The power of the system depends on the power of the host. Unless you have the ability to kill gods, host, I suggest you not anger them unnecessarily.]

"Then what are you? Why did you even choose ME out of every person on Earth? And I don't believe in coincidence so don't try to use that as an excuse."

[I cannot tell you yet, host. You will find out in due time.]

"Then what CAN you tell me?"

[I can tell you that I am on your side and that you can trust me, host.]

Zero sighed, "Ya know, dumping me into another world without warning doesn't really help with the "trust" thing."

The system kept silent.

"But I guess I have no choice but to play along, huh?"

Zero soon found another lone goblin walking through the forest. He pulled another arrow out of the quiver, nocked it, raised the bow, aimed, cast {Piercing Shot}, and released his hold on the arrow.

"At this rate, I'll run out of arrows."

[You have slain a Spear Goblin. +15 Experience Points.]

Let's hope I come across another goblin archer soon...

Kaarvishki Oochaoi Skuurizcharu was angry. Extremely angry. Its loyal troops kept dying mysteriously one after another. The goblin army was beginning to fear. This was not good. If it did not do its job as the general of the goblin army properly, its queen will... it shivered in fright as it thought about its terrifying lord. In any case, it needed to catch the intruder, and it needed to catch the intruder fast.

It seemed like the outsider liked to target the goblins walking alone, it thought as it gnashed its teeth in anger. What a coward. Just wait until this one finds you, I will tear you limb from limb and feast on your flesh.

Then, its eyes curved into crescents as it thought of a nefarious plan. It barked at one of its soldiers beside it. The soldier nodded in understanding before running off to inform the others.

Its beloved mount next to it suddenly let out a cry of hunger. The goblin grunted and soothed its pet to calm it down. Soon, soon...