Chapter 3: Stuck

I called up my 'Status' and noticed that [General Skills] now included [Meditation] under it.

After focusing on [Meditation], another small screen popped up:

[Meditation lvl 1]

[Meditating will recover health, mana, and stamina faster. Increases Focus.]

"A skill..."

I pondered the ease of acquiring skills, contemplating how straightforward it seemed to obtain them. However, I remained uncertain about how to activate them or for how long they could be kept active.

'Meditation,' I thought, and closed my eyes.

Entering my previous state quickly, it became easier to recall the fights I had endured—the movements of my body, the surroundings, the encounters with goblins. It felt akin to a simulation, yet maintaining that state proved challenging.

After a few minutes, I found it increasingly difficult to focus and ceased [Meditation].

[Meditation gained a level] x2

Feeling relaxed, the encroaching sleep that had threatened to overtake me dissipated.

As night drew closer and the sky began to darken, I decided to remain perched in the tree, opting to meditate instead of venturing out into the darkness.

With the first rays of sunlight illuminating the forest, my eyes fluttered open.

[Meditation gained a level] x7

[Meditation] had leveled up nine times and was now at level 10. Despite the skill's massive progression, I had not gained a single level myself.

'So only killing monsters helps,' I mused.

Setting simple goals for the day—to search for the door and procure food—I checked my 'Status' and found that I had 6 bonus points. Since I had enough Strength to handle a goblin and Agility to dodge its attacks, I allocated 1 point to Vitality, 1 to Endurance, and 2 to Dexterity.

---

Strength: 11

Agility: 11

Endurance: 13

Vitality: 13

Dexterity: 12

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 10

Perception: 15

Bonus points remaining: 2

---

A peculiar sensation spread throughout my body. The scratches on my back felt less painful, and wielding the spear seemed easier.

'I’ll need to experiment a little more,' I thought.

Although there were changes, it was difficult to discern their exact nature. The feelings I experienced could simply be illusions.

After descending from the tree, I began moving in a straight line in a random direction, marking every other tree with an 'X' to ensure I could find my way back to the lake.

But as I kept walking, the number of goblins I encountered kept on increasing. Instead of taking a risk which could eventually lead to being surrounded on all sides, I turned around and started walking in the opposite direction.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Now I knew the general area where the goblins lived and was able to gain two levels. I also noticed that Dexterity made wielding the spear a lot more natural, while Endurance increased my stamina and Vitality improved my natural regeneration.

I recovered stamina a lot faster, and the wounds already had their scabs falling off, which usually happened a week after I experienced a light cut or wound.

I then added 2 points to Strength. Even though I had enough strength to pierce a goblin, I still didn't know what the 'Stat' affected in its entirety.

After walking for around an hour or two, I suddenly collided with something.

"Ugh! What..."

There was nothing in front of me. I reached out and felt like I was touching a solid wall. I was confused but not for long as a pop-up appeared before me.

[Hidden Area: Goblin Village]

[Reach level 15 to enter]

'Enter? Aren't the monsters I’m killing goblins? And seeing as the numbers increased the further I went inside, there should also be a village. So why is it saying...'

I paused. I understood what was happening, and slowly but surely, anger started to build up.

'I spawned inside the fucking hidden area? And the only way to enter is through this fucking barrier, which needs me to be fucking level 15?!'

I punched the 'barrier,' but the only difference was now that my fist hurt.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down, but I was still frustrated. This wasn't a game I was playing—the threat to my life was real. All I could do now was raise my level if I wanted to leave.

On my way back, I still didn't find anything to eat. The hunger was slowly building. All I had for the last two days was water. It would have still been 'ok' if I didn't have to constantly fight goblins.

I found another two goblins which I quickly killed by taking out one of them by surprise.

[Level up]

I crouched beside one of the corpses, the memory of a goblin consuming another still fresh. As I kept on staring, I saw a few panels pop up before me.

[Learned 'Identify']

[Goblin Corpse]

[A young goblin. Edible]

I didn't need to think about anything else. I picked up a goblin corpse and started to move toward the river. It was time to eat some jerky.

The entire process was bloody—extremely so. I even vomited the moment I saw guts and organs; it was my first time butchering something.

After skinning the goblin, which was another matter in itself as I had to use a goblin claw instead of a sharp knife, I washed the unusually red meat. I tore my shirt, wrapped all the meat, and carried it to where I slept last night.

While I let the meat dry, I made an improvised campfire to cook it. I had gone camping and wasn't exactly clueless in how to prepare most of the stuff, but I had never hunted before, let alone cooked that prey the same day.

'Tch, tasteless.'

The jerky didn't have much of anything except the weird gamey aroma that it had. To distract myself from the smell, I focused on my new skill.

[Identify lvl 1]

[Provides details based on the skill level]

I looked at the meat and thought about using [Identify].

[Cooked goblin meat]

[Edible, Tasteless]

[Identify has leveled up]

Even though the ability had leveled up, there was no change in the description that the skill provided. My spear was labeled as [A standard spear], and similar to the 'meat,' not a lot of information was provided.

Still, I made sure to use the skill on every other thing I found to level up the skill faster.

I also noticed that strength not only increased my physical power, it also increased my speed. I could reach my top speed, which had also increased, faster.

I then added 2 points to Agility, wondering what this stat did. I was also confused as to why my Perception was so high and hesitant to currently add points to this stat.

The journey back was a lot different from before.

Now I was actively searching for goblins to kill, dashing to them on sight, leaving behind a path of blood. I also gained 3 levels, leaving me with a total of 10 bonus points to use as I pleased.

Agility increased my body's fluidity and flexibility, allowing me to exert my strength better. It did not increase my strength but made it more effective, if that makes any sense.

Anyway, I had at least figured out what the most important stats did. I didn't know much about Intelligence or Wisdom, but I guessed they were related to magic, as almost every physical aspect was covered.

Only Perception was a question mark at the moment, but before I could think anything regarding that, I felt a chill run down my spine.

I moved my head as fast I could, only to feel a slight burning sensation on my cheek along with an audible thud. I looked forward to see a slim goblin nocking another arrow on his bow.

I sprinted towards a tree and hid behind it as blood slowly moved from the cut to my chin. The goblin did not let the arrow loose yet, and I soon knew why, as I could see two goblins to my right.

One with a big shield and another one with two small axes.

If I ran in the opposite direction, the archer would have a clear view, while on the other hand, I had no idea how strong the other two goblins were.

So logically, I buffed myself up by adding 3 points to both Strength and Agility. Then I threw my spear towards a nearby tree. The sudden sound and movement startled the goblin, who let go of his arrow as it hit a bark.

The moment I heard that, I dashed towards my spear and then to the archer. This time the stat increase felt tangible, and before I reached the goblin, I took a big step.

My body twisted, and I threw my spear.

It was not a good choice, but I felt that it would hit.

And it did.

The spear pierced the goblin, and a loud screech was heard as the monster fell down.

[Killed an Archer Goblin. Experience gained.]

Two goblins left.