Now that his injuries had healed themselves nothing was stopping Nathan from moving further down the tunnel. His next opponent had soon enough entered his vision as well. The goblin was way shorter than himself only being a bit taller than a meter with its skin being in a dark shade of green. It looked human-like, but with proportions that were all messed up. A huge nose as well as a mouth that stretched beyond what would be the acceptable length for a human to have. It’s yellow best like eyes shined in the dark stone brick tunnel as Nathan began to approach it.
The goblin showed no real reaction to Nathan’s advancement simply standing there in its grass skirt letting him approach it with no problems. Something just felt off to Nathan about this whole situation the goblin didn’t even have any weapons. His worries turned out to be true as soon as he got about ten meters from the goblin it raised its hand waving it at Nathan while speaking in a completely foreign language. A sense of discomfort instantly rose within him as the realization that the creature in front of him was a living being with its own thoughts and aspirations. It wasn't like those skeletons before that just moved like puppets. Yet to move further in the tutorial he had to take its life. An uncomfortable feeling rose in his heart as he got even closer to it knowing what he will have to do.
"Sorry... It's either you or me."
With those words, Nathan steeled his heart as the sword chopped at the neck of the goblin that showed no harm to him. The blade sliced open the neck of the goblin before it realized what was going on. It’s green skin now split open from the swing as blood started to gush out from the side of its neck. It tried to release a scream of pain only to choke on its own blood from the deep wound Nathan had left on it.
The goblin kept trying to release cries of pain as it fell on the floor clutching its neck. To Nathan, it completely sounded like the please for its life. The uncomfortable feeling he couldn’t describe with words only rose in strength as he watched the goblin struggle. The metallic stench of blood that now covered the corridor was starting to overwhelm him. Nathan was going to puke if this continued for much longer he needed to move away from it. But he just couldn’t take his eyes away from the goblin knowing it was him that did that to the goblin.
That familiar chill with its warmness had embraced him once again. Giving him the strength needed to push through as he started to walk once again. The disturbing sounds of the dying goblin were slowly becoming quieter as it’s life faded away. It didn’t take long for the system to confirm it’s death as well.
| Level 0 Goblin has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
Nathan understood he needed to change if he wanted to get Nicole back. He couldn’t be so weak-willed anymore. He had to become more selfish and change his moral view if he wanted to succeed in his goals.
As if the tutorial was testing his own resolve a goblin wielding two rusted daggers rushed towards him. The goblin was warmly welcomed with a kick to its chest as it’s small body flew to the ground with its two daggers dropping to the ground in the process. The goblin clenched its chest in pain as it tried to get up from the fall it just took. Nathan denied it as he threw the shield in his hand at it, Knocking it down once again. This had given him enough time to close the distance between the two of them as he raised his sword, finishing the goblin with a downwards thrust to its head.
| Level 1 Goblin has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
“I can do this!” Nathan was still feeling extremely uncountable about killing these goblin’s but his goal of being reunited with Nicole completely overshadowed these feelings. The constant chill that was embracing him helped greatly in this situation as well. Retrieving his sword that was getting more and more dyed with red from the goblin’s blood he proceeded to move once again.
| Level 1 Goblin has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
| Congratulations for defeating the last foe of 4-6 |
| Choose a reward: Sword Mastery, Shield mastery, Spirit attunement. |
| Your next challenge will be against a Skeleton that still holds a skill of his own. Do your best to learn from it. |
As Nathan read through the system messages the reward spiritual attunement had instantly drawn his attention. He could only believe that it would make his connection with Nickole even stronger if he chose it.
| spiritual attunement | Level 1 |
| You have become closer to the spirit realm allowing you to have a much greater sense towards spirits. |
| +3 Sense |
Midway reading through its description Nathan felt an odd presence behind him as he turned around to see a very faint white mist a couple of centimeters away from him. It was so very faint that at times it felt like there was nothing there at all. His hand trembled as he reached out to it. His hand passed through the white mist without any resistance, but he could still feel a special connection with it. This was only confirmed as that familiar feeling he had begun to love rose as well.
“Is that really you Nicole?” He couldn’t see any reaction from the white mist towards his words or touch. He could only believe it was her, here with him.
“Don't worry, I will bring you back soon!" He couldn’t help but linger there a bit longer just watching the white mist that never left his side. Still, he knew he needed to move further and raise his level to be truly reunited with her.
As he began to move through the tunnel once again he noticed the change the +3 to his sense had brought him. This increase of +3 had almost doubled his sense stat all the way to 7. The true difference was hard to notice in the dark tunnel but just having the ability to see a couple of meters further was a huge change to his vision.
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If you based his current sight on the Snellen chart it would now be around 20/10 meaning he could see in the same clarity as someone with a vision of 20/20 if they stood 10 feet away instead of 20 from the object they were looking at. Yet sight was only one of the many senses that had improved with his sense reaching 7.
With this new increase to his vision, he had noticed the skeleton much sooner in the tunnel as it kept swinging his sword with proper technique. It repeatedly did the same set of movements without stopping in a cycle. A weak ghostly flame burned in its eye sockets barely being noticeable even in the dark tunnel.
"The tutorial did recommend that I learn from it." Nathan put down his shield as he held the sword mimicking the movements of the skeleton. He started by adjusting the way he stood as he began to swing the sword in the same manner as the skeleton.
His increase to his sense stat had shown its benefits as he mimicked its movements. He had a better sense of balance for the sword he held or even his own body.
Still, it had taken him longer than he would like to admit for his footing and sword movement to become as fluid as that of the skeleton. His efforts were still awarded as the system informed him of gaining a new skill.
| Sword mastery | Level 1 |
| Wielding a sword has become a bit more natural to you. |
| Increases damage and attack speed when using a sword by 5% |
Nathan couldn’t help but wonder how the tutorial would have changed if he took sword mastery instead of spiritual attunement. Would they have taught him one of the other rewards as a skill or would it have been a more advanced version of sword mastery? He had no answer to his own questions, but after learning sword mastery he had gained a sense of distaste for using the shield with his sword. The skeleton had taught him how to use the sword with one hand being free enabling him to switch his sword forms at any time, something a shield would just hinder.
Leaving the shield on the ground Nathan began to challenge the skeleton he didn’t wish to kill after being taught by it. Using the footwork and sword technique with his superior stats the skeleton was easily overpowered as Nathan guided the sword to strike the neck of the skeleton finishing it off. After its body crumbled to the ground Nathan exchanged the sword he held for the skeletons as it suited his way of fighting now much better.
| Level 1 Skeleton has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
| Congratulations you're about to face off against your last opponent of stage 0. The goblin necromancer with his small group of skeleton guards will be a test of everything you learned so far. |
Nathan did his best to reflect on the way he had fought so far and what he could learn from it to prepare for the final opponent of stage 0. It hadn’t taken him long to encounter a change in the tunnel as he could see a pair of stairs leading up blocked by a gloomy-looking goblin covered in bone accessories with its three skeletal guards near it.
Without any hesitation, Nathan took the initiative as he rushed towards the small group. Swinging his blade at the neck of the closest skeleton only for his sword to be blocked by its sword prompting the other skeletons to move in as well. Before they could enclose on him Nathan maneuvered his sword into a trust at the skeleton piercing its vertebrae followed by decapitating it. As it began to crumble to the ground Nathan was forced to block an attack of another skeleton. Before the last skeleton could strike at him as well, he delivered a powerful kick towards the skeleton whose attack he had just blocked before following up by striking the last standing skeleton's cranium cracking it together with his sword. The flames in its eyes became chaotic as it started to wobble before falling to the ground in a pile of bones.
The goblin necromancer wasn't idle this whole time he was preparing his spell as another skeleton rose from the ground. After raising the skeleton it became noticeably more exhausted but it didn't stop there as it began to cast another spell.
Luckily the summoned skeleton needed some time to get to Nathan leaving him enough time to finish off the last of the original skeletons. Keeping up his momentum Nathan threw the chipped sword as the goblin as he picked up the skeleton sword to deliver a powerful swing at the remaining skeleton. The swing was strong enough to fling the skeleton's sword aside creating an opening for Nathan. WIthout its sword in a position it could use it to defend itself it was easily finished off by Nathan. Now there was only the goblin necromancer left.
Nathan threw the cracked sword in his hand towards the goblin hitting its leg, creating a small wound that disturbed its magic casting. It tried its best to keep up its focus to cast the only spell it knew: Summon undead. But seeing its last summoned skeleton crumble to the ground it abandoned its efforts as it reached for a pouch on its waist. Yet it had made its decision too late as Nathan had reached it with the sword he picked up from the skeleton. Trusting it straight into the exposed chest of the goblin necromancer piercing it straight through its body as Nathan’s hands got dyed by blood as it flowed down his sword. It struggled for life as its body was lifted by Nathan’s sword from the ground before being thrown to the ground soon losing its life from all the internal damage.
| Level 1 Skeleton has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
| Level 1 Skeleton has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
| Level 1 Skeleton has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
| Level 1 Skeleton has been slain |
| + 10(-50%) Experience |
| Level 3 Elite goblin necromancer has been slain |
| + 120(-50%) Experience |
| Level up |
| Congratulations on finishing stage 0 off the tutorial. Stage 1 will begin once you climb the staircase. |
| Choose a reward: 2 Attribute points. Randomized soul related skill, Randomized sword. |
| You have reached level 1 giving you the ability to choose a starting class based on your accomplishments. This includes but isn't limited to. Your stats, Level, skills, gear, and the actions you have taken. |
| Available classes: Swordsman, Scout, Novice fighter, Possessed. |
Before making any decision Nathan opened his status screen as his first step.
| Name: Nathan Bandon |
| Level: 1 |
| Class: None |
| Status: Haunted |
| Strength: 5 |
| Vitality: 4 |
| Agility: 5 |
| Sense: 7 |
| Magic power: 1 |
| Mana: 1 |
| Attribute points: 2 |
Nathan had to think about his further actions. This wasn't some RPG character he could always reset or delete if he didn't like how it turned out. These decisions will affect him for the rest of his life. As he sat down on the stairs trying to figure out the best path he could take with what was available to him. He finally noticed the small change to the white mist that always hung around him. It was a very minor change but that blob of white mist has become just a bit more humanoid in its nature. You could barely see it had begun to develop some appendages. As he watched the white mist he came to a decision that wasn't the best or the smartest, but it followed what his heart wanted the most.
From his reward of finishing stage 0, he took the two attribute points. Using those and his level up reward he took his sense stat all the way to ten. This was a milestone that gave you a special reward that could only be acquired from reaching ten points for the first time in a stat.
| You have reached your first milestone giving you the ability to spec even further in that specialty. |
| Eyesight, smell, hearing, touch, taste, reflexes, spirituality. |
Nathan didn't even need to consider it as he chose the spirituality option. It created a great synergy effect between his spiritual attunement. Enabling him to finally see what he longed for so long. The white mist had changed into a transparent figure of his twin floating there. Her long raven hair covered her body as she floated in the air without any expression. A sense of relief and pain washed over him as he tried to embrace her only to pass through her and fall to the ground.
He could finally see her once again but there was still a long way to go before they could be truly reunited.