She barely reacted in time to him sicking the goblin on her.

The little green menace leapt at her from across the countertop, knocking her to the ground. Part of her mind processed the clinking noise of a knife bouncing on the kitchen floor as the wind was knocked out of her.

It bit down hard on her leg, searing pain spreading through her whole body. She screamed and kicked at it, connecting two hits before the third finally made it let go. The goblin keeled back, clutching at its right eye.

She tried to run, but as she stood up one of her legs buckled under her. She pushed herself back up, she couldn’t stand? How badly did her leg get messed up?

Very badly, blood was everywhere. Bits of white bone showing through the gaps in her flesh.

“Gaaark!” It didn’t rush her a second time, cautiously watching her from a distance. Snapping its jaws at her every once in a while.

The knife, where is the knife.

“Gaaark!” It pounced on her again as she turned to look for the knife. She managed to grab onto its head using her hands, trying desperately to keep its jaws from her neck.

“Get off of me!”

“Gaaark!”

Its eyes, go for its eyes.

“Gaaark!” It screamed for a second time as she jammed her fingers into its remaining eye. It stumbled backwards screaming in pain. She took a moment to catch her breath, wincing as she glanced at her leg a second time.

The knife, where’s the knife.

The goblin couldn’t see, but it could still smell her. It screeched in anger, it wanted blood, in more ways than one now.

It rushed at her, snapping wildly. In a straight line straight after the smell, after its foe.

Then it felt something, something painful. It screamed in pain once more, feeling something sharp in its chest.

It rolled over clutching at its wound

She took her chance and plunged the knife straight into its chest, pulling it out to stab back in over and over again.

The goblin shuddered with every blow, desperately clawing at the air in front of it.

Then it fell silent.

Congratulations! Level 1 Achieved: Select a Class

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

She stopped, staring at the body laid out in front of her and the floating boxes in front of her face. Her eyes traced each word in the boxes in disbelief.

Levels? Classes? What kind of sick game is this?

She reached out at it, trying to touch it.

“You can stop now, it's already dead.”

She turned to look at the voice. That jackass, he was still here?

“Are you happy now? I’ve killed it, I’ve fucking killed it.”

“Yes, I can see that.” She thought about throwing the knife at him but decided against it.

“I could’ve died there, you couldn’t have at least warned me first?” He just stared at her, emotionless, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Many things,” He stood there, watching her solemnly, “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“You better be.” They stayed there in silence for a short while, both unsure what to do next.

“You want some help bandaging your wound?”

“Have you looked at it? Pretty sure it's beyond saving.” Strangely enough, it didn’t hurt at all, none of her injuries did. If she couldn’t see the cuts and bruises she would’ve sworn she was in perfect health.

“For now it is,” He turned to leave, “Is there a first aid kit somewhere I could use?”

“I think there’s one in the large cabinet near the dining table.”

He stepped out to look for it and soon came back with the first aid kit, setting it down next to her wounded leg. Pulling a roll out of the box and beginning to wrap it around her leg. He got about halfway along her leg before it started loosening back up.

“You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?” He looked up at her and shook his head, she sighed, “Help me up, I can do it myself.”

He helped her up and handed her the rest of the roll. She undid what he had done then started from the bottom, wrapping twice before working her way up.

Without anything to do, he sat down cross-legged across from her and just watched her work.

An awkward silence hung in the air as he silently watched her apply the bandages.

“What would you recommend?”

“Hmm? About what?”

“My class,” She pointed at the textboxes still hovering near her face, “For this dumb system thing.”

“Crossbowman.” He raised his hands, miming holding one, “You simply aim, then pull the trigger. Nice and simple, let’s you take a life without really thinking about it.”

“It sounds like you’re talking from experience.”

“I am.”

What is that supposed to mean?

She decided not to push it any further, the words ‘serial killer’ echoing in the back of her mind.

Pulling the last of the roll over the wound, securing the end with a safety pin she pulled out of the first aid kit. She looked at her handiwork, it was better, but she could clearly see the deep cuts under the thin material.

“I’ll go with your suggestion then.” She tried to select crossbowman, “How do I select my class?”

“It’s voice-activated,” She continued to look at him expectantly, “Choose class, Crossbowman.”

“Choose class, Crossbowman,” She mimicked, a glowing light appeared in front of her, and when it faded a sizable crossbow simply dropped into her arms.

She stared down mesmerized by it, not really sure what to think. It felt surprisingly light, and familiar? Like she had been using this weapon her whole life.

She pulled back the string, the weapon giving off a dull click as the latch locked it in place.