At the entrance of the cave stood a young boy named Zero, his heart pounding in his chest as he hesitated before taking a deep, fortifying breath. He felt the cool air of the cave brushing against his skin, sending shivers down his spine. After a few minutes, he steeled himself and decided it was time to venture into the unknown darkness.

The cave's interior was dimly lit, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows along the tunnel walls. As Zero stepped further inside, the scent of damp earth filled his nostrils, and he could hear the distant echo of dripping water. He wasn't surprised to find the cave mostly empty, as if it had been abandoned for years.

With each step, the sound of his own footfalls echoed in the silence, reminding him of his solitude in this ominous place. Yet, he pressed forward, knowing there was only one path to follow until he found the creature known as "Big Green."

The cave seemed to stretch on endlessly, and the weight of the unknown bore down on Zero's shoulders. But he couldn't turn back now; he had to see this through. He kept his grip on his greatsword, finding comfort in its familiar weight.

As he continued his exploration, Zero's eyes widened when he stumbled upon a small barricade that resembled a door, almost camouflaged in the darkness. Curiosity got the better of him, and he hesitated before pushing it open slightly, revealing a glimpse of what lay inside.

Inside the room, he spotted a towering hobgoblin, its monstrous form sprawled on a makeshift bed, soundly asleep. The creature's grotesque appearance sent a chill down Zero's spine, but he knew this was his chance to strike while the creature was vulnerable.

Zero smirked, trying to steady his breath, as he slowly pushed the door open wider and stepped inside. The room was cluttered with various trinkets and crude objects, a stark contrast to the cold and bare surroundings of the cave.

Gripping his greatsword tightly, Zero positioned himself beside the slumbering hobgoblin, intending to deliver a quick, fatal blow. His heart pounded in his ears, and the anticipation of the impending confrontation filled him with adrenaline.

With a deep breath, he raised his greatsword high, ready to strike. However, just as his sword made contact with the creature's chest, the hobgoblin's eyes snapped open, its glowing gaze locking onto Zero's. With a loud, guttural growl, the hobgoblin swiftly knocked Zero away, sending him stumbling and crashing to the ground.

Zero cursed under his breath, the taste of failure bitter on his tongue. He quickly scrambled to his feet, realizing his initial plan had failed. Determined not to be beaten, he called out, "Come on, Big Green! Let's fight!"

The hobgoblin let out a menacing roar, its massive crude cleaver glinting in the dim light as it swung it towards Zero. The two adversaries charged at each other, their blades clashing with thunderous force, filling the cave with the metallic ring of their battle.

Despite his best efforts, Zero found himself being pushed back, his arms straining under the hobgoblin's strength. Yet, he refused to give in, gritting his teeth as he managed to block the hobgoblin's next strike, narrowly avoiding a deadly blow.

Assessing the situation, Zero realized that while the hobgoblin was undoubtedly stronger, it was only slightly faster than him. An idea formed in his mind as he formulated a plan to disarm his opponent and gain an advantage.

With a sudden burst of energy, Zero slammed his fist on the ground with all his might, creating a large cloud of dust that billowed around them. The dim light of the torches struggled to penetrate the haze, disorienting the hobgoblin.

Seizing the opportunity, Zero tried to circle around the creature stealthily, his heart pounding in his chest as he kept his movements silent. However, the hobgoblin quickly dispersed the dust with a powerful gust of wind, and for a moment, it lost sight of Zero.

From the hobgoblin's perspective, it wondered, "Where did the little man go?" Its pointed ears swiveled, trying to catch any sound that might give away Zero's position. Suddenly, a shadow rushed forward from behind, and before it could react, its right arm was severed from its body.

Back to Zero's perspective, he taunted, "Hah! How's that, you dickhead!"

In retaliation, the hobgoblin backhanded Zero with its remaining arm, sending him crashing into a nearby wall. Pain surged through Zero's left arm as it took the brunt of the impact, and he felt a sharp pain shoot up his shoulder, knowing it was broken.

Despite the agony and struggling to breathe, Zero summoned every ounce of his resolve and managed to stand up. Both combatants charged at each other once again, their movements fueled by a determination to emerge victorious.

Their fists collided with a force that shattered the ground around them, sending debris flying in all directions. In the midst of this close clash, Zero narrowly emerged triumphant, delivering a powerful blow that knocked the hobgoblin off its feet.

He swiftly retrieved his greatsword, which he had planted nearby, and with a swift motion, beheaded the hobgoblin. The creature's body slumped lifelessly to the ground, and the cave was once again filled with silence, interrupted only by Zero's heavy breathing.

Breathing heavily, Zero muttered, "Damn, that was tough. I should start gathering the items here so I can turn them in and finally get some rest."

Covered in wounds and exhausted from the intense battle, Zero began collecting the hobgoblin's necklace, the large cleaver it wielded, and even the severed head itself. With these gruesome trophies in tow, he made his way out of the cave, every step a reminder of the trial he had overcome.

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

As he ventured back through the forest, Zero's ears caught the sound of chewing. Turning towards the source, he spotted a lone wolf feasting on the goblin corpses left in the aftermath of his fight. Determined to eliminate any potential threats, Zero swiftly cleaved the wolf in half, making sure it posed no danger to anyone else.

Satisfied with his easy victory over the wolf, Zero decided to take the creature's body with him, thinking it could be useful for crafting a jacket or some other item later on.

Carrying the wolf's carcass, Zero continued his journey, his weary footsteps taking him closer to the town. As he walked down the familiar streets, he made his way towards the guild house.

A familiar voice called out, "Hey, Zero! What's up, man?"

Zero frowned and corrected, "I thought I told you to call me by my real name, Dan."

Dan shrugged and replied, "Well, I could, but I don't want to. Plus, it's what most of the town calls you anyway. It's like some awesome title!"

Zero sighed, his heart heavy with the memories that the title "Zero" held for him. He responded, "The only reason I ever accepted that stupid title was because of Rowan."

Changing the subject, Ben asked, "Well, enough of the sad stuff. Where are you heading?"

Zero answered, "I'm heading to the guild house. I'm a hunter now."

Surprised, Ben questioned, "You became a hunter? But what about your injury? Is it healed?"

Zero reassured him, "Yeah, it's healed. I'm in perfect condition now."

Dan nodded, saying his goodbyes, and walked away down the street, leaving Zero to his thoughts.

Zero muttered to himself, "My injury hasn't been acting up at all. I'm fine."

He arrived at the guild house and approached Hera, the guild leader, greeting her with a mixture of weariness and pride.

Zero announced proudly, "Yo, I finished the mission perfectly!"

Hera, unimpressed, raised an eyebrow, her piercing gaze scrutinizing Zero's bruised and battered form. She remarked, "Perfectly, my ass. You look like shit right now. But let's see what you've got."

Undeterred by her stern demeanor, Zero presented the trophies he had acquired: the hobgoblin's head, necklace, the wolf's body, and the massive cleaver.

Hera examined the items with a critical eye, nodding in approval at the evidence of his successful mission. She decided they should get Zero patched up before discussing the rewards, knowing he had pushed himself to the limit.

Together, they headed to the guild house's infirmary, where Zero began tending to his wounds. The skilled healer in the guild provided him with the care he needed, applying soothing salves and bandaging his injuries.

Curious about Zero's name, Hera inquired, "Why do people call you Zero? Is it your real name or a nickname?"

Zero paused for a moment, the memories of his past resurfacing as he opened up to Hera. He explained, "My real name is Olethros, but Zero is more like a title I received from New Dawn Academy."

Intrigued by his revelation, Hera pressed further, "What exactly happened at New Dawn Academy?"

With a mix of sadness and determination in his eyes, Zero shared the painful memories that haunted him, revealing the events that had led to his expulsion and the loss of his strength and abilities.

The story continued in a vivid flashback...

In the flashback, Dan, his close friend, expressed concern for Olethros, noticing his sickly appearance. Olethros brushed off his worries, determined to continue training and fighting despite his condition.

Preparing for a match in the academy's ring, Olethros encountered his opponent, Anderson Lance, a cocky and arrogant fighter who took delight in taunting him about what had happened to Rowan.

Enraged and filled with a burning desire to prove himself, Olethros vowed to defeat Anderson, not just for Rowan, but for his own sense of worth. However, during the intense fight, he coughed up blood, his strength waning as if something was sapping his energy away.

Seizing the opportunity, Anderson struck him down with a devastating blow, leaving him defeated and humiliated in front of his classmates, who laughed and ridiculed him for his weakness.

Devastated and unsure of what had happened to him, Olethros made his way back home, where he encountered an unknown assassin in the alley. The sinister figure revealed himself as the one responsible for draining his strength and abilities, gloating over his handiwork.

As the assassin walked away, laughing, Olethros tried to confront him, but the effects of the mysterious poison overwhelmed him, and he fell unconscious, believing that this might be the end for him.

Unbeknownst to the assassin, a dim red glow emanated from Olethros's right arm, gradually covering his entire body, as if a hidden power was awakening within him.

When Olethros woke up later in the same alley, he realized he hadn't died, but his strength had been significantly weakened. Even his once formidable skills were now inaccessible, leaving him feeling powerless and vulnerable.

Determined to find answers and regain his lost strength, he rushed back to the school to seek help from Headmaster Mareo D Olto. Olethros explained his situation and requested a body scan, hoping that the headmaster could shed some light on his mysterious ailment.

During the examination, it became clear that Olethros had indeed lost a significant amount of his strength. The headmaster's eyes held a mix of sympathy and concern as he regretfully informed Olethros that his diminished abilities meant he could no longer remain at the academy.

With his dreams shattered, Olethros was forced to pack his belongings and leave the place he had once called home. Outside, he encountered Ben, who asked about his sudden departure. Olethros revealed the truth about his expulsion and the draining of his strength due to the attack.

Anderson and other students appeared, adding insult to injury as they mocked and belittled Olethros for his weakness. Despite Ben's attempts to defend him, Olethros couldn't shake the feeling that he was indeed worthless, nothing but a shadow of his former self.

With a hint of sadness in his eyes, Olethros whispered, "I'm just useless..."

From that day forward, Olethros trained relentlessly in seclusion, seeking to regain his lost strength and power. It was during this time that he adopted the name "Zero," symbolizing his desire to start anew and rebuild his identity from scratch.

End of Flashback

Returning to the present, Zero finished bandaging his wounds and looked up at Hera, who had listened attentively to his story, her expression reflecting a mix of sympathy and admiration.

Hera said softly, "Wow, that's quite the journey you've been through, Zero. I can't imagine the weight you've carried on your shoulders."

Zero nodded, a renewed sense of purpose filling him. He knew he had a long road ahead, but he was ready to face whatever challenges awaited him. With determination in his eyes, he replied, "Thank you, Hera. I've come this far, and I won't stop until I regain my strength and find justice for what was done to me."

Hera smiled warmly, acknowledging his resolve. "Rest now, Zero," she said. "Your journey has just begun, and you'll need all the strength you can muster for what lies ahead."

With a sense of gratitude, Zero closed his eyes, ready to rest and recover, preparing for the battles that lay ahead. He knew that his path would be filled with obstacles, but he was determined to emerge stronger and reclaim his rightful place in the world.

And so, Zero's story continued, filled with determination, resilience, and the promise of a brighter future.