After waiting for a few hours, I finally encountered a Shadow Goat. Sword at the ready, I tried to strike it from the shadows, thinking its low rank made it an easy target. But the moment I moved, the goat sensed me, its eyes flaring with a dark, wild light as it charged. I underestimated it, assuming I could face it head-on, but as it barreled toward me, its hooves struck the ground like thunder, more akin to a truck on a rampage than a mere animal.

I instantly focused on its horns, remembering the system's warning about their lethality. The goat was upon me in a heartbeat, and I barely managed to leap sideways to avoid its initial charge. As it rushed past, I slashed at its abdomen. The blade made contact, leaving a long cut, but it was shallow—my inexperience with a sword showed, especially when I wasn’t fighting for my life. Instead of retreating, the goat seemed only angrier, its aggression intensifying as it wheeled around for another attack.

This time, as it charged, I prepared to dodge again, but the goat surprised me. Just before reaching where I had been standing, it halted abruptly, and with a powerful twist, it lashed out with its hind legs. The impact sent me flying, crashing hard into the ground. Pain flared through my body, but I forced myself to my feet. My wounds throbbed, but they were slowly healing thanks to the basic version of the "Regenerate Health" skill I had purchased after the battle with the Shadow Ravager.

Gritting my teeth, I knew I couldn’t keep up with the goat's relentless attacks. I had to change my approach. As the goat charged again, I focused, calling upon the Earth Shield skill. The ground beneath me responded, a barrier of solid earth rising just in time to meet the goat’s horns. The impact reverberated through the shield, but it held firm—much sturdier against the Shadow Goat than it had been against the Shadow Ravager.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

With the goat momentarily stunned by the collision, I seized my chance. I darted to the side, raising my sword, and struck with all my might at its exposed neck. The blade bit deep, severing the goat’s head cleanly. The lifeless body slumped to the ground, and I stood there panting, heart racing, as the realization of what I had just done sank in.

Once the adrenaline began to fade, I dragged the goat's body inside the mansion, preparing to skin it and harvest its meat. As I worked, I couldn’t help but mutter, "I didn’t know working part-time at the slaughterhouse would come in handy here." The familiarity of the task, though gruesome, brought a small sense of comfort in this brutal world.

I carefully separated the skin, bones, and other parts, leaving the meat aside. The system whirred to life as I offered the resources for trade. "Exchange completed: 9 points awarded." It was more than I expected, considering the half-eaten goat had only fetched 4 points. I paused, thinking aloud, "So maybe it is the quality." It made sense—higher quality resources meant more points.

With my points now at 54, I decided it was time to invest in some essentials. I bought a small kitchen kit for 15 points, which included a set of knives, a cutting board, a few basic spices, and bowls. I also purchased a large 5-gallon water bottle for 3 points, bringing my total down to 27 points.

Using the tools from the kit, I prepared a simple broth with some of the Shadow Goat’s meat. While it wasn’t the best meal, the meat was surprisingly delicious, rich with the dark energy that had once coursed through the beast. As I ate, I decided that this would be my staple meal for a while. I needed to conserve my points, only buying from the system when absolutely necessary.

After finishing the meal, I stored the remaining meat in my storage space, feeling a small sense of satisfaction. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.