The white void vanished, replaced by a wide stone chamber.
Cracked gray walls, dark stains on the floor like old blood, dim light coming from torches hanging on the walls.
On the opposite side, two creatures stood.
Goblins. Small, about a meter tall. Ugly green skin, yellow eyes glowing with cunning intelligence, pointed ears, sharp exposed teeth. Each carried a rusty dagger.
"These are goblins." The entity's voice came from everywhere. "Level one, stage one. The weakest monster after slimes. As you are now, you're just a strong human—no aura, no magic. The challenge is simple: survive them, kill them if you can. You have four attempts. If you succeed, you will choose your two abilities yourself."
Kael looked at them, assessing the situation. They were small, but they moved strangely—low crouched stances, ready to pounce.
He had the advantage in size and strength, but he had never fought real creatures before. He had never killed.
"Fine." He took a fighting stance. "Let's begin."
First Attempt
The goblins let out sharp shrieks and charged. The first leapt high toward his neck, the second rushed low toward his legs.
Kael reacted on instinct, stepping back, narrowly dodging the first leap. At the same time, he kicked the second with force, sending it rolling away.
But he wasn't ready for the first one landing behind him and turning quickly. He felt sharp pain—a stab in his left shoulder.
Kael roared in anger, spun violently, his right fist flying like a hammer. It smashed into the goblin's head, but the creature twisted at the last moment. The blow struck the side of its head, injuring it but not killing it.
The second goblin got up quickly and charged. Kael tried to defend himself, but his movements were hesitant, uncertain. He had never killed before. The instinctive fear of taking a life—the involuntary hesitation.
The two goblins took advantage of that. Fast, consecutive stabs. Kael fought back, struck them, wounded them, but couldn't kill them.
In the end, a dagger pierced deeply into his side.
He fell to his knees, blood flowing. The goblins stood before him, watching hungrily.
"You have failed," the entity's voice said calmly. "That wound is fatal. You have two minutes."
Kael looked at his blood-soaked hands—his blood. The pain was real, horrifying.
The world began to fade. Cold crept into his limbs.
Darkness swallowed him.
Second Attempt
He opened his eyes suddenly.
His heart was pounding. His breathing rapid and uneven. Panic was clear in his eyes.
For the first time in his life, he had been killed. He saw his blood flowing. He felt death taking him.
He looked at his hands—clean now. All wounds gone. But the memory remained, carved into his soul.
"Do I… give up?"
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, inhaled slowly.
"No."
He opened his eyes, his gaze firmer.
"I won't run away like a coward. I won't waste this chance to become stronger."
He stood up. The goblins appeared again.
This time he was faster, more focused. The fear of killing began to fade, replaced by something colder.
He charged at them, dodged the first, struck the second hard in the chest, sending it flying. He turned quickly, grabbed the first by the arm, and twisted it with brutal force.
The sound of bones breaking echoed. The goblin screamed.
But the second recovered, leapt onto Kael's back. The dagger aimed for his neck.
In a desperate move, Kael threw himself backward, crushing the goblin beneath him. He heard bones crack, but the creature didn't die.
It drove its dagger into Kael's side.
Pain exploded once more.
In a moment of pure rage, Kael grabbed the goblin's arm and tore it off with savage strength. Green blood burst out.
But the wound in his side was deep.
Darkness swallowed him again.
Third Attempt
He awoke. This time, less panic—replaced by something like cold determination.
"I killed only one… and there are two."
He looked at them. They were no longer frightening—just obstacles.
"Do I give up?"
"No. Not that easily."
This time he was more patient. He studied their movements. One jumped high, the other rushed low.
When they attacked, he evaded them with greater efficiency. He kicked the second hard in the head, hearing the snap of its neck.
One was dead.
The first tried to attack, but Kael was ready. He grabbed it, threw it to the ground, stomped on the arm holding the dagger, breaking it.
He picked up the dagger and stabbed it into the goblin's chest.
The creature was gravely wounded but didn't die. In a final desperate move, it bit Kael's leg with its sharp teeth.
Kael screamed in pain, but with overwhelming rage, he stabbed it again in the neck.
The goblin stopped moving. It was finally dead.
Kael stood there, breathing heavily. His body was covered in sweat and green blood. The wound in his leg was bleeding.
But this time…
"I succeeded…"
Suddenly, he felt dizzy. He looked down. The wound was deeper than he thought. Blood was flowing rapidly.
"The bite severed a vein," the entity said. "You have one minute."
Kael fell to his knees.
Darkness swallowed him for the third time.
Fourth Attempt
He awoke. No panic, no hesitation. Only cold, ruthless determination.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"Damn it… let's give it everything."
This time, every movement was calculated. Every decision fast yet precise.
He charged at them. The first leapt, but Kael dodged sideways, grabbed its head mid-air, and twisted its neck with brutal force.
Bones snapped. The goblin fell dead.
The second froze for a moment, shocked by how fast its companion died.
Kael didn't give it the chance. He rushed forward, kicked it in the chest, sending it flying. Before it could recover, Kael jumped on it and grabbed the arm holding the dagger.
The goblin fought fiercely. In a suicidal move, it broke free and slashed Kael's left arm clean off.
The pain was indescribable. Kael's scream filled the chamber.
But he didn't stop.
In a moment of rage and sheer willpower, he grabbed the goblin's head with his remaining right hand and crushed it with all his strength, all his fury, everything.
He heard the skull shatter. The goblin stopped moving.
Kael collapsed to the ground, his severed arm beside him, blood flowing like a river. Pain tore through him.
But he was alive.
And for the first time—he was victorious.
"I won… with extreme difficulty… but I won…"
He felt no joy. He only realized one truth: The road to power…is paved with blood.