LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 10 - Goblin (1)
Chapter 10: Goblin (1)
Yeonwol left Karnel City immediately.
The area around Karnel City was teeming with monsters over level 70, making it a dangerous place for a level 10 beginner to wander.
However, this didn’t pose much of an issue for him.
‘Just gotta run well, that’s all.’
Having always been in the position of the weak, Yeonwol had honed his escape skills to perfection.
Walking along the path for about half a day, he arrived at McKellen City.
‘Still a dreary place, as usual.’
Despite its bustling activity, the city felt gloomy with its gray and black buildings. Yeonwol quickly made his way toward the city center.
This city housed a hidden special teleportation gate.
The boss there was an overwhelming level 499, far beyond Yeonwol’s current capability to hunt.
Still, he intended to head there anyway.
Yeonwol wanted to test himself by facing an overwhelming foe.
‘Hunting Kaladoro and dying over a hundred times taught me something. Repeated deaths are closely tied to stepping outside the system of this game.’
The gods who bestowed the game system’s powers upon Earth feared ‘death.’
They instilled fear of death in players, designating death-related entities as evil to be eradicated.
‘In other words, handling death is the only way to transcend the game system.’
So, how does one grow closer to death?
It’s simple.
One just needs to die.
If a player could endure the moments of death and pain, they could experience ‘death’ repeatedly.
Yeonwol was planning to die from now on.
But if he was going to die, wouldn’t it be better to gain something worthwhile rather than just dying in vain?
Thus, Yeonwol chose a level 499 foe as his target.
Currently, this was the only strong opponent he could easily encounter.
‘Dying to a strong opponent increases endurance, and skill proficiency skyrockets.’
Of course, dying meant that accumulated stats and proficiency would be wiped clean, but it was a different story for someone with no class.
Stats increased continuously, and there were no penalties for death.
‘As long as I haven’t class-advanced yet… I can achieve maximum efficiency.’
Moreover, he was aiming for a very special title.
To date, Yeonwol had acquired a total of four titles.
[Conqueror of the Impossible]
└Having overcome the impossible, you feel no fear. Completely resists fear-related status effects.
[The First Great Challenger]
└As the first to succeed in a Royal Challenge, you gain a 20% benefit when attempting anything for the first time.
[Swordsmanship Prodigy]
└As a swordsman who demonstrated remarkable talent, your swordsmanship proficiency grows 10% faster, and all sword skills’ damage increases by 5%.
[World’s Strongest Beginner]
└Achieved overwhelming strength without class advancement. Skill proficiency grows 15% faster.
Each of Yeonwol’s titles could easily be considered grade-A.
Growth- or damage-related titles were so rare that even rankers barely managed to obtain one.
Thanks to these unique effects, the more titles one had, the better.
However, these weren’t the only titles Yeonwol knew of.
‘I must secure at least one grade-S title. I might be able to achieve that here.’
Trusting the information he remembered, he headed toward the city center.
Inside the clock tower at the center of the city, a spiral staircase awaited.
Descending the winding staircase led to a locked door.
This wasn’t a hidden area. It had been discovered shortly after the game launched two years ago but remained unconquered.
Considering that the current top rankers barely surpassed level 200, it would still take some time.
Clang!
When Yeonwol opened the door, a massive circular space revealed itself.
The ominous space contained nothing except for a strange teleportation gate in the middle.
[Warning! This is a highly dangerous prison. Entry is strictly prohibited!]
Despite numerous warning signs, there were no special mechanisms to block entry.
There was no need to physically prevent access since anyone entering would inevitably die.
Without hesitation, Yeonwol activated the teleportation gate.
Vroom!
His entire body was enveloped in light as his surroundings shifted instantly.
The new location was a snow-covered mountain range.
A massive cage, bound by blue chains, loomed precariously amidst sharp cliffs.
Inside the cage, which was as large as a soccer stadium, something with crimson skin sat cross-legged.
[You have entered the dungeon ‘Sealed Prison of the Fierce Goblin, Zekkaliss’!]
[Lv. 499 Sealed Zekkaliss]
[Recommended: Raid of 50 players at level 450+]
“A bug has entered.”
The colossal Zekkaliss, over 5 meters tall, stood up.
In his left hand, he wielded a worn greatsword, and in his right, a hammer.
Yeonwol raised his sword, ready to test his mettle.
“Alright, let’s do this…”
“Begone, weak human.”
[You have died.]
Reviving at the temple, Yeonwol blinked.
The boss had blown on him, and the gust alone crushed him to death.
There was no pain.
“Wow, that’s brutal.”
Without delay, he dashed back into the boss room.
“Here I come again.”
Slash!
When Zekkaliss swung his sword, Yeonwol’s vision shifted instantly back to the temple.
His body had been sliced in half.
He had intended to block the attack, but it was too fast and far too wide in range to even see.
[You have died.]
“Ack…”
The excruciating pain overwhelmed him.
Although the pain disappeared upon revival, many players suffered from ‘death aftereffects.’
In this game, dying felt almost identical to real death, leaving phantom pain even after the sensation was gone.
‘…But it’s bearable.’
Was his experience of having actually died once helping him here?
Reviving in the temple, Yeonwol charged at the foe again, swinging his sword.
The damage was zero!
“You’re a nuisance.”
This time, Zekkaliss unleashed an ice breath.
Yeonwol’s body froze solid, and the death message appeared.
Along with it, another system message popped up.
[You have died from exposure to the intense frost of a powerful being. Magic resistance slightly increased!]
[Your Swordsmanship Has Improved Significantly Through Confrontation With a Formidable Foe! Swordsmanship Proficiency Gain Rate Has Increased!]
Revived at the temple, Yeonwol found a new reason to endure the pain: the increase in stats!
‘I made the right choice with this boss.’
It was common knowledge that being struck by a powerful enemy quickly raised defense, and using skills boosted proficiency.
However, the losses from dying outweighed the benefits, so no one attempted it.
On top of that, the act of dying itself was incredibly painful and gruesome.
Only a very small number of people willingly subjected themselves to such agony to increase their stats.
Zekkaliss was a goblin-type boss capable of wielding slashes, blunt force, and elemental attacks like ice, fire, wind, lightning, and earth at will.
By enduring a variety of powerful attacks, one could build endurance—truly a win-win situation.
In summary, this boss was a comprehensive stat-upgrade machine capable of raising a variety of attributes evenly!
[You Have Died.]
[You Have Died…]
[You Have Died…]
Though the pain of dying was excruciating, Yeonwol’s growth was astounding enough to endure it.
One day passed.
Two days passed.
Three days passed.
[You Have Died.]
Yeonwol died repeatedly, over and over.
[You Have Died.]
A week went by.
[You Have Died.]
By the time a month had passed…
Today, Yeonwol charged at Zekkaliss again.
But this time, the boss simply stared at him instead of killing him immediately.
-…
‘What’s this?’
Puzzled, Yeonwol approached and swung his sword.
Slash!
Not long after, his neck was sliced, and he died again.
[You Have Died.]
[Frequent Deaths Have Brought You Closer to Death.]
[Magic Resistance Has Increased.]
[Swordsmanship Proficiency Has Increased.]
Opening his eyes, Yeonwol ran his hand through his hair.
“Phew. Feeling a little worn out.”
After dying so many times, he had grown desensitized to it.
Was it mentally exhausting? He wasn’t sure. Honestly, it wasn’t too hard on him.
He wondered if repeated deaths would drive him mad, but he couldn’t say for sure.
‘They say lunatics don’t realize their own madness. But do madmen even worry about their sanity? Did the lunatics in Shutter Island ever think like this?’
For some reason, his mind felt strangely clear.
‘Still, it’s about time to wrap this up.’
Defense and skill proficiency had plateaued.
He had nearly reached the limit.
But there was only one reason he continued to challenge the boss.
‘An event related to death should trigger any moment now.’
Checking his improved stats, Yeonwol noted that both physical and magical defense had reached 20%.
Achieving 20% defense without any armor equipped was astounding.
Frankly speaking, he could be considered a monster at this point.
If he stayed here for another month, he might improve his stats a bit more.
But doing so would waste too much time.
‘Efficiency has dropped. The limits of stats that a beginner can raise remain unclear, but I’m sure I’ve almost reached them.’
Given the hidden pieces he had in mind, staying here too long wouldn’t be wise.
‘One last time…’
Entering the snowfield prison again, Yeonwol encountered an entirely unexpected scene.
The dungeon boss, Zekkaliss, was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, sipping tea.
“…What the hell?”
This wasn’t the first time he’d heard of such things happening.
Even in his previous life, there were occasional instances of bosses communicating with players to give quests or rewards.
-You’re here.
Yeonwol approached, sheathing his sword.
With no will to fight, he felt no urge to attack.
-I have something to ask you.
“Go ahead.”
-Aren’t you afraid of death?
You players resurrect infinitely, but not all can endure the pain of dying repeatedly.
So I thought you’d eventually give up once you couldn’t bear the agony anymore.
“…”
-But I was wrong. You’ve grown desensitized to death.
“That’s true. I’m not particularly afraid of dying.”
At that, Zekkaliss, resting his chin on one hand, chuckled.
-Hahaha! Indeed, that’s so! You’re not devoid of fear; you’ve experienced something far more terrifying than death itself.
Because of that, death no longer frightens you.
Zekkaliss leaned forward.
-I’m curious. What is it that you truly fear?
Yeonwol paused in silent contemplation.
He had never been asked such a question before.
His deliberation didn’t last long.
Yeonwol already knew the answer.
‘That’s right. He’s correct. I’ve never really been afraid of dying. Even back then…’
When he died at Chensolla’s hands, was he afraid?
Not at all.
Yeonwol wasn’t scared of his own death.
What he feared most was watching his beloved comrades and friends succumb to pain and collapse in anguish.
“…I don’t really feel like saying.”
-I understand.
But your intentions are clear to me.
I admire someone like you, who confronts death without hesitation to overcome such immense fear.
Placing his teacup down, Zekkaliss grinned, revealing sharp fangs.
-As you can see, I’m trapped here and cannot leave.
But I haven’t severed all ties with the outside world.
There’s something I want to ask of you, someone with such unshakable resolve.
A hidden quest.
It was extremely rare for a boss monster to grant one.
Moreover, no one in Yeonwol’s past life had ever received a hidden quest from Zekkaliss.
This meant Yeonwol was venturing into the unknown.
‘Something has changed.’
Was it a good change?
Or a bad one?
Regardless, Yeonwol believed in respecting the character of every being in this world.
If he could kill the boss, he would have done so.
But since he couldn’t and had instead been asked for help through dialogue, he decided to listen.
“If it’s something I can do.”
-Take this.
Zekkaliss pulled something from his pocket.
-It’s an item that allows access to the place where my master in the mystic arts resides.
Unfortunately, it cannot be used here.
[Silver Bell]
*Description: A bell left behind by the celestial being who once taught the goblin Zekkaliss. This bell is said to contain a small world within.
*Effect: Shaking the bell creates a portal to the ‘Goblin Sage Hills.’
“This is…”
-Confirm my master’s state, whether they are alive or dead.
If they are alive…
Zekkaliss hesitated briefly, then confessed.
-Could you find out if they harbor resentment toward me?
Yeonwol held the bell in his hand and closed his eyes.
Resentment. It wasn’t a word he liked.
“Alright. This much is no problem.”
-I will give you the reward in advance.
“Even though I haven’t completed the task yet?”
-This is something I no longer need.
But you might find it useful.
Moments later, Zekkaliss handed over an item that made even Yeonwol’s eyes widen.
[Mystical Goblin’s Handy Club]
*Category: Alchemy and Smithing Tool
*Grade: Unique
*Description: A mysterious club left behind by the legendary fierce goblin who once threw the world into chaos. Known to create anything, but only a few can use it. The items created are incomplete and lack full functionality.
*Restrictions: Goblin race
Alchemist or Blacksmith class
Level 500+
*Effect: When the exact structure of the desired item is known and all necessary materials are possessed, it creates items of Unique grade or lower.
*Penalty: Level decreases by 5.
Yeonwol chuckled as he examined it.
‘A goblin club, huh? Quite a famous item.’
The Goblin’s Handy Club, an item capable of crafting anything.
It was something every production-class player coveted.
However, its actual performance wasn’t great.
The item required a perfect understanding of the desired structure and carried the penalty of a level reduction, making it impractical for frequent use.
Moreover, items created with it were defective compared to standard Unique-grade items, lacking full functionality.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Yeonwol shook his head.
If he wanted something, he could obtain it without relying on such an item.
“I don’t want to make things with an incomplete club like that.”
-…You see through it immediately.
“I have a discerning eye.”
Yeonwol had something else in mind.
“Instead, I’d like to learn a useful skill.”
-A skill, huh… Most wouldn’t suit you, but there’s one that’s a perfect fit.
[You Have Acquired the B-Rank Skill ‘Soul Armor.’]
*Proficiency: 1%
*Description: Envelops the body in a layer of soul energy, increasing defense and adding an extra health shield.
*Effect: Defense +50, additional 5% increase
Extra HP +10%
*Resource Cost: MP 50
*Cooldown: 5 minutes
Yeonwol obtained a far more useful defensive skill than he anticipated.
Defensive skills were notoriously hard to come by.
Even a seemingly low rank like B was usually considered exceptional in such cases.
“Great. I’ve received the upfront payment.”
-It’s refreshing to see. Even if you run off with it, there’s nothing I can do… But I trust someone like you, who pursues their convictions without fear of death.
“Don’t worry about that. I always keep my promises.”
-Haha, thank you!
Zekkaliss stood, raising his greatsword.
-How do you leave this place?
“Kill me. That’s the only way.”
-Until we meet again.
Slash!
Yeonwol’s neck was severed, and his vision went black.
[You Have Died.]
[You Are Growing Too Familiar With Death.]
[You Have Earned the Title ‘Indomitable Warrior’ in Recognition of Your Unyielding Persistence Against Overwhelming Foes.]
Finally! Yeonwol wanted to shout in triumph.
The S-grade title he had been aiming for had finally appeared!
‘An insane effect that increases damage against high-level enemies.’
Despite its relatively simple conditions, the damage boost was absurdly high, making it a broken title.
However, Yeonwol couldn’t celebrate.
He was supposed to revive at the temple immediately, but time passed, and his vision didn’t brighten.
‘…Don’t tell me this is happening again.’
The darkness lingered unnaturally long.
Sensing something odd, Yeonwol tried to call the system.
-Come closer, through death.
“…!!”
Just like before, a massive skull appeared briefly in Yeonwol’s vision before vanishing.
[…You Have Come Dangerously Close to Death.]