Trial of Goblins

“Student Woo Hyuk, please reconsider one more time!”

“We’ve already come this far, I can’t just give up, right?”

“Earlier, it ended luckily due to a simulator malfunction, but this time is different. No—this time might be even more dangerous!”

The test continued immediately.

In fact, the simulator used earlier was the highest-performance simulator in Phoenix Academy.

Which means.

The simulator installed in front of me now is of a lower level than that one.

Even so, why is the staff member so worried about me?

“Getting bitten once by Cerberus would honestly be better. It’s far better than being toyed with by dozens of goblins!”

Goblins.

They are among the weakest monsters.

They have intelligence comparable to a child, using weapons or poisonous bodily fluids.

But the real reason they are dangerous is their brutality.

“I’ve even seen cases where people developed trauma from this test and it affected their daily lives!”

Being attacked by a powerful monster like Cerberus?

Of course, it would be a frightening experience, but it would last only a moment.

But what about goblins?

They inject bodily fluids to paralyze their target, then continuously toy with them.

Their goal is not simply to kill.

They avoid vital points, stabbing and cutting while enjoying the victim’s suffering, giggling as they do.

“I know all that. I’m actually very knowledgeable when it comes to theory.”

“Then why are you attempting something so reckless! Dozens of goblins are a difficult challenge even for awakened hunters!”

Even if one is not a combat-type hunter, dealing with one or two goblins is simple.

That’s how weak goblins are individually.

However, things change when their numbers increase.

Though their intelligence is low, they know how to cooperate instinctively.

If dozens of goblins form a formation and approach systematically.

Even combat-type hunters could easily be overwhelmed.

And that staff member still thinks I’m unawakened.

So it’s natural for him to worry like this.

“If I say I give up, you’ll stop it immediately anyway, right?”

“Of course!”

“Then I should at least try.”

“…Alright.”

After barely persuading the staff member, I stepped onto the arena.

I’ve grown distant from the academy, but I’m grateful to that staff member.

He’s worrying this much about someone he has no connection to.

“Are you… ready?”

“Yes.”

Vrrr—!

The simulator vibrated.

As if recalling a virtual reality game, data gathered and began reconstructing the form of goblins.

“Kiek!”

One.

Two.

Their numbers rapidly increased, surpassing thirty in an instant.

At this number, even Cha Seoyeon, the top student of Phoenix Academy’s graduating class, would likely struggle.

The goblins exchanged glances, forming their formation, and the moment the simulator stopped vibrating—

“Then, we will begin immediately.”

“Kieeek!”

The staff member’s voice echoed through the speakers.

And the goblins, baring their rotten teeth, began to rush forward.

“This is really dangerous…”

Inside the simulator control room.

The staff member placed his hand over the stop button while watching the goblins begin to move.

It was to press it as quickly as possible the moment Woo Hyuk shouted that he gives up.

“If it gets too severe, I’ll have to stop it myself even if he doesn’t say it.”

Goblin poison is unique.

It spreads slowly, but once it spreads, you can still feel everything while being unable to move.

Because of this, many hunters had let their guard down and suffered horrific experiences.

Knowing how hard Woo Hyuk had always worked.

He thought Woo Hyuk would know this as well.

“…He probably won’t give up.”

If it’s the Woo Hyuk he knows, he would never give up.

Even if his body is paralyzed and pierced by goblin claws.

If he were the type to give up, he would have already done so in front of Cerberus.

And finally.

Woo Hyuk took his first step.

Crack!

“…Huh?”

Did he see it wrong?

The staff member rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the scene on the monitor.

After regaining focus and checking again—

Thud! Thud!

“Kieeek!”

The scene on the monitor was exactly the same as before.

Woo Hyuk was overwhelming dozens of goblins.

Naturally, his hand slowly moved away from the stop button.

[The power of the dimensional stone resides in your body.]

[Fist King Hwang Boje (皇甫帝) – 3rd Head of the Hwangbo Clan]

– A supreme master who became the clan head at the young age of 25 through innate physique, talent, and effort, earning the title “Fist King.”

One of the three dimensional stones purchased from Monas as a first purchase bonus.

The moment I used its power, knowledge of the Five Elements Fist flowed into my mind.

“Come.”

Three-Body Stance.

Spread both legs slightly wider than shoulder width, one forward and one back.

Lower the waist vertically, bend both knees without letting them open outward.

A perfect preparatory stance capable of responding to attacks from any direction.

The essence of the stance, which no one taught me, settled into my body.

“Kieeek!”

Thirty goblins surrounded me in a circle.

It felt as if the entire arena was filled with goblins except for me.

“Kiek!”

“Kyaak!”

The goblins launched their attack.

From all directions—front, back, left, and right.

Some lunged from below, others jumped from above using their allies.

It wasn’t intentional, but it was a flawless attack with no blind spots.

But.

‘Too slow.’

It felt like watching snails crawl before my eyes.

If there is no blind spot, I’ll just create one.

“Splitting Fist.”

Stepping forward with my rear foot, I lightly extended my open palm.

Though the motion looked light, the power behind it was anything but.

A strike carrying the full weight of my body.

The moment it hit the goblin’s solar plexus—

Boom!

“Keugh!”

Its chest caved in grotesquely as it was sent flying.

Then the next attack followed immediately.

“Drilling Fist.”

Thrust.

My clenched fist shot forward.

Originally meant for upper body vital points.

But my target was the goblin descending from above.

Due to the height—

“Kiheek!”

My fist struck a very unfortunate place.

Like a drill piercing through, my fist burrowed deep.

The goblin couldn’t even scream properly before collapsing.

After that, it continued the same.

“Advance.”

“Kek?”

“Crushing Fist.”

“Keuk!”

“Cannon Fist.”

Crack!!

Breaking through the encirclement.

Creating an opening.

And taking them down one by one.

An overwhelming difference in power.

The goblins began to feel fear and slowly retreated.

– Do you like my special gift?

“The best.”

It wasn’t comparable to the dragon’s power or the legendary power in subspace.

But even this exceeded expectations.

At this rate, I could rival high-ranking hunters.

Only about ten goblins remained.

“Kirik!”

The central goblin began commanding the rest.

They reorganized and cautiously approached.

Their final desperate attack.

“Keheek!”

Ten goblins charged at once.

Determined to land at least one hit.

But.

“Horizontal Fist.”

Crash—!!

The result was insignificant.

With a sweeping motion, I wiped them all out at once.

Their last struggle was rendered meaningless.

– A-amazing…

The staff member’s stunned voice echoed.

“Test result?”

– Of course, you passed! Congratulations!

“Thank you.”

The simulator shut down.

The goblins disappeared.

[Quest ‘You awakened? Really?’ completed.]

[Reward: 100,000 points.]

“Nice.”

Though not enough to buy a new dimensional stone.

I still had two remaining.

– Congratulations again!

“Thank you.”

Even if his voice trembled, I was grateful.

– Please go rest!

“Yeah.”

As his voice faded—

[The power of Fist King Hwang Boje disappears.]

[Strength and Agility increase by 10.]

[Skill ‘Martial Arts Mastery’ acquired.]

“Argh!”

Pain spread throughout my body.

Muscles felt like they’d burst.

My fists felt shattered.

– Side effects.

“Side effects?”

– The price of using power your body can’t handle.

Then I saw it.

Stat increase.

A new skill.

A rare passive skill.

“Then I can check my status window now.”

[Status Window]

Name: Jung Woo Hyuk

Level: 1

Strength: 23 Agility: 22

Vitality: 12 Intelligence: 11

Remaining Points: 0

Talent: Dimensional Shop

Skill: Martial Arts Mastery Lv.1

“It’s real.”

But.

“These stats are… rough.”

Base stats are 10.

Meaning my effort only added 8.

While the stone added 20.

The difference was absurd.

“Why didn’t previous stones do this?”

– Those were simulations.

“The first one?”

– That was my power.

“If it were real?”

– Your body would have exploded.

“…Terrifying.”

“Anyway, using dimensional stones increases stats or gives skills, right?”

– Not always.

“That’s enough.”

– Aren’t you going to rest?

“No.”

I couldn’t stay still after hearing this.

Even with the pain.

“I’m going to use another dimensional stone right away.”