The air thickens as I step through the shimmering gate, darkness swallowing me whole. Faint sounds of ancient whispers echo off the stone walls, like the dungeon is alive and murmuring secrets long forgotten. The torchlight flickers, casting elongated shadows that dance around the chamber like nervous spirits unsure of their roles.
Behind me, the group hesitates. Fear and excitement intermingle in their expressions—a blend of anticipation and dread as they clutch their weapons tighter. I take a breath, letting the tension wash over me.
"Welcome to your new favorite hangout," I quip, voice dripping with sarcasm. "A five-star resort complete with complimentary goblins and emotional trauma."
A couple of chuckles break through the apprehension, but I can see Tam's brow knit in worry. The kid is too earnest for this place. My gaze shifts to Mira; her sharp eyes scan me like I'm an equation she's struggling to solve.
"Stay close," I continue, lowering my tone to instill a sense of authority. "If you trip over your own feet again, I won't catch you this time."
Tam smirks despite himself while others shoot me looks that range from gratitude to confusion. I file away their reactions: Tam's trust is a weapon; Mira's skepticism could become an asset or a threat.
"Together we can survive this," I declare, my voice rising with faux bravado that feels good against the heaviness surrounding us. "Or at least find out how many goblins it takes to break our spirits before breakfast."
I observe each reaction—Rovel still shivering at the back of the group, Elyse biting her lip in uncertainty while gripping her weapon like it's a lifeline, and one kid who hasn't stopped sweating since we entered.
As we move deeper into the chamber's darkness, a chill settles over us. Anxiety spikes like a rollercoaster hitting its first drop.
Suddenly, faint scratching sounds come from ahead—a low rustle that builds anticipation like a horror movie's score.
"Uh... what was that?" Tam whispers.
I feign a dramatic gasp. "Oh no! It could be anything from a cuddly bunny to our imminent doom!"
The group chuckles nervously again; it's just enough levity to ease some tension. But I know better than to let my guard down. The stakes are high—this system runs deeper than they realize.
As we approach a dimly lit section ahead, something darts between shadows—too fast for clarity but large enough to inspire dread.
"Goblin?" Rovel squeaks, barely above a whisper.
"Maybe," I reply thoughtfully. "But judging by our luck so far? Probably worse."
More rustling echoes back at us now—growing louder and closer—each sound sharpening our collective nerves.
"On three," I announce suddenly, adrenaline surging through me. "One... two... three!"
We step forward together into the gloom just as whatever it is lunges from hiding—
And I can't help but grin because here comes another chance to rewrite our story—if we survive this one.
* * *
The scratching intensifies, echoing off the stone walls like a desperate drumroll heralding our doom. My pulse quickens as I prepare for whatever nightmare lurks in the shadows.
"Everyone, eyes front," I command, my voice steady despite the rising tension. "No heroics—just keep your wits about you."
A nod here, a terrified glance there. The group clusters closer, adrenaline coursing through their veins as they grip their weapons like they're holding onto the last remnants of sanity.
A shape flickers at the edge of my vision—a shadow darting between shafts of torchlight and darkness, moving with an eerie grace. It's fast—too fast. Panic grips the group like a vice; one kid yelps and steps back too far, stumbling over his own feet.
"Hold it together!" I snap, projecting confidence I barely feel. "We can outsmart it!"
Just as that thought crosses my mind, the creature lunges into view—a goblin, its skin a sickly green, eyes glowing with malice. It snarls, brandishing a jagged dagger dripping with who knows what.
The goblin snarls, lunging at the nearest kid with all the finesse of a hungry jackal. I size it up quickly—this monster's got speed but low durability. Its stats are there, taunting me like a candy bar in a diet commercial.
STR: 5 (G)
AGI: 6 (G)
VIT: 4 (G)
INT: 1 (G)
LCK: 2 (G)
Total: 18 (F)
A quick calculation runs through my mind. It's an F-Rank monster, but its vitality means I can down it with one blow.
A swift jab from its dagger and I might as well be waving goodbye to my health pool but I will stay alive as my vitality is at 6 against its strength of 4.
But still, no healing means I need to be smart about this.
"Listen up!" I shout, raising my voice above the chaos. "We need to distract it while I analyze its movements! Keep it busy!"
The group glances at me, unsure yet desperate enough to listen.
"Tam! You're agile; keep moving!
Rovel, you've got the strongest arms—throw something if you have to!"
As they scramble to obey, I study the goblin's pattern, gauging its speed against their strengths. It darts left, then right—snarling as it lunges toward Tam, who narrowly dodges.
Perfect. The monster is quick but doesn't pivot well under pressure.
"Keep it occupied!" I urge again as I pick up a loose rock from the ground—rough but heavy enough for what I need.
Tam continues his dance of evasion while Rovel finally gathers courage and flings a jagged piece of debris straight at the creature's head.
It connects with a satisfying thud, momentarily stunning our foe.
This is my chance.
With calculated precision, I step forward into the chaos, gripping the rock tightly in my hand. My heart races as I wait for that moment of distraction to peak—the split second when the goblin is fully focused on Tam's frantic movements.
The creature's beady eyes narrow in on Tam as he ducks and weaves like a panicked dancer on a stage made of broken dreams. That's it; that's my opening!
I launch myself forward just as the goblin prepares another strike—rock raised high above my head for maximum effect.
"Now!" I roar.
The rock strikes true—a solid hit against its skull sends shockwaves of impact rattling through my arm. The goblin stumbles back with a guttural screech that echoes through the chamber like an alarm bell announcing doom—but more importantly?
It falls hard to the ground, defeated.
System pings echo in succession around me:
Goblin (G-rank) Kill reward: +1 VIT.
MC Moment Activated: "Triumph Through Togetherness."
+7 stat points (STR +3, AGI +3, VIT +1)
I check my stats:
STR: 7 (G)
AGI: 8 (G)
VIT: 8 (G)
INT: 30,004 (B)
LCK: 9 (G)
TOTAL: 30,036 (B)
* * *
I examine my stats after the goblin drops like a bad plot twist.
A modest boost, but one glance at Tam shows he's still processing the chaos. "You got a single point for that kill? Just one?" I ask, still riding the adrenaline high.
Tam nods, eyes wide. "You only get +1 to a random attribute for any monster kill."
I blink at him. "Seriously? That's it?"
"How does anyone climb ranks?"
"It's nearly impossible," Tam says, shaking his head as if trying to dislodge the weight of despair from his thoughts.
"Unless you get lucky with MC Moments.", I say.
Mira raises an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself who has been eavesdropping to our conversation. "What do you mean by 'MC Moments'?"
"It's wrong to eavesdrop, you know!" I quip, eyeing Mira as if she's just committed a cardinal sin.
She raises an eyebrow, a smirk teasing the corners of her mouth. "I'm not eavesdropping. I'm just… engaged."
"Engaged?" I mimic, sarcasm dripping like molten lava. "You mean to say you're nosy."
Tam snorts beside me, his nervous energy easing just a bit. "Well, she does have a point. You were being pretty dramatic there."
I turn back to Mira, who rolls her eyes in mock exasperation. "Dramatic? Please! I'm simply ensuring our survival here," I gesture broadly around the stone chamber, its dampness feeling like an embrace from an old enemy.
Mira narrows her eyes. "And again, what exactly are these MC Moments'?"
"Oh, just some system recognition I seem to trigger whenever I do something dramatic," I shrug, my grin widening as I feed their curiosity. "It rewards me for channeling my inner protagonist."
Mira looks skeptical but interested. "So you're telling us your achievements are worth more than our lives because of your 'moments'?"
"Pretty much," I reply, leaning back against the wall casually as if discussing the weather instead of life-and-death stakes.
She crosses her arms. "How many points did you get?"
"Yeah, I'm basically a living plot device," I say, puffing my chest out a little. "MC Moments are my ticket to stat growth. Do something heroic or clever, and boom! Stat boost."
Mira raises an eyebrow, skepticism radiating from her like a low-grade potion. "And you expect us to believe that?"
"Why not?" I flash her my stats. "Take a look for yourself."
Her eyes widen as she scans the numbers—goblin guts still glistening on my hands.
"No way."
"Oh yes way," I say, leaning in like I'm about to spill the juiciest gossip. "I'm practically the protagonist of this nightmare."
Tam shifts closer, hope blooming behind his nervousness. "Do you think we can...?"
Before he finishes, a shriek slices through the air—a sound that sends shivers down our spines and steals our breath. The atmosphere thickens like molasses.
I turn just in time to see another goblin barreling toward us.
"Everyone! Weapons ready!" My voice snaps them into focus as I scan the area for makeshift arms. I spot a broken chair leg and some goblin remains—perfect.
With frantic energy, I grab the leg and fashion it into something resembling a crude spear, triggering another notification.
I hurl the makeshift spear just as the goblin lunges. It connects with a satisfying thud, piercing its side.
"Right! Tam, keep it distracted!" I shout, adrenaline surging through me.
Tam nods, darting around like a hyperactive squirrel. The goblin snarls, shifting focus as I ready for my next move. Together, we're rewriting this narrative.
* * *
The air crackles with tension as the goblin collapses, its body crumpling like an overcooked noodle.
But before I could finish it off.
Mira darts toward the goblin like a nasty little beast baring its teeth like it's auditioning for a horror movie. With a quick swing of her dagger, she catches it off guard and plunges her blade into its side.
Mira steps forward, adrenaline still coursing through her veins like a caffeinated rabbit. "This is my moment!" she declares, raising her dagger with the dramatic flair of someone who's never read the fine print on heroism.
I can almost see the words 'Main Character' flashing above her head.
"Fear not, minions!" she shouts, striking a pose that probably looked better in her head. "For I have vanquished this foul creature and lead us to victory!"
The monster collapses instantly.
System pings echo in the air around us:
Goblin (G-rank) Kill reward: +1 AGI.
Mira's stats update! F-Rank achieved!
Mira's face lights up with joy as she realizes what just happened. "Yes! I'm finally F-Rank!"
I watch as she beams at the group, proud and confident—a sharp contrast to how they'd been moments ago. But as the congratulations pour in, I feel an itch of annoyance scratch against my mind.
Mira's elation fills the air like the scent of freshly baked bread, but I can feel a ripple of tension weaving through the group. The moment she announces her victory, something dark clouds her expression—a flicker of jealousy as she realizes something I've already known.
While her moment shines bright, mine remains in the shadows.
"Great job!" I call out, my voice too chipper, perhaps. "F-Rank is no small feat!"
She smiles back, but it's strained—an effort to mask what lurks beneath. I see it in her eyes; she's piecing together how I had triggered not just my own moments but gained additional stats through performance. A quick glance at her bracelet confirms what we both know: she didn't receive a stat boost for this kill.
"Thanks," she replies, tone smooth yet brittle as glass. "But it was just one goblin."
"True," I say, testing the waters. "But you were all over that creature like a literary trope on discount."
Her smile falters just a bit more.
Another ping sounds in my mind:
MC Moment Triggered: "Heroic Sacrifice in Battle"
+3 to all stats!
STR: 10 (F)
AGI: 11 (F)
VIT: 11 (F)
INT: 30,007 (B)
LCK: 12 (F)
TOTAL: 30,051 (B)
The rush of energy surges through me, but Mira's expression hardens as she catches the notification glowing faintly in my wrist. She glances back at me—calculating again, weighing the variables like a gambler assessing odds before placing a bet.
"Guess some people are just lucky," she mutters under her breath, an edge to her words that makes my skin prickle.
"Or maybe they just know how to play the game," I reply with a grin that feels sharper than it should.
"Right." Her voice drips with sarcasm. "Must be nice to have all those points and still be... whatever you are."
I shrug off her barb, aware of how this narrative unfolds—her frustration becoming fuel for my performance. It's almost funny; I'm growing stronger by being the punchline to every joke while she grapples with the truth of our situation.
"Well," I say lightly as we prepare to move deeper into this dungeon hellscape, "I'd rather be a 'whatever' than stuck at G-Rank forever."
Mira clenches her jaw tight enough that I half-expect sparks to fly.