-'Damn it, how am I supposed to get out of this?'
I glanced at the system window for a few seconds to check how much time I had left.
[Time remaining: 3:21]
-I still have three minutes to hold on..."
I muttered as a bestial growl echoed above me.
Looking up, I once again saw the Grand Red Goblin about ten meters in front of me. I won't go into details, but he was truly hideous. However, his features were slightly closer to those of a human.
With every breath he took, thick air escaped from his mouth, along with saliva dripping from the corners. His piercing gaze was locked onto me, ready to skewer me at any moment with his massive axe.
-GrGrEuH…"
-'Terrifying…'
That was the only word that came to mind. Unlike normal goblins, who were simply ugly and weak, a Grand Goblin was just as ugly but anything but weak. Being Rank E, they were known as "Tutorial Bosses," formidable enemies for all beginner hunters and F-rank rankers who faced them.
[Dash cooldown has ended!]
-'Perfect, I can—'
-GRAH!!"
Not giving me a single moment to rest, the Grand Red Goblin swung his right arm violently, hurling his axe at me. The weapon, still attached to the chain wrapped around his arm, shot forward at an insane speed.
The moment I realized he had thrown his axe, it was already just a few meters from my skull.
[Dash!]
"GUKH!"
Using Dash, I barely managed to dodge the axe as it crashed into the rock I had been leaning against. A second later, the boulder exploded into a thousand fragments.
"Damn it..."
I whispered, crouched down, watching the scene unfold.
The Grand Red Goblin let out a guttural snarl before yanking on the chain, pulling his axe back into his hand. The moment his fingers curled around the handle, his lips stretched into a menacing grin.
-RuN...RuN...No MoRe Hiding…"
Then, with a furious roar, he lunged at me again.
My legs reacted before my brain could process what was happening—I shot off in a mad dash, weaving through the wreckage of the battlefield. The sound of the Goblin's heavy footsteps pounded in my ears, growing closer by the second. He was fast—too fast.
If this turned into a war of endurance, I wouldn't last even a minute.
'I need a plan. If I keep running like this, he'll catch me without a problem…'
But before I could think of a proper strategy, the system threw another one of its little surprises at me.
[Information: The Player Kim Sugil's Anxiety has highly increased]
[Warning: Would you like to use the skill *The Path to Victory* to boost your morale?]
[Highly recommended]
[Y/N]
I groaned in frustration.
-You again—I'm not using that stu—"
Just as I was about to refuse, the [No] and [Yes] buttons suddenly switched places.
My finger, already moving to tap No, instinctively hit Yes instead.
-'Huh ? what the hell, Did I see that right? How is it-'
[Skill 'The Path to Victory' has been activated!]
-...Wait—"
Before I could even process what had happened, a strange sensation rushed through me. It was as if a flood of information, instincts, and calculations had been crammed into my head in an instant.
My vision sharpened. My thoughts cleared. My breathing stabilized.
And just like that, a plan formed in my mind.
-'…Oh.'
A grin stretched across my lips.
-Alright, big guy," I muttered under my breath, adjusting my stance. "Let's play this game properly."
I spun on my heel, skidding to a stop, and faced the charging Grand Red Goblin head-on. His eyes widened slightly in surprise—just the reaction I needed.
He had no idea what was coming.
.
.
.
-'What the hell is happening?!'
I muttered, staring at myself facing the Grand Red Goblin with confidence.
-'W-Who is this guy? And how did he take control of my body?!'
At this moment, my consciousness was completely detached from my own body, floating somewhere outside, while he—whoever or whatever had taken over—stood there with perfect confidence.
-'Damn it, this system…!'
Just as I had been about to reject the system's prompt, it had *swapped* the [Yes] and [No] buttons at the last second, tricking me into activating *The Path to Victory*.
Before, I wasn't completely sure.
But now? After what just happened?
I was absolutely certain, with what he had just done my doubts and fears had suddenly vanished with this simple detail.
-'This damn system… has a mind of its own.'
[Quest: Reach Level 5 during the entrance exam
Rewards: New card abilities of 1 or 2 stars, gain points in STR and END.
Failure to complete the quest within the time limit will result in penalties for the next 10 days. Quest difficulty: RANK F.]