The sun dipped low, casting the dungeon's jagged terrain into shadow. Kenji crouched behind a boulder near the edge of the forest, his sharp blue eyes scanning the clearing ahead. His body tensed; every sense heightened. He could hear faint grunts and growls in the distance—a pack of kobolds gathering in the underbrush.

  It had been three days since the Queen assigned him this task. Reports of kobolds encroaching on ogre territory had reached the village. Normally, such pests wouldn't be a problem, but their numbers had grown alarmingly large. This was not a random incursion; it was the start of a territorial push.

  "Your trial is to deal with them, Kenji," the Queen had said with a solemn expression. "I'll not send help. Show me you can handle this alone."

  The weight of her words still pressed on him. He tightened his grip on the crude dagger at his side, its iron edge glinting faintly in the wan light.

  

  

  

  Kenji exhaled slowly. The system's notification had been a constant companion, its calm voice both a guide and a reminder of the stakes.

  He peered around the boulder again. There were five kobolds-short, wiry creatures with scaly hides, sharp claws, and crude weapons made of bone and rusted iron.

  Their dog-like snouts twitched as they sniffed the air. They were on edge, likely sensing they were in hostile territory. Their guttural chatter echoed through the dimly lit dungeon corridor.

  One kobold stood out among them, larger and more imposing, its reddish scales gleaming in the faint light of the bioluminescent moss on the walls. Its stance was aggressive, its sharp teeth bared in a snarl as it barked commands to the others.

  Kenji narrowed his eyes and whispered, “Inspect.”

  A familiar blue screen materialized before him, revealing the creature’s stats and details.

  TARGET IDENTIFIED:

  ?    Name: Kobold Commander

  ?    Rank: D+

  ?    Level: 9

  ?    Health: 48/48

  ?    Mana: 20/20

  ?    Strength: 18

  ?    Dexterity: 15

  ?    Defense: 12

  ?    Speed: 14

  ?    Skills:

  ?    Pack Coordination (D-Rank): Enhances nearby allies’ teamwork, granting a slight boost to their attack speed and reaction time.

  ?    Piercing Claw (D-Rank): A focused melee strike that deals increased damage to enemies with lower defense.

  ?    Pack Roar (E-Rank): Emits a loud roar that briefly intimidates enemies and boosts the morale of allies.

  Kenji frowned.

  The kobold commander suddenly raised its claw and let out a deafening roar. A chill ran down Kenji’s spine as the surrounding kobolds howled in unison, their movements becoming sharper and more synchronized.

  Kenji clenched his fists, his mind racing. “So, you’re not just some mindless beast after all. Fine. Let’s see if you can keep up.”

  With a low exhale, he activated Shadow step, slipping into the darkness as the kobolds prepared to hunt.

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  Kenji suppressed a grin. "Good. That makes this more fun."

  The Fight

  Kenji waited for the perfect moment. When two of the kobolds wandered slightly away from the others, he sprang into action.

  He burst from the underbrush, dagger flashing in his hand. The nearest kobold turned just in time to see him, its yellow eyes widening in alarm.

  

  Kenji's form blurred, a burst of speed propelling him forward like a streak of shadow.

  His dagger sank deep into the kobold's chest before it could react. The creature let out a strangled yelp, collapsing as its companions scrambled to respond.

  The second kobold lunged at him with a rusted spear. Kenji twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the clumsy strike, and countered with a precise slash across its throat. Warm blood sprayed as the kobold fell, gurgling, to the ground.

  The remaining three kobolds snarled, circling him warily. Kenji's breaths came fast, his heart pounding.

  "Come on," he taunted, raising his dagger. "Let's see what you've got."

  The largest of the kobolds barked an order in its guttural tongue, and the remaining two charged him simultaneously. Kenji ducked under one's swing and lashed out with a kick, sending it sprawling. The other kobold managed to graze his arm with its claws, drawing a thin line of blood.

  Kenji gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. He turned on the injured kobold and drove his dagger into its skull with brutal efficiency.

  The last kobold, now alone, hesitated. Kenji could see the fear in its eyes.

  

  The system's voice pushed him forward. He surged toward the remaining kobold, driving his blade into its chest. The creature let out a final whimper before collapsing into the dirt.

  The Kobold Commander's Last Stand

  Kenji stepped over the lifeless bodies of the four kobold scouts, their crimson blood staining the rocky floor of the dungeon. His breathing was steady, but his eyes burned with determination as he turned toward the lone kobold commander.

  The larger kobold snarled, its reddish scales glinting ominously in the dungeon's faint light. It gripped a crude iron spear tightly, planting its clawed feet firmly on the ground. Despite being alone, its eyes gleamed with feral defiance, refusing to back down.

  Kenji smirked. "Looks like you're not running. Fine by me."

  The kobold commander let out a guttural growl before lunging forward with surprising speed, thrusting its spear toward Kenji's chest.

  Kenji sidestepped with ease, activating [Shadow step]

  "Not bad for a dungeon lackey," Kenji thought.

  The kobold commander let out a deafening roar-Pack Roar-that echoed through the cavern. Though no allies were present, the roar seemed to embolden the commander itself, its movements growing sharper and more ferocious.

  It followed up with Piercing Claw, abandoning its spear and slashing at Kenji with glowing claws. The attack was faster than Kenji expected, forcing him to backpedal as the claws narrowly missed his torso.

  Kenji smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Alright, you're tougher than I gave you credit for. Let's finish this."

  He activated [Dark Bolt]

  Using the distraction, Kenji lunged forward, activating Enhanced Strike. His clawed hand glowed with a faint aura as he drove it straight into the kobold's exposed chest.

  The kobold commander let out a strangled cry as the impact lifted it off its feet and sent it crashing into a nearby boulder. It slumped to the ground, blood dripping from its chest wound, but still tried to rise, trembling with effort.

  Kenji stood over it, his cold blue eyes locked on the defiant creature. "You fought well," he said softly, raising his clawed hand for the final strike. "But this is the end."

  With one swift motion, Kenji brought his claws down, piercing the kobold commander's neck. The creature let out a final gasp before falling limp.

  Kenji exhaled, wiping the blood from his claws. "That was tougher than I expected."

  Kenji stood among the bodies, his chest heaving and his arm throbbing where the kobold's claws had caught him. His first real fight—it wasn't pretty, but he won.

  He glanced at the empty cavern, his mind already moving to the next challenge. The dungeon was not going to get any easier.

  A familiar blue screen appeared before Kenji.

  

  

  

  EXP GAINED:

  Kobold Commander defeated: +150 EXP

  Level: 5/5 [MAX LEVEL REACHED]

  ...

  He blinked, surprised. “Max level? Does this mean I will be able to evolve soon?” Kenji put this matter aside for now and looked at his new skill. Mana Sense was not a flashy skill, but its potential was undeniable. It would allow him to detect the flow of mana in the environment, pick out hidden enemies, and even locate valuable resources.

  Closing his eyes, Kenji focused on the new sensation. A faint hum filled his mind as his awareness expanded. He could feel the ambient mana swirling around him, subtle but ever-present. There were residual traces near the kobold corpses, likely from their monster cores.

  Kenji opened his eyes, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "This... this will be useful."

  

  The walk back to the ogre village was quiet, save for the faint rustle of the forest around him. Kenji's thoughts churned. The fight had been brutal and messy, but it had proven one thing: he was capable. He could handle himself in this world. As the village lights came into view, he couldn't help but think of the Queen's words. "Strength isn't just for myself," he murmured. "It's for them, too."

  He touched the wound on his arm, wincing slightly. The kobolds had been a small challenge compared to what lay ahead. But for now, he was one step closer to his goal.

  "One day," he whispered, his voice steely, "I'll become strong enough to protect everyone I care about."

  The faint glow of the ogre village welcomed him home.