CHAPTER 35: TWO MORE SKILLS!

"Hmmm..." Xavier murmured, a grin spreading across his face. After his first kill, he had lowered his expectations of plundering skills from slain goblins. But his current kill surprised him with a skill—one that would help bolster his weak combat abilities. Still, he didn’t let himself get carried away in the thrill of his gains...

Taking a deep breath, he darted forward, the dagger flashing in the dim light. He struck the first goblin, the blade slicing cleanly through its neck. Before the others could react, he spun around, his dagger arcing through the air and cutting down a second goblin.

The remaining goblins shrieked in alarm, drawing their weapons—but Xavier was already moving. He ducked under a wild swing, driving his blade deep into the attacker’s chest. The goblin fell, its eyes wide with shock as it died.

The last goblin hesitated, its eyes wide with fear. Xavier didn’t give it a chance to recover. He lunged forward, his dagger piercing the goblin’s heart with brutal efficiency.

Xavier’s heart leaped with joy. He had gotten another skill. This one might prove to be even more useful than the last.

This was the second skill he had gained so far, and his luck was quite exceptional.

His first skill was called Goblin’s Intuition. While the name sounded unimpressive and the effects seemed weak at first glance, Xavier recognized its potential. It would prove to be extremely useful in the future.

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GOBLIN’S INTUITION

[A skill imbued with the keen survival instincts of a goblin, allowing you to sense the true power of your adversaries.]

•────⋅☾ Effects ☽⋅────•

[Power Level Assessment: Instantly gauge the relative strength of any enemy, determining if they are stronger, weaker, or equal to you.]

[Danger Sense: Identify specific threats, including hidden weapons and deadly abilities of your opponent.]

[Aura Recognition: Sense the aura of powerful beings from a distance, providing early warnings of potential threats.]

[Adaptive Learning: Slightly improve the accuracy and detail of your power assessments with each use.]

[Instant Reflex Boost: Temporarily enhance reflexes and reaction speed when sensing an overwhelming threat.]

[Emotional Insight: Perceive the emotional state and resolve of your opponent, useful for detecting bluffs and overconfidence.]

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The second skill he was lucky to get boosted his attack power—and with its level-based growth, he knew he could eventually evolve it to a higher tier.

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BLADE MASTER’S EDGE

[A skill that hones your proficiency with bladed weapons, granting you increased combat effectiveness.]

Lvl 1

•────⋅☾ Effects ☽⋅────•

[Dagger Mastery: Gain a 10% increase in damage and precision (Attack power) when using daggers.]

[Blade Proficiency: Gain a 5% increase in damage and precision (Attack power) when using any other bladed weapons.]

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With his newfound skills, Xavier felt a surge of confidence. He knew that the combination of Goblin’s Intuition and Blade Master’s Edge would give him a significant advantage in the challenges ahead.

The forest remained quiet, the silence almost unnerving. Xavier knew he had to stay alert. He continued his stealthy advance, moving from tree to tree with the grace and precision of a seasoned assassin.

As he moved deeper into the dungeon, the whispers and murmurs grew louder. He could make out the guttural language of the goblins more clearly now. The forest was denser here, the trees towering above him and casting long, dark shadows that draped over the uneven ground like black silk. He knew he was getting closer to the center.

’Time is ticking,’ he reminded himself. ’I need to clear this dungeon as fast as possible.’

Xavier had carefully circled the center of the dungeon, ensuring that all the goblins in the outer ring had been dealt with. He did this to avoid being overwhelmed once he ventured deeper. Now, with his path clear, it was time to press on.

The two skills he had acquired—Goblin’s Intuition and Blade Master’s Edge—were passive, meaning their effects were always active. Xavier didn’t feel an immediate difference, but he knew the change was subtle. His strength had increased, even if it wasn’t outwardly obvious.

As for the notifications he received after killing a beast, Xavier had asked Lily directly—such a pressing anomaly required her direct input.

Lily told him that killing beasts and performing feats that satisfied the Will of the World was how one got stronger in Velmora. By accumulating feats and impressing the will, inhabitants of Velmora could grow stronger, reaching all the way to SSS-Rank, the absolute limit of this world...

She even hinted at the existence of other worlds—that after reaching SSS-Rank, the two of them could explore the entire universe together.

Xavier sighed, thinking of the future. The future was indeed bright... but the journey would be the sweetest part of all.

Sighing, he resumed his stealthy advance, moving from tree to tree with practiced ease.

As he progressed, the forest seemed to grow darker, the trees closer, the atmosphere heavier. The whispers of the goblins faded, replaced by an eerie silence that made his skin prickle. He kept his senses sharp—every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made his fingers tighten around his blade.

He moved cautiously, his dagger ready at his side. The deeper he went, the more he felt the weight of the dungeon’s oppressive atmosphere.

Xavier realized that the closer he moved to the center, the fewer trees there were. Signs of civilization began to appear—clearings, crude paths, and even structures. This was bad news. It meant that the dungeon would be far more complex and difficult than a standard one.

’This must mean there’s a group or civilization at the center,’ he speculated, noting the shift in terrain and construction. It was just a theory—but the signs were unmistakable.

After walking at a fast pace for nearly an hour, he was sure of it.

He heard sounds of interaction and, from a distance, spotted more goblin guards.

These guards were different.

They wore crude leather armor and wielded short swords instead of the rusty bone daggers he had encountered before. They were taller, more robust, and their formation was tighter. Disciplined. Alert.

Behind the goblin guards, Xavier noticed short wooden fences, barely tall enough to conceal the primitive roofs of the houses within. From his position in the thickets, he couldn’t clearly see the roofs—but the sight of such structures confirmed it.