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A hunting ground that even NPCs avoided and warned against entering.

Unlike the wide-open plains of the eastern gate, it was a dense forest that limited visibility, and it was teeming not only with goblins but also with numerous giant insects.

The monsters themselves had grown stronger, but that wasn’t the real issue.

They weren’t a different species on a whole new level, and while the giant insects were tougher and more challenging to catch, they were still manageable.

The real problem was the forest’s terrain.

Sasa-sak.

“There! It’s running that way! Hurry, catch it!”

“Damn it, what kind of monster hides in a rock?”

The artificial intelligence of the monsters was incredibly advanced, living up to the game’s reputation as a world of its own, and the monsters with strong instincts knew how to use their surroundings.

“Ack! Above us! It’s an ambush from above!”

“Arrows from the bushes! Form ranks quickly!”

“Watch your feet! There’s a centipede below!”

The goblins, being the type to attack first, hid in the bushes and ambushed with poisoned darts, while the giant insects often took advantage of their traits by coming down from trees or striking from the cracks in rocks.

Even just this made the difficulty absurdly high.

With so many enemies making use of the terrain for ambushes, it became common for a single misstep to lead straight to death’s door.

Because of that, an unspoken rule had emerged in the Western Forest.

“Soloing in the Western Forest? That’s just madness.”

“Listen carefully. You absolutely need a party there. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Heroic God or have top-tier equipment.”

“A party of four. Fill your group to the max and move carefully.”

It was common knowledge among users entering the Western Forest that you had to form a party of at least three, ideally four, to hunt safely.

Of course, this didn’t apply to everyone.

“Well, if you’re someone who doesn’t feel pain even when hit and can kill them in one or two hits, then you don’t need a group.”

With the right defense and damage output to handle all the difficulties, the terrain and ambushes no longer mattered.

In fact, the Western Forest, filled with monsters, could even turn into a prime hunting ground for such players.

“But do you really think that’s possible?”

“Not a chance. Unless you’re someone with the top-tier Mythical God damage traits, Hero-level skills, and rare+ gear all over.”

It was close to impossible, so players compromised with reality and looked for parties.

No one wanted to die foolishly and incur the death penalty.

“Looking for party members! We currently have a tank and two damage dealers, just waiting on a healer!”

“Need one more melee damage dealer! Oh… a rogue? Rogues aren’t really…”

“Looking for two people to help push to the endgame! Waiting on a healer!”

That’s why there were so many people in front of the western gate, searching for parties.

In Arde, it was all about maximizing rewards, but here, it was about safe hunting.

Whether someone had leveled up quickly with good gear in the eastern gate or struggled to barely reach level 17, everyone was looking for a party here.

“Tsk, we just need one healer… but they’re impossible to find.”

“Healers are never popular, right? They’re only good in party quests, and leveling them is tough. Honestly, they’re not even fun.”

“Sigh… I guess we’ll have to go without a healer and just bring another off-tank.”

“Oh? Hey, look over there.”

There were always players who didn’t understand the danger until they experienced it themselves.

One of the players searching for party members nudged his teammate.

“Ugh, what now?”

“We’ve got another pitiful moth flying into the flame.”

“Ah, that again?”

The annoyed teammate, irritated by the remark, turned his head.

He then saw a man confidently walking into the forest alone and nodded as if he understood.

A twisted smile formed on his lips, not out of pity or greed for the moth.

“People like that are everywhere.”

It was clear mockery, maybe even contempt.

A quick search would tell you that soloing in the Western Forest was a suicidal act.

No, even before that, hadn’t the NPCs already warned them? And as soon as you enter the Western Forest, everyone is looking for parties.

Despite all that, there were always some who insisted on soloing.

Their thoughts were always predictable.

“Even most rankers formed parties at this stage, so what makes him think he’s any different?”

“Well, maybe he’s trying to make a name for himself. ‘I soloed in the Western Forest,’ sounds impressive, right?”

Thinking they’re special.

They haven’t shown anything remarkable yet, but they believe it’s just because they haven’t had the chance, that they can do it if given the opportunity.

Either that, or they’re an idiot with baseless confidence, or they’re hoping to use this hunt as a debut for streaming and get noticed by a guild.

“Well, everyone’s got a grand plan.”

“Until they get punched in the face, right?”

“Exactly.”

One of the two players laughed, then muttered casually.

“Well, who knows? That guy might be some overpowered character with Mythical God status and legendary skills.”

And the rebuttal came faster than ever.

“You think he’s Myeolsal? That’s ridiculous.”

“Hey, a monster did show up about six months ago.”

“Ah… but that guy was an actual lunatic. You think someone like him will show up again?”

“Yeah, true…”

It was such a far-fetched scenario.

It made more sense to assume the guy was just another idiot who didn’t know his place, rather than a rare genius who appeared once in a lifetime.

“Let’s just focus on finding our party members.”

“Yeah, or we won’t hit level 20 today.”

So, they stopped paying attention to the man walking into the forest, and it didn’t take long for him to fade from their minds completely.

They never would have imagined.

That the man who walked into the forest was still walking around inside, perfectly fine.

***

A dense forest.

Deep in an area so remote that few people ventured, a bloody battle was unfolding.

Countless goblins surrounded a man.

He appeared to be completely encircled, yet he remained calm.

Kiiek!

The goblins hesitated, then rushed toward him.

At that moment—

Puk-

Kieeek!

The man effortlessly dodged and thrust his large greatsword forward, causing one goblin to scream in agony.

Kirik! Kiririk!

Excited by their comrade’s cry, the goblins charged all at once.

A chaotic brawl ensued in an instant.

And the one controlling the frenzy was none other than the man wielding the greatsword.

Whirik- Crack!

Puk! Seoguk-

His movements were minimal.

He simply dodged the incoming attacks with the least amount of movement, deflecting blows with the flat of his greatsword.

Then, he would either thrust or slash.

Any goblin that came too close had its head tilted back as the man dodged, only to receive a punch to its philtrum, followed by a neck snap.

The sequence of actions flowed naturally, like a well-oiled machine. By the time the skirmish ended, three goblins lay collapsed on the ground.

Each one had died in a single blow.

Ki, Kirik!

The remaining goblins looked shocked.

They had encountered many humans in this area, but none had been as monstrously strong as this man.

Kirik!?

Is this even possible!?

Though they didn’t speak his language, it was clear from their expressions that this was what they were thinking.

However, it wasn’t just an outcry of panic.

The goblins’ shrieks seemed to signal something, for new goblins began to poke their heads out from the bushes.

These goblins had been lying in ambush, waiting for the right moment.

“Of course,” the man muttered, shaking his head.

The goblins regained their confidence and straightened their shoulders.

Kik. Kirikik!

They sneered, convinced that victory was theirs.

After all, even up close, there were still four goblins remaining, and now five more had joined from a distance, making the situation seem dire.

At least for an ordinary player.

Psshew- Pshoo- Pshoo!

Seeing the arrows flying toward him, the man, Do-hyeon, swiftly angled his greatsword.

Ting- Ting-

The arrows struck the blade and bounced off.

The goblins hurried to prepare another volley.

The goblins at close range didn’t stay idle either.

They began closing in, attempting to prevent the man from blocking the incoming arrows.

But Do-hyeon was faster.

“Hueup!”

With a large swing, he spun around and threw his greatsword toward the distant goblins.

Whoosh-

Kieeek!?

The goblins scattered in panic, never expecting him to throw his weapon.

One of the goblins, who had been just about to shoot an arrow, couldn’t dodge in time.

In the end, it collapsed with its eyes wide open, a greatsword lodged in its head.

Kirik! Keeek!

The distant goblins screeched in frustration, while the close-range goblins sneered.

They thought they had the upper hand now that Do-hyeon was without a weapon.

But that wasn’t the only thing.

[The effect of the Warrior Set has been deactivated.]

[The goblins are no longer under the status effect ‘Intimidation’.]

Kirikik!

As the strange pressure they had felt vanished, their confidence soared.

Do-hyeon smirked at their obvious shift in demeanor and pulled something out of his inventory.

Sreung-

“Who said I’m out of weapons?”

It was an axe.

The ‘Iron Axe of the Honorable Axe God,’ a rare item he had obtained after defeating TryItIfYouCan.

‘One hit is enough anyway. I don’t need the Warrior Set for this.’

Though the level of these goblins had increased, they were still just members of the Red Goblin tribe.

Their health wasn’t even on par with the Blue Goblins from Raven’s Plains.

This axe would be more than enough for them.

The close-range goblins shouted in panic at the sight of the rare-grade axe.

Kik! Kirik!!

It must have been some kind of signal, as the distant goblins quickly resumed firing arrows.

However, unless they were poisoned, arrows like those were nothing Do-hyeon couldn’t block with his eyes closed. His movements were as smooth as ever.

Whoosh-

Puk! Puk!

He quickly rushed into the midst of the close-range goblins, grabbed one by the neck, and used it as a shield.

[The Weapon Master effect removes the weapon restriction.]

[The Adventurer effect allows you to use the weapon’s basic skill.]

[You have used the axe’s basic skill, ‘Overhead Strike’.]

[You have killed a Red Goblin of the Forest.]

After throwing down the goblin riddled with arrows, he shattered the skull of the next goblin, which had been stunned in disbelief. One hit, and it was down.

“Feels good.”

It was his first time using an axe, but the impact felt better than expected.

Do-hyeon, now fully immersed in the battle, tore through the goblins like a whirlwind.

No matter how many arrows they shot, he blocked them with his axe or used a nearby goblin as a shield. To the goblins, he was a walking nightmare.

Kirik…!

In no time, the close-range goblins were wiped out, leaving only the four goblins at a distance.

The goblins, having lost their will to fight, frantically began to flee.

This was why forest goblins were so annoying.

They were cunning, making good use of the forest terrain, and knew how to retreat when the situation turned against them.

But.

[You have used Backstab.]

Against Do-hyeon, who had the best mobility skill of an assassin, their escape was laughable.

Kirik…?

Do-hyeon appeared behind one of them like a phantom and swung his axe, beheading the goblin instantly.

The creature probably didn’t even realize how it had died.

Do-hyeon’s eyes darted quickly.

Two goblins had scattered in different directions. He spotted his greatsword lying near one of them.

Whoosh-

Without hesitation, Do-hyeon threw his axe at the other goblin, then sprinted toward his greatsword and used Charge Slash.

Crack!

Seogeok-

[You have killed a Red Goblin of the Forest.]

[You have killed a Red Goblin of the Forest.]

[Axe proficiency has increased to LV2.]

The timing was perfect. As he slashed the goblin’s waist with Charge Slash, the goblin he had thrown the axe at fell as well.

The goblins had all been cleared.

But he couldn’t let his guard down just yet.

Shhiiik-!

Something huge was aiming for Do-hyeon’s back.