Chapter 4: The First Kill with a BdePart 1: A Predator in the DarkArata froze.

  That growl wasn’t from a rabbit.

  His body tensed as he slowly turned his head toward the sound. Shadows flickered between the trees as something moved—something humanoid, but hunched over, with glowing yellow eyes that pierced through the dimming light.

  Then, it stepped out from the underbrush.

  A goblin.

  Short, barely reaching Arata’s chest, but lean and wiry. Its skin was sickly green, its face twisted into a sneer, and in its cwed hand—it held a rusted, jagged bde.

  Arata’s heart pounded.

  Shit. That thing has a weapon.

  The goblin snarled and crouched low, tightening its grip on the bde. Arata could tell—it was going to attack.

  His hands clenched around his wooden branch. He had taken down monsters before, but this was different. This wasn’t an animal.

  This thing was thinking.

  And it wanted him dead.

  Part 2: A Fight Against a WeaponThe goblin lunged.

  Arata barely dodged as the bde sshed past his chest. If he had been even a second slower, he would’ve been bleeding out on the forest floor.

  It’s fast!

  Arata swung his branch at its head, just like he had done with the rabbits.

  But this time—

  CLANG!

  The goblin blocked it with its sword. A shock ran up Arata’s arms as wood met steel, and before he could react, the goblin shed out with a kick to his stomach.

  “Guh—!”

  He stumbled backward, coughing. The goblin cackled, baring its sharp teeth, and raised its sword again.

  Arata gritted his teeth.

  This isn’t like before. If I make one mistake, I’m dead.

  He couldn’t afford to just swing wildly.

  He had to think.

  Part 3: Outsmarting the GoblinThe goblin lunged again, aiming for his chest.

  But this time, Arata didn’t try to block it head-on.

  Instead, he twisted his body at the st second.

  The bde barely missed him—just enough for him to counter.

  With all his strength, he smmed the branch into the goblin’s wrist.

  CRACK!

  The goblin howled in pain, dropping its sword. Arata didn’t hesitate—he swung again, this time aiming for its head.

  THWACK!

  The goblin crumpled to the ground, twitching.

  [+20 EXP gained!]

  Arata stood there, breathing heavily. His hands ached, his heart pounded—but he had won.

  And there, lying on the ground beside the goblin—

  The sword.

  His first real weapon.

  Part 4: Ciming the BdeArata hesitated for only a moment before reaching down and picking up the weapon.

  It was old, rusted, and slightly chipped—but compared to a wooden branch, it was a massive upgrade.

  A new notification appeared.

  [You have acquired: Goblin’s Rusted Sword.]

  A slow grin spread across his face.

  Now, I finally have a real weapon.

  For the first time since arriving in this world, he didn’t feel helpless.

  No more fighting with sticks.

  No more barely surviving.

  This was the first step toward real power.

  And he was just getting started.