3. Mission Update

It had been a month since I arrived in this godforsaken wasteland. And I don't use the word "wasteland" lightly. Every inch of this place feels like a deserted, forgotten land. It's an understatement to say that I miss Earth.

I miss the comforts—the simple luxuries—of home. I miss watching TV late at night, indulging in greasy pizza with extra cheese, and savoring the satisfaction of biting into a perfectly cooked steak. I miss the hum of my PlayStation and the steady rhythm of my favorite video games. I miss music that wasn't just some hollow noise in the wind. I even miss my phone, that lifeline to the world, the one device that could make me feel connected, no matter where I was.

I always prided myself as the type of guy who could survive anywhere. My dad used to take me and my cousins into the wilderness for days and weeks on end, testing our survival skills. But there was one glaring difference: back then, I had a TV, a console, and the sweet comfort of modern life waiting for me at the end of it all.

Now, there's nothing but endless skies and barren stretches of land. It's disorienting, to say the least.

The first week, I trained like a man possessed. My muscles screamed at me, my joints ached with every movement. By the end of it, I could barely walk. But I pushed through, driven by the desire to survive, to grow stronger in this strange world. Slowly, my physical strength, speed, and stamina improved. It was as if the Ki—my inner energy—began to sync up with my body, transforming it. The power coursing through me felt surreal, like I had unlocked something deep inside.

The second week saw a more focused effort. I began using Ki to manifest and enhance my physical attributes—strength, endurance, speed, flexibility—each improved drastically. It wasn't just my muscles; even my mind seemed sharper. However, despite all the progress, I still couldn't harness Ki for anything other than brute force. I couldn't yet generate a Ki blast. And that frustrated me.

To push myself further, I spent a small fortune on potions to aid in recovery. Some days, I felt like I was drowning in them. But every drop was worth it.

Now, I can run 100 meters in under eight seconds, move a boulder the size of a two-story house without breaking a sweat, and sprint full-speed for ten minutes straight without tiring. My training was working, and I could feel the power flowing through me with every breath.

For the next two weeks, I focused on swordsmanship. I'd bought a sword for a gold coin—a hefty price, but one I was willing to pay. The sword felt right in my hand, its weight balanced just perfectly. I spent hours every day practicing, honing my skills. It wasn't cheap, though. Potions, new clothes, and the sword drained my coin purse. I could feel the pinch, but I had to do it. Survival here meant preparation.

Once a week, I'd take a quest from the guild—something simple, something to keep my membership active. But in truth, they were just distractions, things to pass the time. I wasn't really interested in the rewards; I was more focused on getting stronger, on pushing my limits. My progress had been satisfying, but it wasn't enough. I needed more.

And then there was the matter of my... desires. I'm not going to lie. The brothels of this world were always on my mind. But I made a vow to myself—no pleasure, no distractions, not until I could unleash a proper Ki blast. The thought of being able to blast someone with a burst of energy kept me going, kept my focus sharp. And so, I wandered through my days, constantly walking the line between frustration and determination, while my body betrayed me by constantly reminding me of its desires.

But no. No, I would not give in.

And then, one day, I found myself staring at the guild's quest board. My eyes scanned it slowly, searching for something… something that would bring meaning to all the monotony. It was at the top left corner, tucked away beneath all the other quests.

An E-rank quest.

Rescue a group of girls kidnapped by goblins.

The reward was meager—only ten silver—but the difficulty was marked as C-rank. That was strange. Usually, quests with low rewards came with low difficulty, but the guild had placed a higher rating on this one. Goblins, from what I understood, weren't the kind of monsters to mess with. They were feral, vicious, and relentless in their raids. I hadn't taken a quest in a few days, and the girls... the girls were the last straw. I needed to do this.

I ripped the quest notice from the board and walked up to Gwen, the guild receptionist. She gave me a curt nod as I showed her the paper.

"You sure about this one?" she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

I nodded. "Yeah. I've been waiting long enough. Time to get this over with."

Gwen scribbled the quest down in her records. That was how you earned promotions in this world—by completing quests and making your mark in the guild's books.

I exited the Guild Hall and made my way toward the city gates. Ronta Vro, the village where the girls were being held came from was about a day's journey north. My new leather armor felt good on my skin, and the sword at my side gave me a sense of confidence, though I had no real battle experience yet. But this quest would change that, one way or another.

I started on my journey, passing through the quiet streets of the city. The world felt strange, every step I took echoing in the unfamiliar land. The day felt long, stretching into an eternal morning as I crossed the gates. Time here was bizarre—days stretched to about thirty hours, which left me feeling out of sync with my body. I had to adapt, of course, and in some ways, it made training easier. Longer days meant longer training sessions, and I could already feel the improvements in my body. Still, it wasn't enough. I needed something more.

The next day, I found myself standing on a hilltop overlooking Ronta Vro. The village was peaceful, nestled amidst vast fields and farmlands. It was picturesque, idyllic even. I could see the villagers going about their work, children laughing as they played. The world seemed so simple, so perfect.

But that peacefulness wouldn't last.

I approached the village and was greeted by the village chief, Mr. Pock. He was a lanky man with a bushy mustache and a worn look in his eyes. His son, Cole, stood beside him—a younger version of his father but with more muscle. His wife, Mary, was there too, her appearance average in every way, though her eyes spoke of quiet strength.

"I'm Kaizen," I introduced myself, laying the quest notice on the table before them. "I'm here for the quest."

They exchanged looks of uncertainty, their faces clouded with worry.

"Something wrong?" I asked, brow furrowing.

"Well," Mr. Pock began, his voice trembling slightly, "It's been two weeks since the girls were taken. We... we don't know if it's too late for them."

Mary's voice joined his, her words heavy with dread. "The goblins... they've been using them. Making them..." She trailed off, her voice cracking with emotion.

I felt the weight of their words press down on me. It wasn't just about rescuing them anymore. It was about saving whatever remained of their lives.

I clenched my fists. "So you're worried that it's too late," I said softly. They nodded in unison, their faces filled with sorrow and uncertainty.

"Are you asking me to cancel the quest?" I pressed, although I had a feeling I already knew their answer.

"No!" Cole shouted, stepping forward. "We still want the girls back! But... but what if it's too late for them? What if they're already—" He choked on his words.

I turned away, processing the grim picture they painted. Goblins didn't waste time. They took what they wanted, and I could only guess how much damage had been done in the last two weeks.

I stood up, my determination solidifying with each passing moment. "Time is critical. Lead me to their hideout. We're going to get them back."

Cole hesitated, his eyes wide with concern. "Are you sure about this?"

"Look," I said, trying to calm him. "You don't need to pay me. I'll find the goblins, and I'll make sure this doesn't happen again. But I need you to lead me to them. That's all I ask."

Mr. Pock nodded, his voice firm. "Go with Cole. He'll take you to them."

With that, we were off. The villagers watched us leave, some with hope, others with doubt. The air in the village felt thicker as I followed Cole toward the eastern forest.

I kept pace with him easily, despite the weight of my sword and armor. I could see the trees ahead, dense and dark. Soon, we entered the forest, the sounds of the village fading away behind us.

We moved carefully, making our way deeper into the wild unknown.

As Cole led me deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker, their shadows swallowing up the light. The air smelled damp, like earth and moss, and the quiet was suffocating. Not even the usual chirping of birds or rustling of small animals could be heard. Something felt off, like we were being watched, though I couldn't sense any immediate danger.

"We're close," Cole whispered, his voice low and tense.

I nodded but said nothing, my eyes scanning the area. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled, and a sudden gust of wind made the trees creak ominously. We came to a clearing.

In the center of the clearing stood a mountain with a cave. Goblins, I could see were not patrolling the perimeter.

I signaled to Cole to stay low, pulling my sword free from its sheath with practiced ease.

We moved in silence, and I felt my heart rate increase as we grew closer.

I raised a hand, channeling my Ki as I crouched, ready to move in. The ground beneath me shifted slightly, and just as I was about to make my move…

**DING!**

The sound of the notification rang through my head. A soft ping, like an alert on my phone.

I froze mid-step. What was that?

Suddenly, a translucent blue screen appeared in my vision:

***---***

**[Mission Update]**

**Mission Title:** *Rescue Mission – Kill the Goblin Chief*

**Rank:** C

**Time Remaining:** 29 Hours 59 minutes 59 seconds… 58… 57… 56

**Primary Objective:** Retrieve the girls from the goblin hideout and return them safely to Ronta Vro.

**Secondary Objective:** Kill the Goblin Chief.

***---***

**DING!** The sound echoed once more, this time in the back of my head. I blinked, startled. A quest update? What the hell was this system? I had no time to dwell on it.

"Cole, stay back," I whispered urgently, pulling him to the ground and out of sight. "They know we're here. There's a trap."

I saw him nod, his face pale. His eyes widened in realization as I stood, sword in hand, ready for what was to come.