An Endless Journey Into Another World

3

In a desperate, instinctive reaction, I raised the sword and brought it down with a brutal swing. The cold metal sliced through the air, and the goblin's life was extinguished in a single, harsh motion.

The clang of steel against flesh hit me like a punch to the gut, a brutal reminder of the violence I had just committed. As the goblin fell silent, I was left stunned by the gravity of my actions.

"Did I really just do that?" I murmured, my voice barely more than a tremulous whisper as I stared at the lifeless goblin. My hands shook uncontrollably, but the initial shock quickly hardened into grim determination. There was no room for hesitation in this world; survival demanded ruthless efficiency.

I swept my gaze across the camp, my heart racing as I spotted the remaining six goblins stirring weakly. Though they were badly injured, their movements were enough to pose a threat. My mind whirled with cold resolve and grim acceptance. No choice. They were a danger, and I had to ensure they couldn't alert anyone else.

If this was a game, I thought, I could level up and see if something would happen. But deep down, I knew that I couldn't rely on hope. I had to act.

Steeling myself, I lunged at the nearest goblin, adrenaline surging through my veins. With each swing, I felt the weight of the sword in my hand—heavy, clumsy, and foreign. But I pushed through the awkwardness, fueled by sheer survival instinct.

With every goblin that fell, I could feel the stakes rising. I was becoming a part of this brutal reality, one desperate act at a time. I was no longer just Rhuer; I was a fighter, and I was determined to carve out my place in this nightmare, no matter how gruesome the path became.

My thoughts were steely and unforgiving, but I knew I could be wrong about this world having a system or rules like in games. The camp, a grim tableau of survival, demanded decisive action.

Without further hesitation, I moved with brutal efficiency. I approached the remaining goblins, my steps purposeful and my face a mask of hardened resolve. The once-intimate camp now felt like a stage for my ruthless survival, each movement dictated by the harsh necessity of the situation.

As I dealt with the remaining threats, my actions were swift and merciless. The initial pangs of fear and guilt were suppressed by the urgent need to protect myself. The goblins' groans and feeble movements were swiftly silenced, each strike a calculated measure to ensure no further danger. Thoughts of fantasy and adventure seemed distant and irrelevant compared to the cold reality I faced.

Each swing of the sword felt like a brutal clash between my primal survival instincts and the churning turmoil within me. My hands were slick with blood and trembling uncontrollably, betraying my fear and revulsion. Yet, despite the shaking of my limbs and the sickening squelch of each strike, I forced myself to continue.

Each lifeless body that fell was a grim reminder of the stakes of my survival. The weight of the sword, the slick feel of blood, and the muted screams of the fallen goblins melded into a macabre symphony of necessity. My face, once a canvas of fear and desperation, was now a mask of hardened resolve, marred by streaks of red and sweat.

I finished the grim task, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I stood amidst the aftermath of my actions. The weight of reality pressed down heavily on me, and a profound unease settled in my chest, turning my stomach.

Despite my shaking hands and the storm of turmoil in my mind, I had survived another threat. Each moment of grim necessity had hardened my resolve, forcing me to confront the brutal reality before me.

I crept back to my hiding spot with a tense, measured pace, each step echoing like a drum in the oppressive silence. My breath was uneven, nerves frayed to the breaking point. The stolen items, hastily gathered, felt foreign in my trembling grasp. As I nestled into the hollow of the ancient tree, I glanced down at my bloodied hands, slick and warm, desperately trying to steady them.