Class Awakening: The Builder Emerges

I shouted boldly, but when a goblin thrust its ugly mug right up to my face, fear hit me fast. At least the chairs scattered across the floor kept them coming in twos or threes, with gaps in between.

“Huuup—!”

I thrust my spear at the lead one. It pierced its left chest, sending it tumbling backward, the spear slipping free naturally. One down, and the next scrambled up beside it. No time for another thrust. I swung sideways, smashing the temple of the charging goblin. The one right behind got its throat stabbed.

“Haa… haa…”

This… was way harder than I thought! My body was moving on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pure instinct, but it was all razor-close calls. No time to whine about how tough it was. The goblins kept coming.

“What kind of goblins are there so many of—!!”

Thrust, swing, thrust again—no time to think, just react. If one popped into view, I jammed the spear in. This do-or-die frenzy worked only because of the terrain advantage and the wall I'd built. Damn good call making that thing!

Even if a few I missed reached the wall, a handful of goblins couldn't smash it down. They could barely poke their heads over, and climbing was a nightmare. Besides, I wasn't just gonna stand there watching. The issue was getting too close for the spear tip, so I'd use the butt end instead. Is it okay to fight with a spear like this? Didn't matter—instinct took over.

“Uwaaaaa—I'll absolutely survive—!!”

Trance-like goblin hunt? No—defense. My roar, packed with sheer determination, made the climbing goblins falter under its intensity. They were close, sure, but still so far! Too high up! Of all those swarming numbers, only a few were left standing now. A count I could finally breathe easy over.

But as if someone had decreed this trial wasn't over, a new message signaled my fight raged on.

“A quest…?”

Was this trial meant to kill me, or build my foundation for survival? Questions swirled as the [Quest] details popped up before my eyes. I finally had a breather to glance at it.

With only a handful of monsters left in front of me, this was honestly doable now. But why had this [Quest] only appeared at the end? The answer came quick.

『GRRAAAAAHHH—!!』

The roar echoed through the building like thunder. No mere goblin could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make that sound. Even the goblins who'd heard it trembled in terror.

What the hell is coming…?

A massive shadow loomed in the corner of my vision, visible through the stair railing. It climbed slowly. The source of the roar was heading my way.

Soon, I saw the monster clearly. It looked like a fattened goblin—but no way was it one. Twice the height, bulging with flesh. Its lower jaw jutted out massively, tusks piercing its lips, exuding raw menace. The pressure it radiated was on another level entirely. Just looking at it screamed elite monster.

If my first encounter had been this thing…

Chills ran down my spine at the thought. If I'd run into this instead of goblins on the way out, I'd be dead.

I checked its name like with the goblins. A tag floated over its huge head.

“An orc… like the goblin cousins from games…?”

In most games, they'd be early-game exp fodder. But this one was no pushover.

Still, my wall held strong. I clung to that confidence.

“I can do this…!”

Whoosh—!

Until the chair flew at me. The orc kicked aside the cluttering chairs like nothing, then hurled one that whistled past my head. It splintered against the wall. If its aim had been a tad better, my head would've exploded.

“Wh-what the…?”

The near-death chill made my spine tingle, cold sweat pouring out. But the orc wasn't giving me time to freak.

『Oooook—!!』

It charged, bulldozing everything—including fellow goblins. One arm swing and they burst like balloons. My flimsy wall couldn't stop that.

I dove aside just before it hit. The orc plowed straight through, shoving the wall away.

“Ugh—?!”

The desk surface tore like paper. In seconds, I'd lost the third floor I'd defended so desperately.

『Orrk!』

Fallen, I looked up at the orc. Steam puffed from its maw like an engine.

『Chwiik.』

“How do I even beat this…?”

Just staring sapped my will, but I had to live. No—I wanted to live! Gripping my spear, I jumped up and aimed at it. The orc, sensing my fear, approached slowly, conserving energy. I backed away in kind.

Then it smirked—or seemed to.

“Uwaaaah!!”

Fueled by rage, I thrust. The spear sank into its plump belly. But barely—the tip just pricked.

The orc glanced down like I'd swatted a mosquito.

“Ugh, this isn't right—!”

I yanked it free to flee, but its arm whipped out. I rolled forward, barely dodging. The swing packed club-level force. It kept flailing mercilessly; I could only scramble and evade pathetically. Occasional openings let me jab, but only scratches.

This won't work. Need a plan…?

No instant power-up here. …Wait, yes there was? All those goblins I'd slain before the orc showed.

I checked my piled-up [Coins].

“Am I loaded now? Ugh—?!”

Distracted, I barely arched back from a sudden swing.

“Ten years off my life…”

No time to gawk—I dumped the [Coins]. Earned through hell, spent in a flash. But a smart investment.

Dodging the orc's assaults, I unleashed a storm of level-ups.

“Ooooh—!!”

Not quite omnipotent, but enough to tangle with the orc. I didn't know exactly what Lv.5 meant for it, but averaging my [Stats] put me around there too.

Mana aside, I'm over 6!

Of course, same applied to the orc. It looked stacked in strength and stamina, but agility? Nah. Mana? Nope. That gap let me dodge so far. Maybe it still edged me in raw power, but bottom line: I could fight.

Its fist swing telegraphed clearly now. Agility bumped my perceived time. Stamina fixed my heaving breaths instantly.

[Stats]—just a few levels made a world of difference.

“I can do it! I can win!”

Aiming for its shoulder, my spear shot forward viciously. It buried deep.

『Orrk…?』

Finally, a real wound. The orc flinched in pain. Despite the depth, my boosted strength yanked it free easy.

“Surprised, huh?”

『Orrk?』

“My turn now!”

Confidence surging, I went on the offensive. But this attack was just a probe.

『OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK—!!』

Enraged. Its green skin flushed red. Its breath steamed hotter.

“This is bad, right…?”

Its speed spiked—dodges that were simple before turned hellish again. My mouth wrote a check my ass couldn't cash. I sniped openings, but even at best, shallow cuts. Defense up too.

“Early-game mobs buffing is cheating—?!”

Thud.

Distracted fleeing, I backed into a dead end—then realized the drop-off ahead.

“Oh no…?”

『Ork.』

The orc grinned in victory. No mercy now. To it, I was prey turned foe.

It charged like a bull. Desperate, I thrust my spear.

“Just die already—!!”

The orc barreled on, impalement be damned. The spear slipped in my grip; my strength couldn't pierce.

Then—clack—it halted abruptly. The orc, oblivious, kept shoving forward. The blade punched through its gut and out its back.

『Oook…』

“…?”

Its knees buckled, pinning me under. Luck struck: the spear lodged firm against the wall, skewering it fatally.

“Nngh!”

I shoved the heavy corpse off and finally saw the message I'd craved.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Dumb luck win, but who cared? I slumped on the floor, sighing in relief.

“Phaaa… got lucky~!”

One slip and I'd be the corpse. Joy at survival brought tears. Luck-based, sure, but not pointless.

“Never let my guard down again…!”

A huge lesson for survival ahead.

Beating this hellfight meant sweet rewards now.

“Wonder what I'll get?”

I awaited the [Quest] clear. But no dice—something else hit.

“Achievement…? What bullshit? Just give my reward! My [Skill]!”

“A [Class]? [Builder]…? Unique sounds good, right?”

No mention of the Normal Skill ticket I'd wanted, but this blew it away. An exclusive skill!

“Oh…?!”