Nyxaris dodged left, narrowly avoiding a set of snapping jaws. His slime-like body let him twist and move in ways that weren't humanly possible, giving him an edge against the wolves. He had fought monsters before, but this was different. The wolves fought like a real pack—coordinating, flanking, attacking from blind spots.
The alpha wolf was the biggest threat. Unlike the others, it didn't attack recklessly. It observed, waiting for an opening.
A smaller wolf lunged—Nyxaris spun, slamming his sword into its skull. It collapsed instantly.
[Wolves Defeated: 2/12]
"Two down, ten to go," he muttered.
"Don't get cocky, boy." Zeraldris' voice echoed in his mind. "They're testing you."
Before he could react, two wolves pounced at once—one from the left, the other from behind.
Nyxaris barely managed to shift his body, absorbing most of the impact. But he still felt the force.
For the first time in this fight, pain shot through him.
His health bar dropped slightly.
So I can still take damage even if I absorb attacks… good to know.
He retaliated with a wide slash, forcing the wolves back. They circled him again, more cautious now.
The goblins behind him watched in awe.
Their makeshift leader—the one with the crude spear—stepped forward. "You… You're fighting for us?"
Nyxaris glanced at him. "Yeah. Try not to die while I handle this."
The goblin swallowed hard and nodded.
Nyxaris refocused on the wolves.
They weren't going to let him breathe.
The next few minutes were a blur of slashes, dodges, and counterattacks.
Nyxaris used every trick he had—shifting his slime body to absorb attacks, striking quickly before the wolves could react, using the environment to his advantage.
Bit by bit, he wore them down.
Another wolf fell.
Then another.
[Wolves Defeated: 6/12]
The remaining wolves began hesitating.
But the alpha wolf growled lowly, stepping forward. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, and the air around it crackled with energy.
Then a system notification appeared.
[Alpha Dire Wolf has activated: Blood Frenzy]
All remaining wolves receive a boost to attack power and speed.
Alpha Wolf's Strength increased by 50%.
Nyxaris barely had time to react before the alpha vanished from sight.
"MOVE!" Zeraldris roared.
Nyxaris threw himself to the side—just in time.
The alpha's claws tore through where he had just been standing, leaving deep gashes in the ground.
Nyxaris' heart pounded.
This was bad.
The other wolves, now faster and stronger, lunged again.
He barely kept up, blocking, dodging, striking when he could.
But he was losing ground.
I need to end this quickly.
Nyxaris took a deep breath.
His slime body had one major advantage—he didn't have to fight like a normal human.
So he didn't.
As the alpha wolf lunged again, Nyxaris shifted, allowing its momentum to carry it through him.
Then he struck.
With all his strength, he plunged his sword into the alpha's back, driving the blade deep into its spine.
The wolf howled, thrashing in pain.
Nyxaris twisted the blade and yanked it free.
The alpha collapsed, its body twitching…
before finally going still.
[Alpha Dire Wolf Defeated]
[Wolves Defeated: 12/12]
[Combat Event Complete!]
Nyxaris staggered back, breathing heavily. His health was low, his body ached, but he had won.
A notification popped up.
[Quest Complete: The Goblin Village in Peril]
Rewards:
Gold: 250
Item Drop: Alpha Dire Wolf's Fang
Reputation with Goblin Village increased!
A wave of relief washed over him.
He turned back to the goblins.
The leader, still gripping his spear, fell to his knees.
"You… saved us," he whispered.
The other goblins cheered, some even bowing in gratitude.
Nyxaris scratched the back of his head. "Uh… yeah. No problem."
"You've gained their respect," Zeraldris noted. "This could be useful later."
Nyxaris smiled.
Maybe this game wasn't so bad after all.
Back in the control room, the developers watched in silence.
"He… won."
"Not just won—he adapted. That strategy at the end? No normal player would have thought of that."
The lead developer leaned back, arms crossed.
"This kid is breaking every expectation we had."
A pause.
"Keep watching him."
Nyxaris took a deep breath, watching as the goblins slowly gathered around their fallen enemy. They were murmuring among themselves, some still in shock at his victory, others already scavenging the fallen wolves for anything useful.
The goblin leader—the one with the crude spear—stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"You have saved our village," he said solemnly. "We… we owe you our lives."
A system prompt appeared in front of Nyxaris.
[Reputation Increased: Goblin Village - Friendly]
Nyxaris let out a small chuckle. "No need for all that," he said, waving his hand. "I just did what I had to."
The goblin leader looked up, eyes filled with gratitude. "No. You are now a friend of our people. If you ever need shelter, food, or supplies, we will do our best to provide."
A second prompt appeared.
[New Perk Gained: Goblin Ally]
Goblin settlements will offer lower prices for trade.
Chance to receive additional rewards when completing quests for goblins.
Nyxaris raised an eyebrow. Perks like this exist? That could be useful.
"Well, in that case… I won't say no to some supplies," he said with a grin.
The goblins eagerly led him back to their village.
The village itself was small but functional. Wooden huts lined the dirt pathways, and a large communal fire burned in the center. Goblin children peeked out from behind their homes, staring at Nyxaris with wide eyes.
A few goblins rushed to prepare food, while others tended to their wounded. The leader motioned for Nyxaris to sit near the fire.
As he rested, a few notifications popped up.
[New Items Acquired!]
Dried Meat x3 (Restores stamina)
Basic Healing Potion x2
Goblin Crafted Leather Bracers (+2 Defense)
He inspected the bracers. They weren't anything special, but extra defense was always good. He equipped them without hesitation.
"You must be tired," the leader said, sitting beside him. "We do not have much, but you are welcome to rest here tonight."
Nyxaris considered it. His stamina was low, and he wasn't sure if there was a penalty for staying up too long in the game.
After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah, I think I'll take you up on that."
The goblins cheered, already preparing a place for him to rest.
As Nyxaris leaned back, Zeraldris' voice echoed in his mind.
"You're getting stronger," the dragon mused. "But you have a long way to go."
Nyxaris smirked. "Then I better keep moving forward."
In the sleek control room of Evolvera Online, the lead developer, Marcus Kane, leaned forward, eyes locked on the screen displaying Nyxaris' gameplay.
"He's progressing at an unnatural rate," one of the staff muttered.
"More than that," another added. "He's not just leveling up fast—he's making decisions that no normal player would."
Marcus steepled his fingers. "First, he was named way ahead of schedule. Then he found and absorbed Zeraldris, something no one should've been able to do this early. Now, he's gaining influence in the world, getting perks that should take weeks to earn."
The room fell into silence.
One of the junior developers hesitated before speaking. "Should we… intervene?"
Marcus shook his head.
"You all know the rules. No interference. The whole appeal of Evolvera is that the world is self-sustaining. Once players enter, the game shapes itself around their actions."
"But his actions are reshaping it too much," another protested.
Marcus exhaled. "That's what makes it interesting. If he continues like this, he might uncover more secrets we never expected players to find."
His gaze hardened.
"Let's see how far he can go."
The next morning, Nyxaris woke up to the sounds of goblins moving about. He stretched, his slime-like body shifting momentarily before stabilizing.
A new quest notification appeared.
[New Quest: The Road to Astrid - A Dangerous Journey]
Objective: Travel to the Kingdom of Astrid and meet with the Guild Master in the capital.
Optional Tasks Along the Way:
Assist travelers in need.
Defeat bandits roaming the roads.
Discover hidden dungeons or landmarks.
Main Reward: 500 Gold, Guild Access in Astrid.
Optional Rewards: Varies based on completed tasks.
Nyxaris stared at the prompt.
"Looks like I've got a long road ahead."
He stood, equipping his gear.
With a grin, he turned to the goblin leader.
"Thanks for the hospitality, but I've got a kingdom to reach."
The goblin bowed. "Good luck, friend."
As Nyxaris stepped onto the open road, he couldn't shake the feeling that his journey was only just beginning.