Heavenly Unbound [A LitRPG System Survival]

Sam sat on the scorched ground of the wasteland, his back leaning against a piece of cracked stone. The remnants of the battle still echoed faintly around him.

"Ting! Ting!" The sound of metal clashing rang out as goblins snarled their defiance.

"Garrrr!"

He watched his team fighting the remaining goblins, his expression calm but amused. These goblins were noticeably stronger than the ones from Floor 2, but his group had come a long way. After days of grinding, their levels were high, their coordination sharper, and their confidence unshakable.

Even against nearly a thousand goblins, they fought like seasoned warriors.

Sam tilted his head, observing the skirmish with interest. These goblins... even at higher levels, they're weak. Their class must be basic, just common ones. Their skills are clearly inferior to the uncommon abilities my team has gained.

A small smile crept onto his face as he watched the nine humans take on the horde. Just a week ago, we were living normal lives. Who would have imagined this?

Time passed, and the tide of battle shifted. The number of goblins dwindled until there were fewer than a hundred. Ten minutes later, the last goblin fell, letting out a pitiful groan before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

The team regrouped, walking toward Sam, their expressions triumphant but not exhausted. Michael was the first to speak, grinning. "So, how'd we do? Fun to watch?"

Sam chuckled, sitting up straighter. "It was like watching football."

Michael laughed, shaking his head. "Football, huh? Maybe you should've cheered us on from the sidelines."

The group joined in with lighthearted laughter, the tension of the battle melting away. Even Ann, who usually carried a serious demeanor, let out a small laugh. "Let's get out of here," she said, her voice steady but laced with relief.

Sam nodded and pushed himself off the ground. "Yeah, time to end this."

He walked toward the rift core, its faint glow the only thing untouched by the destruction around them. Without hesitation, he reached out and placed his hand on it.

Ding!

[DUNGEON QUEST]

Quest Name: Goblins Village - Floor Boss [Complete]

Time Remaining: -

Objective: Enter the rift and destroy the Rift Core [1 / 1]

Rewards: 1,000 Soul Points.

Ding!

[System Challenger Title Activated]

You have received additional quest rewards: 1 Common Random Box

As the last goblin fell and silence settled over the battlefield, someone in the group broke the quiet. "Is it over? Where's the exit?"

Before anyone could respond, a sudden, oppressive aura enveloped them. A shimmering blue light descended over the group, freezing them in place as if they were locked in invisible chains. Panic flickered in their eyes as they looked at each other, the only part of their bodies they could still move.

"W-what's going on?" Michael's voice trembled in his mind, though his lips couldn't move.

Sam, however, was different. While the blue aura pressed down on everyone else, he found himself able to move. Looking around cautiously, he tried to assess what was happening.

The world began to tremble violently. The ground beneath them fractured and split, jagged cracks spreading like spiderwebs. The blood-red sky above tore apart like shredded fabric, revealing a vast emptiness beyond.

Then, everything collapsed.

The dimension itself seemed to implode, sinking into nothingness. Sam and the others floated helplessly in the void, surrounded by an all-encompassing darkness. It wasn't just dark—it was the absence of all light and substance. The void swallowed sound, leaving only the oppressive silence.

Sam glanced around, his heart pounding. He could see the others floating nearby, their terrified expressions illuminated faintly by the blue aura. What is this place? he thought, his fists clenching as he tried to stay calm.

A moment later, a faint glow appeared in the distance, growing brighter and brighter until the void was washed in light.

Suddenly, they were no longer in the collapsing dimension.

The group found themselves standing in a pristine white room, its walls glowing with a soft, ethereal light. The oppressive aura vanished, and their bodies were freed from the paralysis.

Eddie stumbled forward, breathing heavily. "Ah! I can move again. You guys... did you see what just happened? That was terrifying!"

Ann rubbed her arms, her expression pale. "The way the world just... fell apart. I thought we were going to die."

Sam exhaled slowly, his voice calm but tense. "It was... something else. I don't even know how we survived that."

Michael nodded, his hand gripping his weapon tightly. "One second, we're in that forest, and the next... it's like the whole world disappeared around us."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, each processing the experience in their own way.

Before they could dwell further, the familiar chime of the system rang out, pulling their attention.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have completed Goblins Village Dungeon]

Reward: Title: Goblins Slayer, 1,000 Soul Points, 1 Random Uncommon Item. [CLAIM A REWARD]

Ding!

[System Challenger Title Activated]

You have received additional quest rewards: 1 Rare Random Box.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have earned a new title: Goblins Slayer]

[Goblins Slayer]: Reward For Completed Goblins Village Dungeon - Increase all stats by 2

Nice title, As the system notification faded, a faint glow appeared before Sam. Moments later, a pair of sturdy boots materialized, hovering just above the ground.

[Durable Leather Boots]

spending two days barefoot, they were a welcome sight. He slipped them on, flexing his toes to test the fit. "Finally," he muttered, "no more walking on shards and debris."

The others chuckled, their spirits lifted by the small victory.

"Looking good," Michael teased, his own smile returning as he leaned on his spear.

Before Sam could respond, another glow appeared in the center of the room. The air shimmered, and a swirling portal materialized before the group.

[Dungeon Exit]

The group gathered around the portal, exchanging glances. Relief and exhaustion were etched into their faces, but so was a shared sense of accomplishment.

Sam looked at each of them, noting their smiles and the spark of confidence in their eyes. Without a word, he turned toward the portal and stepped forward, disappearing into the light.

One by one, the others followed, their journey in the Goblin Village dungeon finally coming to an end.

Nate POV

It had already been two days since both of Nate's sons entered the dungeon, and they hadn't returned yet. The wait was agonizing, but during these two days, life at the camp had been eventful.

More people were undergoing Tier 1 evolutions, their newfound strength making the monsters less of a threat. Many others, himself included, had evolved as well. Nate's [Specialist Doctor] title had offered him a rare class—Oncologist.

The class was remarkable. It allowed him to restore heavy wounds, such as stab or blade injuries, with ease. Thanks to this, he had been able to treat his daughter's near-fatal wound immediately after his evolution. She was now fully healed and had even joined the others in hunting monsters to gain levels.

For the most part, everything seemed to be progressing well—until now.

A young girl stumbled into the camp, her face pale and tear-streaked. Her sobs filled the air as she recounted her ordeal.

"There's a group of people... they're killing others for levels," she cried, her voice trembling with fear. "They killed my entire family... all of them!"

Nate's heart sank as he listened. People could be cruel—he knew that all too well. In the absence of law and order, the worst in humanity often surfaced. He let the group of women in the camp comfort the girl while he turned his attention to the scout who had found her.

"Did you find their tracks?" Nate asked, his tone calm but sharp.

The scout, Glen, nodded grimly. "Yes, sir. They're close—about 20 men. All of them were armed. I think they already know about us, but they're holding back for now. Probably worried about our numbers."

Nate frowned, the weight of the situation pressing on him. "So, they're waiting for an opportunity. If they see us showing any weakness, or if they gain enough confidence, they'll attack."

Glen nodded again. "That's my guess. They're watching, waiting for the right moment."

Nate clenched his fists. He couldn't allow his people to fall prey to such predators. The camp was stable for now, but it was a fragile stability, one that could shatter the moment the balance of power tipped.

He glanced back at the young girl, still sobbing quietly as the women tried to calm her. This is the world we're living in now, he thought grimly. And it's up to us to protect what we've built here.

Looking at Glen, Nate made his decision. "Double the patrols. Keep everyone alert. If they're watching us, then we'll make it clear we're ready for them. No weaknesses, no openings. If they come for us, we'll be ready."

Glen saluted sharply. "Understood."

As the scout walked away, Nate sighed, his thoughts drifting to his sons. Sam, Michael... wherever you are, come back soon. We're holding the line, but I don't know how long it will last.

Sam POV

Sam stepped out of the portal, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. It felt so much better than the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon. He glanced around, noticing a few guards stationed near the portal's exit. Strangely, there were no other people in sight.

The guards hadn't noticed him yet, their focus elsewhere. Sam raised a hand and called out, "Hello there."

The nearest guard spun around, startled, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon. Recognizing Sam a moment later, the man's expression shifted to relief before quickly turning to urgency.

"Mister Samuel!" the guard said, his voice hurried. "Please, hurry! The camp is under attack! A group of scavengers ambushed Mr. Barlow while he was relocating the camp to hide the dungeon's location!"

Sam's heart froze for an instant, then reignited with a burning fury.

The others emerging from the portal froze as well, the news hitting them like a shockwave. Their expressions turned cold, their eyes narrowing with unmistakable killing intent.

Ann gripped her spear tightly, her knuckles whitening. "They attacked your father?" she hissed, her voice laced with venom.

Michael's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. "How many of them? Are they still there?"

The guard stammered, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of tension. "Y-yes, sir. About twenty of them, all of them are tier 1!"

Sam's jaw tightened, his expression dark. He had always known that humans could be just as dangerous as monsters, but this... this was personal.

"They tried to attack my family while I was away?" Sam said, his voice low and cold, vibrating with barely restrained rage.

He turned his gaze toward the horizon, his eyes burning with fury. "I'll rip them apart," he growled, his voice like a promise carved in stone.

The others nodded silently, their own anger simmering as they prepared themselves.

"Let's go," Sam said, his tone brooking no argument. He wasn't going to waste a second. Whoever dared to target his family would soon learn the price of their mistake.