A goblin leaped out.

He swung his stone axe, and a mid-tier monster from the Middle World fell with a thud.

‘Does that even make sense?!’

It was an unbelievable sight for the players.

If they had their own stats, it would be understandable. After all, for the real strong ones, even mid-tier serfs were nothing.

But the trials of the 4th floor were to be carried out in the goblin's body. Even mid-tier monsters were difficult to deal with.

"Kill him!"

The mid-tier monsters charged toward him. Since he was at the forefront, he had attracted excessive aggro.

He didn’t care. He mercilessly struck down the mid-tier monsters.

"Kekekeke! Anyone can see you're like a hero. Junior, show these filthy humans who look down on goblins a lesson!" the Goblin Overseer cheered him on, laughing loudly.

The players, upon hearing the overseer, snapped to attention. They had no time to waste.

“Let’s team up and get promoted to warriors as fast as we can. Kereuk!”

Getting promoted to a warrior would earn them bonus points. It was widely known, but no one had been able to act on it until now.

But now, the opportunity had come.

They used their skills. The ground shook, and light poured forth.

They poured out everything they had, not holding back their abilities. They did everything they could to take down at least one enemy.

[Only 0 goblins remain to be acknowledged as Goblin Warriors.]

"Yes, yes!" A player had advanced to a warrior.

It was the result of attacking the mid-tier monsters, despite the risks involved.

One by one, their bodies grew larger. The players became more frantic.

‘Once the 5th invasion ends, we start the invasion.’

Invasions were more dangerous than invasions. Regular goblins had a high chance of dying.

‘Especially since I even declared I would increase the difficulty….’

It was a matter of life and death. No one moved faster than them.

"Well done. I was moved by the sight of you fighting countless enemies for your weak goblin kin. Kereuk! The floor’s master will reward you!" the overseer said.

Hearing the overseer’s words, the error player couldn’t help but grin, his mouth turning up.

Up to the 2nd floor, things had been a bit ambiguous. The overseer, Daimus, had referred to the floor master as the "Emperor," but that alone couldn't guarantee anything.

‘It was 98% confirmed on the 3rd floor.’

The trials were set by the floor’s master. What kind of personality the master had was more important than one might think.

‘Pirate King Dolph summarized his entire life and implemented it.’

Some parts were omitted due to unexplained subordinates, but the overall flow followed his life’s journey.

So, what about the 4th floor?

‘The humans approaching. The goblins defending their settlement.’

Realizing the true nature of the trials, he fought more bravely than anyone, declaring that no one would be spared.

Then the overseer started dancing happily. Perhaps having heard from the floor’s master, he even said a reward would be given.

‘I’ll do it the way you want.’

He even showed signs of getting injured. As long as he didn’t die from a single hit, he was confident.

He blocked the waves while bleeding profusely.

[5th Invasion Report] Defeated unknown mid-tier monsters × 134 Contribution Rank: 1st

[Overwhelming Achievement!] [You have received 'Hero Gulrak's Helmet' as a reward.]

So, if you rank first in contributions like a stone axe, do you just get a helmet like anyone else?

"I've never seen equipment like this before. It's my first time seeing it."

He checked the helmet's information.

[Hero Gulrak's Helmet (blue)][E] Category: Head Armor Stats▼ 【Durability: +25】 【Durability: 30/30】 Options▼ 【Bludgeon Resistance Lv.3】 【Indomitable Lv.3】

The helmet's performance itself wasn’t great. If it were on a different floor, I probably wouldn’t even use it.

But on the 4th floor, it was more than enough. With its durability of 25, it seemed possible to take on more dangerous challenges.

‘You all want this, right?’

The goblin overseer appeared, clapping his hands, praising his achievements.

"Hero Gulrak's rebirth is no different. The floor’s master also looked on with satisfaction. Kereuk."

"Thank you."

Hearing that the goblin was the floor’s master made it feel somewhat pitiful, but he didn’t feel the need to say anything to ruin the mood.

"The other races hesitate to clear the trials because they fear death. But you, my kin, are different. So different. Kereuk."

"Of course. Humans. Especially mid-tier ones. They’re the ones we should hate. They trample on our homes and abuse our females and children. Scum."

The goblin overseer laughed loudly. He seemed to really like what he heard.

[4th floor, defeat the humans.] Goblins are never weak. Perfect Clear Bonus +1

The next reward.

‘Just one?’

It was a bit odd. The bonus stat points for a warrior promotion were 3, but a perfect clear only got 1.

The ratio was off, wasn’t it?

"Phew. Still, it’s a relief. We managed to defend against the invasion."

"No one died. Isn’t it the first time we’ve cleared it all alive?"

But after seeing the other players’ reactions, I realized.

‘Is this not the official reward?’

No one reacted. If they had received 1 point, someone would be happy about it.

He looked at the goblin overseer. The overseer showed a yellow-toothed grin and nodded.

‘Is this like the situation with Jo Seohui?’

The overseer controls the floor’s trials. But he couldn’t just give out rewards at will. There must be some conditions I don’t know about.

The goblin overseer had given out bonus points for the benefit of his kin.

"Kereuk! Kereuk! I’ll kill the humans. I’ll complete the invasion safely."

"Well done, my kin. Kereuk!"

He acted even more like a goblin, making sure to please the floor’s master and overseer.

"I’ll explain the invasion. Kereuk."

After an invasion comes the actual invasion. Goblins attacking human cities.

I didn’t know anything about the invasion stage. So, I invited a goblin who knew something.

"If we succeed in the invasion, we can go up to the 5th floor, right?"

"You can go up. Whether you succeed or fail in the invasion, as long as you’re alive."

"Then why are there so many here?"

"They’re staying to earn the warrior promotion reward. Kereuk."

"Even though we can go up to the 5th floor?"

"Yes. We don’t know what situation we’ll face on the 5th floor."

It’s the best choice.

‘Now that I have a rough idea of how things work, staying on the 4th floor isn’t a bad idea.’

The goblin continued explaining.

"In the morning tomorrow, when the time comes, the overseer will open the portal."

They’ll invade the human village. The village is slightly bigger than the goblin settlement.

"200 people, about 50 households in a rural village."

"The number of goblins?"

"When we enter the invasion stage, there will be about 300 left."

A lot survived thanks to me during the 5th invasion. Yet, the number of goblins didn’t change.

"...The Harkin team is dead."

"Ah."

It was a net zero.

"Was there a strategy when the invasion happened before?"

"There’s no need to blindly charge in. The monsters lock the gate and enter the defense. Kereuk."

If you meet the minimum conditions, you can go up to the 5th floor. There’s no need to take risks.

‘But I’d have to give up on the rewards.’

That’s not going to happen. I need to get those rewards.

What kind of opportunity might come again like this?

‘I could end up with the overseer turning against me on the higher floors.’

If it’s offered, I’ll take it.

"What do you think we should do? Kereuk."

The players looked at me and asked.

Does this mean they’re leaving it to me?

"Of course, we’ll charge in. We need to show those humans what it means to face goblins. Kereuk."

I’ll make sure they understand what an invasion is.

The players’ faces twisted. They didn’t seem too happy about my plan.

"If you don’t like it, hide. I don’t plan to ask you to join. Kereuk."

The overseer’s favor is mine alone. Don’t interfere and try to take the reward I deserve.

"...You’re going to invade alone?"

"After clearing the wave, the difficulty will increase. No matter how strong I am, it’s impossible alone…"

I shook my head firmly.

"It’s impossible, but it has to be done."

To gain favor with the goblin overseer and the floor’s master, it’s necessary.

The next morning arrived.

The Goblin Overseer made his appearance.

His expression looked somewhat pleased.

‘The floor’s master must also be happy.’

The master of the 4th floor was a goblin. Gulrak, who had been called a hero.

Before being summoned to the Tower of Struggle, I had once heard a story from my grandmother’s grandmother.

Gulrak had performed an incredible miracle against humans.

— He cut down multiple humans in one strike. He was an incredible warrior.
— You need to be a strong warrior like Gulrak. Do you understand?

The young goblins had nodded their heads as they listened to their grandmother’s stories. The goblins who heard about the legend of Gulrak had dreamed of becoming like him.

However, no goblin ever achieved that dream.

Gulrak’s story had been nothing more than a false tale.

Gulrak had been killed by a human spear. He had been horribly murdered by adventurers who came to wipe out the goblin settlement.

He never attacked a human village.

All that remained was his dying struggle, as his limbs were severed.

A dream.

This was a dream.

The dream that the floor’s master had wished for during his lifetime.

"We will invade the human village. Kereuk. This is to show them how terrifying goblins are."

The overseer was showing the dream of the floor’s master.

"Uwooooo! Kereuk, kereuk!"

One goblin rushed toward the city.

He wore Gulrak’s helmet, and for a moment, it seemed like he was Gulrak himself.

But he wasn’t Gulrak.

Unlike the tragic Gulrak, who had been slain, this goblin walked forward boldly, without fear.