Reborn in the Survival Adventure Game-Chapter 89: Steps forward

"Three slimes. I can handle three," muttered Ren, a short elf with messy hair and a cracked bow.

He crouched low behind a bush, eyes fixed on the wiggling green blobs ahead. His hands were sweating again, even though he'd done this five times already. He aimed, took a breath, and let the arrow fly.

Thwip!

The arrow hit. One slime popped.

"Yes!"

Another slime bounced toward him. He fumbled for another arrow. It slipped. The slime slammed into his leg, and he tumbled back with a yelp.

"Ow! Stupid thing!"

He scrambled up, stabbed the second with a knife, then rolled to dodge the third. It hit his arm, but he swung wildly and crushed it.

Pop.

Gasping, he leaned on his knees. "I'm... still alive."

His card blinked.

[3 Slimes Defeated. +10 Coins. Skill: Quick Aim Lv1 learned.]

Ren stared at it in awe. "I really got one..."

Back at the guild, chatter filled the air. The quest board was full. People lined up to register kills, trade coins, and brag about skills.

"I'm Iron Rank now," said Toma, a bulky farmer-turned-fighter. "Started with a wooden club. Now I've got a real sword."

Beside him, Lari, a tall goblin girl with a ponytail, crossed her arms. "Show off. I only just got to Copper."

"You'll catch up," Toma said with a grin. "You've got good instincts."

A few feet away, Mira, a young human woman who used to work in the fields, whispered to her friend, "I got a skill for healing cuts. Just from patching up Garin after training. I didn't even fight."

"No way," her friend said. "So... doing anything enough gives skills?"

"Looks like it," Mira said. "Even cooking. Jalen got a 'Flame Cook' skill last night."

Everyone was learning. Not just fighters. Even the quiet ones. The shopkeepers. The builders. Skills weren't just for warriors—they were for everyone willing to try.

At the workshop, Dorgrim laughed heartily while stamping more status rings.

"We've sold over 700 now!" he told his elf assistant, Eila.

"People are getting curious about what they're good at," she replied, organizing the name list. "Some folks never knew they could fight. Others never knew they were great at sewing or fishing."

"I saw a guy get a Fishing Lv3 skill after two days by the river," Dorgrim chuckled. "Didn't even talk. Just kept fishing."

"Even kids are asking for rings now," Eila said, smiling.

Dorgrim grinned. "Let 'em learn. It's good for the village."

Out near the training grounds, an older goblin named Varr stood with three younger ones, all holding worn-down spears.

"Keep your stance wide," he said. "Don't let the slime bounce you off balance."

The youngest, barely waist-high, raised his hand. "Mister Varr, why do I keep missing?"

"You're rushing," Varr said gently. "Let the slime move first. Then strike."

The kid nodded and tried again. After three tries, he finally stabbed one clean.

"Good. That's it."

His card buzzed faintly. The kid squealed. "I got a skill!"

Varr chuckled and patted his head. "Told you."

At the guild, Lirae glanced at the charts behind the counter. The village was growing—not just in numbers, but in power.

More Bronze ranks every day. Copper was becoming common. Even a few Irons had appeared. They were creating a rhythm. A system.

And it was working.

"We've come a long way," she said quietly, flipping through her records. freёnovelkiss.com

The door swung open. Ren rushed in with a grin and slime goo on his boots.

"Got three more!" he called.

Lirae smiled. "You're improving."

Ren puffed his chest. "I'm gonna reach Silver one day."

She chuckled. "I'll be here to write it down."

In the town square, stalls were opening. Villagers were trading their coins for food, clothes, tools, even books.

A dwarf goblin Grell, once quiet and slow, now ran a food stand.

"Two coins for stew," he called. "One coin for bread."

A small crowd formed. People were smiling, laughing, handing over coins proudly.

A elf girl nearby had a sign: Custom leather belts – 5 coins.

Across from her, a goblin displayed handmade arrows.

Everyone was working. Everyone was growing.

Even the shy ones had dreams now.

Later that night, Toma sat by the guild's fire, rubbing his sore arms. His Copper card was a little bent, but still shining.

He looked over at Brin, who was cleaning his shield.

"You think we'll ever run out of monsters?" Toma asked.

Brin shook his head. "As long as we keep growing, something else will show up."

"You scared?"

"No," Brin said. "Not anymore."

Toma smiled. "Me neither."

They sat quietly, listening to the crackle of the fire.

Behind them, more villagers filed into the guild, fresh from training or quests. They wore rings, carried cards, and looked ready for tomorrow.

Because now... they believed in themselves.