Raphael flew backward and landed hard on the platform. For a moment, he could not breathe.
Vanessa watched him from several meters away and commented.
"Pathetic."
It might seem disrespectful considering their positions, but she couldn’t help it, and Raphael himself knew it was the truth. He was beyond pathetic, but baby steps... as if the goblin understood it.
"I’m trying!" Raphael wheezed.
"You are losing."
"That is generally what trying looks like at the beginning!"
The Goblin rushed toward him, but he rolled aside just before the dagger stabbed into the floor. The creature pulled its weapon free and turned.
Raphael scrambled backward, his legs tangled beneath him. He fell again, and the Goblin raised its dagger. A purple bolt struck the ground beside its foot, and the impact threw the creature sideways.
Vanessa had not killed it. She had merely interrupted the attack.
"Stand up," she said.
Raphael glared at her from the floor.
"I’m working on it."
"You have been on the floor for twelve seconds."
"You counted?"
"I was being generous."
The Goblin recovered and charged again.
Raphael forced himself upright, his heart hammering inside his chest. His hands were shaking. He wanted to run.
There was no shame in that. The creature was trying to stab him, and he had never fought anything stronger than an angry stray dog- even that one had proved very, very difficult.
But the system’s message remained in front of him.
[Host must personally participate in dungeon completion.]
He could not let Vanessa do everything. If he did, he would leave the dungeon exactly as useless as he had entered it.
The Goblin swung, and Raphael blocked... weakly. The impact drove him backward, and he almost dropped the knife again. The Goblin snarled and pushed forward.
Raphael’s back struck one of the old ticket machines.
The creature raised its dagger for the finishing blow, but then Raphael noticed something. The Goblin’s right foot was caught between two broken tiles. It was not trapped completely, but it was unstable.
He looked at the dagger, then at the foot, and then at the cracked floor beneath them.
’Please work.’
When the Goblin attacked, Raphael did not block. He moved to the side.
The Goblin’s foot twisted between the broken tiles, causing its body to lean forward- then Raphael slammed his shoulder into it.
The move was clumsy. Pain shot through his shoulder, but the Goblin lost its balance. It fell face-first onto the platform.
Raphael stared at it. He had done it. He had actually knocked it down.
The Goblin began to rise, but Raphael immediately brought the knife down. The blade struck its shoulder, causing the Goblin to scream.
Raphael screamed too.
"I’m sorry!"
[Author comment: This fucking idiot]
He pulled the knife free and struck again. This time, the blade pierced the creature’s throat, and the Goblin froze while its body dissolved into black particles.
Raphael stood over the empty floor, breathing heavily.
He looked at the knife. Then at the place where the Goblin had disappeared. He had won... technically, barely, and embarrassingly.
But he had won.
A small notification appeared before his eyes.
[Combat Participation Detected.]
[Host has defeated a weakened Lesser Goblin.]
[Combat evaluation complete.]
[Result: Poor.]
[Additional note: Host survived through improvisation.]
Raphael’s face twitched.
’Poor?’
Another line appeared.
[Recommendation: Improve basic movement, balance, reaction speed, weapon handling, and courage.]
’Why not just recommend that I become a completely different person?’
Vanessa floated toward him. She looked at the dead Goblin’s remains, then at Raphael.
"You took too long."
Raphael pointed at the space.
"I killed it."
"You nearly died."
"But I didn’t."
"Because I intervened."
"Details."
"You are weak."
Raphael wiped sweat from his forehead.
"I’m aware."
"Your stance is terrible."
"I’m aware."
"Your attack was inefficient."
"I’m aware."
"Your weapon handling is disgraceful."
Raphael lowered the knife.
"Are you finished?"
"No."
He closed his eyes.
"Of course not."
Vanessa looked at the knife in his hand.
"Hold it properly."
Raphael adjusted his grip.
"Like this?"
"No."
She reached out and moved his fingers into position. Her touch was brief, but Raphael immediately noticed how cold her hand was.
"Your wrist is too stiff," she said. "Your elbow is exposed. Your shoulders are raised. You are wasting energy."
Raphael glanced at her.
"You know, most teachers start with encouragement."
"I am not your teacher."
"Then what are you?"
Vanessa looked him directly in the eyes.
"Your knight."
For a moment, Raphael did not know how to respond. Then she turned away.
"Do not misunderstand. I am only ensuring that my Sovereign does not die to the first creature he encounters."
Raphael smiled faintly.
"Sounds like concern."
"It is self-preservation."
"Of course."
A sudden roar echoed from deeper inside the subway, causing the remaining Goblins to freeze. Even the Bureau operatives turned toward the tunnel.
Something heavy struck the ground, causing the lights overhead to flicker.
Vanessa’s expression finally changed- the boredom disappeared from her face, and Raphael noticed.
"What is it?"
Vanessa slowly raised her staff.
"Something stronger than those insects."
Captain Vale moved forward.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves."
From the darkness ahead, several Goblins emerged. They were larger than the others.
Their weapons were better, their movements were coordinated, and behind them came a massive shadow carrying a rusted axe.
Raphael’s throat tightened as a system window appeared.
[Multiple Hostile Entities Detected.]
[Five Lesser Goblins.]
[Two Goblin Warriors.]
[One Goblin Warrior Captain.]
[Threat Level: F-Tier.]
Raphael stared at the final line.
’F-Tier.’
He looked at the monsters. Then at Vanessa.
"Can you weaken all of them?"
Vanessa glanced at him.
"Yes."
"Can you weaken them enough for me to fight?"
"Yes."
Raphael swallowed.
"Can you make them weaker than the last one?"
Vanessa’s expression became completely blank. "Do you intend to fight them with your eyes closed?"
"No."
"Then stop asking foolish questions."
The monsters charged.
Vanessa raised one finger, while Raphael tightened his grip around the knife. His knees were already shaking.
He had defeated one Goblin, but now he had to face eight, and judging by the look on Vanessa’s face, she intended to let him embarrass himself all over again.