— ✦ —
— ✦ —
The ground around the goblin general's feet caved in as it burst forward toward Hiroshi.
A loud clang escaped as the skeleton knight blocked the blow just before Hiroshi, the jagged blade screeching against its great sword.
His hair whipped through the wind from the force of the blow before him. He simply pointed towards the general.
“Go.” He ordered.
The undead goblins all began to charge all at once, converging on the goblin general.
The large goblins swung their huge clubs at the general. He kicked the skeleton knight, forcing it to take a few steps backward, and swung at their wooden clubs.
The ends of their weapons fell to the floor as the general roared out, the weapon clicking as he shifted his grip, cutting down the large goblins.
Hiroshi’s face got serious, extending his claws.
It took out the large goblins like they were nothing…
He’s strong.
Smaller undead goblins began to swarm all around the general, delivering small blows which it barely felt.
The general raised its foot high and stomped down, sending out a large shock-wave throughout the camp, blasting the little goblins away into the huts and out of the camp.
Hiroshi emerged from the dust behind the general.
Lesser Sneak.
Hiroshi’s body pulsed with color as the spell activated, and he began to move through the clouds of dust.
Annoyed, the general let out a shout before squinting his eyes and looking around for Hiroshi.
Suddenly, it turned its body and swung at a dark spot in the dust behind him, connecting with nothing.
He let out a slow growl.
Poison Claws!
A burning sensation flashed through the general’s body all of a sudden, a long cut appearing on his calf.
A small marker above its head appeared.
<< Poisoned X 1 >>
Alright, the poison is working on him. I’ve got to stack this up.
It swung blindly once into the dust in annoyance.
Nothing. The dark figure in the dust vanished again.
Another slash landed on the same leg; the poison marker changed to two.
Annoyed by Hiroshi’s tricks, the general inhaled a massive breath through its thick nostrils.
What is it doing?
Hiroshi watched from a distance.
The general’s chest puffed out until no more air could fit inside, then it began to turn its body in a circle, blowing the dust away as it turned.
As soon as Hiroshi’s body was revealed, it locked its burning red eyes onto him.
Damn it! He blew away the dust to find me!
The goblin general leaped into the air, his jagged blade raised high.
So fast!
Hiroshi’s eyes darted side to side, thinking of a plan.
The general began his descent, swinging down towards Hiroshi.
Damn it, this is going to hurt!
Another shock-wave erupted all around.
The skeleton knight was back, its blade held sideways, blocking the jagged blade. It began to crack.
Hiroshi looked up, seeing his summon take the blow.
Skeleton knight!
His eyes caught the crack in the blade.
Damn, it’s not going to last.
He leaped back just as the skeleton’s blade snapped in half; the jagged blade began to cut through the shadowy bones.
The goblin general let out a crooked laugh as its blade sawed through the bones.
It’s enjoying this…
I’ll strike it from behind while it’s occupied!
Shadowstep!
As his body turned to fog and appeared behind the general, he felt a force slam into his chest.
What the—
The general had kicked behind him just as Hiroshi vanished, on instinct.
Hiroshi flew into a hut; a loud crash was heard as dust uplifted. The goblin general let out a cocky laugh as he yanked his blade, cutting the skeleton knight in half.
Everything sounded the same; a long ringing persisted in his ears.
Shit. He got me good…
He coughed out some blood onto the rubble below, pushing himself up.
The blurred-out shape of the general got closer and closer.
He felt a tight force around his head; a tight squeeze.
His body felt light as he was lifted out of the rubble by the goblin, who brought him up close to his face.
“I… Am. New. King.”
His monstrous laugh filled the camp.
Hiroshi spat some blood onto his face and croaked out.
“I’m not dead yet…”
The goblin general wiped his face and furrowed his brows, growling.
Hiroshi stabbed his dark crimson claws into the goblin’s wrist.
Paralysis Claws.
The general pulsed with color and froze, letting out a surprised grunt.
Didn’t expect that, did you?
He moved his body around in its clasp until he fell to the ground, everything still ringing.
I need a decisive blow…
The general began to twitch more and more, slowly becoming free.
Shit, it’s wearing off so fast.
Hiroshi leaped back a few paces and watched the paralysis wear off.
It turned and faced Hiroshi, grinning, almost as if it had already won.
The two of them looked at each other for a while, dust settling all around them.
A piece of wood from a damaged hut hit the floor.
Both of them sprang into action.
As Hiroshi took a few steps forward, his foot hit a large rock and began to fall forward.
Seeing this, the general let out a loud laugh, swinging his blade downward to Hiroshi who was on the floor.
Another loud crash boomed throughout the area from the impact.
“Huh?” he croaked out.
Hiroshi’s phantom image flickered on the floor, with the blade in the middle of it.
Fell for it huh?
Hiroshi grinned as he jumped into the air, plunging his claws into the back of the goblin.
Poison Claws!
Hiroshi began to climb up its back as it roared in pain, stomping around frantically.
The box above the general’s head, which denoted Poisoned, kept increasing.
His health was now draining rapidly.
Shit, he’s going crazy…
With a few more furious steps backwards, he crashed into the wooden wall of the camp, knocking Hiroshi down.
The goblin general continued to stampede around, his hands trying to reach the back that had been stabbed multiple times.
Hiroshi’s vision saw double as he stumbled around.
A few moments later he stopped as Hiroshi came into his view on the floor.
His breathing was now quicker and raspy.
“You. Strong.”
Hiroshi pushed himself off of the ground once again and spat out blood onto the floor.
Stay focused. Don’t let him get in your head.
His eyes jumped around, looking for any weakness at all.
None… figures, he’s a general.
“But… I. STRONGER!”
He lunged toward Hiroshi again, this time slower.
That may be so, but I’m faster and more agile.
“Bring it on!” Hiroshi shouted out.
He dashed toward the general. It swung its jagged blade toward Hiroshi, who barely deflected it with his claws.
Another swing from the opposite side caught Hiroshi off guard, who leaned backwards, the blade inches away from his face.
That was close!
He thrust his claws toward the general who took a step back, the claws just a pace out of reach.
With the other leg, the general kicked Hiroshi up into the air, then swung a fist into him from the side.
Hiroshi stretched out his hand and pushed off it, falling backward to the ground and barely landing on his feet.
That was close… That punch could’ve potentially ended me…
Status, inspect.
His eyes glanced towards the goblin general’s hp and then to his.
We’re both getting low. If this drags on, I’ll lose for sure.
Hiroshi leaped back one pace and looked to the side, a piece of burning wood was on the floor.
It’s all or nothing.
He bent down and picked it up as the general stared him down.
Hiroshi gently threw it forward and blasted the piece of wood into the air. It rose rapidly and began to slow down.
Gobu stole worried glances at the camp from time to time as he ushered his fellow goblins away from it.
A torch roared into the sky once again.
Gobu’s eyes widened then turned to Feodra.
“Boss. Needs. Help!” He gestured urgently at her.
Feodra barked back, exhausted from the previous bolts of lightning.
“I. Know. Just… One. More.”
Feodra barked out one last time, turning towards the camp and began summoning the last of her mana again.
She squinted hard toward where the torch flew from and saw the large goblin before Hiroshi.
Lightning crackled around her snout once more, and without warning, a thundering boom escaped the forest.
A massive arc of lightning crackled and jumped towards the camp.
Hiroshi grinned at the general who turned its head to the side before charging again.
He began to dash towards the general once more.
Skeleton knight!
A bright flash caught the corner of Hiroshi’s eye.
Here it comes…
Lightning roared over the wall and connected with the goblin general, who began to spasm violently.
A plate appeared above the monster’s head.
<< Stunned. 3 Seconds >>
The skeleton knight was only halfway out of the ground.
Hiroshi jumped into its palm.
<< Stunned. 2 Seconds >>
It launched Hiroshi into the air, level to the goblin’s head.
Zero Distance! He shouted internally.
Before the monster could blink, Hiroshi kicked off its head and launched upward high into the air above it.
<< Stunned. 1 Second >>
His eyes closed, thinking of two skills at the same time.
Suddenly they shot open just as he was about to start falling down.
Spine-splitter Eclipse!
Hiroshi’s body flipped forward twice, two large curved lines shot out downwards towards the goblin general.
<< Stunned. 0 Seconds >>
The goblin general looked upwards and froze.
The two curved lines smashed into the ground, cutting right through him. A large red X appeared across his body.
“Im…possible…”
Hiroshi fell back down, being caught by his skeleton knight.
A few moments later, the goblin general collapsed to the floor in four pieces, blood escaping in all directions.
The system came to life.
“Greater Goblin General defeated.”
“Level up.” It repeated twice.
The skeleton knight set him down softly.
Hiroshi hopped off and stood before the goblin’s corpse. For a moment he stood there then put his hands together and bent forward a little.
You were indeed strong.
A little while later, Hiroshi was back at camp, walking through the crowds of small crimson goblins.
“Gobu! Feodra!”
He looked around for them, but saw nothing.
An older goblin approached him and took his hand then turned.
“You know where they are?”
He looked up and gave a gentle nod.
After a short while of walking, they came to a larger tree that had fallen over. Feodra was resting underneath the bark.
Hiroshi ran forward and kneeled beside Feodra, who was in a deep sleep.
I bet she’s tired. She did help out a lot back at the camp.
But where’s Gobu?
He raised his head and looked around, then back at the elder goblin.
“Where is Gobu?”
The elder looked around and shrugged, then pointed back at the camp.
“The camp?”
Hiroshi stood up and looked towards the camp where large plumes of smoke were rising from.
“Is he still there?”
The elder shrugged again.
Damn it, he doesn’t know… I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
He stood up and walked to the tree line and scanned the camp. Something caught his eye.
Something small moved behind the wall.
“Gobu?” Hiroshi’s eyes lit up.
Maybe he went down to the camp after the fight was over?
A dark figure watched Hiroshi at the treeline from a distance.
A dog barked behind him.
The clatter of armor grew louder and louder behind him as someone approached.
The dark figure grinned.
“She’s here.”
“Let’s go.”