— ✦ —
— ✦ —
A boulder crashed into the ground between them, stirring up more dust.
Zero Distance!
The goblin's gaze was fixed where he was standing before. It croaked out as it felt claws dig into its leg.
Didn't expect that, huh?
In annoyance the beast roared out with all its might as Hiroshi hopped back. It began to lift its leg.
It's coming!
Hiroshi jumped into the air, just as the beast's leg crashed into the ground, a shockwave burst out around the Goblin King. It raised its head just as Hiroshi slashed at its face, just barely missing its eyes.
Tch!
The monster pulled back its arm, clenching its hand into a fist.
Shit, I can't dodge this!
Hiroshi's arms instinctively blocked in front, the clenched fist slammed into Hiroshi’s body, sending him flying like a bullet into a wall.
His HP dropped sharply.
“Status Open!”
The window popped up before his eyes.
“Choose skills!”
Another menu shot up.
Quick… I need something more.
What's this?
“Fading Presence.” The system came to life.
“Allows the user to leave behind a specter image of themselves, mimicking their last action. Higher levels allow the specter image to do more complicated movements. Choose Fading Presence?”
That sounds useful.
Hiroshi's ears tingled. Looking up he saw a rock blast apart a cloud of dust, heading straight towards him. Kicking himself off the wall, he shouted out.
“Yes!”
The skill appeared in his list.
While he flew through the air next to the wall, he noticed the rocky platform he jumped from into the village earlier. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as his brain processed the information. Squinting, he noticed the boulder supporting it was coming loose. His eyes widened as the incoming rock flew past his face, slowly.
That's it.
I don't need to kill him directly. That'd be impossible. But this…
This changes things.
He stuck the landing.
I need to get him here somehow.
Hiroshi's eyes fixed upon the goblin, who had his feet planted into the ground, un-moving.
He glanced at the skill window once more; one caught his eye.
Shadowstep?
“Allows the user to—” The system was cut off by Hiroshi.
“Take it.” He ordered.
I've got more or less a feeling what this does.
It appeared in his skill list. Shadowstep lv 1.
For now, I've got to figure out how to lure him down next to that wall.
Hiroshi ran towards the beast, as it readied an overhead strike with its giant spiked club. It came crashing down with a whoosh as Hiroshi dodged it to the side.
He lunged forward and impaled his claws into its shin. The creature glowed a dark green color for a second.
Poison Claws!
The beast's health regeneration slowed.
“Poison Claws reached level 2,” the system announced suddenly.
That was fast… maybe because it's an active skill…
His regen is much slower now, it's almost on par with my regeneration now, huh.
He swung to the other leg, slashing both calves at the same time.
Turn!
“Turn failed.” It announced, coldly.
Hm, figures. It's much higher level than me.
The creature roared, looking down where Hiroshi was, but it was too late. His claws sank deep into the other calve. The beast could no longer move.
Hiroshi jumped up into the air and sank his claws into the goblin's muscular back and began to climb it. With each step up on its back, the goblin king's health dropped.
I've got to reach its neck…
His brows furrowed as he gritted his teeth, viciously climbing its back with his sharp claws until he was at the top. He glanced at his HP.
I've got to heal up as well so I survive the next hit.
He sank his two sharp teeth into the beast's neck again.
Vampire Drain!
His HP was back to full in no time. However, the paralysis was wearing off.
It's starting to move! Now, grab me!
The goblin reached over to his shoulder and took Hiroshi into its hand.
Here we go!
Without wasting a second, the creature launched Hiroshi into the same crater he'd been thrown into before, right under the rocky platform.
Hiroshi coughed out blood onto the floor below him.
I've got to pull this off quick!
A thick cloud of dust floated through the impact area.
Lesser Sneak! Fading Presence!
His body pulsed two colors quickly. A small gap appeared in the dust cloud, allowing him to see the Goblin King standing there, searching for him.
Now's the chance!
Shadowstep!
Hiroshi vanished from the crater in the wall, leaving a phantom image of exactly how he looked when he crashed into the wall. Appearing behind the goblin in its shadow, he ducked down and hid behind a large rock. Suddenly, Hiroshi coughed some blood, his HP dropping significantly after using all the skills in succession.
Shit… that cost me quite a bit…
The monster roared out as it flexed its massive frame, as if it had won. It leaned forward with a foot slightly in front.
Status Inspect.
The beast's status appeared before Hiroshi.
Goblin King.
Level: 49
HP: 1100/2000
MP: 50/100
Skills: Brutal Smash lv 5, Shockwave lv 3, Damage Resistance lv 1, ????
Conditions: Poisoned— 1m 24s
Alright, it's working.
The hulking beast began to charge at a high speed; the entire floor shook as if an earthquake was happening with each of its steps. With the beginning of its run, the question mark in the skills changed to; Deadly Charge, lv 8.
So, its last skill was Charge, huh. I hope that'll be the end of you.
With the force of a freight truck, it crashed directly into the place where Hiroshi's phantom image was. Everything shook from the sheer impact of the force it charged with.
The beast's HP dropped a little more, now sitting just under a thousand. The rocks above dislodged and began to fall, starting with smaller rocks, then bigger ones until the platform finally collapsed entirely. A gigantic piece of rock came flying down. The beast grunted as it looked up, leaving him no time to react at all.
IT WORKED!
Huge clouds of dust lifted, making it hard for Hiroshi to see. The beast was beneath a huge pile of massive rocks.
Huh? Where's the announcement? Shit…
“Status Inspect!” He shouted out, some sweat trickling down his forehead.
Goblin King.
HP: 200/2000
Conditions: Poisoned— 30 seconds.
It's STILL alive!?
The poison is fading too!
The beast began to struggle to get up as it lay there buried beneath the rocks.
Shit
Hiroshi broke into a sprint, leaping atop the beast and the rocks. Hiroshi grabbed one of the boulders and pushed it off, revealing its back and neck.
“Just go down already!” He roared out.
He flew into a rage, stabbing its neck and back repeatedly.
<< Poison Activated >>
<< Paralysis Activated >>
<< Poison Activated >>
<< Paralysis Activated >>
Roaring out, his hands didn't stop, blood gushing out from the multiple stab wounds of the beast.
The goblin twitched as it bled from its eyes, unable to move. It just croaked out and finally went silent, still.
“Goblin King,” the system announced.
“Defeated.”
It finished, cold as always.
“Level up,” it repeated three times before going silent.
I… did it…
Hiroshi fell to his knees atop the fallen creature, drenched in blood and sweat, panting.
A tear formed at the corner of his eye.
I did it.
Everything still trembled and shook, rocks still falling from above.
I've got to get out, unless I want this to be my tomb… and his.
Hiroshi stumbled to his feet, looking around, a large hole cracked open near one of the huts.
That's it! That's the only opening in here left…
He took a moment to catch his breath and hopped off the body. He began to head straight for the hole in the wall.
Boulders, large and small, crashed down around him. Suddenly, his ear twitched.
Turning his head, he saw a goblin that appeared to be locked up in a cage. It was different than the rest.
Huh? A goblin in a cage? They even have their own justice system huh?
Wait… its dark red-colored.
Hiroshi groaned as he hesitated, rocks crashing all around him. He was near the exit now.
Aaaaaaagh, fuck it!
He turned and hopped towards the caged creature.
“Get back,” he ordered.
The little red goblin took a few steps back.
It… understood my words?
For now, I've got to get him out, I'm not a monster.
Well, I am, but not that kind.
Claws slashed the twine that was holding the door to the bars.
“Come if you want to live,” he stared it down, his hand stretched out.
It took a step forward and held out its hand. Hiroshi grabbed him and flung him onto his back.
I'll tell him nicely to hold onto me.
“Don't you dare let go.” His voice thundered.
Damn, why does it always come out wrong!?
Whatever…
With the little red goblin holding onto him on his back, he dashed towards the exit.
I'm almost there!
A massive boulder dislodged from the top and was hurtling downwards.
I'm not going to make it!
Aaaaaagh why do I always get into these situations! Think!
The rock hit the cliff and split into two.
His brows furrowed, teeth clenched.
I hope this works.
Hiroshi took the goblin into a hand and swung him off his back, then launched him with all the strength he had towards the exit.
The skin on the goblin’s face peeled back through the sheer speed it traveled through the air. The goblin flew into the open cave.
Shadowstep!
A shadowy mist was left where Hiroshi stood as he appeared behind the goblin in its shadow, the rocks crashed into the floor, and sealed the exit.
Holy shit, it worked! A second too late and that would've been my tomb.
He began to laugh, like a maniac.
“Ahahahahah!“
I'm a genius!
Forget that. This whole thing is still coming down. I need to get out.
Getting up, he quickly tossed the goblin onto his back once again and ran up the cave, its tunnel twisting and turning as everything continued to shake.
He passed the spot where the cave split, this time coming from the other side. The leg that had been there before was missing.
I've been here, yes! Just a bit more.
The cave before him started to cave in, he dodged to the sides, avoiding the rocks as they collapsed.
Almost there!
He could see a light at the end of the tunnel. Just as he was about to make it, the front began to collapse.
Please, I'm so close! I don't have enough health to pull off another one of those moves…
The top dislodged and began to fall.
“Aaaaaggh!!” he shouted out, going into a slide.
The goblin on his back also let out some sort of worried scream.
The cave collapsed completely, with Hiroshi sliding through the bottom just in time, hitting a rock on the bottom and tumbling towards the entrance, inches away from sunlight. The small crimson goblin tumbled a short distance as well and stopped near Hiroshi. Its heart was probably beating as fast as Hiroshi's.
His chest expanded and shrank rapidly, lying on the cold stone floor, staring at the ceiling. He began to laugh.
That was WAY too close…
Then it hit him.
Huh? Where's the snake? Wasn't it almost blocking that narrow path?
Pushing off the ground, he noticed the same blood and goo trail he saw when he awoke.
There's something bigger than that snake?!
It looks like it had been dragged away. Damn it, I was going to cook and eat it later.
He looked to the goblin.
Is it okay?
“Oi. Say something,” he demanded.
That's not what I—
He sighed.
Whatever.
The little guy stood up quickly and hopped around as if it was dancing, letting out some kind of excited sounds.
I guess he's alright.
Then it spoke.
“Me. Friend,” it stuttered out.
It can speak!?
“You help. Me. I help. You.”
“State how you can assist,” Hiroshi shot back sternly.
Oi oi, this is ridiculous, that's not what I meant to say!
“Friends. Locked up. You help me. They help you.”
Hiroshi's brow raised.
Friends? There's more like these guys?
“Location of them. Now.”
Seriously, what is up with this body’s attitude…
It jumped up and down in excitement.
“Come. Come!” it gestured towards the exit of the cave.
I guess he knows where they're being held. I'll follow him for now.
Hiroshi nodded, leaving the cave with the goblin. The sunlight faded as the sky turned a deep crimson color.