Ariel’s POV
“I think I know where they went.”
I looked toward the path ahead.
“Let’s go.”
James and I followed the trail left by the Goblins.
At least…
We thought we were following them.
After several minutes, we reached a dead end.
James stopped.
He looked around, clearly exhausted from his fight with the Behemoth.
“Are you sure they went this way?”
“Positive.”
I looked around.
“I don’t under—”
I suddenly felt something.
“…Wait.”
I raised my head.
“It’s an attack!”
SHING!
Goblins burst from the darkness.
Dozens of them.
Then hundreds.
They came from every direction.
James immediately activated Titan.
“Here we go again!”
He charged into the horde, knocking Goblins aside one after another.
I spread my wings and took to the air.
From above, I could see everything.
The Goblins were surrounding us.
But…
Something was wrong.
Luther wasn’t anywhere among them.
I scanned the area again.
Nothing.
Then I noticed something.
A small opening between two massive structures.
And there…
A figure.
“Luther!”
I pointed toward the direction.
“I found him!”
James looked up.
“Where?”
“That way!”
He immediately followed.
I flew ahead, guiding him from above.
When we finally reached the location…
There wasn’t a single Goblin around.
James looked around.
“Luther?”
He called out.
A figure stepped out from behind a broken structure.
“Luther!”
He looked surprised.
“You guys came.”
A huge smile appeared on his face.
“Oh, thank goodness.”
“But it’s not over.”
James frowned.
“What happened?
“There is a ruler over the Goblins…”
Before Luther could finish—
Ding.
A system notification appeared.
[WARNING]
[Goblin Sovereign Has Appeared]
[Power: Brutal Strength]
[Ability: Weapon Mastery]
[Weapon: Double-Headed Axe]
Mission
[Defeat the Goblin Sovereign]
[Reward: Points would be distributed based on participation]
I slowly turned around.
A deep growl echoed from behind us.
There it stood.
The Goblin Sovereign.
It was much larger than the others.
Its muscular body was covered in scars and armor-like skin.
In its hands…
Was a massive double-headed axe.
Luther stared at it.
“Just so you know…”
“This wasn’t originally in the game.”
James sighed.
“Not again.”
Luther looked toward me.
“Could you let me out before the fight begins?”
I immediately moved toward him and cut the restraints.
Luther rubbed his wrists.
“Thanks.”
We barely had time to react.
WHOOSH!
The Sovereign swung its axe at James.
CLANG!
James raised his arm and blocked it.
The impact forced him backward.
Then-
SLASH!
The axe cut across his arm.
Blood appeared.
“James!”
“I’m fine!”
The Sovereign swung again.
I moved between them.
BOOM!
The axe struck my metallic wing.
The force sent me flying.
I barely recovered in the air.
I looked at my wing.
The metal had been badly damaged.
“…That axe can cut through my armor.”
Luther stared at the weapon.
I asked.
Luther didn’t hesitate.
“Disarm it.”
James looked at him.
“That’s your plan?”
“First, disarm it.”
Luther pointed at the axe.
“And trust me…”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds.”
James nodded.
Somehow…
I understood what he wanted us to do.
James grew larger.
Then charged.
The Sovereign swung.
This time, James didn’t block.
He redirected the axe.
BOOM!
The weapon slammed into the ground.
James grabbed the Sovereign’s arm and held it down.
“Now!”
I dove.
My wings folded against my body.
I slammed down onto its hand.
CRACK!
Its grip loosened.
The axe fell.
I slid underneath its legs and swept them with my wing.
The Sovereign lost its balance.
THUD!
It fell.
James immediately grabbed the double-headed axe.
For a moment, the Goblin Sovereign stared at him.
Then James swung.
SLASH!
The blow tore through its armor.
The creature collapsed.
Silence filled the realm.
Then-
Ding.
[Goblin Sovereign Defeated]
[Mission Complete]
[Points Awarded]
[Title Unlocked: Goblin King Slayer]
James dropped the axe.
“Finally.
I landed beside him.
Luther stared at the fallen Sovereign.
But he didn’t look relieved.
He looked worried.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He slowly looked toward the darkness.
“The Goblin Sovereign wasn’t supposed to exist.”
He looked at the system notification.
“Neither was the Behemoth.”
His expression darkened.
“Something is changing the game.”