Chapter 21: Fighting the Goblin Group
Akira looked ahead when a group of goblins suddenly emerged from the depths of the tunnel.
Eight… nine… ten. All of them were large, some with glowing red tattoos. But among them stood one smaller figure—thin and frail, yet radiating an oppressive magical aura.
"That's the shaman…"
The goblin shaman roared angrily,
"Rrrrrraaaah!"
The roar shook the cavern like a demonic call for vengeance. His eyes burned with fury as he stared at his fallen companion's corpse. He raised his staff toward Akira, and at once, the other goblins charged forward savagely.
"Akira! Get ready!" Alice's voice echoed sharply in his mind.
"Survive… or die!"
His body stiffened as he focused on the incoming enemies.
"Understood… I'll give it everything I've got."
He raised his hand before his chest and shouted:
"Void Spear!"
"Void Spear!"
"Void Spear!"
Three spears of dark energy formed instantly and shot forward like lightning. One pierced the leading goblin, dropping it to the ground—still alive.
The others continued their charge.
"Void Spear!"
Another spear flew out, but suddenly, a dark black barrier appeared, blocking it like a mysterious magical shield.
"Akira, be careful! That goblin is using an unfamiliar skill!" Alice warned.
Akira drew his katana and stepped forward, preparing for close combat—but…
his body wouldn't move.
"What—?!"
"Your feet!" Alice shouted.
He looked down to find his legs trapped in a sticky black substance, as if the ground itself had crawled onto his skin.
One goblin lunged and threw a punch.
Akira ducked, the fist barely missing his head by a hair's breadth, then slashed back, cutting into the creature's side. The goblin screamed and staggered.
"Cut the black threads on the ground!" Alice's voice rang in his mind.
Akira slammed his blade into the floor. The black threads beneath his feet tore apart, scattering dark sparks. Freed, he dashed forward and, with a wide swing, split the injured goblin's face in an instant.
[You have killed a classified monster – Rank 1, Level 7]
"Left!" Alice shouted.
But the warning came too late.
A massive shadowy hand slammed into him from the side, hurling him like a doll into the cavern wall.
[HP decreased by 10]
[HP: 20/30]
Blood flowed from his mouth as his entire body trembled in pain.
"Move! Move, Akira!" Alice's voice struck his mind like a slap.
He rose slowly, breathing heavily. As he regained his balance, sharp black spikes erupted from the ground toward him. He leapt away at the last moment, rolling across the floor.
"That damned goblin…" he muttered, searching through the shadows.
Then his eyes met the goblin shaman's—
Suddenly, everything went pitch black.
"I can't see!" he shouted.
"I know. Don't stop moving! It's a temporary skill!" Alice said urgently.
"It'll wear off in ten seconds—just keep moving!"
Akira dashed to the right, dodging waves of writhing shadows launched from behind him.
"Stop—he's close!" Alice warned.
He halted abruptly, raised his sword, and poured all his strength into the next strike. As his vision returned, the first thing he saw was the goblin lunging at him with its long arms like pincers.
With a sharp slash, Akira severed both arms, then leapt forward and stabbed the goblin straight through the abdomen.
[You have killed a monster – Rank 1, Level 5]
But the shadows on the ground suddenly shifted, turning into dark spikes that pierced his body before he could escape.
"Akira, you're too slow! Add points to speed!"
He opened the interface instantly and issued the command:
[Speed +5]
[Defense +5]
[Speed: 12]
[Defense: 10]
He began running, trying to create distance. Opening his pouch, he asked while panting,
"Do we use this?"
"Not yet. Drink the healing potion!"
He swallowed it quickly.
[HP: 25/30]
The battle gave him no time to rest—the shadows moved again.
"Not this time…"
He slashed with his crimson blade, cutting through the dark threads before charging at two goblins.
One swung a wooden club, but Akira sliced it apart instantly. His sword glowed crimson, sharp as if it had a will of its own.
He spun, severed the creature's leg, dropping it to the ground. Without hesitation, he turned toward the second goblin:
"Void Spear!"
"Void Spear!"
"Void Spear!"
The goblin retreated in pain, blocking with its arms, but Akira gave it no chance. He pulled his sword from the first corpse and swung horizontally.
The crimson blade split its foul body in two.
[You have killed a monster – Rank 1, Level 11]
Akira laughed weakly as he gasped for breath.
"Heh… heh…"
"Where are the rest?"
"There."
In the distance stood the goblin shaman with two others. Seven were dead—only three remained.
The shaman screamed in a strange language, saliva dripping from his mouth in manic frenzy.
"How do we kill them?"
"They're disorganized," Alice replied sharply.
"They rely purely on instinct. If they were coordinated… you'd already be dead."
Akira stared at the three creatures.
"That means taking them down will be easier…"
They stood together—three goblins surrounding their shaman like guards. One wore heavy metal armor, another wielded a long sword, while the shaman's staff pulsed with danger.
"Fortunately, they're not fully armed… but don't get careless," Alice warned.
"But a surprise attack… we'll use the element of surprise. I'm sure they won't see this coming."
Akira's voice was sharp with resolve.
He charged forward, drinking a mana recovery potion along the way. Before entering their line of sight, he shouted internally:
"Void Spear!"
"Void Spear!"
"Void Spear!"
"Void Spear!"
The spears flew like lightning toward the goblin shaman—but before they could hit, the armored goblin stepped forward, blocking them with his body. He staggered, but his armor absorbed the impact.
"Now! Use it!" Alice shouted.
Akira pulled a scroll from his pouch.
"Activate."
The paper burned instantly, releasing a deafening bolt of lightning that struck all three. A blinding flash erupted as their bodies convulsed, paralyzed by electricity.
Akira didn't hesitate. Drawing his crimson sword, he dashed forward and cleaved the armored goblin in half with a single strike.
He then turned and pierced the second goblin's head before it could move.