The chamber was massive.
Dimly lit candles flickered along the carved stone walls, their flames casting long shadows that danced and twisted with every gust of air. The scent of smoke and damp earth clung to everything. Ugly, guttural giggles echoed across the room—high-pitched, inhuman, and filled with malice. They bounced from wall to wall, unsettling and unpredictable, making it impossible to tell how many were hiding in the dark.
I could feel the unease ripple through the group.
Leo's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.
Lily's eyes narrowed as she scanned the corners of the room.
Yui stood a little closer to me than before, her voice low. "Something's wrong. Really wrong."
We took cautious steps forward, the candles creating an eerie path through the chamber. The air felt heavier with every step. I could barely hear my own footsteps over the echoing laughter.
Then—light.
A brilliant flash illuminated the center of the chamber, blinding us for a second. As the light faded, it revealed a massive, grotesque figure.
The Goblin King.
At least three times the size of a normal goblin, its bloated green body was hunched and veiny, muscles rippling beneath mottled flesh. Sharp fangs jutted out of its oversized jaw, and a gigantic spiked club rested across its shoulder like a toy.
Its yellow eyes locked onto us.
Then it roared.
The sound was earthshaking—literally.
The floor trembled. Dust and loose pebbles rained from the ceiling. The shockwave knocked Yui slightly off balance. Lily steadied her. I just clenched my fists.
"Damn..." I muttered under my breath.
And before anyone could speak—Leo charged.
"FOR GLORY!!"
"Leo, WAIT—!" Yui screamed.
Too late.
He clashed head-on with the Goblin King, activating his Taunt skill. His body lit up with a glow, and the Goblin King snarled, turning all its attention toward him. The monster slammed its club down, Leo just barely blocking it with his blade. The shock alone forced him to one knee, but he held his ground.
"I've got this!" he shouted.
For a moment, it looked like we could win.
Then—
Goblins.
They emerged from the shadows between the candles, crawling on all fours like beasts. Dozens of them, eyes glowing, mouths drooling, fangs clacking together as they hissed. We were being surrounded.
A trap.
"Damn it," I hissed, stepping in front of Lily and Yui. "We're boxed in."
I turned to Lily. "I'll draw them in. Pick off the ones who break formation."
She nodded, nocking an arrow without a word.
I activated my speed skill, my body instantly surging with power. I became a blur, dashing through the goblins before they could react. My blade cut through two in one swift strike, green blood spraying across the floor.
"Luna!" I called. "Scan the Goblin King. Tell me it has a weakness."
"Scanning… 42%… 68%… Complete."
Her voice rang in my mind. "Confirmed. Weak point detected. If the Goblin King is knocked to its knees, there is an exposed soft tissue beneath the base of its neck. A direct stab could be fatal."
I laughed bitterly. "Easier said than done."
Still, it was something.
I twisted mid-dash, drawing the goblins further away. "LEO! We need the King on his knees! Anything you can do?!"
Leo's voice came through gritted teeth as he braced against another swing. "WORKING ON IT!!"
Another strike from the club cracked the stone beneath his feet.
Yui suddenly called out. "Chosa! I have one more spell—it's not that good, but I can enhance a weapon's power for one strike!"
"What's the catch?!" I shouted back while dodging a claw swipe.
"The weapon will shatter after the hit!"
I turned to face her from across the battlefield.
"One strike," I yelled, grinning, "is all we need!"