Chapter 61 | Fighting Goblins [1]
The goblins emerged from the treeline like a green tide, their yellow eyes gleaming with savage hunger as they surrounded the group from all sides, their weapons glinting in the dim light.
There were Small Goblins, Goblin Warriors, Tank Goblins.
And leading them all, standing tall and menacing at the back, was the Goblin Commander, its healed arm flexing as it gripped its massive sword, its yellow eyes burning with hatred.
But there was also a new variant among their ranks, one that Alicar hadn’t seen before, their crimson skin standing out like blood against the green.
[Hobgoblin Lv.20]
[Rank: Uncommon]
Unlike the regular goblins, these creatures had crimson skin that seemed to pulse with raw strength, their bodies thick with muscle, and they carried no weapons, relying instead on their powerful fists that could crush bone with ease.
The group formed a tight defensive circle, their backs pressed together as the goblins closed in, the sheer number of enemies making their hearts pound.
"Stay close and don’t break formation," David shouted, his greatsword raised high, the blade gleaming with enchantments. "We can do this if we work together!"
The battle erupted in a storm of steel, magic, and blood as the goblins charged forward with savage war cries.
David was the first to meet them head-on, his greatsword carving a deadly arc through the air that cleaved through two Small Goblins in a single, powerful swing, their bodies collapsing to the ground in lifeless heaps.
He followed up with a bash that sent a Goblin Warrior staggering backward, then drove his sword through its chest before it could recover, the blade piercing through its crude armor.
A Hobgoblin charged at him from the side, its massive fist aimed at his head, but David anticipated the attack and ducked low, swinging his greatsword in a wide arc that caught the creature across the legs and sent it tumbling to the ground.
Alice’s arrows flew with deadly precision, each one finding its mark in the skull of a Goblin Warrior, dropping them before they could reach the group, her movements fluid and practiced from countless battles.
She fired three arrows in quick succession, each one striking true, then nocked another without missing a beat, her bowstring singing with each release.
A Small Goblin tried to flank her, but she spun and drove an arrow through its eye before it could even raise its weapon, the creature dropping instantly.
Lena kept her distance, using her staff to channel basic defensive spells that created small barriers to deflect incoming attacks, her brow furrowed with concentration.
She created a shimmering wall of energy that blocked a volley of crude throwing axes, the projectiles bouncing harmlessly off the magical barrier.
But the goblins kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless as they pressed their attack with relentless ferocity, their war cries echoing through the clearing.
The Tank Goblins formed a wall of shields at the front, absorbing the group’s attacks while the Hobgoblins slipped through the gaps, their massive fists swinging with devastating force.
One of them caught Alice across the face with a brutal backhand, sending her sprawling to the ground with a cry of pain, blood trickling from her split lip, her bow clattering across the dirt.
The Hobgoblin loomed over her, its fist raised for the killing blow, its yellow eyes gleaming with savage triumph.
Before the Hobgoblin could finish her off, Alicar reacted instantly, his staff already crackling with elemental energy.
He launched a concentrated and water lightning bolt that struck the creature square in the chest, the electricity coursing through its body, though it didn’t die.
"Stay behind me!" Alicar shouted, positioning himself between Alice and the advancing goblins, his staff glowing with power.
Alice scrambled to her feet, grabbing her bow and nocking another arrow, gratitude flashing across her face before she returned to the fight.
Leon was a whirlwind of destruction on the other side of the formation, his Demon Fist smashing through goblin after goblin with brutal efficiency, each punch sending green bodies flying through the air like ragdolls.
He ducked under a Goblin Warrior’s sword swing and drove his fist into its chest, the crimson aura exploding outward and sending the creature crashing into its allies, its armor shattering on impact.
A Tank Goblin tried to block his path with its shield, but Leon’s Demon Fist shattered the crude barrier and sent the creature stumbling backward, its arm broken from the force.
But the Goblin Commander watched from the back, its yellow eyes burning with cold fury as it observed their fighting styles, learning their patterns and weaknesses.
And then it moved.
The Commander charged forward with terrifying speed, its massive sword swinging in a wide arc that forced everyone to scatter, its blade cutting through the air with deadly intent, the ground cracking beneath its feet.
It targeted Leon directly, recognizing him as the greatest physical threat among the group.
Leon raised Demon Guard just in time, Vorgath’s image appearing to block the blow, the demonic barrier absorbing the impact with a deafening crash that echoed through the clearing.
The impact sent shockwaves through his arms, his feet sliding backward across the dirt, pain shooting through his muscles from the force of the attack, his teeth grinding with effort.
But the Commander didn’t relent, pressing its attack with relentless fury, raining down blow after blow on Leon’s defenses, each strike more powerful than the last.
Sword strikes came from every angle, each one forcing Leon to raise Demon Guard again and again, the constant strain beginning to take its toll on his body and mind.
His arms trembled, his breathing grew ragged, and sweat poured down his face as he struggled to maintain the barrier against the Commander’s overwhelming assault.
The Goblin Commander laughed, a cruel, guttural sound, as it watched Leon’s defenses begin to crumble, its yellow eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
Leon was forced to consume one of his Stamina Potions, the liquid restoring his energy just enough to keep fighting, his muscles burning with exertion.
But the Commander was too strong, too relentless, and soon Leon was on the defensive again, barely holding on, his movements growing sluggish.
Alicar saw Leon’s struggle and tried to intervene, launching a massive fireball at the Commander’s back, the flames roaring through the air.
The monster sidestepped effortlessly, not even bothering to acknowledge the attack, its focus entirely on Leon, its sword continuing its relentless assault.
And then, without warning, the Commander spun to switch target and charged directly at Alicar, its sword raised high.
’Oh shit!’