Aldric leaned heavily against a trunk of an old oak tree, the rough tree bark pressing against his back. He was still feeling the effects of his last battle with the goblins, and his breath came in rough gasps. The violent noises of battle had given way to the gentle murmur of leaves in the breeze, leaving the forest eerie quiet. His sword hung loosely in his palm, its edge still slippery from the black goblin blood. He was starting to feel the effects of the healing potion he had taken, its calming power mending his ripped skin and relieving the ache in his bruised muscles. Yet, Aldric still winced as he shifted his weight. His body was a patchwork of bruises and cuts, a grim reminder of how close he had come to death. Reaching into his pack, he pulled out a strip of dried beef jerky. The salty, chewy meat was far from a feast, but it was enough to stave off the gnawing hunger in his stomach. As he ate, his mind replayed the battle, dissecting each move and mistake. "I've survived this long," he muttered to himself. "But it's not enough. Not if I want to make it through this place alive."
He scanned the forest around him, his senses on edge. The forest seemed too quiet now, as if the trees themselves were holding their breath. In this strange world, he had learnt to trust his instincts, and at the moment, they were warning him that danger was always present. Aldric rested a little longer, then got up, put his blade away, and rearranged his equipment. He was still aching, but he felt strong enough to move since the health potion was effective. He believed there was no time to spend. [The longer I stay still, the more vulnerable I am.] Aldric's keen eyes noticed traces of recent activity as he made his way farther into the forest. A thin path was made up of broken branches, trampled grass, and claw marks carved into tree trunks. Though subtle, it was obvious. Whatever had come through here wasn't attempting to hide. His heartbeat accelerated. The path eventually brought him to a huge boulder that obscured the cave's entrance to some extent. Aldric could feel an odd buzz in the air as he walked up to the gloomy and ominous doorway. It was faint, like a vibration just at the edge of hearing, but it set his nerves on edge. He hesitated, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. After much conflicting, he decided to go into the cave. After a few minutes of walking, he heard some murmurs. He slowly and carefully moved forward. After seeing a torchlight in the cave he quickly hid behind a rock and looked into the inner part of the cave, where he saw a horrific scene. There were at least 15 goblins and a big green humanoid creature.
"It must be a hobgoblin. I heard they are as strong as lower-rank warriors. I should leave and report it to the base," he thought. Just as he considered leaving, he noticed a cage in the corner, and there were 5-6 people alive.
"Shit... what should I do? "I can't defeat them," he muttered.
A voice in his mind suggested, "You could turn back," "Go back to base, report what you've found, and let someone else handle this." But then he thought of the cage—men, women, even a child. Who would protect them if he left now? If he left, would he be able to live with himself? Aldric took a deep breath and braced himself.
"Fuck it... I'm going in."
Aldric POV
The air inside the cave was thick with tension, every breath heavier than the last. I felt my heart thumping as I placed my back against the chilly stone. The hobgoblin's enormous shape towered in the center, its axe shining menacingly in the flickering torchlight, while fifteen goblins were strewn in a filthy circle around a bonfire. Although it was a difficult task, I was forced to take it on. I wasn't battling only for myself; there were innocent lives and prisoners waiting for someone to take action inside that cage, sadly, that had to be me.
I shifted my weight, trying to stay as quiet as possible. Here, the shadows was my ally; with caution, I could eliminate the goblins one by one without waking the rest. Unaware of the threat so close, their conversation filled the cavern.
With its back to me and its eyes fixed on the flames, the first goblin stood. I quickly pulled my sword and slashed the blade across its neck from behind it. It fell gently to the ground, and I quickly disappeared once more, without making a sound.
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[System Notification: Goblin slain. +10 EXP. + 0.1Agility ]
The system's voice was distant, almost unimportant compared to the task at hand. As I moved from shadow to shadow, I maintained a keen focus. With every kill, my heart pounded, but the rush of excitement simply made my senses more acute. I kept a close eye on the second goblin as he left the group. I moved quickly to get closer, slicing my blade into its side. The goblin dropped to the ground, dead, before it had even had a chance to scream.
[System Notification: Goblin slain. +10 EXP. + 0.1Agility ]
As the goblins continued their oblivious chatter, I moved among them, picking off one after another, the system's experience rewards coming in small, steady increments. With each kill, I became quicker, more accurate, and more fluid in my moves, as though my body was picking up the battle's beat. I was becoming faster, my body reacting more nimbly. Not only was it nice to have my reflexes improved, but it was essential. However, I quickly found myself on the periphery of the group. They were becoming suspicious, and there were too many left.
Sensing something was off, one goblin—possibly a scout—turned to peer over its shoulder. When it saw me, its eyes enlarged, and it sounded the alarm while yelling in its barbaric language. All hell broke loose at that very instant.
With a roar, the hobgoblin raised its enormous axe and fixed me with its gaze. The goblins scattered, some pulling their crude weapons from their belts. I felt a surge of panic, but I pushed it down. I couldn't afford hesitation now. I darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a goblin's spear thrust. But the hobgoblin was coming for me, its steps shaking the earth beneath me.
I was outnumbered. Even though that reality weighed deeply on me, I had no choice but to continue fighting. Even though I was faster than they were, I still needed an advantage.
In that moment, I felt a strange surge of energy, as if a switch had been flipped inside me. My limbs were overwhelmed with heat that began in my chest and extended outward. My body felt quicker and lighter. It felt like I could see every action before it happened, and the air around me appeared to slow down.
[Skill Unlocked: Adrenal Surge – Temporarily boosts speed and reflexes in critical situations.]
I was already in motion as the notification popped up, my speed enhancing with each passing moment. Even I was surprised at how easily I sidestepped as the hobgoblin's axe crashed down. I danced around the strike, slicing at the hobgoblin's vulnerable side with my blade, rather than just dodging it. The animal screamed in agony, yet it hardly moved.
The goblins continued to approach, but now they moved slowly and awkwardly. I hit again, this time with an almost uncanny accuracy. They collapsed in front of me one by one because they couldn't respond quickly enough. My reflexes had improved, but now they were flawless, and every time I swung my sword, it was more natural and spontaneous.
But the hobgoblin was still there, looming large and angry. It bellowed in fury, swinging its axe with deadly intent. I ducked under the strike and struck back, aiming for the joints in its armor. My sword sliced through its defenses, drawing blood. The hobgoblin grunted, its movements becoming more erratic as it realized I was no longer just a threat—I was a danger to be reckoned with.
With my agility at its peak, I weaved around the beast, striking at its vulnerable points, refusing to let up. The hobgoblin's attacks were wild now, desperate. I kept moving, never giving it the chance to land a blow. It was clumsy, trying to bring its axe down on me, but I was always one step ahead. Then, as it swung again, I saw my opening. The axe was high, leaving its chest unprotected. I rushed forward, using all of my might and speed to drive my sword deep into its heart.
The hobgoblin staggered, its eyes wide with shock, before it crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
[System Notification: Hobgoblin slain. +50 EXP. +0.5 Strength, +0.5 Agility]
The cavern was silent now, the goblins either dead or fleeing in terror. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline still coursing through me. I didn't stop there , I went ahead and kill remaining goblins. The captives were safe. I had done it. I had survived, and I had won. But even as I stood over the fallen corpses, I knew this victory was only a brief pause in what would be a much larger journey.