"I really messed up," he muttered, cold sweat dripping down his head.
The dire wolves had caught up and had surrounded him.
He held a sword in one hand and a mana stone, no larger than a thumbnail, in the other. Mana stones, as their name implied, were infused with pure mana. In established cities, they powered infrastructure and industrial processes. Due to their high cost, they were only used when the resource-to-cost ratio justified their expense.
For the average person, mana stones weren't practical. Humans could generate mana internally with enough food and rest. The mana from mana stones was external and didn't add to one's own mana pool. Additionally, the tiny stone in Haru's hand cost 7 Klador— more than a month's wages for someone of his rank.
Mana from stones was temporary and fleeting. However, Haru had learned much during his travels like how, with the right technique, mana stones could bolster one's strength multiple times over.
One of the dire wolves leapt into action, its powerful muscles propelling it forward, jaws snapping open.
> Minus Strength
The effect of the skill was jarring for anyone who felt it. The dire wolf, momentarily confused by the sudden change in its body, was caught off guard. Haru infused the mana stone into his sword and sliced upwards, catching the wolf by the neck. It took a few steps before bleeding out and collapsing, causing the other dire wolves to step back in fear.
Their view of Haru changed, and they began to circle him, reassessing the threat. They snarled and growled, but hesitant to leap in.
This was a last-ditch effort by Haru. The mana stone had amplified his hand and blade, allowing him to slice through the tough hide of the dire wolves. Now, it was exhausted, and he had only four more left.
The Greater Ravager arrived, and the other dire wolves made way for their leader. It stared menacingly at Haru who had no inclination to flee.
"I won't run," Haru shouted. "There's no point. No, I'll take you down, and then we'll see who's top dog!"
With four remaining mana stones, every move had to be calculated. Haru knew he couldn't afford any mistakes, not when the stakes were this high.
Suddenly, the loud roars of an angry beasts echoed through the forest, reverberating through the trees. But it wasn't a beast—it was goblins.
The entire camp of goblins, led by the Greater Goblin, appeared in the distance, carrying torches. The Greater Goblin, wielding a long wooden stake, charged forward and hurled it with incredible strength. The dire wolf it aimed at wasn't fast enough and the spear pierced it, pinning it to a tree.
The field became a two-species battleground as Haru quickly used the opportunity to blend back into the shadows. The Greater Ravager stared down the Greater Goblin, scrutinizing its long time rival.
With [World Knowledge] leveled, Haru focused his attention on the Greater Goblin.
> World Knowledge Lv2
'Examine'
> Greater Goblin
>
> Description: An evolved form of the goblin, larger and more menacing. Towering over their lesser kin, Greater Goblins are hulking figures of muscle. The Greater Goblin craves violence, its existence driven by a ravenous hunger for flesh and battle. They wield the weapons of the their fallen prey, each weapon bearing the chips and stains of countless victories against those foolish enough to underestimate their savagery. The scent of blood often clings to their rough-hewn garments, a warning to any who dare cross their path.
>
> Physical Characteristics: (Height: 5'9") / (Weight: 120 lbs) / (Greenish-brown, with a rough, scaly texture)
>
> Potential: C
>
> Equipment: Broad Iron blade
>
> Rank: IV
Looking a bit shocked, he then turned his attention to the Greater Ravager
> Greater Ravager
>
> Description: A creature of primal dominance, the Greater Ravager embodies the brutal efficiency of evolution. Towering over its lesser kin, this wolf is cloaked in a coat of pure jet black fur. Driven by insatiable ambition, a Greater Ravager breaks from its pack after its first taste of blood, forever seeking to conquer and command. It challenges alpha wolves in battles of fangs and fury, aiming to usurp their position and establish its own reign over the wilds.
>
> Physical Characteristics: (Height: 6'1") / (Weight: 225 lbs) / (Jet black)
>
> Potential: B
>
> Rank: IV
Haru was a quite surprised to see that the Greater Goblin had a rank 4 classification. He had expected it to be rank 3 at most, as that was where most Greater Goblins were classified. At rank 4, it was as strong as seasoned C-rank or early B-rank adventurers. The fact that it was rank 4 despite being only a Greater Goblin meant it was likely close to evolving into an even more powerful form.
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Now that he had a moment to breathe, Haru realized he had likely chosen the worst two groups to enact his plan. A slip-up on either side could have spelled his doom. It was only luck that the two were relatively equal in strength; otherwise, the winner would definitely have gone after him next immediately after.
Rank was only a general classification for power levels, and individual strengths, environment, and intellect also played a role in determining the outcome of a fight. However, given everything else being equal, the Greater Ravager was likely to come out on top. It was an apex predator with higher potential than the Greater Goblin, meaning its strengths far exceeded those of the goblins.
Now that the situation had gotten back on track, Haru was perfectly satisfied to play his role from the shadows. With a smile on his face and a cruel glint in his eyes, he mused that it was time for payback.
> Minus Strength
The Greater Ravager felt the all-too-familiar sensation of its strength weakening, but it couldn't let itself be distracted, not with its rival staring it down.
The dire wolves and goblins had known of each other's presence for a long time and had kept to their own territories. A few skirmishes had occurred, but nothing serious. This time, however, it seemed both sides blamed the other for starting an all-out war.
A tense silence filled the night air. The two leaders roared, signaling the start of the battle.
The goblins, wielding their stone weapons, faced off against the dire wolves. The Greater Goblin lifted an iron blade from its back, likely a reward from a slain adventurer.
The Greater Goblin slashed at the Greater Ravager with all its might, but the creature easily dodged. Even with the de-buff applied by Haru, the Greater Ravager excelled in speed and was faster than the Greater Goblin.
The Greater Ravager pulled back and lunged forward at blazing speeds. The Greater Goblin attempted to block but soon found two fingers missing from its hand.
Enraged, the Greater Goblin swung widely, felling a few trees in the process. The Greater Ravager deftly leapt back to dodge, but at that same moment, an arrow, perfectly timed, pierced its eye. The Greater Ravager roared in pain, staggering back just enough for the Greater Goblin to slice its belly, causing blood to flow out.
The Greater Ravager stared at the source of the arrow and saw Haru hiding in the shadows. Though still wearing a goblin mask, the Greater Ravager could sense Haru mocking it.
> Minus Strength
Minus Strength was a completely broken skill, allowing Haru to dictate the flow of battle. It was precisely because of this skill that, when he first arrived in Kladin, he was quickly placed into Lance's group and forced to use his skill constantly whenever they faced difficult monsters or demons. His skill never missed, regardless of how strong the opponent was or how weak he was. The only drawback was the mana consumption, which was nothing compared to its effectiveness and could be replenished with a good flow mana rejuvenation potions.
If you were to ask before the regression who had the most impact in turning the heroes in a legendary party, the heroes would likely all point to Lance. In truth, every time they barely managed to slay a monster or survived by the skin of their teeth, it was due to Haru's involvement. Even against the tough demons, Lance had to give credit to Haru, who made them manageable.
The Greater Ravager's howl filled the air, causing the dire wolves to disengage from the goblin minions. It then joined forces with the dire wolves, setting their sights on the Greater Goblin.
The dire wolves moved with incredible speed and precision, seizing the Greater Goblin's limbs and immobilizing it. The Ravager lunged at the Greater Goblin's neck with a fierce snarl, its teeth sinking deep and tearing away a chunk of flesh.
The Greater Goblin, unable to withstand the combined assault, fell to its knees. The remaining dire wolves moved to intercept the other goblins, preventing them from aiding their leader.
Feeling triumphant, the Greater ravager suddenly sensed something amiss. The Greater Goblin's eyes glowed a menacing red.
Haru, watching the scene unfold, muttered, "You should've finished it quicker. Dire wolves aren't the only ones capable of entering a frenzy."
Frenzy was a natural passive ability possessed by most predatory creatures, triggered when they were in extreme hunger or their lives were on the line. This ability allowed them to enter a state of frenzy, granting them increased strength and ferocity.
Steam evaporated upwards from the Greater Goblin who rose up with renewed vigor. It tore the two wolves clinging to its arms away and held them in both hands. With a brutal display of strength, it smashed them together, creating a puddle of blood. The two wolves that had been restraining its legs suddenly backed away in fear.
The Greater Goblin then placed the mangled wolf remains into its mouth and chewed gruesomely. As it swallowed, the wounds on its body began to heal, at least enough to stop the flow of blood.
For the first time in its life, the Greater Ravager felt its life on the line. Years of being the top predator, it finally had to concede that the Greater Goblin in front of it was perhaps stronger. However, this only served to push it further.
It inhaled the scent of blood deeply and entered a state of frenzy as well. However, the minion goblins finally broke free from the pesky dire wolves' and joined their leader Greater Goblin. They got into formation and aimed their weapons against the Greater Ravager as they charged forward.
The Greater Ravager disappeared from its spot, and when it reappeared a few steps away from the charging goblins, three goblin heads fell to the ground and rolled.
The Greater Goblin roared fiercely. Sparks flew as claw met iron. Despite the Ravager's impressive speed, its injuries were starting to show, and the Greater Goblin took full advantage of this. With a swift and powerful motion, the Greater Goblin caught the leg of the Ravager and swung it like a club, slamming it into the ground over and over. The Greater Ravager's once-majestic fur was now matted with blood and dirt, its fierce eyes dulled with pain.
Sensing the Ravager's life fleeting, the Greater Goblin threw it down and raised its iron blade high. He had emerged victorious and he was going to relish it.
> Minus Strength
Out of nowhere, the Greater Goblin felt the de-buff skill weakening its strength. It was followed by an arrow, which he easily deflected. He could instantly sense the source of the attack coming from Haru, who still wore a goblin mask.
Enraged, the Greater Goblin roared and charged towards Haru, not realizing it had made a fatal mistake. A large claw mark tore its back, and it stumbled, falling to a knee. The Greater Ravager, though hurt, stood in front, ready to continue their battle.
The wound was deep and large enough to reveal bone. The Greater Goblin immediately realized at that moment, something wasn't right. Perhaps due to their advanced rank or evolution, it was able to put together the fact that this 'Goblin' had never fought, wasn't part of his camp, and perhaps, had led them to fight against their greatest enemy. In that moment, the Greater Goblin realized that it had been played, both sides were tricked into fighting each other!
If they had been humans, this would be the time to put aside their differences to deal with the common enemy. However, they were monsters and gave in to their natural instincts to fight each other to the bitter end.
Everything had finally fallen into place, and Haru could now dictate the field. There were about a equal number of goblins and dire wolves left, with the Greater Ravager and Greater Goblin taking center stage.
Their fight continued through the night, with Haru patiently dictating the field, utilizing his [Minus Strength] skill on whichever side was winning to balance both teams. All he had to do was sit back and watch as the two powerful creatures battled it out.