A few moments later, Nyx exited the classroom, now holding one more mana stone than when he had entered. His mind was already calculating the next steps, unhurried yet methodical, his gaze fixed on the corridor ahead. Another classroom lay in wait.
"This time, I'll test how long the 'Command' skill lasts," Nyx muttered to himself, cold determination lining his words.
He peered through the door into the next classroom. Inside, two more goblins paced restlessly, unaware of his presence. Their green skin glistened under the flickering lights.
"Insight," Nyx whispered, activating the familiar skill.
____________________________________
[ INSIGHT ]
NAME: GOBLIN
LEVEL: 2
STATUS: HEALTHY
________________________
[ INSIGHT ]
NAME: GOBLIN
LEVEL: 2
STATUS: SLIGHTLY INJURED
_________________________________
"All the same stats, but even using 'Insight' repeatedly improves proficiency," Nyx noted, his eyes glinting as he analyzed the system's growth mechanics. Each tiny piece of information mattered, as it contributed to his grander plan.
He turned his gaze to the slightly injured goblin and raised his hand. "Command," he whispered, his voice barely audible, yet the power within his words rippled through the air.
The goblin glowed faintly, its feral eyes dimming as it fell under Nyx's control. A cruel smile crept onto his face as the creature swayed slightly, now his to command.
"Let's see how far this control can be pushed," Nyx mused, the thrill of experimentation adding a glimmer of excitement to his usually cold demeanor.
Moments later, the scenario played out like clockwork. Nyx had recreated the tactics he used in the first classroom: using himself as bait while his controlled goblin eliminated its kin. His moves were precise, rehearsed even, as if the goblins were mere obstacles in a game he had mastered long ago.
This time, though, he didn't stop with one room. As he moved toward another classroom, the controlled goblin followed at his heels like a mindless puppet, its club dragging across the floor with a dull scraping sound.
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Nyx approached a third classroom, this one occupied by three goblins. Nyx had already analyzed them with 'insight'. His eyes narrowed as he strategized. "Kill," he commanded softly, directing his puppet into the room.
Without hesitation, the controlled goblin rushed forward, slamming its club into the skull of one of its unsuspecting kin. The loud crack of bone echoed through the room as blood splattered across the dirty tiles. The remaining two goblins, now fully aware of the attack, growled in fury.
While they focused on the traitor among them, Nyx slipped in quietly, drawing the attention of one goblin. He struck quickly, a clean, calculated blow to the neck of the distracted creature. The goblin collapsed instantly, gurgling as it hit the floor, its life fading fast.
Only one remained.
"Roar!!" A ferocious bellow erupted from the controlled goblin, its glowing eyes flickering as the control snapped, breaking free of Nyx's grasp.
"Interesting," Nyx muttered, observing the shift in power with detached curiosity. "So, ten minutes is the maximum duration of control."
The now-freed goblin, enraged by its previous submission, turned on the last standing goblin with fury. Though they were kin, the moment of control had placed a target on its back. The weakened goblin tried to fight back, but it was too late. The former puppet's club came down hard, driven by primal rage.
Nyx stood in the shadows, watching silently as the two monsters tore into each other. Blood pooled around their feet, and for a moment, the classroom was filled with nothing but the sound of heavy breathing and dying growls.
Finally, with one last gurgle, the stronger goblin stood victorious—but it was weakened and wounded. Nyx's lips curved into a sharp grin.
"This is the best outcome," he murmured, stepping forward with deadly grace.
Before the last goblin could react, Nyx leapt into action. His movements were swift, efficient. The goblin barely had time to raise its weapon before Nyx's strike landed with lethal precision. The creature slumped to the floor, lifeless.
Breathing steady, Nyx surveyed the carnage. Three goblins lay dead, and he was standing amidst the wreckage, unscathed.
"Experiment complete," he said finally, his voice calm, though there was a trace of satisfaction behind his cold, calculating expression.
He crouched over the fallen goblins, retrieving the mana stones from their bodies with a clinical detachment. As each blue stone glistened in his hand, Nyx's thoughts already turned to his next move.