‘Well, this isn’t good.' I thought to myself as my body stopped glowing and I looked around, checking to see if Aria really hadn’t been teleported in here with me. She hadn’t. This was going to be tough. I looked at the boss that I would be facing, my body filling with dread as I saw that it was a level 20 Goblin Warchief.

It noticed me and roared a challenge, spittle flying from its monstrous maw.

The ground trembled as the Goblin Warchief approached, each step pounding like a drumbeat in the earth. Standing at over two and a half meters tall, it was a towering, monstrous figure—a far cry from the smaller goblins I’d faced before. Its massive axe, jagged and rusted, looked like it could cleave right through stone. I tightened my grip on my sword, steadying my breathing. This was going to be the fight of my life.

I focused, letting my Qi flow through me and activating [Hair Strengthen]. My hair shimmered as it thickened, ready to become both weapon and shield. The Warchief’s yellow eyes locked onto me, and with a guttural roar, it lunged forward, swinging the axe in a deadly arc.

I dodged backward just in time, the blade slicing the air inches from my face. The force of the swing sent dust and debris flying as it crashed into the ground. I wasn’t going to get many chances against that kind of power. I needed to act quickly.

Without wasting a second, I lashed out with my hair, activating [Hair Snare]. The strands shot forward, wrapping around the Warchief’s axe, attempting to yank the axe from its grasp. But the creature’s strength was far above my own. With a growl, it pulled back, nearly dragging me off my feet as it lifted the weapon again.

I gritted my teeth, channelling more of my Qi into my hair. It coiled tighter around the axe, refusing to let go, but the warchief was relentless. It yanked hard, pulling me close enough that I could see the murderous gleam in its eyes. I twisted out of the way just as it brought the axe down again, the blade thundering into the ground where I’d stood moments before.

I was dead if I didn’t slow it down. I activated [Tress Bind], sending my hair snaking around the Warchief’s legs, coiling tight like a steel trap. The massive creature stumbled, momentarily off-balance. That was my opening. I surged forward, driving my sword into its exposed side, the blade biting into metal, flesh, and muscle.

The Warchief roared in pain, but before I could strike again, it swung its elbow into my ribs, knocking the breath out of me and sending me sprawling. Pain shot through my body, and I struggled to get to my feet, gasping for air.

I wasn’t done yet. I couldn’t be.

The warchief tore at the binds around its legs, freeing itself with brute strength. Blood dripped from the wound I’d inflicted, but it only seemed to make the creature angrier. Its eyes burnt with fury as it charged again, axe raised high.

I dodged to the side, barely avoiding the massive and deadly weapon as it crashed into the earth once more, sending dirt and rocks flying. My body was screaming for rest, but I couldn’t afford to stop—not even for a second.

With the last reserves of my energy, I activated both [Hair Strengthen] and [Hair Snare] again. My hair shot forward, this time binding the warchief’s arm and pinning it to its side. It growled and strained against the hold, but I tightened my grip, pouring every ounce of Qi I had left into keeping the creature restrained.

It struggled, roaring in frustration, muscles bulging as it tried to tear free. I could feel the pressure as it fought against my hold, but I wasn’t going to let go. I couldn’t. Not now.

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With a final surge of Qi, I sent my hair around its neck, wrapping it tight. The Warchief’s eyes widened as it realised it couldn’t breathe. It clawed at the binds, desperate to free itself, but I held firm, tightening the strands with every pulse of Qi I had left. The hair cut into the thick skin of its’ neck, blood dripping onto my hair.

The creature’s struggles became frantic, its face turning a darker green as it gasped for air. For a moment, I thought I had it. But with a last, furious roar, the Warchief tore my hair away from its throat, ripping the strands apart with sheer force. Uh-oh.

I staggered back, my Qi nearly drained. My blonde hair hung limply around me, weakened from the effort. The Warchief was still standing, but its breathing was laboured, blood flowing freely from its side and neck. It was wounded—badly—but still terrifyingly dangerous.

Summoning what little strength I had left, I launched my hair one final time. The strands wrapped around the Warchief’s wrists and ankles, pulling its limbs together in a last desperate attempt to bind it. The creature thrashed violently, but I held on, my grip tightening with everything I had.

The Warchief, bound and kneeling, let out one last guttural roar. I didn’t hesitate. I charged forward, sword in hand, and with all the strength I could muster, drove the blade deep into its chest.

The warchief’s body stiffened, its eyes widening in shock. For a moment, everything was still. Then, with a final gurgling breath, the massive goblin collapsed, its body hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

I stood there, panting, staring down at the fallen creature. My body ached, my Qi was spent, and my hair hung in ragged strands around me. But I had won.

The goblin warchief was dead.

With a glow, The goblin Warchiefs corpse disappeared, and in its place stood Aria, along with a pile of loot. I ran up to her and wrapped my arms around her as I started sobbing. She hugged me back, one of her arms rubbing my back as I sobbed.

“I should be dead; I came so very close there. The only thing that saved me was pure, dumb luck that it missed. If some of its attacks had been even an inch closer, I would have lost an arm, or worse.” I cried into her shoulder, the adrenaline fading, replaced with the knowledge of just how close that fight really was.

“Why the hell weren’t you teleported in with me? It would have gone so much easier with you there, Aria.” I said not blaming her, just curious. She responded, “I think we need to form a party to do boss fights together. I do believe that it is a measure the system enforces in order to prevent people from stealing boss kills. Once you teleported away, I could do nothing but sit there and wait. It was awful. Here, let’s see if we can’t form a party. Aria concentrated, and glowing text appeared in front of me.

Form party with Aria Davis?

Y/N?

I selected yes, and it was done. There were no flashy beacons or anything, but there was a small acknowledgement from the System in the form of another set of glowing text.

Acknowledged. You are now in a party with Aria Davis. You have been designated the role(s) Battlefield Controller (Major) and Dealer (Moderate), while she has been designated the role(s) Tank (Major) and Dealer (Minor).

As you have the Battlefield Controller (Major) role, you will gain an extra percentage of experience for kills made while you have them restrained, even if you do not deal the finishing blow yourself.

As you have the Dealer (Moderate) role, you will gain a medium amount of extra percentage of experience for dealing the finishing blow to enemies.

As Aria has the Tank (major) role, she will gain an extra percentage of experience from enemies she took a blow from, even if she didn’t strike the finishing blow.

As Aria has the Dealer (Minor) role, she will gain a small amount of extra experience from enemies for dealing the finishing blow to enemies.

I let go of Aria to read the absolute wall of text, having calmed down enough for that, and saw that I would get bonuses to my experience for just having something restrained and for dealing the finishing blow. Handy. The only reason we hadn’t made a party beforehand is that we had both forgotten about it.

I pocketed the loot, deciding to look at it later, and picked up the war axe that the goblin warchief had dropped. It looked like the weapon it had wielded but was newly made.

I spotted the exit portal and pointed out to Aria. We headed through the portal, my body hurting all over from the fight. My left leg ached, and I limped. We reached the portal and headed through.

As I passed through the portal, I could feel the wounds on my body closing up and my energy returning to me.

It felt like bliss.