Ashen continued his ambush of the [Goblins] and [Hobgoblins], but something didn't sit right with him. He had already slain a significant number of enemies, yet there was still no sign of the [Goblin King]. A sense of unease crept into him, but he pushed it aside, reminding himself to remain calm. He couldn't afford to fail this quest, not with so many lives on the line.
"I've almost cleared out all the goblins in the area," he muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the village. "The only place left is the center, where the villagers are being held captive."
His initial plan was to wait for the [Goblin King] to reveal itself and then ambush the boss monster. But looking at the condition of the people inside the cages, Ashen knew he couldn't delay any longer. Time was running out for them. He clenched his fist tightly, eyes hardening with resolve. "I need to rescue them now, before it's too late."
Without hesitation, Ashen bolted toward the center of the village. The [Goblins] guarding the captives had grown complacent, slacking off and unaware of the impending threat. As Ashen charged forward, the startled goblins shrieked in alarm, their raspy voices filled with panic.
"Rarrrgghh!" one of them screamed, waving its crude weapon in the air.
But Ashen paid no attention to their cries. His movements were swift and precise, a blur of motion as he cut down every goblin and hobgoblin that dared stand in his way. The clinking of metal and the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground filled the air as Ashen's Timber Wolf Tooth Knife struck with lethal accuracy. His blade slashed through their flesh effortlessly, leaving a trail of green goblin blood splattered across the ground.
The goblins tried in vain to fight back, but they were no match for Ashen's skill and speed. Despite their numbers, they were overwhelmed by his relentless assault. His combat experience shone through with every strike, and their feeble attempts to hit him were futile. They flailed their weapons, but Ashen was always one step ahead, dancing around them with agility and precision.
Ding!
You killed a [Goblin]
Experience points +15
Ding!
You killed a [Hobgoblin]
Experience points +25
Notifications appeared one after another, but Ashen ignored them, focused solely on clearing the path to the captives. He had already slaughtered more than twenty goblins and nine hobgoblins, and the village center was quickly becoming a graveyard for the green-skinned monsters.
The captives watched in horror as Ashen approached, drenched in the blood of their captors. To them, he seemed more like a terrifying killing machine than a savior. Fear gripped their hearts as they watched him mow down goblins left and right, and some of the villagers, too weak to speak, silently prayed for their lives, unsure whether this blood-soaked figure would free them or finish them off.
As Ashen reached for the cage to unlock it, a sudden impact struck him from behind, sending him flying through the air. His body skidded across the dirt for nearly thirty meters before coming to a painful stop.
-50 Hit Points
Ding!
You've received significant damage! Some of your movements will be sluggish.
Ashen coughed as he tried to regain his breath, his side throbbing with intense pain. "Damn... that punch... it was too strong," he muttered, wincing as he struggled to stand. His vision swam for a moment before he focused on the massive figure looming in the distance.
Standing thirty meters away was the source of the attack—an enormous, hulking figure with grotesque green skin and a twisted, ugly face. The creature towered over the village, easily seven feet tall, with muscles rippling beneath its leathery skin. It was smirking at Ashen, a look of twisted amusement in its eyes.
[Barok - Goblin King] (Boss Monster)
Level: 15
Hit Points: 500/500
Mana: 50/50
Skills: (Brute Strength) (Metal Fist) (Light Feet) (Night Vision) (Command) (Ambush) (Camouflage) (Thick Skin) (Smell)
Ashen stared in disbelief at the stats that appeared before him. "Isn't this a little too strong for me...?" he muttered, his face paling. The [Goblin King] was leagues ahead of him, and just one punch had nearly crippled him.
But retreat was not an option. The lives of the villagers were at stake, and he couldn't abandon them now. With a deep breath, Ashen quickly allocated the last of his attribute points, dumping them into Strength and Agility in a desperate bid to close the gap between himself and the towering monster.
Name: Ashen
Race: Human
Level: 8
Experience Bar: 3,690/6,000
Hit Points: 80/130
Mana: 25/25
Physical Attack: 10-19 | +8
Magical Attack: 5
Physical Defense: 10 | +23
Magical Defense: 5
Strength: 28
Agility: 28
Vitality: 10
Dexterity: 20
Intelligence: 5
Attribute Points Remaining: 0
"I can't lose now," he murmured, steeling himself. "The lives of these people depend on me... no matter the odds, I have to win this fight."
The [Goblin King] didn't seem to view Ashen as a real threat. In fact, the massive creature looked almost bored as it watched Ashen rise to his feet. There was no urgency in its movements, no fear in its eyes. To the [Goblin King], Ashen was nothing more than an ant—a minor inconvenience.
But Ashen wasn't insulted. If anything, he saw it as an opportunity. He began approaching the monster slowly, deliberately. The [Goblin King] didn't bother to react, its smug grin widening as it waited for Ashen to make his move.
When Ashen was finally within striking distance, he didn't hesitate. With a sharp, precise motion, he aimed his knife at the one weak spot every creature had—its genitals.
Vital Strike!
-100 Hit Points!
The bleeding effect has been inflicted!
-5 Hit Points per second
The [Goblin King] howled in agony, its hands flying to its groin as its massive body convulsed with pain. Blood poured from the wound, and its once arrogant expression twisted into one of shock and fury.
Seizing the moment, Ashen struck again, aiming for the monster's eyes this time. He couldn't let it recover, not for a second. The monster's thick skin made it difficult to deal damage anywhere else, so Ashen targeted the few vulnerable areas he could reach.
Vital Strike!
-50 Hit Points!
The [Goblin King] swung at Ashen with one massive fist, but the pain from its groin and eyes made its attacks sloppy. Ashen ducked and weaved around the blows, stabbing relentlessly at the monster's eyes until he finally blinded it.
Vital Strike!
-25 Hit Points!
-25 Hit Points!
The massive creature roared, stumbling backward in confusion, its once fearsome strength reduced by the debilitating wounds Ashen had inflicted. Ashen didn't let up. He stabbed and slashed at the monster's head and neck, trying to bring it down before it could recover.
Finally, with one last gurgling cry, the [Goblin King] collapsed to the ground, its massive body twitching in its death throes.
[Barok - Goblin King] has died miserably, regretting his decision not to kill Ashen earlier. His arrogance was his downfall.
GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Player Ashen Has Killed [Barok - Goblin King], the First Wild Boss!
GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Player Ashen Has Killed [Barok - Goblin King], the First Wild Boss!
GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
Player Ashen Has Killed [Barok - Goblin King], the First Wild Boss!
The system will undergo its first major update. All players must log out within 30 minutes.