Chapter 7:
The chief goblin and a sweet bonus round
The moment Lucian entered the clearing, the Goblin Chief's eerie smile grew wider. His bulging eyes gleamed with malicious delight as he studied Lucian with twisted amusement. The goblin's huge frame, towering over the swamp demon, was like a grotesque parody of strength and cunning. He chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the dense fog of the swamp.
Lucian's hand instinctively moved toward his sword, feeling the weight of the situation. He had faced strong opponents before, but something about this goblin was different.
Activating Eyes of Truth, a notification flashed in his vision:
Ding…
Name: Goblin Chief/King
Rank: Low-level Demon (Peak E+)
Description: The devil in the body of a goblin gave him immense size and power. A mischievous and strategic being, blending the trickery of Loki with the tactical genius of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Skills:
Dark Magic Blade
Dark Magic Flame
Strategic Mind
War Mode
Lucian swallowed his unease, his heart pounding in his chest. A low-level demon with such overwhelming abilities? And he wasn't even close to peak strength yet. Lucian's mind raced with thoughts of what stronger demons could possibly be like. A mid-level or high-level demon would be beyond his comprehension.
However, Lucian quickly shook off his fear. There was no time for hesitation. He had been in tough spots before, and this one was no different.
With a sharp motion, Lucian drew his sword, its length extending as he channelled the surge of electricity through it, enhancing his speed. His muscles tensed, every nerve fired in preparation. The goblin chief's laughter echoed, low and ominous.
"So, you do have a bit of spine," the goblin sneered, his voice thick with dark magic. He summoned a Dark Magic Blade, which materialized in his hand, crackling with dark energy. "But do you think you can outwit me? The master strategist?"
Without waiting for an answer, the goblin charged forward, his sword swinging in a vicious arc. Lucian reacted just in time, his body a blur as he dodged with the swiftness granted by the electricity-enhanced speed. He countered immediately, slashing horizontally with his own sword. The clash of blades echoed through the swamp as sparks flew.
"Your move, young warrior," the goblin taunted, clearly enjoying the battle.
Lucian gritted his teeth, maintaining his focus. The goblin's War Mode activated, his body glowing with dark energy as he doubled in size. His strikes became more powerful and precise, each one more brutal than the last. Lucian had to rely on his agility, darting to the side, narrowly avoiding death each time.
His thoughts turned tactical. Lucian knew the goblin's Strategic Mind would give him an edge. Every movement from the goblin felt calculated, each strike designed to wear him down. It was clear this wasn't just a brawl; this was a war of tactics.
Lucian's mind raced as he observed the goblin's patterns. There—he'd made a mistake. The goblin over-extended with his blade, leaving a gap. Lucian seized the opportunity, slashing at the goblin's side, his sword glowing with the charge of lightning. The goblin howled in pain, but the wound quickly sealed with a burst of dark magic.
"Impressive," the goblin hissed. "But you're still a child in the game of war."
Lucian grinned. "Then let's change the rules."
He tapped into his Elemental Mastery, summoning the force of metal to reshape his sword into a more jagged, defensive form, giving him the edge in close combat. The goblin responded by casting a Dark Magic Flame, swirling a torrent of black fire toward him. Lucian barely managed to dodge, but the heat singed the edges of his cloak.
Realizing he was on the defensive, Lucian decided to take the initiative. With a battle cry, he unleashed a barrage of lightning, creating a storm of electrified bolts that converged on the goblin. The air crackled with energy as the goblin raised his hand, absorbing some of the attack with his Dark Magic Blade.
"You are persistent, I'll give you that," the goblin muttered. "But it won't be enough."
In a sudden, brutal move, the goblin charged directly at Lucian, blade raised high. Lucian knew this would be the pivotal moment. He narrowed his eyes, activating Eyes of Truth to see through the goblin's movements. The world seemed to slow as Lucian read every tiny shift in the goblin's posture, every twitch in his hand.
Lucian's counterattack was precise—like a predator zeroing in on its prey. With a speed that blurred reality, he moved in and struck. His sword, infused with both lightning and metal, slashed across the goblin's chest, leaving a glowing, jagged wound.
The goblin staggered back, his eyes wide with shock. He had underestimated Lucian's resolve.
"You were right about one thing," Lucian said, his voice steady, "This is my game now."
The goblin snarled, fury blazing in his eyes. He dropped his blade and began to chant, summoning a terrifying dark magic aura. Lucian immediately knew this would be his final attack—a move to end it all.
But Lucian had prepared for this. With a swift movement, he activated his Electromagnetic Field, drawing in all the surrounding electrical energy. The goblin's magic collided with the field, but Lucian, using his mastery of lightning, turned the tide, channeling the raw energy into a single, devastating bolt.
The goblin let out a scream of agony as the blast pierced his chest, disintegrating his body from the inside out.
The swamp fell eerily silent. Lucian stood panting, his sword crackling with the last remnants of energy.
Ding…
Task complete. Reward granted:
+20 faith points earned
E-class battle gauntlet (upgradeable)
Strategic insight mergeable
Lucian looked at the empty space where the Goblin Chief had once stood, his chest heaving with exertion. Despite the victory, he knew this was just one battle in a much larger war to come.
Lucian walked along the quiet path, a satisfied grin on his face. The thrill of battle still lingered, and he eagerly searched for more monsters to conquer and rewards to claim.
"System," Lucian called, "show me my profile. I want to see how much stronger I've gotten."
Ding...
"Apologies, Host. Your profile cannot be viewed until the trial is complete. Rest assured, all experience and levels will be properly calculated and rewarded upon conclusion."
Lucian groaned. "Really? Can't even give me a sneak peek? You're killing me here."
"Host, please focus on the trial. Current progress is satisfactory."
He muttered under his breath, "Yeah, yeah, satisfactory. That doesn't help me much."
Deciding to push on, he asked, "How long have I been stuck in this place anyway?"
Ding...
"Host has been in the trial ground for approximately six hours."
Lucian froze. "Six hours?! I don't feel tired or even hungry. How's that possible?"
Ding...
"The first trial environment suppresses fatigue and hunger. Furthermore, six hours in the trial equals only six minutes in the real world. There is no need for concern."
Lucian sighed in relief. "So, no starvation, no bathroom breaks, and no time lost in the real world. This is starting to sound less like hell and more like a cheat vacation."
As he continued walking, the terrain abruptly shifted. The barren ground gave way to a shimmering landscape filled with oversized candy canes, chocolate rivers, and gumdrop hills. Sweet aromas filled the air, and everything was coated in glittering sugar.
"What fresh madness is this?" Lucian muttered, staring in disbelief.
Ding...
"Welcome to the Bonus Round, Host. This section provides an opportunity to earn additional rewards. However, be warned—after this road, opponents will increase in difficulty to mid-tier demons."
Lucian frowned. "And what am I supposed to do here? Eat my way to victory?"
Ding...
Quest Alert!
Objective:
1. Defeat the Army of Candy Warriors (0/30).
2. Destroy the Candy Dragons (0/5).
Reward:
Divine Elemental Essence.
100 Faith Points.
Failure:
High Blood Sugar.
Loss of 70 Faith Points.
Lucian blinked. "High blood sugar? Really? That's the failure penalty? Come on, System."
Suddenly, the ground trembled. From the candy hills emerged a horde of colorful warriors, marching with terrifying precision. Gummy bears wielding oversized lollipops, cookie men carrying candy cane swords, and licorice archers appeared, their sugary forms glinting menacingly in the light.
Lucian watched as the gummy warriors approached, their squishy bodies bouncing with each step. "Okay, I won't lie. This looks ridiculous," he said with a smirk. "This is going to be easy—"
Before he could finish, a massive gummy bear warrior lunged forward, its fist glowing with a sticky red aura. It delivered a crushing punch to Lucian's chest, sending him flying back.
Lucian crashed into a pile of marshmallows, coughing up blood as he staggered to his feet. His nose was bleeding, and his ribs ached. "What the hell?! What kind of gummy bear packs a punch like that?"
The gummy bear warrior growled, flexing its gelatinous muscles as if taunting him.
Lucian wiped his nose and muttered, "Oi, roadman gummy. What's in your lunch? Steroids?"
He activated Eyes of Truth, hoping for some insight into his candy-coated foes.
Ding...
Name: Army of Sweet and Delicious.
Rank: Mid-Level Demon (F- to Low D).
Description: They may look sweet, but don't let that fool you. These gummy and cookie warriors are sweet but deadly. Think you can take them? Watch your step, or you'll be blasted away by their sugary wrath.
Skills:
Blood Pressure Aura: A passive skill that causes opponents to feel sluggish and disoriented.
Bloody Sugar Punch: A devastating close-range attack infused with sticky energy.
Sugar Spikes: Launches sharp, candy-like projectiles.
Cookie Grenade: Explosive cookies that detonate on impact.
"Good luck, dude."
Lucian's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? These guys are loaded with skills! I thought this was supposed to be a bonus road!"
The gummy warriors didn't wait for his complaints. The largest one charged again, its fist glowing with sugary malice.
Lucian gritted his teeth and summoned his weapon, Mediodis, which transformed into a sleek, glowing battle axe. "Alright, you overgrown gelatin. Let's see how tough you really are."