[Defeat the Boss: Hobgoblin 0/1]
[Guaranteed Rank: S reward]
Sehuan's pulse quickened as he processed the prospect of a Rank S reward. The thought of such a valuable prize so early in the waves was exhilarating.
'Another Rank S reward before wave 20? I must be lucky,' he mused, casting a glance at the other participants. Fear and reluctance were palpable on their faces.
"Get me out of here!"
"I can't fight a boss!"
"I'm going to die!"
His gaze settled on Duke, who appeared utterly drained. "I'm at my limit. Fighting the boss is a no-go."
The demon surveyed the group with growing irritation. "Listen up, you weaklings! This is a rare chance to impress the gods. Will you throw it away or seize it? Here's how it's going to work: those who want to leave, raise your hands."
Four hands shot up immediately, leaving Sehuan as the sole exception.
The demon's gaze turned to Sehuan with a twisted smile. "Ah, a brave one. Fine. The four of you may go, while Sehuan, you will stay and confront the boss alone."
Sehuan's mind raced. 'Facing it alone could be a death sentence. I need to level the playing field.'
He called out to the demon before it could summon the boss. "Wait!"
The demon's annoyance was evident. "What now?"
"Since I'm fighting solo, can we make it fair?"
The demon looked baffled. "Fair? Life isn't fair. Deal with it—"
The demon's eyes suddenly darted to the viewers above. A flicker of concern crossed its face. "Dear viewers, I recognize your concerns. Given the guaranteed Rank S reward, I can't offer more. However... um, that's a valid point. Wait, wait, I get it now, but— Fine. Under one condition: the viewers must agree to an exchange."
The demon's grin returned as it turned back to Sehuan. "Congratulations, Sehuan. The viewers agree that a solo fight isn't fair. They've agreed to weaken the boss in exchange for removing the guaranteed S-rank reward."
Sehuan's expression hardened. "Forget it!"
The demon blinked in confusion. "What do you mean 'forget it'? You got what you asked for, right?"
"If it means losing the S-rank reward, I'd rather fight the boss without any handicap."
Outside, the crowd buzzed with surprise and concern.
"Is he really refusing the handicap?"
"Why is he being so stubborn? Just take the help and get out."
"He's not going to make it."
The demon was about to voice its displeasure but was interrupted by the viewers once more. "Yes, he said if it means losing the Rank S reward, he'll refuse the help."
The demon's smile widened with malicious glee. "Thank you, Sehuan. Your choice has attracted over 50 viewers eager to witness a solo boss fight on my channel. As a token of appreciation, I'll remove your fatigue and restore your health."
Sehuan examined his body, feeling the relief of restored strength. "Thanks. Now, let's get this over with."
The demon's grin stretched wider as it snapped its fingers.
With a roar of dark energy, a massive Hobgoblin appeared before Sehuan. Its skin was a grotesque mix of warty, mottled green, reminiscent of a bloated toad, while its head resembled a bullfrog's, complete with bulbous eyes. It brandished a rusty, battered sword that looked barely functional.
'Time to lure it into striking so it can tire itself out,' Sehuan thought, cautiously advancing toward the beast.
Outside, the spectators were bewildered.
"Why isn't he fleeing? Doesn't he realize how dangerous that is?"
"Run, you fool!"
"This guy is insane."
"Who is he?"
The Hobgoblin roared and swung its heavy sword with brutal force. The blade cleaved through the air, missing Sehuan by mere inches as he nimbly sidestepped. The ground shook with each swing, and the air was filled with the stench of sweat and fear.
Sehuan danced around the monster, taunting it with swift movements. The Hobgoblin's attacks were brutal and wild, each swing aimed to decimate. The air was punctuated by the sound of metal clanging and the beast's enraged roars.
'Its attacks are predictable. The wide swings leave it vulnerable.'
Sehuan continued his harrowing dance, barely avoiding the Hobgoblin's deadly strikes. Each near miss was a reminder of the danger he faced. After ten agonizing minutes, the beast's stamina began to wane. It was panting heavily, its movements growing sluggish and erratic.
Finally, the Hobgoblin dropped its sword, collapsing to its knees in a ragged heap. Its chest heaved with labored breaths, its once menacing roars reduced to weak, guttural noises.
Sehuan seized the chance. He grabbed a handful of sharp pebbles and hurled them into the Hobgoblin's eyes. The pebbles struck with a sickening thud, blinding the beast and causing it to flail wildly.
Sehuan snatched the fallen sword, climbing onto the beast's back. With a grunt of effort, he drove the blade deep into the Hobgoblin's throat. Blood spurted violently from the wound, splattering Sehuan and the floor.
The Hobgoblin's desperate attempts to staunch the bleeding were futile. It clutched its neck, but the blood flowed freely, staining its hands and the ground beneath. Sehuan circled the beast, slashing and stabbing with brutal efficiency.
'As it tries to stop the bleeding from its throat, it can't manage the other wounds. This is my win. They thought I'd be too scared to act. How foolish.'
Sehuan's relentless assault continued for another five minutes. The Hobgoblin's struggles grew weaker, its roars turning into pitiful whimpers. Finally, with a final, shuddering breath, the beast collapsed, lifeless.
[Defeat the Boss: Hobgoblin 1/1]
The overseer appeared, its eyes wide with admiration as it congratulated Sehuan on his victory.
Before Sehuan could select his reward, the overseer stopped him. "Hold on. Since you faced a boss solo before wave 10, I'm giving you a special reward. You can now see the potential rewards before making your choice. Enjoy."
Sehuan's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Choose your reward:
[Stormbringer Gauntlets: Unleashes a lightning strike from the sky, hitting the target within a 1-meter radius. Set: Odin]
[Skill: All for One: Every 10 kills grants +0.01 movement speed, +0.01 attack, and +0.001 crit chance.]
[1 Year's Worth of Food and Water for All Individuals Within Your Container.]
'The rewards are impressive: a gauntlet that clears mobs with lightning, a skill that improves over time, and a year's worth of supplies for everyone.'
Sehuan pondered the choices, weighing his options before choosing-