Chapter 17 - Massacre

This is scary as hell. I hate horror movies. I mean, I don't usually watch them. I don't know how other people do it. I don't like suspense or scary things, and now I'm living in one.

I should at least save her... Calm down, Leon, you can do this.

I descended slowly from the air, reentering the house. As I approached the door, I could still hear the woman's voice, crying and begging for mercy. The sight inside was horrifying—two goblins were cutting her limbs with a saw and axe, while the other two violated her. I immediately cast a Wind Blade spell, targeting the goblins dismembering her. The blade struck the first goblin, cutting him cleanly in half, lengthwise.

The other three goblins noticed me and launched an attack. I hopped backward but slipped and tripped over something—when I looked, it was the man's severed head, his eyes frozen, staring at me. It felt like he was trying to say something. I was so terrified that I could barely hold myself together.

One of the goblins, holding an axe, charged at me. I quickly cast a Fireball spell. The goblin leaped toward me, but instead launched himself directly into the fireball, instantly engulfed in flames. His screams echoed as his body writhed in agony before falling to the ground, burning. The remaining two goblins scrambled through the window in a panic. I rushed to the woman's side, using my magic to stop the bleeding from her severed limbs, but it wasn't enough. Her breathing was shallow, weakening fast. I bolted outside to find Lian, who was healing the militia after the goblin attack.

-- Sister Lian! Come with me! -- I shouted.

I explained the situation as we ran back to the house. Lian tried to heal the woman while I focused on locating the goblins who fled. Using Earth Detection magic, the system visualization opened before me. I could detect multiple goblins scattered throughout the residential area, along with the militia and others fighting back. Among them, I found the two goblins running not far from here. As I focused on them, something strange appeared—a green thread extended from every corner of the house, through the window where the goblins escaped.

I peered outside, and the thread continued, seemingly guiding me to where the goblins were headed. I jumped through the window.

-- Leon! Where are you going? -- Lian shouted.

I kept running, following the thread.

-- That kid! Stella will kill us if anything happens to you! -- Lian's voice echoed through the village.

I ran too slow. I should add more points to my AGI next time.

The thread led underground. I assumed there was a tunnel here. As I uncovered it, the stench of blood filled the air.

*/System: New Quest...

*/System: Kill the Goblin King [3 Hours Remaining].

What the hell?! This came out of nowhere. What's wrong with you, system?

I opened the system's quest log.

-- Kill Demon Lord [1,287 Days Remaining].

-- Kill Lili Aislien [4 Hours Remaining].

-- Kill Goblin King [3 Hours Remaining].

Sub Quest:

-- Elemental Mastery [89% Complete].

Why does this system keep giving me tasks? I didn't come to this world for this. Back in my old life, I had enough jobs in factories, restaurants and office work... The daily grind, waking up with no choice but to keep going just to survive, just to support my sister. It was a pain in the ass. I still remember how I once dreamed of becoming president, and then I ended up being a piece of shit in early adulthood. Now I'm reborn in this world, and this system keeps throwing impossible tasks at me.

But anyway, here I am. I looked at the tunnel entrance. An adult wouldn't fit here, but I'm just an 8-year-old, so... I jumped into the tunnel, the cramped space like a miniature cave, filled with foul smell.

I navigate the tunnel slowly, following the green thread. After about ten minutes of walking, I finally reach the end.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I try to peek a little, and I'm stunned by what I see—a huge hall, full of goblins. I didn't know they could create something like this: a vast open area, like an indoor soccer field. Goblins and hobgoblins are running around, each doing their own tasks. In the center of the colony, a goblin wearing a metal crown sits on a throne made of bones—not just any bones, but human bones.

Fiery torches light up the surroundings, and in the walls, multiple tunnels of varying sizes are visible.

I need to go back and report this to Lili or Dio. But then, I feel a familiar sensation in my body. I look down and see a metal tool piercing me. I turn to see a goblin smirking, holding the weapon.

I move forward immediately as the goblin pulls the tool out. The other goblins notice me and start attacking.

I quickly cast a fire spell, surrounding myself with a ring of fire, then spreading it around me, hitting all the nearby goblins. My legs feel weak and then...

*/System: Rebooting...

What just happened? Did I just die?! I feel something pulling at my leg. When I open my eyes, a hobgoblin is dragging me. I immediately cast an air blade, slicing the goblin in half.

Looking around, I'm still in this huge cave. The goblins start encircling me, armed with different kinds of tools. The Goblin King watches from his throne, observing me. All the goblins and hobgoblins start to attack.

Arrows are fired, daggers thrown, and others rush in with melee weapons. I need to fight back. I push them away using wind magic, regularly casting a barrier to block the arrows.

Then I cast an earth spell, summoning massive thorn-like rocks from the ground, piercing the goblins in the area.

The Goblin King notices my magic and stands up, shouting in some strange language. The goblins pull back, as if obeying his command.

Suddenly, huge hobgoblins with spears charge at me. I jump into the air, but a hook is thrown at me, dragging me down. Goblins surround me, stabbing me with their weapons. I can feel each strike as their blades enter and exit my body. Then, a hobgoblin with a massive mallet approaches. I look at him, and suddenly, a powerful force hits my head, and everything turns black.

*/System: Rebooting...

Did I just die again? Before I open my eyes, I use earth magic to shake the ground beneath me, then leap into the air.

The goblins around me look surprised. The Goblin King watches me from below. I've already died twice. I launch myself back to the ground, focusing my mana in my legs. As my feet hit the ground, I cast an earth spell, sending a wave of rock crashing through the area.

Goblins are crushed by the rock or buried alive. But as I look at the Goblin King, I'm shocked—he's laughing.

Then a goblin wearing a cloak appears and starts casting spells. He pulls out a sword and approaches me. His walk is intimidating, and his swings are full of bloodlust. He doesn't hesitate, even cutting down other goblins in his path.

I jump into the air, casting a barrier as goblin mages fire all kinds of magic projectiles at me. I search for an escape route and launch myself toward one of the tunnel holes in the wall, but a hobgoblin punches my barrier, sending me crashing to the ground. My body aches. I'm too slow... too weak to fight them all...

I struggle to my feet just as the Goblin King swings his sword at my neck. I'm thrown through the air, and I can see my own headless body lying on the ground, covered in blood...

*/Rebooting...

Ackkkkkkk! - I scream in frustration. It feels like I've been stuck here for eternity. I can't escape, I can't fight—what can I do? The Goblin King smirks at me with a terrifying grin, his aura filled with murderous intent.

Wait... I've killed some goblins and hobgoblins. Maybe I can boost my agility and escape this nightmare...

System, open stats!

INT: 200 STR: 50 AGI: 35 EXP: 455 Remaining

I have 450 EXP. I can add 45 points. System, add all 450 EXP to my AGI!

*/System: Are you sure?

Of course, make it quick!

*/System: Don't be so demanding... processing...

*/System: 450 EXP converted to AGI. 45 points added to AGI.

*/System: Current Stats:

INT: 200 STR: 50 AGI: 80 EXP: 5 Remaining

I begin to run, using wind magic to boost my speed even further. But then, something strikes my back—a goblin again! It stabs me with a dagger...

Enough! You damn goblins, I'll kill every last one of you! -

I channel my mana directly to my heart. It pierces painfully, but I release a blade of pure energy, just like Lili showed me. I spin 180° and slice the face of the goblin that stabbed me. I rush toward the Goblin King and leap at him, but a hobgoblin grabs my leg and throws me to the ground.

I cast a barrier to soften the impact, then cut off the hobgoblin's arm. I push away all the goblins nearby with wind magic and follow up with ice spears, impaling their bodies.

Dark magic flows through me, enhancing my physical power as mana courses through my bloodstream. I yank the dagger from my back and throw it at the Goblin King.

The Goblin King grabs a goblin and uses it as a shield.

I'm already feeling dizzy. The goblins keep coming like a zombie apocalypse—it's never-ending.

One goblin jumps onto my head and stabs my eye. I scream in pain, grabbing the goblin and smashing it to the ground. I cast a fire spell, and the goblin's body is engulfed in black flames as it screams in agony.

Then a hobgoblin punches my chest, sending me flying toward the Goblin King. He points his sword between my eyes and stabs me. All the other goblins immediately jump onto my body, stabbing me repeatedly, until I lose consciousness...

*/System: rebooting...

Ackkkk!! -

I scream out loud and leap into the air.

System, use all my EXP and boost my stats! -

*/System: You currently have 630 EXP. Where would you like to spend it?

It doesn't matter! Just give me the power to escape this place! -

*/System: Distributing 63 points to all stats...

*/System: Current stats: INT: 221 STR: 71 AGI: 101 EXP: 0 Remaining

As I hover in the air, I immediately summon a fire spell, pouring a large amount of mana into it to create a massive fireball. I enhance the fireball with dark magic and redirect my mana into my heart, boosting both my magical and physical prowess.

I hurl the fireball at the Goblin King.

Eat this, you bastard! -

The Goblin King waves his hand, and all the remaining goblins and hobgoblins rush to his side, forming a shield around him. Goblin mages cast barriers to protect him. The fireball lands, turning the goblins around him into ash—but the king remains, his face twisting with frustration.

He points his sword at me, and the remaining goblins start launching projectiles—arrows, throwing daggers—and hobgoblins with hooks appear, trying to drag me down. The Goblin King leaps into the air, slashing at me with his sword. I activate my barrier just in time. I feel stronger now, maybe because of the stat boost.

*/System: From now on, all your EXP will be distributed automatically...

Great! Now give me more power! -

The Goblin King pierces my barrier, but I push him back with wind magic. I descend quickly and slam into the goblins beneath me with my barrier. Dispelling the barrier, I summon a psi-blade and begin beheading all the goblins around me. I have the strength, but no knowledge of combat technique. I'll need to ask Gustav about that.

As I continue killing, I feel less and less human. Slaughtering these creatures is starting to feel like nothing. It's like killing mosquitoes—annoying, but satisfying when they're crushed. Bloody, like the goblins.

I cast spell after spell, wielding the psi-blade to cut down goblins and hobgoblins until all of them are wiped out. I can feel power coursing through me.

With all the goblins dead, I use detection magic to scan the area. No goblins remain—only the corpses of the fallen, and the Goblin King. I seal all the tunnels in the walls except for the largest one, where I sense a human presence.

So it's just you and me... - I say to the Goblin King.

-- You wiped us all out... again. I remember you... -- the Goblin King speaks with a strange, broken voice, as if he's only recently learned the language.

Without warning, he swings his blade at me. I block it with my psi-blade and jump back.

The Goblin King attacks relentlessly. I can feel the sheer power and weight behind his strikes. I cast and dispel my barrier over and over, barely managing to fend off his attacks. Suddenly, I detect a human presence approaching.

Then Someone kicks the Goblin King's body, sending him flying into the wall.

- Gustav?? -

- Father!! -