The ground trembled beneath Raijin's feet as the Goblin Chief charged, its massive club swinging through the mist like a battering ram. Raijin barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side as the club slammed into the earth with a deafening thud, sending a shockwave through the ground. Dirt and debris flew into the air, and Raijin rolled to his feet, sword at the ready.
"Damn it...!!" he hissed under his breath, eyes narrowing at the massive creature in front of him. The Goblin Chief towered over him, its grotesque features twisted in a snarl as it bellowed a war cry, shaking the very air around them. This was no ordinary goblin, and Raijin knew he was outmatched.
His health bar flashed in the corner of his vision, already down from the previous battles. He wasn't in any condition to take on something this strong, but there was no time to think about that now. The Goblin Chief roared again, raising its club for another devastating swing.
Raijin's mind raced. He knew one hit from that club would spell the end for him. But he couldn't retreat, not now. Not when he'd come this far.
"Focus. Don't panic," he muttered to himself, gripping his sword tightly. He'd studied the game's mechanics before, and learned about the weaknesses of larger enemies. They were slower, and easier to outmaneuver if you could stay light on your feet.
As the Goblin Chief swung again, Raijin dodged, this time closer to the beast. He slashed at its leg with all his strength, hoping to cripple its movement. His blade cut through the goblin's rough skin, drawing a spray of pixelated blood, but it wasn't enough to stop the creature. The Goblin Chief let out a howl of rage, swinging its club down in a wild arc.
Raijin barely had time to roll away, the club missing him by inches. His heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet, panting. He couldn't keep this up. One mistake and it'd be over. He needed to think of a strategy fast.
The Goblin Chief was lumbering, its massive form turning slowly as it searched for its next attack. Raijin's mind raced, replaying every piece of information he knew about enemies like this. There had to be a way to bring it down, but he wasn't strong enough to win in a direct fight.
Suddenly, he remembered something from the game's forums, a tip from high-level players. Larger monsters like the Goblin Chief had a weak point at the back of their neck, but reaching it was risky. He'd have to get behind the creature, dodge its attacks, and strike at the right moment.
It was a gamble, but it was the only chance he had.
Raijin adjusted his grip on his sword, eyes locked on the Goblin Chief as it raised its club again. This time, instead of dodging away, he ran straight toward the beast, using its own massive size against it. The Goblin Chief's club came down hard, but Raijin was already beneath its swing, darting past its legs and toward its back.
In the split second that followed, Raijin leaped into the air, his sword aimed at the back of the Goblin Chief's neck. Time seemed to slow as he closed the distance, his heart hammering in his chest. If he missed, it was over.
With a roar, he brought his sword down, the blade biting into the Goblin Chief's flesh. The creature let out a deafening howl, staggering forward as its health bar plummeted. Raijin landed on the ground behind it, panting, but not stopping. He charged again, this time slashing at the creature's exposed weak point with everything he had.
The Goblin Chief flailed, trying to swat him away, but it was too late. Raijin's final strike sent the monster crashing to the ground, its massive form dissolving into pixels before disappearing completely. The silence that followed was almost deafening.
Raijin stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, his sword still raised. His heart was pounding, adrenaline surging through his veins. He had done it. He had actually defeated the Goblin Chief.
A notification popped up in his field of vision:
"Quest Complete: Goblin Extermination in the Misty Woods. Reward: 250 Gold, 500 EXP, Special Item Drop."
Raijin let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his body relaxing as the tension drained away. The rewards appeared in his inventory, gold, experience points, and a special item. He opened his inventory and saw a new piece of equipment: Goblin Chief's Leather Armor. It wasn't the best gear in the game, but it was a huge upgrade from what he had now.
"Not bad," Raijin muttered to himself, equipping the armor. The leather fit snugly over his frame, and he could already feel the increase in his stats. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
But even as he basked in the victory, the reality of what had just happened settled in. This was just a low-level quest, a simple extermination mission meant for beginners. And yet, it had almost cost him his life. The thought of facing even stronger enemies in the future sent a chill down his spine.
He couldn't afford to take risks like this again. Not if he wanted to make it to the Grand Tournament.
With the quest complete, Raijin turned back toward the city, the fog of the Misty Woods slowly lifting behind him. He had survived his first real challenge, but he knew this was only the beginning. The road ahead was long and filled with danger, but he couldn't turn back now.
For his family, for his future, he had to keep moving forward.