Raymond watched Sonya leave, his thoughts lingering on their brief interaction. There was something about her—something that made him think they might cross paths again. But for now, he had a job to do.
His gaze shifted back to the quest board. The usual assortment of low-risk jobs hung there, but one quest immediately caught his attention: "Goblin Extermination—Highest Priority."
He studied the description carefully: "Dangerous goblin warbands have been spotted near the western forest. Their numbers are swelling, and it is imperative they are dealt with swiftly." It was marked as a Silver-rank quest, intended for far stronger adventurers. It was a little beyond his current Iron rank, but it presented an opportunity. One he wouldn't miss.
Raymond might have been undead, but that didn't mean he lacked the capability to handle tough opponents. In fact, it made him all the more deadly. The quest payout was substantial, and more importantly, it would test his skill without revealing his true identity.
With determination, Raymond walked toward the reception desk. The young woman behind the counter glanced up, noting his towering presence, and blinked in surprise.
"Looking to take a quest, sir?" she asked hesitantly, her voice faltering slightly.
"I'll take the Goblin Extermination quest," Raymond said, his voice a deep, calm rumble.
The receptionist hesitated. "Um, sir, that's a Silver-rank quest. It's rated for more experienced adventurers. It might be dangerous for someone with your rank—"
Raymond's posture stiffened ever so slightly. "I can handle it, you already seen what I'm capable of earlier"
Despite her hesitation, the receptionist seemed to recognize the resolve in his voice, and she nodded, stamping the quest form. "Very well, sir. But please be careful. The goblins have been more aggressive lately."
Raymond nodded without further comment, taking the quest form from her hand. With that, he left the guild hall, heading straight toward the western forest.
---
As Raymond entered the thick woods, the air grew cooler, and the ambient noise of the forest became alive around him. The occasional rustle of leaves or a distant animal cry broke the silence, but Raymond's focus remained sharp. The goblins wouldn't be far.
He followed their trail—a pungent scent of decay that mixed with the earthiness of the forest. Soon enough, he found them: a small band of goblins, huddled around a campfire, arguing over scraps of food.
Raymond didn't waste time. He reached to his side and gripped his large shield and mace, the heavy steel making a satisfying thud as he pulled them free from their carrying loops. With a swift motion, he readied himself, his form massive and imposing beneath his thick armor.
With practiced precision, Raymond moved toward the goblins. His armor clanged as he closed the distance, but his posture was deliberate, and his steps measured. The goblins barely registered his approach before Raymond lunged.
The first goblin attempted to raise its crude sword, but Raymond was already on it. With a powerful swing of his shield, he knocked the goblin aside, sending it crashing into the dirt. The others barely had time to react before Raymond's mace came down with an earth-shattering force, smashing into one of their faces, obliterating it in a single strike.
The last goblin, seeing his comrades fall so quickly, scrambled to draw its own weapon. But Raymond was already on him. With a swift move, he thrust his shield forward, knocking the goblin off balance, and then swung his mace in a wide arc, catching the goblin in the side. It crumpled to the ground, lifeless before it even had the chance to scream.
Standing amidst the fallen goblins, Raymond took a moment to survey the scene. It had been too easy. His undead strength, combined with his experience and heavy gear, made quick work of the small group. But there were more to be dealt with.
With that thought in mind, Raymond turned and continued his journey deeper into the forest. The real challenge awaited him.
---
By the time passed, Raymond had already taken care of the smaller groups. But the true goblin warband, a much larger force, was still lurking ahead. As he approached their camp, the stench of blood and poor hygiene filled the air.
The goblins were scattered about, arguing loudly and ignoring their surroundings. Their lack of discipline was evident in their sloppy behavior. Raymond gripped the hilt of his mace, the weight of it comforting as he moved through the shadows, ensuring his approach remained unnoticed.
As he crept closer, Raymond realized that this would be a longer fight. The goblins were in greater numbers and had spread themselves out across the clearing. But that wasn't a problem for him. He would deal with them in due time.
He drew closer, moving like a shadow. One of the goblins had a bow, while the others wielded crude swords and axes. Raymond's plan was simple: eliminate the ranged threat first, then crush the rest with his raw power.
Without hesitation, Raymond stepped into the clearing. His heavy boots echoed in the otherwise quiet woods, and the goblins' heads snapped up, eyes widening in fear. The sight of the massive figure, clad in thick, terrifying armor, was enough to send panic through their ranks.
The goblin with the bow drew an arrow and fired, but Raymond was already moving. With a swift motion, he raised his shield and blocked the shot, the arrow bouncing harmlessly off the surface. The goblin barely had time to react as Raymond charged, closing the distance in a single, powerful stride.
With a brutal swing of his mace, he crushed the goblin's skull, sending the body crashing to the ground. The rest of the goblins screamed in panic, but Raymond's movements were calm and precise. He didn't need to rush. They were weak, and he was unstoppable.
One by one, the goblins fell to his mace, their crude weapons no match for his overwhelming strength and armor. As the last goblin crumpled to the ground, Raymond surveyed the battlefield,
Raymond stood amidst the carnage, his armor gleaming under the sunlight as the last of the goblins crumpled to the ground. The forest around him was eerily quiet, save for the faint rustling of leaves. He surveyed the scene, ensuring there were no survivors, and was about to turn away when a low growl caught his attention.
From behind a cluster of trees, a massive figure emerged, dragging a large sword behind him. The creature was larger, far more muscular than any goblin Raymond had encountered so far. It wore a patchwork of armor and had a crude crown-like decoration fashioned from animal bones. Its red eyes glowed with a primal rage, and its mouth was twisted into a snarl.
Raymond's senses immediately sharpened. He could tell from the aura surrounding the creature that this wasn't just any goblin. This was something more—a Goblin Champion, a leader among their kind. It was larger, more powerful, and far more dangerous. But Raymond had faced worse.
The Goblin Champion swung its sword in an arc, bellowing a guttural challenge. Its voice was hoarse, but the challenge was clear. The remaining goblins, too, seemed to rally behind it, a few clumsily attempting to form a defensive line.
Raymond didn't flinch. His posture remained steady, his hands still gripping his mace and shield with ease. He could feel the familiar weight of the gear, the cold steel of the shield in his left hand and the deadly mace in his right. His body had long ago adjusted to the weight, and even with his undead nature, it had become second nature.
The Goblin Champion charged forward with surprising speed, its sword raised high. But Raymond was already moving, his massive form crashing into the fray like a juggernaut. The goblins scattered in panic, knowing their champion would not be enough to save them.
With a single, fluid motion, Raymond raised his shield and blocked the Champion's overhead strike. The force of the blow vibrated through his entire body, but his armor absorbed it with ease. He could feel the heat of the Champion's rage, but it was nothing compared to the endless depths of his own power.
Without hesitation, Raymond pushed forward, shoving the Goblin Champion back with a powerful thrust of his shield. The creature stumbled, but quickly regained its footing, swinging its sword horizontally. Raymond dodged with a quick sidestep, the blade missing him by mere inches.
In the same motion, Raymond raised his mace and brought it down with bone-shattering force onto the goblin's shoulder. The Champion let out a roar of pain, staggering under the weight of the strike. But it wasn't finished yet. It gritted its teeth and swung again, this time at Raymond's midsection.
Raymond had no intention of letting the creature land a blow. He sidestepped once more, but this time, he used his mace to deflect the Champion's sword mid-swing. The impact reverberated through the forest, but Raymond's strength easily overpowered the Champion's wild swing. As the Champion's sword was knocked aside, Raymond saw his opening.
He drove forward with a brutal charge, smashing the Goblin Champion's chest with his shield. The Champion was sent flying back, crashing into a nearby tree, its back slamming into the trunk with a sickening thud.
The goblin leader groaned in pain but quickly rose, its fury only growing. It charged again, this time slashing at Raymond with reckless abandon. But Raymond was ready. He took a step back, narrowly avoiding the swing, and then stepped forward, delivering a crushing blow to the Champion's side with his mace.
This time, the Champion didn't recover. The blow sent it tumbling to the ground, gasping for air as it struggled to get up. But Raymond wasn't finished. He stepped forward again, placing his foot on the Champion's chest, holding the creature in place. The Goblin Champion looked up at him, eyes filled with defiance, but Raymond showed no mercy.
With a single, swift motion, he brought his mace down, crushing the Champion's skull with a sickening crack. The goblin's body went limp beneath his foot, and the remaining goblins, witnessing their leader's demise, scattered in fear.
Raymond took a deep breath, though it didn't help him—he didn't need air, after all. He looked down at the Champion's fallen body, his expression unreadable behind the mask. It was a swift and brutal fight, just as he'd expected. But it was over now.
He slowly withdrew his mace, wiping the blood from its head on the Champion's cloak. The fight had been easy, but to prove his victory, Raymond turned his attention to the Goblin Champion's sword. It was a large, crude weapon, but one that had clearly been forged with the strength to challenge even stronger foes. He bent down and picked it up, inspecting the weapon for a moment before sheathing it on his back.
Raymond hadn't killed the Champion for the sword—it wasn't his style to use a weapon so crude. But proof of his victory was necessary. The sword would serve as a token of his strength, a trophy to show the guild that he had conquered the Goblin Champion.
As he turned to leave, Raymond paused to survey the battlefield one last time. The remaining goblins had fled, their lives forfeit. The clearing was now silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves. He stood still for a moment, the weight of his armor pressing down on him as the sunlight bathed him in an ethereal glow. The battle had been won.
Without another word, Raymond began to make his way back toward the guild. The journey was quick—his long strides carried him effortlessly through the woods, the towering figure of his armor cutting an imposing silhouette in the woods.
By the time he arrived at the guild, his thoughts were already focused on the next step. He could feel the eyes of the other adventurers on him, their gazes filled with a mix of awe and trepidation. His towering figure, clad in blackened armor, was impossible to ignore.
Inside the guild, Raymond made his way to the counter. The receptionist, a young woman with a nervous smile, eyed him warily but said nothing as he approached. Raymond placed the Goblin Champion's sword on the counter, the crude weapon gleaming in the low light.
"I've completed the goblin extermination," Raymond said, his voice low and steady. "This is proof of the kill."
The receptionist hesitated for a moment, looking up at him with a mixture of fear and disbelief. She'd heard the rumors about the armored adventurer who had been causing a stir in the guild, but seeing him up close was something else entirely.
With a shaky nod, she reached for the sword, handling it gingerly. "I'll get this verified and file your report," she said, her voice a bit shaky. "It will be recorded in your quest log."
Raymond didn't speak, merely turning on his heel and walking toward the seating area. He had completed the job, and now, it was just a matter of waiting. His undead heart, if it still existed, might have quickened with anticipation, but it didn't matter. He was one step closer to becoming the top adventurer—his undead status no longer a curse, but a tool to carve his place in this world.
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To be continue.....