Haruto's hands were trembling so hard he almost dropped his weapon. His breath came in short, uneven bursts, and his legs felt like they might buckle at any moment. He stood frozen, staring at the massive, hulking figure in front of him.
The Goblin King.
"What the hell am I even doing here?" Haruto muttered under his breath. His grip tightened on his weapon as if squeezing it harder would make any difference. "That thing… it's not just big—it's a monster."
The creature growled low and deep, a sound that seemed to rumble through the ground beneath his feet. Haruto's stomach churned, and he fought the overwhelming urge to run.
"How do I even fight something like this?" he whispered to himself, his eyes darting around the cave. "What am I supposed to do? Just… swing at it and hope for the best? God, this is insane."
His gaze dropped to the ground, desperate for anything that might give him an edge. That's when he saw it—a loose rock, half-buried in the dirt.
"You've got to be kidding me," he said, his voice shaking. "A rock? That's my big plan?"
He bent down, his fingers closing around the jagged stone. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest.
"This is stupid. This is so, so stupid," he muttered, staring at the Goblin King again. "But it's not like I have any better options."
Taking a shaky breath, Haruto weighed the rock in his hand. "Alright, big guy," he said, trying to muster up some semblance of courage. "Let's see if you're as dumb as you look."
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the rock at the creature. It struck the Goblin King's massive shoulder with a dull thud.
The beast turned its glowing eyes on him, its low growl growing into a thunderous roar. Haruto's stomach dropped.
"Oh crap. Oh crap," he muttered, taking a hesitant step back. "Why did I think this was a good idea?"
The Goblin King began to move, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Haruto's instincts screamed at him to run, but instead, he forced himself forward.
"Alright," he said through gritted teeth, breaking into a sprint. "Let's see if I can knock you down. Somehow. Probably not."
The Goblin King shifted as Haruto approached, its massive form swaying slightly. For a split second, hope flared in his chest.
"Is it actually… off balance?" Haruto muttered, disbelief creeping into his voice. "This might work—"
The creature vanished.
"What the—"
Before he could finish, the Goblin King reappeared in front of him, towering over him like a nightmare brought to life.
"Oh no. No, no, no—"
The creature's massive club swung down with terrifying speed. Haruto barely had time to react before the impact sent him flying.
The world became a blur of pain and motion. He smashed through a tree, the wood splintering around him, before crashing to the ground. His body screamed in agony, sharp and all-consuming.
"God… damn it," he groaned, trying to move. Every part of him hurt. His arm was bent at an unnatural angle, and blood trickled down his face, warm and sticky.
He tried to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. "Get up," he hissed, his voice shaking. "Get up, damn it. You've been through worse. Haven't you?"
His fingers clawed at the dirt, but his strength gave out, and he collapsed again.
"This… this isn't how it ends," he muttered, his vision swimming. He clenched his teeth, forcing the words out. "You think I'm dying again?"
His voice rose, rough and defiant. "Not a chance, you overgrown lizard!"
The Goblin King roared, clearly enraged by his taunts. It raised its club again, ready to crush him once and for all.
Then, out of nowhere, a fierce gust of wind howled through the cave. Haruto felt it whip past him, and the next thing he knew, the Goblin King was sent flying across the cavern, slamming into the wall with a deafening crash.
"What the hell…" Haruto muttered, his voice barely audible.
He turned his head slowly, every movement sending fresh waves of pain through his battered body. His vision blurred, but he could just make out a figure walking toward him.
His breath caught in his throat.
She was stunning, almost otherworldly. Her long black hair flowed behind her, and her tight, black outfit left little to the imagination, accentuating her hourglass figure. She moved with a confidence that seemed utterly out of place in the chaos around them.
"Who… who the hell is that?" Haruto murmured, his mind struggling to keep up.
The woman stopped a few feet away, her gaze sweeping over him with mild interest. A faint, amused smile played on her lips.
"Well," she said, her voice smooth and low, "looks like you've had a rough night."
Haruto blinked, trying to process her words. "What… who are you?"
She ignored his question, tilting her head slightly as she looked him over. "You're not dead yet. That's something, I suppose."
To be continued...