The forest dungeon was eerily quiet, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant calls of creatures. Isaac moved carefully through the underbrush, his senses heightened as he scanned the glowing indicators on his Da'at System map.
One cluster of marks stood out—a goblin camp.
Crouching behind a thicket, Isaac peered through the gaps in the foliage, taking in the scene.
The goblins had set up a crude camp in a small clearing. Ragged tents made of patched hides formed a loose semicircle around a central fire pit, where a few goblins sat gnawing on charred meat. Their weapons—rusty knives, splintered spears, and crude clubs—were scattered around the camp, along with scraps of bone and bits of loot.
Isaac counted eight goblins in total. Four sat by the fire, laughing and jostling each other, while the others patrolled the outskirts. Their movements were uncoordinated, their attention lax.
The firelight flickered against the shadows of the forest, casting grotesque shapes on the trees. Isaac's sharp eyes scanned every detail: the gaps in their patrol routes, the location of their weapons, and the goblins' leader disposition.
Isaac's mind raced as he considered his options. The goblins weren't strong individually, but their numbers and cunning fighting style could overwhelm him if he wasn't careful.
He reviewed their positions again, noting how their formation left the center of the camp vulnerable.
" I should go straight through the center and take out as many as possible before they can regroup." Isaac muttered to himself.
Isaac slipped on his iron brass knuckles, summoning a faint flame around his fists. The heat steadied him, focusing his mind as he crept closer to the camp's edge. He crouched low, his body tense like a coiled spring.
When he was within range, he leaped into the air, igniting the flames around him in a blazing burst.
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[Skill Activated: Gevurah's Purging Flame]
[Mana (MP): 130/150]
---
Isaac crashed into the center of the camp, a fiery explosion erupting around him. The blast sent the goblins by the fire sprawling, their shrieks echoing through the clearing as flames licked at their ragged clothes and burned their weapons to ash.
One goblin scrambled to its feet, clutching a splintered spear. Before it could react, Isaac lunged forward, his fist blazing as it collided with the creature's chest. The goblin screeched in pain before collapsing into a smoldering heap.
Another goblin charged at him with a jagged knife. Isaac sidestepped the wild swing, catching the goblin's arm and twisting it sharply. The creature howled as Isaac drove his knee into its gut, flames erupting on impact.
Two more goblins rushed him, their crude clubs swinging wildly. Isaac ducked under one swing and deflected the other with a well-timed block, though the force of the blow made his arm sting.
---
[Status panel]
[Health (HP): 240/250]
[Mana (MP): 130/150]
---
Isaac gritted his teeth, countering with a rapid jab to the nearest goblin's throat. The flames around his brass knuckles flared as he followed up with a powerful roundhouse kick, sending the second goblin crashing into one of the tents.
The remaining goblins recovered from the blast, their disoriented shrieks giving way to guttural growls. One grabbed a crude axe, swinging it wildly as it rushed at Isaac.
He ducked under the swing, his movements fluid and precise. Using the momentum of his dodge, he spun around and delivered a flaming uppercut that sent the goblin flying backward. Its body landed in the fire pit, the flames consuming it instantly.
---
[Status Panel]
[Health (HP): 240/250]
[Mana (MP): 110/150]
---
Three goblins attacked simultaneously, their weapons aimed at Isaac from different directions. He dropped low, rolling out of their reach before springing up behind them.
Isaac's fists blurred as he delivered rapid strikes, the flames around his brass knuckles igniting with each hit. The first goblin's head snapped back as Isaac's punch connected, while the second staggered under a powerful kick to its ribs. The third tried to flee but was caught by a fiery strike that left its torso smoldering.
The last goblin, larger than the others and wielding a heavy club, roared as it charged. Isaac braced himself, ducking under the goblin's initial swing. The force of the attack sent dirt flying, but Isaac used the opening to deliver a flaming jab to its side.
The goblin growled in pain, swinging again in a wide arc. Isaac narrowly avoided the blow, countering with a fiery roundhouse kick that left the creature staggering.
With a final burst of energy, Isaac leaped forward, driving both fists into the goblin's chest. The flames erupted on impact, engulfing the creature in a blaze of heat and light.
---
[Status Panel]
Health (HP): 230/250
Mana (MP): 90/150
---
The goblin fell to the ground, its body charred and lifeless.
The clearing was quiet again, the smell of burnt flesh and ash hanging heavy in the air. Isaac stood in the center, his breathing steady as he surveyed the aftermath.
He crouched down, inspecting the nearest goblin corpse. A faint, pulsing light emanated from its chest—a core.
---
[Goblin Core Acquired]
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Isaac worked quickly, harvesting the cores from each goblin and storing them in his pack. By the time he finished, he had collected eight cores, totaling 40 points.
"Not bad for a start," Isaac muttered, wiping his hands on his pants.
He turned to leave the camp, but a distant, guttural howl froze him in his tracks.
Isaac spun toward the sound, his eyes narrowing as the underbrush rustled in the distance. A moment later, a kobold stepped into view.
The creature was smaller than the goblins, but its dog-like features and sharp claws gave it a feral appearance. Its yellow eyes locked onto Isaac, and its snout curled back in a snarl.
The kobold hesitated for a moment, scanning the carnage around the camp. Then it threw its head back and howled, the sound piercing the forest and sending a chill down Isaac's spine
[Warning: Kobold Scout Has Alerted Nearby Allies]
Isaac tensed, his fists reigniting with flame. He wasn't done yet.
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A/N: Suprise triple chapter today. After finishing the last chapter and got nothing to do after school, I might as well make another chapter :)
LEAVE POWESTONE AND COMMENTS IF YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTET ;)