"I can't believe you just arrived today, and you're already going to be free. It's really surprising," Justin exclaimed, a broad grin spreading across his face, his excitement palpable.
Leo nodded, still in disbelief. "I never thought it would happen, but I always wanted it to. Oh, I almost forgot—can I take down some more monsters to earn extra money? I want to free my best friend who's still trapped in the mine."
Justin shook his head, his expression turning serious. "Maybe another day. Let's head back to the mansion first. It's getting late."
As they left the village, the village chief approached them, gratitude etched on his face. He handed them bottles of water and wrapped sandwiches, urging them to eat on the way back. "Thank you once again for clearing the monsters around our village," he said, bowing slightly. They exchanged heartfelt goodbyes with familiar faces, a bittersweet farewell before venturing into the dense forest that surrounded the area.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, while the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves filled the atmosphere. Yet, an unsettling stillness crept over them, as if the forest was holding its breath.
"Hide!" Justin suddenly whispered urgently, pointing to a massive tree. Leo ducked behind it, his heart racing as instinct warned him they were being watched.
The forest seemed to lose its vitality; the usual sounds faded into an eerie silence. Justin strained to catch any movement, every instinct on high alert.
Peering through the underbrush, Leo's breath hitched as he spotted a large, wolf-like creature prowling nearby. Its glowing eyes pierced the gloom, scanning the area as if searching for them.
"That's an exo-deeper level monster," Justin said, his voice low but steady, eyes narrowing on the beast. "They're extremely strong, but luckily, I'm here. It won't be hard for me to defeat it."
"Are you sure? What if it attacks us first?" Leo asked, anxiety bubbling within him. The creature looked formidable, and he felt a twinge of fear grip him.
"I'll handle it. Just run straight forward when I give the signal," Justin replied, his confidence unwavering.
With a swift motion, Justin reached for the pouch at his waist, pulling out one of his legendary spears. The weapon gleamed in the dappled light filtering through the leaves, its aura radiating raw power.
The creature turned, locking its piercing gaze on Justin, a menacing growl rumbling from deep within its throat. Without hesitation, Justin charged forward, expertly maneuvering the spear as the battle erupted into a whirlwind of movement.
From his vantage point high in the trees, Leo watched in awe as Justin danced around the monster, combining finesse and strength in a breathtaking display. The creature lunged, snapping its jaws with ferocity, but Justin anticipated every attack, countering with precise strikes that kept it off balance.
However, as Justin prepared to land another blow, the monster suddenly recognized the threat he posed. With a swift, powerful leap, it pounced onto Justin's back, catching him off guard and redirecting its fury toward Leo.
Adrenaline surged through Leo's veins, igniting a fire of determination within him. He hadn't come to this world to die again, especially not after acquiring such a powerful system. Fueled by resolve, he leaped from his perch, his fist clenched tightly. As the monster landed near him, Leo struck out with every ounce of strength he could muster, delivering a devastating punch to the wolf's side.
The impact was explosive. Leo felt the force reverberate through him as the creature howled in agony, blood splattering across the ground and onto his skin. Each subsequent blow he landed was driven by an unwavering desire to protect his friend. The once-mighty exo-deeper monster was no match for Leo's newfound strength, and with one final, powerful strike, it crumpled to the ground, defeated.
Breathing heavily, Leo stood over the fallen creature, adrenaline still coursing through his veins like wildfire. He turned to see Justin recovering from the shock of the ambush, disbelief etched across his face. "You did that?" he asked, a mix of admiration and astonishment in his voice.
"Yeah," Leo replied, still catching his breath, a grin spreading across his face. "I guess I'm not just here to watch."
"Okay, grab a tooth. That's what we'll use to identify your kill. Now hurry; let's head back to the mansion. I hope this time there won't be any more problems."
As they hurried back, finally leaving the forest behind, they slowed their pace. Leo pulled out the water from the village and offered it to Justin. "Want a sip?" he asked.
"Sure, I guess I've gotten a little tired," Justin admitted, taking a drink. "Let's rest for a moment and eat the sandwiches the chief gave us."
They settled by the side of the forest, enjoying the sandwiches while the sounds of nature gradually returned. Suddenly, a desperate cry for help pierced the air. Startled, they jumped to their feet and rushed toward the sound.
They found a group of six individuals—three humans and three weak-blooded vampires—surrounded by a horde of goblins. The goblins were small but vicious, their stolen weapons glinting in the dappled sunlight as they closed in on the frightened group. Leo's heart raced at the sight of the chaos—there were about 170 goblins in total.
"We need to help them!" Leo exclaimed.
Justin nodded, his expression serious. "Alright, here's the plan: I'll take on 70 of the goblins, and you can handle 50. We need to draw their attention and create a path for those people to escape."
"Got it!" Leo said, determination surging within him. "Let's do this."
"On my count," Justin instructed, positioning himself to the right. "Three… two… one… now!"
They charged into the fray, the cacophony of battle erupting around them. Leo focused on his target, eyes narrowing as he spotted a cluster of goblins moving toward the group. With fierce resolve, he launched himself at them, fists flying.
The goblins shrieked as Leo barreled into them, delivering powerful punches and kicks. He felt the exhilaration of combat, the thrill of fighting for something greater than himself. Each goblin that fell under his blows propelled him forward, a tide of adrenaline washing over him.
Meanwhile, Justin fought with unparalleled skill, his spear a blur as he cut through the horde. He was a force of nature, each strike precise and lethal, drawing the attention of the goblins away from Leo and the vulnerable group.
Just as Leo dispatched the last of his 50 goblins, a massive shadow loomed over the battlefield. From the depths of the chaos emerged the Goblin King—a towering figure, far larger than the others, wielding a massive club that swung dangerously from side to side. Its eyes gleamed with malice as it roared, sending smaller goblins scattering.
"Stay back!" Justin shouted to Leo. "Take the group and move farther back! Find a safe place to watch me. Let me show you a little of my power!"
Leo nodded, urgency propelling him to lead the humans and vampires away from the chaos, but not before casting a worried glance back at Justin.
Once they were at a safe distance, Justin took a deep breath, focusing on the approaching Goblin King. He stood still, spear poised in a thrust position, the air around him crackling with anticipation. The giant goblin rushed forward, its club swinging left and right, sending debris flying.
As the beast closed the distance, Justin's spear began to emit a brilliant golden light, illuminating the darkness of the forest. The ground trembled beneath them as the Goblin King charged, a cruel grin spreading across its face, confident in its size and strength.
"Now!" Justin shouted, his voice steady and commanding.
With a powerful thrust, he unleashed the energy of his spear. A blinding light erupted from the tip, accompanied by a deafening boom that resonated through the trees. The golden beam shot toward the Goblin King, exploding on impact.
The force of the blast shattered the air, and Leo shielded his eyes against the brilliant light. When he opened them again, the Goblin King was blown to pieces, remnants of the creature scattering across the battlefield like confetti. Silence fell, punctuated only by the distant cries of the remaining goblins as they fled in terror.
Justin stood amidst the aftermath, breathing heavily, the golden glow of his spear dimming but still pulsing with power. He turned to Leo, who stared in awe at the display of raw strength.
"That's what I wanted to show you," Justin said, a hint of a smile on his face, pride shining in his eyes. "Now you see what we're capable of."
As the group of survivors approached, their faces a mix of shock and gratitude, Leo felt a surge of pride swell within him.
"Thank you," one of the humans said, stepping forward, his voice trembling with emotion. "You saved our lives. We wouldn't have made it without you."
The group huddled together and, after a brief discussion, handed Leo and Justin a small pouch of coins. "This is a token of our gratitude," the human continued. "Please accept it."
Leo glanced at Justin, who nodded in agreement. "You don't have to—"
"But we want to," another member of the group insisted. "You risked everything for us. It's the least we can do."
So they
took it and left for the mansion.
Exhausted, Leo said, "It's not even evening yet, but it feels like a week's worth of adventure has just happened. There were so many goblins that I couldn't collect their ears for verification, so I just grabbed one from the Goblin King. Luckily, it wasn't blown to pieces!" He chuckled, a grin spreading across his face.