The stench of goblin blood still lingered thick in the air as John stepped over the twitching corpse of the Alpha Goblin he'd just slain. His white hair caught the flickering torchlight, a sharp contrast to the dark, damp stone walls of the dungeon corridor. His glowing red eyes scanned the shadows ahead with calm precision, muscles relaxed but ready.
The fight had been… easier than expected. His talents, especially Double Power which doubled the effectiveness of his skills, and the bonus that halved skill cooldowns, had turned what should have been a grueling battle into a manageable dance of speed and precision. The Void Pulse and Void Brand skills flowed through him like second nature now, leaving little time for doubt or hesitation.
"Level eight, huh? Not bad for a mid-boss. But if that's what's hanging around out here…" He glanced toward the dark corridor ahead.
John wiped the greenish blood off his blade and took a deep breath. The mana pressure ahead was heavier, thicker, almost suffocating. He could feel the presence of something powerful waiting beyond the next chamber, "…then whatever's in there will be a real treat."
Ahead, the tunnel opened into a massive cavern, its vaulted ceiling lost in shadows. A greenish mist coiled around the floor, curling like serpents seeking prey. The air was hot, thick with the scent of decay and sweat. Rough banners, stitched together from beast hides and dyed with red ochre, hung from iron spikes driven into the stone walls. They bore crude goblin symbols warpaint, weapons, trophies.
At the center of the cavern sat the throne a grotesque construction of bones, broken weapons, and skulls stacked and fused with rusted metal. Upon it reclined the Goblin King, his mottled green skin covered with scars and dirt. His jagged iron crown was askew on his brow, and his yellow eyes shone with a cunning, malevolent light.
[Final Boss: Goblin King]
Level: 10
HP: 4,000
Strength: 130
Agility: 80
Endurance: 120
Intelligence: 45
Perception: 65
Skills:
1. Royal Smash (B Rank) – Overhead strike with 1.8× Strength damage.
2. Commanding Roar (C Rank) – Summons nearby goblins, +20% stats for 40s.
3. Berserk Mode (B Rank) – Activates at 30% HP, doubles Strength & Agility for 15s.
Passive: King's Domain – All goblins within 50m gain +15% Strength & +10% Endurance.
Surrounding him were his elite guards the four Alpha Goblins: Gruk, Verk, Morza and Zagul.
each a threat in their own right.
John's gaze flicked to each one.
The four gourds are the same with the one he killed earlier.
John's eyes narrowed, lips curling into a faint smirk. "Looks like a full house," he murmured.
The Goblin King's voice cut through the cavern like a blade. "Human! You dare invade my throne? You will die here!" The roar echoed, setting the torches to flicker violently. With a thunderous shout, the King activated his first skill: Commanding Roar And apply his passive skill.
A deep, guttural bellow rippled through the cavern. The four Alpha Goblins straightened, muscles bulging and eyes igniting with feral energy.
John felt the magical surge hit his skin a sudden increase in the goblins' attack, speed, and defense.
[Buff: Royal Command — +20% Attack, +15% Speed, +15% Defense]
His system blinked the status instantly.
Not good, John thought. They're tougher than I expected.
His heartbeat steadied, and his mind began calculating. He needed to take them out quickly bfore his stamina run out.
The gruk roared and charged, swinging his spiked club in a deadly arc. John ducked low and rolled aside, narrowly avoiding the massive weapon. The floor cracked where the club smashed down. The air vibrated with the sheer force of the blow.
John countered with Void Brand, slamming his palm into gruk chest. A black sigil burned bright, siphoning strength and slowing the giant. The power from his Double Power talent surged through the skill, nearly doubling its effect.
Gruk growled in pain but pressed forward, swinging again. John darted forward with a half-cooldown Void Pulse, sending a wave of condensed void energy barreling through the chamber. The pulse slammed into Gruk and Vrek, knocking them both off their feet.
Morza hissed and unleashed a small fireball that arced toward John, but he sidestepped and let it crash into a stone pillar, sending shards flying. The flames sputtered and extinguished.
Vrek sprang to his feet, dual blades flashing in the dim light as she lunged at John with lightning speed. John crossed blades with her, their steel clashing sharply. She darted forward in a blur, but John was already ready, his reflexes enhanced by the cooldown reduction.
Another Void Brand burned into Vrek's side, stealing her stamina and strength. She stumbled, hissing in frustration.
Zagul bellowed and raised his heavy hammer, aiming a stunning blow at John's head. The ground trembled beneath the impact as John ducked under the swing, countering with a precise strike to Zagul's exposed ribs.
The fight was a whirlwind of movement and magic, John weaving skills and strategy to dismantle the king's guards one by one. His Double Experience talent whispered promises of quick growth with every successful hit, driving him forward.
[System Message]
[Mid Boss Defeated: Gruk]
[Experience Gained: 350 XP × 2 (Double Experience Talent) = 700 XP]
[Mid Boss Defeated: Verk]
[Experience Gained: 350 XP × 2 (Double Experience Talent) = 700 XP]
[Mid Boss Defeated: Morza]
[Experience Gained: 350 XP × 2 (Double Experience Talent) = 700 XP]
[Mid Boss Defeated: Zagul]
[Experience Gained: 350 XP × 2 (Double Experience Talent) = 700 XP]
[System Message]
[Level Up]
[Name John]
[Level - 8]
HP: 1200/1200
Strength: 80 | Agility: 65 | Endurance: 70 | Intelligence: 57 | Luck: 57
Skills: Void Pulse (Cooldown 7.5s), Void Brand (Cooldown 15s)
Talents: Double Power (S), Fusion (S), Double Experience (S)
Finally, only the Goblin King remained.
He rose from the throne with the grace of a beast born to rule. His enormous cleaver gleamed as he hefted it high and slammed down with a crushing strike skill: Royal Smash.
The stone cracked and exploded beneath the impact, sending shockwaves through the cavern.
John leapt back, heart pounding. The force had nearly crushed him.
The King snarled and charged, roaring with fury.
John met him head-on, weaving Void Brand and Void Pulse together to tear at the monster's defenses.
The Goblin King snarled, massive cleaver swinging with brutal force, each blow shaking the ground beneath John's feet. The cavern trembled with every strike, and the weight of the weapon threatened to crush him if caught even once. But John was far from reckless. He danced between the king's attacks with practiced ease, reading the rhythm of each swing like a deadly game.
With a sudden shift, John stepped in close, launching Void Brand onto the King's left shoulder. The black sigil flared fiercely, sapping vitality and dulling the brute's strength. The king growled in frustration but didn't falter.
John didn't press his advantage recklessly. Instead, he pulled back, letting the king recover but keeping up steady pressure. Another Void Brand to the leg, slowing the king's movement. Another Void Pulse, striking his midsection and forcing a grunt of pain.
John's Double Power talent doubled the effects of his attacks, and with his cooldown halved, he could launch these debilitating strikes one after another without pause. The Goblin King's health bar steadily dropped, but the king remained a towering force of destruction.
As the King's HP slipped past the 40% mark, John could sense the tension in the air shift. The beast's breath grew ragged, eyes glowing faintly red. John took a breath, knowing the moment had come.
He feinted left, baiting the King to swing his massive cleaver in an overcommitted strike. The King roared in rage, his movements wild and unfocused. This was the trigger John had been waiting for.
As the cleaver smashed down, John leapt aside just in time, and the Goblin King's eyes flashed bright crimson.
The cavern shook as the King activated Berserk Mode — muscles bulged grotesquely, his strength and speed doubled, but a savage recklessness bled into his attacks. His defenses slackened slightly, but his fury now made him a deadly whirlwind.
John grinned, circling the now frenzied beast, ready to face this new challenge with calm cunning rather than brute force.
At thirty percent health, the Goblin King's eyes glowed an eerie red as Berserk Mode kicked in. His muscles swelled, his movements doubled in speed and power. Yet the increased aggression came with recklessness. John used that to his advantage, dodging and striking with calculated precision.
Finally, with a focused Void Pulse condensed to a sword's edge, and John pierced it into the Goblin King's heart.
The beast let out a final, ragged roar before collapsing, the crown falling from his brow.
The dungeon's oppressive heat faded. Silence returned.
[System Message]
[Dungeon Boss Defeated: Goblin King]
[Experience Gained: 1,200 XP × 2 (Double Experience Talent) = 2,400 XP]
[Level up ]
[Rare Item Obtained: 'Goblin King's Cleaver' (+15 Attack, +5 Strength)]
[Uncommon Item Obtained: 'Royal Goblin Crown']
[Crafting Material Obtained: Dungeon Core Fragment]
[Gold Obtained: 350]
John collected the spoils the Goblin King's cleaver, the royal crown, beast cores, and gold then exited the throne room, mind already racing toward his next challenge.
This was only the beginning.