The sound grew louder with every step—slow and heavy.
The cavern seemed to shrink around them as the echoes rolled through the stone, vibrating beneath their feet. Dust trickled down from the ceiling as something massive approached from one of the deeper tunnels.
Kyle's eyes narrowed. `That's not a goblin.`
The shadow emerged first. Then the body followed. It stepped into the torchlight with a low, guttural growl.
It was green—but it wasn't a goblin.
The creature stood nearly three meters tall—a grotesque fusion of goblin and something far larger.
Thick muscles bulged beneath green, scarred skin. Two long tusks jutted from its lower jaw, yellowed and sharp. A strip of rough cloth hung around its waist, barely covering its lower body.
In its hands, it carried a massive axe—crude in design, forged from uneven metal and wrapped tightly with leather, but heavy enough to split bone with a single swing.
Kyle's gaze snapped to its shoulder.
A deep wound gaped there—old, not fresh. The flesh around it was dark and torn.
The goblins that remained scattered immediately, pressing themselves against the walls, screeching and lowering their heads with fear.
"Boss monster," Leo whispered, his voice tight.
The creature let out a deafening roar, slamming the axe into the ground with a brutal crash that sent cracks spiderwebbing across the stone floor.
It ignored the dead goblins at its feet and focused entirely on the adventurers in front of it.
Kyle felt the pressure instantly. `So that's why the patrols never came back.`
Alara immediately took a defensive stance. "Formation change—Mira, I need your fire. Weston, flank left. Leo, take the center. Kyle, watch our backs. Don't engage unless necessary."
The boss's bloodshot eyes locked onto the group, its gaze filled with nothing but rage.
It took a step forward. Then another. Each movement made the ground tremble.
Kyle clenched his dagger, his expression calm—but his mind raced.
`I don't need to test my skill... I'm sure I can't control his mind.`
He glanced at Alara, already shifting into position, her grip tight around her sword despite the tension etched across her face.
Kyle turned his face and cast a quick glance at the faces of the other party's members. They were no better off than Alara.
The boss was powerful—but not to the extent that they couldn't deal with it. The problem was that it wasn't alone.
The goblins—although their numbers had dwindled—were surrounding them, and they were known for their sneaky and cowardly attacks.
Moreover, they had become extremely exhausted after killing all those goblins.
They all felt it... this fight was going to be tough.
The boss roared again, its voice echoing through the cavern like thunder. It charged forward in a ground-shaking rush, the massive axe raised high above its head.
The axe crashed into Alara's sword, sending a shock through her arms. She gritted her teeth as she slid back half a step, boots scraping against stone.
"Damn it!" she hissed.
Her counterattack came immediately, blade flashing as she slashed across the monster's torso.
The blade cut—but only shallowly.
The boss roared, swinging again. Leo stepped in just in time, raising his shield as the axe came down like a falling tree.
BOOM!
The impact echoed through the cavern.
Leo's knees buckled as he was forced back, his arms screaming in protest, the shield cracking under the strain.
"It's too strong!" he shouted.
Mira raised her staff, flames roaring to life around her hands. She unleashed a burst of fire directly at the orc's chest.
The flames washed over it, smoke rising. But when it cleared, the monster was still standing.
Its skin was scorched—blackened in places—but it showed no sign of slowing down. If anything, the pain only made it angrier.
"Hold on!" Weston shouted. He clasped his hands together and recited certain prayers.
A warm, golden light spread outward, wrapping around the party members. Their breathing steadied, the burning in their muscles easing as divine energy flowed through them.
"Don't overextend!" Weston warned. "I can't keep this up forever!"
The goblins were beginning to creep closer now, their yellow eyes gleaming with malicious intent. They were waiting for their chance to strike when the party was weakened.
The boss charged again. Behind them, goblins surged from the side tunnels, shrieking as they tried to exploit every opening.
Kyle moved constantly at the rear.
He cut one goblin down before it could stab Weston. He twisted aside, drove his dagger into another's neck, then kicked the body away as a third lunged.
He glanced back at the boss.
Alara was struggling. Leo's shield was barely holding. Mira's fire wasn't enough. Weston was already breathing harder.
`This is bad.` Kyle clenched his teeth. `I don't have many options.`
He stepped out from the rear, moving closer—carefully, deliberately—until he was within his skill range, almost eighteen meters.
The boss turned its head slightly, one bloodshot eye locking onto him.
Kyle's eyes flared crimson as he commanded. `Stop.`
The massive monster stopped, stared at Alara, then snarled and swung its axe again, nearly taking Alara's head off.
Kyle exhaled slowly. `As expected.`
His skill [Mind Control] didn't work, but he didn't panic. Instead, he smirked.
His gaze shifted—not to the boss—but to the remaining goblins who were still swarming around.
`I can't control the boss... but I can control them.`