章 14: Goblins den (2)
The third day in the Goblin's Den dawned with an eerie silence that hung heavy in the air. Alypos woke to the faint crackle of embers and the rustling of Nibbles, who was already awake and looking around with wide, curious eyes. The little squirrel had taken to inspecting the alcove, poking his tiny nose into every nook and cranny, perhaps hoping to uncover a hidden treasure or the remnants of previous adventurers.
Alypos stretched, his muscles taut and ready from the previous day's exertions. He felt the weight of the spear in his hand, a comforting presence. He glanced at the alcove's entrance, where the darkness loomed like an ever-watchful beast. There was something deeper within the dungeon, something that thrummed with the promise of danger.
Nibbles, having apparently found nothing of interest, returned to Alypos and gestured animatedly, mimicking a large belly and then pretending to nap, as if to say he was ready for another day of adventure.
"Yeah, well, let's make it a productive one," Alypos replied, chuckling slightly at his companion's antics. He set about gathering his gear, preparing for whatever lay ahead.
As they moved deeper into the dungeon, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew colder, and a faint, damp odor wafted around them, mingling with the earthy scent of stone. The faint glow of torches flickered against the walls, casting long shadows that danced with every step.
Hours passed as they navigated through narrow passages and open chambers, dispatching any goblins that crossed their path. The battles had grown more intense, the goblins more cunning. They began to employ basic tactics, flanking and surrounding Alypos in groups. However, with his Flowing Style and Water Manipulation, he turned their strategies against them. He flowed between their attacks, his spear darting like a snake, water swirling to trip them or create barriers that disrupted their formations.
By the end of the third day, Alypos was panting, but the thrill of battle coursed through him. Each skirmish sharpened his instincts and honed his skills. Nibbles, ever the silent partner, remained vigilant, his tiny body alert and ready for action.
Suddenly, Alypos froze, sensing a shift in the air around them. His instincts screamed that something was off. He reached for his spear and scanned the darkness. Nibbles stopped moving, ears perked up as he glanced around. Then Alypos heard it—a guttural growl resonated from the shadows ahead.
"More goblins?" he whispered, but Nibbles shook his head vigorously, making a gesture that mimicked something larger and more menacing.
Alypos narrowed his eyes, gripping his spear tightly. "Whatever it is, we're ready."
They edged forward, moving cautiously through the twisting tunnels until they entered a large chamber. The sight that met them was unlike anything Alypos had encountered before. In the center of the room stood a Goblins' Chief, a hulking brute draped in tattered leather armor, adorned with bones and teeth strung together as trophies of past victories. Around it, smaller goblins swarmed like flies, obeying its commands.
Alypos felt the urge to retreat, but he dismissed it. This was the moment he had been waiting for—an opportunity to prove his strength.
Nibbles darted ahead, signaling Alypos to stay low. With a determined nod, Alypos stepped forward into the fray, his mind calculating the movements of the goblins around him. He had to eliminate the Chief first; if he could take it down, the rest would scatter.
As if sensing his presence, the Goblin Chief turned, its beady eyes locking onto Alypos with a mix of surprise and rage. It let out a deafening roar, causing the smaller goblins to freeze momentarily before charging at Alypos.
With a flick of his wrist, Alypos unleashed a wave of water that surged forward, sweeping the first line of goblins off their feet. He used their momentum against them, spinning and thrusting his spear into one before immediately redirecting his focus back to the Chief, which was now advancing with surprising speed.
The Goblin Chief charged forward, swinging a massive club that could easily crush bone. Alypos sidestepped at the last moment, letting the weapon crash against the ground, sending debris flying. He used the opening to strike, the tip of his spear glowing faintly with water energy as he thrust it toward the Chief's exposed flank.
But the Chief was quick. It twisted, catching Alypos's spear with its club and sending shockwaves through his body. The force nearly knocked him off balance, but he regained his footing, his determination unwavering. Nibbles, watching from a safe distance, gestured wildly, mimicking Alypos's movements and adding to the urgency of the moment.
He needed to get creative. With a surge of mana, he formed a barrier of water that exploded outward, splashing against the Chief's face, momentarily blinding it. Alypos seized the opportunity and lunged, aiming for the throat.
The spear pierced flesh, and the Chief roared in agony, swinging wildly in retaliation. Alypos felt the wind of its movements whip past him as he dodged, sweat trickling down his brow. He was pushing himself to the limit, but the thrill of combat fueled his resolve.
As the Chief staggered back, Alypos could see the other goblins regrouping, their fear of the Chief replaced with determination. He was running out of time. With a quick glance at Nibbles, he noticed the squirrel had climbed a nearby ledge, ready to assist in whatever way he could.
"Just don't get yourself killed, little guy," Alypos called out as he refocused on the Chief, which was regaining its footing.
He summoned his water manipulation, channeling it into a more potent form. It swirled around him, rising to meet the Goblin Chief's challenge. He could feel the exhaustion creeping in, but he wouldn't let it show.
"Flowing Style—Final Strike!" he shouted, using all of his energy to channel the water into a singular form—a spiraling vortex that surged forward like a tidal wave.
The force caught the Goblin Chief by surprise, slamming it against the wall of the chamber with a sickening thud, with a gaping hole in its chest. Alypos pressed the advantage, charging in with renewed vigor. He struck again, piercing through the Chief's defenses with precision, feeling the weight of the kill settle heavily on his shoulders.
With a final thrust, he ended the Chief's life. As it fell, the remaining goblins hesitated, fear overtaking their bravado. Alypos wasted no time, using the chaos to dispatch the fleeing goblins with calculated strikes, each one falling before him like a leaf caught in the wind.
The chamber fell silent, the echoes of battle fading into nothingness. Alypos stood panting, bloodied, and exhausted, surveying the carnage.
Nibbles scampered down, his tiny fists raised in triumph. He hopped around Alypos, gesturing wildly as if to say, "Did you see that? You were amazing!"
"Yeah, well, don't get too cocky," Alypos replied, though a small smile crept onto his face.
Then, as he caught his breath, he noticed something glittering on the Chief's body. Kneeling, he found a small skill book tucked into the tattered leather armor, the title barely legible: Hell Viewing. The words seemed to pulse with a dark energy.
Skill Acquired: Hell Viewing. Soul-type attribute.
The description flooded into his mind: A skill that allows the user to share their pain with others, from past to present. Use it wisely, for pain can be a double-edged sword.
Alypos pondered the implications. He could share the burdens of his past, the extermination, the loss—everything that had forged him into who he was now. But it was also a risk; pain could break people, not just inform them.
He decided to test the skill, sensing its potential as a weapon or a tool of intimidation. He would not use it carelessly.
He spent the next few hours gathering what remained of the goblins' hoard—some crude weapons, a handful of coins, and the remnants of the Chief's armor and its core.
{Analyzing...Rank (F) Homogoblin, contains the Homogoblins constitution}
As he worked, he could feel the weight of the skill book pressing against him, a constant reminder of his past, of Alypos's former life, which now intertwined with his present.
Finally, when he had gathered enough cores, he prepared to leave the chamber, the thrill of victory coursing through his veins. Nibbles trotted alongside him, his little tail flicking back and forth.
As they made their way back through the tunnels, Alypos felt an odd mixture of exhilaration and fatigue. The dungeon had tested him, pushing his limits, but he had emerged stronger.
The echoes of battle still resonated in his mind, but now they were accompanied by the anticipation of what lay ahead. He was not finished yet; there were still deeper shadows to explore, and he was determined to uncover every secret this dungeon held.
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