บท 9: Practice Duel: Gobulus vs. Gobius, Goburus vs. Gobusuke!

The goblins erupted into cheers as Gobulus and Gobius stepped onto the arena floor, each wielding their respective weapons. Gobulus had a blade in each hand, while Gobius carried a sniper rifle.

The two goblins took their positions, facing each other, and waited for the signal to start. Gray raised his hand and then lowered it, signaling the beginning of the duel.

Gobulus quickly activated his "Shadow Clone" skill, rushing towards Gobius with his blades flashing in the air for a close-range attack. Gobulus and his clone moved in a zigzag pattern, switching positions as they advanced.

The sound of metal on metal filled the air as Gobulus charged towards Gobius, his blades glinting in the sunlight. Gobius knew he had to act quickly to survive.

With his heart pounding in his chest, Gobius reached for his trusty sniper rifle and positioned it with precision. He took a deep breath and steadied his aim, his finger hovering over the trigger as Gobulus drew closer. He clicked the trigger and fired a shot.

Gobulus narrowly dodged the bullet, but Gobius had already anticipated the move. As Gobulus dodged, Gobius fired another shot, hitting the shadow clone and making it disappear in a puff of smoke.

The two goblins continued to dance around each other, each trying to gain the upper hand. Gobulus would feint a move to one side, causing Gobius to adjust his aim, before quickly darting in the opposite direction.

However, Gobius, a skilled marksman, managed to land a few shots on Gobulus, causing him to stagger back. But Gobulus refused to give up. He continued to press the attack, his blades a blur as he lunged at Gobius.

Gobius started to sweat, realizing that he might not be able to win this fight with just his gun. He quickly reached for a hidden dagger in his belt, ready to defend himself up close.

Gobulus closed in on Gobius, his two blades raised high as he leaped towards his opponent with deadly intent. Gobius saw him coming and spun his body, parrying the blades with his own weapon.

The two clashed and the sound of metal on metal echoed through the air. However, the force of the impact pushed Gobius back, putting him in a disadvantageous position.

Gobulus wasted no time in taking advantage of the opportunity. He quickly ducked and moved with lightning-fast speed, evading Gobius' defenses and closing in on him once more.

In a matter of seconds, Gobulus' blades were at Gobius' neck, threatening to end his life. Gobius knew he was in a perilous situation with little chance of escaping unscathed.

Gobius faced a difficult decision. He had been outmatched and outmaneuvered by Gobulus, and he knew he had no chance of turning the tide of the battle now. As he stood there, panting and sweating, he decided to concede.

As Gobius raised his hands in surrender, the crowd of goblins erupted into cheers and applause. They had witnessed an impressive display of skill and bravery from both warriors, but it was Gobulus who had emerged victorious in this battle.

Gray stepped up onto the platform and congratulated his two goblins, saying, "That was a great fight."

Gray was well aware that the outcome of a fight could be heavily influenced by the terrain on which it took place. He had observed that Gobius was clearly at a disadvantage in an open fight, where he couldn't make use of his stealth and surprise attacks.

Despite this, Gray had noticed that Gobius had held back in the previous match by not choosing to use his powerful "Shadow Assassinate" skill. Nevertheless, the goblins had put on a good show, showcasing their abilities and fighting spirit.

"The winner of this fight is Gobulus, the Shadow Blade Goblin!" Gray declared, raising Gobulus' arm in triumph. The crowd of goblins erupted into cheers once again.

Anticipation filled the training ground as Gray's voice boomed through the stadium, introducing the third match-up. Goburus, the Scythelord Goblin, strode confidently to the platform, his massive scythe gleaming in the sunlight. The sight of his formidable weapon sent a chill down the spines of many goblins, and the air crackled with tension.

In contrast, Gobusuke, the Lightning Samurai Goblin, approached the platform with a calm and focused demeanor. His katana hung at his side, still sheathed in its scabbard, but his eyes were sharp and his stance ready. Despite the size difference between him and Goburus, Gobusuke exuded an air of confidence and serenity.

As the two goblins stood face-to-face on the platform, the contrast between their weapons and fighting styles was apparent. Goburus, with his imposing scythe, relied on brute strength and sweeping strikes, while Gobusuke, with his sleek white katana, favored speed and precision in his attacks.

As the duel between Goburus and Gobusuke commenced, Gray took a step back, signaling that the fight had begun. His gesture was met with a hush of anticipation from the goblin audience, as their eyes remained locked on the combatants.

The two goblin fighters, Goburus and Gobusuke, stood facing each other on the platform, their eyes locked in a fierce gaze.

Goburus stood tall on the platform, tightly gripping his massive scythe with his right hand. The gleaming blade of the scythe caught the dim light, enhancing its menacing appearance.

His stance exuded confidence and power as if daring his opponent to challenge him. He was fully prepared to unleash devastating strikes with his formidable weapon.

On the other hand, Gobusuke's fingers clutched the katana handle with unwavering determination, his eyes focused and alert. He shifted his weight forward, his legs slightly bent in a coiled stance, exuding an air of readiness.

The anticipation to draw his blade from its sheath was obvious in the way he held himself, his body coiled like a spring, radiating an aura of agility and speed. He is ready to unleash his weapon with lightning-fast precision, his entire demeanor exuding readiness for the impending strike.

The tension between the two fighters was palpable, and the anticipation in the air was electrifying. Gray, watched attentively, knowing that this showdown between legendary summons was about to commence.

The audience held their breath in anticipation, waiting to see who would make the first move and how the battle would unfold. The stillness on the platform was broken only by the sound of the fighters' heavy breathing and the faint rustling of their weapons as they prepared for the imminent clash.

Gray's heart pounded with excitement as he waited to see which goblin would make the first move and take control of the duel arena platform. Each one carefully studied their opponent's movements, looking for an opening to strike.

Goburus made the first move, swinging his massive scythe in a wide arc towards Gobusuke. The Lightning Samurai Goblin swiftly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly blade. He countered with a lightning-fast thrust from his katana, aiming for Goburus' exposed flank.

But Goburus was quick on his feet for a goblin of his size. He blocked Gobusuke's attack with his scythe, the clang of metal reverberating through the arena. With a grunt of effort, Goburus pushed Gobusuke back, forcing him to retreat.

Gobusuke regrouped, his eyes locked on Goburus, as he carefully studied his opponent's movements. He knew that taking on Goburus head-on would be dangerous, given the sheer power of his scythe. Instead, he decided to rely on his speed and agility, looking for an opportunity to strike with precision.

Goburus charged towards Gobusuke, swinging his scythe with all his might. Gobusuke leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the sweeping blade, and landed behind Goburus. He slashed at the back of Goburus' legs, aiming for a vulnerable spot.

But Goburus anticipated the move and twisted his body at the last moment, avoiding a fatal strike. He turned around, his scythe whirling through the air, aiming for Gobusuke once again.

Gobusuke darted to the side, using his agility to evade the deadly blade. He retaliated with a flurry of quick strikes from his katana, aiming for Goburus' joints and other vulnerable spots. Goburus defended himself with his scythe, parrying the attacks with brute force.

The duel between Goburus and Gobusuke continued, with each goblin displaying their unique skills and strategies. Goburus relied on his raw strength, delivering powerful sweeping strikes with his scythe, while Gobusuke used his speed and precision to deliver lightning-fast thrusts and slashes with his katana.

The crowd of goblins watched in awe, cheering for their favorite fighter as the battle unfolded. The intensity of the fight grew with each passing moment, as both Goburus and Gobusuke pushed themselves to their limits.

After several minutes of fierce combat, Goburus made a mistake, leaving an opening in his defense. Gobusuke seized the opportunity and delivered a lightning-fast strike with his katana, landing a critical hit on Goburus' side. He staggered back, clutching his wound, as Gobusuke pressed his advantage.

With a final flurry of strikes, Gobusuke delivered a precise series of cuts, deftly incapacitating Goburus and forcing him to yield. The crowd of goblins erupted into a thunderous cheer as Gobusuke emerged victorious, his pure white katana gleaming with the glow of triumph.

Gray stepped forward, a smile on his face, and congratulated both of his summons on their exceptional skill throughout the match, commending them for their outstanding performance. Gobusuke bowed respectfully to Gray as well, expressing his gratitude for the acknowledgment.

As Gobusuke raised his arms in victory, the goblins in the arena cheered and applauded, celebrating his skill and prowess as a fighter. It was clear that Gobusuke had earned the respect and admiration of the other goblins with his remarkable performance in the practice duel against Goburus, the Scythelord Goblin.

"Now, for the final match-up," Gray announced, looking at Gobnar with a nod. "It's time for you and me, Gobnar." Gobnar grinned eagerly, nodding in response. He had been waiting for this moment, excited to test his skills and prove himself against Gray, his lord.