The goblin desperately lifted its dagger to block, but Alex's strength was overwhelming.
The sword struck the dagger with a powerful crack, shattering the flimsy blade and continuing through to slice off the goblin's arm.
Rusuk howled in agony, clutching the stump of its arm as blood spilled onto the forest floor. It tried to crawl away, but Alex didn't give it a chance.
With a fierce glare, he lunged forward and swung his sword in a swift, merciless arc, cleanly severing the goblin's head from its body.
The scout's head hit the ground with a dull thud, its eyes still wide with shock. Alex stood there, breathing heavily, the tension in his muscles finally relaxing. He exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of relief settle over him.
The fight was over.
Ding!
[You have killed a Goblin Scout.]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have been rewarded with 5 stat points, 1 power stone, 5 coins, weapon Shadowfangs, and a new ability: Stealth Walk]
[Stealth Walk: Erase your presence from the senses of your enemy blending seamlessly into the air and evading detection for 20 seconds. Ineffective against beings of higher rank or with those with advanced detection skills.]
Ding!
[Apocalypse Baby taking effect]
[You have been rewarded with 5 stat points, 1 power stone, 5 coins, weapon shadowfangs, and a new ability: Blade Barrage]
[Blade Barrage: Hurl daggers with heightened accuracy and speed. Channeling a burst of energy into the throw which gives the dagger extra momentum to pierce through armor or hit fast-moving targets.]
Alex allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction as he read the notifications.
He was still panting from the fight, but he couldn't help but feel a surge of accomplishment.
The goblin scout's strengths weren't in raw power but in speed, precision, and stealth.
It had been a tricky opponent, especially in a dark environment where shadows gave it the upper hand. And its ability to command other goblins had made the earlier skirmishes a real headache.
Alex lowered himself to the ground to catch his breath.
The fight had taken everything he had, and he needed to rest.
The new ability, Stealth Walk, sounded promising.
Unlike the goblin scout's method, he didn't have to jump into a shadow.
Instead, he could cloak himself and become nearly invisible to weaker foes. But it came at a price, using it would drain a huge chunk of his mana, so he'd have to be careful when and how he used it.
There was also [Blade Barrage] which would only be effective using blades. He had two dual blades which he had gotten for killing the goblin scout but Alex doubted he would be using it much as he preferred using swords rather than daggers.
But he didn't dismiss it as the skill could end up being what saves his life depending on the situation.
Alex sat there, letting his energy replenish.
He closed his eyes, listening to the silence of the cavern.
His health and mana were slowly creeping back up.
He knew what was coming next, and it wasn't going to be an easy battle.
The goblin boss was ahead, and it was bound to be tougher—stronger, probably with more brute force, and possibly less cunning.
But if there was one thing Alex had learned, it was not to underestimate any of these tutorial monsters.
They were more than they seemed, and each one carried its own set of deadly surprises.
When he felt his strength return, Alex pushed himself off the ground, taking one final deep breath. His muscles ached, but he was ready.
'Time to move.'
He approached the massive stone door that marked the entrance to the boss's lair. It towered over him, a solid barrier of rock with strange carvings etched into its surface. Gripping the rough edges, he heaved with all his might.
The door groaned in protest, but finally, it slid open, revealing a vast chamber beyond.
Inside, the space opened up into a wide arena-like room, the ceiling jagged and rocky, towering impossibly high above him.
Faint torchlight flickered from the walls, casting long, shifting shadows across the ground. The air was thick with a strange, musty smell, and a low, ominous rumbling echoed from the far end of the chamber.
Alex felt a wave of relief wash over him—this arena gave him enough space to use his [Exploding Touch] rather freely. Here, he could go all out.
He took a deep breath and moved deeper into the chamber, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
At the far end of the room, he spotted the Goblin Boss, Baran.
It was standing on a crumbling altar, gripping a glowing orb tightly in its clawed hand, a deep scowl of concentration etched on its green face.
It was taller and bulkier than any goblin he had faced so far, its muscular form draped in ragged armor. The creature radiated a sense of raw power and danger, but Alex didn't let it intimidate him.
Instead, he casually started stretching. Rolling his shoulders, bending down to touch his toes, and shaking out his arms.
He wasn't too concerned about whatever ritual the Goblin Boss was performing with the orb.
All he cared about was finishing this fight and getting out of the dank, suffocating cave.
This action caught the attention of the goblin boss who glanced at Alex and took a double look when it saw Alex doing jumping jacks.
His nonchalant attitude seemed to throw the Goblin Boss off.
Alex stopped mid-jump and waved casually, grinning as if he were greeting an old friend:
"Yo!"
But the Goblin Boss didn't seem to share his sense of humor.
With a guttural roar, it flung its arm forward. And in a blur of motion, a massive, spinning axe shot out from the altar, hurtling directly at Alex's face.