Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 85: Seeds of Ruin – The Shaman’s Path to Power

Amara was clearly perturbed, her breaths ragged and labored as fatigue weighed heavily on her. With each exhale, wisps of hot air escaped her lips, mirroring the waning strength of her magical barrier. Finally, like a flickering mana crystal lamp on the verge of extinguishing, her barrier faltered and dissipated into nothingness.

Like a pair of gophers, the bandits cocked their heads excitedly. Sensing their opportunity, they abandoned their mundane game of cards and turned their attention to the vulnerable prey before them.

A perverse grin spread across their faces as they eagerly advanced towards the cornered lamb, their anticipation palpable as they prepared to indulge in something far more thrilling than their previous pastime.

“Kekeke,” one of them chuckled darkly. “Your resistance was admirable, but you only delayed the inevitable.”

The other man licked his lips, his gaze trailing over her exhausted form, slick with sweat. “You religious types are so wasteful,” he accused, throwing himself on top of her like a bloated toad. “How can you bear to go through life without making use of the wonderful body that your god so graciously gave you?”

“But don’t worry,” the other man encouraged with a twisted smile. “We’ll play our part and give your pipes a good cleaning. Proper maintenance is long overdue, right? Keke!”

“The boss’s meat sword is so massive he’ll never suspect you’ve already been used,” reassured the other man, more to himself than the healer. “After all the waiting you put us through, you better be tight as shit.”

“Hey, wait a minute,” demanded the other bandit. “Who the hell died and made you king, huh? Why do you get to go first? Let’s measure cocks; the smaller one gets to go first,” he argued confidently.

The other man cringed at the bizarre suggestion. “What the hell? That’s creepy as fuck! Just flip a coin, you weird bastard!”

The man looked a bit disappointed, but he conceded to the idea and fished a copper coin from his pocket. “Then here goes,” he remarked, flicking the metal into the air. “And no take-backsies!”

Before the coin could complete its descent into the man’s waiting hand, a boot from behind found its mark in that vulnerable spot between his legs.”

“Hic!”

A high-pitched squeal escaped his lips as he doubled over, crumpling to the ground in agony. Standing behind him was a youth with silver hair and stern butterscotch eyes, his expression unfriendly.

 

DING!

[Seeds of Ruin]

[Quest Difficulty: C

A Goblin Shaman—an anomalous monster driven by an insatiable thirst for power and control has somehow obtained the forbidden knowledge of an esoteric science.

For the past two years, it has commanded a formidable horde of goblins to capture highly fertile human females. These unfortunate women are then used as vessels to birth genetically superior goblin offspring. If properly indoctrinated, these demihumans possess the potential to unleash untold havoc upon the world.

Clear Conditions: A new victim has recently been procured to conceive another child. Your task is to neutralize the Goblin Shaman and its horde, freeing the prisoners before any further harm can be inflicted.

Rewards:

?? EXP +15,000

?? Runetablet

?? 90 Gold

Quest Failure:

?? Prolonged suffering of the prisoners

?? Emergence of a formidable new species

?? Rise of a Goblin King]

 

“You little shit!” yelled the other bandit as he rose to his feet and brandished his weapon. “Who the hell do you think you are, huh?!”

“RAWR!”

Before the bastard could charge in, Zephyr lunged at his unprotected groin, sinking his sharp teeth mercilessly into the tender flesh.

“M-My genitals!” he whimpered in a high-pitched voice, his arms raised as if pleading with the gods of hedonism to take pity on him.

“Who the hell ever uses the word genitals anymore?” Daisuke scoffed.

As Zephyr continued to thrash his head from side to side like a rabid beast, the man’s eyes rolled back into his head and he fainted, his soul seemingly departing through his gaping mouth to heaven.

“Can you manage?” Daisuke inquired calmly, extending his hand to the distressed healer.

Knowing that time was of the essence, the girl bit her lip and summoned her courage. Wiping away her tears, she took his supportive hand and did her best to find equilibrium on unsteady feet.

Amara observed her savior’s youthful appearance and briefly questioned his reliability, but she had no other option but to rely on him. Every moment counted for her companions’ survival.

“Please, help my friends!” she implored, desperation evident in her voice.

***

 

Death permeated the chamber like a tangible presence, mingling with the sickening stench of blood that hung heavy in the air. The trembling toddlers sought solace in the arms of their terrified mothers. The explosive exchange between the goblins and the bandits had ceased—now desperate cries and clashing steel were replaced by the grisly sounds of breaking bones and tearing flesh.

The goblins reveled in their victory, their joy palpable as they feasted on the flesh of their fallen foes in glorious abandon. For them, the transition from battle to feast was a euphoric crescendo, a heady cocktail of triumph and indulgence.

Morgana and Gloria watched the gruesome spectacle unfold with trembling eyes, unaware that the nightmare had only just begun. Without warning, the mastermind behind the bloodbath emerged before them, casting a sinister shadow over the carnage.

“…I’m sorry,” Gloria whispered repentantly as she lowered her head and cautiously backed away.

Morgana, caught off guard by the woman’s sudden retreat, stumbled and fell before she could maintain her balance. In that moment, for the very first time, she witnessed a chilling transformation in the goblin’s demeanor. Its previously indifferent expression gave way to a disturbingly eager lust, its eyes alight with excitement and its grotesque tongue snaking out between rows of jagged teeth.

A chill ran down Morgana’s spine as the creature seized her hair, its grip rough and unforgiving. With callous disregard for her well-being, it began dragging her across the uneven ground toward the newly erected tent.

Morgana squirmed and twisted in a futile attempt to break free from the goblin’s monstrous grip. She briefly entertained the idea of cutting her hair to escape its clutches, but all her weapons had been seized—even her concealed daggers were effectively snuffed out.

Just as the monster was about to disappear into the shadows of the tent—

SWISHH!

A throwing dagger struck its back with pinpoint accuracy. With a snarl of pain, the goblin flung its prize aside like a discarded toy.

“Oomph!” Morgana grunted as she collided with the unforgiving ground.

The goblin, infuriated by the attack, tore the dagger from its back with a growl of rage. Discarding the bloody weapon, it turned to confront its unseen assailant with malevolent intent.

As its beady eyes darted around the cavern with alarming urgency, Morgana lunged for the dagger before her mind could form a coherent thought. She drove it into the bastard’s thigh and twisted it mercilessly.

“Kiiiieeehhhk!”

The creature howled in agony, retaliating with a swift backhand that sent Morgana sprawling to the ground. With a scowl, the goblin retrieved the blade, its gaze shifting from the blood-stained edge to the defiant woman before it.

For a fleeting moment, it contemplated ending her life then and there, but the creature knew better than to waste such a valuable resource. It was already bad enough that it had lost a perfectly good female to the uncivilized whims of its kin. And now with the guild’s efforts focused on training younger recruits, acquiring more hosts would prove increasingly difficult.

With a grunt, the goblin hurled the dagger even farther away, hoping to rid itself of the pesky threat. But this time, it wasn’t Morgana who retaliated, but Gloria. Summoning every ounce of her strength, she barreled herself into the goblin like a raging minitaur, sending the creature hurtling off the ledge and into the ranks of its kin below.

“Gehh.”

A lone goblin let out a sigh of contentment as it raised its head from the gaping abdomen of a fallen bandit. Now that its face wasn’t buried in the entrails of its hearty meal, it sensed a peculiar scent in the air.

Like a Bearhound, the creature cocked its head and sniffed around inquisitively. Slowly, cautiously, it followed the trail to a suspicious mound nearby. The moment it was within arm’s reach—

SWISHH!

It found its vision inverted and stubbornly refusing to right itself. A heartbeat later, a final breath before its demise, the creature realized it had been beheaded.

Daisuke emerged from the shadows in the next beat, shedding the cloak of goblin corpses that had masked his scent and camouflaged his approach, his blade gleaming in the dim light of the cavern.

CHAPTER 86

Morgana’s Guilt & The Shaman’s Trophy

 

With a primal roar, the goblins abandoned their feast, their bloodlust ignited by the assault on their leader. Eyes blazing with malice, they turned their attention to the audacious intruder, their teeth bared and dripping with warm blood.

“Kekekeh!”

“Kyeeeh!”

“Kyakyakaah!”

Razor-sharp fangs, claws, and blades, once busy carving flesh from the fallen, now turned menacingly towards Daisuke. The goblins charged forth like a relentless tempest, only to halt abruptly in their tracks, frozen by an unseen force.

Daisuke’s eyes gleamed with an intensity akin to a bird of prey, instilling an overwhelming and primal fear in the monsters.

Intimidate!

As the goblins cowered from the skill’s effects, Daisuke swiftly scooped Amara into his arms and leaped atop the rise. Awestruck by his impressive display of power, Morgana glanced from the wolf pup to the silver-haired youth whose eye’s radiated confidence and resolve. Her heart sank when his head snapped around, almost mechanically, and his gaze fell upon the shuddering toddlers.

“W-Wait!” she pleaded, her voice quivering with desperation. “They mean no harm! Please, don’t hurt them!”

“S-She’s right,” Gloria concurred with a respectful bow, firelight illuminating her black tunic. “These children pose no threat.”

Amara stood in stunned silence.

Daisuke’s gaze narrowed as he observed the toddlers clinging to their mothers in despair, their large, tear-filled eyes innocent and devoid of malice or evil.

According to the Monster Guide Handbook, Daisuke pondered, flipping through the mental pages with a furrowed brow, monsters are generally predisposed to having an inherent aversion to humans and an uncontrollable desire to either kill or devour them, even from infancy. But… these baby goblins look incredibly human.

Are you seriously telling me that those genes that predominantly exist in most monsters weren’t inherited by them? Is it possible those traits are just delayed until puberty or something? Can I really trust them?

As Daisuke looked into the eyes of the horrified toddlers, memories flooded back of the distrust he faced when he attempted to apply for a job in Dusthaven. All he had wanted was to save money for his mother’s medical bills, but his origins in the slums had led everyone to doubt his intentions. If only they had given him a chance, would his mother still be alive?

“Rawrwu,” whimpered Zephyr, as if echoing the sentiments of the others.

“SEIZE THEM!” came a sudden and furious bellow from the goblin leader, his teeth gnashing, veins bulging in his forehead as he unceremoniously peeled himself up off the ground.

Daisuke’s eyebrows furrowed. He really is an anomalous monster, he mused inwardly before turning to his partner. “Zephyr,” he commanded firmly.

As Zephyr’s jaws widened, an intense heat radiated from within, accompanied by a blinding orange-red aura. The toddlers and their mothers instinctively shut their eyes, bracing for the impending inferno. Morgana and Gloria raised their arms pleadingly, but it was too late.

WHOOSHHHHH!

Zephyr’s neck snapped forward like a coiled spring, unleashing a torrent of incinerating flames. However, instead of targeting the innocent toddlers, the fiery deluge engulfed the goblin leader and its monstrous horde. When the flames subsided, more than two-thirds of the goblins were reduced to ash, and the rest lay badly injured.

Amidst the smoldering aftermath, Daisuke locked eyes with the leader, its protective barrier dissipating.

 

DING!

[Goblin Shaman | Lvl 22 | ????]

 

“Of course you weren’t going to go down so easily,” he murmured before turning to the others. “Stay here,” he commanded calmly. “We’ll finish them off.”

Dumbfounded, Morgana watched as the duo confidently hurled themselves off the ledge and into the fray. “That small wolf… in an instant,” she murmured incredulously. “Just who are they?”

“Haxks and Zephyr—they’re adventurers like us,” informed Amara, equally astounded. “I knew they were strong, but this is…”

“More importantly,” Morgana pressed urgently, “what about Price and Lilith?”

Amara’s response was a slow, sorrowful shake of her head.

“I see,” Morgana replied, her tone conflicted as she attempted to rise. It was only then that Amara noticed the archer’s missing leg.

“Oh no!” she exclaimed frantically, her eyes widening with panic as she hurried over to the girl. “Morgana! Your leg!” she sobbed, her voice trembling. “Your leg’s been—”

Morgana offered a faint smile as the girl rushed to support her. “This is my atonement,” she murmured quietly.

“Atonement? What are you—”

“Please forgive me. I’m sorry I’ve always been a bystander instead of stepping in to protect you from the constant bullying. What Price and Lilith did to you was unforgivable. I knew it… I’ve always known, and yet—”

Amara shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “There’s nothing to forgive,” she admitted earnestly. “If you had intervened and become a victim, I would have felt even worse. It’s my fault for never finding the courage to stand up to them.”

Gloria approached them with a sympathetic smile. “While courage is an admirable quality that we should all possess, everyone finds it in their own time and circumstances. It wasn’t fair that you had to search desperately for yours just to find happiness. The blame lies with those who abused you, not with yourselves.”

Morgana and Amara exchanged smiles, a mix of sadness and gratitude, before their attention was abruptly drawn to a goblin slamming into the wall below them. The creature slowly slid to the ground like a squashed bug, leaving a trail of purple blood along the wall.

Despite wielding offensive magic to aid its kin, the shaman watched with growing unease as the goblins fell like wheat before a scythe. Death loomed closer with every passing moment; it knew that if things continued in this manner, its own demise was imminent.

Driven by desperation and the instinct for self-preservation, the shaman finally decided to summon its trophy—its ultimate achievement despite risking its destruction.

With a furrowed brow, Daisuke observed in confusion as a beam of light shot out from the shaman’s staff and struck an elevated platform on the far side of the cavern.

“Huh? Did that previous attack roast its brain cells or something?” he quipped, but when he spied a blur of movement, he fell silent.

Using the falling rocks as stepping stones, hopping from one precarious foothold to another until it landed on solid ground, a curious goblin emerged on the scene.

At a single glance, it was evident that this creature was different. Unlike the toddlers, its human-like features bore the marks of maturity, reflected in its towering stature that rivaled even the shaman’s, and a gleam in its eyes that betrayed any innocence.

It yawned with a dreary, indifferent gaze, its body clad in leather armor likely scavenged from fallen adventurers. The creature exuded an air of disdain, as if the entire world had done it an injustice and it would much rather be exempt from all worldly affairs.

Every movement emanated a weariness, as if existence itself was a tiresome burden. Yet, without a single command uttered, it pivoted its club towards its foes, eager to dispose of them so that it could return to its slumber.

 

DING!

[Demihuman Goblin | Lvl 26 | Unique]

 

Unique? Daisuke’s eyes widened in alarm. I thought Giant and Field Boss was the last tier in the hierarchy?

 

The moment it received a defense buff from the shaman, the demihuman lurched forward, its lethargic gaze fixated on the wolf pup. Zephyr was caught mid-strike, sharp teeth primed to plunge into the neck of a random goblin, when the demihuman’s massive club hurtled toward him with terrifying velocity.

Instinctively, the canine aborted the attack and instead used the monster’s chest as a springboard to launch himself to safety. In a heartbeat, the club made contact with the goblin’s head. Time seemed to stretch as blood, brain matter, and fragments of skull erupted outward.

Zephyr’s gaze burned with ferocity as it locked onto the demihuman, a silent challenge passing between them as they prepared for the inevitable clash.

Daisuke’s heart pounded with concern as he watched Zephyr darting around like a leaf swept up in a fierce storm. Even while suppressing the goblins that persistently swarmed like flies, the pup desperately tried to fend off the stoic hybrid. But his fangs and claws couldn’t penetrate the creature’s armor, nor the defensive buff it had received.

Daisuke clearly noted that the odds were firmly stacked against the canine. Unwelcome memories of Zephyr’s previous downfall flashed through his mind like lightning. Urgently, he attempted to carve a path through the goblins blocking his right flank. However, for every foe he dispatched, another swiftly took its place, creating an endless tide of adversaries.

As desperation mounted, Daisuke summoned his Magic Chains in an attempt to subdue the demihuman and grant Zephyr a moment of relief. Yet, his efforts were promptly foiled as the goblins seized the chains, their mocking laughter echoing through the chaos. To make matters worse, the shaman unleashed a barrage of offensive magic, intensifying Daisuke’s predicament.