Tower of Paradise

Chapter 69: Goblin Champion (2)

Instinctively, the goblin champion raised his axe high the moment he saw me with labored breathing. The monster knew he had to kill me, but the fear he felt at that moment sounded the alarms in his head, telling him that this human child — me — was dangerous.

With one last desperate effort, I wielded my spear and prepared for what was to come.

The air around me seemed to vibrate with the energy emanating from my body. My vision cleared, my senses sharpened. It was as if every cell of my being were in perfect harmony, working together with a single purpose: to survive and conquer.

The Champion raised his axe once more. I could see every detail: the metallic gleam of the blade, the pulsing veins in his arms, the murderous intent in his eyes.

— I will not die. Not here.

This time, I felt no fear. Fear had been replaced by a cold calm. I knew what I had to do, and I knew I had the ability to do it. My mind had already traced ten different scenarios, and in seven of them, I survived.

When the axe began its descent, my body was already in motion.

My spear found its target, sliding between the plates of the goblin's armor, finding the vulnerable flesh beneath. I felt the resistance, then the giving way, as the tip penetrated deeply. It was a weak point I had identified during our combat, a small imperfection in his defense that now became his vulnerability.

The Champion's roar of pain resonated through the forest, and I quickly retreated, aware that the wounded goblin was even more dangerous. My breathing was heavy, my muscles burned, but my mind was clear. I had accomplished the impossible; I had wounded the Goblin Champion.

The goblin's eyes burned with murderous rage as he pressed a hand against his wound. Black blood seeped between his fingers, dripping to the ground. It was a superficial wound, but it was a wound. I had proven that the Champion was not invincible.

I had to keep my distance, use my agility against his brute strength.

Suddenly, the Champion told me something. Of course, I didn't understand it, but I understood the essentials from his tone and posture.

—Are you saying you'll avenge your men?

I asked, knowing he wouldn't understand me, but needing to fill the silence with something more than our labored breathing.

The Champion nodded. I was left speechless. How did he understand enough of my words to nod his head? Goblins had always been considered creatures of inferior intelligence, but this one... this one seemed different.

I didn't understand why I was trying to communicate with a monster. I sighed and gripped my spear more firmly. Forget it...

—I'm tired of this. Let's end this.

The Champion's axe blocked the spear. When my energy-filled spear and the goblin's axe collided, a sharp pain transmitted to my hands. The reverberation of the impact made my teeth chatter and my bones protest.

The hobgoblin Chief I had faced on the first floor had an overall strength at F+ grade, but his true strength was that of an E grade. In contrast, this Goblin Champion had an overall strength at E grade, but his true strength was E+ grade. Although he wasn't a second evolution monster, he was very close to being one.

Monsters were creatures that had the strongest battle prowess of any race in this world. That was why humans and other races always formed a group just to subdue a single powerful one. I was alone, facing one of the most formidable warriors of his species.

The Champion wielded his axe again, this time passing through my eyes. I anticipated his movement by the tension in his shoulders, by the way he adjusted his weight.

Whish!

A fine cut. At the same time, I contracted my body downward, avoiding by millimeters the blow that would have ended my life. I could feel the wind of the attack brushing my hair.

My spear plunged deep into the Champion's shoulder, finding another weak point in his defense.

I stabbed the Champion continuously, but none of my blows were mortal. If I became ambitious, the Champion's axe could continue moving toward me if I wasn't careful. I needed to be methodical, patient. Speed without precision was just another path to defeat.

Slowly, steadily. No matter how small the stabs were, if they accumulated, the Champion would eventually fall.

If the opponent had superior health, I would simply collapse when facing head-on. Therefore, I needed a more flexible, adaptive fight. My strategy was working; I could see how his movements became slower, more desperate.

The Champion could not bear it any longer and had a fit of rage. At that moment, the goblin had become more agile. His green skin turned red, a change I hadn't anticipated.

Soon, the Champion ran toward me and swung his axe widely. It was a move born of desperation, but no less dangerous for that. In fact, a desperate opponent was often the most unpredictable.

My body flew upward as the strong wind tore through the still air. The faceless Goblin Champion looked up, following my moving body. The goblin took a step back and pulled out a huge bow and arrow in his hands from behind. A change of weapons... fascinating and problematic.

The bowstring was taut and aimed at me. A force was applied to the bow, which was similar to the magic used by mages.

Swoosh!

The arrow flew at a terrifying speed, too fast to dodge. However, I wasn't looking at the goblin's arrow, but at his hand. The real danger wasn't the arrow he had fired, but the next move he would make.

Boom!

I put strength into the soles of my feet and my body bounced forward. The repeated jump wasn't limited to jumping upward.

Squeal!

In my hands was a bow I had picked up from one of my previous fights. I held the bow to the Champion's head the moment I reduced the distance between him and me. It was a simple bow, primitive even, but it would be enough.

Swoosh!

The arrow flew out as soon as I released the bowstring. It traveled in a perfect arc, tracing the exact path I had calculated in my mind in that fraction of a second.

Kyaaaaaaa!

The Champion grabbed the arrow stuck in his head and screamed. A guttural, primitive sound that spoke of pain beyond words.

I grabbed my spear from behind after releasing the arrow. This was the moment, the culmination of this battle. Everything came down to this instant.

—I said I would end this quickly, didn't I?

This time, my body became the bow. I swung the spear widely and released it, putting all my strength, all my being into that final throw.

The spear filled with stellar energy crushed the Champion's head. It was a moment when no other goblin could have helped. The force of the impact made me step back several steps, feeling how the energy flowed through me, resonating with every cell of my body. Suddenly:

[You have killed the Goblin Champion (E)]

[The goblins have been exterminated.]

[You have perfectly passed the test of the third floor.]

[Your achievement will be ranked.]

[You are in fifth place.]

[You have obtained 100 Soul Fragments.]

[You have obtained the goblins' treasure.]

[Will you advance to the waiting room?]