Chapter 94 – Hifoppe the Goblin Knight
Chapter 94
Hifoppe the Goblin Knight
Date : Day 11 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Hifoppe took a step forward. The black armor scraped on the stone. The cold and menacing sound echoed through the chamber.
"Now, are you done with your shocked gasps? Because my blade is ready to cull the insolent ones who think they are some kind of heroes."
Hyoren gripped his spear. Bracing himself. The wood was solid in his hands. He scanned Hifoppe. Trying to gauge his strength. Trying to understand what he was facing.
His level two Aethell Sense made him understand exactly the power of Hifoppe. The magical signature on its core was clear distinct. It was level twenty. Lower than the Alpha Greenwolf they had fought before.
Hyoren felt slight relief wash over him. He was now level nine. He had new and higher leveled skills. He had proper Mithril-alloy Yari and Ramtauro armor. He was also boosted by the stamina potion. He was not the one who needed to sacrifice everything to get toe-to-toe with a level twenty five enemy like the Alpha Greenwolf.
Elise also had raised her skills and increased her level. They were stronger. More prepared. More geared.
Both of them had also used stamina potions made from Dreambloom nectar. They were supposed to boost their strength to one-point-five times to two times their normal capability. In terms of power, Hyoren should reach normal level fifteen equivalent, and Elise should be around level twenty-five. They should be able to handle a single level twenty enemy. Even if it was a servant of Demon God Gidol.
Luminara warned me, but I think we can deal with level twenty enemy without relying on Berserker.
He decided to not use Berserker straight away. Luminara had warned him. But he felt he could fight this goblin without relying on it. The power boost from the potion should be enough.
Hyoren focused his eyes on Hifoppe. It put its hand on the hilt of its black katana. The stance was familiar for Japanese people like him. An Iaijutsu stance. The quick-draw technique. The blade was sheathed. Ready and waiting to be unleashed.
Hyoren felt the Aethell flare around the creature. The energy concentrated. And at the same time, Hifoppe blurred.
One moment it was twenty meter away, holding the hilt of its black katana. The next it was directly in front of Hyoren, its black katana already swinging in a horizontal arc aimed at his neck. The speed was incredible. The blade sang through the air.
But he already prepared his spear to meet the swing. His Aethell Sense skill, combined with instinct and higher level, made Hyoren able to see Hifoppe's quick draw. The trajectory was clear. The angle was visible.
“CLANG!”
The sound of black katana on the spear crossguard was deafening in the enclosed space. It rang through the chamber like a bell. The force of the impact was immense, far greater than any goblin he had ever fought. It sent him stumbling back a step. His arms vibrated from the shock. But he had blocked it. He was alive.
He looked at the Goblin Knight, its head now inches from his own. He saw a pair of black eyes locked onto him. The helmet obscured most of its features. But the eyes were visible— cold, intelligent, and cunning.
Hifoppe smirked. Unbothered by its failed attack. The arrogant expression was mocking.
"Hooo, you can block my Iaijutsu. Impressive for someone who is playing a hero."
It then jumped backward. Still smirking. The distance between them grew.
Hyoren took a glance to his side, towards the frozen Elise. She stood still. Her face was pale. Her bow was lowered. The shock had rooted her in place.
"Elise!"
Hyoren shouted, his voice ringing with urgency and authority. The sharp sound cracked through the chamber. His shout finally woke Elise up from her frozen shock. She blinked. Her eyes cleared. She nodded, then gripped her bow with new resolve.
In the corner of his eyes, Elise was already taking her distance. She moved with practiced efficiency. She prepared her arrow. The bowstring was taut. Ready.
Hyoren turned his full attention back to the Goblin Knight. His mind was a calm, focused center in the storm of violence. He needed to know what he was fighting. He needed to gauge his opponent. Understand its patterns.
Hifoppe charged again, now without its Iaijutsu. Definitely playing with the two of them. The stance was loose and casual. Hyoren parried its black katana with his Yari crossguard. The metal met metal. Sparks flew.
Their weapons locked for a while. The strain was immense. Giving Elise time to properly aim. To find her position.
"Charge Arrow!"
Elise already ran towards the back of Hifoppe, took some distance from it, and unleashed her skill. The arrow flew straight and true. Her arrow met its mark on Hifoppe's back, the place where its heart should be. The trajectory was perfect. But its black samurai armor deflected her arrow with a clank sound. The arrow bounced off.
Elise widened her eyes. Even Alpha Greenwolf had taken damage from her arrow. Hifoppe's armor proved to be impossibly hard. The realization struck her. The fear returned.
Hifoppe didn't even spare a glance towards Elise. It thought the arrow was insignificant. A nuisance. Nothing more.
Hyoren tried to talk with the Goblin Knight. To buy some time. To understand. His voice was strained. His arms burned.
"What are you doing? Why are you here? A Goblin Knight? Servant of Gidol? And you can talk? Monsters shouldn't talk! It makes no sense."
Hifoppe sneered. The cruel expression was mocking him.
"Well, I will tell you as a gift, because you will be dead anyway after this anyway. I’m generous, pretend hero."
It gestured with a quick tilt of its chin towards the massive glowing archway at the far end of the chamber. A portal-like door which was covered in sinister and glowing runes. The light pulsed with dark and malevolent energy.
"You see that door? I'm working for Gidol-sama to create a new dungeon here. And thanks to you being so slow, humans, I already finished it just now."
It sneered again. A wave of palpable, malevolent pride washed over him. The arrogance was suffocating.
"My goblin army outside was just a distraction for you humans. A simple meat shield to buy me the time I needed."
Hifoppe put more force on its black katana. Hyoren was forced to pull back. The strength was overwhelming. He jumped to break free from the weapon deadlock. He needed distance and space.
It then sheathed its katana again, and did the Iaijutsu stance. It was ready to unleash another quickdraw. Aethell converged on Hifoppe. More than before. The energy built. Concentrated. It was preparing for a serious attack this time.
Hifoppe sneered again. The expression was cold and final.
"Now humans. Enough talking. Time for decapitating."
But before it attacked, Elise already unleashed another skill. Her voice rang through the chamber.
"Charge Magic Arrow!"
The arrow of light shot towards Hifoppe's unguarded chest. Aimed at its heart. The trajectory was perfect. The speed was incredible. But in an instant, it shifted its stance, and swung its katana, bisecting the arrow of light in the middle of its flight. The two halves of light dissipated.
Hyoren and Elise widened their eyes. Not even Alpha Greenwolf could react to Elise's Charge Magic Arrow. The speed was impossible. The precision was terrifying.
Hifoppe smirked. The expression was mocking. It posture was confident.
"Is that all? Is the pretend hero this weak? How you two can dismantle my army. I guess maybe my army was too weak without me directly leading them, huh..."
Hyoren grimaced. Hifoppe proved to be a strong enemy. Its power, speed, everything was lower than the Alpha Greenwolf they had fought before. But its technique, its skilled katana play, and its impossibly hard armor made its strength deceptive. Its level and power were lower than level twenty Alpha, but its actual combat power was way higher.
This Hifoppe is too strong! Way stronger than level twenty-five Alpha Greenwolf!
He gripped his spear, then blocked another Hifoppe attack. The impact jarred his bones. Rattled his teeth.
The fight became a blur of motion. A terrifying dance of steel and skill. It took all of Hyoren's concentration, every ounce of his new power, just to block the Goblin Knight's attacks.
Hifoppe was a whirlwind of controlled fury. Its katana was a blur of black death that came from every angle. The technique was flawless and perfect. Each strike was calculated. Each movement was precise.
Hyoren parried. He dodged. He blocked. But he couldn't find an opening. Hifoppe was too good. A feint, a lightning-fast lunge, a twist of the blade—he felt a line of fire cut across his arms. He grunted, ignoring the pain. He felt another slash on his thigh, another on his shoulder. The wounds accumulated. The blood flowed.
Surely but slowly, he was being covered in wounds. He was bleeding from a dozen cuts. His strength was waning. His breathing was labored. While the Goblin Knight seemed tireless. Unbothered.
He was being outmatched, outskilled. The realization was a cold, hard knot in his gut. This was the threat Luminara had warned him about. This was the enemy he would need Berserker for.
Should I really use Berserker? But I don't want to receive that painful agony anymore.
Hyoren hesitated. The memory of the pain flashed through his mind. The agony. The suffering.
Elise also kept shooting at Hifoppe. She kept shooting her arrows. They were perfect shots, aimed at Hifoppe's exposed neck, its exposed face, the gaps in its armor. But every arrow just bounced off when it hit the armor, or Hifoppe effortlessly avoided the arrow with a slight movement if it going to hit its unprotected body. The frustration was building.
And even when she unleashed her strongest attack, the charged magic arrow, it was still futile. Hifoppe moved with impossible speed, its black katana swatting the arrow of light out of the air as if it were a fly. It tought it was insignificant, but annoying.
"Is this really all? An elf who can't hit her arrow and a pretend hero whose spear is so weak."
Hifoppe sneered at them. Mocking. Its posture was relaxed. The confidence radiated from it. It could kill them easily if it wanted. It was playing with them.
Hyoren and Elise looked at each other. Their eyes met. They were talking with their gaze. The desperation was clear. They were slowly getting cornered. They needed something to get out of this situation.
He then decided to use his magic blade. He couldn't hit Hifoppe yet, so the magic blade wouldn't help him. But he didn't have any other choice. He need to use his everything. Before he going to consider using his trump card.
"Magic Blade."
His spear was now enveloped with Aethell. It hummed with energy. The blue light cast shadows on the walls. The power radiated from the weapon.
Hifoppe was slightly impressed. Its eyebrows rose.
"Hooo. So you have more cards to play."
It then prepared Iaijutsu again. The stance shifted. The energy built. Then in quick motions, it appeared in front of Hyoren. Swinging its black katana in a wide arc, aiming to decapitate him. The speed was blinding.
But Hyoren saw the attack. He had already seen it. He knew the timing. He blocked its swing with his Magic Blade powered spear. The impact was tremendous. Hifoppe's katana actually bounced. The force was too much. Its stance was broken.
Hyoren pressed his attack. The opening was there.
"Piercing Magic Thrust!"
With a sonic boom, Hyoren propelled forward. The spear tip glowed with power. Aiming at Hifoppe's defenseless chest. The attack was fast and devastating.
But Hifoppe proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Even with a broken stance, Aethell flared on its legs. It evaded Hyoren's attack with a jump from one of its legs which was still planted on the ground. The movement was fluid, from impossible angle.
Hyoren's attack passed its mark. The spear tip struck empty air.
Hifoppe evaded his attack within a hair's breadth. It rolled on the ground. But unharmed. It quickly jumped backward, creating distance. The recovery was instant.
But Elise was not wasting the chance Hyoren gave. She unleashed another attack. Her voice rang clear.
"Charged Magic Arrow!"
But it was still futile. Even after evading from a broken stance, and jumping backwards to create distance, Hifoppe still managed to use its katana to deflect Elise's arrow of light. The blade moved in a blur. The arrow only grazed its cheek. Blood trickled from the wound. A thin line of red.
It touched its cheek. The sneer was gone. The expression shifted. Cold fury replaced the mocking amusement.
"Impressive. These pretend heroes actually can harm me."
Hifoppe took another stance. But its aura had changed. The relaxed atmosphere was gone. Replaced with focused still. The playfulness was over.
It smirked again, but its eyes were laser focused. The killing intent was real. The game was over. The play time was over.
The combination of Hyoren and Elise's attack only managed to create shallow wounds on Hifoppe. And now they needed to face its real power.
***
Hifoppe prepared another Iaijutsu stance. Its beady black eyes locked onto Hyoren. The gaze was cold. Calculating. Predatory. Its hand rested on the hilt of its black katana. The blade was sheathed.
"Prepare yourself, pretend heroes. Time for my decapitation to get serious."
Hyoren prepared his spear. Gripped his spear tighter. The wood was slick with sweat. Using his Aethell Sense to focus on every Aethell movement on Hifoppe. The magical signature pulsed.
Elise nocked an arrow on her bow. Ready to unleash another attack. Her fingers drew the string back
Three of them prepared their stance. The chamber grew still. The torches flickered. The shadows danced. For the next attack.
Hifoppe's beady eyes glinted. Something shifted in the air. Hyoren suddenly felt a chill on his back. His instinct screamed in his mind.
But before he could do anything, Hifoppe's body shifted. Its Aethell flared. The energy concentrated.
Another quick draw! I need to brace myself!
But what came next is not what Hyoren prepared for.
Hifoppe blurred in motion. But in the last split second, it shifted its hand and leg a little. Changing the trajectory of its quick draw. The movement was subtle and deceptive.
Hifoppe smirked, then it jumped forward, but not towards Hyoren. Its black katana swung in a wide arc—towards Elise instead. The blade sang through the air. Aimed at the only target that mattered. The defenseless elf ranger.
Hyoren widened his eyes. The realization struck him like lightning. His heart stopped. His blood ran cold. He saw the target of Hifoppe's attack.
"ELISE RUN!"
Suddenly he heard Luminara's words again. You will need it. Soon. Luminara’s voice echoed in his mind.
The time suddenly slowed down. The world became crystalline. He could suddenly see Hifoppe clearly moving towards Elise. Its black katana swung. The blade was a death sentence for her. Every detail was visible. The arc of the blade. The trajectory. The inevitable impact.
Hyoren finally unleashed his trump card. Something he kept holding back as he was still afraid of the painful agony which came afterwards. The decision which proved to be fatal. The hesitation which will cost him.
"BERSERKER!"
The world exploded. A wave of raw, untamed power, more potent than ever before, surged through his veins. His muscles bulged and smoked. Red streaks traced across his body like lightning. The violent transformation was instant.
The pain was there, but it was different now. It wasn't the soul-rending agony he remembered. It was a bearable, white-hot fire that fueled his rage instead of crippling him. His muscles swelled with new strength. His senses sharpened to a razor's edge. The world turned into a crimson haze of pure, murderous intent. Everything was clearer and sharper. More focused.
And he clearly understood what his upgraded Berserker was. Now, it was not costing his mana. He could use it for a prolonged time, unlike before. And he could still think clearly, albeit more hazy. But the cost was still there—even amplified—the pain which he needed to pay would be proportional to how long he used his unique skill. It’s like he paying the skill with his own suffering later.
Hyoren jumped, trying to block, or at least tackle Hifoppe, so its attack wouldn't reach Elise. His body moved faster than before. The air rushed past him.
But he was too late.
In front of his eyes, he saw in slow motion what was going to happen to his lover. The horror unfolded.
Elise stood with her eyes widened. She was still in her stance, nocked an arrow and pulled it back, ready to shoot. The bow was taut. Her focus was on Hifoppe. She hadn't expected the attack. She wasn't prepared.
Hifoppe's black katana swung. The blade met its target.
It sliced Elise's bow in two. The wood splintered. The string snapped. The blade continued its swing. Merciless. Unstoppable.
It bisected her left wrist next. The cut was clean and precise. Now her left arm was only left with a stump, while the hand fell to the ground. The severed limb hit the stone floor with a wet slap. The cut was clean.
The blade still continued. It slashed across Elise's torso. A deep gash appeared from her right shoulder to her left flank. The wound opened like a gruesome smile. Blood gushed from the wound.
But before Hifoppe's blade could finish its attack to bisected Elise’s body in half completely, Hyoren's Berserker-fueled tackle arrived. With a crash sound, he slammed into Hifoppe, canceling its attack midway. The impact was tremendous.
Hifoppe was thrown away, rolling on the ground. The black armor scraped against stone. The katana was knocked from its grip. The creature tumbled.
Hyoren planted his feet, and skidded. The stone was slick beneath him. His breathing was ragged. His eyes were locked on Elise.
Elise fell down on her back. The impact was soft. Her body crumpled. Blood gushed from her gash on her torso and her left stump. The crimson pool spread beneath her. Her emerald eyes started to dim. The light was fading. Her silver hair was stained red. Her face was pale. Too pale.
Then the time finally flowed normally again. The world rushed back. The sounds returned.
***
Hyoren saw Hifoppe tumble down. Its black katana was thrown from its grip. The blade clattered against the stone floor. The sound echoed through the chamber.
He quickly went over to Elise. The wound was still gushing blood. The crimson pool spread beneath her. Her face was pale. Too pale.
He quickly took a green potion bottle from his potion pouch—healing potion. His hands trembled as he popped the cork. He poured the content of the potion onto Elise's wound on her torso. The liquid hissed as it touched the gash. The flesh began to knit. Slowly. Too slowly. He took another potion. Poured it again. The wound was deep. The bleeding slowed. But before he could tend to her left arm, Hifoppe had already moved behind him.
Hyoren quickly grabbed his spear from the ground.
His fingers wrapped around the shaft. Bracing himself for another attack from Hifoppe. His berserker-fueled mind was not like before. He could think clearly. It was just his mind was full of bloodlust. Especially now. He was so angry because Elise was gravely wounded. The rage burned through his veins.
"Well... well... well... What is that appearance, pretend hero."
Hifoppe took its black katana from the ground. The blade gleamed in the torchlight. The metal was pristine. It straightened its posture. The armor clinked.
"It seems I was underestimating you. That violent skill. That's definitely a unique skill."
Hifoppe seemed to know the truth behind his power. It shook its head.
"So you are not actually a pretend hero. You are a real hero. Dog of Luminara huh?"
It gripped its black katana hilt tighter. The stance shifted.
"Not only did I successfully create a new dungeon, I can gift Gidol-sama with a head of this era's hero. It was a good day."
Hyoren gripped his spear. His teeth clenched together. Holding back his anger. His lover was gravely wounded. Lying in a pool of her own blood. And now the culprit would pay for it.
"You are the one who needs to pay for this. Hifoppe!"
He jumped forward. Attacking Hifoppe. His berserker-fueled body, fueled even more with his anger, created an unprecedented power. The muscles surged. The strength was overwhelming.
He swung his spear. The blade sang through the air. Hifoppe parried it with its black katana. The weapons clashed. The sound rang through the chamber. The weapons deadlocked again. But now Hyoren clearly had the upper hand. He pushed towards Hifoppe. The strength was immense.
"What a power, so this is the power of a hero!"
Hyoren kicked Hifoppe. The blow connected with its chest. It tumbled back. The armor dented. He then swung his spear again in a wide arc. Hifoppe evaded it with a tumble. The blade cut through air.
Hyoren chased Hifoppe. The distance closed. He swung his counter weight. The heavy end of the spear struck Hifoppe's chest with a loud bang. The impact was tremendous. Hifoppe was thrown backwards. The armor crumpled.
Hyoren then jumped. And flying kicked Hifoppe straight into its face. The boot connected. The helmet cracked. It tumbled down again. The body hit the ground.
Hifoppe scrambled backward. Its black katana rose in a desperate parry. The blade caught Hyoren's spear. The weapons locked. But Hyoren didn't stop. He twisted his spear. The motion forced Hifoppe's blade aside. The opening was there.
Hyoren drove his fist into Hifoppe's helmet. The impact dented the metal. The Goblin Knight stumbled. Hyoren pressed the advantage. He swung his spear in a vicious arc. The blade caught Hifoppe's shoulder. The armor held. But the force threw the creature sideways.
Hifoppe rolled across the stone floor. Its black katana scraped against the ground. It tried to rise. Hyoren was already there. The spear tip drove downward. Hifoppe twisted. The blade pierced the stone instead. Chips of rock flew.
Hifoppe swept its leg. The motion caught Hyoren's ankle. He stumbled. But his berserker-fueled reflexes were too fast. He caught himself. His hand planted on the ground. He pushed off. Launched himself forward.
His knee struck Hifoppe's face. The helmet cracked further. The creature howled in pain. The sound was distorted. Hyoren didn't let up. He rained blows upon the Goblin Knight. His spear was a blur. His fists were hammers. His kicks were sledgehammers.
Hifoppe tried to counter. Its black katana slashed upward. The blade cut through the air. Hyoren sidestepped. The motion was fluid.
The role was reversed. Now it was Hyoren's turn to relentlessly attack Hifoppe. He was a whirlwind of death. Berserker and anger fueled. Each blow carried the weight of his fury.
He was the storm. He was the fury. He was the death that comes for those who harm what he loves.
***
Hifoppe's breathing was ragged. Each breath came in short, desperate gasps. Its black armor was dented in several places. The metal was crumpled and broken. Its green body was full of wounds. It used its black katana to stand. The blade was planted against the stone floor. The creature leaned heavily on it. Its legs were shaking.
Hyoren gripped his spear. Stance ready. Preparing for the last attack. The stance of his familiar attack. The thrust which could pierce any enemy he faced. His muscles were tensed. The berserker rage still burned through his veins. But it was focused now.
"Prepare yourself, Goblin Knight. This spear is the spear of revenge which was going to claim your life. This is for Elise."
Hifoppe scoffed. Trying to appear tough. Trying to maintain its dignity.
"The weak hero wants to kill me? Try it if you can. My blade will decapitate your head. Then I will present it to Gidol-sama!"
It still had some energy left. It sheathed back its black katana. The blade slid into the scabbard with a metallic whisper. Its hand rested on the hilt. It was preparing for its last attack too. Iaijutsu was prepared. The stance was perfect. The positioning was precise. One final quick-draw. One final strike.
They stood facing each other for a few seconds which lasted like eternity. The torches flickered. The shadows danced. The chamber held its breath. Two warriors. Two stances. Two final attacks. The silence was deafening.
Then both moved at the same time.
Hifoppe blurred. It used its strongest and fastest quick draw. It bet everything on this attack. Every ounce of remaining strength. Every fraction of skill. The blade sang free of its sheath. The metal gleamed. The arc was perfect. The trajectory was true. The target was Hyoren's neck.
Hyoren activated his trusty spear skill. The words tore from his throat.
"Piercing Magic Thrust!"
The blade glowed with light. Blue energy enveloped the spear tip. The hum of power filled the chamber. And he propelled forward with a sonic boom. The spear, powered up by Berserker skill and his own anger, gleamed. The speed was impossible. The force was devastating. The spear tip became a point of absolute destruction.
Both attacks met. The collision was instantaneous. Then blinding light flared in the middle of the main chamber of the quarry. The shadows were erased. The world became nothing but light.
And when the light receded. Hyoren and Hifoppe stood at the center. Two figures. Frozen in time. The aftermath of their clash.
Hifoppe's black katana was just a centimeter from Hyoren's neck. The blade was so close. The edge was razor sharp. The steel was cold against his skin. But it failed to connect. Failed to decapitate. The attack had stopped. The momentum had died. The strike had fallen short by the smallest margin.
Meanwhile. Hyoren's Mithril-alloy Yari met its mark. The spear tip was buried deep in Hifoppe's chest. The metal had pierced through armor. Through flesh. Through bone. Through heart. The blade had found its home.
Hifoppe froze. Its body locked in a final, spasmic convulsion. The muscles tensed. The fingers twitched. It looked down at the spear protruding from its chest. Its beady black eyes were wide with pure, unadulterated shock. The realization dawned. The understanding came.
It rasped. Black blood bubbling from its lips. The liquid was dark. Thick. The sound was wet. Gurgling. Strained.
"Impossible... Me... a servant of Gidol-sama... defeated by a mere human..."
And then its eyes darkened. The light of its malevolent intelligence extinguished forever. The spark faded. The life ended. It slumped. Its body became a dead weight on the end of Hyoren's spear. The armor clinked against the shaft. The head bowed. The arms fell limp. Hifoppe the Goblin Knight was no more.