Chapter 163 – When Anomalies Keep Crashing on Them
Chapter 163
When Anomalies Keep Crashing on Them
Date : Day 10 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The Freedom Party stepped through the rippling gate.
The swirling surface swallowed them for an instant before spitting them out on the other side—the dungeon proper.
Hyoren immediately slowed his pace and looked around.
His dark eyes carefully swept across the familiar corridor.
“Not much different from the first floor, huh?”
He rolled his shoulders, loosening the muscles beneath his new armor.
“The same corridors...”
He glanced at the walls.
“The same stonework...”
The second floor retained the same ancient ruin atmosphere.
Cracked stone walls stretched into the distance. Uneven flagstones paved the floor beneath their boots. Dust had gathered undisturbed in corners where no footsteps had passed for years. Thin strands of cobweb clung to cracks between the stones.
Above them, pale blue magic lamps embedded in the ceiling quietly illuminated the corridor.
The air remained cool and dry. Silent. Stale. Only the faint echoes of their own footsteps accompanied them.
Elise quietly observed the surroundings as well.
She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear.
“Yeah...”
She slowly nodded.
“The same ruins...”
Her emerald eyes wandered along the corridor before narrowing slightly.
“Though… It feels a little less claustrophobic.”
Hyoren looked around once more. She was right. The difference was subtle—but it was there.
The corridor was slightly wider than those on the first floor. The ceiling had also risen by another meter or so, making the space feel noticeably more open despite retaining the same overall design.
Jackey grinned.
“Yes, Big Bro!”
He spread his arms slightly.
“I like this more!”
Hyoren smiled before turning toward his companions.
He slowly drew his Mithril-Alloy Broadsword from its sheath.
The blade slid free with a crisp metallic ring. Its polished surface reflected the pale blue light from the ceiling.
He rested the sword comfortably at his side.
“Ready to start our second floor dive?”
Elise answered with actions rather than words. She smoothly unslung her Moonveil Bow.
Before gripping the bow properly, her fingers briefly brushed against the emerald pendant resting upon her chest—Sylvana's Lavalier. The gemstone faintly shimmered beneath the dungeon's light.
A small smile appeared on her face before she quietly nodded.
“Ready.”
Beside her, Jackey enthusiastically drew both axes. His right hand held Bloody Axe. His left gripped Flying Kite Axe. The twin weapons spun effortlessly through his hands as though they weighed nothing.
His tabby cat tail spiraled excitedly behind him.
“Ready to whack goblins again! WOHOO!”
He playfully twirled both axes several more times before settling into his usual stance.
Hyoren couldn't help smiling.
“Okay then.”
He looked toward Elise.
“As usual...”
He gave a small nod.
“Elise, please.”
Without another word, Elise naturally moved to the front of the formation.
She lowered her posture slightly. Her emerald eyes sharpened. Her pointed ears twitched, listening for even the faintest sound echoing through the ancient corridors.
Silent Step muffled every footstep she made. Tracking searched for signs left behind by monsters. Trap Dismantling carefully examined the corridor ahead for hidden dangers.
Meanwhile, inside her mind, Mapping steadily recorded every path they explored.
She took one careful step forward. Then another.
“Let's go.”
She spoke softly without looking back.
“Follow me.”
Hyoren immediately moved into the center of the formation, shield ready at his side.
Jackey naturally took the rear, his eyes constantly sweeping behind them while lazily resting one axe across his shoulder.
Without another word—Freedom Party began exploring the second floor of Akela Dungeon.
***
Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey continued walking.
Step after step echoed softly through the ancient corridors.
The second floor was undeniably more spacious. The ceiling arched higher overhead, and the corridors were noticeably wider than those of the first floor.
Yet—it felt no less oppressive. The pale blue magic lamps embedded above cast a cold, unwavering light over the cracked flagstones.
Silence dominated everything. Only the steady rhythm of their footsteps disturbed the stale air. It hung heavily around them—almost like a blanket pressing against their bodies.
More than 10 minutes had already passed. Yet they hadn't encountered a single monster. Not one.
Elise gradually slowed her pace.
Her pointed ears twitched as she listened carefully to the silence.
Then she glanced back toward Hyoren.
“This is weird...”
Hyoren nodded.
She didn't need to explain further. He already understood.
His grip unconsciously tightened around the handle of his shield.
“Yeah...”
His voice remained calm.
“We haven't found a single monster. On the first floor, we found a group of goblins every 1 to 2 minutes. It was sprawled with those green skulkers.”
His eyes briefly swept behind them.
During the past several minutes, they had already explored multiple corridors. One dead end. Several intersections. Long winding passages.
Yet—nothing. No goblins. No monster tracks. No sounds. Only silence.
Even Jackey had begun looking bored. His shoulders slumped as he lazily rested one axe across them.
“Where are the goblins?”
He pouted.
“I want to whack something!”
Hyoren couldn't help smiling.
“So do I.”
His expression gradually became more serious.
He looked toward the corridor stretching endlessly ahead into the dim blue light.
“This second floor may look similar to the first...”
He paused briefly.
“But it may have its own surprises waiting for us.”
His gaze sharpened.
“Akela Dungeon has repeatedly proven itself to be an anomaly.”
He slowly adjusted the grip on his broadsword.
“We need to be even more careful than before.”
Then he smiled faintly.
“But… We can't just chicken out.”
Jackey immediately straightened his posture. The boredom disappeared from his face. His golden eyes regained their usual sharpness.
“Yes, Big Bro! No chickening out!”
He firmly gripped both axes.
“Whatever comes… We'll smash it!”
Hyoren chuckled quietly.
“That confidence is good. As long as you don't get reckless.”
Jackey grinned sheepishly.
“I'll try!”
Elise smiled softly at the exchange before turning her attention back toward the path ahead.
She lowered her posture once again.
Her footsteps became nearly inaudible as Silent Step activated. With every cautious step, her Tracking searched for even the faintest signs of monsters.
Without another word—she resumed leading the way.
***
Freedom Party continued forward in complete silence.
Another 10 minutes passed. The oppressive stillness remained unchanged.
Then— Elise suddenly stopped. She raised one hand without looking back. A signal. Monster nearby.
Hyoren immediately understood.
The three of them halted at once. Not a single unnecessary sound escaped them.
Elise slowly turned her head toward Hyoren while tightening her grip around her bow.
Their eyes met.
Hyoren gave a small nod. He quietly stepped forward, naturally taking the front position. His shield rose before him. His broadsword remained low at his side.
He leaned just enough to peek beyond the corner.
The corridor opened into a small chamber. The familiar ancient ruins chamber greeted his eyes. Cracked flagstones covered the floor. Weathered stone walls surrounded the room. Broken wooden crates lay scattered around the edges, mixed with overturned barrels and several decayed chests that had long since lost their contents.
Then—his eyes settled on the center of the chamber.
Two monsters stood there. Almost identical. Goblins. Green skin. The same ugly faces. The same pointed ears.
Yet—they were different.
Noticeably taller than the goblins of the first floor. Their bodies were broader. More muscular.
Their posture...
Hyoren narrowed his eyes.
It immediately reminded him of the first floor's Guardian—the Goblin Berserker.
These goblins stood far straighter than ordinary goblins, carrying themselves like trained warriors instead of savage monsters.
But that wasn't what caught Hyoren's attention the most.
Their equipment.
One goblin rested a massive two-handed sword over its shoulder. A proper metal weapon. Not rusted. Not chipped. Beside it stood another goblin carrying a round buckler together with a short sword.
Both weapons appeared to be forged from iron.
Even their armor had changed. Instead of ragged cloth and scraps—they wore properly fitted leather armor that covered their vital areas.
What… These are a step above the first floor's goblins...
Hyoren silently activated his skill.
Simple Appraisal.
Goblin Shielder — Level 12.
His eyes shifted toward the second monster.
Goblin Saber — Level 12.
Hyoren's pupils narrowed.
His surprise no longer came from their appearance.
It came from their names. Not simply—goblin.
Without wasting another second, Hyoren quietly withdrew from the corner.
He lowered his shield slightly before turning toward Elise and Jackey.
His expression had become noticeably more serious.
***
Hyoren gestured for Elise and Jackey to follow him. The three quietly retreated several corridors away from the chamber. Far enough that their voices wouldn't alert the two goblins.
Only after confirming they were safely out of earshot did Hyoren stop. He turned to face his two companions.
Elise was the first to speak. Her emerald eyes searched his expression.
“What's wrong, Hyoren?”
She frowned slightly.
“Your face is serious.”
Jackey tilted his head curiously.
Hyoren tightened his grip on his shield before answering.
“There are only two goblins.”
He paused briefly.
“But… They're definitely goblin variants that don't exist outside the dungeon.”
He briefly glanced back toward the direction of the chamber. Then continued.
“Normally... even if goblins use different weapons, they're still simply called Goblin, right?”
He raised one finger.
“Their names aren't determined by the weapons they carry. A goblin wielding a sword is still just a Goblin. A goblin carrying a spear is still just a Goblin.”
He looked back at the two of them.
“But these two are different. One is called Goblin Saber. The other is Goblin Shielder.”
Elise's emerald eyes narrowed. Realization immediately crossed her face.
“Yeah...”
She nodded slowly.
“The goblin hierarchy has been broken.”
Hyoren nodded.
Elise continued.
“As I told you before… Goblin. Goblin Fighter. Goblin Warrior. Goblin Archer. Goblin Shaman. Goblin Lord. Goblin Chieftain. And Goblin King.”
She folded her arms.
“Even if a Goblin uses a shield… It doesn't suddenly become a Goblin Shielder. Nor does a spear user become a Goblin Spearman.”
Jackey rested Bloody Axe across his shoulder.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
“So… They're variants. Just like the first floor Guardian.”
He laughed.
“This is interesting!”
His golden eyes sparkled with excitement.
Hyoren chuckled quietly.
“Well… That might be the case.”
He nodded.
“They're definitely not normal goblins.
He exhaled slowly.
“This Akela Dungeon really refuses to follow established patterns.”
He looked toward the corridor leading back to the chamber.
“Instead of giving us ordinary Level 11 or Level 12 Goblins… It gave us elite variants.”
Elise instinctively gripped Moonveil tighter.
“So… What do we do, Hyoren?”
Hyoren's hand settled firmly around the hilt of his broadsword.
“Of course we're fighting them.”
He smiled confidently.
“They're only Level 12. Still weaker than the Guardian we defeated.”
He recalled the monsters' equipment.
“Their weapons also don't appear unique like the Guardian's axes.”
Then his expression became serious again.
“But… There are two of them. So we shouldn't underestimate them.”
His gaze shifted toward Jackey.
“Jackey. You focus on the Goblin Shielder.”
He pointed with his sword.
“Take it down as quickly as possible. Shield users become troublesome once they start using defensive skills.”
A grin appeared on his face.
“So… To keep it simple. Whack it.”
Jackey immediately spun both axes in his hands. His tabby tail spiraled excitedly.
“Yes! Whacking is my specialty!”
Hyoren laughed softly before turning toward Elise.
“Elise… Support Jackey. Focus your attacks on the Shielder first. I'll keep the Saber occupied.”
He nodded confidently.
“Once the Shielder is down… The three of us will gang up on the Saber.”
Elise nodded without hesitation. Her silver hair gently swayed with every motion.
“Okay, Hyoren.”
The strategy decided, no further discussion was needed.
Hyoren turned around. His shield came up. His broadsword lowered into a ready stance.
Behind him, Elise quietly nocked an arrow onto her Moonveil Bow while Jackey rolled his shoulders and twirled both axes one final time.
Freedom Party advanced once more. Toward the chamber. Toward the first monsters they would face on the second floor of Akela Dungeon.
***
Hyoren charged forward with his shield raised.
“Magic Blade.”
Pale blue Aethell coated the edge of his Mithril-Alloy Broadsword, causing the blade to emit a faint glow.
Without slowing his steps, he cast another spell.
“Enchant Maledict.”
Swirling dark energy wrapped around the blue glow, intertwining with it. Now, every successful hit would inflict a weakening curse upon his enemy.
The two goblins immediately noticed the charging human. Their relaxed posture disappeared in an instant. Both monsters gripped their weapons firmly and shifted into combat stances.
Hyoren ignored the Goblin Shielder.
His eyes remained fixed on the Goblin Saber.
“Provoke.”
The skill took effect.
The Goblin Saber's eyes immediately turned bloodshot. With an angry growl, it abandoned its position and charged straight toward Hyoren.
The Goblin Shielder, however, remained where it was. Shield raised. Watching.
It was more cautious...
Hyoren noted silently.
As he prepared to receive the Goblin Saber's attack, Jackey sprinted past him without hesitation. The beastkin headed directly toward the Goblin Shielder.
Hyoren trusted him completely.
His attention remained on the Goblin Saber. The monster raised its two-handed sword and brought it down in a powerful swing.
Hyoren planted his feet firmly. His shield met the attack head-on.
CLANG!
The impact rang throughout the chamber.
His shield absorbed the blow without much difficulty. The force traveled through his arm, but his stance barely shifted.
Not as heavy as the Goblin Berserker's attack… I can block this easily.
The moment the enemy's swing ended, Hyoren counterattacked.
“Quick Slash.”
His Mithril-Alloy Broadsword moved almost automatically, guided by the skill.
The enchanted blade slashed toward the Goblin Saber's torso.
He expected the familiar sensation. Steel cutting flesh. The wet sound of a clean hit. Every goblin he had fought so far—even the Goblin Berserker—had failed to avoid this skill completely.
But—the Goblin Saber suddenly stepped sideways.
With a swift movement, it narrowly evaded the slash by a hair's breadth.
Wha...?
Hyoren's eyes widened.
It dodged?
For a brief instant—he could have sworn the goblin smirked.
Using the same motion, the Goblin Saber immediately retaliated. Its two-handed sword swept sideways from Hyoren's right. Fast. Too fast.
I can't block it!
His shield was still recovering from the previous clash. His sword was still completing the follow-through of Quick Slash.
He instinctively tried to dodge. But there wasn't enough time.
CLANG!
The blade struck his right flank with tremendous force. A sharp pain exploded across his side.
Instead of slicing deeply into his body, the sword scraped across his new chainmail. The Mithril-Alloy rings absorbed most of the slash.
Even so—the impact still got through. A thin line of blood slowly seeped from beneath the chainmail.
It wasn't a deep wound. But it was still a wound.
The Goblin Saber smirked again.
Without wasting the opening, it quickly pulled its sword back before thrusting straight toward Hyoren.
Hyoren gritted his teeth. He twisted his body sideways with all his strength. The blade narrowly missed him.
Taking advantage of the small opening, he jumped backward and quickly recovered his stance.
His shield came up once more. His sword returned to a ready position.
Only then did he briefly glance at his right flank.
A small amount of blood had begun staining the cloth beneath the chainmail.
His new armor had done its job. It had absorbed most of the slash. But the impact had still reached his body.
And it hurt.
***
The fight against the Goblin Shielder wasn't going smoothly either.
Jackey charged past Hyoren and the Goblin Saber without slowing down.
Both axes were already in his hands, ready to strike.
Meanwhile, Elise sprinted along the side of the chamber, keeping close to the wall while searching for a clear line of fire.
Jackey reached the Goblin Shielder first.
His Bloody Axe came crashing down in a heavy overhead swing.
“Eat this, skulker!”
The Goblin Shielder reacted immediately. It raised its buckler with practiced precision.
CLANG!
The buckler intercepted the axe. But instead of absorbing the full force, the goblin skillfully redirected the blow to the side.
Jackey narrowed his golden eyes.
It redirected it...
But he wasn't finished.
Using the momentum of his first attack, he immediately swung the Flying Kite Axe with his left hand.
CLANG!
The Goblin Shielder met it with its short sword. Steel clashed against steel. For a split second, neither side moved—they were deadlocked.
Jackey's golden eyes widened.
It parried...?
From the side of the chamber, Elise saw the opening.
Now...
She didn't hesitate.
Having already found a suitable position, she drew her Moonveil Bow to its full length. The string tightened. Then she released.
SWOOSH!
The arrow streaked through the chamber.
A faint trail of green Aethell followed behind it, making its flight faster, straighter, and more stable—the effect of her new Sylvana's Lavalier.
Jackey smirked.
He expected the arrow to bury itself in the Goblin Shielder's head.
Instead—even while locked in a deadlock against Jackey, the Goblin Shielder noticed the incoming arrow. With nothing more than a slight tilt of its head—the arrow missed by a hair's breadth.
Jackey's eyes widened.
Elise's emerald eyes narrowed.
The Goblin Shielder immediately seized the opportunity.
It slammed its buckler forward.
THUD!
Jackey lost his footing for a brief instant.
The goblin didn't waste the opening. Its short sword flashed.
SQUELCH!
The blade slashed across Jackey's unprotected thigh. Blood immediately stained his pants.
Fortunately, the wound wasn't deep.
Before Jackey could recover, the Goblin Shielder swung again.
A quick follow-up attack. This time aimed at his exposed side.
Fortunately—Elise had already nocked another arrow. She released.
SWOOSH!
The arrow shot toward the Goblin Shielder's flank.
The monster had no choice. It abandoned its attack and quickly raised its buckler.
THUD!
The arrow struck the shield instead, knocking it slightly off balance.
Jackey immediately took advantage of the interruption.
He jumped backward. Creating several steps of distance. His axes rose once more. His playful grin had disappeared.
Only focus remained in his golden eyes.
***
Hyoren briefly glanced toward the other battle.
His expression hardened. He had expected Jackey and Elise to finish quickly and come help him.
Instead—they were locked in a difficult fight of their own.
He immediately refocused on the Goblin Saber.
They're skillful… They're not ordinary goblins. I can't afford to become complacent.
The many easy victories on the first floor had gradually dulled his battle sense.
Even if the battle against the Goblin Berserker had been difficult. But that monster had relied almost entirely on overwhelming strength and terrifying regeneration.
As long as he could mitigate its power and suppress its regeneration—he could fight it.
These two variants were different. The Goblin Shielder. The Goblin Saber. They possessed something far more troublesome.
Technique. Skill.
Hyoren narrowed his dark eyes. His breathing steadied. His aura subtly shifted.
The Goblin Saber moved again. Its two-handed sword came sweeping toward him.
Hyoren planted both feet firmly. His shield rose.
CLANG!
The impact echoed throughout the chamber. He absorbed the blow without losing his footing.
This time—he didn't rush to retaliate with Quick Slash.
Instead, he simply swung his broadsword in a normal slash.
The Goblin Saber calmly sidestepped. The blade cut through empty air. It missed.
Hyoren didn't mind. His priority had changed.
Defense first. Wait until Jackey and Elise finish their battle…
There was no reason to overcommit.
The Goblin Saber's mocking smirk faded slightly. It attacked again. A horizontal slash.
Hyoren chose not to block it.
Instead, he shifted one step backward. The blade swept harmlessly past his chest. The instant it missed—Hyoren counterattacked.
SQUELCH!
His broadsword sliced across the goblin's side.
The wound was shallow. Barely enough to draw blood. The Goblin Saber hardly reacted. But Hyoren didn't need a deep wound. Every successful strike carried the Enchant Maledict.
The weakening curse quietly seeped into the goblin's body.
Focus on defense… Counterattack only when necessary. Never overcommit…
The Goblin Saber swung again.
Hyoren met it with his shield.
CLANG!
Another heavy impact.
The goblin immediately followed with another slash.
Hyoren sidestepped. The sword narrowly missed. He retaliated.
SQUELCH!
Another shallow cut. Another curse applied.
Steel clashed. Footsteps scraped across cracked flagstones. The rhythm of attack and defense continued.
Hyoren made no attempt to finish the fight quickly.
His only objective was to survive. To keep the Goblin Saber's attention fixed entirely on him. To prevent it from interfering with Jackey and Elise.
And with every exchange—the curse continued to accumulate. Little by little. Patiently.
***
Jackey's expression was serious.
He briefly glanced toward Elise. For only a split second, his golden eyes met her emerald ones. That was enough. No words were needed. They understood each other.
The eyes exchanged information. This wasn't an ordinary goblin. It had technique. It was skillful.
Jackey charged once more.
His Bloody Axe descended in a powerful overhead swing.
“Take this!”
CLANG!
The Goblin Shielder raised its buckler and intercepted the attack.
Just like before, it didn't absorb the force directly. It redirected it.
Jackey expected that.
Using the momentum, he swung the Flying Kite Axe with his left hand.
The Goblin Shielder immediately raised its short sword to parry.
But—before the two weapons collided—Jackey released his grip.
Flying Kite Axe spun through the air.
WHOOSH!
The small axe rotated rapidly as it flew past the goblin. Just like during Jackey's duel with Hyoren. Flying Kite Axe wasn't merely an off-hand weapon. It was a throwing axe. One that would fly back to its owner like a boomerang after being thrown.
The Goblin Shielder's eyes narrowed.
Jackey continued pressing forward with Bloody Axe, refusing to give the monster room to breathe.
Meanwhile—Elise had already nocked another arrow—her Moonveil Bow was fully drawn.
Her emerald eyes remained locked on the goblin.
Now...
The Goblin Shielder found itself under attack from three directions.
Jackey continued driving Bloody Axe against its buckler from the front.
Elise's arrow was aimed directly at its head.
Behind it—Flying Kite Axe curved through the air as it returned toward Jackey—aimed at Shielder's defenseless back.
SWOOSH!
Jackey smirked.
Let's see how you deal with this…
But the Goblin Shielder proved itself worthy of its name. It was a goblin that specialized in defensive technique.
Instead of stubbornly maintaining the deadlock—it stepped sideways. Completely abandoning the clash.
Jackey's Bloody Axe swept through empty air.
At almost the same moment—the goblin tilted its head.
Elise's arrow narrowly missed once again.
SWOOSH!
Then, with astonishing speed, the Goblin Shielder pivoted on one foot. Its short sword flashed.
CLANG!
The blade struck Flying Kite Axe, knocking the spinning weapon away before it could hit its back. The white axe clattered on the stone floor.
The goblin immediately jumped backward.
Landing several steps away. Shield raised. Sword ready. Its stance remained composed.
Not a trace of panic showed on its ugly face.
***
Jackey's posture changed.
The Goblin Shielder had proven itself to be skillful. This wasn't an opponent he could overwhelm with ordinary attacks.
He had to go all out.
Near the wall, Elise reached the same conclusion.
She calmly nocked another arrow onto her Moonveil Bow.
“Magic Arrow.”
Pale blue Aethell gathered around the arrowhead, wrapping it in a gentle glow.
She narrowed her emerald eyes, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to release the now-enhanced arrow.
Meanwhile, Jackey raised his left hand.
“Return.”
The white Flying Kite Axe lying on the floor glowed faintly.
Then—it vanished without a sound. In the next instant, it reappeared firmly in Jackey's left hand, guided by the runic inscription engraved within the weapon.
Jackey tightened his grip around the handle. He rolled his shoulders once before lowering his stance.
“Strong Legs.”
Aethell surged through his legs, strengthening every muscle.
For a brief moment—he remained perfectly still—then Jackey exploded forward. His acceleration was so violent it almost created a sonic boom.
The Goblin Shielder didn't retreat. It planted its feet firmly. Shield raised. Sword ready. Waiting to receive the attack head-on.
Jackey grinned. Both axes swung simultaneously.
“Cross Slash!”
The Goblin Shielder immediately raised its buckler. But this time the result was different.
CRACK!
Instead of the familiar metallic clash—the chamber echoed with the sound of something breaking.
Jackey's explosive charge, combined with Cross Slash, overwhelmed the buckler's limit. The shield split into four pieces. Fragments scattered across the cracked flagstones.
The tremendous impact also tore into the goblin's left arm, forcing it backward.
For the first time—the Goblin Shielder's eyes widened. Its defense had been broken.
Jackey's grin widened. He knew the opening had appeared.
Across the chamber, Elise had been waiting for exactly this moment.
Now...
She used her skill.
“Charged Magic Arrow!”
BOOM!
The arrow burst forward with explosive speed.
Wrapped in brilliant pale blue and emerald-green, it became nothing more than a streak of light.
The Goblin Shielder had no shield left. No time to dodge.
The arrow struck true.
SQUELCH!
It pierced straight through the goblin's head. The overwhelming force blasted a fist-sized hole clean through its skull.
The Goblin Shielder froze where it stood.
Then—its body slowly dissolved into countless particles of light.
***
Hyoren exchanged blows with the Goblin Saber again and again. Sounds of metal clashed with metal repeatedly throughout the chamber.
This was the tenth time…
He had already landed at least 10 successful strikes. Ten stacks of Enchant Maledict. The effect was finally becoming obvious.
The Goblin Saber's movements gradually slowed. Its swings no longer carried the same explosive speed as before. Its footwork also became noticeably heavier.
Hyoren briefly glanced toward the other battle.
A smile appeared on his face.
Good… They finished...
He immediately returned his full attention to the Goblin Saber.
The monster swung its two-handed sword once more.
CLANG!
Hyoren received the blow with his shield.
This time—the impact felt considerably lighter. The stacked curse was working. The Goblin Saber also couldn't recover its stance as quickly as before.
Hyoren immediately retaliated.
SQUELCH!
His Mithril-Alloy Broadsword carved another shallow wound across the goblin's chest.
Another stack of the curse seeped into its body.
Then—his party came.
“Big Bro! I came to help!”
Jackey's familiar voice echoed across the chamber.
The cat-clan beastkin charged at full speed. Then leaped.
His Bloody Axe descended toward the Goblin Saber's exposed back.
SCREEECK!
The crimson blur struck. It created a deep gash tore across the monster's back.
The Goblin Saber let out a guttural roar of pain.
But Jackey wasn't finished. His left arm followed immediately. Flying Kite Axe came crashing down.
SCREEECK!
This time a blur of white struck. Another deep wound opened across its back.
“WOHOO! Whacking! And more whacking!”
Near the wall, Elise had already drawn her Moonveil Bow once again.
Her emerald eyes calmly tracked the Goblin Saber as it staggered from Jackey's relentless assault.
Now…
She released the bowstring.
SWOOSH!
The arrow streaked through the air. Leaving a trail of green.
SQUELCH!
It pierced straight through the Goblin Saber's throat. The monster's eyes widened. Its two-handed sword slipped from its grasp.
CLANG!
The weapon hit the stone floor.
The goblin staggered backward, desperately clutching its throat with both hands as dark blood poured between its fingers.
It let out only a choking gurgle.
Hyoren didn't let the opportunity pass. He planted his feet firmly. Then drove his Mithril-Alloy Broadsword straight forward.
SQUELCH!
The blade pierced through the Goblin Saber's leather armor—through its heart—and out through its back.
For a brief moment—the Goblin Saber froze completely. Its bloodshot eyes remained wide open.
Then—just like every dungeon monster before it—the Goblin Saber’s body slowly dissolved into countless particles of light.