Chapter 232 – Revenge of the Avenger
Chapter 232
Revenge of the Avenger
Date : Day 16 of Deepwinter 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Hyoren gave the Goblin Avenger one last glance.
The jagged black armor. The towering figure stood nearly two meters tall. The massive claw gauntlets covered both arms. And the dark purple mist that slowly seeped through the gaps in its armor.
The goblin hadn't moved.
It simply stood there at the far end of the chamber, as if patiently waiting for them to approach.
Hyoren's eyes lingered on it for another moment before he finally pulled himself away from the corner.
He turned toward his party.
“Everyone, the pattern really does hold.”
His voice was calm, but his expression remained serious.
“Just as we theorized. Even-numbered floors have elite monsters.”
Elise nodded while keeping her Moonveil Bow ready in her hands. Arianna gave a small nod as well. Jackey's ears twitched as he glanced toward the chamber.
Hyoren continued.
“And this one is called Goblin Avenger.”
He briefly looked back toward the corner.
“It's definitely a dungeon-exclusive variant. Which means we can't assume we know what it can do.”
Elise's emerald eyes narrowed slightly.
“Goblin Avenger…”
She repeated the name quietly.
Her gaze drifted toward the corner again, as though she were trying to connect the name with the strange creature standing beyond it.
Then she looked back at Hyoren.
“The special goblins we've encountered so far have all given us a clue through their names.”
Hyoren nodded.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Arianna lifted one hand toward her chin.
“Indeed.”
Her expression became thoughtful.
“The first-floor Guardian was Goblin Berserker.”
She paused for a moment.
“And it certainly lived up to its name.”
Arianna's eyes shifted toward Hyoren.
“Its attacks were extremely powerful, and its regeneration was unusually high.”
Jackey's ears suddenly perked up.
He looked at Hyoren with a wide grin.
“Just like Big Bro when he uses his Unique Skill!”
Hyoren blinked.
Arianna's lips curled upward.
Elise covered her mouth with one hand. A soft giggle escaped her.
“Fufufu.”
Hyoren could only give him a wry smile.
“Well…”
He scratched his cheek.
“I suppose there are some similarities.”
Jackey's shoulders shook as he continued laughing.
Hyoren sighed lightly before adding,
“Goblin Berserker really does berserk… just like me… when I use Berserker…”
That was enough to make Elise giggle again.
Arianna lifted her hand to cover her mouth, her shoulders moving slightly.
“Ohoho…”
Jackey laughed even louder.
“SEE?! Big Bro admits it!”
Hyoren shook his head.
“Anyway.”
He raised one finger, steering the conversation back toward the matter at hand.
“The second floor had several variants too.”
His gaze moved between his party members.
“Goblin Shielder used a shield to protect the others. Goblin Lancer used a lance, while Goblin Saber used a saber.”
He raised another finger.
“And Goblin Assassin relied on sneak attacks.”
Elise nodded.
“Even their names were telling us what they were capable of.”
Hyoren nodded.
“Exactly.”
He lowered his hand.
“Everything was hinted at by the name.”
Elise gently tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one of her pointed ears.
“And the second-floor Guardian was Goblin Ruler.”
Arianna's eyes brightened slightly as she remembered it.
“It ruled over more than one thousand goblins.”
She gave a small, elegant smile.
“Quite an appropriate name for it.”
Jackey nodded vigorously.
“Yeah! There were goblins everywhere!”
He spread his arms as though trying to recreate the sheer size of that army.
“And then there was the last floor's Guardian!”
Arianna looked toward him.
“Goblin Rider.”
Jackey immediately pointed at her.
“YES!”
His grin widened.
“It rode a mount!”
He paused dramatically.
“Just like the name!”
Elise giggled softly.
Arianna covered her mouth again.
“Ohoho. When you put it that way, the pattern is rather obvious.”
Hyoren smiled.
He had to admit it. The dungeon's naming convention had been remarkably straightforward so far. His gaze slowly returned toward the corner.
The smile faded from his face.
“Then…”
He tapped his chin.
“What is Goblin Avenger going to do?”
He looked toward the others.
“Avenger…”
The word lingered for a moment.
“It should avenge something, right?”
Jackey tilted his head. Elise looked thoughtful. Arianna remained silent, waiting for Hyoren to continue.
Hyoren frowned slightly.
“But what would it want to avenge?”
His eyes drifted toward the chamber again.
“Could it be the goblins we've killed?”
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then Elise's shoulders began to shake. A small giggle escaped her.
“Fufu…”
Arianna covered her mouth.
“Ohohoho…”
Jackey didn't bother hiding his reaction.
“HAHAHA!”
His loud laughter echoed through the corridor.
Hyoren himself smiled. The idea sounded ridiculous the moment he said it aloud.
Arianna eventually lowered her hand.
“Perhaps it is related to the number of goblins we've defeated?”
She looked toward the chamber.
“The more goblins we kill, the stronger the Goblin Avenger becomes.”
Elise furrowed her eyebrows then immediately shook her head.
“That would be rather troublesome.”
She smiled gently.
“We've already killed thousands of goblins.”
Arianna paused.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
Jackey's laughter returned.
“HAHAHA! That's way too many!”
Even Hyoren couldn't hold back a chuckle.
Elise giggled beside him.
Arianna covered her mouth once more, her shoulders trembling with quiet laughter.
“Ohoho… In that case, I would rather hope that isn't how it works.”
Hyoren nodded.
“Yeah.”
He glanced toward the Goblin Avenger.
“If that were true, we'd have created a monster we couldn't possibly defeat.”
The laughter gradually settled.
The four of them returned their attention toward the chamber. The Goblin Avenger was still standing there. Still. Silent. Waiting.
Hyoren's expression became serious again.
He tightened his grip around his Steel Kite Shield.
“Well, there's no use thinking about it too much.”
He raised the shield slightly.
“Let's find out.”
Jackey's expression immediately changed.
The boredom that had plagued him for the past hour disappeared in an instant. His tabby cat ears stood upright. His tail moved behind him. He reached for his weapons and drew both his Bloody Axe and Blackmaw Tomahawk.
“That's the language I like, Big Bro!”
He rolled his shoulders and gave the two axes an excited twirl.
“Time to whack that skulker!”
Jackey's grin widened.
“Avenger or not, a skulker is a skulker! WOHOO!”
Elise smiled as she adjusted her grip on Moonveil Bow.
Arianna raised her Quadraflux Weaver, her expression composed once again.
“Then let us see what this one can do.”
Hyoren nodded.
He took one final glance toward the corner. Beyond it was the enormous chamber. The ancient cracked walls. The uneven stone floor. The dark, silent figure standing before the corridor at the far end.
The Goblin Avenger.
Hyoren turned toward the corner.
He stepped forward. Elise followed close behind. Arianna came next, with Jackey bringing up the rear. Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone as they approached the corner.
Hyoren stopped just before the edge.
He leaned forward slightly and peeked into the chamber once more.
The Goblin Avenger remained exactly where it had been. Waiting.
Hyoren tightened his grip on his shield. Then he moved around the corner.
One by one, his party members followed. Freedom Party finally stepped into the vast chamber. And after nearly an hour of nothing but corridors and traps, they had finally found their first monster on the fourth floor.
***
Hyoren entered the vast chamber.
The moment he stepped beyond the corner, Freedom Party spread out.
Jackey immediately moved parallel to Hyoren, keeping enough distance to approach the Goblin Avenger from the side.
Elise moved along the wall, hugging the edge of the chamber as she searched for a good angle for her arrows.
Arianna remained farther behind. She had already positioned herself where she could safely cast her spells while keeping sight of the battlefield.
Hyoren continued forward.
His right hand tightened around Dawn Breaker. His left hand raised the Steel Kite Shield.
He activated his skills and spells one after another.
“Magic Blade.”
Pale blue Aethell covered Dawn Breaker's blade. The sword gave off a faint glow as the energy wrapped around its surface.
Hyoren followed immediately with another spell.
“Enchant Maledict.”
A dark aura mixed with the pale blue Aethell surrounding his sword. The combination gave Dawn Breaker an ominous appearance.
Every successful strike would gradually weaken the Goblin Avenger. The Maledict curse would slowly reduce its speed, attack, and defense. It wouldn't happen all at once. But as long as Hyoren continued landing hits, the effects would accumulate.
Then he activated the last spell.
“Accel Zone.”
A glowing ring appeared beneath his feet. The spell followed him as he advanced, ready to grant everyone inside the area a boost to their speed.
With all his preparations complete, Hyoren continued across the vast chamber.
He was almost halfway across when the Goblin Avenger finally moved. Its body suddenly shifted.
“ROOOAAAR!”
The roar shook the chamber.
The Goblin Avenger charged. Both massive claw gauntlets were raised, their three metallic claws positioned to strike. The sight was menacing.
Hyoren immediately raised his shield.
“Provoke.”
A wave of Aethell spread outward from his body. The invisible force rushed across the chamber and struck the Goblin Avenger.
The goblin roared again. Its attention was completely fixed on Hyoren.
Hyoren planted his feet. He braced himself.
The Goblin Avenger closed the remaining distance. Its right claw swung down.
CLANG!
The three metallic claws crashed against Hyoren's Steel Kite Shield. The impact traveled through the shield and into his arm.
Heavy!
The force behind the attack was significant.
Hyoren's expression tightened. This was stronger than he had expected. Before he could respond, the Goblin Avenger immediately followed with its left claw.
The attack came low. Hyoren quickly brought Dawn Breaker down and parried it.
CLANG!
The impact reverberated through his sword.
The Goblin Avenger didn't stop. Its right claw came again.
CLANG!
Another heavy strike slammed into Hyoren's shield.
The speed was significant. The force was significant. And more importantly—it wasn't giving him an opening.
Hyoren gritted his teeth.
I can't counterattack.
Every time he tried to create an opportunity, another claw came flying toward him. He had no choice but to concentrate entirely on defending himself.
The Goblin Avenger struck again. Hyoren parried with Dawn Breaker.
CLANG!
The clash rang through the chamber.
He held his ground.
At least one thing was becoming clear. It didn't seem like the Goblin Avenger had become stronger because of the number of goblins they had killed. If that really were its ability, the strength it should have gained from the thousands of goblins Freedom Party had defeated would have made this battle absurd.
That was not the case.
Hyoren blocked another strike.
This one is strong…
He shifted his shield and absorbed another blow.
But at least it's still manageable…
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
I don't need to attack it.
His eyes briefly moved past the Goblin Avenger. The others were already in position.
They would attack…
And Hyoren only needed to keep the Goblin Avenger occupied.
At that exact moment—Jackey finally arrived.
“I came to help, Big Bro!”
Jackey launched himself into the air. His twin axes were raised above him.
“Eat this, skulker!”
He swung both axes downward.
“Cross Slash!”
Both axes struck the Goblin Avenger's back.
SCREEECK!
The blades tore across the dark armor.
The Goblin Avenger didn't even attempt to dodge. It continued attacking Hyoren.
An X-shaped wound appeared across its back. Blood spurted from the wound as Jackey's two strikes tore into the exposed flesh beneath the armor. The armor had reduced the damage enough to prevent the attack from being immediately fatal.
But the force behind Jackey's attack was tremendous. The Goblin Avenger staggered slightly.
Jackey landed behind it.
“Eat that!”
He laughed.
“HAHA!”
Then he quickly jumped back to create distance.
At almost the same moment—a Fireball flew across the chamber. And an arrow followed alongside it.
Arianna's spell struck first.
BOOM!
Flames engulfed the Goblin Avenger.
Elise's arrow followed immediately.
SQUELCH!
The arrow buried itself in the Goblin Avenger's right shoulder.
Hyoren watched the attacks land.
The Goblin Avenger had been struck from three directions. Its attention had been divided. Its back had been cut open. Its body had been burned. An arrow was embedded in its shoulder.
Hyoren smirked.
This is easy…
But before he could finish the thought—the dark purple mist surrounding the Goblin Avenger suddenly flared. The mist expanded violently around its body.
The Goblin Avenger slowly straightened.
It didn't stagger anymore. It didn't retreat. It didn't even appear to flinch.
Hyoren's smirk disappeared.
The Goblin Avenger stood there as though it had barely felt the attacks.
Then—Hyoren suddenly coughed.
“Cough!”
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His fingers loosened. Dawn Breaker slipped from his hand. The sword struck the stone floor with a clanking sound.
Hyoren froze.
Pain exploded across his body. His back felt as though it had just been slashed open. His body burned from the inside. And then a sharp, agonizing pain struck his right arm.
His breathing became ragged.
What the…?
He couldn't understand what had happened.
A moment ago, he had been standing directly in front of the Goblin Avenger. The next moment, his body was screaming in pain.
Hyoren gritted his teeth.
The pain was intense. Far more intense than anything he had expected from the exchange.
Something had just happened. Something he hadn't seen coming.
***
Everyone had seen it. Something had happened to Hyoren.
Jackey had already retreated after his attack, but the moment he saw Hyoren suddenly cough blood and drop Dawn Breaker, his eyes widened.
“Big Bro! What happened?!”
He took a step forward, his tabby cat ears standing straight up.
Further away, Elise and Arianna had also noticed Hyoren's sudden condition. They were too far for their voices to reach him clearly, but their expressions showed the same concern.
Hyoren didn't have time to answer. The Goblin Avenger charged again.
Hyoren gritted his teeth.
“I'm fine, everyone!”
He couldn't afford to let the others lose their focus.
His eyes dropped toward Dawn Breaker. The sword had fallen beside him.
Hyoren immediately slammed his foot against the hilt. The force sent Dawn Breaker spinning into the air. He reached up and caught the sword. His grip tightened around it.
Then he quickly checked himself.
His back was fine. There was no wound. Not even a scratch. His right shoulder was also completely intact. There was no burn anywhere on his body.
Nothing had pierced him. Nothing had slashed him. Yet—the pain had been real.
It had felt as though his back had been cut open. As though his body had been burned. As though an arrow had been driven into his right shoulder. The sensations had been so vivid that his body had reacted as if those injuries had actually happened.
Hyoren's Magic Eyes were still active. He checked himself again.
Healthy.
No wounds. No abnormal condition. Nothing.
I don't have any wounds…
His eyes narrowed.
I'm still healthy… Then why did I feel that pain…?
The pain gradually began to fade. But the question remained.
The Goblin Avenger attacked again. Hyoren raised his shield.
CLANG!
The claw gauntlet slammed into the Steel Kite Shield. Hyoren absorbed the impact.
His mind raced while he defended himself against the relentless assault. He couldn't afford to stop moving.
Another claw came toward him. He parried with Dawn Breaker.
CLANG!
His eyes flicked toward the Goblin Avenger.
He saw the arrow jutting from its right shoulder. He saw the burned section of its body. And he saw the wounds across its back. Blood was still spilling from the X-shaped wound Jackey had created.
Hyoren's eyes widened slightly.
Wait…
He looked at the Goblin Avenger.
Then at his own shoulder. The arrow. The burning sensation. The wound across his back. His mind suddenly connected the pieces.
Don't tell me…
Hyoren parried another strike.
CLANG!
The realization struck him with the force of a blow.
The wounds it receives… Are those the same things I'm feeling…?
The Goblin Avenger swung again.
Hyoren blocked.
CLANG!
His eyes narrowed.
Its ability is…
He ducked beneath another claw.
…redirecting the pain from its wounds toward the surrounding enemy…?
The thought was absurd. Yet the evidence was right in front of him. He had felt every injury the Goblin Avenger had just received. The slash across its back. The fire burned its body. The arrow buried in its shoulder.
Hyoren had felt them all. And yet his body remained completely unharmed.
Hyoren glanced toward the dark purple mist seeping through the Goblin Avenger's armor.
Then he remembered what had happened. The attacks had landed. The dark mist had suddenly flared. And immediately afterward, the phantom pain had struck him.
His expression hardened.
So that's it…
He parried another attack.
It really does punish its attacker with the pain of its own wounds… Damn it…
The ability was absurd.
The Goblin Avenger was already a powerful opponent. Its armor was tough. Its attacks were fast and heavy.
And now it had an ability that could make its opponent experience the pain of the damage it received.
Hyoren blocked another strike.
The others were still watching.
Elise and Arianna remained ready with their weapons and spells, but neither rushed forward.
They had seen what happened. They also understood that Hyoren had been struck by something immediately after the Goblin Avenger was attacked. They were waiting for his order.
Hyoren glanced toward them.
Then his eyes shifted toward Jackey. The Cat-clan Beastkin had attacked the Goblin Avenger directly. Yet he hadn't shown any sign of experiencing the same pain.
Hyoren's expression became even more focused.
Jackey didn't feel anything…
So it might not simply redirect the pain to everyone nearby.
Could it only transfer the pain to a single enemy…?
Perhaps not even the person who actually caused the wound.
Hyoren's grip tightened around his shield.
Then he looked back at the Goblin Avenger. The dark mist continued to seep through the gaps in its armor. He needed to know exactly how this ability worked.
We need to test it…
Another claw came toward him. Hyoren raised his shield. The impact shook his arm.
The Goblin Avenger had already proven itself to be a strong enemy. But now Hyoren understood that its strength wasn't the only problem. Its strange ability was going to make this fight considerably more complicated.
***
Hyoren's mind raced as he continued fighting the Goblin Avenger. There were two possibilities for how its ability worked. One is range-based. And another is number-based.
Jackey had already jumped back after his attack. He was more than five meters away from the Goblin Avenger when the dark mist flared earlier.
Hyoren, meanwhile, was still standing directly in front of it. He was within melee range.
Another claw came toward him. Hyoren raised his shield.
CLANG!
The impact shook his arm.
His eyes remained fixed on the Goblin Avenger.
The ability was either based on distance… Or it could only target a single enemy…
Hyoren needed to know which one.
He decided to test the range first. After blocking another slash, Hyoren shouted toward his party.
“Everyone! Prepare for any ranged attack! Don't engage in close range!”
He blocked another strike.
“And wait for my signal!”
He didn't wait for their confirmation. He trusted his party members. They understood his orders. And they always executed them properly.
Hyoren focused on the Goblin Avenger again.
Another claw came down.
CLANG!
He absorbed the attack with his shield.
Then Hyoren saw his opening.
“Shield Bash!”
BANG!
His shield slammed into the Goblin Avenger. The impact forced the armored goblin backward several steps.
Hyoren immediately used the opening as well. He jumped backward, creating distance between himself and the Goblin Avenger. Once he had moved far enough away, he shouted.
“Everyone, now!”
The party moved immediately.
Hyoren raised his right arm. His hand extended toward the Goblin Avenger.
“Precision Throw.”
The Ninja Glove on his hand flashed. A hidden kunai shot forward.
SWOOSH!
The weapon flew across the chamber.
SQUELCH!
The kunai struck the Goblin Avenger's right leg. The blade pierced deep enough to pin the leg down.
The Goblin Avenger staggered. Its attempt to charge was interrupted.
At almost the same moment, Jackey attacked from a distance. He drew back his arm and hurled his new Blackmaw Tomahawk.
“Precision Throw!”
The black axe spun through the air. Its blade struck the Goblin Avenger's back.
SCREEECK!
The axe tore through the damaged armor.
Arianna followed. A Fireball streaked across the chamber.
BOOM!
Flames engulfed the Goblin Avenger once again.
Elise's arrow came immediately afterward.
SQUELCH!
The arrow struck its right flank.
Another series of attacks had landed. The Goblin Avenger was wounded again. Blood appeared across its armor. Its body staggered beneath the combined assault.
Then—the dark purple mist suddenly flared again.
Hyoren's eyes narrowed.
He braced himself. His muscles tensed. He was ready for the phantom pain.
The pain from the Goblin Avenger's wounds. The burning. The sensation of something piercing his body. The feeling of his flesh being torn open.
He waited. But nothing happened.
Hyoren's eyes widened slightly.
The Goblin Avenger remained surrounded by the dark mist. Yet Hyoren felt nothing. Not even the slightest trace of the agony from before.
His expression slowly changed.
So…
He lowered his shield slightly.
It really is range-based…
Hyoren glanced at the distance between himself and the Goblin Avenger.
About five meters…
He had been outside the range when the attacks landed. And even though the Goblin Avenger's dark mist had flared exactly as before, the pain had not reached him.
Hyoren's eyes narrowed as the pieces finally fell into place.
It can redirect the pain to enemies within its range…
He looked toward the others.
But it can't reach someone who's far enough away…
Hyoren's grip tightened around his shield.
So we should avoid melee range…
A small smirk appeared on his face.
***
Hyoren finally understood how the Goblin Avenger's ability worked. He remained standing in the middle of the vast chamber, his shield raised as he watched the wounded monster.
The Goblin Avenger was in terrible condition.
Most of its body was covered in burns from Arianna's fireball. Several wounds had torn through its dark armor. Arrows remained embedded in its body, including the one sticking from its right shoulder and another lodged in its flank. Jackey's X-shaped wound still stretched across its back. Blood continued to trickle from the damaged flesh.
Hyoren watched carefully.
It isn't regenerating…
The wounds remained.
So that was probably the extent of its special ability…
It could redirect the pain of its wounds. It could make its opponent experience the injuries it had received. But it didn't seem to possess any other troublesome ability.
Hyoren exhaled slowly.
For a normal monster, though… It is strong… Very strong…
Its physical strength alone had been enough to keep Hyoren on the defensive. And its ability made attacking it from close range extremely dangerous. A monster with high physical ability and an ability like that was troublesome.
But now—it was dying.
Hyoren looked at the Goblin Avenger's battered body.
The monster was struggling to remain standing. The kunai was still lodged in its leg, making its movements awkward. Its speed had already dropped considerably. Its reflexes were slower. It was wounded from head to toe.
Hyoren tightened his grip around Dawn Breaker.
Time to finish this...
He raised his shield slightly. His eyes remained fixed on the Goblin Avenger.
If I kill it with a single attack…
His gaze shifted briefly toward the dark mist surrounding its armor.
But if the monster dies from the attack… The ability shouldn't have a chance to activate again… Right…?
Hyoren narrowed his eyes.
I need to test it…
He charged. His boots struck the stone floor as he closed the distance.
The Goblin Avenger tried to move. Its injured leg struggled beneath its weight. It couldn't accelerate like before.
Hyoren didn't give it time to recover. He stepped into striking range. Dawn Breaker rose.
The Goblin Avenger's beady dark eyes remained fixed on him.
Then Hyoren swung.
“Quick Slash.”
SQUELCH!
Dawn Breaker tore through the Goblin Avenger's unprotected neck. Blood burst from the wound. The towering body froze.
For a moment, it remained standing. Its massive claw gauntlets hung motionless at its sides.
Then its beady dark eyes slowly lost their light.
The Goblin Avenger's body stopped moving. The dark purple mist surrounding its armor began to fade.
Hyoren immediately tensed.
He waited. But nothing happened. No phantom pain. No burning sensation. No invisible wound. Nothing.
Hyoren slowly lowered his shield.
So the killing blow really does prevent it from redirecting the pain…
His grip on Dawn Breaker relaxed slightly. The fight was over.
The Goblin Avenger stood motionless before him. No dark aura remained. Its enormous body had finally gone still.
Arianna and Elise began approaching from behind.
Jackey grinned as he walked toward Hyoren.
“We did it, Big Bro!”
Hyoren turned slightly toward him. A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Yeah. We did it.”
After nearly an hour of traps and exploration, they had finally encountered their first monster on the fourth floor. And they had defeated it.
But then—Hyoren's expression changed.
Something is wrong...
His instincts suddenly screamed at him.
He looked back toward the Goblin Avenger. The body was still standing. That alone was strange. Monsters inside the dungeon were supposed to dissolve into particles of Aethell when they died.
Yet the Goblin Avenger hadn't.
Hyoren waited. A few seconds passed. Still nothing.
His eyes narrowed.
The monster was clearly dead. Its eyes were empty. Its body didn't move. There was no sign of life left within it.
Hyoren activated Magic Eyes again.
The result appeared before him.
State: Died.
Not Healthy. Not Injured. Died.
Hyoren's heart sank.
Then why hasn't it dissolved?
His instincts flared even harder.
“Everyone, don't approach!”
His voice was sharp enough to stop everyone immediately.
Jackey froze. Elise stopped mid-step. Arianna's expression changed as she immediately raised her Quadraflux Weaver.
Hyoren didn't take his eyes off the Goblin Avenger. This time, he focused deeper. The Aethell core inside the Goblin Avenger suddenly swelled.
Hyoren's eyes widened.
The core is still active!?
But that shouldn't have been possible. The monster was dead. Its body was dead. Hyoren's Magic Eyes clearly showed Died.
Yet the Aethell core was behaving as though something had just been activated.
Hyoren stared.
That is... A spell is activating…
His breathing stopped for a moment.
Don't tell me…
His eyes widened further.
Goblin Avenger… Avenger…
The meaning of the name suddenly struck him.
“Revenge…”
The word escaped his lips. Then his expression changed completely.
“Everyone! Run!”
Jackey didn't hesitate. His instincts reacted before he could even think. He immediately leapt backward, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the Goblin Avenger.
Elise raised her Moonveil Bow while retreating.
“Hyoren, what happened!?”
Arianna also moved back, her eyes locked on the monster.
“Leader!”
Hyoren couldn't answer. He was too close. Much too close.
The Goblin Avenger's Aethell core continued swelling.
Hyoren's eyes widened.
He raised his left arm. His Steel Kite Shield came up in front of him. He braced his entire body behind it.
Then—the Goblin Avenger's core reached its limit.
BOOM!
The explosion erupted. It wasn't a simple burst of energy. The entire chamber seemed to shake. A massive wave of fire and Aethell exploded outward from the Goblin Avenger's body. Stone shattered beneath the blast. Fragments of the ancient floor were thrown into the air. A violent shockwave swept through the chamber. Flames followed.
Hyoren was caught directly in the center of it.
The Steel Kite Shield took the first impact. The force slammed into the shield violently.
Hyoren's arms were driven backward.
The shield couldn't absorb it all. The remaining force struck his body. His feet left the ground. His entire body was thrown backward. He flew through the air before crashing hard onto the stone floor.
THUD!
His body rolled. Once. Twice. Again. And again. He finally came to a stop several meters away.
Dawn Breaker flew from his hand and skidded across the stone floor.
The Steel Kite Shield lay beside him. Its once-solid surface was slightly dented.
Smoke rose from Hyoren's armor. Burn marks spread across his exposed skin. Some areas were red and blistered from the heat.
Blood trickled from a cut along his forehead before running down the side of his face.
His breathing was shallow.
He tried to move one arm. It trembled. Pain spread through his ribs every time he breathed. His body had taken the explosion at extremely close range. Even the shield that had protected him had been damaged.
Hyoren coughed.
“Cough!”
Blood spilled from his mouth. His vision blurred. He tried to push himself up with one hand. His arm shook. It couldn't support him.
His body collapsed back onto the stone.
“BIG BRO!”
Jackey's voice tore through the smoke.
He sprinted toward Hyoren. His usual excitement was completely gone. His face was pale. His tabby cat ears were flattened against his head.
“Big Bro!”
He dropped beside Hyoren and stared at his battered body.
The sight terrified him.
Hyoren's armor was dented. Burns covered his body. Blood stained his face and clothing.
Jackey's hands trembled.
“Big Bro…?”
There was no answer.
Jackey leaned closer.
“Big Bro! Wake up!”
Elise was already running toward them.
“Hyoren!”
Her voice trembled. She dropped beside him and immediately looked over his body, her eyes rapidly moving from one injury to another.
“Hyoren!”
She touched his shoulder carefully.
“Can you hear me?”
Nothing.
Her expression tightened. The warmth that normally accompanied her smile was completely gone. She looked toward the ruined Goblin Avenger, then immediately back toward Hyoren.
Arianna arrived moments later.
“Leader!”
The crimson-haired mage hurried toward them. Her normally composed expression had vanished.
She stared at Hyoren's condition.
The dented armor. The burns. The blood. The unconscious body lying motionless on the stone floor.
Arianna's eyes widened.
For a moment, she couldn't say anything.
Then she quickly knelt beside him.
“Leader…”
Her voice was quiet. Worried.
She looked at Elise.
“Is he…”
Elise shook her head slightly.
“I don't know yet.”
Her voice was unsteady.
“But he's injured.”
Jackey clenched his fists.
His eyes were fixed on Hyoren.
“He was right there…”
His voice became quieter.
“He took all of it…”
The three of them remained around their unconscious leader.
Behind them, the smoke slowly began to clear. The Goblin Avenger was finally gone. Its body had dissolved into Aethell.
The first monster of the fourth floor had been defeated. But the victory no longer mattered.
Freedom Party had finally killed their first monster on the fourth floor after nearly an hour of traps and exploration. Yet the Goblin Avenger had proven to be their most troublesome opponent so far.
It had forced Hyoren into a difficult close-range battle. It had turned every wound against him.
And even after its death—it had taken its revenge.