Chapter 147: Into Action
Arthur jolted into action, he sprinted toward the goblins with deadly intent, his soul sword materializing in his hand as he closed the distance. The first goblin never even saw him coming—Arthur’s blade sliced clean through its torso in a single, fluid motion, the creature’s body collapsing in two pieces before it had a chance to react.
The metallic scent of goblin blood filled the air as Arthur immediately pivoted toward his next target. This goblin was slightly larger than the first, its gnarled hands clutching a rusty dagger that gleamed with a sickly patina. The creature’s yellow eyes widened in recognition of the threat, but its reaction was too slow and too panicked to be effective.
The goblin swung wildly at Arthur, its movements frantic and uncoordinated. Arthur stepped back strategically, his body flowing like water as he dodged the desperate swing. The rusty blade passed harmlessly through the air where he had been standing just moments before. Without missing a beat, Arthur stepped back in and drove his soul sword forward, the blade finding its mark as it impaled the goblin through the chest.
The creature’s dying shriek echoed off the crumbling walls, but Arthur was already moving. The third goblin, either braver or more desperate than its companions, did not give Arthur even a second to recover. It launched itself through the air with surprising agility, its razor-sharp claws extended and aimed directly at Arthur’s throat.
Arthur knew he wouldn’t be able to pull his sword free from the second goblin’s corpse and counter the attack in time. Instead, he made a split-second decision. He allowed his soul sword to dissipate, the weapon vanishing into motes of shadow energy.
Spinning toward the airborne goblin, Arthur lifted his forearm to intercept the creature’s claws. As he moved, he coated his entire arm in his shadow armor. The dark energy wrapped around his limb like a second skin, creating an barrier that gleamed with an otherworldly sheen.
The goblin’s claws struck Arthur’s protected forearm with a sound like metal scraping against stone. Sparks flew as the creature’s natural weapons scraped harmlessly against the shadow armor, unable to penetrate the supernatural defense. The goblin’s eyes widened in shock and confusion.
Arthur seized the moment of the creature’s confusion. Stepping in close, he extended his hand toward the goblin’s face, his entire palm and fingers now covered in the shadow that had protected his arm. The shadow armor around his hand pulsed with malevolent power, responding to his intent with eager anticipation.
Arthur’s fingers closed around the goblin’s skull with implacable force. The creature scratched and clawed fruitlessly at his shadow-armored hand, its efforts as futile as trying to scratch through solid steel. Arthur’s grip slowly tightened, the pressure building slowly.