Chapter 14 : Goblin Warlord

[Entering the ‘Boss Room’.]

My vision suddenly blacked out, and the air changed drastically.

Still, it was better than what I had experienced on the 1st floor.

This too might have been because my adaptability had increased.

Before my vision returned, I first rechecked the sensations in my body.

-Grip…

The solid feel of the shield against the back of my hand, and the texture of its leather grip.

After tensing to check my equipment, I also tested the movement of various parts of my body.

It was like a light warm-up before a major undertaking.

Finally, Dooyoon opened his eyes.

“Kkiireureuk! Krerek!”

“Kieeeek!!”

Ferocious cries from those who had spotted the intruder greeted him.

“It’s the Goblin Royal Guard!”

Han Jihyuk, standing at the front, was the first to brief the situation.

On their dark green skin, indecipherable white tattoos were added.

The martial prowess of each individual also seemed superior.

“Two Goblin Shamans! Five warriors! And three archers!”

“Understood…!”

Dooyoon also braced himself and stood next to Han Jihyuk.

In combat situations, he, Han Jihyuk, and Jo Harin took the vanguard positions.

Jung Ahyeon and Cha Yoonha were in charge of combat support and powerful firepower from the rear.

“There are more of them than before! We’ll cover your backs as much as possible, so focus on the battle for now!”

Knowing who those words were directed at, Dooyoon replied in a louder voice.

“Yes!”

Dooyoon had to accomplish as much as possible in this boss room.

After all, his primary goal was his own growth.

“Hyungnim, what about the Warlord?”

Dooyoon’s gaze naturally turned to the area behind the Goblin Royal Guard.

Towards ‘GreenUgly’, who was striking a pose.

“We’ll probably have to crush these b*stards first before he comes out! Let’s deal with the Royal Guard first!”

‘He’s d*mn cunning.’

Indeed, the Goblin Warlord, the master of the boss room, was merely observing from the back and didn’t step forward first.

This was also information Dooyoon had encountered several times in the gallery.

‘The resonance hasn’t happened yet.’

He couldn’t just expect the same situation as with the Great Slime.

Even if he could trust them within the gallery.

Bringing that relationship into reality was another matter entirely.

Inside the tower, a ‘coercive force’ is activated.

It was the same phenomenon as when the Great Slime spoke kindly but acted to kill him and the other hunters.

That ‘GreenUgly’ would probably be in the same situation.

GreenUgly, the Goblin Warlord, glared at Dooyoon.

Pure malice towards the intruder.

Unlike when he only saw pictures in the gallery, a murderous gaze swept over Dooyoon.

It was by no means a friendly one.

A chilling sensation brushed past him for a moment, but compared to the ‘disgusting pictures’ he had seen before, it was rather tame.

“They’re coming!”

The Goblin Warlord signaled the start of the battle with a ferocious roar.

The Goblin Royal Guard, having received the command, simultaneously rushed towards the hunters.

First-

Han Jihyuk’s massive shield clashed with three goblin warriors at the same time.

“Hyungnim!”

“I’m fine, so watch for an opening and take them down one by one!”

“Yes!”

Han Jihyuk reliably handled the tanking.

The opportunity was placed solely in Dooyoon’s hands.

“Dooyoon-ssi! Leave the rear to Yoonha and Ahyeon; we’ll start from the front!”

“Yes!”

Jo Harin instructed, daggers in both hands.

It was the first time he had seen her step forward to fight directly.

Until now, only Han Jihyuk and Dooyoon had engaged in battle, for the sake of combat experience.

Jo Harin’s strike, like a flash of light, aimed for the wrists of two goblin warriors.

The goblins, their tendons severed in an instant, let out painful screams.

“Dooyoon-ssi!”

Not missing the momentary opening, Jo Harin called out Dooyoon’s name.

There was no need to answer.

The meal was already prepared under optimal conditions.

He just needed to do his best to easily target the prey before him.

-Kkeudeuk!

Gripping the hilt of the sword in his hand tightly, he swung it straight at the goblin warrior.

The target, having lost its weapon, had no way to defend.

-Thwack!

“Keok!”

Just like before, the goblin warrior with the sword embedded in its nape staggered.

Goblin flesh was tough, so it took considerable effort to pull out a sword once embedded.

Therefore, rather than pulling out the sword, he let go of the hilt to secure mobility.

[Title: Looking at newbie hunter b*stards,]

[-They often get killed by follow-up attacks because they obsess over their equipment.]

[The fact is… life is real combat, that’s what it is.]

[Whether you drop your weapon or whatever,]

[Shouldn’t you dodge the incoming attack first?]

He had learned this from the BossMob Gallery as well.

Make judgments quickly, and act decisively based on them.

Dooyoon had just abandoned his sword, but he still had other usable equipment left.

The one he had also used to land the final blow on the Great Slime before.

A strike with his shield slammed squarely into the goblin beside him.

-Kwadeudeuk!

With the sound of a face caving in, a death cry echoed.

Dooyoon, gauging the extent of the damage with a familiar feel, immediately looked for his next target.

He had dealt with two of the three goblin warriors at the front.

It was obvious their breath would be cut short, but what he needed to be careful about was the immediate aftermath.

The Goblin Royal Guard, rather than being flustered by their comrades’ injuries, chose to turn their attention to Dooyoon, the center of the

incident.

[Title: 2nd Floor Boss Room Combat Power]

[Nickname: GreenUgly]

[(Photo of a really ugly goblin winking reassuringly)]

[-It feels a bit like I’m throwing my subordinates under the bus… but still, the newbie’s safety is top priority, isn’t it?]

[So I’ll spill some info. Yeah…]

[First off, these b*stards have no camaraderie.]

[Even if their comrade next to them drops dead, they’ll target you, the newbie in front of them.]

[So either make good use of your newbie allies, or don’t leave gaps between your movements.]

[Ganging up is our default, so we’ll unconditionally try to overwhelm with numbers.]

[ㄴ My post) Yeah, seems like it.]

[ㄴ Look at this shady Green Skin b*stard being so shameless.]

[ㄴ Hahahaha]

[ㄴ GreenUgly: What the fck]

[ㄴ Seriously, look at that face, it’s brutal.]

[ㄴ Seriously, he’s remarkably ugly.]

Goblins have no concept of comradeship.

They were all independent individuals, focused solely on hunting their target.

That’s why, even if a comrade died right next to them, they wouldn’t even bat an eye.

The remaining goblin warrior swung its blade at Dooyoon.

With a sharp exhale,

-Swish!

Dooyoon, dodging it by a hair’s breadth, kicked with all his might towards its now wide-open solar plexus.

“Dooyoon-ah!”

Han Jihyuk, who had been speechless at the familiar flow of movements, hurriedly called his name.

“Hyungnim, the other goblin warrior…”

“Harin is dealing with it. Don’t worry about that side, just come back for now. It’s coming soon.”

Coming?

What was?

Dooyoon’s gaze naturally shifted to the goblin rear guard.

A Goblin Shaman, its eyes covered with an unidentifiable piece of cloth, was chanting a spell.

-Giririk.

Beside it, a goblin archer was aiming at its target, drawing its bowstring.

In a gap in Han Jihyuk’s defense, Dooyoon’s head, popping out, was exposed.

“Hyungnim, just a moment.”

“Alright.”

Having seen that far, there was no need to drag things out.

Dooyoon, pulling his body completely behind the massive shield, looked for the rest of the party.

Cha Yoonha was loading a single spell, and Jung Ahyeon was ready to cast a healing spell at any moment.

‘Harin-ssi is…’

Han Jihyuk, noticing Dooyoon’s gaze, added preemptively.

“Harin will dodge on her own, so it’s fine!”

“Yep.”

“Be careful!”

Just as they were gauging the Goblin Shaman’s attack timing, Cha Yoonha signaled.

[Fireball]

The fireball he had seen several times before.

However, the most intense flame he had seen so far shot out from Cha Yoonha’s palm.

The Goblin Shaman and archer, who hadn’t yet finished chanting their spell, let out bewildered cries.

Before they could react in any way.

The shaman, along with the group of archers, was instantly engulfed in flames and vanished.

“…Wow.”

“That was good enough, Dooyoon-ah. This is how you’re supposed to clear the rear guard.”

If possible, he had wanted to give all the experience from the Goblin Royal Guard to him.

However, he hadn’t intended to push Dooyoon, who had just started his hunter life, into a deadly situation.

In the place left burnt, only the remnants of ‘what used to be goblins’ remained.

Piles of blackened firewood.

Dooyoon tore his gaze away from there and immediately looked for Jo Harin.

-Thrust!

Jo Harin, having just finished off the last goblin warrior, looked back at Dooyoon.

“Why?”

As Jo Harin tilted her head and asked, Dooyoon felt an unnecessary pang of guilt.

‘Who is worried about whom right now.’

Levels within the tower are absolute.

Dooyoon was just Level 2.

And Jo Harin was a hunter over Level 30.

Perhaps, even feeling worried for her was arrogant of him.

“It’s nothing.”

“Well then, since we’ve taken care of all the minions.”

The Royal Guard remaining in the boss room had all been wiped out.

That meant, what was finally left was.

“Dooyoon-ah, get ready.”

“Yes.”

From afar, a presence different from the goblins encountered so far began to approach.

He had already seen it in pictures several times.

However, the actual presence, previously veiled by the ‘Gallery’ skill, was different.

[Boss Monster: Goblin Warlord]

“Kreuk.”

It had a much larger build than the previous goblins, its entire body muscular.

The crescent-shaped swords held in both hands were truly menacing.

Dooyoon secretly greeted the Goblin Warlord.

‘Nice to meet you.’

GreenUgly.

It was indeed the owner of that nickname, the one who was often dragged out and beaten up by other gallery users whenever they were bored.

However, with drool trickling from the corner of its mouth, it was clear at a glance that it wasn’t in a normal state.

It would be the same as with the Great Slime.

The body, consumed by madness, would attack, and if he was lucky enough for ‘resonance’ to occur, they would communicate only mentally.

‘So, for now.’

It was right to face this boss monster with all his might.

“Dooyoon-ah.”

“Yes.”

Before they fully engaged, he turned his head at Han Jihyuk’s call.

“Try facing it alone first, and if it seems dangerous, we’ll help you right away.”

“Understood.”

The usual setup for funneling all experience points.

Anyway, the experience from lower floors is of no help to hunters like Han Jihyuk and Jo Harin.

It was the best possible situation if all of it could go to Dooyoon instead.

As if on cue, Dooyoon and the Goblin Warlord rushed forward simultaneously.

As they rapidly closed the distance, face to face, each swung their weapons.

-Kwaang!!!

Although he blocked with all his strength, holding the shield with both arms, the Goblin Warlord’s grip strength precariously pushed

Dooyoon back.

If it had been an ordinary goblin, no.

Even up to the Royal Guard level, it would have been an attack he could easily block.

‘It’s definitely much stronger.’

The goblin leader hadn’t earned its title for nothing; there was a difference right from its innate physical strength.

Dooyoon continued with his next move using the weapon he had retrieved from the ground.

“Krerek!!”

The Goblin Warlord, its attack blocked, roared ferociously and swung its sword again.

-Clang!

One exchange.

Dooyoon’s sword and the Goblin Warlord’s sword clashed.

While Dooyoon used his one-handed shield to maintain a minimal defense, the Goblin Warlord was focused entirely on offense.

-Kwajik!

They continued to attack sharply, each looking for an opening in the other, but the stalemate between them showed no signs of easily

breaking.

“…Should I help?”

“Not just yet.”

Beside them, Jo Harin twitched her shoulders, looking for an angle, but Han Jihyuk stopped her.

Growth within the tower is important, but among all factors, the most fundamental is ‘experience’.

Not everyone with a high level is strong.

Experience is needed to be able to read numerous moves in battle.

And Dooyoon lacked both of those things.

His innate combat sense was surprisingly quick and precise, but that alone wasn’t enough to judge his qualities as a hunter.

“If you’re going to do it, you need to do it quickly. My magic is dangerous even for Dooyoon-ssi.”

“My healing skill is only useful outside of combat…!”

Cha Yoonha and Jung Ahyeon chimed in from behind.

“I know. But watch closely.”

Han Jihyuk, noticing their impatience, tried to analyze the situation more carefully.

The combat situation itself was extremely intense, stirring anxiety–

But looking at it calmly, Dooyoon was doing very well.

He deflected attacks with his one-handed shield, never missing an opportunity to find an opening and break through.

Truly, movements like the textbook definition of combat.

‘He’s learning.’

It was absurd, but.

If his battles so far had been beast-like movements focused merely on instinct.

Now, he was earnestly trying to utilize the equipment he possessed to thoroughly target the opponent.

“…Still, getting hurt can happen in an instant. We should at least create some distance.”

“I was about to intervene anyway.”

He didn’t expect much from just one experience.

“Keuk..!”

Seeing Dooyoon finally take a step back from the Goblin Warlord, the other hunters slowly prepared to intervene.

“…Wait a moment!”

However, at Dooyoon’s urgent cry stopping them, expressions of bewilderment appeared on everyone’s faces.

“Dooyoon-ah! Why are you-“

“I have to do this alone!”

“Dooyoon-ssi. If you make a mistake with that, something really bad could happen. I understand how you feel, but…”

“No, it’s not that!”

Dooyoon’s gaze shifted to a corner of his vision.

[Attempting to resonate with the Boss Monster, ‘Goblin Warlord’.]

[Warning! Mind is contaminated.]

[Skill, ‘Magic Resistance (C)’ activates.]

“Keruk! I remembered! I remembered!”

At the call of the Goblin Warlord, whose voice, heard in his head, was also ugly.

“Newbie! Let’s have a fair fight, Keruk! That’s the condition for ‘graduation’!!”

Dooyoon, flustered by the sudden situation, had no choice but to stop the senior hunters.

“The hidden piece! I think I found it!”

“…What?”

At Dooyoon’s words, the hunters’ expressions froze, looking foolish.