The Undying Goblins and the Mystic Torches

I'd just imagined myself beating the boss. "Not sure if it'll go smoothly..."

After a brief commotion, I finally stood alone in front of the White Tower. The tower's third floor was the final one—and where the boss appeared. It had a reputation among hunters as something called a "tutorial," supposedly easy as pie... but there was one worrisome detail. No matter what you did before entering, the difficulty locked into Mystic mode.

The rewards seemed better than what was posted on Hunter Gallery, but the unknown difficulty scaling was a red flag. Anyway, the White Tower was known for easy enemies overall, but things changed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠after that. Clearing the third floor officially made you a hunter, and then you moved on to other towers—that was the standard path.

"Should I call some people now?"

...Nah. A man's pride was on the line. Clearing the tutorial with a whole squad? No way in hell.

Strategy guides mentioned the third floor being a boss room with a different layout, but who was I? Nobody special, sure, but I was an EX-rank Awakener. The downside was needing to devour expensive magistones like candy to really tap into its potential... but hey, while others traded magistones for cash to buy gear or elixirs, I was investing directly into my body. Gear had limits, elixirs depended on your constitution—this skill that grew stronger just by eating was straight-up broken.

Let's check my stats ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one last time before heading in. I'd recently scarfed down a chunk of D-rank magistone, so I hoped for some meaningful growth. I quietly called out, "Status window."

Ooh? A couple D-s mixed in, but seeing all my stats aligned at D-rank lifted my spirits. I'd have to time my Hunter Association registration carefully. For now, I'd registered as F-rank to stay low-key, but if an F-rank cleared a high-grade gate later, that'd draw even more eyes.

Anyway, with my resolve set, I placed my hand on the White Tower's door. Passing through the now-familiar rainbow shimmer, I transferred to a completely different space.

"Here we are."

The crisp air felt like I'd stepped into a mountain forest. Looking around, I realized I was in a narrow valley between two hills.

Mystic difficulty changes even the terrain, huh.

The standard White Tower layout was a closed room. Some hunters even complained about claustrophobia. But Mystic mode? The sky was wide open at a glance. You might think the openness was nice, but reality was harsher. The dense bushes and thick trees made it impossible to spot approaching enemies.

On the first floor alone, it was just a swarm of goblins in a village setup—you couldn't tell where they were hiding until you took flight. Plus, goblins had green skin and tough hides, so they rarely wore anything. Perfect camouflage. Dealing with constantly disguised foes was no joke.

To guard against ambushes, I sharpened my hearing, smell, and sight, scanning all directions.

If the guides were accurate, three Goblin Elite Guards would appear as bosses.

If memory serves, one specialized in strength, one in speed, one in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mana?

Guides warned that failing to counter their specialized stats would make it tough. But true to tutorial form, the counters were simple. Their other stats were trash-tier. The strength goblin, for example, was ridiculously slow.

But I have a strategy not even on the internet.

Kim Ha-yeon's tip—a lucky find. In a dungeon full of torches, using water magic to snuff one out weakened the goblin bosses dramatically. Mystic mode seemed similar, so finding that torch would ease things a lot.

"But where the heck is that torch...?"

Normal towers were enclosed, with torches spaced along walls—no need for lanterns. Hunters would've felt like they were exploring a haunted house otherwise. Kim Ha-yeon cleared the enclosed version, so she meant wall torches... but Mystic was an open space for boss fights.

"...And where's the boss?"

I felt like a lost kid. But I couldn't dawdle—clear time mattered. As I moved to scout, my ears caught a faint, familiar cry.

"Keruk?"

"Keruk keruk."

Goblins. Not elites—regular ones. Wait... third floor was supposed to have bosses?

These two strolled along like they were heading to work, no vigilance. Maybe the boss was at their destination.

Perfect. Time to tail them.

Hiding in the bushes, I followed close without detection. Being pint-sized had perks beyond the downsides. Soon, strange structures appeared.

"What the...?"

Huts woven from mud and bark. At the end of their path: a goblin village.

Slipping in carefully, I spotted goblin shamans prepping some ritual.

Fine. If the boss won't show, I'll make it.

Whatever you're cooking, blame your elite guards. I need that boss to clear.

"Dragon Claw."

No reason to delay—I partial polymorphed and sliced the altar pillars one by one. A mana-saver inspired by Dragon Breath's "full polymorph" requirement.

As the three pillars snapped, the altar crumbled. The shamans chanting at the platform whirled toward me.

"Kerurruk!!!"

"Kyaaaak!!!"

The goblins wailed in unison, but whatever. A single Breath would—

"Keruk—."

I'd assumed it'd be easy, but three shadows approached from afar. The stars of countless Hunter Gallery guides: the bulky one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for strength, the skinny one for speed, the robed one for mana.

"Those the Goblin Elite Guard?"

I'd been stumped on finding them, but they came to me. Sweet. As they assumed combat stances, I planned my moves. Checking their strength pre-torch-extinguish wouldn't hurt.

The speed goblin vanished; the mana one teleported far off. Left was the hulking strength brute lumbering closer, radiating presence.

I full-polymorphed in a flash, drawing a deep breath.

I locked on and unleashed Breath mercilessly. The ferocious flames engulfed the elite guard, melting its massive form unrecognizably.

Ugh... kinda gross.

Where the blaze passed, only charred lower legs remained.

"One down... oh."

As a shaman chanted resurrection, flesh bubbled from the burned stumps—bones, muscles, veins, skin reforming in seconds. Only its scorched rags proved it took the hit.

Wait... even with resurrection, that's too clean. Goblins didn't regenerate like that anywhere.

Kim Ha-yeon never mentioned this...

Prime suspect: Mystic difficulty. Unique change since entering. Terrain differed, unknown NPCs appeared—but monster alterations? Guides might be useless.

...But no. Following them blindly meant failing to immortality and hyper-regen. Kim Ha-yeon's torch trick could still work. Maybe those torches granted the elites their noob-cheat skills.

Where are those damn torches...?

Scanning intently, I spotted them quick. Dozens? No—hundreds of goblins, each holding a torch, charging like an angry mob.

...Pretty blatant. One per goblin?

Ridiculous, but no time. The strength goblin closed in; others' moves unpredictable.

I know their spells and tactics, but not the order...

Wanted to use my new grimoire item, but it'd guzzle mana—save for a sure kill. I took flight, brainstorming.

How to distinguish the special torches amid the horde. Rain would douse them all, but clear skies said no. Glancing down, the immortals trailed me.

Can't fly forever. Rain impossible, water items mana-hungry. What now?

Water's the key, right?

Mystic wasn't enclosed—somewhere nearby...

A shimmering lake entered my view.

"Bingo."

This oversized space paid off. Diving low, goblins still pursued. I gathered Breath again.

Kuooo—!!!

The focused blast exploded deep in the lake, erupting water skyward. Gravity pulled it down like rain, soaking the ground—and snuffing torches one by one.

Orange flickers died: tens, dozens, hundreds. The forest plunged into darkness.

But amid the vanishing lights, one flame endured.

"Found it."