Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Goblin Warlord
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⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entering the 'Boss Room'. His vision blacked out in an instant, and the air shifted dramatically.
Still, it wasn't as bad as what he'd experienced on the first floor.
Maybe his adaptability had improved.
"..."
Before his sight returned, he first checked his bodily sensations.
-Squeeze...
The solid feel of the shield transmitted through the back of his hand, and the texture of the leather grip.
After testing his equipment with some force, he checked his body's movements all over.
It was like a light warm-up before the main event.
Finally, Do-yoon opened his eyes.
"Kirrrruk! Krelek!"
"Kieeeek!!"
Ferocious cries greeted him upon spotting the intruder.
"Goblin guards!"
Han Ji-hyeok, standing at the front, gave the first briefing.
Dark greenish skin covered in indecipherable white tattoos.
Each one looked far more powerful than the average goblin.
"Two Goblin Shamans! Five Warriors! And three Archers!"
"Got it...!"
Do-yoon snapped to attention and moved to stand beside Han Ji-hyeok.
In combat formation, he, Han Ji-hyeok, and Jo Ha-rin took the front line.
Jeong A-hyeon and Cha Yun-ha handled rear support and heavy firepower.
"There are more of them than before! We'll cover the back as much as we can, so focus on the fight!"
Knowing who that was directed at, Do-yoon raised his voice in response.
"Yes!"
He had to accomplish as much as possible in this boss room.
His goal from the start was his own growth.
"Hyung-nim, what about the Warlord?"
Do-yoon's gaze naturally shifted to the rear of the goblin guards.
To the 'Ugly Green Guy' striking a dramatic pose.
"We probably have to take out these guys first before it shows up! Let's deal with the guards!"
'What a wimp.'
The boss of the room, the Goblin Warlord, was just watching from the back, not stepping forward.
Do-yoon had already seen this info multiple times in the gallery.
'Resonance hasn't kicked in yet.'
He couldn't just expect the same luck as with the King Slime.
Even if he could trust them in the gallery.
Bringing that trust into reality was another matter.
Inside the tower, 'coercive force' took effect.
Just like how the King Slime spoke kindly but tried to kill him and the other hunters.
The 'Ugly Green Guy' was probably the same.
The Ugly Green Guy, the Goblin Warlord, glared at Do-yoon.
"Keruk!"
Pure malice toward the intruder.
Unlike the photos in the gallery, its gaze swept over him with lethal intent.
No friendliness there.
A chill ran through him for a moment, but compared to the 'hate pics' he'd endured, it was cute.
"Incoming!"
"Kerurruk!"
The Goblin Warlord signaled the start of battle with a ferocious roar.
The goblin guards charged at the hunters in unison.
First up—
-Kwaaang!!
Han Ji-hyeok's massive shield clashed with three Goblin Warriors.
"Hyung-nim!"
"I'm fine! Time your attacks and take them out one by one!"
"Yes!"
Han Ji-hyeok tanked solidly.
Leaving the openings entirely in Do-yoon's hands.
"Do-yoon-ssi! Leave the rear to Yun-ha and A-hyeon, we'll handle the front!"
"Yes!"
Jo Ha-rin directed them, daggers in both hands.
This was the first time he'd seen her fight directly.
Until now, only Han Ji-hyeok and Do-yoon had done the fighting for experience.
-Shwak!
Jo Ha-rin's flash-like strike targeted the wrists of two Goblin Warriors.
"Kieek!!"
"Keruk?!"
The goblins whose tendons were severed screamed in agony.
"Do-yoon-ssi!"
Without missing the momentary gap, Jo Ha-rin called his name.
"...!"
No need to reply.
The setup was perfect.
He just had to strike the target effortlessly.
-Grip!
Gripping the sword hilt tightly, he swung at the Goblin Warrior.
The disarmed foe had no way to block.
-Kwak!
"Kek!"
The sword lodged in the goblin warrior's nape, just like before, making it stagger.
Goblin flesh was tough; pulling the sword out took effort.
So instead of retrieving it, he let go to maintain mobility.
📰 Boss Mob Gallery Subject: Rookie hunters always cling to their gear and die to follow-ups Fact is... life is real combat Drop your weapon or whatever but dodge the incoming attack first, right? This was another lesson from the Boss Mob Gallery.
Quick judgment, decisive action.
Do-yoon ditched his sword, but he still had usable gear left.
The same thing he'd used for the finishing blow on the King Slime.
A shield bash slammed into the adjacent goblin.
-Kwaduk!
"Kwk!"
A crunch of collapsing face, followed by a death rattle.
Gauging the damage from the familiar feel, Do-yoon immediately eyed the next target.
"Kirik?!"
Two of the three frontline Goblin Warriors down.
They were done for, but the real danger came right after.
Rather than panic over their fallen comrade, the goblin guards focused on Do-yoon, the center of it all.
📰 Boss Mob Gallery Subject: 2nd Floor Boss Room Combat Power Nickname: Ugly Green Guy (A photo of a really ugly goblin winking trustworthily) -Feels like I'm throwing my minions out there, but newbie safety first, yeah? So, unpacking the bundle... These guys have no camaraderie. Even if their buddy's dying right next to them, they'll target you, the newbie in front. So use your newbie teammates well or don't leave gaps in your movements. We're pack hunters by default, we'll overwhelm with numbers. 💬 Comments — Anonymous Yeah, that's how it seems — Anonymous Look at that shady green skin bastard's audacity — Anonymous lololol — Ugly Green Guy What the fuck — Anonymous Look at that ugly mug, so savage — Anonymous For real, weirdly ugly Goblins had no concept of comrades.
Each was an independent entity, focused solely on hunting targets.
That's why they ignored allies dying right beside them.
"Kiririk!"
The remaining Goblin Warrior swung its blade at Do-yoon.
"Hoo!"
-Shwaak!
Do-yoon dodged by a hair and drove his full force kick into its exposed solar plexus.
"Keheok!"
"Do-yoon!"
Han Ji-hyeok, stunned by the familiar flow, urgently called his name.
"Hyung-nim, the other Goblin Warrior..."
"Ha-rin's handling it. Don't worry about that side—fall back for now. They're coming."
Coming? What?
Do-yoon's gaze shifted to the goblin rear.
"Grelererek..."
A Goblin Shaman with rags over its eyes chanted a spell.
-Giririk.
Beside it, a Goblin Archer nocked an arrow, aiming.
Do-yoon's head poked out through a gap in Han Ji-hyeok's defense.
"Hyung-nim, hold a sec."
"Got it."
No need to drag it out.
Do-yoon slipped fully behind the massive shield and checked on the others.
Cha Yun-ha was charging a spell; Jeong A-hyeon was ready to heal anytime.
'Ha-rin-ssi...'
Han Ji-hyeok, catching his glance, added:
"Ha-rin can dodge on her own! She's fine!"
"Yep."
"Be careful!"
As they timed the Goblin Shaman's attack, Cha Yun-ha signaled.
"Fireball"
The flame orb he'd seen many times before.
But this was the most intense one yet, launching from Cha Yun-ha's palm.
"Keruk?!"
The Shaman and Archers, not yet done chanting, let out panicked cries.
Before they could react.
-Kwaaaa!!!
The shaman and archer group engulfed in flames, vanishing.
"...Wow."
"That's plenty good, Do-yoon. That's how you clear the backline."
He'd have loved to funnel all the goblin guard EXP to himself.
But he wouldn't throw a newbie hunter into the meat grinder.
All that remained where they burned were charred goblin remnants.
Blackened log piles.
"..."
Do-yoon tore his gaze away and looked for Jo Ha-rin.
-Pok!
"Kek!"
Jo Ha-rin, having just finished the last Goblin Warrior, turned to him.
"What?"
Her innocent head tilt stabbed at his chest.
'Who's worrying about who here.'
Levels in the tower were absolute.
He was barely level 2.
She was over level 30.
Worrying about her was presumptuous.
"Nothing."
"Then, all the underlings are down."
The guards in the boss room were wiped out.
Which meant only one left.
"Do-yoon, get ready."
"Yes."
From afar, a presence different from the other goblins approached.
He'd seen photos plenty of times.
But the presence, filtered through the 'gallery' skill, felt entirely different.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Boss Monster: Goblin Warlord "Kruk."
Vastly larger than regular goblins, pure muscle.
Crescent blades in both hands looked incredibly threatening.
Do-yoon silently greeted the Goblin Warlord.
'Nice to meet you.'
Ugly Green Guy.
The owner of that nickname, often dragged in to get roasted.
Drool dripping from its mouth—it clearly wasn't in its right mind.
Same as the King Slime.
Body driven by madness to charge, and if lucky with 'resonance,' mental chat only.
'So for now.'
Best to give the boss monster his all.
"Do-yoon."
"Yes."
Before full engagement, he turned to Han Ji-hyeok's call.
"Try handling it solo first. If it gets dangerous, we'll jump in right away."
"Understood."
The usual EXP funnel setup.
Lower floor EXP meant nothing to veterans like Han Ji-hyeok and Jo Ha-rin.
Best to give it all to Do-yoon.
"Keruk!"
'Take this, newbie.'
-Tadak!
As if on cue, Do-yoon and the Goblin Warlord charged simultaneously.
Weapons swung at close range.
-Kwaang!!!
"...Kuh!"
Bracing his shield with both arms, the Warlord's brute force barely pushed Do-yoon back.
Against regular goblins—or even guards—this would've been easy.
'Definitely much stronger.'
The goblin chieftain wasn't for show; innate strength differed.
Do-yoon followed up with his recovered sword.
"Krelek!!"
Attack blocked, the Warlord roared ferociously and swung again.
-Chaeng!
One exchange.
Do-yoon's sword met the Warlord's.
Do-yoon defended minimally with one-hand shield, while the Warlord went all-in on offense.
-Kwajik!
-Kwaang!
They probed gaps with sharp attacks, but the deadlock held firm.
"...Should we help?"
"Not yet."
Jo Ha-rin fidgeted, but Han Ji-hyeok blocked her.
Growth in the tower mattered, but basics were 'experience.'
High level didn't mean invincible.
Combat required reading countless moves.
Do-yoon lacked both.
His innate combat sense was sharp and precise, but not enough to judge fully.
"If you're gonna do it, hurry. My magic might hit Do-yoon-ssi too."
"My heal skills only work out of combat...!"
Cha Yun-ha and Jeong A-hyeon chimed in from behind.
"I know. But watch closely."
Han Ji-hyeok sensed their anxiety and analyzed deeper.
The fight looked intense and worrying—
But rationally, Do-yoon was doing great.
Deflecting with one-hand shield, exploiting gaps without fail.
Textbook combat.
'He's learning.'
Unbelievable.
Past fights were beastly instinct.
Now, he actively used gear to target weaknesses thoroughly.
"...Still, injury happens in a blink. At least create distance."
"Was about to step in anyway."
No high expectations from one prior fight.
"Kwik..!"
As Do-yoon yielded a step to the Warlord, the others prepared to intervene.
"...Wait!"
"...?"
But Do-yoon's urgent call brought puzzled looks.
"Do-yoon! What—"
"I have to do this alone!"
"Do-yoon-ssi, mess up and it's really bad. I get the sentiment, but..."
"No, it's not that!"
Do-yoon's gaze flicked to the corner of his vision.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Attempting resonance with Boss Monster 'Goblin Warlord'. Warning! Mind contaminated. Skill 'Mana Resistance (C)' activated. "Keruk! I remember! I remember now!"
The ugly voice echoed in his head—the Goblin Warlord calling.
"Newbie! Let's have a fair fight, keruk! That's the 'graduation' condition!!"
Caught off-guard by the suddenness, Do-yoon had to stop the seniors.
"Hidden Piece! I think I found it!"
"...What?"
The hunters' faces froze in dumbfounded shock.