Pursuit of the Hero Goblin
As soon as I realized the chieftain Chauka's bastard had escaped, I bolted after him without a second's hesitation. The spot where we'd lured them in was pretty far from the village, and a small ridge blocked the view, making it a safe hideout. That meant we had some time before he could report back.
Or so I'd thought...
What the hell is this speed? I gritted my teeth, watching the goblin shoot ahead like a bullet.
In that instant, it was as if time around me froze—everything slowed to a crawl. The goblin's mana flow sharpened into crystal clarity, like I could reach out and grab it.
Mana starts at the chest core, accelerates through the hips, and explodes out the soles of the feet.
The moment I grasped why the goblin had suddenly sped up, a familiar chime rang in my head.
Instant Acceleration (C)
Deep understanding of Instant Acceleration. Skill rank increased.
High-Speed Movement (B) acquired.
The goblin had used Instant Acceleration (C), a solid movement skill among teleports—one of the better-rated ones. But my deep insight bumped it up to a higher rank. Unlike plain Instant Acceleration, the B-rank High-Speed Movement let you sustain that speed for a good while. A straight upgrade.
Jackpot!
A triumphant grin spread across my face as I activated it.
High-Speed Movement!
Boom!
The ground cratered under my foot, and my body rocketed forward.
"Kiek?"
The goblin whipped around at the sudden enemy presence, letting out a startled screech before bolting desperately.
Keep chaining those skills all you want—you ain't escaping me, you little shit.
"What the hell is that kid?"
Park Chan-gyu, the hunter, blurted it out loud without thinking. He scowled, watching an F-rank teammate—a burly tank like himself—chase down an enemy fleeing faster than he ever could, even with his own agility stats.
Especially after that mid-chase speed burst. No way he could've caught it.
But that guy's right on its tail?
Whatever skill it was, it sure as hell wasn't something an F-rank should have.
"Kieek!"
While he blinked, the goblin facing off against them darted the other way.
"Huh?"
One of the team members encircling it with Park Chan-gyu swung his axe in panic.
Whoosh!
The goblin slipped through like it was mocking him, cackling.
"Kek!"
Just as another might slip away in that tense moment.
"Where you goin', you fucker!"
Park Chan-gyu charged like a rhino, shaking the earth.
Bam!
"Kieek!"
He slammed into it full-force with his signature Body Slam Charge—a D-rank goblin couldn't dodge that easily.
It flew, crashing and twisting grotesquely. No more fight left in it.
"Hey! Go slit its throat."
Park Chan-gyu exhaled sharply, barking at the dazed teammate.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
He and the others scrambled toward the trembling goblin.
"Uwaaaah! Die, you bastard!"
"Kieeeek!"
Park Chan-gyu caught sight of Jae-wook in the corner of his eye, biting into the goblin's ear amid the frenzy.
That kid's no ordinary guy either.
Even outnumbered, Jae-wook held firm without letting go. The others rushed to back him up.
That side's wrapping up. Just the runner left.
The goblin he'd been chasing had vanished over the ridge. Park Chan-gyu glanced that way, then yelled at his team.
"Hurry and clean up—back to the starting point!"
"Yes, sir!"
"B-But Min-ho's still out there!"
Jae-wook, covered in wounds, shouted in panic.
Park Chan-gyu clapped his shoulder as he approached.
"I know. You head back without me. I'll fetch the kid—don't sweat it."
As he brushed past, Jae-wook's worried voice followed.
"You sure he'll be okay?"
Park Chan-gyu turned. Eyes shaking with concern.
"He'll be fine."
Strangely, he couldn't picture that guy going down to some goblin.
If it's him...
"Kieek!"
"Where?!"
I'd almost caught up when it veered right with another skill. Reading its mana flow ahead, I cut it off and smashed its leg.
Thud!
"Kiek!"
It tumbled wildly, momentum unbroken.
"Keak!"
Mid-roll, it hurled a dagger at me.
Oh ho?
The more I saw, the less it seemed like a regular goblin. Something premium about its look. Well, goblins gonna goblin, but that subtle vibe nagged at me.
I dodged the dagger and lunged, smashing its thigh.
Mighty Blow!
Crack!
Bone-shattering force left it crumpling in agony.
"Kieek!"
Still, it whipped out another dagger—tough little shit.
Wait—does this work on monsters too?
A thought I'd never considered hit me. I tilted my head.
Clang. I smacked away its wild swing, grabbed its wrist, and wrenched it back.
Snap.
Joints twisted with a sickening grind.
"Kiek, kieek!"
Mounting its back, I triggered it.
Information Viewing.
Works or not—worth a shot.
Holy shit! It works on monsters too?
People sometimes freeze in shock, blanking out. The heir of the Chauka Tribe—born a Hero Goblin—didn't miss the slack in pressure with its arm twisted back.
"Kiek!"
It snapped its hips, spinning with the momentum, and spat a poison needle from its other hand.
Whoosh! Thunk!
The lightweight projectile was laced with toxin deadly to most monsters.
Believing it'd landed, its face twisted in confusion—I'd already dodged far away.
Whew, any later and my skull would've taken it clean.
Spotting its skill list snapped me alert. Two more hidden: Berserk (C) and Poison Needle Launch (D).
Thanks to that peek, I evaded leisurely. Cracking my neck, I smirked at it.
"Thought your secret stinger would do it, huh, asshole?"
"Grrr!"
Then its body flushed red, bulk swelling—Berserk activated.
And its eyes are already glazing over.
Those skills had short durations. No point clashing while it peaked.
"Kieek!"
I sidestepped its drooling charge, luring it right into the denser woods.
Roles reversed: the hunter became the hunted. I inwardly cheered, observing closely.
Concentrates mana at the core, then detonates it all at once.
Recalling its Berserk activation.
The spreading mana triggers micro-explosions, ramping up the whole body.
My mind dissected the principle piece by piece until I grasped the essence.
Got it!
Berserk (C)
Deep understanding of Berserk. Skill rank increased.
Berserker Warrior (A) acquired.
Yes! Finally!
I'd dragged it out precisely to snag these skills. Racial traits like Poison Needle Launch were off-limits, but Berserk was gold.
Then I clocked the rank—and my jaw dropped.
Insane! Berserker Warrior here?!
Berserk alone was huge, but an A-rank Berserker Warrior on top? That half-joking chat with Jae-wook had come true.
As I'd said, the A-rank skill doubled all stats instantly—a total cheat.
I skidded to a halt mid-flight.
"Gruk?"
It sensed something off, stopping at a distance and glaring.
"My turn now, you fucker."
Twitch.
Instinct screaming danger, it turned to flee.
I activated it.
"Berserker Warrior."
Muscles ballooned like they might burst.
"Ooooooh!"
A roar escaped unbidden. I felt invincible, power surging.
Mana exploded from my core, chaining through limbs in fiery amplification—the hallmark of Berserker Warrior.
"Grrr."
A beastly growl rumbled from my throat.
Boom!
I launched, cutting off its escape.
"Kiek!"
"Where to?"
Thwack! My arm smashed its jaw.
"Keruk!"
Foam-flecked, it flipped mid-air and landed—Berserk still lingering, neck unbroken.
"Gruk."
It sidestepped warily, eyeing me.
C-rank monster's C-rank skill vs. F-rank awakener's A-rank. The latter wins, hands down. Skill rank gaps were massive.
But rank alone wasn't everything. You needed the vessel to handle it first—or it'd shatter you.
Yet here I was, F-rank pulling off A-rank flawlessly.
Mana Control?
Probably my S-rank Mana Control skill.
"Whew~ Any longer and I'd have been in trouble."
I canceled Berserker Warrior, sighing deeply. Steam vented from my body—overuse penalty.
"Kiii."
Its Berserk ended first. Defeat.
"Keruk."
As its ragged breaths faded, the skull ornament on its neck shattered.
Unaware, I shifted to a nearby rock, sticking out my tongue and glancing at the corpse with a long exhale.
Still, nailed it.
Two unexpected skills richer.
"Aigoo, I'm dying."
I flopped down, massaging creaking limbs—and twitching lips.
Far off, at the goblin village heart: a grander, finer house than the rest.
"Kieeeek?!"
A wretched scream erupted inside.
Thud thud thud.
The emerging goblin dwarfed the others. Clutching a half-broken skull shard, it trembled.
"Kiiiiieek!"
Chieftain Chauka of the Chauka Tribe wailed at his offspring's death.
Villagers swarmed the square, weapons raised, at his cry.
Bloodshot eyes on a goblin, he pointed his skull staff one way.
"Kieek!"
Hordes charged at his command.