Boss Battle
With a screech of creeeak, the massive iron door swung open, revealing the interior of the boss room. At a glance, it didn't look much different from the labyrinth sections I'd passed through so far—but there was one key difference: it was huge. The open community posts hadn't prepared me for this scale. It felt bigger than the training field back at my old army base.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. As soon as I stepped inside, torches flared to life along the left and right walls of the darkened boss room, and a system message appeared.
Even among the dullest ears, a monarch with the bearing of a ruler is bound to be born amid the cruelty.
The message vanished quickly, and with the new light sources, the boss room brightened considerably. From the jade throne at the center, it rose to its feet.
"Grraaaaaahhh—!!"
Towering over two meters tall, with a hulking frame packed with bulging muscles and massive fangs jutting out sharply. Described like that, it sounded like an orc might pop out—but nope, this musclebound monster was still technically a goblin.
The console and nameplate hovering above the boss monster's head confirmed it. But this thing was at least three times bigger than any goblin I'd taken down so far. Side by side, it'd look like a neighborhood elementary kid next to Choi Hong-man.
Besides the sheer size, it had bone shoulder guards, a black cape draped over its shoulders, and it wielded what looked like a massive bone greatsword reminiscent of a Chinese zhanmadao. According to the strategy guide I'd skimmed before entering, it started with that bone greatsword and switched to a bone axe later. Those weapons looked brutal as hell, but considering my high defense, I figured I could block them.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Goblin Lord slammed its bone greatsword into the ground. Small passages on either side of the boss room erupted with armored goblins charging out. These were the elite monsters it summoned: the Goblin Guard. Their patterns were similar to the Goblin Centurion Captains, but with superior base stats and gear. Always three of them. Weapons were completely random this time—two spearmen and one crossbowman.
The guide said the standard play was to clear the interfering guards first, then focus-fire the boss.
"Here we go!"
I shouted with gusto and charged the nearest crossbowman. Thanks to my agility stat of 22, my sprint speed was ridiculous—Usain Bolt could eat my dust. I closed the gap in an instant, swinging my sword before it could loose its first bolt.
Clang!
Ugh, hitting that armor head-on made my hand go numb. I'd figured my attack power could smash through the armor, but nope. Even with high stats, cleaving weapons weren't great for breaking defenses, I guess. I quickly swung my other arm hard. The shield strapped to it—[World Rabbit Encyclopedia]—smashed right into the goblin's head. It faceplanted into the ground.
I aimed for the gap in its armor and thrust my sword deep.
Squelch!
The feedback felt off. Normally, a red critical effect would pop, but the blade hadn't gone all the way in. Fitting for an elite mob—high defense. The guide wasn't kidding about them outclassing Goblin Centurion Captains.
I raised my sword and slammed it down into the same spot again.
Squelch!
A massive red effect exploded—this time, a proper critical. But in that instant, the downed goblin grabbed my ankle tight. A critical and it's still alive? I raised my sword to finish it for good, but metallic clanking footsteps rang out as the other two goblins rushed me.
Playing solo all the time had made me used to this shit. I swung at the spear-wielding one charging upfront.
Clang!
My overwhelming strength stat sent the spear goblin tumbling sideways. Then the second one thrust its spear at me. I just shoved my shield forward to block. But the impact felt different from regular goblins.
"Huh?"
It hit like a basketball to the gut, shoving me back. I tried to steady myself, but the goblin gripping my ankle wrecked my balance. I crashed to the stone floor. My high defense kept it from hurting much, but I couldn't stop the goblin from mounting me in a flash.
Stab! Stab!
The mounted goblin gripped its spear short and jabbed at my face. I blocked easily with my shield, but the shocks kept jolting my arm. That's why I'd fallen earlier—this bastard was stronger than expected. Still just a goblin, though.
"Get off me!"
From my back, I swung the shield to shake off the mount and kicked it away as I rolled up. That's when I realized I'd been surrounded by all three in seconds. That crossbowman was still alive, bleeding out. How much HP did that fucker have?
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Then came unusually heavy footsteps. Beyond the three goblins, the massive Goblin Lord charged with its greatsword raised. Why is it so fast—
Crunch!
"Guh."
The enormous greatsword smashed my upper body. My vision flipped toward the ceiling. Both feet left the ground. For a brief moment, I was flying. It didn't last—hard ground welcomed me soon enough.
Thud!
A high-pitched ringing filled my ears. What the hell just happened? Did it hit me so hard I flew? Bosses really were on another level—the power was insane. Felt like I soared several meters. No party members meant the boss aggro locked straight onto me. Why didn't I think of that?
Anyway, time to get up before they surround me again.
"Hng, haa...!"
Wait, what? I couldn't... breathe? Why? The ceiling blurred like heat haze. My head spun. What the fuck was happening? My mind was a mess.
What snapped me out of it was a huge shadow in my vision. A spark of pain crackled in my head like fireworks, and I instantly knew what it was. The Goblin Lord, greatsword raised high in a jump.
It's jumping?
Crunch!
"Gahk!"
The brutal impact jolted me awake. A crunching sound followed, pressure building in my chest. My breastplate caved in. Two direct hits from that bone greatsword. And now, stabbing pains inside—like cracked ribs? Breathing hurt like hell. Fuck, it hurts.
"Grrrrraaaahhh!!"
My chest, shoulders, down to my elbows—sensations all fucked up. Numb and tingling. And this? Blood? I turned my head and saw it trickling from somewhere. Not the goblin's. Mine, then.
I half-rose without even realizing how, and finally took stock.
"Grulk!"
The Goblin Lord grinned with its grotesque fangs, flanked by two guards. My [+5 Steel Plate Armor Top] was wrecked from the greatsword smash, hot blood pouring through the gaps.
"Ugh, uuer, heuk..."
Amid the stabbing chest pain, I pulled up my status window. HP was down by more than half. The Goblin Lord's attack power dwarfed my defense. That realization hit fast, my mind racing.
This wasn't working. I'd underestimated the boss. I had to run.
"Hup, hng."
Clutching my shattered breastplate, I backpedaled. The sneering Goblin Lord charged again. Thud thud thud—those heavy steps conjured the earlier agony.
"Uwaaaah!"
I screamed and turned to sprint for the exit—the door I'd entered through. Fuck, why's it so far? This boss room is needlessly huge. I bolted blindly toward it. My agility was high. So I could make it.
Crash!
Fuck, tripped. Fell. Didn't hurt, but shit—no, I'm dead. Fuck, fuck!
Survival instinct kicked in—I scrambled up and instinctively glanced back. The Goblin Lord pulled its greatsword back into a weird stance. I recognized it. From the community guide. What was it? Right—horizontal sweep pattern.
Whoosh!
The bone greatsword whipped sideways huge. I desperately raised my shield and arm. Bad call. I'd remembered it was a "don't get hit" pattern too late.
Bam!
Back in middle school—second year, I think—I got hit by a car on the way to a PC bang. Time had blurred the memory, but this was exactly that feeling. Breaking, shattering.
"Uh, guk, khek!"
I flew off the shield, skipping across the ground like a stone on water—twice. Armor chunks shattered off. It hurt. Hurt like dying. I'd heard severe injuries numb you with adrenaline or some shit, but fuck that—it hurt like hell. Where'd I hear that? Shorts? Fucking bullshit Shorts, all lies.
"Ugh, haah... haah..."
Clutching my dizzy head, I forced myself up again. Miraculously, my body still moved despite the damage. Right—non-lethal until HP hits zero. That's why. But this feels lethal as fuck. Bullshit.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
More footsteps as I crawled toward the exit. No time to think—I rolled aside.
"Shit! Hurry!"
The greatsword cratered where I'd been a second ago. My legs buckled. If that had hit... No, focus. Run! Full sprint to the exit. Squeezed every ounce of strength. Almost there.
Squelch!
"Aaaagh!"
Something pierced my exposed ankle through the broken armor. An arrow. Somehow, five Goblin Guards waited in the distance. Five? Why five? I'd killed the crossbowman—wait, it respawned. Cooldown on the summon pattern had reset. One was a crossbowman.
"Auuugh... ugh!"
Arrow still lodged, I shoved the boss room door—now my exit—with all my might. I tumbled out, and the pursuing Goblin Lord and guards turned back.
HP clung to the bare minimum. One step from death.
"Ugh, uuk, uuugh..."
Sprawled like a bug on the ground, transparent tears streamed down my cheek.