Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Goblin Slime Slug Rider
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Goblin Slime Slug Rider.
A seriously annoying monster.
Not the goblin, but the slime slug underneath it.
It didn't quite match the typical image of a 'snail.'
Not just its grotesquely demonic size, but especially its bizarre speed.
In the game Pavarintos, slime slugs were monsters that approached at ridiculously fast speeds and devoured players.
The silver lining was that, thanks to stats heavily invested in speed, they were weak if you hit them squarely.
...The problem was that this 'weak' standard was from the perspective of level 1 upper ranks or early level 2.
Normally, the standard solution was to listen for the sound and dodge.
Even with high mass and speed, their auditory senses and other detection abilities were far inferior to humans', so they relied on the goblin riding atop them.
But... if you messed up and it chased you, that was a different story.
If it was right after character creation, just force-logout and respawn. Even if you'd gathered some skills, without high-damage techs... honestly, it was hard to deal with.
Pavarintos didn't let you step on mobs or anything like that, so encountering one when your specs were lacking often meant standing still and dying.
...Anyway.
The conclusion was simple.
"Moooooo-!!"
I had to deal with it here and now, or I'd be in deep trouble.
'...I thought it was a mob made for laughs.'
The echoing vibrations and roars.
It had once become a meme in the game due to its absurd stats and appearance, but facing it in reality carried a totally different weight.
Like encountering a nasty old joke right in the face of death.
Of course, I wasn't in the mood to laugh, and I sure as hell didn't want to die.
'...One shot.'
'If I miss... no, I won't miss, but...'
The spell to use was Water Ball.
More precisely, a combo-enhanced Raiden.
A Raiden charged with three Lightning Strikes should work even on that gross slime slug.
'Three strikes... the damage will definitely land.'
Even if it didn't kill it, the damage would be substantial.
That giant slime slug was vulnerable to lightning and fire.
But... I couldn't just focus on the 'Goblin Slime Slug Rider'.
I had to worry about its subordinates too.
'Numbers... at least ten, probably.'
Not certain.
With the gap between game and reality, blindly trusting info was risky.
'Can't fire more than one Mana Arrow, and no spare Lightning Strikes...'
Memorized Lightning Strikes: five shots.
A few extra saved in case I needed to knock out Lee Do-hwa.
After Raiden, two left for emergencies, but that wouldn't handle the rest of the goblins.
'...Gotta trust this one time?'
Ultimately, only one reliable variable.
'Widow's Black Tears'.
I had no choice but to trust the Black Poison Mist imprinted on the robe I was wearing.
.
.
.
"Hoo-"
Steady my breath and focus on the sounds.
The sounds grow closer.
Not just the slime slug's vibrations, but goblin footsteps echo in my ears too.
'As expected. It doesn't move alone...'
'Rider' was a fairly high rank.
Usually a 'Goblin Tribe Warrior' doubling as rider, with subordinates following.
'If I can sweep them all at once...'
A full-charged three-strike Raiden had wide range to match its power.
If they clustered nicely, great... but I couldn't count on that luck.
Can't assume best-case.
Anyway, take down the slime slug rider first, and the rest would follow.
'About... five seconds.'
Counting down inwardly, I begin casting.
Set the Mana Arrow Staff aside momentarily, then cast Water Ball and Lightning Strike repeatedly with my free hands.
As I cast, blue mana mist gathers in the air, forming a watery shape.
...Of course, it's not real water.
If it were, it couldn't charge lightning.
It dissipates over time,
Hardens when cooled and doesn't melt,
Some 'thing' that looks like water.
Like all magic,
This is just magic.
Imbue it with successive Lightning Strikes to complete the charge.
Blue lightning crackles on the overcharged Water Ball's surface.
Controlling it with a Telekinesis construct, I stare straight ahead.
"...."
One chance.
It won't be hard.
The target this time is huge.
"Moooooo-!"
"...."
The roar echoes with the rushing wind.
Followed by vibrations shaking the clearing.
The ground underfoot trembles faintly, dust falls from the cave walls. The moment the distant roar prickles my skin,
"Moooooo-!!"
With a savage bellow, a massive monster bursts from beyond the passage in an instant.
From the bent passage, it hurtles forward, sweeping the dirt floor roughly.
A speed you could truly call instantaneous.
Performing a slippery drift, the 'Giant Slime Slug' reveals itself in the clearing.
'Damn, insane-'
A curse bubbles up inside.
Up close, its form was grotesque and overwhelming.
A milky yellow body.
Height around 1.5 meters, length at least four times that.
Not huge in stature, but its raised head loomed high enough that I had to crane my neck.
Like a giraffe, its uplifted head sported slender antennae and vicious eyes on either side, its gaping maw clashing with countless saw-like teeth.
'...Can I really kill this?'
A momentary doubt flashes in my mind.
Atop that beast, seated with the rider's saddle, was a 'Goblin Tribe Warrior'.
"...Kuhk?"
-Our eyes meet in midair.
The 'Goblin Tribe Warrior' atop the slime slug widens its eyes in surprise upon spotting me.
Didn't expect to find something here?
Its round-eyed face looked almost innocent at a glance, but-
Of course not.
What followed was a twisted grin.
It flashes a feral smile and reaches for the javelin on the saddle.
Obvious intent.
'...Too late.'
But I'd prepared long ago.
Thrusting the telekinetic construct forward at full power, I hurl the fully charged Water Ball Raiden.
.
.
.
In an instant,
A burst of bright light engulfs the narrow clearing.
In that split second,
In the hazy darkness, forked lightning etches a net-like pattern.
The moment the shot water orb touches the slime slug's body, the sealed lightning tendrils erupt everywhere.
"Gaaaak-!?"
Whether they were the rider's subordinates or not.
The three trailing goblins get caught in Raiden's range too.
Struck by the released lightning, they tumble across the ground like a comical scene from an old cartoon, frozen in place.
After a short time, as the light fades.
The clearing holds only brief silence and a acrid medley of smells.
The slime slug's raised head drops to the ground, and the goblin rider atop it slides off.
"...."
The skirmish ended anticlimactically fast. But having faced it head-on, I couldn't help but exhale in relief.
...If this one shot hadn't taken it down, I would've had no moves left.
No more movement.
Neither from the fallen giant slime slug nor the goblin tribe warrior that rode it.
"...Got 'em?"
Still, I voice it just in case.
Fortunately, no cliché rising from the dead.
...However, I couldn't relax yet.
The rider's subordinates weren't just three-
"...Ha."
-As expected.
Goblin footsteps echo in my ears again.
From beyond the passage, seven armed goblins burst out in alarmed expressions.
"Kushaa-!?"
"Moga! Taruk!"
"...."
Seeing them, a momentary dilemma hits.
'...Just bolt now?'
Original goal achieved.
The biggest threat, slime slug rider, down. Remaining threats not too serious.
Wonder if I could use Telekinesis to levitate and fly away...
'No. Too early.'
'Finish the rest too.'
I change my mind quickly.
Not as bad as the slime slug rider, but the other tribe goblins were still a pain.
Leave them, and they'd pursue relentlessly.
Better to clear them here.
And.
'...Black Poison Mist.'
Situation a bit urgent, but
This was a prime chance to test the new spell's performance.
.
.
.
The fight starts, as always, with ambush.
'Mana Arrow.'
"Kyik-!?"
First strike wins.
Fire Mana Arrow at the lead charging goblin, then use Telekinesis to send the rising Black Poison Mist into the clearing.
'What kind of mana...'
Couldn't use it twice.
Guessed from the complex design, but activating Black Poison Mist took murderous mana.
Just one burst consumed over thirty percent.
...Makes sense why 'Memorize'-style imprinting wasn't possible.
A level 1 material robe couldn't hold that mana capacity.
'...If no effect, rip it up.'
Gritting inwardly, I activate another spell.
Full Body Guardian.
A spell embodying gentlemen's persistence.
Shape a bit odd, but a craftsman's fusion of practicality and eros, so performance worth expecting.
Should block a few goblin hits.
Now, just endure.
"Nuka! Nog Theo!"
Enemies counter too.
Right after sweeping the black mist,
From the mist-filled clearing, two stone projectiles fly in.
"-Ugh!?"
Too fast to brace.
For a moment, vision spins.
Staggering body, tilting world.
Dull pain spreading from cheek and chest.
Realize belatedly: struck by the stone on the cheek and fell.
"-Ah."
Can't lie here.
Hastily grab the staff, try to stand.
But shock lingers; can't steady properly.
"Eut..."
Grit teeth to balance, plant Mana Arrow Staff on ground to rise.
"Rukai-!"
That instant.
From the mist-filled clearing, a goblin lunges with a savage machete.
"Eut-!?"
No time to react.
Panicking, block the incoming blade with the staff.
-Utterly foolish mistake.
The goblin's machete shatters the wooden staff effortlessly and slams my side.
"Hup-"
Once more, surging agony racks my brain.
Breath stops, vision blurs.
Simultaneously, my body is flung carelessly, rolling across the ground.
World tumbling end over end.
Now... kinda familiar.
"Cough. Haa, haa..."
Lucky it ended at impact, thanks to Full Body Guardian?
Rolling body stops.
In the 90-degree tilted, blurry vision, a goblin charges swinging its machete.
...Fortunately, this time I respond properly.
'Lightning.'
Raise trembling arm with effort. Cast the spell.
Blue lightning flashes from my hand, the tendril searing the goblin's face gripping the machete.
"Kraaaa-!?"
Roar echoes everywhere.
But unlike regular goblins, it doesn't faint immediately. Just screams, clutching its burned, distorted face.
'Tribe Warrior...'
Iron machete, leather chestplate.
Tattoos etched all over its body.
Marks of a goblin tribe warrior.
No wonder a single lightning doesn't knock out a warrior using Inner Force Activation.
One lightning left.
But not enough to finish reliably.
Plus, no more Mana Arrows,
'Sharpness.'
But not out of attack options.
Struggling, draw the dagger from my waist, cast Sharpness.
Confirm faint glow on Sharp Dagger's blade, wrap hilt in telekinetic construct, thrust at the goblin tribe warrior clutching its face.
"-Grk."
Snake-like dagger embeds in the goblin tribe warrior's throat.
Lucky no defense skills.
Red blood spurts from its throat.
It clutches its throat with both hands, flailing, then writhes on the ground.
"Shiiik, shik-"
"...."
Hissing sounds like escaping air ring out a few times, blood pooling in a small puddle.
Finally, it stills.
Confirming, I let out the held groan.
"...Kuh."
...Damn.
This really hurts.
Cheek and chest sting from the rock, heavy pain in my side.
...Still, lucky it ended like this.
Without Full Body Guardian, I'd be dead several times over.
'Performance... solid...'
Muttering inwardly, I struggle to rise.
Fight not over.
Force staggering body up, pick up staff.
"Ah."
...Right.
It snapped in half blocking the blade.
'Should've tanked with body...'
'Or reacted with lightning early...'
Gut-wrenching.
Barely used, already broken.
How to deal damage now?
Myriad thoughts flash, but...
"...Ah."
Seeing the scene in the clearing, my mind blanks.
"Grgek..."
"Gek, grrr-"
Black Poison Mist.
In the settling clearing, seven goblins writhe on the ground.
Excluding the three downed by Raiden, seven more.
All goblin tribe members felled by the black poison mist.
'....What is this.'
Ridiculous power.
Knew poison magic good for farming mobs, but this much?
Expected minor debuff, not full incapacitation.
Everyone would use poison magic then.
"....System. Mana remaining."
Downside: insane mana cost.
Can adjust mist volume, but still absurd consumption.
Better with mana training later... but not main spell material.
"Hoo... ugh."
Still.
Managed to clear them.
Mana nearly half gone, memorized spells down to one lightning and telekinesis. But took out a goblin squad; not a loss.
...Staff broken means loss, but thinking that hurts, so call it even.
Survived anyway.
'Mana... refill for now.'
But who knows what else.
Pull gourd from waist, gulp stored potion.
Mana recovery isn't instant.
Takes time to absorb, so preemptive use better.
A bit wasteful now... but better than dying holding back.
"...Tastes bad."
Bitter as hell.
That's why potions add honey or sugar.
With useless thoughts, down the whole gourd, wipe mouth.
"Puha-"
Anyway, battle over.
Goblin tribe warrior dead, giant slime slug down.
Rest wandering between life and death.
However.
Just in case.
Not fully knowing Black Poison Mist's effects, I slit the fallen goblins' throats with Sharp Dagger for certainty.
After clearing all goblins in the clearing, my hands are drenched in blood.
"...."
...Still sweet.
This... a little sip before going, okay right?