The decapitation of the goblin was swift and clean. The sensation of the spear piercing its neck was strange, like cutting butter with a hot knife. Greenish blood splattered the ground as its head rolled to my feet.
I held my position behind the shattered door, a strategic advantage I had no intention of relinquishing. I knew that no matter how many monsters awaited me inside, the narrowness of the entrance would limit the number of simultaneous attackers.
[You have killed a Goblin (G)]
The message floated before my eyes for just a moment before vanishing. Immediately, I spotted another goblin's head peeking through the threshold. The creature was foolish, predictable. I could make out its chest right where the message window had been.
Without hesitation, I thrust my spear through its torso. The tip protruded from its back, unleashing a river of viscous fluids. With a sharp kick, I shoved the corpse aside while extracting my bone weapon.
My satisfaction lasted barely a breath. Two more goblins emerged from the shadows of the room, baring their yellowish fangs and closing the distance between us in a blink.
My face twisted into a grimace of frustration. I must have applied too much force in my previous attack, driven by the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The spear had embedded itself deep into the ground, stubbornly resisting my attempts to pull it free.
— It's stuck —I muttered in irritation.
At that precise moment, one of the goblins lunged at my face. I ducked instinctively, dodging the attack. The goblin sailed over my head and crashed into the ground, unable to stop in time.
Its fangs sank into the stone floor, fracturing the hard surface. Cracks formed instantly beneath its jaw. This goblin was clearly stronger than average.
I had no time to admire its strength. The second monster was already charging at me, its claws extended, ready to tear into my flesh.
With no other option, I temporarily abandoned my spear and threw a punch straight at the goblin's face. The air whistled around my fist as it shot forward.
One blow. That was all it took for the goblin's head to simply… explode.
My eyes widened as I stared in shock at my own bloodied fist. What overwhelming, astonishing destructive power!
The creature I had just annihilated was a goblin fighter, the first evolution these monsters undergo upon ascending to a higher rank. They were larger, stronger, smarter, and considerably more dangerous than common goblins. Their power was comparable to the fighter that had nearly ended my life earlier. Had I taken a single hit from that monster, my head would have ended up in the same pitiful state.
A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.
The headless goblin's body rose, slamming into the ceiling before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
"Is this the result of the awakening?" I wondered, analyzing the situation while keeping my guard up.
The familiar mechanical beep sounded in my ears again.
[You have killed a Goblin (G)]
My Strength statistic might have multiplied by roughly five, but the difference in my actual physical capability was exponentially greater. My original strength value was barely 1. There was a numerical difference of five times between Strength values 1 and 5, but the difference in generated power was vastly greater, as evidenced by the devastating impact I had delivered.
Moreover, my movement speed had increased significantly. In the past, it would have been impossible to dodge a goblin's full attack or move my fist fast enough to make the air whistle.
The battle against these monsters confirmed it. Suddenly, I snapped back to reality as I heard approaching footsteps.
The goblins must have noticed something unusual upon seeing the three corpses piled in front of me. Another rushed forward recklessly, becoming the fourth body in the pile when I pierced its face with my bone spear and kicked its corpse aside.
The remaining monsters no longer charged blindly toward my weapon, but they were still eager to fight. Their numbers grew, though they kept a cautious distance from the door and my bloodied spear.
With my drastically improved perception, I could sense the aura of something sinister lurking beyond the entrance. I didn't need to see it to confirm its presence: something immensely powerful was hiding in some corner of that room.
The existence of the "Boss."
I had prepared as best I could, but when the moment came to advance, cold sweat drenched my forehead, and nerves gripped my stomach.
I couldn't afford to waste more time. I had to make a decision: move forward or retreat. I took one step back, then another. First, I needed to eliminate as many goblins as possible before entering the main chamber.
From the threshold, I spotted countless monsters. Though I had to face them, I lacked the support of a priest or a warrior. The only damage dealer was me.
Even if this was just one of the many floors of the tower, my goal had shifted: it was no longer about surviving, but about fighting.
One of the goblins, perhaps sensing my anxiety, leaped toward me. I cursed under my breath as I recognized a goblin fighter, more dangerous than its ordinary kin. Yet, the fear I had felt before had dissipated considerably.
The monster's speed surpassed that of the others. I realized this the moment my spear pierced its chest. I tried to block its head with my hand, but the goblin was faster.
It evaded my grasp and sank its fangs into my shoulder with full force. My legs trembled as I fought not to drop the spear. The monster's jaw dug into my flesh with the full weight of its body.
I counted to three in my head. I gripped its head with my hands and twisted it with all the strength I could muster.
A cry of pain escaped my lips as the goblin's head tore free, taking a chunk of my flesh between its jaws. Fortunately, my body was now far more resilient than before.
[You have killed a Goblin Fighter (F)]
Through the fallen monster's shoulders, I saw more goblins approaching. If they realized what was happening, my situation would become desperate. A mass attack would leave me no chance to counter or resist.
I counted to three in my head again. I grabbed the monster's head and ripped it from my bloodied chest. I doubted the wounds inflicted by the goblin would heal on this tower floor.
I managed to free my spear and aimed at one of the monsters lunging at me, leaping over its comrades' corpses. I saw its sharp teeth and deformed head. I drove the tip of my weapon between its eyes while stomping on its skull.
I flinched as two more goblins approached simultaneously. The situation demanded sacrifices, so I abandoned my spear after piercing one of them.
I tried to dodge the second, but it was too fast. The monster aimed its claws at my face while I threw a punch straight at its head.
I was momentarily stunned when its blow struck my head, but I felt my fist sink into its face as it fell back from the impact.
Though the goblin's hand was large enough to cover my face, I could see through its long claws. I managed to reverse our positions at the last moment, leaving the monster beneath me. The creature tried to bite and push me, but I obliterated its head with my fist.
[You have killed a Goblin Fighter (F)]
[Soul Fragments: 6/100]