Chapter 26
A week had passed, and Grey had finally decided—it was time to confront the Goblin Lord. Along with Randin, he was now in the dwarf's cave home, preparing for their perilous journey.
"Are you certain we can handle this on our own?" Randin asked, a trace of doubt in his tone.
"Yes, I'm sure of it," Grey replied confidently.
'Now that I've advanced to the next star, my magic has reached a new level. I can cast complex spells, and with a single fireball, I might wipe out two dozen goblins,' he mused, a smirk creeping onto his face.
"Fine, I'll take your word for it," Randin relented. "But tell me, have you truly mastered the sword?"
"Yes. Thanks to your training over the past week, I can now execute basic sword techniques," Grey responded.
Throughout the week, while expanding his knowledge of magic, Grey had also been honing his swordsmanship under Randin's tutelage. His innate ability to grasp new concepts quickly allowed him to wield the blade with surprising proficiency.
Randin had even forged a special sword for him—crafted from the beast they had fought when they first met.
"This sword holds a unique power, much like the goblins' spears. But I won't spoil the surprise. It's up to you to uncover its secrets," Randin said, strapping a beast-hide backpack onto his shoulders.
'You don't have to tell me,' Grey thought as he gripped the hilt, feeling the raw mana coursing through the blade—mingled with a strange, unfamiliar energy.
"Just a heads-up," Randin continued. "The path we're taking is teeming with beasts. It'll take us a few days to reach the goblin base."
"That's fine. It'll give me more time to refine my abilities," Grey said, unfazed.
"Good. Let's move out," Randin declared.
As they stepped out of the cave, they faced their first obstacle—the sheer cliffside on which the cave was perched.
"Allow me," Grey said, raising his hands and mouthing an incantation.
"Liftus!" he commanded.
A gust of wind surged beneath them, lifting them into the air as they descended from the cliff like a soaring arrow—swift but controlled. Within moments, they landed amidst the cluster of caves below.
"That's oddly useful," Randin remarked, dusting off his clothes as they picked up their pace.
As they reached the forest's edge, Randin posed a question. "Why not use that power to enhance our speed? It would save us time."
"Because if I did, my energy would deplete too quickly. I need to conserve it for battle," Grey explained.
"Then how are you keeping up with me? Dwarves are naturally stronger and faster than humans, yet you're matching my pace."
"I'm using a wind spell to enhance my speed. At this scale, the energy consumption is minimal compared to using it on both of us," Grey replied.
"Makes sense," Randin nodded as they ventured deeper into the forest.
Rather than rushing forward, they slowed their pace, moving cautiously through the dense woodland. Grey kept one hand on the hilt of his new sword, his senses sharp.
'I'll rely on my blade for now. Only if I encounter a formidable foe will I use magic. This way, I can refine my swordsmanship without becoming too dependent on spells,' he resolved internally.
A distant howl pierced the silence, echoing ominously through the trees. Grey tensed, his grip tightening around his sword.
"Shhh! Keep quiet, or we'll have company," Randin whispered.
Something darted past their feet, a blur of movement too quick to identify. Startled, Grey instinctively stepped back—right onto a twig. The snap echoed unnaturally loud in the quiet forest.
"What part of 'stay quiet' do you not understand, you foolish human?!" Randin hissed, exasperated.
"Sorry! Something ran past my feet—I panicked," Grey admitted.
"Let's just hope we don't attract unwanted attention," Randin muttered.
As if mocking his words, another blur shot past, this time directly in front of Grey, causing him to stumble and land flat on the ground.
"What the hell is going on?!" he grumbled, brushing dirt from his palms.
Then, he saw it—a shadow emerging from a small cave ahead. A beast, standing roughly four feet tall, prowled into the moonlight. Its black fur bristled, a single, broken horn protruding from its head. The creature let out a low, menacing growl before howling into the night.
"So much for avoiding a fight," Randin sighed.
The beast locked eyes with Grey, who instinctively backed away.
"Appraisal," Grey whispered under his breath.
Grey exhaled, relieved. 'No abilities, and only a level 2 beast? That means magical abilities likely start at level 3 and above.'
'Well then, this should be an easy kill—' His thoughts screeched to a halt as the beast vanished from sight.
"What the—?!" Grey gasped, eyes widening in shock.
The creature that had been standing several feet away was suddenly right in front of him.
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{A/N}
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