The clearing was heavy with tension as Noah stood face-to-face with the goblin chieftain, a hulking monster that loomed over him, its eyes glowing like hot embers in the dark. The air crackled with palpable energy, the very ground beneath them seeming to hum in anticipation. The shadows around the ancient altar stretched and twisted, as if the dungeon itself was alive and watching.
Noah could feel the chieftain's predatory gaze, its eyes narrowing in disdain as it sized him up. Every muscle in the goblin's massive frame radiated strength, but Noah wasn't intimidated. He had come too far to be scared now.
"Prepare to meet your end, human!" the chieftain bellowed, its voice a guttural growl that reverberated through the clearing. It raised its enormous club, etched with runes that pulsed with dark magic, and sneered. "I will crush you like the insect you are!"
[Sudden Quest: Defeat the Goblin Chieftain]
[Reward: Rank Up (E+ >> D), one of the Chieftain's spells]
"What perfect timing," Noah muttered to himself, lips curling into a smirk. Two birds with one stone, then.
His heart beat faster, but he steadied his breath. This would be a battle to remember.
"Mind Acceleration!" he shouted, the skill amplifying his senses and sharpening his focus. Time seemed to slow, every movement of the chieftain's becoming clear to him. The monster's attack patterns flashed in his mind like an unfolding script.
With a roar, the chieftain lunged forward, its club swinging with terrifying speed. Noah dove to the side, barely evading the strike, and the club slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, sending shards of stone flying.
"Fire Blast!" Noah cried, launching a fiery orb directly at the chieftain.
The creature only laughed, raising a dark shield in defense, and the flames were absorbed harmlessly into the barrier.
"Foolish boy! Do you think your magic can harm me?" the chieftain taunted, its voice dripping with disdain. It swung its massive weapon again, forcing Noah to roll backward to avoid the crushing blow.
Noah's mind raced. How do I break through that defense? He knew he had to find an opening.
"Eclipse Blade: First Form—Shadow Strike!" he called out, channeling his energy into his sword. With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, aiming for the chieftain's exposed side. The blade met its mark, but the goblin barely flinched. Its thick skin absorbed the blow like it was nothing.
"Is that all you've got?" the chieftain mocked. It swung its club again, this time faster. Noah wasn't quick enough. The club slammed into his side, and pain exploded through his body. He was sent sprawling across the ground, gasping for breath.
"Pathetic!" the chieftain roared, raising its club for a finishing blow. "Now, witness my strongest magic! Dark Cataclysm!"
The air around the goblin pulsed with dark energy as it began chanting, and Noah could feel the immense power building. The ground trembled beneath him as a swirling sphere of destructive energy formed, its ominous glow lighting up the clearing.
Noah's heart hammered in his chest. This is bad. I can't let this attack hit me— But despite the pain in his body, his resolve hardened. I won't go down like this.
"No! I won't let it end like this!" he shouted, pushing himself to his feet, even as his limbs screamed in protest.
A sudden memory flashed through his mind—an idea he'd toyed with during his quiet moments of training. Why not try it now? he thought, clenching his fists.
"System, create a skill that can nullify all magic by redirecting it towards the caster."
[Skill is being generated with host description]
[Skill has been created]
"Yes!" Noah grinned despite the pain. Now or never.
He turned toward the incoming Dark Cataclysm and roared, "Echo of Oblivion!"
With that, he channeled his mana into a reflective barrier, summoning a shield that shimmered with otherworldly energy. The chieftain's massive sphere of destruction collided with Noah's skill, and to his shock, the magic was redirected. The destructive sphere spiraled back, careening toward the goblin.
"What? No!" The chieftain's eyes widened in disbelief as its own magic began to spiral back toward him. "No—this can't be—"
The Dark Cataclysm exploded in a brilliant flash of light and energy, engulfing the chieftain in an inferno of his own making. The ground shook violently, the shockwave blasting Noah backward, but he held on to his ground.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Noah wasted no time. "Eclipse Blade: First Form—Shadow Strike!" he shouted, gathering every ounce of strength he had left. He dashed forward, his form a blur as shadows swirled around him, enhancing his speed. With a single, powerful slash, his blade cut through the air, connecting with the chieftain's side.
The blow landed with a resounding crack, and the chieftain howled in pain, its dark energy flickering. The goblin fell to its knees, breathing raggedly. It was over.
But to Noah's horror, the chieftain wasn't done. It snarled, pushing itself back to its feet with a growl of fury.
"You think you can defeat me so easily, human? I will show you true power!" the goblin roared.
It raised its club once more, dark energy swirling around it in a violent, crackling storm.
Noah's blood ran cold. The chieftain was still too strong, and Noah's body ached from the relentless battle. His movements were sluggish, and if he didn't heal soon, he would be overwhelmed.
"Nature's Embrace!" he cried, calling upon the energy of the forest. Vines shot from the ground, wrapping around his body and restoring his strength. The warmth of nature surged through him, easing his pain and replenishing his mana.
The chieftain's voice dripped with mockery. "Running away to heal? How pathetic!"
"You think you can hide behind your spells?" it taunted. "I'll crush you before you even think of standing again!"
But Noah's eyes burned with defiance. He wasn't finished yet.
"I'm not done yet!" he shouted, his voice raw with determination. He gathered his mana and focused it into a new spell. "Mana Bullet!"
A series of glowing orbs formed around him, each crackling with energy. He launched them at the chieftain in rapid succession. The projectiles struck the goblin with pinpoint accuracy, making it stagger back, its confidence wavering.
"What? You dare to attack me with such weak spells?" the chieftain bellowed, but the cracks in its arrogance were becoming visible.
"Let's see how you handle this!" Noah cried, summoning the shadows once more. "Eclipse Blade: First Form—Shadow Strike!"
He dashed forward, the shadows clinging to him like a second skin, and aimed for the chieftain's legs. His blade connected with a resounding crash, and the goblin let out an agonized howl, collapsing to one knee.
"Enough of this!" the chieftain roared, its voice echoing through the clearing like thunder. "I will end this now!"
It raised its club high, dark energy swirling around it in a final, devastating attack.
"Prepare to be obliterated! Dark Cataclysm!"