Cheng Yao had been sulking ever since Wang Xian's plastic surgery comment. She didn't speak, and Wang Xian didn't bother trying to start a conversation either. He assumed she just didn't want to talk. That was fine.
The two walked in silence, moving through the forest's shadowy corridors until they reached the clearing where the Goblin BOSS had first appeared.
The towering green creature was crouched beside a roaring bonfire, its squat, muscular body silhouetted against the flames. Thick, oily smoke curled into the night as the boss turned a sizzling chunk of unidentifiable meat skewered on a bone.
Yes.
The Goblin BOSS was grilling.
Cheng Yao's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Uncle… is that BOSS… roasting meat?"
"Of course," Wang Xian replied casually.
"But... but... it's a BOSS!" she stammered.
"They have hobbies too," he shrugged. "Especially humanoid or half-beast types. Last life, I saw one drag a pretty NPC back to its den and start a family."
Cheng Yao's brain bluescreened.
Wang Xian didn't wait. He gestured toward a nearby tree. "Hide. I'll pull aggro. After it's dead, we can eat its dinner."
Cheng Yao nodded absently and crept behind cover. Her voice came as a whisper: "Be careful, Uncle... Go get him."
Wang Xian didn't move immediately. First, he pulled up the Goblin BOSS's stats.
Goblin BOSS (Normal)Level: 15HP: 10,000 / 10,000Attack: 350Physical Defense: 180Magic Defense: 150Skills: Unknown
Those were monster stats.
Real monster stats.
A normal player at level 15 wouldn't even scratch this thing's armor. Even level 20s would get flattened unless they came with perfect gear and good luck.
But Wang Xian?
He wasn't normal anymore.
He dumped 50 free points into Stamina, boosting his raw defense to 355. Add in the armor's 15 points, and he had 370 total defense—more than enough to shrug off the Goblin's strikes.
Next, 30 points into Strength, 25 into Physique.
With buffs from his equipment and Sacrifice class, his HP soared to 2,250, and attack climbed to 310.
He checked his stats one last time and grinned.
"These are level 30 stats. At level 10."
It was time.
Scorpion Tail Sword in hand, Wang Xian strode into the firelight. The Goblin BOSS paused mid-turn of the meat, confused.
Wang Xian raised his left hand, curled it into a fist, and extended his index finger.
He crooked it twice. "Come here."
That was all.
The Goblin froze. For a moment, it almost looked like it was questioning its life choices.
Then, it roared, grabbed its gnarled mace, and charged.
Wang Xian didn't flinch.
The mace slammed into his head with a sickening crack.
–0
Unbreakable.
The Goblin BOSS froze again, confused. That was supposed to send a player flying.
Then...
–1,000
A deep red number floated above the Goblin's head.
[God Abandoned] is in effect.All attributes reduced by 10%.
"Hurts, doesn't it?" Wang Xian sneered, and drove his sword upward into the Goblin's ribs.
–148
Followed by a faint green number.
–5 (Poison)
The Goblin bellowed, raising its mace for another swing, but Wang Xian was already moving.
He danced in, the Scorpion Tail Sword flashing in a flurry of brutal stabs.
–148–148–148
Each strike dug deep, ripping into flesh and muscle.
The Goblin roared and swung again—another heavy arc that should've caved in a normal person's chest.
–0
Another futile effort.
Wang Xian smirked. "I'm not like the others."
"But you? You bleed just the same."
He struck again, and again. One-sided slaughter.
Then came the misstep.
His blade lunged—lower, aimed for the belly—but the Goblin shifted—
Shluck.
Wang Xian froze. The sword was buried low. Far too low.
A black number exploded above the Goblin's head.
–1,480
Fatal Hit.
The Goblin's eyes crossed.
"...Oh," Wang Xian muttered. "That wasn't on purpose."
He tried to pull the blade out quickly.
Too late.
–1,480
–1,480
–1,480
Three black numbers in a row.
The Goblin BOSS released a final whimpering wheeze.
Then dropped like a felled tree.
Thud.
The forest went quiet.
Dead.No skills used. No phases. No chance.
Just brute power, punishment, and a very unfortunate stab to the family jewels.
Wang Xian stood over the body, his face unreadable.
Then: "...Damn. That was savage."
Behind the tree, Cheng Yao peeked out, her mouth agape.
She walked over slowly, staring at the grotesque mess that was once a towering boss.
"Uncle... why?" she whispered.
Wang Xian wiped blood off his blade, not looking at her. "It was an accident."
"You stabbed him in the balls four times."
"Three," he corrected automatically. "First one was a side graze."
Cheng Yao exhaled through her nose. "You're not even denying it..."
Wang Xian sighed and finally turned toward her. "Yaoyao?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't ever piss me off."