I had two abilities that could make stronger: Ero Boost and Berserk Wolf. If I used Ero Boost and its effect wore off in the middle of the fight, I’d be left vulnerable to another attack. And if I used Berserk Wolf, it would consu all my mana, and I wouldn’t have control over my actions—I might even strike his club and lose my sword. Those two skills, as powerful as they were, should only be used as a last resort.
If I wanted to deal damage to him, I would need to get close enough and strike him with one of the skills I got from Sarah. And the opening would co when he made another serve.
The Hobgoblin resud his tennis, this ti tossing the stone to his side, high enough that he had to jump again. It looked like a normal serve, and I was already shifting my position.
My plan was to pretend to go one way, make a feint, and then dash toward him, catching him off guard.
The club was already in the air, and its trajectory seed clear to , so I made the feint, expecting that I wouldn’t be hit and that I would attack him right after. That’s what I thought.
But the mont he struck the stone with his club, I felt sothing different about his attack. The rubble shattered into pieces midair, and the small fragnts were launched in my direction.
There was no way to dodge. His attack was no longer aid at a single point, but at an area, and I was right in the middle of it. I had taken the bait, and now several projectiles were flying toward at high speed.
’Damn it, this Goblin!’ I thought, staring at the attack coming toward .
It felt like ti was moving slower—the fragnts ca at like bullets, but I could see them.
I only had one hope. I had never tested this, but if I could block part of the attack, I might survive.
"Thunderblade!!" I used this skill twice and managed to deflect the first fragnts heading toward my vital points.
"Huh!" But it wasn’t a perfect defense.
I couldn’t defend against all the fragnts coming at , and I was hit in my right arm and left leg.
I felt the skin in those areas heat up, and a liquid run down them. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like my limbs were crippled, so I could still fight.
I almost fell backward after taking the hit, but if I did, I would give the enemy a chance to attack again—and that would be my end. But my willpower was stronger.
I planted my right foot on the ground, keeping myself standing when the rest of my body wanted to give in, and propelled myself forward. I had nothing else on my mind but winning that fight.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaah!!" I scread as my body shot toward the enemy.
Luckily for , the Hobgoblin was still midair, making it impossible for him to dodge my attack.
"You won’t defeat , human!" I could see him trying to swing his club in defense.
At that mont, a shot echoed through the village. The Hobgoblin’s blood ran down his hand, where it wasn’t protected, and the club he had held so firmly slipped from his wounded grip.
Erina. She was still there. Even from afar, the girl had been watching our fight, waiting for the right mont to help .
I couldn’t fail—otherwise, her wait and the support she gave would be for nothing. I quickened my pace, and when I was close enough, I activated my Swordmaster skill.
"Flash Thrasher!"
Three strikes from my sword finally managed to wound the Hobgoblin midair as my body dashed through him.
But it wasn’t enough. The Hobgoblin still had enough strength to stay on his feet.
"Damn human!" he spat, pain and anger in his voice.
His club had fallen a few ters away. Our eyes t the object, and then we looked back at each other.
"Could it be that you’re so weak you need your club to fight?" I said to him, trying to provoke him.
"Ha, can’t I say the sa about you? You’re still holding your sword even though I’m unard," he replied.
"If I drop my sword, what guarantee do you give that you won’t run after that big piece of wood and try to kill again?"
"My word as a Goblin," he replied.
"As if I’d believe that bullshit! You Goblins might be the most treacherous monsters there are. I’d have to be an idiot to trust you," I answered, irritated that he had tried to insult my intelligence.
The Hobgoblin didn’t take long to prove that I was right. He moved toward the piece of Yggdrasil without looking back. To defeat , he knew he would need the weapon granted by a goddess. But of course, I wasn’t going to allow it.
Anticipating his move, I ran toward the club, and just as he was about to grab the weapon that could level the playing field between us, I struck him.
"Thunderblade."
Blood splattered.
"Aaaaaah!" The red Goblin scread in pain as his hand was severed. Purple blood gushed from the stump of his wrist, and now I stood between him and the stick of Yggdrasil. His last chance was gone.
"P-Please spare !" he begged .
But I didn’t listen to him. I had read SCRL and knew very well the nature of Goblins. The village we were in and the number of Goblins living there hadn’t co from nothing. He had surely killed, looted, and kidnapped human won to reach this point.
If he could, he would do the sa to Diane and the others.
These creatures don’t know the aning of things like compassion or forgiveness. To them, emotions only serve to deceive humans.
Without thinking twice, I brought down my sword—a rciless strike against the treacherous monster.
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