The Goblin King's physical reinforcement was now visible to Alan. He watched as the Goblin King's veins popped up and his already well defined body became more toned.

  Alan attempted to step forward toward the Goblin King, but his body momentarily hesitated. Why did I even choose to fight this brute? Alan wondered as a drop of sweat trickled down his face.

  "What happened, human? You don’t want to attack me? Wait, don’t tell me… you’re scared?!" the Goblin King sneered, his deep voice echoing as a wide grin spread across his face, confidence brimming in his tone.

  Alan tried his best to maintain his composure. He wiped the drop of sweat from his face and smiled as he looked in the Goblin King's direction, then questioned, "And what if I am?”

  "It would be more fun for me. Do you know, human, your species is quite resilient? Especially those knights who dared to cross my home," the Goblin King growled with his beast-like voice.

  "Resilient? I’d say we’re rather fragile compared to monsters like you," Alan replied. I should buy myself some time, he thought, his eyes darting around as he scanned the space while speaking.

  "They healed! Can you believe it, sorcerer?! When I cut their limbs, they healed them back as if they were never hurt in the first place," the Goblin King said, astonishment clear on his face. "The humans from the village aren't fun, though… they're too easy to break," he added with a serious expression.

  "Though one thing is common in all humans, whether they are strong knights, children, or women, they all share the same trait. Would you like to know what it is?”

  Alan’s brows furrowed as he tried to predict what the Goblin King was about to say. "Since I’m about to be killed by you," Alan said, pausing briefly, "I’d rather not die with curiosity," he added with a small smile.

  "Their screams are always a pleasure to hear," the Goblin King added.

  Alan's eyes narrowed at the Goblin King's words, his gaze burning with fury as his mind swarmed with ways to kill the brute.

  Alan immediately raised his left hand. "Fire Affinity, Projection Magic," he muttered, summoning several projectiles in the air, each aimed at the Goblin King.

  The Goblin King looked around himself. "You think these weak projectiles can damage me when I am in this state?" he snarled as he ran towards Alan at a quick pace, faster than the last time he had caught Alan off guard.

  Though Alan knew what to expect from him this time. "Rain," he said as he flicked his wrist. All the projectiles quickly struck the Goblin King. The Goblin King waved his sword, breaking several projectiles at once, but two managed to pierce his body slightly. The wound was nowhere deep.

  "Quick step," Alan mumbled, reflexively moving a few steps away from the Goblin King.

  "Don't make me laugh! You think these puny projectiles could damage me?"

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  "Don't get me wrong, I never believed my projectiles could cause serious damage," Alan said. He raised his left hand once more, aiming at the Goblin King. "Fireball," he muttered. And in the next moment a fireball larger than the Goblin King erupted from his hand, tearing through the land with destructive force as it surged toward the goblin king.

  "Fire affinity, Quick step!" he added, closing in on the Goblin King while using the fireball as a shield.

  "Arghh!" The Goblin King screamed as he cut the fireball in two with his sword. Though he had dispersed the spell, the immense heat of the fireball left burns on his hand. The Goblin King immediately shifted his focus back to Alan, effortlessly blocking his strike in the next moment.

  Alan gritted his teeth as sparks flew from the blades. Not yet! he mentally exclaimed. The Goblin King's blade pushed against Alan with increasing force, yet he refused to yield.

  "You are certainly a strong one. Would you want to be my pet, human?" the Goblin King questioned, his grin widening as he enjoyed looking at the struggling expression on his enemy’s face.

  "Dark affinity, Projection magic," Alan whispered. Fifty spears made of condensed dark magic materialized just behind the Goblin King, and with a whoosh sound, they pierced his back. They weren’t deep enough to kill him but were painful enough to disorient him. The Goblin King screamed in agony, and his grip on his sword weakened due to the pain. But Alan pressed forward, breaking the Goblin King's sword in two as he did.

  "Ahhhhh!" Alan growled as he finally struck the Goblin King with all his might, delivering a deep diagonal slash across his torso. The Goblin King collapsed onto his back, and the numerous projectiles that had barely pierced him earlier, held back by his reinforcement magic, now sank deep into his flesh under his own weight. Yet, life still lingered in him.

  The wound Alan had inflicted on the Goblin King was deep, his body drenched in blood as Alan gazed down at him. Yet, despite everything, the Goblin King clung to life, his once-proud expression now twisted into one of desperation. His lips parted, ready to beg for mercy.

  But before he could utter a single word, Alan raised his left arm. "Dark Affinity, Authority of the King," he muttered. In an instant, the countless projectiles beneath the Goblin King impaled his body, ending his life.

  That takes care of one more Goblin King, Alan thought as he walked toward the Goblin King's corpse, piercing the red, large magic core left from the body, letting his sword absorb all the remaining mana. I am feeling dizzy. Do I even have any mana left in my body? Alan questioned himself while retracting his blade from the core.

  "How many goblins are left? I killed more than a thousand with my spell. I killed hundreds before entering the fight with this brute," Alan mumbled with a tired expression as he looked at the unrecognizable corpse of the Goblin King. "Haven’t I done my share of work already?" Alan mumbled as he looked at the wall of fire separating him from the battlefield.

  The Inferno spell finally reached its limit. Its fire dimmed and wore off. The arena Alan had prepared for himself was now gone, and the first thing Alan saw outside was Rose Weeble, who was standing just outside his spell’s area.

  Alan’s eyes narrowed, looking sharply at Rose’s expression. He took in the faint breath she drew and her barely opened eyes. She looks worse than me, Alan thought to himself. His eyes darted to the left front, widening as he took in the scene. Bodies and bodies of goblins lay on the floor.

  Rose took a long breath as she tightened her grip on her sword. The dimmed flames reignited. "I thought you needed some assistance," Rose said in a low voice.

  Alan looked in Rose’s direction, noticing a group of hobgoblins rushing toward them. As he walked toward her, he said, "I don’t think I need any assistance, but you sure look burned out. I would suggest that you go to Miss Bella," Alan suggested as he looked at Rose with a concerned look.

  follow, rating or a review. "Would help me out a lot"