Nova locked eyes with the goblin king while its status.
[Goblin King]
Rank: 0
Name: None
Species: Goblin
Affiliation: None
Level: 2
Css: None
Attributes:
Strength: 114
Vigor: 107
Dexterity: 103
Speed: 94
Intelligence: 67
Wisdom: 74
Will: 1
Luck: 1
Nova assessed the situation as he steadied his stance, mentally paring the goblin king's stats with his own. ‘My Dexterity and Wisdom are higher. The rest, though... he has me beaten. Fair enough, he’s level 2. This should be a good final challenge before leaving the trial’ he thought.
The goblin king, seemingly unfazed, wasted no time. Without hesitation, he shot toward Nova like a predator closing in on prey. Nova instinctively retreated, his movements fluid and quick.
The goblin king raised an eyebrow, almost mog him, as if to say, ‘Why are you running away?’
Nova couldn’t help but shake his head. This oppo was far too human in his as. The goblin king’s intelligend reflexes were sharp, and Nhat this would be no ordinary fight.
The goblin king didn’t give Nova any time to think. He dashed fain, this time closing the distah deadly i. Nova mirrored his oppo’s speed, charging back towards him, determined not to be forced on the defehis time.
In a split sed, they were nearly on top of each other. The goblin king swung his sword horizontally with a mighty roar. Nova didn’t hesitate for a moment. He smmed his feet into the ground, propelling himself into the air just as the sword swept beh him.
Suspended mid-air, Nova shifted his grip on his spear, holding it half the shaft like a sword in his left hand. He ya back before plunging it downward, aiming for the goblin king’s head with all his might.
The goblin king's sword swept just below Nova's feet as he gripped his spear mid the shaft with his left hand, holding it like a sword. He pulled his left hand back while still mid-air, gathering all his strength before thrusting it towards the goblin king. But just as he did, a punch shot up toward his chest. Instantly, his focus sharpened, and his mind raced to find a way to evade the blow. In a split sed, he identified his move. Using the force of the ining fist to his advantage, Nova pced his right hand on top of it and pushed himself upward. The goblin king, seeing this, swiftly retracted his sword and swung it again at Nova, who was now directly above him.
Thinking fast, Nova twisted his body, perf a mid-air summersault. He eyed the ining sword and, in a swift motion, gripped his spear with both hands. With precision, he swept the spear across the path of the sword, just enough to deflect its trajectory. The swrazed his side, but the defle was enough to allow Nova to follow through with his attack.
As his feet nded, Nova’s left leg shot out in a powerful kick toward the goblin king’s head, the final blow in his flurry of evasive maneuvers.
The goblin king saw Nova’s movement, but his downward swing was already in motion. He had to use its force to his advantage. Pivoting on his right foot, he executed a spinning side kick aimed at Nova’s left leg. Nova wao shout at the shamelessness of this king, but he forced himself to suppress the thought. He had only oion now. Quickly, he swung his spear at the goblin king’s ining kick.
Whewo forces collided, the shaft of Nova’s spear bent unnaturally. For a moment, he feared it would snap, but luckily it didn’t. The force of the impact sent him flying backward toward the edge of the arena. His irembled, and the taste of iron lingered in his mouth like an illusioood still for a moment, rec as he watched the goblin kirieve his raised leg. The two locked eyes.
The goblin king’s expression shifted from one of battle to one of relut respect. He knew Nova was weaker, but the fact that he could trade blows, even if it left him injured, meant something. His gaze, ohat of an enemy, narded Nova as a warrior he o kill.
Nova felt the ge in the air. The pressure, once light, now thied as the goblin king prepared to take him seriously. Nova smiled and nodded before ung himself bato the fray. The goblin king’s mouth curled up, exposing his jagged teeth. He met Nova halfway.
As they collided, Nova thrust his spear forward, just as the goblin king swung his sword in a vertical arc, aiming to sever Nova’s arm. Nova didn’t flinch. Instead, he stomped with his right foot, spun to the left, and maintained his thrust. His spear was aimed true, but the sword soon loomed in front of his eyes. Reag instinctively, Nova adjusted his motion, spinning as he swung to avoid the blow.
In the blink of ahe goblin king punched with his left arm to intercept the ining spear. The force of the punch sent Nova’s spear flying toward the edge of the arena. Without hesitation, Nova pulled back his left fist, fog all his strength into it before unleashing a powerful punch toward the goblin king’s chest.
The impact created a small dent in the goblin king's armor, and Nova winced from the force of the blow. He wasn’t sure who had suffered more from that exge, but as the air cleared, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfa.
As soon as Nova delivered the punch, he stomped on the ground and quickly retreated toward where his spear had fallen. The goblin king, infuriated by the pund Nova’s seemingly unscathed retreat, didn’t hesitate to chase him down.
Nova barely gripped his spear when he sehe goblin king behind him. Without warning, the goblin swung his sword in a vertical ar right to left, aiming to finish him off. Seeing this, Nova reacted instantly, dashing to the right, where the sword strike began. In that split sed, he revealed his true speed to the goblin king.
Reag the goblin’s right side, Nova thrust his spear directly toward the king's chest. The goblin king, stunned, had thought he had already seehing Nova could do. He had judged him as someone weaker than him, but this ued speed and precision took him by surprise—and it would cost him dearly.
Nova stomped on the ground, driving the spear forward with all his strength. The tip of the spear pierced through the goblin king's armor and lodged itself deep between his ribs, puncturing his right lung. The goblin king froze in shock, his mind struggling to prehend the blow. Blood began to pour into his lung as he coughed violently, uo breathe properly.
Nova calmly retreated, leaving the spear embedded in the goblin king’s chest as he observed the unfolding se. He khe injury was fatal. Seeing the goblin king remain motionless, save for the violent coughing of blood, Nova decided to inflict further damage.
Without hesitation, Nova returo the spear, gripping it with his left hand. He twisted the shaft left and right, causing the spear tip io shift ahrough the goblin king’s internal ans.
The damage escated rapidly as Nova twisted the spear. The goblin king’s lung filled with more blood, and soon, his liver and stomach were punctured as well. Blood poured untrolbly into his ans, and the goblin king’s breath became shallow and ragged.
Finally, Nova decided to withdraw the spear. With a burst of speed, he dashed away from the goblin king, gripping the on tightly with both hands. As the spear slid free from the goblin king’s chest, a fountain of blood erupted from the wound.
Seg the on, Nova distanced himself and stood silently, watg as his stro eo date succumbed to his death throes.
‘It could've been me if I hadn’t risked it all so many times during the fight’ Nova thought as he watched the goblin king's final moments unfold. ‘Life is so fickle—it be extinguished with a snap of someone's fingers. Today I killed an honorable goblin king, tomorrow I might die. That's what makes it exg. If I were certain to survive every fight, where would the fun be?’
He couldn’t help but reflect, ‘o pity anyone in this world. This goblin king probably killed thousands to reach his position. People walk over others' bodies to thrive, and I’m no different. There's no room for pity in this world.’
These thoughts came naturally, as if Nova was disc his true self through the heat of battle and the bloodshed that surrounded him.
Time passed, and after what felt like ay, the goblin king finally stopped moving, colpsing to the ground as blood tio pour from his body.
[Received 90,000 Stat EXP]
Finally, a notification broke through Nova’s intense focus. He had blocked out everything except the fight, but now, as he looked around, he realized there were several unread notifications.
[Title acquired: King Syer][Skill: Regeion has been learned][Skill: Keen Reflexes has been learned]
Nova raised an eyebrow. ‘Regeion and Reflexes?’ He thought, then focused ole first. The description appeared in his mind:
Title: King Syer(All Stats increased by 5% against King oppos.)
‘This is going to be useful’ Nova mused. ‘The 15% Strength from the medallion saved me today, but having 5% to every stat against King-level oppos is easily the best reward I've gotten so far.’
, he turned his attention to the skills he had acquired.
Skill: Regeion(Increases body healing.)
Skill: Keen Reflexes(Increases body reflexes and decreases the time of a between mind and body.)
"Ihe meneric the skill, the better, and these two are crazy good” Nova muttered. "Feels like I’ve wotery." With that, he turned his focus to his Status s.
[Status]
Rank: 0
Name: Nova Grey
Species: Human
Affiliation: None
Level: 0 (150/500)
Css: None
Titles: Goblierminator, King Syer
Stat Points: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 72
Vigor: 70
Dexterity: 120
Speed: 80
Intelligence: 36
Wisdom: 80
Will: 7
Luck: 10
Skills
Active: Spear Thrust (10) (4002/512000), Spear Jab (7) (16175/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (519/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000)
Passive: Regeion (0) (0/500), Keen Reflexes (0) (0/500)
‘I’ll add that tth,’ Nova decided. In his opinion, pohat he needed most at the moment. His survivability seemed suffit for now, but his offensive capabilities were g.
Suddenly, more notifications echoed in his mind.
[Mission: Survive for 1 day has been pleted]
Rewards:
Gold: 5,000 sEXP: 650Title: Survivrao those who endure harsh ditions and outst all odds, the "Survivor" title symbolizes unyielding perseverand mental fortitude.Bonus:+10% Vigor+5% Resistao Enviroal Hazards+5% Healing SpeedLight Armor: (+2 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +5 Speed)
A white, form-fitting light armor materialized before Nova. He eyed it appreciatively, nodding. "The style is good, and it's very light. Perfect. It's a shame the stats are a bit low for me right now, but it's still better than nothing." Without hesitatioripped and dohe new armor.
"Feels good" he muttered, before calling out, "Status."
[Status]
Rank: 0
Name: Nova Grey
Species: Human
Affiliation: None
Level: 1 (300/500)
Css: None
Titles: Goblierminator, King Syer, Survivor
Stat Points: 0
Attributes:
Strength: 78 (+2)
Vigor: 75 (+8)
Dexterity: 125 (+3)
Speed: 85 (+5)
Intelligence: 41
Wisdom: 85
Will: 7
Luck: 10
Skills
Active: Spear Thrust (10) (4002/512000), Spear Jab (7) (16175/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (519/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000)
Passive: Regeion (0) (0/500), Keen Reflexes (0) (0/500)
‘I just realized I leveled up—+5 to every stat per level. Not as much as I expected’ Nova thought to himself. He then checked his Stats. ‘So the stats in brackets haven’t been factored ihat means my Strength is already at 80.’
Before he could tinue his musings, a portal materialized before him, apanied by a notification.
[Portal will close in 10:00]
"Finally, time to go bae. I wonder how much has ged in just one day oh" Nova said with a smile. Without a sed thought, he stepped into the portal.
The familiar sickly sensation washed over him, though it was milder now than before. A brief disfort lingered, but it soon passed. His feet touched the ground, and as he opened his eyes, he was greeted by an unfettable sight.
The city was burning.
Humanity had returo its roots, but this time, they wielded power beyond imagination.
Nova took in the se, a crazed smile creeping across his face. He muttered to no one in particur, “This is what I’ve been waiting for. A ce. A ce to escape the cage—and I will not let it slip away.”
Will 7 → 8
