The first goblin lunged.
The HUD of the first goblin came into view.
Goblin Lv2.
HP: 50 / 50
“No problems there.”
Noah moved.
Steel flashed.
A clean horizontal slash tore through the creature before it could even reach him. Its body collapsed at his feet.
But more poured in behind it.
Too many.
The cave corridor filled with snarling shapes, jagged blades, and glowing eyes pushing forward through the narrow tunnel.
Aoi’s calm voice sounded in his mind.
“At the current engagement rate, you and Ignis will be surrounded within thirty seconds.”
“Probability of defeat: high.”
Noah ducked beneath a stabbing dagger and drove his sword upward through a goblin’s chest.
“I’m well aware, Aoi!”
Ignis surged beside him.
The massive wolf caught a goblin by the shoulder in his jaws and flung the creature violently into the cave wall. Bone cracked on impact.
Another goblin lunged at Ignis’ flank.
His claws lashed out.
Three deep red streaks tore across the creature’s body, sending it tumbling backward into two more goblins rushing behind it.
They collapsed into a tangled heap.
For a brief second—
The pressure eased.
Ignis glanced sideways at Noah.
“What did you say earlier?”
Noah kicked a goblin away and drove his blade down through another’s neck.
“I’ll explain later!”
Steel ripped free in a spray of blood.
“Kind of busy!”
The goblins screeched and surged again.
Rusty blades flashed.
One sliced across Noah’s forearm.
HP: 110 → 104
Another goblin slammed into his shoulder with its weight, driving him back a step.
Ignis snarled as two goblins leapt onto his side.
Their daggers scraped along his ember-lit fur.
One blade pierced shallowly through the hide.
HP: 180 → 168
Ignis snapped his jaws sideways.
One goblin’s skull crushed instantly.
The other was thrown off with a violent shake.
But more came.
Increasing by the second.
The tunnel was filling.
Bodies dissipate all around, but still no sign of the charge letting up.
Noah’s breathing tightened.
“We’re getting overwhelmed.”
Ignis lowered his stance.
“Yes.”
Another goblin slashed Noah’s ribs.
HP: 104 → 97
A second struck his thigh with a crude spear.
HP: 97 → 90
The numbers were becoming a problem.
Too many blades.
Too many bodies.
Then—
An idea struck him.
Risky.
Expensive.
But it would work.
“No choice…”
He stepped back suddenly.
“Ignis!”
The wolf shifted instantly to cover him.
Noah raised his hand.
Mana surged.
“Aegis Shield!”
MP: 140 → 120
A brilliant barrier of shimmering blue energy erupted across the tunnel, sealing the width of the corridor like a glowing wall.
The charging goblins slammed into it.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Claws scraped uselessly against the barrier.
Aoi spoke immediately.
“Shield integrity holding.”
“Duration: twenty seconds.”
Only a narrow opening remained where the cave wall curved.
Just enough space for one or two goblins to squeeze through at a time.
Noah grinned.
“Now we control the fight.”
Ignis’ ember eyes glowed brighter.
“Yes.”
The first goblin forced its way through the gap.
Noah cut it down instantly.
Second.
Third.
Fourth.
Bodies fell one after another.
Steel flashed again and again.
Ignis ripped through those that made it past Noah’s blade.
Claws.
Jaws.
Crushing force.
Goblins died in rapid succession.
The horde shrieked behind the barrier, clawing desperately.
Aoi’s voice counted down.
“Shield duration: 10 seconds.”
Noah’s arms moved like machines.
Slash.
Thrust.
Cut.
STM: 126 → 118 → 111
Blood coated the cave floor.
Ignis slammed another goblin into the wall.
Bone shattered.
The next one barely got through the gap before Noah split its skull.
“Five seconds remaining,” Aoi said.
Three more goblins forced through.
Ignis tore one apart.
Noah cut down the other two.
The shield flickered.
Cracked.
Then—
Vanished.
The remaining goblins surged forward all at once.
But now—
There were far fewer.
Aoi spoke again.
“Thirteen life forms remaining.”
Noah exhaled hard and glanced toward Ignis.
The wolf stood strong beside him.
Burning fur flickering against the cave walls.
Ignis Lv10
HP: 130 / 180
Noah nodded.
“Good.”
A faint grin crossed his face.
“We can win this.”
“We’ve taken out more than that already.”
The remaining goblins shrieked and charged.
This time—
No wall.
No barrier.
Just raw violence.
Noah surged forward first.
His sword carved a deep diagonal through the leading goblin.
Another leapt toward his throat.
He ducked low and drove his blade straight upward through its jaw.
Ignis burst into motion beside him.
His massive body slammed through two goblins at once, sending them crashing into the stone floor.
A third goblin stabbed wildly toward Noah’s back—
Ignis caught it mid-strike.
His jaws crushed the creature’s spine.
The cave echoed with snarls and screams.
Blood sprayed across stone.
The fight turned savage.
Brutal.
Close.
Noah’s sword rose and fell repeatedly.
Each strike precise.
Each movement efficient.
A goblin lunged—
He kicked it aside and cut its leg clean through.
Another swung a jagged blade—
Ignis tore its arm off with a single bite.
The numbers dwindled.
Ten.
Seven.
Five.
Three.
The final goblin screamed wildly and rushed Noah in a last desperate charge.
Noah stepped forward.
One clean strike.
The blade split through its chest.
The creature staggered.
Refusing to fall.
Still trying to fight.
Then—
Its strength failed.
The goblin collapsed.
Silence returned to the cavern.
Noah stood there breathing heavily.
Blood dripped slowly from his blade.
The cave floor was soaked red.
Bodies littered the narrow tunnel.
Ignis exhaled a deep breath, ember-light flickering across the carnage.
The fight was over.
But the cave was not quiet.
Deep within—
The low humming sound still resonated through the stone.
Unnatural.
Persistent.
Noah wiped the blood from his blade and looked deeper into the cave.
Ahead, the water canal split.
One path followed the stream further into darkness.
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The other curved away into a dry-stone passage.
The hum pulsed faintly from somewhere deeper inside.
Something waited there.
And it was still alive.
Silence settled slowly over the tunnel.
Broken only by the steady drip of water… and the faint, unnatural hum resonating from deeper within the cave.
Noah stood there a moment, chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.
The metallic scent of blood hung thick in the damp air.
Across the cavern floor, dark splashes of goblin blood stained the stone, but the bodies themselves were already fading.
One by one, the fallen creatures dissolved into faint motes of dull light.
Their forms broke apart like ash caught in a breeze.
Particles scattered across the cave floor before disappearing entirely.
Only their crude weapons and a few scattered drops remained behind.
Noah watched the last one vanish.
“…Convenient,” he muttered.
Ignis huffed softly beside him, watching the last goblin’s body crumble into drifting particles of light.
“…Is this not normal for fallen creatures?” the wolf asked.
His ember-red eyes followed the fading motes as they scattered across the cave floor and vanished.
Noah glanced down at the empty space where the goblin had been seconds ago.
“You mean the disappearing part?”
Ignis gave a small nod.
“Yes.”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck.
“Well… not really.”
Ignis’ ears twitched.
“In your homeland, they remain?”
“Yeah,” Noah said with a short breath of amusement. “If something dies where I’m from… it stays there.”
Ignis tilted his head slightly.
“That sounds… inconvenient.”
Noah chuckled.
“You’re not wrong.”
He paused for a second, watching the last of the particles vanish.
“…Honestly, a lot of things here aren’t exactly normal for me.”
Ignis’ gaze shifted toward him, studying him more carefully now.
“I had suspected as much.”
Noah raised an eyebrow.
“You did?”
“You speak differently.”
“You fight differently.”
Ignis lowered his head slightly as if examining a puzzle.
“And you treat magic as though it were something newly discovered.”
Noah scratched the back of his neck again.
“Yeah… about that…”
He opened his mouth to continue—
But the low humming from deeper inside the cave pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
The stone walls vibrated faintly with it.
Ignis’ ears snapped forward.
“The corruption.”
Noah sighed lightly.
“…Right.”
“Guess the life story can wait.”
He stepped closer to Ignis and raised his hand.
Soft golden light gathered in his palm.
“Divine Touch.”
The warm glow washed over the wolf.
The claw marks across Ignis’ side sealed instantly.
Blood faded.
Flesh mended.
Ignis — Lv10
HP: 130 / 180 → 170 / 180
Ignis flexed his shoulder once.
“…Your magic is unusual.”
Noah smirked.
“I’ve heard that a few times already.”
MP: 120 → 90
He reached into the pouch on his belt and pulled out a small red vial.
Minor Healing Potion.
He uncorked it and drank it quickly.
Warmth spread through his chest and limbs.
The sting in his ribs faded.
HP: 90 / 110 → 110 / 110
Aoi chimed calmly.
“Vitals stabilized.”
Noah rolled his shoulder once.
“Good.”
He glanced deeper into the cave.
The tunnel forked ahead.
One path followed the flowing canal further into the cavern.
The other curved away into a dry stone passage.
And from that direction—
The humming grew stronger.
Ignis stepped beside him again.
“The corruption lies deeper.”
Noah nodded slowly.
“Yeah.”
He lifted his sword again.
“We’ll talk about where I’m from after we deal with this.”
Ignis’ ember-red eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
“I look forward to that explanation.”
Together they stepped forward.
Past the fading blood stains.
Past the battlefield.
And deeper into the cave where the humming waited.
The two of them moved deeper into the cave.
The narrow passage gradually widened, the ceiling rising higher as the air grew heavier with damp stone and the constant low hum that seemed to pulse through the cavern walls.
Step by step, the tunnel opened.
Until suddenly—
The corridor spilled into a vast chamber.
Noah slowed.
The cavern was enormous.
A circular chamber carved naturally from ancient stone. The ceiling arched high above them, lost in shadow. Water dripped steadily from stalactites, echoing softly through the hollow space.
Across the chamber—
Something faintly shimmered.
A dim sparkle of purple.
And beneath it, a dark pool of water collected at the center of the cavern floor.
The water overflowed gently, feeding the stream that ran down the path they had entered from and flowed out toward the village below.
Noah narrowed his eyes.
“I see something over there…”
Ignis’ fur flickered faintly with ember light as he scanned the cavern.
“Yes.”
They took another cautious step forward.
And then—
A soft laugh drifted through the darkness.
Low.
Crooked.
Echoing across the stone walls.
“Well now…”
“Well done.”
The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once.
“You made it this far, have you?”
Noah instantly raised his sword.
Ignis lowered into a battle stance, claws scraping the stone.
Their eyes scanned the chamber.
Nothing.
Just darkness.
“Show yourself,” Noah said calmly.
Another chuckle echoed.
“Oh, I will.”
“But first…”
Torches ignited.
One by one.
Around the cavern walls.
Dark purple flames burst to life in iron brackets, illuminating the chamber in eerie violet light.
And suddenly—
The entire scene became visible.
Noah’s eyes widened.
At the center of the cavern stood a crude stone worktable.
Alchemy equipment scattered across its surface.
Glass bottles.
Broken vials.
Rusting tools.
Ancient parchments.
And seated in a chair before the table—
A skeleton.
The bones slumped forward, its skull resting against an open journal.
Dust-covered robes hung loosely over the decayed remains.
Noah stared.
“…Someone died here.”
Ignis growled softly.
“Yes.”
The laughter returned.
“Oh, much more than someone.”
A figure stepped forward from the shadows.
Short.
Crooked.
Wrapped in a tattered dark robe.
A Hobgoblin.
But something about it was wrong.
Very wrong.
The creature’s skin was gray and stretched tight across its face. Jagged teeth protruded from its twisted mouth, and its eyes—
They were completely black.
Like pits.
As if something else looked through them.
The goblin held a crooked staff nearly as tall as itself.
At the staff’s tip—
A purple gem glowed faintly, bound in bronze bands.
And beneath its robe…
Something pulsed.
A dark crystal embedded directly into the creature’s chest.
Purple miasma leaked from it like smoke.
Aoi’s voice chimed urgently.
“Hostile entity detected.”
Cursed Hobgoblin — Lv 9
HP: 220 / 220
The creature grinned wider.
“Oh yes.”
“You found me.”
Noah’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re not the one talking.”
The goblin’s grin widened.
“Sharp boy.”
The creature slowly raised its staff.
“My body may be gone…”
“But my mind remains.”
Noah’s gaze shifted toward the skeleton at the table.
Realization struck.
“…You’re the mage.”
The goblin bowed slightly.
“Formerly.”
“I was once the alchemist of Akotto Village.”
Ignis snarled.
“You poison the water of your own people?”
The creature laughed again.
“They were ungrateful fools.”
Its voice twisted with bitterness.
“They cast me out.”
“After two unfortunate accidents.”
Noah’s grip tightened.
“Two women died.”
The goblin’s grin sharpened.
“Sacrifices in pursuit of knowledge.”
“They lacked vision.”
“So I continued my research here.”
The creature gestured toward the skeleton.
“My mortal vessel failed.”
“But…”
It tapped the crystal embedded in its chest.
“…my soul endured.”
“The miasma preserves me.”
“And now…”
It spread its arms.
“I command the creatures of this cave.”
The staff slammed into the ground.
Purple energy exploded outward.
The cavern floor trembled.
Stone cracked open near the dark pool.
And from the water—
Something massive burst forth.
A writhing, pale body covered in hooked segments.
A gaping maw ringed with teeth.
A monstrous worm lunged out of the pool with a shriek.
Aoi’s voice chimed again.
Carrion Worm — Lv 9.
HP: 160 / 160
The creature slammed into the cavern floor, writhing violently.
The possessed hobgoblin pointed its staff toward Noah.
“Let us see if you are worthy of reaching me.”
Ignis stepped forward immediately.
The wolf’s ember fur flared bright.
“That one is mine.”
Noah nodded once.
“Deal.”
The worm lunged.
Ignis exploded forward to meet it.
The two creatures collided with a thunderous impact.
Meanwhile—
The hobgoblin lifted its staff.
Dark magic gathered.
Purple flames crackled along the crystal embedded in its chest.
The possessed mage smiled through the goblin’s twisted face.
“And you…”
The staff pointed at Noah.
“Will make an excellent experiment.”
Noah lifted his sword.
A faint grin crossed his face.
“Funny.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
And the cavern erupted into battle.
The worm’s massive body slammed against the cavern floor, segments flexing as its circular maw opened wide enough to swallow a man whole. Rows of hooked teeth churned as it shot toward Noah—
But Ignis intercepted it.
The great wolf launched forward like a blazing meteor.
His shoulder collided with the worm’s side in a thunderous impact that sent both creatures crashing across the stone.
The worm shrieked.
Ignis’ claws dug deep into the creature’s slick hide, ripping open thick flesh as purple-tinged fluid splashed across the cavern floor.
The worm coiled violently.
Its massive body whipped around.
SLAM!
Ignis was thrown against a rock wall with a cracking impact.
HP: 180 → 152
The wolf snarled and landed on all fours immediately.
His ember fur flared hotter.
The hobgoblin mage began casting a spell.
The crooked staff lifted.
Purple energy spiraled around the gem at its tip.
Dark sigils flickered in the air.
“Rot and decay!”
The spell fired.
A jagged bolt of miasma shot across the cavern.
Noah moved instantly.
He rolled sideways as the blast struck the ground where he’d stood—
BOOM!
Stone exploded into shards.
Poisonous vapor spread through the air.
Aoi chimed sharply.
“Corruption magic detected.”
“Direct contact highly dangerous.”
Noah pushed up from the roll.
“Yeah, I got that!”
The hobgoblin laughed.
“Oh good.”
“You can dodge.”
“Let us see how long that lasts.”
The staff slammed down again.
Dark energy surged outward.
The crystal embedded in its chest pulsed violently, pumping miasma through the creature’s veins.
Aoi’s HUD flashed again.
Cursed Hobgoblin — Lv 9
HP: 220 / 220
Noah sprinted forward.
Steel flashed.
The hobgoblin swung its staff wildly.
CLANG!
Sword met bronze.
The impact rang across the cavern.
The goblin staggered.
“Strong!” the creature hissed.
Noah pivoted and slashed again.
The blade carved across the goblin’s robe, cutting shallowly through its side.
HP: 220 → 205
Black blood spilled across the stone.
But the creature only laughed.
“Oh yes.”
“You will do nicely.”
The staff flared.
Dark tendrils erupted from the crystal in its chest.
They lashed toward Noah like living whips.
He ducked beneath one.
Another sliced across his shoulder.
HP: 110 → 101
Noah gritted his teeth.
“Cheap trick.”
He stepped inside the goblin’s guard and drove his sword forward.
The blade pierced straight through the creature’s shoulder.
HP: 205 → 178
The hobgoblin shrieked.
Then laughed again.
“Pain means nothing!”
It slammed its head forward.
CRACK!
Noah staggered as the skull smashed into his brow.
HP: 101 → 94
Meanwhile—
Across the cavern—
Ignis was locked in brutal combat.
The Carrion Worm lunged again, its maw snapping shut inches from the wolf’s throat.
Ignis twisted aside and bit deep into the creature’s neck.
His jaws crushed down.
Purple fluid sprayed as he tore away a chunk of flesh.
HP (Worm): 160 → 102
The worm screamed and wrapped its body around Ignis.
Its coils tightened.
Stone cracked beneath the pressure.
Ignis snarled and drove his claws deep into its flesh again and again.
HP (Ignis): 152 → 138
The cavern shook as the two monsters wrestled violently.
Back in the center—
Noah wiped blood from his lip.
“I’m going to end you.”
The hobgoblin grinned.
“So sure of yourself young warrior.”
The crystal in its chest pulsed brighter.
Purple energy surged outward.
The cavern torches flickered wildly.
Aoi spoke urgently.
“Mana concentration increasing.”
“Large spell imminent.”
Noah’s eyes sharpened.
“Not happening.”
He surged forward.
The goblin raised its staff—
Too slow.
Noah’s blade flashed in a brutal upward strike.
The sword carved across the creature’s chest.
The crystal embedded in its flesh cracked slightly.
HP: 178 → 130
The goblin screamed—
Not in pain.
In rage.
“You dare!”
The staff slammed into Noah’s ribs.
HP: 94 → 81
The impact knocked the breath from his lungs.
Noah slid several feet across the slick cavern floor before catching himself on one knee. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he forced air back into his lungs.
The hobgoblin lifted its crooked staff again.
Miasma spiraled around the purple gem like a storm gathering strength.
But slowly—
Noah grinned.
“Yeah…”
He rolled his shoulder and raised his sword again.
“Now we’re heating up.”
The familiar rush crept into his veins.
The same feeling from the Treant fight.
That razor-edge clarity.
The moment when danger stopped being terrifying—
And started becoming exhilarating.
The solo gamer battle junkie in him stirred awake.
His heart pounded harder.
His eyes sharpened.
This was the part he lived for.
The part where everything tried to kill you—
And you proved it couldn’t.
Behind him—
Ignis roared.
The wolf tore free from the Carrion Worm’s crushing coils and slammed the monster violently against the cavern wall.
Stone cracked under the force.
The worm shrieked as its massive body whipped across the cavern floor.
Purple fluid sprayed across the rock.
Ignis lunged again, jaws clamping down near the creature’s head.
The worm thrashed violently, its massive body whipping back and forth.
The cavern trembled with the struggle.
The worm’s tail smashed against a stone pillar.
The pillar shattered.
HP (Worm): 102 → 81
HP (Ignis): 138 → 129
The worm shrieked again, furious and wounded.
Meanwhile—
The hobgoblin mage lowered its staff slowly.
Its dark eyes studied Noah with unsettling curiosity.
“Interesting…”
“You smile in the face of death.”
Noah wiped the blood from his chin with the back of his hand.
“Comes with the job.”
The goblin’s crooked grin widened.
“Then let us increase the challenge.”
The crystal embedded in its chest pulsed violently.
Miasma exploded outward.
The cavern torches flared darker purple.
Aoi’s voice rang inside Noah’s mind.
“Mana surge detected.”
“Hostile casting again.”
The goblin raised its staff high.
Dark energy gathered like a thundercloud above its head.
“Let the rot consume you!”
The spell erupted forward—
But Noah was already moving.
He dashed sideways at full speed.
The blast slammed into the ground behind him—
BOOM
Stone exploded.
Poisonous mist flooded the chamber.
Noah sprinted straight through the fading cloud.
The goblin’s eyes widened.
“Oh?”
Steel flashed.
Noah’s blade cut across the creature’s thigh as he slid past it.
HP: 130 → 104
Black blood splattered across the stone.
The goblin snarled and swung its staff wildly.
Noah ducked the strike.
Then drove his elbow straight into the creature’s jaw.
CRACK.
The goblin staggered.
Noah pivoted—
And slashed again.
The blade carved across the mage’s chest.
The purple crystal embedded in its flesh cracked further.
HP: 104 → 78
The creature shrieked in fury.
“You insolent—!”
It raised the staff again—
But Noah stepped forward and kicked the goblin square in the chest.
The creature flew backward across the cavern floor, crashing into the stone worktable.
Glass bottles shattered.
Alchemy tools scattered.
The skeleton slumped sideways in its chair as the table shook.
The hobgoblin rose slowly from the wreckage.
Its face twisted with rage.
Purple miasma poured from the cracked crystal in its chest.
“You dare strike the vessel of a genius?”
Noah rolled his sword in his hand.
“Buddy…”
He pointed the blade straight at the crystal.
“You’re about two swings away from being a ghost again.”
Across the cavern—
Ignis slammed the Carrion Worm against the ground once more.
The wolf’s jaws crushed down on the creature’s neck as his claws tore deep into its flesh.
The worm screeched as segments split open.
HP (Worm): 81 → 49
The creature thrashed wildly.
Its tail whipped across Ignis’ side.
HP (Ignis): 129 → 117
But the wolf only growled deeper.
“You will fall.”
The cavern hummed louder now.
The cracked crystal in the hobgoblin’s chest pulsed faster.
The dark mage laughed again.
“Oh yes…”
“Now the true experiment begins.”
The hobgoblin lifted its staff again.
Dark magic gathered in a violent spiral around the purple gem as the mage began another incantation.
“Let us see how long your courage lasts…”
Across the cavern—
The Carrion Worm suddenly lunged.
Its massive jaws clamped down on Ignis’ side, teeth sinking deep through fur and flesh.
HP (Ignis): 117 → 89
Ignis’ eyes flared with blazing fury.
The wolf roared.
Not a growl.
A true roar.
Flames surged along his fur as raw rage ignited within him.
He twisted violently, claws digging into the worm’s neck as his jaws snapped down with crushing force.
Bone cracked.
The worm shrieked.
Ignis lifted the massive creature off the ground—
And slammed it headfirst into the cavern floor.
The impact shook the entire chamber.
Stone shattered beneath the force.
The Carrion Worm spasmed once…
Then went still.
Carrion Worm Defeated
Ignis hurled the corpse aside.
Noah’s gaze flicked toward the movement—
Just for a moment.
And that moment—
Was all the mage needed.
The hobgoblin’s staff slammed into the ground.
“Dark pulse!”
A blast of dark magic erupted outward.
Purple chains of miasma struck Ignis mid-step—
Then detonated.
BOOM
The wolf was launched violently across the cavern.
His body smashed into the stone wall with a thunderous crack.
Stone splintered.
The wall collapsed inward, rock and debris crashing down over Ignis in a choking cloud of dust.
The massive wolf disappeared beneath the rubble.
“Ignis!” Noah shouted.
But the mage laughed.
A hollow, rasping sound that echoed through the cavern.
“Oh yes… worry for your friend.”
“You will join him shortly.”
The goblin raised its crooked staff again.
Dark magic spiraled violently around the purple gem.
Around the mage—
Blades formed.
One.
Three.
Six.
Then dozens.
Floating swords of condensed purple miasma rotated slowly in the air like predators circling wounded prey.
Then—
They launched.
Noah moved instantly.
The first blade screamed past his head.
The second—
He twisted sideways as it cut through the air where his throat had been.
The third—
Too fast.
The blade drove straight through his shoulder.
HP: 81 → 69
Noah gasped as the impact spun him half around.
Another blade followed immediately.
It sliced across his cheek.
HP: 69 → 63
Blood ran down his jaw.
The pain wasn’t the worst part.
His body felt… heavy.
His movements slower.
Like his limbs were dragging through mud.
Aoi’s voice cut through the chaos.
“Status abnormal.”
“Poison detected.”
Noah’s HUD flickered.
HP: 63 → 62 → 61 → 60
The mage grinned.
“Ah… yes.”
“You feel it now.”
The blade dissolved as dark energy seeped through the wound.
“A slow rot.”
“It will drain you until nothing remains.”
HP: 60 → 59 → 58
Noah steadied his breathing.
His grip tightened on the sword.
Ignis was buried.
Possibly dying.
And he—
Was running out of time.
But then—
That familiar rush returned.
That razor edge.
The moment when fear became fuel.
Noah wiped the blood from his chin.
“Yeah…”
He exhaled slowly.
“Guess I better end this fast.”
He dashed forward.
The mage lifted its staff—
A dark magic shield erupted around its body.
Noah’s sword slammed into it.
CLANG
The impact vibrated through his arms.
The barrier didn’t move.
Another strike.
CLANG
Still intact.
The floating blades circled again.
“You will perish here, boy.”
The goblin’s smile twisted.
“Just as I did.”
“Just like your friend over there.”
Noah’s eyes widened.
Then hardened.
“Like hell…”
“I’d give up that easily.”
The mage tilted its head.
“…Oh?”
Noah’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“I still have something I need to do.”
A flash in his mind.
A promise.
The reason he refused to die here.
Aoi.
“I’m not done yet.”
Green energy erupted around his body.
“Overdrive!”
MP: 90 -> 70
His form ignited in a glowing emerald silhouette.
STM: 112 / 130
The cavern wind shifted as his speed exploded.
The mage’s eyes widened.
“What—”
Noah vanished.
Then appeared again.
Then again.
Blinding bursts of movement.
His sword hammered the barrier repeatedly.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
But the shield held.
The mage stumbled backward under the relentless assault.
Yet still—
It held.
STM: 112 → 104 → 96
Noah’s breathing grew harsher.
His muscles burned.
“Still… not enough…”
He reached into his pouch mid-burst.
A small bottle appeared in his hand.
Stamina Tonic.
He ripped the cork free with his teeth and gulped it down.
Energy surged through him again.
STM: 96 → 146 (cap 130)
STM: 130 / 130
STM regeneration +10% (20 seconds)
Noah roared.
“Again!”
He surged forward once more.
Green flashes tore through the cavern.
His blade struck again.
And again.
And again.
CLANG
CLANG
CLANG
The mage struggled now.
Staff shaking.
Sweat running down the goblin’s twisted face.
“You could never—”
“FASTER!” Noah roared.
His sword crashed into the barrier again.
STM: 130 → 118
The barrier flickered.
“You… cannot… break—”
“FASTER!”
Noah pushed harder.
His body screamed in protest.
His lungs burned.
His vision blurred.
But he didn’t stop.
STM: 118 → 102 → 90
Aoi’s voice rang in his mind.
“Overdrive duration: 12 seconds remaining.”
The barrier cracked slightly.
The mage’s eyes widened.
“No—”
Noah struck again.
STM: 90 → 75
“Overdrive duration: 8 seconds remaining.”
The floating blades launched again.
One slashed across Noah’s ribs.
HP: 58 → 52
Another grazed his thigh.
HP: 52 → 47
But he didn’t slow.
He couldn’t.
“FASTER!!”
The blade struck again.
The shield fractured further.
Glass-like cracks spread across its surface.
The mage began to panic.
“Impossible—!”
STM: 75 → 58
“Overdrive duration: 5 seconds remaining.”
Noah’s body shook.
His muscles trembled.
His stamina was nearly gone.
But he pushed again.
One more burst.
One more strike.
CLANG
The barrier shattered.
Magic exploded outward in a storm of fragments.
The mage staggered.
Staff slipping from its grip.
“No… no… impossible!”
Noah’s vision tunneled.
Everything slowed.
Aoi’s voice echoed.
“Overdrive: 3 seconds remaining.”
Noah surged forward.
The mage desperately raised its staff.
Dark energy gathered—
Too slow.
“2 seconds.”
Noah screamed.
“FASTER!!!”
He forced everything he had left into one final burst.
“1 second.”
The sword drove forward.
Steel pierced flesh.
Then—
Crystal.
CRACK
The blade slammed through the goblin’s chest and shattered the purple crystal embedded within.
The cavern shook violently.
Dark energy exploded outward.
The goblin froze.
Then began to crumble.
“No…”
“My work…”
“My soul—”
“No!”
The crystal shattered into a thousand glowing fragments.
The miasma vanished instantly.
The goblin collapsed—
And disintegrated into drifting particles.
The humming stopped.
The cavern fell silent.
Noah stood there.
Barely upright.
Sword still buried in empty air.
His breathing ragged.
His body was shaking.
And somewhere behind him—
Beneath the fallen stone—
Ignis still lay buried.
For a moment, Noah didn’t move.
His sword trembled in his hand as the last particles of the cursed hobgoblin drifted away into nothing.
The cavern was suddenly quiet.
Too quiet.
His legs nearly gave out beneath him.
Then—
Aoi’s voice chimed clearly in his mind.
“Level Up.”
A faint pulse of warmth spread through his body.
“Level 7 achieved.”
Noah blinked.
“…Huh.”
A second notification followed immediately.
“New ability granted: Divine Palm.”
A translucent panel flickered into view before him.
Divine Palm
Cost: 30 MP
Type: Light Magic
Effect: A concentrated burst of divine energy capable of deterring undead, disrupting dark magic, and purging corruption.
Noah let out a tired breath.
“Well… that sounds useful.”
His eyes flicked down to the slow ticking on his HUD.
HP: 47 → 46 → 45
“…Right.”
He lifted his hand.
Golden light gathered softly in his palm.
“Divine Touch.”
MP: 70 -> 40
The warm glow spread across his body.
The poison burned away under the holy energy.
The draining stopped.
His wounds closed slowly as the magic washed over him.
HP: 45 → 68
He rolled his shoulder with a small wince.
“Much better.”
Then he turned toward the collapsed wall of stone.
“Ignis!”
For a moment—
Nothing.
Dust shifted.
Then the rubble stirred.
A large chunk of stone rolled aside.
A glowing ember-furred paw pushed through.
Then another.
With a powerful shove, the wolf forced himself free from the pile of rock.
Ignis rose slowly, shaking dust from his burning coat.
His eyes met Noah’s.
“…You did it.”
The wolf stepped forward from the rubble, battered but standing.
“Once again.”
Noah smirked faintly, exhaustion still heavy in his limbs.
“Yeah.”
“Seems like we’re getting good at this.”
But then—
A sharp cracking sound echoed through the cavern.
Both of them turned.
The dark pool at the center of the chamber shimmered.
At its heart—
The purple crystal embedded beneath the water pulsed violently.
Cracks spread across its surface.
The corrupted energy inside it flickered wildly.
Noah frowned.
“Looks like the source.”
Ignis stepped beside him.
His voice was calm.
“Then we finish it.”
Noah nodded.
“Let’s do it.”
He stepped into the pool.
Cold water rose to his knees as he waded toward the glowing crystal.
The purple light flickered weakly now.
The hum that had filled the cavern earlier was fading… breaking apart.
Aoi’s voice spoke again.
“Corruption source located.”
“New ability recommended.”
Noah raised his hand.
Light gathered.
Stronger this time.
Pure.
Radiant.
“Divine Palm.”
MP: 40 -> 10
He thrust his hand forward.
A burst of golden energy erupted from his palm and struck the crystal directly.
The cavern filled with blinding light.
The crystal screamed.
Then—
CRACK
The entire crystal shattered.
Fragments dissolved into harmless motes as the dark energy evaporated completely.
The purple glow vanished.
The hum stopped.
The water surrounding Noah cleared almost instantly, the dark tint fading as the corruption dissolved.
Clean.
Pure.
The cavern seemed to breathe.
For the first time since entering the cave—
Peace settled over the chamber.
The torches flickered out one by one.
Only the soft sound of clean water flowing through stone remained.
Ignis watched the pool quietly.
“The corruption is gone.”
Noah exhaled slowly.
“Yeah.”
He turned back toward the cavern entrance.
“Looks like the village is getting its water back.”
Ignis stepped beside him.
And for the first time since entering the cave—
The place felt calm.
Alive.
And finally—
Free.
For a moment Noah just stood there.
Then the exhaustion hit him.
Hard.
His legs wobbled slightly as the adrenaline drained from his body.
Aoi chimed softly in his mind.
“MP levels critical.”
Noah blinked, focusing on the HUD.
MP: 10 / 140
“…Yeah,” he muttered weakly. “I felt that.”
He stepped carefully out of the pool and reached into his pouch again.
The last small vial clinked softly in his hand.
Minor Mana Potion.
He uncorked it and drank the glowing blue liquid in a single gulp.
A cool sensation spread through his chest and head like a breath of fresh air.
The fog behind his eyes cleared almost instantly.
MP: 10 → 60
Noah let out a slow breath.
“Better.”
Ignis watched him quietly, ember-red eyes steady.
“You push yourself very close to death.”
Noah chuckled tiredly.
“Yeah… that seems to be a theme lately.”
He turned toward the ruined worktable where the hobgoblin had been standing earlier.
Glass shards and broken alchemy equipment littered the stone.
Where the skeleton once sat slumped in the chair, Noah glanced at the open pages of a worn journal.
Noah approached slowly.
“This must’ve been him…”
He carefully lifted the journal.
The pages were filled with cramped handwriting, chemical formulas, strange diagrams, and rambling entries filled with bitterness toward the village.
Proof.
Plenty of it.
“This should be enough to explain everything.”
He tucked the journal into his satchel.
Ignis stepped beside him as they turned toward the tunnel leading out of the cavern.
The cave felt different now.
Lighter.
The oppressive hum was gone.
The air no longer carried the sharp scent of miasma.
Only clean water flowing gently through stone remained.
As they walked back through the tunnels, Noah finally let out a long sigh of relief.
“Well…”
“That was fun.”
Ignis huffed softly.
“You and I have very different definitions of that word.”
Noah laughed quietly.
“Fair.”
They continued through the dim passages where goblins had attacked earlier.
The stone still bore the marks of battle, but the darkness felt calmer now.
Almost peaceful.
As the faint glow of daylight finally appeared ahead at the cave entrance, Noah slowed slightly.
His thoughts drifted.
He looked over at the massive wolf walking beside him.
If Ignis hadn’t been there…
If the wolf hadn’t taken on the worm…
If he hadn’t kept fighting…
Noah might not have made it out.
For a long time in his life—
He had done everything alone.
Solo raids.
Solo fights.
Solo victories.
The veteran gamer part of his mind had always believed that was the best way.
No distractions.
No weaknesses.
No one to slow you down.
But now…
Walking out of the cave beside Ignis…
A faint smile crossed Noah’s face.
He was finally adapting to this new world.
Learning how it worked.
How it fought.
How it survived.
And one realization was becoming clearer by the day.
He glanced sideways at Ignis.
“…Couldn’t have done that without you.”
The wolf didn’t answer right away.
But his ember-lit eyes softened slightly.
The two of them stepped out into the daylight.
And somewhere in the back of Noah’s mind—
The old solo player mentality began to shift.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
Having a friend in the party wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
