Blood seemingly hung in the darkness, only visible thanks to after ember that skittered across the rough ground of the cave. Benedict’s right arm fell, and he was able to evade the lioness's next swipe, jumping back, with blood still flowing from his stump.
But, behind him is the Hobgoblin – with a great sword raised, reflecting the flickering flame all around them. Rue rushed forward before the attack came. He hefted up his shield, ready to receive the full strength of the creature. In a split second, a plan formed inside his head.
He did not use Time of Obsidian Ice. Yet.
The great blade parted his shield like butter, as it was about to connect to Rue’s arm, he activated Time of Obsidian Ice. Sudden bristling Cold envelope Rue, and his shield shimmers with dark Obsidian, stopping the sword midway, just above Rue’s arm.
With a sudden reinforcement of the shield. The great sword stuck – its weight still bore a heavy toll on Rue’s left arm, and he twisted his shield arm, directing the great sword toward the ground. Goan the Hob managed to hold its sword, resisting Rue’s attempt to disarm it. Yet, it still bought Rue a brief window to deliver damage to the hob.
He forgoes his shield, both arms now holding his dark obsidian sword, and everything felt suddenly familiar to him. Darting forward, with his sword raised, he brought down Hobgoblin's arm. In an instant, his sword was blown back – a loud chime of steel echoed like a cruel bell.
Rue's eyes widen as he sees the Hob Goblin skin slowly encased in steel armor. It started off from its hand where he had struck, the steel expanding, covering its huge body. It looked like a futuristic robot with those eyes showing red.
Snapping his sword back into position, Rue refused to throw away his chance. He swung again at the same spot, only to be met by the grind of steel against his ice sword.
Goan brought his sword up, but Rue refused to allow it a space to capitalize on its swinging power.
Rue strikes in a fast beat, forgoing any power behind his attack. Goan, surprisingly, responded. The goblin parried his sword as it held its own close to its chest, moving it slightly to counter Rue’s strikes.
But why? Its armor had stopped Rue's attack completely.
Not stopping his strikes, Rue kept slashing at Goan. Every two strikes, he is able to move his great sword enough to try and batter its steel armor. Yet, every time, his attack just bounced back.
His Obsidian ice armor could crack… Surely this Hob armor could too. Under that assumption, Rue kept sweeping his sword, focusing on the same spot, which was its chest. Yet, nothing is working. And his Frost couldn’t work if there was no flesh to carve into.
Did he just meet his natural enemy? A counter?
Rue withdrew back as this was not working out; he wanted to check on Benedict, but was not willing to gaze at the Hob Goblin in front of him. For now, at least, he is not worried about the Lioness as it sprawled back down after attacking Benedict. And she tried to attack Rue… He doubted she could go through his armor.
First things first, now that he’s out of combat.
‘Rita!’ Rue called, hoping she was done with her opponent.
‘Rue, did something happen?’ Thankfully, she responded.
‘Benedict lost an arm!’
The Hobgoblin approached with the sword in a cruel arc.
Rue would curse if he could, but he had already told Rita everything anyway. He weaved to the left, avoiding the attack. Unlike its brother, however, Goan knew enough not to let its sword stick in the ground; it arcs its swing to its left before bringing it back to Rue.
He parried the strike and stepped backward, letting his sword absorb some of the monster's momentum. Rue is not willing to commit to a full parry. He knew enough not to get into a clash of strength.
Backtracking further, he gained distance against Goan. Rue thrust forth his left arm, and a bluish flame manifested in strange astral blue light that dappled over the cave, scattering red light.
Goan posture went stiff, and Rue noticed a flicker of hesitation in the huge warrior. It eventually charged, great sword about to cleave Rue’s extended arm. But he fired the spell first.
Flame burst against Goan’s steel body. The Hob staggered back, and briefly, Rue could make out how its chest plate melted. The steel knitted back in a slow process.
It's very weak to fire. Well, or perhaps his fire is too strong.
Rue waded forward, wanting to capitalize on the exposed green skin. He needed to be fast. He needed to knock Goan’s sword aside and score against its chest before its steel covered it.
The duel between two spell-clad warriors continued. The bluish light reflected in their body. Rue forced Goan back; he kept striking forward. But, the goblin expertly stepped back every time, bringing its great sword to parry his obsidian sword.
The wound, now no bigger than his fist. Soon it will close. He could sense how Goan slowed down on his retreat, no doubt about to launch an offensive soon.
His obsidian sword clashed again and again, yet the goblin was able to easily block his strike, as it only needed to focus on one point.
Out of the corner of Rue's eyes, a slim figure appeared. Rita ran, covered in darkness, only to be seen by Rue because of the dying flame.
She tapped her sash and summoned a golden long sword. The Hu Goblin held it in two arms and smashed it straight to the Hob's back.
Steel screamed. And a crack rattled the cave.
Goan stumbled forward toward Rue. Its sword is down from the impact Rita has created.
Rue lunged forward, not caring for his balance anymore. His dark obsidian sword lanced straight at the wound right in the middle of the Hob chest.
His sword managed to dig in before the steel encased the Hob completely. It's just enough for a small stab. But with that small stab, Ice burst forward. The steel armor near Goan’s chest fractured from inside, crumbling down like junk.
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Goan howled as it fell, mana gathered in its arm, and it punched straight to the cave ground. The cave shook, and Rue lost his balance. He slipped before ice manifested behind him, holding him back from falling.
But with the ice blocking his escape route. Before he knew it, Goan jumped forward straight at him, tackling him down, crushing the ice behind completely.
Now atop of Rue. Goan lifted its steel-enhanced fist and brought it down straight at Rue's face.
Obsidian Ice cracked, and pain flared straight to Rue's upper body. But, Goan was also in pain; it brought its fist up, massaging it with its left hand.
Rue felt a sense of satisfaction. His passive skill has already begun mending his face armor, now-
Goan howled, it brought its left hand down and crushed it straight at Rue's face again.
His world turned into a complete mess. No more flickering flame to light out the darkness. A cool sensation within him worked, and it seeped into his body. Slowly, ever so slowly, drowning out his pain with a cold that healed him.
Rue opened his eyes. Obsidian armor now evaporated into cold mist, and they danced into Rue’s face. How long was he out?
Steel clashes in the back of his mind. He lifted his body with one hand and saw the golden sword exchange blows with that great sword.
The fight is still going, he needs to use Time of Obsidian Ice again-
But the spell did not respond to him. Rue could feel them from a distant place. It still cracked and had not recovered yet, especially since it had used its power to heal Rue.
What is that place? It feels like a different world he can sense but cannot reach.
Not wanting to dwell on it further, Rue stood, still groggy. Rita had dropped the Golden Sword, favoring her black needle-sword. She and Yomi had joined the fight, both targeting the wound Rue had created.
Right… the Ice Frost had destroyed part of the steel armor from the inside out.
Now, with Goan’s back to him, Rue thrust his hand forward. A fireball manifested with a sizzle. The light glowed bright as Rue pushed his Arcana further into the flame. His Magic Vein increased by ten percent, and the flame spiralled into a death spiral.
Goan turned, facing Rue. With the bright light in front of him, he couldn't make out the Goblin's reaction.
But, Rue does not need to see it turned out
“How are you still standing?” Goan growled.
Rue let out a smile. “Should have finished the job,” he grinned and blasted the fire forward.
In a fiery whistle, the spell connected straight at Goan.
The Hob Goblin screamed, and it was wreathed in fire. His steel body melted like a flowing Lava, dripping onto the coarse ground.
Strange, this is more powerful than the fireball he had conjured in Time of Obsidian Ice.
Perhaps fireball is not meant to be combined with the Frost property? Its affinity is clearly the complete opposite of Frost's.
Goan took a step, body twitched as it drew ragged breath. It stepped toward Rue.
“Stubborn,” Rue grunted. He let out another fireball, furthermore straining his Magic Strain. The flame hit dead on. But, Goan tank the sizzling death, it stepped close to Rue, with teeth gritted.
He fired another Fireball, this one with the same power as the first one. As he released the spell, his body was hot with crippling heat thrumming inside of him.
Goan still did not go down -- by now its body melted, skin charred gray, and its face lost one eye. The Hob could no longer hold its sword.
Rue's body, on the other hand, healed. Producing cold inside, that soothes every single limb and even his magic Vein.
Still burning, Goan whipped its hand at Rue.
He dodged the flaming punch. Flame whisked every time the creature moved. Making it look much more terrifying than it already is. But that made it easy to dodge the incoming strike.
Rue spun around Goan, who struggled to keep up. He stepped back closer to Rita and Yomi, who watched the burning goblin with a complicated expression.
Still not down yet, Goan the Elder howled. It's howl echoed through the cave, straight at Rue's own being. Flame whisks faster as if it feared the final creature the tutorial has created for them.
“Rue,” Rita muttered. She handed him the Golden Sword. Eyes clearly telling him to finish it.
Rue took it, and he released Frost Shrapnel upward. The cube flickered with a combination of blue and red, reflecting both flames dancing. A needle of ice burst through, flying straight at Goan. All five hit, and one burst into a flower of ice in its throat. Rue rushed forward, golden sword flowing with him. He decapitated Goan in one swift whisper of the blade.
(You Have Slain Hob Goblins' Brother. Eldest Brother, Brute Steel Goan Lvl 35. Extra Experience gained)
(Brute Steel Skill Option Gained)
(Level Up. 22→26)
(Level Up. Frost Apprentice 20→23)
Name: Rue.
Level: 20 → 26
Race: Human.
Class: Frost Apprentice Lvl 20 → 23
Magic Vein (Stone): 45%
HP: 979/1398 → 1257/1782
Mana: 1425/1596 → 1200/2244
Strength: 74 → 98
Vitality: 72 → 96
Dexterity: 59 → 77
Arcana: 264 → 384
Mind: 167 → 209
Perception: 60 → 78
-Skill (4/15)-
- Fireball (Common)
- Time of Obsidian Ice (Rare)
- Frost Shrapnel (Uncommon)
- Sword of Frost (Uncommon)
-Skill (5/15)-
- Cold Resistance (Uncommon)
- Cold Healing (Uncommon)
- Icen Frost (Rare)
- Frost Pulse (Uncommon)
- Balance of Ice (Uncommon)
Quest Complete.
(Tutorial Quest: Defeat the Goblins and Boar tribe.)
Goblins (100/100). Boars (50/50)
(Reward: Move to next phase of the Tutorial)
(Reward: Skill Option)
(Reward: Access to System Shop)
(Reward: Access to Kill Point System)
(Reward: 1000 Points)
(Special Reward: Chest of Beginning (Uncommon) - Will be granted to those who claim the most kills)
(Special Reward: 5000 Points - Will be granted to those who claim the most kills)
Quest Complete.
(The Bearer of Frost has issued a quest for you.)
(Quest: Trial of Frost)
(Slay Goblins group that has been terrorizing this area. 100/100)
(Reward: Class upgrade from (Mage) to (Frost Apprentice) upon taking on the quest)
(Reward: Class upgrade from (Frost Apprentice) to (Frost Class Option) upon completion of the quest)
(Reward: Progression of The Permafrost)
[You have earned special rewards for killing Third Brother Oozak, Second Brother Kooram. Eldest Brother Goan. You shall be granted a choice below for killing three brother]
[Class/Skill/Equipment. The chosen reward will possess Mystic Rarity]
Congratulations, survivor. You will be transported to the next location to wait for the next trial phase in 3600 seconds.
The next phase will mimic what is currently happening on your planet. Your eventual descent upon your birthplace will surely benefit the powerless. However, there are still five phases to ensure your race's survival.
Phase Two will be a tower defense involving hundreds of thousands of people. You need to protect your tower while closing the five portals that spawn monsters.
Phase Three will be when contact with the multiverse opens. Various factions will reach out to you if they’re interested, offering numerous forms of help. These include classes, professions, and items. They will offer assistance to secure your world's safety, depending on the contracts you agree upon.
Phase Four is the skill dungeon—a dungeon that grants you skills through various methods inside it. The underworld dungeon will be the final step before you begin your journey through Manda.
Phase Five is when the system opens a pathway connecting to your world. All survivors must navigate through Manda, also known as the pathway world, to return to your planet. Creatures beyond the system’s grasp will appear, blocking your way. Cutting through them to reach your planet is the purpose of this tutorial.
The Final phase is optional, but without it, your world will be destroyed by monsters. The Final Phase involves sending those unpowered individuals on your planet into Manda again so they can participate in the tutorial and gain power. Currently, half of your population remains behind, suffering relentless attacks by portal monsters. Their safety and survival depend entirely on you and how quickly you clear the tutorial.
