Chapter 8 - The Cave, The Goblin, The First Reward

Floor 1: Cave of the Goblin Warrior

Threat Level: H

Pops into my view as I walk into the cave. 'Nothing is jumping out at me. So I can take that as the goblins are spawning rapidly.' cave entrance is a rough cave tunnel leading forward, light flickering down inside the cave keeps it from total darkness. Slowing my footsteps to reduced the sound and echoes produced. My vision flickers one moment.

"Great gods above child, slow and steady footsteps feel the depths." a voice says, a man wearing a black leather outfit sits in the training hall, coaching a youngster. The youngster in questions dropping to the ground in both frustration and exhaustion. "Whatever you say old man.." the tired child's voice quips back. The man stands from his seat, the shadows behind him seem to expand as he takes step after step towards the child, however no noise is produced, the darkness grows as if the sound that was suppose to be produced is getting funneled into it causing it grow. "My child, your steps must carry with it the sound of silence, the depth of darkness.. allow it to swallow your steps, then maybe.. once you learn that you can move through its depths." a single step echoes out from the shadows and the man is gone. Back to where he was sitting previously, "Now again child. You asked me to learn, and learn you shall." his voice carries off from under his hood. Smiling from the darkness I watch my descendants grow, both being taught and teaching the ways of- turning my head I gaze at The Watcher.

I miss a step as I come back to myself, tilting my head. "Riven?..." 'that was oh so long ago. But my mind wasn't wavering what could be the cause..' my footsteps lose most of their echo. My movements smoothing out from a lifetime ago, the gap between bodies and minds bridged.

Skill Acquired

Ancient Steps of The Dark (LVL: MAX)

Description: Created from observance of the Darkness, by the one known as Dhi'nurn. He created an order of assassins, the likes many realms have never seen before. Before disappearing into the #REDACTED#.

Staring at the skill acquired, my body gets hit with a wave of exhaustion. Usage of a skill from another life, another body, with no training in the methods from it caused some backlash.

Skill Restriction

Ancient Steps of The Dark (LVL: 01)

Due to bodily harm from MAX level, skill has been limited by [NETWORK], level will be raised accordingly to bodily and soul conditions.

Nodding slightly at the restrictions placed by my [NETWORK] skill made me curious. Looks like its attached safeties to my subconscious or my soul to prevent fatal harm from learning a skill from another life. Definitely can tell how a body not properly conditioned could have disastrous effects. 'But then again how did I survive before the seals were placed then? Will have to think on it more later. For now, boss then climb.' shaking off the exhaustion mentally and pushing forward down the tunnel, I come to a wide open cavern, a throne of bone all the way at the back of the cavern room, has a single Goblin sitting upon it, The size of a ten year old but wearing what looks to be an iron chest plate and gauntlets the Goblin's eyes narrow at me as I enter the room. 'No way to sneak in when they are literally staring at the door. Though if that skill was higher would be better than some of the stealth skills and invisibility spells I have read about. The Goblin Warrior grunts deeply lifting an arm and pointing at me. A couple goblins sitting around it stand from the floor. Both without weapons, the moment they are up they are snarling and charging at my with wild flailing limbs. '3 seconds. Two goblin's ahead, Warrior isn't looking to participate just yet. Where is-' out of the corner of my eye, all I see is wood. Shifting my shoulder and taking a quickstep back, the wooden club glances off my leather jerkin at an angle doing nothing to me. Pulling my right arm back and bringing it down as the goblin that swung the wooden club at me as it finishes its swing, its beady eyes swivel up as my blade meets its neck its head coming off with little effort, and its body hitting the cavern floor. 'With how many monster's I'm decapitating surprised I haven't gotten a title or something stupid that shows it.'

Combat Log

Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin(Lvl:???)

45 Cutting Damage

Critical Hit to Vital.

Inflicted Decapitation

Goblin(Lvl:???) has been killed.

'Ugh, combat logs during battle waving it away with a mental shove.' As the thought passes the other two goblin's are already on me. One jumping at me, attempting to maul at my face. The other going low to grab the wooden club from the ground. As the goblin that is in mid-air, shrieks at me flying at me in a rush, I pull my right arm up keeping my hand somewhat relaxed as the the goblin smacks right into the point of my outstretched sword impaling itself. Stopping on the hilt, it thrashes its arms wildly grabbing my jerkin, frowning I push my sword away at the hilt, letting go of it. My feet glide back from the push leading into taking yet another step back as a wooden club swings passed where was standing. The goblin impaled on my sword falls backward the sword catching into the ground as the goblin slides down the blade again. Its struggles getting weaker and weaker. Turning my attention to the goblin with the club, while keeping an eye on the Goblin Warrior on the little throne. I lean forward clenching my right fist. The goblin recovers from its errant swing, turning toward me with yet another wild swing in my direction. Spittle flying from its mouth, its eyes register my fist meeting the front of it's face as it's nose crunches under force. 'Ugh back to fist fights already, need to recover my sword before the Goblin Warr- Spoke too soon..' I see the Goblin Warrior standing from it's throne, it was using two hands to wield human sized one handed axe. Grunting it lunges off it's throne in a rush to get to us. 'Not a problem.' Grabbing the goblin with the club by its neck as it attempts to blink away a blow to the head, and blood running down its face. I rear back with goblin in tow, 'This gob must weigh what? 50 pounds..' I launch it off it's feet as it scratches at my arm, as I do it lands then, stumbles back into the incoming Goblin Warrior, who doesn't miss a step as it swings the axe two handedly to the side readily, cutting through the midsection of the goblin in its way.

"Killing your own teammates... foolish." I lunge forward grabbing the hilt of my sword from the impaled goblin it died with the sword sticking out of it. Pulling it up and out of the goblin as the Goblin Warrior reaches me with a rage filled swing, the head of the axe slams into the edge of my sword as I turn it deflecting the axe off to the side, -Crack-, sounds from blade, dodging around to the side of the Goblin Warrior, it turns quickly to keep me in sight as it recovers from the parry. Eyeing my blade there is a crack leading from where a nice chip is missing from the blade from the nick earlier, and a crack in the outer coat of the sword. 'Make the next one count.' I stand up straight, my breathing evens out quickly. The Goblin Warrior has a grin on it's face as it sees my weapon is almost ruined. It chortles gleefully as it rushes at me again.

A smile comes to my face as I take a step, sound becomes muffle from my steps, the Goblin Warrior eyes narrow as it comes close. 'Breath in..' flipping the sword around in my right hand to a back hand grip the goblin shrieks out as it comes at me with a a two handed swing of it's axe again. 'Flow..' just as the blade of the axe connects with my jerkin I feel the bite of the axe on it, I turn in the direction of the blow pivoting on the balls of my feet. The axe leaves a gash in the jerkin, 'no skin contact felt good', as I spin, my blade coming full circle, goblin turning to stare at me hatefully and recover from its swing. My other hand slams on the end of the pommel, dropping low in the spin I aim the blade point at the underarm of the Goblin Warrior., "ERYAAGGGGGG!" the blade pierces the gape sliding home in the armpit of the iron chest plate. A quick yank of the blade trying to retrieve it out, doing as much damage on the way out as I can, the blade catches on the plate. The Goblin Warriors face contorts in pain and rage as its face gets red. Throwing a backhanded swing at me from its uninjured side, I pull away with a final -CRACK- I look down quickly seeing that I lost the other part of my blade inside the Goblin Warrior. Eyeing the monster as it huffs and puffs blood leaking from its mouth. Its bloodshot eyes narrowing down on me as I back away. "ur-..urg.. " the goblin turns to face me taking a step lifting the axe with it's one good arm, blood leaking down the side of its plate it drops to a knee. Its arm pulls it down. 'Not giving that a chance.' The strain on my body catching up to all the movement finally, I lunge forward jerkily for one final stab with the half broken sword running home in the goblin's beady right eye. Exhaustion and blood loss quickly, and a blade to its brain it dies instantly.

Yanking the half broken blade back out as the body slumps to the ground, I let out a breath, letting my body begin to recover. As the notifications that I held back from the fight roll in with my rewards from my first boss fight, I grin. 'Now that's a good start for me.'

Combat Log

Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin(Lvl:???)

30 Piercing Damage

Critical Hit to Vital.

Inflicted Impaled to Goblin(Lvl:???)

Inflicted Bleeding II to Goblin(Lvl:???)

Goblin has gone into shock.

Goblin(Lvl:???) has fallen unconscious.

Goblin(Lvl:???) has died due to blood loss.

Combat Log

Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin(Lvl:???) by Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???)

Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???) bisected Goblin(Lvl:???)

Goblin(Lvl:???) has died.

Shared Kill Experience.

Combat Log

Parried Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???)'s Iron War Axe.

Worn Iron Sword has taken Critical Durability Damage.

Critical Hit

24 Piercing Damage Inflicted

Inflicted Bleeding II on Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???)

Inflicted Stun I on Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???)

Critical Hit

38 Piercing Damage Inflicted

Fatal Damage Inflicted

Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???) has died.

Combat Log

Experience Earned:

Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???): 25

Goblin(Lvl:???)x3: 15

Tower Coins: 13

Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???) has dropped Iron Chest Plate

Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???) has dropped Iron War Axe