Chapter 11 - The Rattling of Chains, The Death of Few
Floor 2: Goblin Infested Plains
Threat Level: H - H+
To advance to the next floor, defeat a tribe and use their totem in the Chieftains Hut to advance to the next floor.
My feet impact the forest floor as I drop freely from the last branch with a solid thump the war axe dropping beside me embedding into the dirt. The sky begins to turn color as the false sun for this floor breaks the horizon. Doing a quick check of my gear looping my bowstring, and extra laces aka twine around a belt loop, I kneel pulling my axe from the ground that it unceremoniously embedded itself in on my way down. 'Goblin village is in that direction, now the question at hand is destroy as many as possible, one at a time, or push a horde. Probably wouldn't survive that just yet, even with my skills. And the strain on this body from [Network] skills is too much for now. One at a time it is.' I start at a solid jog, dodging trees and brush as I start passing through the forest. 'Body is running even better than yesterday. Though I am sad I did not get a swordsmanship skill. It seems arbitrary on the way I am gaining skills though one time I get it another I don't, quirk of the system I suppose.' Breaking the tree line and preparing my mind and body, knowing the moment I stepped out it would be right next to the goblin village. My steps bringing me out as I predicted next to the village, unpredictably though was a goblin standing next to the tree I pass holding a small handaxe, he was mid-swing as I burst out the trees next to him. I let my waraxe trail behind myself in my right hand as passing the goblin, pulling hard in a spin I bring the war axe full circle cutting straight through the torso of the goblin. 'Worry about drops when cleared out..' As the two halves of the goblin separate and land in a bloody mess, I keep going. A bell sounds out along with shrieking as a goblin next to a hut spots me. "URGAAA!!! EEEE!" it points a grubby finger in my direction as that shout raises others from all over the small village. Muscles tense and ready for battle I launch myself into the next goblin throwing another swing attempting to bisect it too. The goblin steps back with terror in its eyes. as a line rakes across its chest from the swing. It falls back to the ground blood dripping on its chest its eyes rolling back in its head, the pitter patter of feet on dirt is sounding all around the village the sound is closer to my side as a shrieking goblin lunges at me from there.
Turning attention to the goblin lunging at me, I quickly notice it has no weapons only its bare claws. With a smirk i watch as its fist collides with the bottom edge of my iron chestplate. All of its strength was put into that from the sound of its knuckles breaking. It lets out a cry as it cradles a hand. A quick sweep of my axe removes its head as more sounds, start happening around me. Feeling a stinging sensation in my left arm I turn my head to see an crappy quality arrow sticking out of it. 'You are not invincible, you are weak, you do not have access to everything. PAY ATTENTION!' That last bit throws me for a second, 'wha-' as I see the goblin with the bow knocking another arrow. I leap forward covering myself with the hut, bringing me face to face with a Goblin Warrior this time around, surprise evident on its face at the sudden turn of events, it sneers raising a sword above it's head. Hoping to strike me while I'm prone on the ground. The goblin that fell from earlier is on the ground next to me, bleeding from from the axe cut across its chest, unconscious placing my waraxe on side with the blade acting as a wheel I roll myself over the goblin, the weight of my body on the axe on top of the goblin gives a sickening crunch and cut as I pass the arrow in my shoulder snapping off at the arrowhead leaving it in my shoulder. The goblin warriors sword striking the ground where I had been moments before. Pushing myself up, readying myself I position the goblin in the direction I leapt from so the goblin archer who was standing there with a bow wouldn't be able to take a shot. Unfortunately I forget how stupid goblins are sometimes. The twang of a bow sounds off as an arrow flies true impaling itself in the back of the Goblin Warrior. The goblin warriors eyes go wide as it turns to look at the goblin archer, using the lapse in judgement, I rearing back my axe comes in an arc hitting the goblin warrior's neck, severing another head. 'Decapitation yet again go figure..' my eyes quickly zero in on the goblin archer. The goblin archer knowing it fucked up is quickly attempting to knock another arrow. The distance between me and it is small now, I rush forward as the goblin warriors body drops to the floor without it's head. Dodging a poor attempt to loose an arrow at me in close quarters the arrow from the goblin shoots wildly off course, missing me entirely. Tensing my arms and pulling hard my axe comes across its torso in a savage rip as the goblin archer is bisected.. A quick heavy breath escapes my mouth as I quickly survey the surrounds I hear pitter patters of feet again. The hairs on the back of my neck raise as I stand there, then a sizzling sound meets my ears and I get thrown through the air. My head is pounding along with my ears. Rolling over putting my hands under me I push myself off the ground. "ug.. wha-" I get to a kneeling position as a goblin in a robe is standing there with a look of sadistic glee, a small vial in its hand smoking ominously. "No way.." [Inspect] flairs out naturally from me as the info comes up of the goblin in front of me.
[Inspected: Goblin Alchemist]
System Status
Tier: H++
Class: Alchemist
Level: 7
Health: ???
Energy: ???
Strength:5
Endurance:8
Dexterity:24
Agility:21
Perception:10
Intelligence:18
Wisdom:7
Charisma:8
Luck:1
Resistances
Physical Defense:
2
Elemental Defense:
0
Mental Defense:
0
Soul Defense:
0
Immunities:
N/A
Skills
Name Grade Level Description
Alchemy [Uncommon] 1
Through repeated experimentation this user has unlocked the ability to create alchemic concoctions.
Herbalism [Common] 1
Through understanding the effects of different plants, and cataloguing of them, this user has been granted basic knowledge on properties of studied plants.
Inspect [Common] 1
Description: Through continuous use of your perception and analyzing your Foes and Items you have wielded you have unlocked a basic Inspection Skill. Growth of this skill dependant on Perception, Usage, and Knowledge.
"Piti..pitiful human sh-shall die.. be food for our spawn!" the goblin alchemist cackles delightfully as he eyes me. 'Yep definitely unlucky.. it's almost on the cusp of Tier G.' looking at the stat difference of the goblin and myself. 'Still got this though.' my eyes flick to my health.
Health: 46
'ouch half my health gone like that... glad I got the chestplate' grabbing a handful of dirt and stone as I stand I launch it in the direction of the goblin alchemist. Watching its eyes go wide at the sudden retaliation from a prey it though was already down for the count. I spot my waraxe on the ground quite a ways from me. 'Better to rush-' putting thought to action my body launches itself forward at the goblin alchemist. The dirt and stone chips I had thrown hit the goblin in its chest and face, it hacks as it spits dirt from its mouth, its arm winding back in an attempt to throw the acrid smelling vial. My focus sharpens.. 'Don't do something, and I will die before I started.' pulling on [Ancient Steps of the Dark] I attempt to use it offensively. The knowledge of how to to it still there even though it was restricted to level 1 but that doesn't stop me from consciously pushing that boundary ~rattle~. I feel the darkness spread from my shadow, rushing along the ground towards the goblin. My body straining under the advanced usage of the skill. My bleeding worsens~RATTLE~. 'End it quickly..' the darkness wraps its tendrils around the goblin alchemist, pulling it to the ground with a sharp yank. a splitting headache formed instantly between my eyes as I get close. Stomping on the goblin's arm holding the the stoppered vial. I hear a bone shatter ~RaTtLE~, as the goblin squeals out. "FILTHY HUMAN!"
"Don't want to hear that from a goblin.." scooping up the vial a savage grin forms on face, its face looking up on me in terror. "Air activated or impact? Let us find out." I reach down, grabbing the goblin by the back of its neck lifting its head. I shove the vial into the uncooperative goblin's mouth, it stops all thrashing and movement. Its wide eyes looking at me imploringly. "ug.." ~the chains rattle~ a wild look appears in the goblins eyes as if it saw something unspeakable.. ~RATTLE~ I slam the goblins head down into the floor as its jaw shatters the vial inside its mouth, the shadows reach up around me, my headache burning my skull, something drips from my eyes. The goblin alchemist becomes a burning corpse as its head explodes in flames, flesh, and brain matter. The pitter patter of feet around me dies out from the roar of the explosion. The shadows that protected me from the exploding corpse recede into the ground. I stare around myself in a small crater caused by the vial exploding. Five or six goblins stand around me terror and disbelief on their faces. Then pandemonium ensues as the goblins start running away in all directions, I hear a fleeing goblin shout a barely intelligible word... "Mo-st-r!" 'Monster?... really?.. ~rattle~.. what did I...' staring at the corpse once more the burning headache comes back full force. The sounds of chains in the background slowly fade out. 'Why did I do that.. so inefficient and left me exhausted...' I stare up at the sky as the gains roll in once more from this extended battle. Exhaustion lacing my body, pulling me to take a seat.
Notifications, Combat Log, Gains Condensed
Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin Woodsman(Lvl:???)
Bisected Goblin Woodsman(Lvl:???)
Inflicted Bleeding II on Goblin(Lvl:???)
Goblin(Lvl:???) has fallen unconscious.
Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin(Lvl:???)
Decapitated Goblin(Lvl:???)
Received 8 Piercing Damage from Goblin Archer(Lvl:???)
Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin(Lvl:???)
Crushed/Shredded Goblin(Lvl:???)
Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???) Distracted By Goblin Archer(Lvl:???)
Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???)
Decapitated Goblin Warrior(Lvl:???)
Fatal Damage Inflicted on Goblin Archer(Lvl:???)
Bisected Goblin Archer(Lvl:???)
30 Explosion damage taken from Goblin Alchemist(Lvl:007)
Stunned by explosion
Bleeding From Explosion
Distracted Goblin Alchemist with Dirty Trick.
#ERROR#PUSHING SKILL BOUNDARY#ERROR#
#UNKNOWN INTERACTION WITH NETWORK#
#AWAKENED #$&@(*)%#
#CHAINS HAVE BEEN LOOSENED#
[Ancient Steps of the Dark] has been used beyond the threshold by #$&@(*)%#
Goblin Alchemist has received 18 Unarmed Damage.
Goblin Alchemist inflicted with Broken Arm.
#CHAINS HAVE BEEN LOOSENED#
#EXECUTING [NETWORK] CALL#
#[NETWORK] Call Success#
Goblin Alchemist has exploded from alchemic concoction.
Fatal Damage to Goblin Alchemist(Lvl:007)
#The chains have been fixed#
Distributing consequences and gains.
Gains
Experience earned: 197
Goblin x2 - 8
Goblin Woodsman - 13
Goblin Warrior - 28
Goblin Archer - 22
Goblin Alchemist - 126
Tower Coins Earned: 29
Goblin x2 - 3
Goblin Woodsman - 5
Goblin Warrior - 6
Goblin Archer - 3
Goblin Alchemist - 12
All drops from kills have been claimed as compensation.
'The drops?.." my mind blanks as I see a final line.