MT - 79 Goblin
Now wasn't the time for idle chatter. After a brief moment of thought, Roy clapped his hands on his thighs and declared to the group, "Why don't we go and defeat the floor boss?"
The three others hesitated for a moment. Kirito spoke up cautiously, "Isn't it… a bit too early for that?"
It wasn't an unreasonable concern. After all, they had just cleared the boss on the previous floor less than a week ago. Jumping straight into the next one felt premature.
But Roy showed no sign of hesitation. He stated plainly, "We have teleport crystals, don't we? Besides, scouting the boss's abilities is a necessary step anyway."
It wasn't that Roy was overly eager or impatient—he simply wanted to make the most of this rare opportunity to log in and experience the thrill of facing a boss.
Kirito mulled it over for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine, let's do it. Follow me. I actually spotted the boss room earlier."
Through the winding cave, the group moved forward for about half an hour before reaching an imposing stone gate. The cave opened into a massive hollow chamber, dimly lit by flickering yellow light. Weak candlelight from scattered sconces cast long shadows on the walls.
The four exchanged glances. Roy took the lead, stepping forward to push open the heavy metal door. The sound of iron scraping against stone echoed ominously as the door swung wide, revealing the boss room.
What greeted them was a grotesque, terrifying sight.
No—this wasn't just a regular beast. It was a mutated goblin.
The creature loomed with a massive, muscular frame, its green skin stretched taut over bulging muscles. Its face was dominated by sharp tusks that jutted from its maw, its feral appearance sending a shiver down the spine. At over five meters tall, it dwarfed the scrawny goblins they had encountered before, as though it had evolved into some monstrous new form.
Roy's gaze shifted to the creature's name hovering above its head.
Goblin King
Level 50
Its health bar was just as intimidating, spanning four full segments.
The moment they entered the room, the Goblin King turned, gripping a massive iron sword in its clawed hand. The blade wasn't elegant—its edges were jagged, and rust spots marred its surface. If this had been a different situation, Roy might have cracked a joke about it being an enchanted weapon, dubbing it the Tetanus Blade.
But now wasn't the time for humor.
For a boss like this, it wasn't the raw strength or resilience that worried Roy. The real fear lay in potential gimmicks—health locks, puzzles, or some other bizarre mechanics.
Still, this boss didn't seem overly complicated, so there was no reason to hold back.
Drawing his sword, Roy charged in first. Kirito flanked from the right, keeping watch. The Goblin King let out a guttural roar, swinging its crude sword down at Roy. But with his agility and strength attributes maxed out, Roy had no trouble evading and countering its attack.
As he clashed with the Goblin King's sword, his own blade emitted a brilliant blue glow. The sheer force of his strike caused the Goblin King to stagger backward, its grip faltering as the vibrations numbed its hand. The massive creature stumbled several steps.
Kirito's eyes lit up. "Switch!"
Roy nodded, seamlessly stepping aside to let Kirito take the lead.
Kirito didn't earn the title the Black Swordsman for nothing. With practiced precision, he wielded his single-handed sword—Duskslayer—with unmatched skill.
Of course, this Duskslayer wasn't the legendary one. It was a makeshift weapon Kirito had crafted with materials he gathered, and its name came about when Roy casually suggested it. Still, it packed a punch.
Each of Kirito's strikes was powerful and unrelenting, like a torrential downpour. His relentless assault left the Goblin King reeling, its movements faltering under the barrage.
If anything, the fight highlighted how bizarre the game's stagger mechanics could be. The Goblin King barely had a chance to recover before Kirito's blows sent it back into disarray.
The concept of "stagger" can feel quite peculiar when you think about it.
If your attack power isn't sufficient, the system won't register a stagger effect. Only attacks that reach a certain damage threshold can trigger it.
It's somewhat reminiscent of a trope from another lifetime—when an ally's attack fails to penetrate the enemy's armor.
Watching the enemy's HP drop rapidly, Roy glanced at the remaining life bar. About one segment was gone.
Truly, the title of the "solo king" wasn't just for show.
Of course, using skills like Kirito did comes with a cost. His stamina bar was depleting just as quickly.
At their current level, they were still a bit underpowered. After nearly a hundred swings, Kirito found himself unable to continue cutting through.
Meanwhile, Roy stood off to the side, quietly admiring Kirito's heroic performance.
Seeing this, Kirito cursed his brother internally for being unreliable and shouted, "Switch!"
Roy responded with a casual "Got it," stepping forward to take Kirito's place at the center.
With a swift kick, Roy sent the enemy sprawling to the ground.
Kirito could only watch, his eyelid twitching at the sight.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to the group and said, "All together now!"
Unsurprisingly, they managed to finish the fight smoothly. When the enemy was down to just two HP bars, Roy unleashed a full-force attack, instantly finishing it off.
Kirito gripped his twin swords tightly, sinking into thought.
He had been slashing away for ages, only to whittle down one health bar. Yet his brother, with a single move, wiped the enemy out.
It was absurd.
Of course, Roy's feat wasn't without a price. His stamina bar was reduced by half in an instant. Combined with his earlier exertion, he was down to about a quarter of his total stamina.
The path to the higher floor opened without a hitch.
The three of them heaved a collective sigh of relief as they made their way back the way they came.
By the time they returned to the main street, night had already fallen.
The difference in atmosphere between floors was striking.
One moment, you could find yourself in the warmth of spring, only to step into a frozen winter wonderland on the next floor.
But one thing remained constant: the undeniable beauty of this world.
Perhaps calling every frame a work of art might be an exaggeration. Yet, for those who could take a moment to appreciate it, the surroundings were truly breathtaking.
Akihiko Kayaba's artistic sensibilities weren't half-bad. Then again, it might not even be about art—just a generous budget poured into creating immersive scenery. For someone accustomed to the skyscrapers of the modern world and the medieval European aesthetic of this one, the views were unexpectedly pleasing.
The tranquility of the night carried a soothing stillness. This floor had few players; the streets were sparsely populated. Most were NPCs standing around, engaging in idle chatter.
Under the quiet night sky, Roy felt a sense of anticipation.
Naturally, he parted ways with Kirito and Misumi. Before leaving, Roy shot Kirito a meaningful smile.
Kirito, unwilling to back down, clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder and teased, "Make sure to seize the opportunity."
Roy's previously relaxed expression stiffened.
He shot a sidelong glare at Kirito, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
Is that something you should say to your older brother?
But when Roy glanced to the side, he understood.
Misumi, usually loud and carefree, was uncharacteristically silent. A faint blush adorned her cheeks.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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