Chapter 62 – Clash of Strength and Strategy
The Shaman smirked.
And the moment Da-jung fired her first spell—
It flicked its wrist.
A pulse of dark energy erupted from its staff.
A sudden, gut-wrenching wave crashed over them.
Da-jung stumbled, her magic flickering out.
Her breathing turned ragged.
Joo-hyuk groaned, his shield lowering slightly.
Even Kyung-min felt a momentary weight press down on him.
Whatever it was—this wasn't just a debuff.
It was suppression.
A hex? A mana-draining effect? Something else entirely?
Kyung-min's mind sharpened.
He had seen enough.
Time to adjust.
—
Shifting the Battle
Joo-hyuk and Min-seok weren't lasting.
Eun-ha was holding her ground, but barely.
And Da-jung—her magic was unreliable for now.
This battle needed to end fast.
Kyung-min moved.
—
A Goblin Fighter lunged at him.
He sidestepped effortlessly, catching its wrist mid-air.
A sharp twist—a snap.
The goblin screamed, its arm breaking.
Kyung-min killed the goblin with a effortless blow snatched its dagger from its grasp—
And hurled it.
The blade spun through the air—
Piercing directly into the Shaman's shoulder.
The creature shrieked.
Its casting stuttered.
And for the first time—it looked surprised.
—
Exploiting the Opening
"Eun-ha," Kyung-min called.
She reacted instantly.
No hesitation. No wasted movement.
Her blade flashed.
The first goblin fell, throat cut.
Joo-hyuk took a deep breath, regaining his stance. His shield slammed into another goblin.
Min-seok shot an arrow, finally landing a clean pierce through a goblin's chest.
Da-jung's mana flared back up. "I'm good! Someone keep that Shaman busy!"
Kyung-min's smirk widened beneath his mask.
They were learning.
Good.
Now it was time to push.
—
A Final Surge
The Goblin Chief growled, gripping its cleaver.
It knew the battle had shifted.
And it wasn't going to let them dictate the flow.
The massive goblin stepped forward.
Every movement shook the ground.
The real fight was about to begin.
—
The Goblin Chief stepped forward, towering over the battlefield. Its hulking frame radiated raw strength, the massive cleaver dragging against the stone floor, leaving deep gouges in its wake.
It wasn't fast.
But it didn't need to be.
Not when each swing could cleave a man in two.
Kyung-min narrowed his eyes.
🔹 [Goblin Chief – Lvl 12]
🔹 HP: 7,500
Its health was still full.
Its stance was steady.
This thing hadn't even fought yet.
Which meant—it had been waiting.
It had been watching.
Kyung-min's fingers twitched slightly.
Not just a brute.
This thing had a brain.
—
The Shaman's Final Play
The Goblin Shaman hissed, wrenching the dagger from its shoulder. Black blood dripped from the wound, but its yellow eyes still burned with magic.
It raised its staff, snarling something in its guttural tongue.
A pulse of dark energy rippled outward—
And suddenly—
The remaining Goblin Fighters shrieked, their bodies tensing.
Then—they moved.
Faster.
Stronger.
Their movements sharpened.
Min-seok cursed, stumbling back as a Goblin Fighter nearly overpowered him.
Joo-hyuk's shield buckled under the force of a strike that, moments ago, wouldn't have been a problem.
Eun-ha's sword barely parried a goblin's sudden, lightning-fast lunge.
Kyung-min's eyes flickered.
The spell wasn't a direct attack.
It was a final push.
A desperation move.
The Shaman was enhancing its allies.
For one last stand.
—
Breaking the Chain
Da-jung's hands glowed with mana, her breathing heavy but controlled.
"I've had enough of this thing!" she snapped, throwing a fire spell directly at the Shaman.
The goblin twisted its staff, absorbing the impact. The fire dissipated.
It sneered.
And then—
Kyung-min moved.
[Abyss Step – Activated.]
A flicker of darkness.
He reappeared behind the Shaman.
No hesitation.
His dagger plunged into its exposed side.
The goblin screeched, body jerking violently.
Its hands trembled—the magic faltered.
For a split second—the buff broke.
And that was all they needed.
—
Turning the Tide
Joo-hyuk roared, his shield smashing into the goblin in front of him. The creature staggered—off balance.
Eun-ha's blade flashed.
A clean cut across the throat.
Min-seok, seeing his opening, fired another shot with his bow—his arrow ran another goblin through.
The enemy numbers were dropping.
Fast.
Kyung-min twisted the dagger deeper into the Shaman's ribs, his other hand snapping forward—gripping its throat.
It gagged.
Struggled.
Tried to cast again.
He didn't let it.
With a sharp, brutal movement—he snapped its neck.
The Goblin Shaman's body collapsed.
And at that moment—the battlefield shifted entirely.
—
The Chief's Fury
The Goblin Chief's head snapped toward Kyung-min.
A slow, rumbling growl built in its chest.
Its massive cleaver rose.
Kyung-min exhaled.
This thing was finally getting serious.
—
A Sudden Charge
The Goblin Chief lunged.
The ground shook beneath its weight.
A blur of movement—the cleaver came down.
Joo-hyuk barely had time to react.
His shield raised—too slow.
The force sent him flying.
He crashed into the far wall, coughing violently.
Eun-ha's eyes widened. "Shit!"
Min-seok froze.
Da-jung's chant cut off.
And Kyung-min—
He didn't hesitate.
His body flickered.
[Abyss Step.]
Darkness swallowed him—he reappeared behind the Chief.
His dagger lashed out.
A clean cut across its back.
But—it barely left a scratch.
The Chief spun instantly, swinging its cleaver sideways.
Kyung-min ducked—narrowly avoiding decapitation.
This thing—its reflexes were insane.
This wasn't just a boss.
It was a monster.
—
Adapting Mid-Fight
Joo-hyuk groaned, forcing himself to his feet. His shield was cracked.
Eun-ha repositioned. Her breathing was sharp.
Min-seok gritted his teeth. Fear flickered in his eyes.
And Da-jung—her hands trembled, but her mana flared back up.
They weren't out yet.
Kyung-min exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
He glanced at his notifications.
He had leveled up.
Five free stat points.
But he didn't allocate them.
Not yet.
This wasn't over.
If they wanted to win—
They had to break this thing completely.
The Goblin Chief roared—