Chapter 31: Devour and Conquer

The Hobgoblin Captain staggered, his breath ragged, confusion flickering in his eyes.

He could feel it.

His strength—leaving him.

Draining away into me.

I clenched my fist, feeling the raw power thrumming beneath my skin. My muscles felt denser, stronger. My senses were sharper.

For the first time, I wasn't just reacting. I was hunting.

The Captain gritted his teeth. "What the hell… did you do to me?"

I took a step forward. He flinched.

A Hobgoblin—flinching from a goblin runt.

I grinned. "You don't look so confident now."

[System Notification!]

[Skill: Devourer's Grasp Activated]

[Temporary Power Absorption: +10% Strength, +5% Agility]

10% might not sound like much.

But in a fight between two near-equal opponents?

It was the difference between life and death.

The Captain snarled and lunged forward, swinging his massive sword in a deadly arc.

But I was faster now.

I sidestepped at the last second—

CRASH!

His blade smashed into the cavern floor, sending cracks through the stone.

He tried to pull it back up—

I didn't let him.

I dashed forward, slamming my knee into his exposed gut.

His eyes bulged.

I followed up with a spinning kick to his jaw, sending him reeling backward.

He stumbled, barely keeping his balance.

His breathing was heavy. His movements sluggish.

He was realizing it now.

I was stronger than him.

And I wasn't done yet.

The Final Clash

Rhia had recovered by now, wiping the blood from her lip. "Leon," she called out, voice sharp. "End him."

I didn't need to be told twice.

The Captain roared and charged at me one last time, desperation in his eyes.

But it was too late.

I ducked under his swing and grabbed his wrist—

Then, using his own momentum, I twisted, flipping him over my shoulder.

BOOM!

His massive body crashed into the stone floor.

Before he could recover, I placed my foot on his chest and pressed down.

Hard.

He gasped, struggling, but I could feel it—

The fear.

The realization that he was going to die.

"P-Please," he choked out, his arrogance shattered. "Mercy—"

I clenched my fist.

And drove it through his skull.

[System Notification!]

[Hobgoblin Captain Defeated!]

[EXP Gained: 420]

[Level Up!]

A strange silence filled the cavern.

The last remaining goblin—a wounded archer—dropped his bow and ran.

I didn't chase him.

I was still breathing hard, feeling the raw power of my new ability settle into me.

I had just killed my first true monster.

And it had been… easy.

Rhia approached, her silver eyes scanning me warily. "That power… That wasn't normal, Leon."

I glanced at my hand—the same hand that had stolen the Captain's strength.

I felt it, too.

Something inside me had changed.

Something dangerous.

I exhaled. "I know."

And for the first time, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

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