Chapter 8

Ji-Ho stood still, motionless.

Shadows danced around him, red eyes gleamed in the darkness, like embers burning in the void. His heart beat steadily, but his breathing remained calm. He didn't need to see the enemies to sense them. Their aura pulsed around him, purple and dark, revealing their presence.

The aura.

Every living being emanated one. Only the Awakened and monsters could see it. Golden or light purple for the Awakened. Crimson or dark purple for monsters. But from Ji-Ho, a new type had emerged.

Blue.

The aura of a demigod.

The goblins surrounded him, their presence vibrating in the air. Weak. Their auras were dim, small. But still, they were monsters. Treacherous creatures, fast, lethal if underestimated.

— ...

A whistle cut through the air.

Ji-Ho tilted his head to the side. The blade passed mere millimeters from his cheek.

He still didn't know how many there were. Not even what he was fighting against.

Another attack.

This time, he reacted.

A dagger appeared in his right hand, materializing in a bluish glow. Its blade was crafted from dragon scales, cold to the touch, lethal to the cut. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the forest as Ji-Ho blocked the strike.

Finally, he could see his attacker.

A green-skinned goblin.

Its red eyes sparkled in the dark. The monster growled, baring sharp teeth. A warrior.

Goblins were divided into classes. The green-skinned ones were fast and deadly, specialized in swift attacks. The crimson ones, bloodthirsty, had sturdier bodies and greater endurance. The gray-skinned ones were arcane, fragile but capable of casting destructive spells.

Ji-Ho smiled.

— Interesting.

He pressed his blade against the goblin's and pushed it back. The monster staggered a few steps before, with an agile leap, lunging again.

This time, Ji-Ho didn't just dodge.

He advanced.

His dagger sliced through the air. The goblin warrior had an instant to realize what was happening before its body was cleaved in two. Dark green blood splattered across the ground.

— Now it's my turn.

The bushes rustled.

Five goblins emerged from the shadows, leaping at Ji-Ho all at once.

He didn't retreat. His eyes moved, tracking each enemy's motion. His muscles tensed. His body acted before the first strike was even thrown.

Five slashes.

Five bodies fell.

Silence.

Then, chaos.

Dozens of goblins appeared from all sides.

Ji-Ho charged forward.

Blades cut through the air. He dodged, weaved, blocked, and countered. His eyes tracked every movement as if time had slowed. His reflexes were flawless.

And for the first time in a long while, he felt pleasure.

He wasn't the victim. He wasn't the weak one. He was the predator.

He fought effortlessly, without exhaustion. Every strike was precise, every dodge perfect. The sound of metal, the goblins' screams, the dense scent of blood in the earth... It was like a symphony.

Time passed.

The few remaining goblins fled into the forest, terrified.

Ji-Ho crouched down and searched one of the fallen bodies.

— Nothing... I forgot that goblins don't drop loot.

He picked up one of the enemy daggers and examined the edge. Worn. Weak. Worthless to a blacksmith.

— But why such a large horde...? — he murmured.

The goblins were breeding somewhere nearby. Even without rewards, Ji-Ho decided to exterminate them.

He climbed to the top of a tree. On the horizon, he spotted the survivors fleeing. A smile appeared on his face.

He would follow them.

Ji-Ho advanced through the branches, moving effortlessly, soundlessly. The goblins ran along the ground, agitated and frightened. Their shrill voices echoed along the path.

Their destination? The foot of a mountain.

But there were no visible entrances.

Then, one by one, the goblins disappeared.

They passed through the rock.

A spell? An illusion?

Ji-Ho watched from above, curious. After the last goblin entered, he descended and walked up to the stone.

First, he reached out his hand.

His fingers passed through the rock as if nothing was there.

A magic curtain.

Without hesitation, Ji-Ho stepped through the portal.

And what he saw on the other side… made him hold his breath.

The goblins had built an entire community inside the mountain.

Hundreds of them. Maybe thousands.

They dug into the ground, burrowing deeper into the earth. Goblins loved the heat. They were heading toward the core.

Torches made of bones and rags lit up the caves, scattered across the dark walls. The putrid stench of rotting flesh filled the air.

Ji-Ho looked down.

The abyss stretched for miles. Far below, goblin nests swarmed.

He inhaled slowly.

And smiled.

— I think I just found a great pastime.

Ji-Ho moved through the mountain's entrance, his sharpened senses capturing every sound, every foul stench saturating the air. Excitement stirred within him.

There was only one path leading underground, where the goblins were gathered. Their restless chatter echoed off the rocky walls. Just ahead, a wooden staircase led up to watchtowers.

"No one has attacked yet... Is it empty? Better check."

He stepped onto the first stair. The wood creaked slightly under his weight, but he continued, climbing without hesitation. The stifling heat inside the mountain only made the smell of rotten meat spread further. Ji-Ho frowned, trying to ignore the stench.

Reaching the watchtower, he found a makeshift space, built with old, damp wood. No goblins in sight. Scattered on the floor were a few crude weapons, and among the debris, something caught his attention. He crouched and picked up a small piece of metal. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the rare material—Drayengardian steel.

"This could be worth a lot."

He pocketed the items and silently descended. Back at the entrance, he started down the tunnel leading to the mountain's depths. The faint green light emanating from the walls illuminated the path, casting grotesque shadows on the ground and revealing the movement of creatures ahead.

The tunnel opened into a vast space.

Ji-Ho stopped, his eyes analyzing every detail. Jagged rocks jutted from the high ceiling, reflecting an eerie glow. In the lower tiers, goblins crowded together, clinging to the walls or sitting as if watching a spectacle.

And in the center, upon a throne carved from stone and adorned with bones and pelts, sat him.

The Goblin King.

A huge and grotesque creature. His pale white skin was marked with scars from past battles. A crude crown of bones adorned his bald head, with a few gray strands falling over his deformed face. In his fat hands, a massive staff with a sharpened tip rested lazily. Small goblins massaged his arms and back as he stared blankly into the fire before him.

Goblins screamed in the center of the underground amphitheater, arguing and gesturing frantically. The tension in the air was palpable.

Ji-Ho remained still, just watching.

Then, in a sudden movement, the king thrust his staff into the chest of one of the goblins before him. The agonizing scream echoed through the cavern.

Chaos.

The goblins howled, banging their weapons against the ground in a frenzy. The impaled goblin still writhed, stuck at the tip of the staff. With a cruel motion, the king lifted the body and tossed it into the bonfire. The screams of pain rang out, the smell of burning flesh filled the air, and Ji-Ho frowned at the sound of crackling, charring skin.

The king pulled back his staff and brought the charred remains of the goblin to his mouth.

He chewed. Bones cracked between his teeth.

Absolute silence.

Every goblin present shrank back, awaiting their king's next words.

With effort, the obese monster rose from his throne. His voice echoed through the cavern:

— MY SERVANTS! — The cavern trembled with the grotesque roar. Ji-Ho's eyes widened. A monster speaking? And in his language? — We are starving. The forest no longer feeds us. The humans hide in their cities, protected by the damned Awakened. If we go into the open, we will be exterminated. But if we stay, we will starve! — Restless murmurs spread through the gathering.

The king raised a fat fist high.

— DAMN THE GODS WHO THREW US INTO THIS WORLD TO DIE! But we will not be puppets! We will not be prey! WE WILL STRIKE IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT! WE WILL INVADE THE HUMAN CITY! No one will know who did it, nor where we went! We will take as many as possible... and prepare a GRAND FEAST!

The goblins erupted into mad screams, slamming their weapons against the ground, ready for slaughter.

Ji-Ho clenched his teeth.

"So that's your plan? Stealth attacks... cowards."

The goblin king suddenly froze. His grotesque face twisted. He inhaled deeply, sniffing the air like an animal.

— Red blood cells, white blood cells, lungs, heart, liver, eyes, cartilage... I can smell you...

Ji-Ho knew. His scent had been detected.

"Damn it..."

He couldn't hesitate any longer.

The ground exploded as he leaped, his body becoming a blue blur in the darkness. The goblin king lifted his staff, his bloodshot eyes widening.

— HUMAN—

BAM!

The thunder of impact. The throne shattered into a thousand pieces.

When the dust settled, Ji-Ho slowly rose, a cold and sadistic smile forming on his lips. In his hand, something dripped a thick, black liquid.

The goblin king's head.

Silence.

For a brief moment, no goblin moved. Then, chaos erupted.

The goblins roared—some ran for the exit, others charged with weapons drawn, eyes burning with hatred.

Ji-Ho raised the king's head for all to see.

— Now... it's my turn.

In a swift motion, he grabbed the goblin king's staff and infused it with his blue aura. The artifact glowed intensely, crackling with energy before being hurled with brutal force toward the top of the only exit. The impact resounded throughout the cavern, causing the rocks to collapse, crushing some goblins who tried to flee and completely sealing the passage.

Ji-Ho let out a faint smile.

— I'm not trapped in here with you...

Goblins leaped toward him, weapons raised.

— ...You're the ones trapped here with me.

A blue explosion erupted from his body, his aura burning like flames. His eyes glowed with the same intense energy.

A dagger materialized in his right hand, and with a single motion, Ji-Ho cleaved the goblins in half. Green blood sprayed through the air, staining the surrounding stones. But he didn't stop. He hurled his dagger forward, and as if it had a will of its own, the blade weaved through the battlefield, tearing through enemies that drew near. Ji-Ho surged into the chaos, striking down foes with his bare hands. Each punch sent goblins crashing into the walls, shattering them instantly.

His movements were too fast to follow. A trail of blue electricity crackled through the air, as if he were lightning incarnate.

Then, from the holes in the mountain's walls, the bloodthirsty goblins emerged.

Larger. Stronger. More brutal.

They trampled their own allies, charging like uncontrollable beasts toward Ji-Ho. He raised his guard at the last moment as one of them delivered a devastating punch. The impact sent him hurtling into the cavern wall, cracking the rock around him.

Ji-Ho laughed, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

— You're actually pretty strong, bastard.

The crimson aura of the bloodthirsty goblins was more intense. They were different. Bulkier. Tougher. Ji-Ho felt adrenaline surging through his veins. This excited him. He knew he could go further.

Suddenly, time seemed to shatter around him. Everything moved in slow motion. A voice echoed in his mind.

"Take a knee."

He obeyed instinctively.

"Touch the ground and focus on your desires."

Ji-Ho closed his eyes. His mind flooded with memories of the past few days. His battles. His growth. His power.

And then, from the shadows beneath his feet, something emerged.

Giants.

Colossal creatures rose from the ground, forged from pure darkness. They were not made of flesh or stone. They were living shadows, titans with glowing, empty eyes, awaiting orders.

Time resumed its flow.

Ji-Ho's monsters advanced upon the goblins, crushing them mercilessly. Each strike from the titans reduced dozens of goblins to mere scraps. The few still alive ran desperately toward the blocked exit, frantically trying to remove the stones and escape.

But it was useless.

Ji-Ho's shadows were ruthless.

When the last creature fell, the shadow titans vanished as suddenly as they had appeared.

"From dust they came, and to dust they shall return."

Ji-Ho took a deep breath. Alone, he had massacred an entire army. He glanced around, taking in the countless weapons and equipment left behind by the goblins. Valuable loot. But gathering it all would take days.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Shadows began swallowing the corpses and equipment around him.

Ji-Ho frowned.

— What...?

A new voice echoed in his mind.

"They shall be stored within the shadows. To summon, simply think."

Curious, Ji-Ho decided to test it.

— Goblin axe.

A dark blot formed in his hand. The axe he had just thought of materialized instantly.

His eyes gleamed. The divine grace of Freya hadn't just granted him brute strength. Now, he could materialize weapons from nothing. Summon titans of shadow.

Excitement surged through Ji-Ho.

He turned toward the blocked exit and tossed the axe behind him. As soon as the weapon left his hand, it was swallowed by darkness and disappeared.

Then, without hesitation, he raised his fist.

And delivered a single punch to the rocks blocking the exit.

The stones were reduced to dust.

Ji-Ho stepped out of the mountain, hands in his pockets, strolling back to camp. He looked up.

It was still night.

The moon illuminated the forest. The stars shone brighter than the city lights.

A thought surfaced.

"What ever happened to Freya?"