Adventurer:Part 1

Darkness.

I feel like I'm sinking into emptiness. My body is heavy, as if buried in the ground.

"Hey, are you still alive?"

A faint voice reaches my consciousness.

"Hurry, get some water!"

Slowly, my eyelids open. A blinding light stabs at my vision, forcing me to squint. A silhouette comes into view.

"Oh, he's awake. Hello, can you hear me?"

A girl with blonde hair and long ears stares at me. An elf.

I try to move my body, but every muscle feels like it's being stabbed with needles.

"Akh..."

I struggle to stand, but my body refuses to cooperate.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" the elf's voice is filled with frustration.

I keep trying, even as numbness spreads throughout my body.

"Listen, just lie down for now!" she commands firmly.

Suddenly, someone approaches with water—a man with wolf-like ears.

"Here's the water."

I try to take it, but my head spins. The world tilts. My consciousness starts slipping away again.

"Hey, don't pass out yet! At least tell us who you—"

Darkness.

—

"Akh!"

A scream jolts me awake.

I open my eyes again. My body still feels weak, but this time, I manage to sit up.

The first thing I see is... a swarm of goblins.

The elf woman from before rapidly fires spells at them, but there are too many.

Among them, I spot a swordsman and a large-built man, most likely a tank. They are human.

The werewolf—the man with wolf-like ears—moves swiftly like a shadow. An assassin.

Then, he approaches me.

"You're awake. Sorry to ask this now, but can you help us? If not... we're all going to die."

I swallow hard, feeling the weight of the sword in my hand.

I try to stand.

"Freya, give him a buff," the swordsman orders.

The elf—Freya—frowns. "Are you sure?"

"Better than letting him become goblin food."

Freya clicks her tongue softly, then raises her hand. An incantation in the elven language flows from her lips, foreign yet powerful.

As her magic envelops me, a warmth spreads through my body. The fatigue binding me fades. My legs feel lighter, my muscles tighten.

I grip my sword more firmly.

"Alright, let's do this."

I channel mana into my legs, accelerating my movement. In a single leap, I soar through the air. Mana flows into my hands as I swing my sword—

SLASH!

Three goblins fall in a single swift strike.

I can win.

Or at least, that's what I thought—

"GUH!"

A massive hammer slams into my back. I'm sent stumbling forward, barely staying on my feet.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Freya's sharp voice cuts through the chaos. "Do you think we'd lose to just those goblins?"

Suddenly, a powerful attack shatters the goblin formation in front of me.

"Over here!"

The swordsman carves a path. I quickly retreat back to the group.

Catching my breath, I look at them.

"Alright," the tank says in a deep voice. "What's the plan now?"

We run behind a large rock, gasping for air. The regular goblins have been wiped out, but the real threat still stands at the center of the battlefield.

A hobgoblin.

Far larger than an ordinary goblin, its muscular body is covered in dark green skin. Its eyes glow red in the darkness, and it grips a massive club strong enough to shatter stone in a single swing.

"Damn... how do we beat that?" the swordsman mutters, panting.

The tank, clad in heavy armor, clenches his fists. "I can hold its attacks, but we need a way to take it down."

Freya watches from a distance, her magic bow glowing faintly. "Its attacks are too strong. If we charge recklessly, we'll die before we can land a serious blow."

I analyze the hobgoblin, thinking quickly.

If its anatomy is similar to an orc, then its weakness should be the same...

"Its legs," I say, drawing their attention. "If we can cripple its legs, it'll lose balance. Once it falls, we go for the neck."

The werewolf assassin scoffs lightly. "Hmph, makes sense. But how do we make it drop its guard?"

I take a deep breath. "We work together. The tank and swordsman keep it occupied from the front while I look for an opening to attack. When it's focused on us, you—" I turn to the werewolf "—use your speed to slash its tendons."

The werewolf grins. "Heh, that sounds fun."

Freya listens calmly. "Alright, I'll prepare something from here. Just don't let it notice our plan."

We exchange glances, then nod.

"Begin."

The tank moves first, raising his shield high.

"Hey, ugly face!" he shouts, provoking the hobgoblin.

The monster growls in rage and swings its club.

"DUAGH!"

A thunderous impact echoes as the club collides with the tank's shield, shaking the ground. The tank is pushed back but holds firm.

The swordsman and I rush in from both sides. I slash at its stomach while the swordsman aims for its right arm.

CLANG!

Both attacks are blocked. The hobgoblin is faster than expected.

But it's enough to keep it distracted.

"Now!"

From the shadows, the werewolf darts forward at lightning speed.

"SLASH!"

His clawed daggers slice the hobgoblin's back knee, severing the tendons.

The hobgoblin roars in pain, its knees beginning to buckle. It struggles to stand, but its stance wavers.

"This is my chance!"

I dash forward, sword raised high. I channel mana into my muscles, increasing my speed.

In an instant, I am right in front of the hobgoblin.

"TAKE THIS!"

I swing my sword at its neck—

—But before my blade lands, the hobgoblin lets out a furious roar and swings its massive arm.

"GUH!"

I'm sent flying backward, my chest feeling like it was hit by a boulder. I crash onto the ground, struggling to regain balance.

"Damn... that wasn't enough!"

The hobgoblin is still alive. Wounded but powerful enough to kill us all.

Then, suddenly, I see a glow from above.

"Move!"

Freya's voice echoes.

I roll to the side just in time.

"Magic Arrow, release!"

Freya pulls her bowstring, and from her weapon, an arrow of radiant energy takes shape.

"FWOOOSH!"

The arrow shoots forward, striking the hobgoblin's exposed neck.

"BOOM!"

A magical explosion erupts as the arrow pierces its flesh. Blue light spreads, burning the wound from within.

The hobgoblin groans, trying to move—

But it's too late.

Its massive body crashes to the ground.

"BRUAKH!"

A thin smoke rises from its gaping wound.

Silence.

Then…

"We won?" I mutter, still in disbelief.

The werewolf smirks. "Hah, of course we won. I was part of the fight."

The tank collapses onto the ground, laughing weakly. "Hahh... we almost died there."

Freya lets out a long sigh, lowering her bow. "You almost got yourself killed, kid."