Chapter 5 : Conclusion! Hobgoblin slayed.

(POV: Zeren)

Damn… Even with three Roombas to my name, it still doesn't feel like enough.

I need something… tougher. For the skin. Something that doesn't shatter if I bump into a wall too hard.

Oh well, future me problem.

For now, it's time to start crafting the inner frame using Mattershift and the Roombas.

…

Time passed—like, a lot of time.

Hours went by as I molded the skeletal frame and engraved the magical circuitry throughout the body. The most brutal part? Crafting the motherboard. Since I wasn't using traditional circuitry, I had to manually etch rune-engraved logic systems across every vital body part.

Why? Because I wanted the new vessel to move naturally—like a real human—but with extra perks.

Like what, you ask?

Well, for starters… a 360-degree waist spin. Hehe pretty sick.

Then came the voice box.

I didn't want to sound robotic, so I got creative. I spent almost an entire day designing a magical speaker system using wind-based rune arrays. Wind flows in, sound comes out—voilà, instant vocal cords. Now I can talk like a normal person instead of sounding like the terminator.

Anyway! On top of that, I've been grinding too! Four goblins down. Call me Barbie cause I can do anything!.

[Zeren Andromeda]

[Level: 6]

[Stats:]

Health: 40/40

Mana: 371/389

Strength: 0

Agility: 4

Magic: 201

[Skills:]

• Repair – Allows the user to repair inorganic material. The more mana-dense, the faster the repair.

• Manabreak – Disrupts mana structures (spells, runes) using your own mana. The more complex the structure, the more it costs..

• Manashield – Creates a mana barrier to block physical and magical attacks. More mana = more defense. Especially effective against magic.

[Abilities:]

• [&(^@) !%^ @)% !#!!!!]

• Mattershift – A unique ability that allows the user to reshape inorganic material on a molecular level. The stronger or more complex the material, the more difficult and mana-intensive it becomes.

I'm particularly hyped about Manashield. That thing saved my non-existent butt a couple times before when I was hunting.

Now all I need is an offensive skill...

And just as if the gods heard my internal monologue—

ROOOAAARR!!

What the hell was that?!

It looked like a goblin, but on steroids. Pale skin, red markings, purple eyes… but this one was jacked.

Based on my extensive video game knowledge... I'm calling you Hobgoblin.

SWISH!

I dashed in—full send.

CLANK!

Oh come on! He's got a sword?!

The guy whipped out a massive blade just in time to parry my dagger.

Alright, then.

SWOOSH!

I threw my dagger straight at his face and slid between his legs.

SLASH! SLASH!

Both tendons—gone. He dropped to his knees like a cult member.

Victory? Secured.

Or so I thought.

CRASH!

The bastard hurled a boulder at me!

I barely got Manashield up in time. It took a huge chunk of my mana, but at least my circuitry is still intact.

Okay. My mana regeneration is good… but it's not THAT good, I can't keep tanking hits like that.

SLASH!

Wait—what?! I'm sure I cut his tendons!

He lunged forward like a rabid beast and cut off one of my limbs.

Alright, Chris Gobstead!.

Playtime's over.

I yelled internally—because, again, no mouth yet.

CRACK!!

Shit. He's cracking my barrier!

Think, Zeren, think—

SWOOSH! CLANK!

His sword flew back when it hit my expanding shield…

Wait. That's it!

I ducked under another swing, then launched upward and shoved my detached limb into his mouth.

What am I doing—what even is my life anymore?

"Nice knowing ya, hobgoblin."

With every last bit of my mana, I expanded the barrier inside his mouth.

BURST!!

THUD!

His headless corpse collapsed in a pool of gore.

Welp. That happened.

Another day, another traumatic win.

Conclusion... I really need to stop killing people like I'm in Invincibles, the clean up is annoying.

But hey—at least it's over.

[User has leveled up!]

[User has leveled up!]

[User has gained the skill: Manablast!]

Oho? Finally, Now we're cookin'.