The Goblin King advanced slowly. Over three meters tall and with greyish skin, he was a grotesque abomination. Its deformed face displayed yellowish fangs and eyes glowing like hot coals. In one hand, it held a serrated sword so large that it could split a human in half with a single blow.
Behind him, eight goblin mages muttered spells in an unknown language. Their tattered robes hid their thin, bent bodies, but their glowing eyes indicated that they were responsible for the black shield that protected the monster.
The energy barrier pulsed around the Goblin King like a living wall. Its glow oscillated between shades of purple and black, and tiny magical sparks danced across its surface.
Renji didn't hesitate.
Steadying the blade in his hand, he quickly slid across the stone floor, slashing against the barrier.
BANG!
The impact generated waves of energy, making the magical protection vibrate like glass about to shatter. The crack spread, but before it could open completely, the barrier regenerated in an instant.
Renji stepped back, gritting his teeth. That wouldn't be easy.
"So that's how it works... as long as those mages are alive, that barrier won't fall."
On the other side of the battlefield, Yui huddled against the wall. The cold in his legs was real. The fear was in her fingers, her chest, her neck. But she couldn't let anyone see.
"He's facing that thing alone..." she muttered, her voice sounding small in all the chaos.
"Hah! Are you really scared of this crap?" a contemptuous laugh echoed through the hall.
The answer came from Toru Kanzaki, who stood with his arms crossed, watching the fight with a smug smile.
Even in front of the colossal creature, he maintained a relaxed posture, as if the situation wasn't as serious as it seemed.
"What a joke... And I thought this world would have some kind of challenge!"
Arisa narrowed her eyes, her patience quickly wearing thin.
"We're surrounded by a level ten boss and eight goblin mages! If you have any cards up your sleeve, you'd better use them soon!"
Toru snorted and kicked a dead goblin next to him, venting his frustration.
Then it happened.
[He who dwells in you can no longer touch the heavens. Out of this shell you must come and the bottom of the pit you must dig. With the authority granted to me, I offer it to you].
The instant his foot touched the corpse, the goblin's eyes glowed green, and his body began to struggle.
Toru took a step back, his expression changing from contempt to genuine surprise.
"Wait... I did that?"
The dead body rose, still covered in deep wounds, its eyes glowing with a spectral energy. Toru felt a strange connection with the reanimated monster, as if he could give it orders with just his thoughts.
But the shock made him hesitate. On reflex, he deactivated his ability, and the goblin fell dead again.
A blue screen flashed before his eyes.
[Unique Skill Unlocked: "Art of the Immortals"].
○
Arisa Tachibana remained silent, watching the battle with a serious expression.
The best student in the class. A natural leader. The girl who always solved all the problems.
But there... she felt powerless.
"Damn it... If I weaken now, we'll all die," she muttered.
She clenched her fists.
"And to think that that weirdo is protecting me. It disgusts me. If only I could fight..."
That's when something flashed in her hands.
[The one who dwells in you can no longer carry all the weight, from the throne of daggers you must leave and the suffering accumulated over the years you must share. With the authority granted to me, I offer it to you].
A golden light flickered in the air, quickly shaping itself.
Arisa's eyes widened.
It was a bow.
The bow was translucent like crystal, shiny and perfect, as if it had been tailor-made for her.
[Unique Skill Unlocked: "Goddess of the Hunt."]
Renji stepped back after another blow to the barrier, panting, but a smile appeared on his face when he saw Arisa's awakening.
"So you've awakened your ability too. Good. I have a plan."
She nodded, positioning herself on the battlefield next to Renji.
"Tell me what to do."
"The barrier regenerates quickly because it's fed by the eight mages. If we eliminate one of them, the structure will weaken. I'll open a gap near one of them. When that happens, you shoot."
Arisa didn't reply. She just raised her bow and pulled the string. An arrow of light materialized between her fingers.
Renji advanced through the debris and struck a blow against the King's defense. The barrier cracked and began to regenerate almost immediately. Without wasting any time, he struck again at the same point, widening the crack right next to one of the mages.
"Now, Arisa!"
The arrow glowed brightly and shot out like lightning.
ZUUUUM!
The barrier tried to pull itself together, but it was too late. The projectile crossed the battlefield in the shape of a bolt of lightning, tearing through the air and hitting the goblin mage directly in the skull.
The creature let out a shrill scream before collapsing lifelessly.
[You defeated Level 5 Goblin Mage. +300 XP.]
Renji smiled.
"Good, you took him down."
Arisa just lowered her bow, without saying a word.
But the victory was short-lived. The remaining goblins reacted by quickly repositioning themselves. Before they could take advantage of the opening, the barrier rose again, rendering their efforts completely useless.
"What?! What the hell! Arisa, summon another arrow! Let's repeat the e-plan!"
Renji stopped when he noticed her hands.
They were burnt.
It hadn't just taken shape. It was in fact lightning.
Arisa clenched her fists, ignoring the pain.
"I'm sorry about that, Ari..."
"Shut up!" she shouted. "Save your sympathy for someone who really needs it. Not for me!"
Renji sighed. Arisa was out of the fight.
But, unexpectedly, someone else took her place.
Toru stepped forward.
"Ha! The little princess's hands are hurting, are they?"
"Fuck you, Toru!" Arisa growled.
"Hey, no time for squabbles!" Renji interjected. Renji intervened. "We need a plan."
Toru smiled and pointed to the body of the freshly slain goblin.
"Relax. I'll take care of it."
He activated his ability. The corpse shuddered and slowly stood up. Its eyes glowed with a ghostly hue.
The wizard, now under the control of the schoolboy, raised his staff and began to chant unknown words.
The King, realizing the betrayal, raised his axe to smash him, but it was too late. A sphere of dark energy, surrounded by shadows and black flames, formed in the reanimated goblin's hands.
In less than a second, the sphere exploded, spreading a trail of destruction inside the barrier.
BOOM!
The smaller goblins were thrown through the air. The barrier crumbled.
The King roared once again, now being vulnerable.
[You defeated Level 5 Goblin Mage. +300 XP.] (8x)
Renji smiled.
"Perfect! Now he's ours!"
Arisa crossed her arms and let out a short laugh.
"Ha! I'm impressed. In my head, you were just a spoiled rich kid who couldn't do anything right."
Toru glared at her, annoyed.
"Don't fuck, bitch!"
Renji massaged his shoulders, exhausted.
"Can you two leave it until after we've killed the big boss?"
They looked at each other, snorted, but took up combat positions.
[Team formed: Renji Kurogane, Arisa Tachibana and Toru Kanzaki.]
[XP sharing activated.]