RYUJIN OPENED HIS EYES.
HE WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TWISTED, SHADOW-FILLED FOREST.
THE COLD WIND CARRIED A STENCH OF BLOOD AND DECAY.
SUDDENLY, A FLOATING WINDOW APPEARED IN FRONT OF HIM, ITS GLOW ILLUMINATING THE DARKNESS:
CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON
1️⃣ SHORT SWORD – Balanced, reliable, no weaknesses
2️⃣ SPEAR – Extended reach, high control
3️⃣ GREAT AXE – Heavy strikes, high destruction
4️⃣ DAGGERS – Extreme speed, close combat
5️⃣ BOW – Long range, precision required
6️⃣ KATANA – Sharp, precise, high mastery weapon
RYUJIN'S EYES IMMEDIATELY FIXED ON THE LAST OPTION.
WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT, HE TOUCHED IT.
THE WINDOW SHATTERED LIKE GLASS, AND A BLACK-BLADED KATANA MANIFESTED IN HIS HAND.
IT FELT PERFECT—THE WEIGHT, THE BALANCE, THE DEADLY EDGE.
"THIS WILL DO."
THE ENCOUNTER
RYUJIN STARTED WALKING THROUGH THE FOREST, KATANA LOW IN HIS HAND.
MINUTES PASSED IN SILENCE UNTIL HE HEARD IT—
THAT LAUGHTER.
HIGH-PITCHED, CRUEL, FAMILIAR.
A GOBLIN EMERGED FROM THE TREES.
SMALL. GREEN. BLOOD-RED EYES.
JUST LIKE THE ONES THAT HAD TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM HIM.
RYUJIN STOPPED.
A CREEPY, UNNATURAL SMILE SPREAD ACROSS HIS FACE.
"YOU AGAIN…"
HE WAITED.
HE LET THE GOBLIN GET CLOSER, THINKING IT HAD FOUND EASY PREY.
AND THEN—
THE FIRST KILL
SHIING!
THE KATANA MOVED IN A SINGLE, PERFECT ARC.
THE GOBLIN'S HEAD FLEW INTO THE AIR BEFORE ITS BODY EVEN REALIZED IT WAS DEAD.
RYUJIN WATCHED THE BODY COLLAPSE, HIS SMILE WIDENING.
THE PACK ATTACKS
THE BUSHES RUSTLED.
THREE MORE GOBLINS BURST OUT, SNARLING AND SCREAMING, WEAPONS IN HAND.
RYUJIN DIDN'T MOVE UNTIL THE FIRST ONE LEAPT AT HIM.
HIS BLADE SLICED CLEANLY THROUGH ITS BODY.
THE NEXT TWO ATTACKED TOGETHER—BUT RYUJIN WAS FASTER.
HE STEPPED FORWARD, CUTTING ONE DOWN IN A SINGLE STRIKE.
THE LAST ONE TRIED TO ESCAPE, BUT HE RAN IT THROUGH THE BACK WITH A MERCILESS THRUST.
THE CORE CRUSH
ONE GOBLIN STILL LIVED, WRITHING ON THE GROUND, BLOOD POURING FROM ITS STOMACH.
ITS EYES WERE FILLED WITH TERROR.
RYUJIN KNELT BESIDE IT.
HIS FACE WAS CALM, ALMOST HAPPY.
"YOU DESERVE TO SUFFER… JUST LIKE THE OTHERS."
HE SLOWLY SLID HIS HAND INTO THE CREATURE'S CHEST.
THE GOBLIN SCREAMED, CLAWING AT HIS ARM—
CRACK!
RYUJIN CRUSHED ITS CORE WITH HIS BARE FINGERS.
THE LIGHT IN ITS EYES DIED INSTANTLY.
RYUJIN STOOD UP, BLOOD DRIPPING FROM HIS HAND, AND LOOKED AROUND THE FOREST WITH COLD, UNBROKEN EYES.