Harry took a deep breath, adjusting the hilt of his iron sword and channeling mana to prepare his body. The small tunnel opened onto an immense cavern, the air heavy with the scent of sweat, dried blood, and stagnant wealth.
Harry stepped forward.
The hall was vast, illuminated by flickering torches that cast grotesque shadows. In the center, upon a makeshift throne of bones and hides, sat the Hob Goblin, a creature the size of a human, with grayish skin and rudimentary plate armor. Around him stood his personal guard:
Harry glanced at the front line: three Warrior Goblins and two Basic Goblins, with the Berserkers behind them, muscular creatures wielding double-edged axes. The Shaman stood close to the Hob.
The Hob, seeing the small intruder, roared.
"Intruder! Die for the Hob!"
The Berserkers howled, slamming their axes against the ground. It was a critical mass. Harry couldn't face them one by one. He had to decimate the front line and neutralize the magical threat.
Harry raised both hands, charging an immense amount of elemental energy. The air in the cavern began to swirl and heat up.
"Fire Tornado!"
A furious whirlwind of blue and red flames erupted between Harry and the Goblin formation. The fire not only struck those on the front line, but the vortex of air and heat forced everyone to break apart. Basic and Warrior Goblins were engulfed in flames in seconds, and the Berserkers, with their thicker armor, were pushed back and suffered severe burns.
[Threat neutralized: Basic Goblin (x2). Reward: 2 SC.]
[Threat neutralized: Warrior Goblin (x3). Reward: 30 SC.]
[Threat neutralized: Shaman Goblin (x1). Reward: 10 SC.]
[Shaman's Loot: Magical Spell Scroll (x1), Horn Talisman (x1).]
The Hob Goblin leaped from his throne, his face contorted with rage. Five wounded and smoking Berserkers rose immediately, ignoring the pain. The Shaman had been consumed by the vortex before he could lift a finger.
[WARNING: Host's current Mana: 25. High consumption.]
"Kill him!"
Harry, though exhausted, felt a rush of adrenaline.
Harry knew his Strength was useless against the charge of those frenzied beasts. His Mana wasn't enough for another Fire Tornado. His only advantage was speed and tactical magic.
"Water Wall!" Harry shouted.
A barrier rose at the entrance to the room. The Berserkers crashed into it with brutal force. The wall shattered in a spray of steam and spray. Harry gained barely a second, but it was enough to momentarily blind two of the Goblins.
The Hob Goblin, however, was cunning. He hurled a boulder from his throne, aiming for Harry's head.
Harry groaned. The boulder struck him in the shoulder, sending him flying against the wall. The pain was real, but Continuous Reinforcement prevented his bones from breaking. He staggered to his feet.
The three Berserkers who weren't blinded surrounded him, wielding their axes. Harry drew his iron sword, feeling its familiar weight and using his Swordsmanship.
Harry lunged at the nearest Berserker, dodging the blade by a hair. Instead of attacking with the edge, he touched the Goblin's armor with the palm of his left hand.
"Mana Drain!"
[Mana stolen: 12. Host's Mana restored to 29.]
The Berserker Goblin (x1) suffered Magical Disorientation.
The Berserker collapsed momentarily, his energy drained. Harry seized the opening.
"Wind Blades!"
The silent projectile sliced the disoriented Goblin's throat. One down.
[Threat neutralized: Berserker Goblin. Reward: 20 SC.]
[CURRENT BALANCE: 107 SC.]
The other Berserkers realized the danger. Two focused on Harry, while the Hob Goblin, seeing him fatigued, joined the fray wielding a heavy obsidian mace.
The Hob struck. Harry, his Perception at its limit, used the skill he had honed to deflect attacks.
"Mana Parry!"
The iron sword clashed with the obsidian mace. The mana expelled from the blade deflected the blow with thunderous force, but the vibration coursed through Harry's arm. His body screamed in pain.
[Warning: Parry successful. Host suffers Impact Fatigue. Agility temporarily reduced by -5.]
The difficulty was real. He was surrounded, his agility diminished, and his mana low (21). He couldn't keep deflecting blows and draining energy.
"Enough! We'll finish this once and for all."
Harry channeled his last breath and remaining mana, ignoring the fatigue. The air crackled with electricity and heat.
"Fire Tornado! Full power!"
The vortex of raging flames erupted a second time, engulfing the center of the room. The four remaining Berserkers and the Hob Goblin were engulfed in the swirling inferno.
When the fire subsided, four Berserkers were reduced to ashes. The Hob Goblin, however, still stood, smoldering and charred, but alive, held up by the runic armor of its body.
[Threat neutralized: Berserker Goblin (x4). Reward: 80 SC.]
[Threat: Hob Goblin (Boss) — Critical Hit (5%).]
[CURRENT BALANCE: 187 SC.]
[CURRENT MANA: 0.]
Harry staggered. His mana was completely depleted, and fatigue washed over him. Only the dying beast and the treasure remained.
The Hob Goblin coughed up smoke, raising its charred mace for the final blow.
"I... kill you!"
Harry raised his iron sword, using only his Strength and pure will. It was time to end the story.
The Hob Goblin, seeing Harry kneeling, advanced slowly, dragging his mace. Victory was just a step away.
Harry stood up, using his last reserves of Strength. He didn't need magic. Only the will to refuse to be a victim and the edge of his iron sword.
The Hob Goblin let out a war cry, raising his obsidian mace for a blow that would cleave Harry in two.
Harry didn't use Swordsmanship to attack, but to control. His mind analyzed the blow: slow, heavy, predictable. Harry didn't try to stop it, but instead dodged to the side.
The mace crashed to the ground, pulverizing the stone. The Hob was thrown off balance.
Harry used that moment. He lunged under the Hob's arm, channeling his agony into a single attack.
"Quick Slash!"
The iron blade, previously strengthened by his mana, sliced through the Hob Goblin's exposed hamstring. The giant roared, collapsing to one knee.
Harry rose and, with his full weight, drove the sword through the gap in the Hob's helmet.
[Threat neutralized: Goblin Hob (Boss).]
The Boss's body convulsed and fell, releasing a final surge of energy that was immediately harvested.
[Enemy Energy Conversion complete. Reward: 25 SC.]
[EVENT MISSION COMPLETED: THE GOBLIN'S LABYRINTH!]
[Mission Reward: 500 SC.]
[CURRENT FINAL BALANCE: 197 + 25 + 500 = 722 SC.]
Harry withdrew his sword from the Chief's corpse, trembling with exhaustion. He collapsed onto a pile of coins, his face drenched in sweat and smoke.
"I... I did it."
[The system is currently scanning the Boss Room and converting treasures.]
[The host has acquired the Dungeon Treasure and the Goblin Loot.]
[BOSS ROOM TREASURE (PENDING EXCHANGE):]
[Ancient Gold Coins (x1,000) (High Purity, Estimated Total Weight: 5 kg)]
[Silver Coins (x500) (High Purity, Estimated Total Weight: 2 kg)]
[High Purity Gems (x12)]
[ESTIMATED ECONOMIC VALUE (1 G = £5 CONVERSION):]
[Gold Coins (x1,000): Magical Valuation (Gringotts): 60,000 Galleons (G).]
[Valuation in Pounds (Muggle Gold): Approximately £318,145 GBP
[Silver Coins (x500): Magical Valuation (Gringotts): 29 Galleons, 8 Sickles]
[Muggle Silver Valuation: High-purity silver is worth approximately £1,280 GBP]
[High-Purity Gems (x12): Estimated Gringotts Value: 3,600 Galleons (G) (300 G per gem)]
[ESTIMATED TOTAL FORTUNE IN COINS AND GEMS: 63,629 Galleons]
[Goblin Loot:]
[Bone Dagger (x2), Bone Bow (x1), Iron Sword (x3), Leather Armor (x2)]
[Magical Spell Scroll (x1) (Random - Rank) C/D)]
[Horn Talisman (x1) (Rank D Artifact).]
[Skill Books (x4) (Books of Magical Knowledge and Advanced Combat).]
[NOTE: The time limit for remaining in the Dungeon is 30 minutes. It is recommended that the Host leave the dimension to heal and assimilate the new SC.]
Harry closed his eyes, feeling like he was about to faint.
—Done. Let's go back.