CHAPTER 1: Encounter

Anyways, weird things like that happen pretty often nowadays. Just last week, I watched a guy disappear out of thin air. He came back a week later as if nothing happened.

When I asked, he said he was 'just busy running errands' or something.

I headed straight for the Adventurer's Guild to scope out any new missions for today. The good ones are usually gone by noon, so I always make sure to wake up bright and early to get the best catch. The early bird catches the worm, of course.

I stepped inside and [Sabrina], the Guild Secretary greeted me as always.

"I see your back again," she smiled at me.

"Of course I am! What kind of man would I be if I wasn't out on the field protecting the village!" I quickly replied.

"Oh right, have you heard the news? The king is assembling an attack force to subdue the Demon King's Army. They say the reward is quite high."

"Hmm… I might have to check it out then. A chance to finally show off my adventuring skills has finally come!"

Ever since the Demon King and his forces attacked the neighbouring Kingdom, that's all anyone's talking about nowadays. Though, they still find time to continue their jobs as if nothing's happening.

More than a hundred adventurers had already lost their lives and almost five hundred have retired or fled the battlefield with their lives still intact.

I snooped around and found a poster for a [goblin] extermination quest. I ripped it off the wall and headed out.

Luckily, it wasn't too far. Just on the outskirts of the town.

I could already hear their screeching as I approached. They seemed to be preying on the carcass of a wild boar.

Before they could notice me, I unsheathed my dagger and lunged at one of the goblins.

I quickly slashed at its neck as it bled out and fell to the ground.

Two other goblins looked up from their meal and ran toward me. Another stayed behind and began throwing rocks.

I kicked one of them back, watching it slam into a nearby tree. I raised my dagger and swung down, stabbing the other in the head.

At that moment, I was hit with a pebble in the eye, temporarily impairing my vision. This gave the goblin just enough time to jump at me and tackle me to the ground.

It began clawing at my face as I threw my arms up to block the attack. I waited for the goblin's attack to slow.

As the moment struck, I freed my arms and headbutted the goblin, causing it to fly upwards.

Before it could get too far, I grabbed it by the leg and slammed it against the ground.

I watched all four goblins disintegrate into ash as I picked up the shards that they dropped.

As I headed back to the Guild, I heard a scream.

"Was it a monster? A human?"

"It sounded like a woman screaming."

Quickly, I rushed towards the source of the noise.

It came from a cavern, hidden underneath a hill.

Carefully, I climbed inside as the screaming grew louder.

There were various skeletons and corpses along the ground.

They were adventurers who had come here before me.

I saw a light coming from the end of the tunnel as I ran inside.

What I saw was not a woman asking for help, but a horde of goblins whose numbers easily exceeded a hundred.

The voice came from a [goblin shaman] who was imitating a human voice with magic.

As I turned to flee, a pair of [goblin warriors] drew their axes and blocked the exit.

Sitting at the back of the room, on a throne of bones, was their leader. A [goblin king]

"I was confident in my abilities, but against an entire [goblin army]? Even I wasn't that strong yet."

A few of the goblins began inching towards me as I pulled my dagger out once again.

I swung and quickly took 3 of them out. Without rest, more came towards me.

I kicked, punched, sliced and stabbed, but it just wouldn't end.

One of the goblin warriors grabbed me by the neck as I struggled and slammed me against the ground.

I heard a crack.

"Was it my leg? I think a few ribs broke as well."

I struggled to get back up, but the pain was too intense.

The same goblin warrior bent down to stare me in the eyes.

In that moment, I struck with whatever I had left and gouged its eye out.

The goblin warrior let out a low shriek of pain and roared.

It held its eye with one hand and lifted its fist with the other.

The last thing I remember was its green fist inches away from my face.