Summoning the Ancestral Spirit

Unbeknownst to Vecna regarding Arthur's encounter with the Yatan Church this early, he expected the two parties to clash while inside the Orc's Camp, but something was certain, the one who sullied the honor and face of Gorruk Bloodmaw would be the loser. 

The tension was building as Vecna's anticipation grew. He knew that a direct clash between the Yatan Church and Arthur was inevitable, and he was eager to see the outcome.

Orcs are simple creatures, this is why you could be 'honest' with them, and you'll fool them. No need for extra nonsense akin to what the Yatan Church was doing, by corrupting various Orc Leaders along with their subordinates. 

Vecna knew that dealing with the Orcs required a straightforward approach. Their straightforward nature made them easy to understand and manipulate. There was no need for the complex schemes employed by the Yatan Church; honest intentions would be sufficient to win the favor of the Orcs.

With Rax's return, Vecna didn't linger around Summit's Crest for too long; he grabbed the small creature by the collar and vanished from Davian's Mansion grounds. 

The next stop? Obviously, their next target. The Mudfoot Clan. 

Vecna arrived at the periphery of the Mudfoot Goblin Tribe, his senses on high alert. As he stepped out of the dense vegetation, he surveyed the surroundings, noting every detail with a practiced eye. The moon's pale light filtered through the leaves of the surrounding trees, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor.

Vecna adorned his armor, ready for the raid on the Goblin Tribe. This combination of armor and boots served to enhance both his defensive capabilities and his mobility, creating an intimidating presence on the battlefield.

The armor consisted of various pieces, including the chestplate, pauldrons, vambraces, and greaves. Each segment was meticulously crafted to provide maximum protection while allowing for flexibility and mobility. The chestplate, in particular, covered Vecna's torso with a combination of articulated metal plates and chainmail, securing his vital organs from harm.

Going down, his Stalwart Boots, while outleveled by Vecna's rapid leveling, were doing their intended job. These boots were designed to be both sturdy and agile, enhancing Vecna's mobility without compromising on durability. 

The leather used in their construction was of the highest quality, reinforced with steel plating on the toes and heels for added protection.

At his side was Rax, the small and intelligent goblin who had grown accustomed to the human culture. Rax had traded his tattered garments for a set of human attire, tailored to fit his small frame. 

He wore a dark tunic and pants, practical for mobility. His transformation was so stark that one might mistake him for a human child, had it not been for his distinctive goblin features.

Vecna glanced at Rax, appreciating the goblin's adaptability and understanding of the human world. With a hint of approval, Vecna said, "You seem to be adjusting well, Rax. Those clothes suit you."

Vecna and Rax stood just beyond the periphery of the Mudfoot Goblin Tribe, the campfires in the distance casting an eerie glow in the night. As they prepared for their next move, 

Vecna's attention was firmly fixed on Rax, who had adapted to human attire and made himself inconspicuous among the goblins.

Rax, feeling a sense of pride at Vecna's approval, beamed with a grin. "I thought it would be essential for our mission, Master. It's easier to gather information this way."

"Not in particular. You wearing those clothes could tell a lot of simpletons, a good and bad message."

"In general, when you're infiltrating the enemy territory, you don't want to stand out. Wearing those clothes can also convey unintended messages."

Rax's expression turned quizzical, not quite sure what Vecna meant. "Unintended messages, Master?"

Vecna, knowing that explaining his intricate schemes to Rax might be a futile effort, decided to be more direct. "Wearing human clothes could suggest to the goblins that you're affiliated with the humans, which could be both good and bad."

The goblin nodded, taking in Vecna's advice. "I'll be more careful, Master."

Vecna waved off Rax's response, his focus unwavering. "Now, let's get back to what truly matters. You've told me everything you know about this Ruk Dirtmud, the Chieftain of the Mudfoot Tribe?"

Rax shifted his gaze towards the distant goblin encampment and nodded. "Yes, Master. Ruk Dirtmud is a fierce and cunning leader. He's known for using brutal tactics against rival tribes and for being a staunch traditionalist. He's fiercely protective of the tribe's territory and resources."

Vecna's eyes glinted with interest as he listened to Rax's description. "And his magical abilities? Is he proficient in any form of magic?"

Rax thought for a moment, recalling what he had learned during his time among the goblins. "Ruk Dirtmud isn't a magic user, but he's said to be a direct descendant of a goblin chieftain who made pacts with ancient spirits. He's inherited some of their blessings, making him physically stronger and more resilient than the average goblin."

Vecna nodded, processing this information. "That could be challenging, I heard the Elements of this World are extremely rare to contract," he remarked. "We'll need to be strategic in our approach. As for the tribe's defenses, what can you tell me?"

Rax's eyes flickered with confidence as he continued to share his knowledge. "The Mudfoot Tribe employs a network of crude traps and lookout points around their territory. 

They also have a number of well-trained goblin warriors who act as guards. Ruk Dirtmud has bolstered their ranks by uniting smaller goblin groups under his banner."

"However, compared to Fangor Brambleskinner, he is far weaker."

Hearing that, he couldn't help but cross his arms and stare into the distance where the campfires of the Goblins unaware of the encroaching monster.

With that, they continued deeper into the heart of the Mudfoot Goblin Tribe's territory, ready to initiate their plan to bring chaos to the Goblins of the Mudfoot Clan.

Vecna and Rax were now well within the territory of the Mudfoot Goblin Tribe, concealed by the dense vegetation and shadows of the night. The campfires and torches of the goblin patrols illuminated their surroundings, but the two interlopers remained unnoticed.

Vecna understood that this mission presented an opportunity to bolster Rax's image among the goblins as a Champion of their kind, with the goal of uniting the tribes under a single banner. He believed that participating in the combat, even if not initially planned, would serve this purpose well.

"You should also get involved in clearing out some of the patrols," Vecna advised Rax. "You will benefit from gaining battle experience. While your intellect can take you far, without the abilities to back up your intentions, it's all useless."

Rax, determined to prove himself, nodded eagerly. "I'll do my best, Master."

He then made a request, "Master, can you give me the Horn? I'm without a decent weapon."

Vecna handed over the Horn of an Archdemon with a warning. "Take it, but you better not lose it. It belongs to an acquaintance of mine."

Rax examined the Horn, feeling its formidable aura. He couldn't help but ask, "Who exactly owns this horn? It feels incredibly powerful."

Vecna responded with a sardonic smile, his voice filled with sarcasm, "An Archdemon."

Rax's eyes widened in shock and horror, and he clutched the Horn more tightly. "An Archdemon? You jest, right?"

Vecna merely chuckled at Rax's reaction. "I'm not joking. Just remember to use it well, but don't let its power consume you."

With that, Vecna and Rax parted ways, disappearing into the goblin-infested night.

[You're about to enter the Dungeon 'Mudfoot Goblin Tribe'. Proceed further at your own risk!]

  The camp was bustling with activity as the goblin patrols went about their business, unaware that two predators had infiltrated their midst.

As Vecna's shadowy figure moved through the darkness, he silently approached the first goblin patrol. With a swift, precise strike, he eliminated the first sentry without a sound, the goblin's body falling lifelessly to the ground. 

The Horn of the Archdemon, now in Rax's possession, unleashed its deadly power, as the goblin sentries began to fall one by one.

The Mudfoot Tribe's guards were in for a long and treacherous night, as Vecna and Rax systematically dismantled their patrols, each step taking them closer to their ultimate target: Ruk Dirtmud, the Chieftain of the Mudfoot Tribe.

As Vecna and Rax relentlessly continued their assault on the Mudfoot Tribe's patrols, the tranquil night began to shatter, and an eerie sense of impending doom descended upon the goblin camp.

The Goblins of the Mudfoot Clan, initially oblivious to the imminent threat, were thrust into a nightmarish ordeal they could never have foreseen. Their peaceful evening had given way to chaos, and the sounds of combat and death echoed through their camp.

Each clash with Vecna and Rax felt like a never-ending nightmare to the goblins. Their lives would be claimed faster than what the flicker of a weak fire would survive. Vecna employed the same strategy that had worked against the Brambleskinner Tribe, making his life easier in facing larger numbers of foes.

Compared to his first Raid on a whole Goblin Tribe, with his level 115 he progressed faster on the carcasses of goblins that laid in front of his predatory crimson eyes. Now, those goblins turned out to be just fodder to the slaughter house.

Even the EXP gain Vecna usually enjoyed when going to high-level grounds diminished, but his efforts weren't left unrewarded. There was loot and silver coins dropping from the pockets of the Goblins, accompanied by that tiny EXP gain.

It took Vecna about 30 minutes to clear the whole Mudfoot Goblin Tribe of it's Warriors and Patrols, but that was also thanks to Rax who started to get the taste of blood in the air. 

For the weak and cowardly goblin who Scouted the Humans, risking death each time he would venture out, he was now using the Camio's Demonic Horn as a dagger. His grip over the Horn was natural, unlike the weapons Vecna had at his disposal. 

Rax once he saw the flames over the Tribe spread around, he slowly blended in the shadows waiting for the opportune time to make his 'Heroic' Entrance, and reclaiming the Mudfoot Tribe for himself.

His current behavior and actions would make Grimbark from another world proud. Yet what Rak and even Vecna didn't perceive was that an ghostly elder was flying not far from Rax, as if to observe each of his actions.

The elder's ghostly features would shift around, sometimes he would frown, while at other occasions he would nod approvingly. 

Meanwhile, on Vecna's front, the flickering flames cast grotesque, dancing shadows upon the scene as Vecna approached the defenders of Ruk Dirtmud's house. 

The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning wood, and the Goblins who dared to stand their ground were bathed in the eerie, red glow of the inferno. As he moved through the chaos, Vecna dispatched the last of the defenders with a swift, brutal efficiency.

[You have defeated 'Goblin Warrior, Grak' gaining the following rewards]

[You have received 25,860 EXP]

[56 Silvers received]

[Goblin Ear acquired (x2)]

.

[You have leveled up!]

[You have reached level 116.]

He wasn't able to 'celebrate' his level-up since he was surrounded by Goblin Warriors.

One Goblin warrior, though gravely wounded and lying in a pool of his own blood, managed to summon the strength to challenge the looming monster. He wheezed defiantly, "You will not succeed in destroying us Goblins, you monster! We Goblins will live on."

Vecna's response was chilling, his tone devoid of empathy. With a voice as cold as the night itself, he spoke to the Goblin warrior on the brink of death, his words searing with unyielding determination.

"You're nothing but a fading memory. The amount of resistance you can put on, is only this much, it's only your fault that you'll be swallowed by the darkness."

The Goblin's life force waned with every breath, but his spirit remained unbroken. He spat a mouthful of blood towards Vecna, a final act of defiance before his eyes dimmed, and his last breath left him.

"In the end, this has turned familiar to my times when I was hunting those low-leveled Goblins. Nothing has changed. Your attack patterns are predictable that I can fight with my eyes closed, while your intellect isn't so bright."

As Vecna pressed forward, the cacophony of chaos and destruction reached a fevered pitch, a symphony of despair and anguish.

  The fiery backdrop painted an eerie scene as Vecna's relentless advance toward Ruk Dirtmud's house promised an imminent, blood-soaked confrontation between the insatiable Vampire and the resolute Goblin Chieftain.

'Should I employ 'Blood World' from the get-go? Or try to farm some stat points from fighting those idiots?'

Ruk Dirtmud's entrance was nothing short of spectacular. As Vecna approached the entrance of the Chieftain's Hut, he could sense a formidable presence drawing near. The ground trembled beneath the weight of Ruk's determined approach, and the air crackled with anticipation.

"Your time has come, damned outsider. It's your time to meet your doom!"

In a blaze of fury, the Goblin Chieftain lunged at Vecna, his Iron Spiked Mace poised to strike with deadly accuracy. 

The weapon gleamed malevolently in the fiery light, a stark contrast to the cold, determined expression etched upon Ruk's face. This was a battle he had been born to fight, a battle for the survival of his tribe.

'Wew, someones itching for a fight.'

'Blood Shield'

Vecna's reaction was swift and precise. He knew he couldn't afford to underestimate Ruk's strength. With a fluid motion, he summoned his 'Blood Shield,' a protective barrier of crimson energy that crackled with power. It materialized just in time to meet the impending strike.

[You have suffered 18,325 damage]

['Blood Shield' has absorbed the damage (18,325/40,000)] 

The collision between the Iron Spiked Mace and the 'Blood Shield' was a sight to behold. Sparks flew, and a shockwave of energy rippled through the immediate vicinity. The shield, wrought from Vecna's vampiric powers, absorbed the brunt of Ruk's tremendous blow, preventing immediate harm to the Vampire Monster.

Despite the protection offered by the 'Blood Shield,' Vecna was not immune to the sheer force of Ruk's assault. He was pushed back by several steps, his feet leaving gouges in the ground as he fought to maintain his footing. The strength of the Goblin Chieftain was indeed formidable.

Vecna, regaining his footing, couldn't help but acknowledge the Goblin Chieftain's physical prowess. With a hint of genuine surprise in his voice, he spoke to Ruk, "This was unexpected. Seems the words that you're a physical specimen were true."

As the dust settled, Vecna and Ruk stood a short distance apart, the fiery backdrop casting an eerie glow upon their battle-ready forms. 

[Ruk Dirtmud - LV. 145] (Boss) [206,500/206,500 HP]

The confrontation had only just begun, and both combatants were fully aware that this was a battle where the stakes were nothing less than the survival of an entire tribe.

Ruk Dirtmud, his chest heaving from the force of his attack, met Vecna's gaze with determination. "You think it was unexpected. Far from it. The reason I didn't take you on from the start was because my strategy centered on weakening you."

Vecna's response was as cold as ever, devoid of empathy. "It's that so? Then. You failed terribly."

"We shall see about that," Ruk responded with unwavering determination.

As the confrontation unfolded, the eerie glow of the burning backdrop cast long, dancing shadows across the battleground. 

The night was filled with the eerie music of clashing steel, a testament to the intensity of the duel taking place. The Goblin still alive around Vecna's vicinity, once full of defiance, now watched in stunned silence as their chieftain battled a foe who seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.

[Ding!]

[User has leveled up his Sword Mastery. Congratulations, you have transitioned from Intermediate Sword Mastery LV.9 → Advanced Sword Mastery LV.1]

'Sure, sure, it was about time I got the Sword Mastery to LV.1, otherwise I wouldn't be able to ask Maribel to forge me a longsword using the various drops from Camio.'

Vecna's thoughts brushed aside the significance of the transition with nonchalance, hidden behind his unwavering determination to face the Goblin chieftain.

The impact of Vecna's achievement was not lost on Ruk Dirtmud. Ruk had faced numerous adversaries in the past, but Vecna's evolving swordsmanship posed a unique challenge. Each of Vecna's strikes carried an almost supernatural precision, making it increasingly arduous for Ruk to discern openings and opportunities for a counterattack.

Vecna, now armed with his advanced skills, managed to predict Ruk's attacks with ease. He parried effortlessly, launching devastating counterattacks that pushed the Goblin chieftain's defenses to their limits. The battlefield became an arena of relentless swordplay, where the very existence of the Mudfoot Clan dangled precariously in the balance.

The Goblins of Mudfoot, once steadfast in their belief of their chieftain's invincibility, exchanged worried glances. The tide of the battle had taken an unexpected turn, and the realization began to sink in that their chieftain alone might not suffice to shield them from the impending threat of the Vampire Monster.

Seeing that his odds of victory had dwindled to almost nothing, Ruk reached for a Goblin Amulet, chanting hurriedly before shattering it against the ground. The Amulet held a unique power, one that could beckon forth the spirit of an ancestral Goblinoid named Tusor.

With the shattering of the amulet, the spirit of Tusor manifested before Ruk. Tusor's presence filled Ruk with renewed determination and courage to overcome the Vampire who had so thoroughly outclassed him in physical combat.

"Oh, Great Ancestor," Ruk implored, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and resolve. "Please, grant me your strength to defeat this menace to the Goblin People. It is only with your guidance that I, your descendant Ruk Dirtmud, can hope to carry out your will and protect our clan." 

The ancestral spirit, who appeared before Ruk Dirtmud and Vecna, was none other than the goblinoid spirit called 'Tusor the Wise' who turned around to stare at the Goblin Chieftain, before shifting his attention to Vecna.

"It seems we are destined to meet once again. Lord of Blood, Vecna.'

Vecna's expression remained as cool and indifferent as ever. He eyed the goblinoid spirit with suspicion. "Mhm, I'm not so keen on meeting you, old goblin. Are you by chance connected with all the goblin tribes from Travian Sierra?"