SUCCESS 8

I'm controlling my clone using a videogame controller, that was made possible using my Arcane Magic...from my Magic Soul Cores, NOT from the androids' 5th Circle equivalent mana battery.

The hobgoblin henchman, that is my clone, is actually still alive, hence I was able to control it and its able to replicate 55% of my physical prowess through the Clone Copy Spell.

Not only that I buffed it to hell with: Haste, Mana and HP Regen, PHY UP, DEF UP, etc. so that it will be able to compensate its missing 45% optimum capacity.

Because the Hobgoblin King is still alive and kicking, it respawns its minions as well...which gives the 5 idiots a much harder time to survive.

Once the idiots are dead...I shall reap the last kill/hit on the dungeon boss, and who knows if I take the Hobgoblin Kings' Crown back to the guild....maybe I will advance to Steel Rank much quicker than expected.

*GROWL

"Fuck. I'm getting hungry, must because I casted a lot of spells in consecutive turns....Summon Spell: Android Golems. That's right serve me my pets..."

"Hey, what the fuck is going on over there!?"

"What do you----shit!"

"Golems! They're not gonna help out with attacking right!?"

"No they are setting up....a barbecue pit and lounge chairs!?"

"The---they are grilling meats!"

"Fucking son of a bitch!"

Deth Jones reclined on a lavish lounge chair. His figure shrouded by an invisibility spell, he savored the comfort and luxury surrounding him. Two golem humanoids, their stone forms polished to a gleaming sheen, fanned him with gentle gusts of wind, providing respite from the sweltering heat.

The scent of sizzling meat filled the air as other golems set up a barbecue nearby. Flames danced beneath the grill, casting an ethereal glow upon the scene. The golems, efficient and obedient, cooked and served delicacies fit for a king.

Amidst the opulent tranquility, Deth's gaze fixated on a distance. From his vantage point, he observed the unfolding battle between Brad, Felicia, and the three other traitors against the Hobgoblin King—his pawn, manipulated and brainwashed to enact vengeance upon those who had betrayed Deth.

Brad, Felicia, and their cohorts fought valiantly, their weapons clashing against the monstrous strength of the Hobgoblin King. Each strike, each parry, echoed through the battlefield. The traitors had honed their skills, driven by the desperation to prove their worth and redemption. Yet, they remained unaware that their fate had been sealed, their lives dangling precariously in the puppeteer's hands.

With a mischievous smile, Deth reveled in the unfolding chaos. He relished the sight of the Hobgoblin King's ruthless blows, fueled by the very anger and vengeance that had consumed Deth's heart. The traitors had become mere pawns in a game of manipulation, puppets dancing upon the strings of their dark master.

As the battle reached its crescendo, Deth's amusement heightened. The Hobgoblin King's ferocity grew with every passing moment, his strikes becoming swift and lethal. He fought with a singular focus, fueled by the rage and betrayal inflicted upon his puppeteer.

Brad, once a fierce warrior, fought valiantly against the overwhelming might of the Hobgoblin King. His strikes were precise and calculated, each blow aimed to find a weakness in his monstrous opponent. But the King's fury knew no bounds, his strength unmatched.

Felicia, her agility a testament to her training, darted around the battlefield with grace and speed. She struck with a flurry of blows, attempting to disrupt the King's rhythm. However, her efforts were in vain, as the brainwashed monarch deflected each attack with brute force.

The three other cohorts, their skills diverse and their wills unyielding, fought alongside Brad and Felicia. Their combined efforts formed a temporary alliance in the face of imminent danger. But against the might of the Hobgoblin King, their resistance was futile.

From his position of comfort, Deth reveled in the spectacle. The traitors had dared to challenge him, to question his authority and loyalty. Now, they would pay the ultimate price for their transgressions.

As the battle wore on, fatigue and desperation began to weigh upon the traitors. Their movements became sluggish, their defenses weakened. The Hobgoblin King, driven by the darkness instilled within him, capitalized on their vulnerability. His strikes were swift and precise, striking with deadly accuracy.

One by one, the traitors fell under the relentless assault. Brad, the embodiment of strength, succumbed to the King's overpowering blows. Felicia, the agile and resilient, found herself overwhelmed by the sheer force of the onslaught. The three cohorts, their hopes for redemption crushed, met their demise at the hands of the very puppet Deth has created.

The three were turned into a bloody pulp before the Hobgoblin King turned to the only two people left alive.

From his lounge chair, Deth Jones watched with a sense of dark satisfaction.

His former companions now lay broken and defeated. Their betrayal had been met with a swift and merciless end.

As the battle drew to a close, the Hobgoblin King, his rage still raging, stood amidst the wreckage of his fallen foes. The crown atop his head, a symbol of both power and manipulation, gleamed with an eerie luminescence.

But it didn't stop there.

It rushed towards the two and delivered consecutive killing blows, first to Felicia, who tried to crawl away with all her might, but has her head caved in from behind with a warhammer.

Brad's death was much more terrible, he was torn apart in two, the Hobgoblin King used its full strength to rip him apart over his head and bathed in Brad's blood in triumph.

Deth, his invisible form rising from the lounge chair, stepped forward. The golem humanoids ceased their fanning and turned their attention to their master. In silence, Deth approached the Hobgoblin King, the very embodiment of darkness and control.

With a wave of his hand, the invisible spell dissipated, revealing Deth's visage. His expression held a mix of triumph and malice as he regarded the fallen traitors. The Hobgoblin King, his mind no longer clouded by brainwashing, turned to Deth with a semblance of clarity.

"Now, my loyal puppet, your purpose has been served," Deth whispered, his voice laden with satisfaction. "You have proven your allegiance and the price they paid for their betrayal. Rest now, for your duty is fulfilled."

Deth Jones delivered a Mana Laser straight into its forehead and exiting at the back of the head, only then did the Hobgoblin King sank to his knees, his eyes filled with a mix of resignation, relief, anger and finally peace....as it slowly entered the embrace of death.

Deth turned away, leaving the fallen traitors and the King behind---but not without taking along the crown, the important item for Iron Ranked Adventurers to level their rank to Steel. The golem humanoids resumed their fanning, the scent of barbecued meat permeating the air once more.

In the wake of their destruction, Deth Jones, the dark puppeteer, reveled in his triumph. His power and control remained unchallenged, while the remnants of those who dared to oppose him lay broken and forgotten under might....and feet.

Deth was humming as he was listening to "oldies music", using his brand new smartphone and bluetooth ear pods. His face was clear as if nothing terrible has happened as he hunt down his quest items for the guild.

In fact, he looks so much fresher and relaxed compared than before.

After showing his temporary Adventurer Guild ID at the fortress gate, he headed straight for the guild to deliver the good news and report about the "incident" in a dungeon cave he found.

The guards was astounded as Deth drove off...

"Did you see that? Wasn't that the corpse of the Hobgoblin King!?"

"Holy fuck you're right! But isn't that guy just applied to become an Adventurer?"

"Maybe someone hunted it and he found the corpse and looted it."

"Right, right...its impossible for newbie and an UNranked newbie at that to hunt a Hobgoblin King on a solo run."

"Report it to the Head Guildmaster, just in case."

"All right."

Galvanizer Thomas, the big ebony skinned Adventurer Guild Head Guildmaster here at Frontier City branch, was listening intently as Deth Jones recounted the things he found when he explored a dungeon cave.

"So let me get this straight, you were out hunting for guild quest items and found a dungeon cave and decided to "explore" it out of curiosity, its that what your saying?"

*SIPPING COFFEE

"Yes."

"You found a couple of severed limbs and lots of blood scattered everywhere, a dead Hobgoblin King and his minions, hence you took its body, and the crown as well?"

"Yes."

*BZZT BZZZT

"Hold on, this is probably the team I dispatched to corroborate you story...what have you got for me? Let me just put it on speaker..."

<Were...right here boss! We found the dungeon cave....and there are lots of blood and limbs scattered all around. I think it was a massacre...let me turn on the video call so you can see it for yourself....>

The secretary of the Guildmaster, setup the phone and transferred the display towards the giant crystal screen monitor on the wall. It shows the cave, a couple of torn limbs and body parts, lots of blood and the equipment of the Adventurers....or what's left of them.

"Why didn't you take the equipment?"

"My motorcycle was barely able to handle the corpse of the Hobgoblin King, taking anymore and I suffer the chance of a breakdown in the middle of nowhere. Plus it wouldn't be right to loot from the dead."

Although I said that, it would be overly sus for me, if I took those items, I'm sure that this asshat guildmaster will flag me, blacklist or worst....not make me into an official Adventurer.

One thing experience taught me, is that people are antsy about the dead and taking the items of those said dead people, will leave a bad impression....I don't need that at the start of my second life, its better to be cautious and cautious and....cautious.

"Oh? I guess some people do have a sense of civility, even though this world is harsh and unforgiving at times."

"Maxi, give him the Steel Rank and new license, let me congratulate you Deth Jones, as the new Adventurer among all Adventurer ranks. I do hope that you don't forget your values and ethics, even though money is the one thing that Adventurers strive for."

"Thanks Guildmaster. Don't worry, I may love money but there are lines that I don't want to cross."

"Hear! Hear!! Now follow Maxi so you can get your picture taken and have your mana imprint registered as well, this is to make sure you're not a criminal or anything."

"But of course. Lead the way Ms. Maxi..."

Its a good thing I have three types of energy: Aura, Mana from the mana battery and Mana from my Magic Soul Cores. All I need to do, is register my mana battery and all's well that ends well.

So far....everything went according to plan...