Goblin's Lair

[Creature: Goblin Centurion

Wow!! Hero-sama, you've encountered a fully-grown Goblin Centurion!

This towering brute commands hundreds of Hobgoblins and, with a single blow, could crush most Heroes into nothing but bacon strips! If you value your life, the system suggests one clear course of action: Run.

Recommended level for solo fighters? Lv20.

For a squad? Lv10.

If you're not there yet, turn back now or be torn apart!

[E-level Tale: Goblin's Lair

Mission Objective: Defeat the Goblin Centurion.

Recommended number of people: 4+

Recommended Level: Lv10]

The Heroes felt their pupils shrink as this dire information appeared before their eyes.

Boom!!

Another ground-shaking thud jolted them back to the brutal reality.

"Run—!!!" shouted their squad leader.

Without a second thought, the Heroes turned tail, sprinting toward their rendezvous point and dispatching any Goblins foolish enough to get in their way. They didn't need to be told twice—this was no foe they could handle!

A Goblin Centurion wasn't just a monster; at a towering 3.5 meters tall, it became exponentially stronger under the Shaman's blessing, gaining monstrous stats of Strength 35, Agility 15, Endurance 15, and Durability 15. In a head-to-head fight, even their full squad stood no chance.

Boom!!!

The towering figure leapt, landing with a massive crash as Gothry spotted the retreating Heroes.

"Fleeing rats! Don't think you can escape! (Goblin language)" he bellowed, his voice a thunderous roar that sent waves of terror through every Goblin around.

The Heroes, shaken to their core, struggled against the primal fear gripping their hearts. Then—

Boom—!!!

Gothry's massive frame struck the earth with enough force to rattle their very bones. Without a second's pause, he seized a Hobgoblin's hefty wooden club, hurtling it at a fleeing Hero like a missile.

Bang!!

The club hurtled through the air, smashing into a Hero's back with an explosive force. The Hero was sent flying, his body crumpling against the trees before he could even look back—dead on impact.

The other Heroes barely glanced at their fallen comrade, teeth gritted in desperation. They knew that hesitating meant death.

"Let me hold them back!" yelled one Hero, stopping abruptly and facing the Goblins.

"Foolish! (Goblin language)" Gothry sneered, hurling another club at him with a resounding—

Boom!!

The club shot forward like a cannonball, ready to smash the defiant Hero to pieces. But just as it hit—

Bang!!

The club shattered into splinters as it connected with the Hero, who was sent flying back but landed against a sturdy tree. Slowly, he got to his feet, his body gleaming as if clad in iron. Brushing himself off, he fixed Gothry with a smug look.

"That all you've got?"

He was called the Steel Hero, a name well-earned. So terrified of pain that he'd funneled every attribute point into Durability—over 50, in fact. Moments ago, in the fray, he'd reached level 7, gaining six more points, which he promptly invested in Agility and Endurance. But despite his best efforts, running wasn't an option; his speed still lagged behind. 

If escape was impossible, then he would stand and fight.

"Hahaha—!!" Gothry's booming laughter shook the trees. "Intriguing! I never imagined I'd find such a resilient creature among humans! Normally, one hit would tear through a whole line of Hobgoblins!"

Steel Hero clenched his fists, sending a cascade of sparks flying as metal scraped against metal. "Come on then, Goblins! I am Steel Hero!"

...

Just moments earlier, Miruku, scouting from a high perch, had heard the strange crash. Peering through the branches, she spotted Gothry as he hurtled through the air. An ominous bestiary entry appeared in her view, detailing the monster's immense stats: Strength 30, Agility 10, and Endurance and Durability each at 10.

For Miruku, Ariana, and Layton, this was valuable intel. But Anyi, well-versed in the Goblin Centurion's information, required no such reminder. Tale's system only upgraded mission based on proximity; for now, the mission remained E-level. Once the other two Goblin Centurions were discovered, the challenge would escalate to D-level.

[Thron Hero: A Goblin Centurion is mobilizing, heading towards the middle squad.

Sword Hero: Understood. Keep observing.]

Layton held Rose's reins still, glancing over at Ariana, whose worried expression betrayed her fear.

"Anyi… With Goblin Centurion's stats, the others might not…"

"They might," he replied softly, "if they retreat quickly enough. But Goblin Centurion isn't defined by stats alone." He frowned, aware of the brutal truth—no numbers could account for the creature's sheer physical prowess, especially when bolstered by [Encourage], raising its attributes by five points each.

Layton's 28 points in Strength would never grant him the monstrous leaps of a Goblin Centurion. This was a reality few Heroes grasped, and Anyi knew it was a lesson many would learn painfully.

Suddenly, a new quest prompt flashed before the four Heroes:

[D-level Tale: Goblin's Lair

Mission Objective: Kill Goblin Centurions (0/3)

Recommended number of people: 4+

Recommended level: Lv20]

[Thorn Hero: The second Goblin Centurion is on the move, closing in on the left squad.

Shield Hero: So there's only one left to track?

Thorn Hero: Yes. I'll head toward their last known position and locate it. May I, Anyi?

Sword Hero: Go. Be careful.]

Without another word, Miruku vanished into the shadows, heading toward the source of the Goblin Centurions. Their mission was clear: bring down the monstrous Goblin Centurion.