Gathering Points [6]

Boss monster.

A title given to monsters way stronger than their peers.

One could call a boss monster the leader of a certain group of monsters or the 'last obstacle.'

Regardless of the situation one meets them, one thing is for sure: boss monsters are powerful.

Killing them yields even greater rewards.

In the tower, a saying that couldn't be any truer is 'the risk taken is proportional to the reward given.'

Fighting boss monsters is dangerous depending on one's strength, but they offer bountiful rewards, creating a love-hate relationship toward them in the tower.

If you're lucky, neither you nor your teammates will die, and you'll end up with bountiful rewards. If you're unlucky, managing to see the next day is a blessing.

'So there really is a boss monster.'

Even in the novel, Lionel encountered the kobolds' monster camp, but due to his limited strength, he didn't engage with them.

In the first level of the tutorial, there was no mention of a boss monster appearing.

Even in later chapters, when things like the purple pond were revealed, there was no mention of this either.

Well, aside from Lionel and me, along with 'her', even for the other main characters here, encountering a boss would likely result in death.

Thinking about it, it's no surprise why the appearance of a boss monster wasn't mentioned in the first level of the tutorial.

'Thankfully, I anticipated it.'

The me who initially planned to remain low-key wouldn't have considered this, as my plan wouldn't have involved venturing deep into the forest. But after my mindset changed, so did my considerations.

I glanced at the big fireball making its way towards Lionel.

Though it seemed small in mass, its appearance suggested it carried a heavy destructive power.

I knew it did.

If this had been directed at most of the people I woke up with in that cave, this fireball would have been the end of them.

Not because they were not strong enough. To cause this much chaos in the goblin camp to warrant the mini boss's attention, one had to have a certain level of strength.

It would be the end of them because most wouldn't be able to react.

Why?

Magic.

Though many strange things had happened since our arrival, the appearance of a fireball emerging out of mid-air was like the revelation of possible magic in this world.

The floor master's appearance in the beginning was the initial doubt, but this one was enough to clear it.

There was magic in this world.

Real magic. Just like the ones stated in fiction.

I knew this and expected it.

But.

My case was different from the others, after all.

I had knowledge of this beforehand.

However, it was the first time for Lionel seeing a fireball.

He was flustered.

Especially when it was directed at him.

However.

Lionel wasn't the main character of this world for nothing.

Quickly, he recollected himself and distanced himself immediately from the goblins surrounding him.

His speed was fast. Very fast.

In the eyes of an ordinary person, Lionel's movements would probably look like a blur to them.

Even to me, Lionel was still very fast.

Boom!

The fireball landed on the spot where Lionel had been located before and exploded.

The goblins in that vicinity were affected by the fireball. The closest ones had their bodies on fire, while the ones a little further away were also affected but not as severely.

Had Lionel been a little slower, that fireball would have taken a good chunk of health from him.

However, Lionel's situation was his to worry about. I had mine.

As I watched the two unique-looking Goblins rushing in my direction, while the other goblins wanted nothing but to hack me to death with their sticks, I added strength to my legs and jumped backwards to create distance.

After landing, I got into a charging stance with my now worn-out shield positioned in front of me.

"Ahh!"

With a loud roar, I charged forward in the direction of the unique-looking Goblins.

Bam!

"Sdikck!"

Bam!

"Hiek!"

Bam!

"Keiek!"

I ignored the screams of the goblins that came in contact with my shield, sending them flying in different directions with crushed limbs.

The green blood on me continued to increase, and I could feel my disgust rising, but I had no time to feel nauseous.

It wasn't until I got closer to the two unique-looking goblins that I tilted my shield to hit them both.

Unlike the other goblins that immediately turned into a bloody mess when hit, these two seemed to be a little bit more resistant to taking a beating.

But just a little.

The two unique goblins flew backwards a bit, and I could hear a few of their bones breaking in mid-air after getting hit.

Without hesitation, I rushed towards them while ignoring the other goblins on my tail.

As I reached the closest of the two goblins, I raised the shield in my hands.

As I brought it down mercilessly towards the goblin's head, I caught a glimpse of its name.

[Goblin Warrior]

'A goblin variant?'

'No wonder it was different from the rest of the race.'

Bam!

The skull of the first goblin got crushed into a bloody green mess under my full strength.

"Ugh."

I felt my sore arms numb under the impact.

But it wasn't over yet.

Dragging my body to the second goblin warrior that was further away from the first one, I did to it what I did to its comrade.

Bam!