Chapter 13

As the monster ran towards them, Lily was soon able to see its appearance. It was 3 and a half feet tall (107 cm) and had elongated slim arms that reached under its knees making its appearance very unproportional. Its head had pointed muzzle and large ears with sharp ends.

Its eyes were large and bulging out of its head and is only held by its thick eye lids. Behind its head was a black long hair that reached its back. Its green body wore mild clothing such a loin that covered its crotch.

"Krieee!!!"

It cried as it ran towards them with a knife on its three fingered hands.

While Lily analyzed the monster, She heard Jhin speak.

"Lily, your greatest advantage is the range of your spear. Make use of that and don't let your attacks be limited with what you know."

Lily nodded seriously before raising her spear and assuming a stance. She then threw the fireball towards the running goblin.

The goblin, with its limited intelligence, didn't bother dodging the fireball as it tried to cut through it with the knife in its hand.

Boom!

-46

"KRIEEE!!!"

The goblin cried in pain as the fireball successfully landed on it. Jhin was now also able to view health bar of the monster.

[ Goblin Lv. 4 

HP: 164/210

Status: Angry ]

'This wouldn't pose as a challenge to the current Lily.' Jhin didn't worry since he already trained Lily to fight both small and large target enemies.

Jhin had decided to earnestly take care of the little npc girl and is sparing no effort in raising her to become powerful. He patiently taught her the basics and was now supervising her as she gained actual combat experience.

He knew that raising Lily would bring him many advantages especially when she was a resident of the world of Ascended Order. Not only that, but with his experience of over 1000 years, he could tell that Lily had the potential to become his greatest student.

Though he still didn't understand her purpose in following him, it didn't matter to him anymore as he judged that teaching her earnestly would be a bountiful investment for him.

Turning his attention to the fight, he saw Lily's body swiftly move around the darkness. She instantly narrowed her distance with the goblin who was still taken back by the injury it sustained from the fireball.

Lily thrust her spear towards the goblin's head but the monster noticed her and managed to narrowly dodge the point of the spear. The goblin however, couldn't dodge it completely as the blade grazed its cheek.

Lily, mildly taken back by the goblins' ability to dodge, swung the point of her spear to slice the goblin's unprotected neck.

Critical strike!

-130

"krieeeek!"

The creature cried but its neck was cut cleanly so blood flowed through its throat, clogging its voice box causing it to make gurgling sounds before collapsing on the ground.

While some might find this scene disturbing, it is precisely these kinds of life-like details is what the game very immersive.

Of course, for there is also an option to turn off the disturbing graphics and it is automatically turned off for players below 18 as a mental health protocol.

[ Goblin Lv. 4

HP: 8/210

Status: Bleeding ]

Going back to the current situation, The Goblin was now inflicted with the "Bleeding" ailment. This was one of the reasons why hitting the vital parts were important in this game as it allows you to deal large amounts of damage which is also known as [Critical Strike].

Not only that, but depending on the vital parts you attacked, you can cause lasting effects such as [Bleeding], [Poisoned], [Stunned], Etc.

[You have defeated [Goblin] Lv. 4, you have gained 13 experience points.]

Because her level was higher than the monster, the exp she gained was lowered.

Just as there is additional exp gain if one were to kill a monster above their level, it is the opposite when killing monsters below their level.

How much was it lowered you ask? By an entire 70%.

If the player was 1 level above the monster, they will get 70% less exp and if the player was 3 levels above then they would earn 90% less experience points.

And if they were five levels above, no experience points can be gained.

That was how brutal the experience gaining mechanics in this game. Which was why many players are struggling to level up, including those guild associated players who are monopolizing the outskirts of the Beginner Village.

"Phew..." Lily breathed a sigh of relief after confirming its death before approaching the goblin's body.

She was glad that fighting it was easier than she thought.

Which was understandable considering the vast difference between their levels, stats, and equipment.

As Lily looted the dead goblin, she was able to find one junk materials and two iron coins.

Looking behind her expectantly, Jhin only ruffled her head and said, "Let's go."

Lily nodded, feeling more confident now that she took one monster down by herself.

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Jhin had a look of content as he watched the light-armoured little girl take on twenty or more goblins at once with her spear.

She swung her spear horizontally, carrying a large amount of her strength which resulted in the mob of goblins being sliced in half while those that got hit by the pole were launched away.

"Krieeeek-!!!"

"Eeiiiik!!!"

The goblins became frenzied as they felt an overwhelming sense of loss as their brethren easily fell to the spear of the intruder.

Tok.

Jhin felt a slight thud on his right arm as a rock fell to the ground and rolled away.

He didn't even sustain any damage but Lily, perhaps realizing that he had been hit, grew enraged as she disappeared from her spot and reappeared on the goblin that had a slingshot.

"How dare you!"

Anger was apparent in her face as she decapitated the head of that goblin.

She knew that Jhin wouldn't really be damaged by a level of that attack so there wasn't really any need for her to react like that.

However, what she didn't like the most was someone bothering her benefactor.

And that was why she immediately set out to eliminate that enemy before returning to her position and slaughtering the mob of goblins once more.

Jhin could really only sigh as he could tell what was going on in the little girl's head. He didn't find it odd that she reacted that strongly.

After all, his relationship progress with her...

[ Lily: 150 (Worship) ]

She started from admiring him to worshipping him which wasn't really bad in his opinion. However, he does wish she doesn't turn into an overzealous fanatic.

That would be troublesome.

"Krieek!!"

"Krieee!"

Boom!

Boom!

Slash!

The goblins cried as they fell under the fireballs and the swift devastating point edge of the spear.

Soon, the mob of goblins died except for one hidden goblin that held a horn on its neck. It hid from a certain distance away from the commotion.

[ One of the goblins is calling for reinforcements. ]

There would be instances like these during mob battles and if the players could not prevent that particular mob from calling reinforcements, more mobs would come and prevent them from advancing.

Ando so, just as the goblin with a horn was thinking of blowing on the horn,

Stab!

A spear stabbed through its skull and penetrated all the way towards the wall.

Lily then appeared in front of it and pulled the spear out.

Chuck!

The little girl returned to the ground after retrieving her spear and ran towards Jhin.

[ The call of reinforcements has failed. ]

"Mister, I did it!" Lily exclaimed happily.

Jhin nodded and looked around the field that was littered with more than thirty goblin corpses.

"Let's loot first before going to the boss room." said Jhin after scanning the surroundings.

Lily nodded and began looting the goblin corpses.

Jhin also helped and after three minutes or so, they were finally finished. They also kept the junk items which were monster materials such as [Goblin's Eye], [Goblin's Blood], [Goblin's Claws, [Goblin's Spleen], and etc.

The reason for Jhin gathered them was because while monster material was considered junk items in the beginning of the game, that wouldn't be the case once the subclasses were added in the future.

Monster materials became an important part of the economical market and right now, Jhin was planning on stocking them up. In a month's time, Jhin was planning on putting a shop where players could sell their monster materials to him.

Soon, Jhin and Lily were standing in front of a large double-doors gate made with tall logs with the peaks sharpened like a stake.

Jhin didn't delay anymore and placed his hands on the doors and pushed them.

Creek...

The door, roughly built together with ropes, opened noisily with the foot of the door grinding on the ground.

Jhin and Lily entered the room and the doors automatically closed on their own, leaving no way for them to exit the room.

Inside, they were greeted with twenty melee goblins and ten ranged goblins, along with two goblin shamans that held staffs in their hands.

They stood as if they were waiting for Jhin and Lily's arrival.

Torches were placed around the room and behind the group of goblins were several wooden cages containing human bones.

And finally, in the middle of those cages was a throne.

There were no other introductions needed for the boss as it was goblin with that possessed burly muscles and a physique twice the height of an average human.

It stood up from its throne made of human skulls and glared at them with its red glowing eyes.

The monster had teal skin tone and the tip of its muzzle was slightly pinkish. Its eyes were red while its hair reached all the way to its waist.

Its clothes were only a loincloth, showcasing some strange black tattoos etched across its chest. It also wore large piercing rings on each of its long ears. On its hand was a large greatsword with jagged-zigzag blade.

"GROOAAAAHH!!!"

It made a ground shattering howl that caused Lily to cover her ears in pain.

Jhin looked at the status of the main boss.

[ Hobgoblin King (Boss) Lv. 10

HP: 1200/1200

Status: Healthy ]

"Lily, I'll handle the boss and you handle the mobs."

Lily nodded and readied her spear.

Jhin then briefly said, "Jump to the side."

Lily followed without hesitation and jumped three meters away from her position.

CRASH!

Seconds later, the ground where they were on was demolished as the Hobgoblin boss crashed towards their location.

Then without delay, it raised its greatsword with its two arms before swinging it horizontally.

Rumble... rumble... rumble...

The ground shook along with the large boss' spinning attack.

It stopped after five seconds before releasing a gruff breath and looking to its right where the little female intruder was. It didn't think twice as it licked its lips with its long sharp tongue.

It was sure that eating that intruder would be a delectable meal.

"Your opponent is me."

Jhin said after appearing on its back and stabbing it on its shoulder.

-90

The monster groaned but Jhin wasn't finished as he dragged the sunken dagger all the way to the other shoulder muscle.

-50

"GROAAAAAHHHH!!!"

-50

The hobgoblin tried to grab Jhin from its back but Jhin jumped backwards and landed on his feet, ten steps away from the monster.

The hobgoblin's eyes flashed dangerously as it opened its mouth that had sharp razor teeth. Its long sharp tongue hanging from its mouth similar to a dog.

It was without a doubt that the Boss' aggro is on Jhin.

The hobgoblin growled and swung its greatsword horizontally towards Jhin and the latter dodged it by jumping in the air.

Since the hobgoblin's back shoulders were wounded, it couldn't sustain the heavy weight of the greatsword causing its greatsword to stab towards the ground.

Jhin then jumped on top of the greatsword before using it as a foothold to rush in towards the neck of the boss.

His dagger gripped firmly on his hand, extended towards the neck of the hobgoblin, directly towards its throat.

The hobgoblin immediately sensed the danger and swiftly dodged by moving its upper torso to the side.

Expecting the boss to move that way, Jhin used his right foot as a hook on the hobgoblin's shoulder and spun his body horizontally, allowing him to arrive at the nape of the goblin.

Stab!

Jhin stabbed the goblin directly on its spinal cord. His stab was so hard that his hands sunk deep into the hobgoblin's muscles.

Critical Strike!

-399

He then twisted the dagger, creating a fleshy chunking noise as the Boss' flesh were turned into mush from Jhin's sheer strength.

Critical Strike!

-412

Ding! Ding!

[ You have induced "Decay" effect. ]

Upon notification, Jhin withdrew his bloodstained hands and jumped away from the hobgoblin whom remained standing in daze.

Everything simply happened way too fast.

The boss couldn't even enter its enraged mode as its hp was immediately brought to less than 1/4th of its hp bar.

Soon, the hobgoblin dropped to the ground before the area on its nape began to lose its healthy teal hue and turning into a dark grey-ish tone.

The decaying effect rapidly spread throughout its back and within seconds, its body shriveled until it left nothing but its bones and deflated wrinkled skin.

The pitiful hobgoblin could not even let out a cry as it died immediately under the effects of decay.

Jhin watched this with a blank expression. His hands subconsciously trembling in excitement.

'This... this is it!'

The most powerful and dreadful skill in the game.

"Decay."

He felt extremely delighted with this broken skill of his.

The moment his enemy gets affected by his skill, it would only be a matter of time before they died.

A second after the boss' death, a series of ringing noises resounded in his head along with game notices appearing in front of him.

Ding! Ding!

[You have defeated [Hobgoblin King] Lv. 10, You have gained 1720 experience points. ]

Ding! Ding!

[Dungeon Cleared!

➤Goblin's Nest (Easy Mode)

Clearing time: 03"49"05'

Rating: SSS

Rewards:

+4900 EXP points

+Silver Chest x1

+Veteran Adventurer's Arm Guards (Rare)

+150 Beginner Village Reputation Points

+10 Friendship Token

+10 Romantic Token

+10 Loyalty Token ]

Ding! Ding!

[Congratulations! Your party is the first to have cleared the [Goblin's Nest] (Easy Mode)!

Rewards:

+50 Silver Coins

+Veteran Adventurer's Complete Set Box (Rogue Class)

+Unique Title "The First" ]

Ding! Ding!

[You have reached level: 9

+2 Points to all base stats

+2 Skill Points

+1 Attribute Points ]

Ding! Ding!

[Since your party was the first to clear the [Goblin's Nest] would you like to put your names or the name of your party in the [Hall of Fame]?

Yes or No ]

After reading all of the game notices, Jhin calmed his emotions and chose the "No" option.

[Your party's name will remain anonymous in the [Hall of Fame]. You may change it in the future.]

Jhin then turned his attention to Lily who was just killed the last goblin shaman.

After finishing so, she released a tense breath before smiling brightly and running towards Jhin excitedly.

"Mister! We did it!!! Lily just leveled up a couple of times too!!"

Jhin nodded at her to share her joyful sentiments. At the same time, he didn't expect that the EXP gain would be so huge that he would instantly be all the way to Level 9.

It seems that his progress would be faster than he thought.

"Mister!"

He was brought back from his thoughts as Lily pulled him towards the middle of the boss room where a silver chest appeared.

"Let's open it!" She said excitedly.

Jhin nodded and opened the chest.

It rumbled for a few seconds before the cover blasted upwards and bags of copper coins spew out of the chest and landing on the ground along with a few tokens.

'....No equipment? That's odd.' Jhin thought to himself.

They then picked up those drops before a game notice appeared in front of them.

[Forcefully leaving [Goblin's Nest] Easy mode in 5... ]

After the timer ran out, the two of them were teleported out of the dungeon.

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At the same time when Jhin decided to reject having his party's name written in the [Hall of Fame], a server announcement occurred.

[Congratulations to Player [Anonymous] along with their party members: [Anonymous] as they cleared the [Goblin's Nest] (Easy Mode). ]

This announcement appeared three simultaneous times to all of the players who were online at the time.

And for a moment, all of the players in the noisy plaza went quiet.

Those who were doing quests stopped walking and looked at the announcement.

Those guild players who were grinding on the outskirts of the Beginner Village, stopped what they were doing and stared at the announcement.

For thirty whole seconds, every player in that server stood still in disbelief.

"T-that's..."

"SOMEONE ACTUALLY CLEARED IT?!"

"HOLY SHIT!! WHAT THE FUCK!!"

Ding! Ding!

[You have been muted for 1 hour for using profanities. Please keep a friendly environment inside the game. ]

"***!!!! *****!!!! **!!!"

"Lmao, look at him. Still shouting while he's muted."

"Who cares about that?! SOMEONE CLEARED IT FAM! HOLY FREAKING SH-!"

"I guess so..."

The plaza that was silent soon turned into an extremely noisy and rowdy environment, about thrice the noise you could hear from a wet marketplace.

Many players were cheering joyfully while expectantly looking at the warp gate, waiting in anticipation for the ones who cleared the dungeon.

"Hey, stop pushing!" One player wearing black linen clothes bellowed as he and his team tried to protect a female player.

This female player had sharp red eyes and long silky black hair. She had an exceptional figure complimented with her milk-white soft skin.

Her demeanor was unnatural and dominating, giving her a unique and exotic charm.

Naturally, this young woman was Discord.

And she and her subordinates were waiting by the dungeon entrance.

However, due to the over enthusiastic atmosphere, the surrounding sea of players grew crazy as they cheered while jumping, eventually bumping others and pushing Each other.

It was as if they were attending a concert of sorts and unfortunately, Discord didn't have any VIP seats for this one.

And so her subordinates had to suffer from the enthusiasm of the surrounding players as they tried their best to make space for their employer.

As for Discord, she didn't seem bothered by the loud and noisy environment.

Instead, her attention was only focused on one thing.

And it was for the player who cleared the dungeon.

Soon, minutes passed and the enthusiasm of the crowd had slowly dissipated. However, the anticipated players still hadn't arrived.

Everyone grew quiet as they wondered what happened.

Similarly, Discord knit her brows as she too, was wondering what happened to the players.

Little did they know...

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"Phew."

Lily released a relaxed sigh as she laid on the bed. She had unequipped her armor and was wearing children's pajamas.

It was already night by the time they exited the dungeon.

She couldn't believe everything that happened today.

She and her benefactor ventured into the dangerous dungeon and conquered it. Not only that, but their achievement was known throughout the world.

Even now, she could still hear the distant cheering of players and villagers. The village was in a festive mood as they celebrated the first ever clearance of the dungeon.

Lily felt proud of their achievement as if she had finally done something significant in her life.

And all of that was thanks to her benefactor.

He gave her everything.

Taught her, provided for her, and even protected her.

"Mister..."

Her enthusiasm slowly died down as she thought of her benefactor.

Her benefactor told her that an [Update] was about to occur so they wouldn't be able to see each other for the next few days.

And while she was waiting, she should do these requests called [Daily Quests] to which she would find from the other villagers in town.

"Level up diligently huh...."

Remembering her benefactors words while ruffling her head, she took on last deep breath and closed her eyes.

'Very well mister... Lily make you proud!'

While she was thinking so, She rubbed a ring on her forefinger with her thumb.

It was a regular smooth rounded ring called [Mana Ring]

Its effect was to add 10 INT stats.

While it was incredibly precious due to its effects, it was a different case for Lily. To her, the ring this was the reward her benefactor gave her.

It was already an important sentimental item to her right next to her family's heirloom.

Soon enough, she fell asleep with a smile on her face. She slept happily while dreaming of the recent days she spent with her benefactor.

At the same time of this moment, by the window frame of her room, a cat was laying lazily while watching the little girl with its heterochronic eyes.

Lily and Jhin would recognize this cat as it was "Boots" who was known to like wandering around on his own.

It was staring curiously at Lily.

Whatever its thoughts were, only the cat itself would know.