Chapter 57: The Goblin Leader's End

Chapter 57: The Goblin Leader's End

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The test chamber was a dark, sprawling cavern, its ceiling so high it seemed to disappear into shadows. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, and something distinctly goblin. The walls were lined with jagged rocks and eerie, glowing fungi that cast a sickly green light over the entire area. Alex stood at the cavern's entrance, his senses on high alert.

He knew this wouldn't be easy. Stella had explained the rules clearly before sending him in. His godly powers were mostly sealed, leaving him with only his Elemental Magic Power and Physical Strength. He was also allowed to use his God-King Skill, "One Almighty Rule Finger," but only once.

As Alex took his first cautious steps into the cavern, he heard the guttural snarls and grunts of goblins in the distance. He didn't have to wait long before the first wave of goblin soldiers appeared, their beady eyes glowing with malice.

There were dozens of them, small and quick, armed with crude swords, spears, and clubs. Despite their size, Alex knew better than to underestimate them. In large numbers, they were formidable, and their viciousness made them even more dangerous.

Without hesitation, Alex summoned his Elemental Magic Power, focusing on fire. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of flames rushing toward the goblin soldiers. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the first few rows of goblins, who screeched in pain as they were reduced to ash. But more kept coming, undeterred by the fate of their comrades.

Alex gritted his teeth, launching into the fray with a burst of speed. He swung his fists, enhanced with earth and fire magic, smashing through goblin after goblin. His movements were precise, each strike powerful enough to break bones and shatter weapons. The cavern echoed with the sounds of battle, the clanging of metal, and the cries of dying goblins.

The goblin soldiers were relentless, attacking from all sides. But Alex's physical strength was more than a match for them. He ducked and weaved through their attacks, delivering powerful blows that sent goblins flying. Fireballs erupted from his hands, incinerating clusters of enemies at a time. The floor was soon littered with the charred remains of goblins, but Alex didn't slow down.

After what felt like an eternity, the last of the goblin soldiers fell. Alex took a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. The air was thick with the smell of burnt flesh, but he couldn't afford to rest. He knew what was coming next.

A loud, thunderous roar echoed through the cavern, and from the shadows emerged the Goblin Commander. Unlike the soldiers, this goblin was massive, towering over Alex at nearly seven feet tall. He was heavily armored, his skin a dark, sickly green, and he wielded a large, jagged blade that looked like it had seen its fair share of battles.

The Goblin Commander wasted no time. He charged at Alex with surprising speed for his size, swinging his blade with deadly precision. Alex barely managed to dodge the first strike, the force of the swing creating a gust of wind that rustled his hair. He could feel the power behind the Commander's attacks and knew that one wrong move could be fatal.

Alex countered with a blast of wind magic, aiming to knock the Commander off balance. But the goblin was unfazed, planting his feet firmly on the ground and resisting the force. He roared again, swinging his blade in a wide arc. Alex had to leap back to avoid being sliced in half.

The two engaged in a fierce battle, with Alex using every ounce of his strength and elemental magic to keep up with the Goblin Commander. He launched fireballs, created walls of earth, and even summoned a bolt of lightning, but the Commander was resilient, shrugging off the attacks like they were nothing.

Alex's arms ached from the strain, but he couldn't afford to falter. He knew he had to end this quickly. Drawing upon his last reserves of energy, he charged forward, channeling fire magic into his fists. He dodged the Commander's blade, ducking under a horizontal swing, and closed the distance between them. With a powerful uppercut, enhanced with a burst of flame, Alex struck the Commander square in the chest.

The force of the blow sent the Goblin Commander staggering back, his armor dented and smoking. Before he could recover, Alex followed up with a second punch, this time targeting the Commander's exposed throat. The goblin let out a choked gasp, dropping his weapon as he fell to his knees.

Without hesitation, Alex finished him off with a swift, brutal kick to the head, snapping the Goblin Commander's neck. The giant goblin slumped to the ground, his body lifeless.

Alex took a deep breath, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He had defeated the soldiers and the Commander, but he knew the real challenge was yet to come.

As if on cue, a deep, menacing laugh echoed through the cavern. The air grew colder, and the shadows seemed to deepen. From the far end of the cavern, the Goblin Leader emerged, his presence overwhelming. He was unlike any goblin Alex had ever seen—tall, with an air of malevolent intelligence. His skin was dark, almost black, and his eyes glowed with a sinister red light.

The Goblin Leader was dressed in regal armor, adorned with bones and dark jewels. He carried a staff, topped with a glowing, green crystal that pulsed with dark energy. His voice was low and commanding as he spoke, though Alex couldn't understand the guttural language.

Alex's eyes narrowed. He could sense the immense power radiating from the Goblin Leader. This was no ordinary opponent. The leader raised his staff, and the air crackled with dark magic. Alex knew this fight would be his hardest yet.

The Goblin Leader made the first move, casting a bolt of dark energy toward Alex. He barely had time to dodge, the magic grazing his shoulder and leaving a searing pain. The leader was fast, faster than Alex expected. He responded with a blast of fire, but the Goblin Leader deflected it effortlessly with his staff.

The battle was intense. The Goblin Leader wielded dark magic with terrifying skill, casting spells that drained the energy from the very air around them. Alex fought back with everything he had, summoning wind, earth, and fire to counter the leader's attacks. But the Goblin Leader seemed to anticipate his every move, dodging and countering with ease.

Alex was tiring. His elemental magic was powerful, but the Goblin Leader's dark magic was draining him faster than he could recover. He knew he had only one chance left—the "One Almighty Rule Finger." But he had to use it wisely.

The Goblin Leader summoned a massive wave of dark energy, preparing to end the battle. Alex's mind raced. He had to strike now, or it would be over.

Channeling all his remaining power into his finger, Alex unleashed the "One Almighty Rule Finger." The cavern shook as a beam of pure, golden energy shot from his finger, piercing through the wave of dark magic and striking the Goblin Leader square in the chest.

The leader's eyes widened in shock as the energy tore through him, obliterating his dark magic. He staggered back, his body disintegrating from the inside out. With a final, pained roar, the Goblin Leader collapsed, his body dissolving into dust.

Alex fell to one knee, exhausted but victorious. The cavern was silent, the only sound his heavy breathing. He had done it. The Goblin Leader was defeated.

But as he caught his breath, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. There were still more tests to come, and he had to be ready.

Stella's voice echoed in his mind. "Congratulations, Alex. You have passed the 21st test. But do not rest yet. The next challenge awaits."

Alex nodded, determination filling his eyes. He stood up, ready for whatever came next.