Chapter 37: A Lazy Hunter’s Resolve[1]
Xior yawned as he sat against the wall of the dungeon. He had been clearing the goblins on the floors and was at the fifth floor now.
There was a slight increase in their levels but a lot of increase in their number. On the first floor he encountered sixteen goblins. On the second, thirty two with sixty four on the third.
And now two hundred and fifty six on the fifth floor, he decided to rest a bit before fighting the mini-boss and moving to the sixth floor.
He got up and went left towards the min-boss room, he pushed the door open and entered. A hobgoblin stood in the distance. It was larger than a normal goblin, its skin a red color and he held an axe in his hand.
Xior tightened his grip on the sword and channeled mana, his runes activated and sword was covered in fire which jumped off of his hand and onto the blade.
He was nearing the maximum level for the fire element, so he could somewhat use pyrokinesis to imbue the sword with fire. Other elements were still on the beginner level.
He stepped forward and the hobgoblin took notice of him, despite Xior having passive’s which would make any weak willed enemy run away in fear, the hobgoblin didn’t falter.
It saw the sword in Xior’s hand and swung his axe in the air, it was as if he was bored and waited too long for a fight.
Xior didn’t make the first move as he walked towards the hobgoblin. It used its long arms and swung towards Xior’s head in an attempt to decapitate him.
Xior ducked down since the hobgoblin was slow and stabbed his sword towards its stomach. Mid air he twisted his arm and blocked it with his sword.
Xior jumped back as the hobgoblin swung his sword again, his speed increased from before. ’Was he faking his strength just now.’
He thought as he blocked another strike from the hobgoblin. The force from the top was enough for Xior’s feet to break through the ground and crack it.
Xior too then showed his strength, he pushed back the axe and the hobgoblin staggered a bit. It looked at Xior with a shocked appearance.
"You’re not the only physically strong one here." Xior said in a mocking tone.
"Grash nakh urk’hin." The hobgoblin replied in his own language.
To anyone else it would feel gibberish but Xior perfectly understood the meaning. ’Did this hobgoblin just say I’m an interesting human.’
"Well I don’t know how you can speak English but let’s not delay this." Xior said as he ran towards the hobgoblin.
A wide grin formed on the hobgoblins face as it activated his runes and a gust of wind erupted from his left hand, throwing Xior backwards.
’Dammit, it can use elemental runes as well.’ He complained in his mind as he got up and shot a couple of fire arrows towards the hobgoblin.
It swiftly dodged it, despite its big body it was agile enough to dodge them. But while it was busy dodging it forgot about Xior.
Xior saw and opening and ran towards it, he ducked slightly and swung his sword vertically to try and cut it into half but the sound of flesh being ripped never came, instead a loud clanking sound came.
Xior sighed and dodged a heavy strike from the hobgoblin. He didn’t want to use the skill but since he wanted to quickly be done with this dungeon he activated his skill.
Black chains shot out of the ground and wrapped around the hobgoblin like a boa python wraps around its prey.
The hobgoblin struggled but was captured instantly, Xior slowly walked towards the hobgoblin as his swords tip made a clanking sound when it hit the ground.
He then raised the sword in front of his face, and looked at the barely moving hobgoblin and swung it horizontally, sound of flesh cutting came as its head plopped down in front of Xior’s feet.
*****
Becca just finished clearing her gate and came out, Maria was already waiting outside to pick her up and take her to the gate Xior had gone to.
They both arrive at the place and there’s no sign of Xior being finished. They ask around the staff but none of them knew why was he taking this long.
"I’m going inside, Maria." Becca exclaimed
"I’m not against it Becca, but that might put you in a bad spot." Maria replied in a warm motherly tone.
"You know that I don’t care about anything apart from Xior and the shelter kids so please try to understand." Becca replied.
"Becca, please...he’s not a child anymore. He can keep himself safe." Maria argued.
Just as Becca opened her mouth to say something the gate flickered and Xior walked outside, in one hand he held his sword and his other, dead hobgoblins.
"I can tell why you took so long to clear it, lazy bum." Becca said jokingly.
"Don’t make me want to throw a couple of heads your way." Xior said as Becca screamed and jumped back.
Maria approached the two and said, "welcome back both of you, Xior I hope the salary was sufficient."
"Maria you can go back, I’ll leave with Xior." Becca said as she grabbed Xior’s hand and started to run.
Xior dropped the hobgoblin heads and trailed behind Becca. Maria looked at their behavior intently, it was just like how they reminded her of her youth.
She had been a normal little girl until she met Rain, the man as others would describe him was a gangster.
In reality he was the opposite, he was calm, kind and protective. And those qualities made Maria fall later but harder than Rain did.
She turned and got in her car, the sun had started to dip. She took out a cigarette from her glove compartment and took in a few puffs.
She missed Rain, but she knew he was giving it his all in the Tower. As she drove off into the metropolitan city, inside the tower the situation had started to worsen.