CHAPTER 38: CONFUSION!

Finally, only two remained.

Xavier and the commander.

The battlefield fell eerily silent, the carnage stretching out around them like a graveyard. The commander charged, rage propelling its hulking form. Its sword came down in a brutal arc.

Xavier met it.

His daggers crossed in an X, catching the strike. The force rattled his arms down to the bone. He gritted his teeth, held firm, then twisted, shoving the sword aside.

’D-rank?’ he thought, brow furrowing. Sweat dripped down his cheek.

This thing wasn’t like the others. Its strength was real—no doubt about it.

It matched his power... and even exceeded it!

He hadn’t chosen to deflect that last attack. He’d been forced to. His body had moved on instinct. This was no ordinary goblin. A D-rank Goblin Commander, it was very much stronger than normal D-rank beasts.

And deep down, Xavier knew—

This wasn’t even the hardest part yet.

He wasn’t able to face the attack head-on; he didn’t deflect the blow because he wanted to, but because he was forced to. The Goblin Commander was just that powerful.

He gritted his teeth, the vibration of the impact rippling through his arms, each muscle tensing under the weight of the brute force behind that strike. His breath caught in his throat.

But there was another reason he managed to withstand it.

Xavier had used mana—instinctively.

Through the passive effects of his skill, [Goblin Intuition], mana had begun circulating within him the moment he raised his dagger to meet the Commander’s short sword. He didn’t know why, he didn’t even think it—his body simply reacted.

He didn’t fully understand it, but deep down, he was certain—without that instinctual burst of mana, his bones would have snapped like brittle twigs.

"Damn it," he cursed through clenched teeth, his voice laced with irritation.

Circulating mana while fighting felt like trying to draw two perfect circles with both hands at once—on fire—while dodging blades. Completely unnatural. Nearly impossible.

It would take relentless practice to control. As for how he managed it this time... even he didn’t know.

But then his eyes lit up.

"I’m getting the hang of it."

A warm current rushed through his veins—mana. Flowing, pulsing, invigorating him. The weariness that had settled into his limbs dissipated, replaced with a sharp, refreshing vitality. His muscles thrummed with newfound power, his senses expanding like ripples in water.

It was exhilarating.

Xavier inhaled deeply. The mana rushing through him made his entire being feel lighter, stronger. His thoughts were clearer, his vision sharper. Even the tiniest rustle in the trees behind him felt amplified. He flexed his fingers, the sensation like bolts of pure energy surging through every tendon and nerve.

"This is incredible," he whispered, marveling at the strength that now coursed through his veins. It was like drinking liquid lightning—euphoric, dangerous, addictive.

His twin daggers felt like a natural extension of his arms now, sleek and responsive, moving with his intent before he even consciously commanded them.

Feeling the rush, Xavier’s grin widened, a wild gleam flashing in his eyes.

"Let’s check things out," he muttered.

He slashed his right dagger at the incoming strike.

Clang-!!!

A loud metallic screech echoed through the area. The impact surged through his arms, a dull throb following the collision, but nowhere near the earlier shattering force.

Still, the Goblin Commander was strong—brutally so. Even with the boost from his mana, Xavier found himself holding the line rather than dominating it. The goblin wasn’t like the others. This one was smarter. Tactical. Fierce.

But then—his body suddenly screamed.

An intense pain, sharp and stabbing, crashed through his muscles, cutting through his concentration like a jagged blade.

Swoosh—!!

Xavier’s eyes widened as his body dropped instinctively to the ground, the blade slicing through the air where his head had just been.

’What the fuck is going on?! Why am I in so much pain?!’ His mind raced, confused and panicked.

His instincts flared again, and he rolled to the left just in time.

Clang—!

Another blow struck the ground, mere inches from his skull.

’Damn it, the goblin is relentless!’

Xavier rolled again, this time narrowly evading a vicious overhead slash. His breath was ragged, his limbs heavy and trembling, his vision blurring from the searing pain racing through every fiber of his being.

"Damn it! Damn it!" he snarled, his voice cracking under the strain. His eyes were bloodshot, burning from the sheer sensory overload he was enduring. Without [Goblin Intuition], he knew he’d be a mutilated corpse already.

His body continued to dodge on pure instinct, but his mind was spiraling.

The goblin let out a guttural cackle, its eyes glowing with sick delight. It licked the jagged edge of its blade, savoring Xavier’s struggle like it was foreplay.

’What the fuck is going on?! Did I do something wrong or Is the pain a skill the goblin has?!’ Leon’s mind was in complete disarray.

The goblin’s attacks were relentless, each strike coming faster and harder than the last. Leon barely managed to dodge, his body moving almost on autopilot. He felt like a puppet, his strings pulled by the [Goblin Intuition] skill to avoid fatal blows.

He ducked under a wild swing, feeling the air whistle past his head. Rolling to the side, he narrowly avoided another strike aimed at his midsection.

The pain was overwhelming, making every movement a torturous effort. Sweat dripped down his face, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

The goblin’s vicious grin widened as it pressed its advantage. Leon stumbled back, his legs nearly giving out from the sheer agony that wracked his body.

He parried a blow aimed at his chest, his arms trembling from the strain. The goblin’s strength was immense, each strike sending shockwaves through Leon’s muscles.

He gritted his teeth, trying to push through the pain. He needed to find a way to turn the tide of the battle. His mind raced, searching for a solution. His body screamed in protest with every movement, but he refused to give in.