CHAPTER 40: D RANK!

Its face twisted with an angry expression, it let out a guttural shriek and lunged at him, its short sword aiming for his heart.

SWOOSH-!

Xavier twisted his body, one dagger flashing upward to deflect the strike while the other dagger moved instinctively, slicing across the goblin’s forearm. The impact vibrated through his arm, but the mana flowing through him dulled the sting and grounded his stance.

Even as the goblin attacked harder, he was able to handle it. With eyes closed and the [Goblin Intuition] skill at full power, he sensed the goblin’s position and then countered with a quick flurry, his twin blades cutting into the gaps of the goblin’s guard, forcing it to retreat a step.

Xavier pressed his advantage, attacking with renewed vigor. His movements were fluid, his strikes precise. He could feel the mana enhancing his strength, his speed, his agility.

Each movement of his daggers carved through the air with sensual grace, sharp arcs dancing like silver light. The goblin barely managed to parry, its blade scraping against his twin edge rhythm.

SWOOSH—!

SWOOSH—!

SWOOSH—!

SWOOSH—!

The goblin commander roared in frustration, its attacks becoming more erratic. It found it hard to believe that Xavier was fighting it evenly with his eyes closed.

The goblin’s wild swings were met with graceful, almost effortless dodges from Xavier. Every time the goblin thought it had an opening, Xavier was already moving, anticipating its next move.

The goblin’s short sword came down in a powerful overhead strike. Xavier tilted his head slightly, feeling the air shift as the blade whooshed past his shoulder.

He pivoted smoothly, twisting at the waist, both daggers lashing out in a scissor-like motion aimed at the goblin’s exposed flank.

CLANG-!

The goblin barely managed to block one with the flat of its blade, but the second cut through its leather armor, drawing a hiss of pain.

Xavier could feel the rhythm of the fight. He wasn’t just reacting; he was predicting, using his enhanced senses to stay one step ahead of his opponent. He moved like liquid instinct—unseen, unhesitating. His breath synced with each motion, a silent tempo guiding his blades as if the battle itself was a dance choreographed just for him.

SWOOSH-!

SWOOSH-!

SWOOSH-!

The goblin lunged at him with a series of rapid thrusts. Xavier parried each one, his twin daggers flashing like silver fangs in the dim light.

He stepped in close, driving a sharp elbow into the goblin’s jaw, followed by a swift, brutal kick to its midsection, sending it staggering backward.

The goblin snarled, its rage blinding it to the strategic advantage Xavier had already seized. It charged again, swinging wildly.

WHOOSH-!

Xavier ducked under a high slash, pivoting on his heel to slash one dagger across the goblin’s thigh in a sweeping arc.

SQUELCH-!

The blade cut deep—muscle, tendon—drawing a howl of pain that echoed in the narrow dungeon corridor.

Xavier didn’t let up. He moved with a dancer’s grace, his footwork fluid, each motion feeding the next. His blades were a blur, spinning and slicing with precision.

He could feel the mana coursing through his veins now, heightening every reflex, enhancing every strike. The goblin was faltering, its earlier confidence now replaced with desperation and panic.

In a last-ditch effort, the goblin commander raised its short sword high, aiming to cleave Xavier in two.

But Xavier sensed the incoming strike—his body already in motion. He stepped forward and brought both daggers up in a cross-guard to meet the descending blade.

CLANG-!

Steel clashed. Sparks flew, a clangorous ring bursting through the dungeon chamber as Xavier locked blades with the beast. He pushed back, muscles straining, every fiber in his arms screaming—but he held.

SCHING-!

The goblin broke the lock and swung again, wild and erratic. Xavier slipped to the side, feeling the edge of the sword whisper past his skin. He knew the creature was following its weapon’s motion now—easy to predict.

With the [Goblin Intuition] skill active, Xavier felt the subtle pulse of presence—how the goblin shifted, even its tiniest movements betrayed to his sharpened senses.

He retaliated in a flash, slicing across the goblin’s arm with brutal force.

SPURT-!

Dark blood sprayed from the wound, the goblin’s cry high-pitched and pained.

He pressed forward, relentless.

His daggers danced with deadly intent, stabbing, slashing, flicking—each movement seamless. The goblin tried to parry, to deflect, but Xavier was too fast, too fierce. Each blow chipped away at its strength, at its will to fight.

The goblin staggered back, its movements sluggish now.

Xavier stilled.

He stood quietly, blades lowered, eyes closed—waiting. He had lost the goblin’s exact position, unable to feel it now. Unless the goblin moved, he wouldn’t be able to act. He needed that spark—something to trigger his reaction.

The goblin saw its opportunity.

Severely injured, but determined to take Xavier with it, it fell silent. Steeling its last strength, it gripped its dagger tighter and pounced.

Launching into the air, it lunged with the blade raised high, aiming to pierce the back of Xavier’s neck in one final suicidal strike.

But it was a mistake—a foolish, fatal one.

In the end, Rank D or not, it was still a goblin. Normal goblins, its intelligence was higher, yes—but in the grander scheme of things, it was still laughably low.

Even as it tried to be silent, Xavier’s instincts flared. His ears twitched—there. A faint whoosh, a subtle shift in air pressure.

He moved.

A single twist. A lunge.

His dagger pierced upward into the air, right as the goblin descended.

Its eyes widened in horror.

It tried to block, but it was already too late.

It landed—heart-first—onto Xavier’s dagger.

SQUELCH-!!!

The steel slid through its chest like butter, splitting through bone with ease. Blood sprayed onto Xavier’s face, warm and wet. The goblin let out a final, gurgling roar before going limp on the blade.

Xavier drew the dagger free in one smooth pull. More blood sprayed, coating his arm.

[You’ve slain a D-ranked Beast, Goblin Commander]

[Your existence has been strengthened]

[You’ve broken to the next threshold]

[Congratulations Xavier, you’re now D Rank!]