I crouched low, gripping the rocky ground, eyes locked on the hobgoblin tearing through my green-skinned brothers like they were made of paper.
My pulse pounded in my ears. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to get the hell out of there.
I wasn’t going to be intimidated.
This was my chance to test out my innate skill—and maybe, just maybe, level up.
So I hyped myself up.
"Get your shit together, Eli."
I sucked in a sharp breath and muttered my mantra under my breath:
"Feel the fear and do it anyway."
I kept repeating it as I moved, trying to drown out the panic.
Then I shot forward, my short goblin legs pumping furiously as I sprinted toward the chaos. My eyes locked onto one of the hobgoblins—massive, brutal, and built like it bench-pressed trees for fun.
The closer I got, the more monstrous it looked. Over six feet tall, orange-skinned, with thick, corded muscles rippling beneath a hide that looked like worn leather. Its angular, savage face made it resemble something you’d expect to crawl out of a nightmare. And that battle axe? Every swing painted the ground red.
Yeah. Fear suddenly felt like a reasonable emotion to cling to.
And of course, my first target had to be the most bloodthirsty of the bunch.
It grunted as it swung its axe in a savage arc, cleaving through a goblin’s torso like it was a sack of potatoes. Gore splattered across the rocks.
I skidded to a halt a few feet away, heart pounding like a war drum.
Every logical thought was now screaming:
"Turn around! This thing’s way out of your league!"
And for a second, I was tempted.
But just then, as if it heard my fear, the hobgoblin snapped its head in my direction.
Its beady, burning-orange eyes locked onto mine. With a grunt, it bent down and snatched up a crude spear from a fallen goblin.
My heart skipped a beat.
I couldn’t move fast enough. My body refused to obey.
And in a blink, it hurled the spear.
It cut through the air like a missile, aimed straight for my skull.
I didn’t have time to dodge. No time to run.
But I had one move left.
The moment I activated it, the world around me rippled—like a stone dropped into a still pond. Sound distorted. Colors blurred. For a split second, everything twisted.
I was no longer in front of the spear.
I landed where it had been standing, my feet skidding awkwardly on the rocky terrain. In the same instant, the hulking brute appeared in my place, right in the path of its own attack.
The spear slammed into its abdomen with a deep, meaty thud.
It staggered, roaring in pain. Blood oozed from the wound as it clutched at the embedded weapon.
I’d actually done it. Swapped places with a freaking hobgoblin at the last second—and made it spear itself in the process.
It glared at me now, not even bothering to yank the spear out, its eyes blazing with confusion and pure, unfiltered rage.
I exhaled in relief and allowed a grin to tug at my lips.
This was real. This skill was legit. Not just some fluke.
And suddenly, I felt confident.
Maybe even a little cocky.
"Hey," I said casually, gesturing at the spear lodged in its gut. "Technically, you threw it at yourself."
It let out a guttural growl—as if it understood exactly what I’d said—and charged.
"All right," I muttered, heart pounding as adrenaline surged through my veins.
Time to do something reckless.
I turned and bolted toward the edge of the cliff.
The battlefield blurred around me—goblins screaming, weapons clashing—but I tuned it all out.
I hit the edge of the cliff and leapt.
The ground vanished beneath my feet as gravity yanked me down like an anchor.
I screamed as I plummeted, wind slapping my face, my patchwork clothing flapping wildly.
For a split second, I felt something strange.
Not just terror, but freedom.
This was it. No turning back now.
The ground below rushed toward me, a jagged mess of rocks and broken terrain that spelled certain death.
But I wasn’t falling to die.
This was all part of the plan.
I imagined the hobgoblin’s face when it saw me leap—must’ve looked like it just watched its prey commit suicide.
But surprise, motherf***er.
As I fell, I whispered the word again.
And just like before, the air rippled.
Suddenly, I was standing back on the cliff’s edge—where it had just been.
It was mid-air, eyes wide, flailing, screaming in shock and fury as it plunged toward the merciless rocks below.
Its massive body twisted as it fell, arms outstretched, helpless.
The sound was deep. Sickening. Final.
I lowered my head and nodded solemnly.
Rest in peace, Hobgoblin Number One.
A soft chime echoed in my ears, and a glowing notification appeared in front of me.
[You have killed a Hobgoblin Soldier – Level 2.]
[You have received +1 to all stats and +3 free stats to distribute]
I stared at it for a second.
Then a slow, wicked grin crept across my face.
Power surged through my small goblin frame, like electricity crackling under my skin.
I’d killed something way stronger than me.
I turned back toward the chaos of the battlefield, scanning the remaining enemies.
The surviving hobgoblins were still tearing through my green brothers...
Now they looked a little less terrifying.