Goblins were playing around with each other. They nudged each other's shields and shook their heads. They looked to be very close.
“Kki-reureuk.”
“Kekek.”
Taesan watched with a blank expression. Facing a single Goblin wouldn't be a problem. They are common monsters from the 10th Floor of Easy Mode, and quite weak.
In terms of simple strength, the Giant Rat, which was the Boss of the First Floor, is much stronger. However, the difference between Goblins and other monsters was that they possessed a shallow but proper intelligence. They could coordinate with each other, set traps, and hunt in packs, growing stronger the more of them gathered.
Thanks to this advantage, they also appeared on the Middle Floors and Upper Floors. There were four Goblins in the room. In Easy Mode, you would have to pass the 20th Floor to see this many.
Moreover, in Easy Mode, you can face them with a party, so it was possible to deal with them by having each person take one. Here, Taesan was alone. Taesan also knew this fact.
He had thoroughly prepared a countermeasure. He observed the Goblins' equipment. Two of the four were equipped with longswords.
They looked like longswords because the Goblins were wearing them; if Taesan were to wear one, it would be more like a shortsword. Another one was equipped with a shield and a dagger. The shield was a small one that barely covered its upper body.
And the last Goblin was holding a bow. The one that provides support from the back, I suppose. Their clothes were thin leather garments that barely covered their private parts.
Their Defense Power looked to be around 1 or 2. Having confirmed their gear, Taesan decided the order. He pictured the method of dealing with them in his mind. After finishing his assessment, Taesan kicked the door open and entered.
Kwang!
“Kak!”
“Kieek!”
The Goblins were startled by his sudden appearance. But only for a moment. Bloodlust filled their eyes.
The sight of them idly chatting disappeared. All that remained were monsters that kill their enemies. Taesan immediately took out his bow.
He nocked a Paralysis Arrow on the bowstring. He drew the string, and shot.
Puk.
“Kieek!”
[10 Damage to the Bow-Wielding Goblin.]
[The target has been paralyzed. It cannot move until it is hit by the next attack, or for 30 seconds.]
Unlike the Giant Rat, perhaps because it was a common monster, the paralysis time was longer. Taesan took out another Paralysis Arrow. The Goblins were shouting and rushing toward Taesan.
In such a pressing situation, one might rush and fail, but Taesan drew the bowstring without wavering.
[Proficiency for Composure has increased by 1%.]
The arrow is shot. It pierces the arm of the charging Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.
“Kik, kiik.”
The Goblin shivers and stops. Only its eyeballs roll around. Two were neutralized, leaving the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin and the Shield-Wielding Goblin.
They were already within reach. He could no longer shoot arrows. The Shield-Wielding Goblin swung its dagger down at Taesan.
Taesan quickly put away his bow and took out the Tower Shield. He dodged the dagger and pushed with the Tower Shield.
Thud.
“Kaak!”
The Shield-Wielding Goblin is sent flying. The difference in shield size was overwhelming. Taesan also had the upper hand in strength.
If they clashed head-on, Taesan's victory was certain.
[3 Damage to the Shield-Wielding Goblin.]
However, since the opponent also blocked with a shield, the damage was very low. From his memory, a Goblin's Health was around 40 to 50. It was practically impossible to kill it just by pushing.
“Karreuk!”
The Shortsword-Wielding Goblin swings its sword.
Kagagak!
The Tower Shield grinds. The damage is bearable. He crouched and then burst forward, striking the Goblin.
[8 Damage to the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
“Kaak!”
He closed in on the Goblin that was sent flying. He parried the frantically swung sword and tripped its leg. The Goblin falls.
Taesan gets on top of the Goblin.
“Kaak! Kaak!”
The pinned Goblin struggles, trying to get away somehow. But it was already subdued. An opponent with inferior strength had no way to escape.
Taesan slams down with the Tower Shield. The Goblin's head shakes violently.
[The Shortsword-Wielding Goblin is in a neutralized state. It takes increased Damage.]
[15 Damage to the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
[14 Damage to the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
“Kak, kagak.”
The light leaves the Goblin's eyes. One more strike and it would be dead. It was then that Taesan raised the Tower Shield.
“Kaaaak!”
The Shield-Wielding Goblin charges as if to say 'stop'. Without even standing up, Taesan pushes it away from his seated position. The Shield-Wielding Goblin is once again helplessly pushed back.
[14 Damage to the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
[You are victorious against the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
The System Window doesn't appear. This was because Taesan, annoyed that it kept blocking his view, had set it to appear only after all combat was over. One was dealt with.
The only problem was that the effect of the Paralysis Arrow had worn off.
“Kaaaak!”
“Kiek!”
The three Goblins, having lost their comrade, rage. The Bow-Wielding Goblin roughly draws its bowstring. The arrow strikes the Tower Shield.
[2 Damage to you.]
“Kieek!”
The Shortsword-Wielding Goblin aims for his side, unprotected by the Tower Shield. He bats it away with his shield. The Shield-Wielding Goblin squeezes into the opening created by the push.
It grabs the Tower Shield and tries to forcibly pull it.
“Kaaaak!”
“Tsk.”
Taesan clicks his tongue and violently shakes the Tower Shield. The Shield-Wielding Goblin is thrown off. But this created an opening, and the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin did not miss it.
“Ki ek!”
The sword aims for Taesan's neck. He quickly twists his head to dodge, but his skin is cut.
[7 Damage to you.]
Just as Taesan tries to push away the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin with his Tower Shield, an arrow is shot. In the end, Taesan had no choice but to retreat.
‘As expected, they're tricky.’
They cover each other's openings, giving opportunities to the other Goblins. Their coordination is perfect, giving Taesan no time to do anything. If he hadn't eliminated one beforehand, it would have been quite dangerous.
To win, he had to break their coordination. Taesan caught his breath.
[You have activated No Breath Attack. For the next 10 seconds, you are free from the need to breathe.]
He pushes forward against the charging Goblins with his Tower Shield.
“Kak, Kaaaak!”
He momentarily attacks at a speed twice as fast as before. The startled Goblin steps back. The Shortsword-Wielding Goblin hurries to help, but their coordination is already broken.
Taesan roughly pushed with the Tower Shield. The Goblins were sent flying. As the two Goblins were now far from Taesan, he had some breathing room.
Taesan put away the shield and took out the Staff of Flame.
[You have activated Fireball.]
The flame is shot towards the Goblin that was about to shoot an arrow. The Goblin stupidly stares at the incoming Fireball.
“Kaak?”
Boom!
[15 Damage to the Bow-Wielding Goblin.]
[Judgment unnecessary! The Bow-Wielding Goblin is now inflicted with Burn.]
“Kieeeeek!”
The Goblin, with its whole body on fire, screams and thrashes about. Looking at its state, it didn't seem to have the presence of mind to shoot arrows. Meanwhile, the other two Goblins were charging at Taesan again.
Taesan switched back from the staff to the Tower Shield.
“Kaak! Kaak!”
The two Goblins beat on the Tower Shield, but unlike before, there was no arrow support. Openings were plentiful.
Thoom!
[9 Damage to the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
“Kii ik!”
The Goblin is sent flying. Taesan quickly put the Tower Shield into his Inventory. He took out the Rusted Sword and charged at the Shield-Wielding Goblin.
The Goblin tries to cover its body with its shield and hold out until its comrade returns, but Taesan had no intention of letting that happen. Unlike the Tower Shield, the Rusted Sword is a one-handed weapon. With his free hand, he grabs the Goblin's shield.
“Kik!”
The Goblin desperately tries to protect its body with the shield, but Taesan's strength was greater. The shield was helplessly pulled away, leaving its body exposed. Taesan swung the Rusted Sword.
[9 Damage to the Shield-Wielding Goblin.]
[8 Damage to the Shield-Wielding Goblin.]
“Kkiik...”
The Goblin goes limp.
[You are victorious against the Shield-Wielding Goblin.]
Two dealt with.
Two remaining.
But since one was on fire and frantically rubbing itself on the floor, there was practically only one left.
“Kkik, Kkiik.”
[The Shortsword-Wielding Goblin is intimidated by you. Its actions are restricted.]
The Shortsword-Wielding Goblin retreats with an anxious face. As Taesan strides closer, it grits its teeth and swings its sword. He parries with his sword and stabs its neck.
[9 Damage to the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
“Keek!”
He dodges again and pierces its neck.
[9 Damage to the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
[You are victorious against the Shortsword-Wielding Goblin.]
Only one left. Taesan approached the Goblin that was screaming, still on fire.
“Kiiiiik...”
With a final scream, the Goblin turns into a reward.
[You are victorious against the Bow-Wielding Goblin.]
Victory.
Taesan wiped his sweat and sat down. He started to relax his muscles, pressing on them all over his body.
“It was manageable.”
It wasn't easy. He had used two Paralysis Arrows and also consumed some Health. But it wasn't a life-threatening battle.
His Health and Mana were consumed quite a bit, but they were all recovered by the victory reward, and he hadn't used any Skills other than No Breath Attack and Fireball. It was a much smoother fight than expected.
As he progressed, the number of Goblins would increase and their equipment would get better, but since he would be gaining Stats through Soul Rank Ascension, it probably wouldn't get too difficult. Taesan began to check the Reward. His Level didn't go up.
Looking at his Experience, it seemed he would Level Up if he cleared one more room.
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has activated. Intelligence permanently increases by 1.] “How simple.”
The same message appeared four times. Taesan muttered unenthusiastically at the uniform System Window. Still, the increase in Intelligence wasn't bad.
He would get bonuses on various mental Judgments, and his Mana consumption would also decrease. It was an important Stat, as he would be using Skills more often from now on. And his Proficiency also steadily increased, finally changing the descriptions of a few skills.
[Special Passive Skill: Vision Expansion] [Proficiency: 20%] [You can obtain a wider field of view. It has slightly deviated from the human category.]
Usually, changes start to appear from the 20% range. The text 'It has slightly deviated from the human category' was added to Vision Expansion. In reality, Taesan could now perfectly see a 270-degree view, including his sides, which would normally be invisible.
He could probably perceive a little beyond things that blocked his view as well. It was a good change. On the 2nd Floor, multiple Goblins attack at once.
The chance of being surrounded and hit from behind was gone. Even after leaving the 2nd Floor, a wide field of view was always a good advantage. The description for Insight also changed.
[Special Passive Skill: Insight] [Proficiency: 24%] [You can grasp many things. It seems you can see through a creature's weaknesses. It seems you can also find hidden rooms. Very rarely, it informs you of important information.]
“Nice.”
Taesan mutters quietly. The change to Vision Expansion was good, but this was even better. Very rarely, it informs you of important information.
That one sentence has immense value here. In that it artificially created the luck needed to survive in the Labyrinth, its value when activated was on par with Fortitude. The Proficiency for Insight rose quite slowly, so he thought he would get this effect only after passing the 5th Floor at least, but it was much faster.
It was a pleasant miscalculation. And now for the items. Instead of giving meat and leather, Goblins dropped the equipment they were wearing at a certain rate.
A small shortsword and a small shield lay before Taesan.
“It's about time to change one.”
Equipment is bound to change as you advance through the floors. Taesan began to check them.