SWNOVELXO Chapter 17: Level Up! (2)
Xavier crouched low, his breaths shallow and controlled as he pressed himself against the cold, cracked wall. The five remaining Hob Goblins moved with a jittery, unsettling energy, their sharp, pointed ears twitching at the slightest sound. Their guttural "Kie!" sounds punctuated the oppressive silence, each noise a reminder of their unnerving coordination.
From his vantage point, Xavier watched as two of the creatures prowled near a pile of rubble in the center of the floor, their crude weapons clutched tightly. The other three were spread out across the room, scanning the shadows with glowing red eyes. Xavier's fingers brushed against the bow in his hand, the faint creak of the wood grounding him.
Step One: Isolate
His target was one of the Hob Goblins wandering near the far corner, distracted by the wreckage of an overturned filing cabinet. Its movements were sluggish, its back turned to Xavier. Slowly, he notched an arrow, the familiar weight of the weapon starting to feel more natural.
With steady hands, he drew back the string, the faint creak of tension vibrating in his ears. A single, deep breath steadied him as he aimed for the base of the Hob Goblin's neck.
Release.
The arrow zipped through the air with a soft whistle, striking true. The Hob Goblin jerked forward, letting out a strangled croak before collapsing onto the floor in a heap.
Xavier wasted no time. He darted forward, snatching the arrow from the creature's corpse and retreating into the shadows. As he ducked behind a broken desk, his System chimed in his peripheral vision:
[You Leveled Up!]
• Strength: +1
• Agility: +1
• Vitality: +1
• Intelligence: +1
• Sense: +1
[CURRENT LEVEL: 5]
Xavier grinned, feeling the surge of energy ripple through him. His muscles felt tauter, his reflexes sharper, but there was no time to savor the moment. One of the Hob Goblins let out a questioning grunt, its sharp ears twitching as it scanned the room.
...
Step Two: Hide
The Hob Goblin's head snapped toward Xavier's direction, sniffing the air. Its clawed feet scraped against the floor as it started moving closer. Xavier ducked lower, pressing himself flat against the ground, his heart hammering in his chest.
The goblin's shadow stretched across the wall above him, growing larger as it neared. It grunted again, sniffing at the air, its beady red eyes darting back and forth.
Xavier held his breath. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, threatening to fall and betray him with the faintest sound.
The Hob Goblin stopped just short of his hiding spot, its ears twitching again.
Xavier's mind raced. Think. Move. Do something. Slowly, his hand slid to his inventory, retrieving the wooden club.
With one sharp motion, he surged forward, swinging the club upward in a brutal arc. The jagged wood smashed into the Hob Goblin's jaw, shattering bone and sending it crumpling to the floor.
Another sharp chime echoed in his mind:
[You Leveled Up!]
• Strength: +1
• Agility: +1
• Vitality: +1
• Intelligence: +1
• Sense: +1
[CURRENT LEVEL: 6]
Xavier exhaled sharply, wiping the blood-streaked club against the goblin's tunic. He froze as another "Kie!" sounded from the other side of the room.
A third Hob Goblin was approaching fast, its weapon—a rusted, jagged axe—gleaming in the faint light. Xavier bolted, diving behind a shattered pillar as the creature let out an enraged screech.
...
Step Three: Repeat.
The Hob Goblin charged, its heavy footsteps rattling the floor. Xavier waited, muscles coiled, and just as the creature rounded the pillar, he spun, thrusting the club upward with all his strength. The jagged edge struck the goblin's temple, the force of the blow sending it sprawling backward.
Before it could rise, Xavier snatched an arrow from his quiver, drove it into the creature's throat, and twisted.
The goblin gurgled, its clawed hands flailing before falling limp.
[You Leveled Up!]
• Strength: +1
• Agility: +1
• Vitality: +1
• Intelligence: +1
• Sense: +1
[CURRENT LEVEL: 7]
Xavier glanced at the last two Hob Goblins, now fully aware of the threat. They moved in unison, one covering the other as they advanced cautiously.
"This just got harder," Xavier muttered.
Xavier retreated deeper into the shadows, his mind racing for a strategy. He spotted a cluster of loose debris—a precariously balanced chunk of concrete hanging over the Hob Goblins' path.
A plan formed.
Notching an arrow, Xavier aimed high, pulling the string taut. His muscles burned as he held the tension, waiting for the perfect moment.
The Hob Goblins stepped beneath the debris.
Release.
The arrow struck the weakened support beam, and the chunk of concrete gave way with a deafening crash. Dust and debris filled the air as one of the Hob Goblins was crushed beneath the rubble.
The surviving goblin let out a furious roar, its glowing eyes locking onto Xavier.
It charged.
Xavier drew his bow, but the Hob Goblin was too fast, closing the distance before he could fire. He rolled to the side as the creature's jagged blade smashed into the ground where he'd been standing.
Springing to his feet, Xavier swung the wooden club, but the Hob Goblin caught the blow with its axe, snarling as it pushed him back.
Xavier staggered, his mind racing. He needed to end this—now.
The Hob Goblin lunged again, its axe slicing through the air. Xavier ducked, the blade grazing the edge of his hood. With a desperate burst of speed, he sidestepped, spinning behind the goblin and slamming the club into its knee.
The creature howled, stumbling forward. Xavier seized the moment, grabbing an arrow and driving it into the base of its skull.
The Hob Goblin froze, a strangled gasp escaping its lips before it collapsed.
…..
[You Leveled Up!]
• Strength: +1
• Agility: +1
• Vitality: +1
• Intelligence: +1
• Sense: +1
[CURRENT LEVEL: 8]
Xavier collapsed against the wall, his chest heaving as the tension drained from his body. His hands were trembling, his blood pumping with the exhilaration of survival.
The room was eerily quiet now, the once-deadly Hob Goblins lying lifeless around him. Xavier's eyes flicked to the faint red glow of his System, a satisfied grin pulling at his lips.
He'd survived. And he was stronger for it.
For now, though, he needed to rest. There was no telling what lay beyond this floor.