The Goblin Guard came through the gap in the doors. It's yellow eyes were fixated on the piece of cooked meat on the floor. It did not notice the towering figure waiting in the dark just beyond the doors until it was too late.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWEOLyHXc4
Mark struck with an impeccably timed military assault.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvI4p2veHD
He made no sound as he charged forward, driving his iron-tipped spear right into the goblin's neck. It was a fast, silent death blow.
[Critical Hit! You dealt 32 physical damage to Goblin Guard.]
It looked up at him in shock, it's mouth opening in a silent scream as the goblin tried to alert it's companions, but it's scream was silenced as Mark's weapon found it's throat, making it cough up a gobbet of blood. Mark withdrew his spear instantly and drove it forwards again, this time aiming for the center of it's chest
[You dealt 18 physical damage.]18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7g17d9265
[Enemy Defeated! Goblin Guard (Lv. 3) killed.]18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd0bluULRp
[You gained 50 Experience.]18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb6G3Eq9QP
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStfFIJBizI
It's body crumbled to ash on the ground.
Mark checked the minimap. Two red blips stood in the room inside the Guard Room, one next to the fire where the Taskmaster was sharpening his axe and the other was by the fire, roasting something. They had yet to notice their comrade's demise.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPbEK4jAUf
"One down," Mark muttered to himself. "Time to take out the second one."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomKoGLm1Ak
Mark knew he couldn't use the meat lure again. Goblins were dumb, but not stupid. If the second Goblin walked up to the meat and found it's comrade dead, it would raise the alarm. He needed to think of a different trap.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4CzSbPKo7
Mark stepped back into the hallway. He quietly opened the doors just enough to peak into the Guard Room. He took a moment to assess the situation. The second goblin was sitting cross-legged at the edge of the fire. It's back was facing the doorway to the hallway. That put it in Mark's sights.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxE1lVE8Zb
Mark took a moment to consider his options. He had taken out the first goblin with his spear, a weapon he knew well. But this was no regular goblin; this one had higher stats, meaning it's defenses and vitality were much higher. Besides, it was sitting across from the fire, meaning he had to get close if he wanted to take it out with his spear. That meant sneaking in and finishing it in close quarters. He could do it, but it would be a risk.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQJ44EtISH
In Earth, he had spent a lot of his time in the military, where he had excelled as a sniper with his M4 rifle. While the spear throwing was a different activity than shooting, the principles of marksmanship were the same. With that in mind, Mark gripped the iron-tipped spear in his right hand, sighting down the weapon.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioSG7ID7N1
He balanced the weight of the weapon in his hand, taking a deep breath as he sighted down his weapon. He took careful aim, center mass, and threw it. The wood shaft of his spear spun through the air, making a whipping sound as it flew.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8BhL4e3Uf
Thwack!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWPq65IJ0V
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmioQDJgQF3
It's iron tip buried itself in the goblin's spine.
[Critical Hit! Ranged Modifier Applied!] [You dealt 44 physical damage to Goblin Guard.]
The goblin gave a high-pitched scream of pain as it's spinal column was pierced. It fell backwards off of it's seat, landing on the dirt floor near the fire.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1qWJcfyZB
"What?!" The big brown goblin Taskmaster growled in his guttural language. He stood up from his seat, gripping his double-bladed iron battleaxe. He looked towards the fallen goblin, and then turned his head sharply, his yellow eyes taking in the sight of the dark room. Mark didn't stop behind the pillar. He had drawn his iron short sword from his belt as he ran out into the light of the fire, kicking up dust with every footfall.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5mqDLuiPp
The Taskmaster nearly took Mark's head off as he charged towards the fallen goblin, but Mark was fast. Before the Taskmaster could turn around completely, Mark was on top of the goblin. He drove his short iron blade downwards, slicing through it's neck to kill it.
[Enemy Defeated! Goblin Guard (Lv. 3) killed.] [You gained 50 Experience.] [Experience: 185/180 to Level 3. Level Up conditions met!]
A flash of golden light surrounded Mark for a second time.
[LEVEL UP!: You have leveled up to level 3!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmws8km9WVg
Health and Mana has been fully restored.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lWcFSbqL5
You have gained 5 Attribute Points to spend.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRC7v5CDI1
You have gained 1 Skill Point to spend.]
The timing was perfect. The light not only restored his health and mana, but it also gave him a surge of adrenaline before the next fight.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66Jp8MdDvp
Unfortunately for Mark, he didn't have time to revel in his level up. The Taskmaster had already turned around, and was charging towards him full-bore.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi8jqbmnRK
"Human worm!" The Taskmaster bellowed. The big goblin was surprisingly fast for his size, and he covered the distance between himself and Mark in seconds. He raised the big double-bladed battleaxe overhead, the weapon making a frightening sound as it swept down towards Mark's head.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkitLOUi5GN
Mark's Danger Sense screamed at him to get out of the way. He knew better than to try and parry the weapon with his short iron blade. Common sense told him his weapon would snap and his arms would dislocate upon impact. Instead, he rolled to the side, avoiding the brunt of the blow. The heavy double-bladed battleaxe impacted the dirt floor where he'd been standing, sending a shockwave of force through the room, sending bits of stone flying through the air.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczibgwjziY
Mark rolled back onto his feet, his heart pounding. He looked up at the Taskmaster, who was struggling to pull his weapon out of the floor. "An opening," Mark muttered. He took advantage of the goblin's indecision, and used his newly leveled up Agility to close the distance. He stuck his short sword forward, aiming for the gap in the Taskmaster's iron ring armor under his arm pits.
[You dealt 26 physical damage to Goblin Taskmaster.]
The Taskmaster growled in annoyance, ignoring the pain as he pulled his weapon up and out of the floor. He jerked it upwards, breaking the last bits of stone, before sweeping the heavy end of it horizontally across Mark's chest.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQNhFGAyyq
It sent a jolt of pain up his body, lifting him off of his feet and sending him flying backwards. He landed on some old wooden weapons racks, sending the brittle wood splintering around him.
[You received 35 physical damage! Current Health: 65/100]
Mark gasped as he felt his ribs, wincing as he tasted blood. If he hadn't put points into Constitution, those last few hits would've snapped his ribs and crushed his lungs. The Taskmaster grinned as he saw the human on the floor, his axe raised for another strike. Mark wiped the blood from his lips as he pushed himself off of the broken weapon racks. His Iron Will passive ability was suppressing the pain and the instinctual panic response, letting his mind think clearly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywkEoEeHJp
He checked his health percentage with a glance at his HUD. 65%. He couldn't take many more hits like that. He needed to take this goblin down fast. "System," he thought to himself, his eyes flicking over his HUD as he took in the view of the Taskmaster. "Open Skill Tree!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9J0xW9kTd
He still had the extra skill point from his last level up. He had a lot of options. He needed to pick something that would help him survive or kill the Taskmaster fast.
[AVAILABLE SKILLS]
Heavy Strike (Active - Level 1) Cost: 10 Mana. Your next melee attack deals 150% physical damage. Cooldown: 10 seconds.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybmMvVPKlN
Sprint (Active - Level 1) Cost: 5 Mana. Increases your movement speed by 30%. Duration: 5 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbus5KVA53f
He didn't need a speed boost. He needed something to finish this fight quickly. "Learn Heavy Strike," Mark muttered.
[Skill Learned: Heavy Strike (Level 1)]
The Taskmaster was nearly upon him, raising the double-bladed battleaxe over his shoulder. He was smiling as he prepared his finishing blow. Mark didn't move backwards this time. He knew running would tire him out eventually, and he would likely make a mistake. He would have to end this fight in close quarters. He waited until the very last moment and then shifted his body to the side. The Taskmaster's axe nearly took his head off, but it instead caught his right shoulder, biting into his leather vest. At the same time, Mark gripped his short iron sword with both hands and invoked the skill he had just learned.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGFcGOxrFJ
"Heavy Strike!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHszYx6nq6
A blue aura surrounded the short blade. Mark could feel the mana flow through his arms as he roared, driving the glowing short sword up and into the Taskmaster's gaping throat.
and then Add to home screen.