432 A windfall that shocks the mind!
Upon the wall, the hobgoblin was fastened with a sword that had been plunged into its body. Despite the agony of impalement, the hobgoblin did not succumb to the grasp of death easily. With sheer determination, it clutched the hilt of the sword with its hand and struggled to pull it out.
As Roy observed the hobgoblin’s fierce attempt to free itself, his mind was consumed with contemplation. He remained silent, watching the creature with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.
“Your unwavering courage in the face of death is truly commendable,” Roy remarked. However, his admiration for the hobgoblin was short-lived, as his intentions were far from sparing its life. “But in your demise lies my glory. So you must die. Do not blame me. Blame fate for pitting you against me.”
Saying this, Roy raised his hand, and a burst of red and emerald light ignited around his palm. The radiant energy coalesced into a bright, blazing orb that glimmered with hues of green and red. As he infused more and more level-9 fire into it using his second soul herding ability, night’s miracle, the sphere of fiery energy grew in size, its intense heat causing the air around it to shimmer and flicker.
“This is the end,” Roy said as he brought his hand down, hurling the blazing orb towards the hobgoblin.
The creature, still struggling to free itself from the sword, was had no way to dodge the fiery projectile hurtling towards it. It could only watch with wide eyes as death approached it rapidly, its long life flashing before its eyes.
Bomb!
The bright, incandescent ball of fire exploded on impact, unleashing a torrent of searing flames that engulfed the hobgoblin.
The fiery inferno was so intense that it obliterated the creature’s body, reducing it to ashes within moments, and the force of the blast was so powerful that it tore through the wall behind the hobgoblin, sending debris and dust flying in all directions.
『Ding! Congratulations! You have killed the rank-2 dungeon boss.』
『You have earned 20k experience points, +15 STR, +13 AGT, and +20 STA!』
『As this is your first time defeating a dungeon boss, you shall receive a bonus reward. You have earned the Skill, Flash Step!』
『You have successfully completed the quest!』
『The ownership of the fragmented world will soon be transferred to you!』
『You have gained 1× Dungeon Escape Talisman!』
Roy received notifications from the system, informing him of the rewards he had obtained from killing the Hobgoblin and completing the dungeon. His mind, however, was preoccupied, and his attention was elsewhere.
The flames were raging on relentlessly, spewing forth thick smoke that filled the air and shrouded everything in the room in a murky haze. Afraid that Delilah would be hurt if this went on, Roy quashed the flames with a flicker of his mind, effortlessly demonstrating his incredible control over every blaze that he had conjured. The acrid stench of burning flesh, however, still remained in the huge cavern-like chamber, refusing to dissipate even after the fire had subsided.
Delilah choked on it, coughing hard, and it didn’t escape Roy’s attention. His protective instinct kicked in, and he didn’t waste a moment before reacting.
Roy walked up to her with swift and decisive strides. He reached out and firmly grasped her arm, tugging her towards him in a protective embrace. As he held her close, his other hand began to rub soothing circles on her back, trying to ease her discomfort.
Delilah’s heart skipped a beat as she felt Roy’s warm embrace. She could feel the strength in his arms, the comfort in his touch. It was as if he was a fortress, a safe haven, protecting her from the world outside. She couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her stomach, wondering if Roy knew the impact his actions had on her.
“I am fine now. You can let go,” Delilah said with a grateful smile, her voice filled with relief.
“Mm-hmm,” Roy responded, satisfied to see her unharmed.
“I didn’t get to say it before, but nice work,” Delilah added, her tone conveying the admiration and respect she had for him. “You really showed that creature who’s boss.”
All of a sudden, a searing sensation materialized on the posterior part of Roy’s hand, jolting him with a fierce and agonizing intensity that was akin to a sharp-edged dagger piercing through his flesh. His gaze was swiftly transfixed towards the source of the torment, revealing a sight that was both bewildering and unsettling.
A small patch of his skin, as if being consumed by an unseen inferno, was gradually disintegrating into oblivion, giving way to a mysterious and arcane transformation that was unfolding right before his eyes. To his amazement, he beheld the emergence of a new, intricate tattoo, which resembled the likeness of a goblin’s visage.
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1: You can enter or exit the Goblin’s Grotto as you like.
2: You can pull anyone inside the Goblin’s Grotto with a thought! The target must be in your sight for this skill to work. It will cost you energy. The cost will depend on the number and strength of the target!
3: You can open a portal that can lead anyone outside the Goblin’s Grotto. The place where a person will be teleported depends on where the Goblin’s Grotto is placed.
4: You can store the Goblin’s Grotto in the insignia of the fragmented world. This will allow you to carry it with you.
5: You can place the Goblin’s Grttot wherever you like.
6: The Fraganented world will create one low-level goblin warrior a day, one goblin archer every week, and one goblin mage every month! The chances of a Hobgoblin being born depend on luck.
7: You can feed the fragmented world by pouring a thousand units of mental energy, aka the Power of the Sun and Moon, and a hundred units of Life Energy into the insignia in order to hasten the production of goblins.
8: You can force the creation of a Hoboglin by using a thousand points of Life Energy.
9: You have gained access to the map of the fragmented world.
A look of utter surprise and astonishment overtook Roy’s countenance as if a sudden bolt of lightning had struck him with an unexpected revelation. It was not the fact of him becoming the master of the fragmented world that caused this reaction, but rather the unforeseen and unforetold benefits that came with it, that left him reeling in incredulity. His lips parted in a gaping expression of amazement as he struggled to comprehend the full extent of his newfound power and the vast array of advantages that it had bestowed upon him.
Delilah couldn’t help but notice the distinct change in Roy’s demeanor. The expression on his face was unmistakably one of sheer astonishment as if he had just stumbled upon something completely unexpected. It was a look she had never seen on him before, and she couldn’t help but wonder what could have possibly caused such a reaction.
“Hahahahaha!”
Just then, Roy burst into a fit of laughter, his voice resounding throughout the chamber and reverberating off the walls. His joy was contagious, and Delilah found herself smiling along with him.
“What made you so happy?” she asked.
“I have hit the jackpot, Delilah. This dungeon is actually a fragmented world, and I seem to have become its master. This insignia that you see here can store the entire fragmented world. It allows me to carry the Goblin’s Grotto with me!” Roy replied.
He honestly felt as if his wildest dream had suddenly come true.
“Congratulations! I’m so happy for you! You deserve it!” Delilah exclaimed as she hugged him tightly.
“I really appreciate your warm congratulations, Delilah. Your unwavering support throughout this journey has been invaluable to me. Thank you!” Roy said with a beaming smile as he hugged her back.
“Don’t say that! You could have obviously done it without me! I have just been a burden.” Delilah said, her voice trailing off at the end.
“Don’t put yourself down. You were my rock, Delilah. In this god-forsaken place, just having you by my side was more than enough. I owe you a lot. I want to reward you, not just as your lord but also as your friend and lover. There’s still the treasure chest left. Maybe we’ll find something special for you in it,” Roy said, trying to find a way to show his appreciation.
Delilah’s eyes lit up at the prospect of receiving a reward.
“Let’s go and see what treasures we can find in it! I can’t wait!” she exclaimed, her smile widening.
In the farthest nook of the chamber, nestled cozily in the shadows, laid the golden treasure chest. Its exterior was intricately crafted, and it was adorned with carvings of mythical creatures and precious stones.
It was evident that this was no ordinary container, for it had been carefully locked and required a specific key to unveil its secrets.
Roy’s remembered seeing a key hanging from the Hobgoblin’s neck. It was most likely used to unlock the treasure chest. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by the flame that burned the Hoboglin to ashes.
‘I am left with no option but to create one myself.’ Roy thought as he held out his hand. A flurry of darkness began to gather at the center of his palm. The swirling darkness danced and fused together, coalescing into the shape of a key, a perfect fit for the keyhole of the treasure chest.
As he placed the key into the lock, Delilah’s heart pounded with anticipation. She took a deep breath as he turned the key.
Click!
A satisfying “click” was heard as the lock was released.
The lid of the chest creaked open, revealing the dazzling treasure inside.