"Phew..." I breathe out a wisp of mana. 

After absorbing what I can, I feel a surge in senses and power. Simply exerting an explosive clench ejects a trembling snap. I gaze at my fist, steam pouring out between my fingers. 

As if something was unclogged, my senses infiltrate across the room, relaying information of every bit. 

My harvest fortified my lower energy core with layers of mana and established my middle and upper energy core, transcending me into a new being. 

-----------

Loi Krist

Fate: 88120

Role: Background Character 

Karma: 10090

Third Stage of Refinement Realm 

The first level of Sword Intent

Talent:

-Sword Tier 8(150000)

-Magic Tier 6 (70000)

-Cultivation Tier 3(500000)

-Speed Tier 5 (80000)

-Stealth Tier 7(95000)

Attributes:

-Holy Tier 2(30000)

-Darkness Tier 1(20000)

-Strength Tier 1(100000)

Skills:

-Quick Casting

-Death Sixth Sense 

-Calm Mind 

----------- 

The third stage...that means the goblin was at least a realm above me. 

A miracle? I don't think so. It was my persistence and experience but let's not flatter myself. It wasn't in its right mind and I would lose in normal circumstances.

I walk to the end of the throne. The pile of bones collapsed, throwing the golden crown aside. I dig my hands into the bones and pull out an ordinary-looking rock. This should be the key. 

The moment I infuse mana within it, an intensity of overwhelming exhilaration floods my senses. As if a veil has been lifted to expose a new world of detail, a tsunami of information rushes through my mind. I can see and hear anything in this kingdom if I put my heart to it. Moreover, I obtain full control of the traps and hidden passages in this place. 

...

The throne room trembles and a section of the walls pulls back and slides up, revealing a gate to whatever secret lies beyond. 

I walk through the narrow passageway and find a small golden chest. 

!

Flip open the lid and there lies a small ring. I wear it and infuse mana. I sense one vague item in the ring. The thought of bringing it out materializes a meticulous magic circle, every strand of mana crafted into a beautiful art symbol. 

A small piece of cloth appears from it, suffering from time and wear, frayed threads unravel along the edges as stain and disfigurement mar the surface. The fragility seems to be torn from something, a small fragment of the full content. 

On one side, weird drawings of irregular lines and crosses bombard the content. On the other, it seems to be a small message: One can be many, yet many can be one. 

...?

Without more context, this can be interpreted as anything. Is this...the map to the Tears of The World? It can be anything. I keep the cloth back into the ring and stash the ring in the small bag hooked to my belt. 

"Kuku..."

The sounds of faraway goblins emerge. Many maniac footsteps and giggles pollute my ears. 

I examine my body's condition and find myself adequately recovered. Thus, I close the passageway and stand amidst the throne room, awaiting the sea of monsters that eventually squeeze through the entrance, forming an expanding wall churning towards me. The looming shadow engulfs my presence, framing the massive hordes of mindless goblins. 

A gleaming aura burns from my hilt, pulling out an eruption of might, painting several curving cuts through the legion.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!* 

The power throws the goblins into shambles, crashing the entrance with piles of bodies. 

A hobgoblin bashes through the pile into showers of blood and meat before diving its fist above me. I open my hand and receive the impact in my palm, digging my fingers into muscles and bones. 

"KROOUUGHH??!"

The hobgoblin hops back from blood and pain sprawling from its fingers, the trauma of red imprinted. 

A smile slides on my face. 

"Hoh?!" I gasp.

Spectacular enchantment! My body feels anew! 

Glittering aura zaps through the air, executing a hole through the dazed hobgoblin. 

Surrounded by piles of meat, I stretch my body and mentally check myself. I don't feel any changes to my personality. Good.

I've lost track of how long I was here, I shall return to the village quickly. 

==========================

Several layers of wooden barriers are erected around a small village, spears and spikes projecting from the frame. Small Palisades protect the parameters of many cottages and small history. The knights dispatched, albeit small in size, were appointed militia leaders to lead the defence, arming many villagers with pitchforks, axes, and bows. 

For the past few days, their continuous efforts to help the villagers bonded their ties, putting forth the true heroes of the small community. 

"ROARGHH!!" A hobgoblin slams down on Masoc's shield with a club above him, unleashing an impact capable of levelling nature. 

"NGH!!" Masoc falls to his knees, his teeth gritted with blood and his body trembling. 

Issac jumps in and slashes the hobgoblin from behind. His sword fails to cut through the monster's neck. 

"Damn!" Issac pulls back the sword and rolls away before the force of a goliath mashes him into the ground. 

Kaden's blade pitches in, slashing the joints and heels. Albeit unable to cut deep enough, Aeon joins in, completing Kaden's art. 

"ARGHHH!!" The hobgoblin stumbles, dropping the club. Issac takes the honour to shove his blade through its eyes, finally killing the hobgoblin. 

Other villagers team up to deal with the raging goblins. 

One stalls the goblin's movement while another finishes the monster. 

The collective effort and efficiency erected a fortress. With piles of bodies and massive casualties on the goblin's end, things are looking to be in the favour of the village. However, this is the third day of constant attacks and fatigue increments. 

"Huff huff..." Issac glances at the others as he pulls his sword out of the hobgoblin. "Alright, everything seems okay." He mumbles. 

At that moment, he catches two more hobgoblins emerging from the forest. 

Issac furrows his brow and steps back in shock. "Fuck my mouth..." He curses. 

He checks up on his team, exhaustion consumes everyone. It took everything to take down just one hobgoblin.

Issac trembles and his vision blurs. He must now make a decision. To abandon the village and survive or stall for time for the villagers to run. It didn't take him a second to decide. 

"Leave! Leave with the villagers, I will try to buy as much time as possible with my life!" Issac turns and says. 

"No!" Masoc retorts despite being out of breath.

"Issac, we are not leaving you!" Kaden says. 

Aeon nods in agreement. 

Issac clenches his fist. 

"Then-"

*BOOM!!!!!!* 

!!!!

Every single person's attention flies to the loud crash which erupted a cloud of dirt and mud. 

"What...?" A villager mumbles. 

From the dust, an aura blinks out, shredding the second hobgoblin into seven chunks. 

The light rapidly zooms around the battlefield, killing many goblins and instantly ending the battle. 

My squad throws multiple glances at each other and back at the battlefield. "Is that..." 

Issac's eyes widen. "It's captain! Sir Loi is back!!" 

I crash my momentum to an area beside my squad and smile. "Good job for defending the village when I'm gone."

"T-Thank you, sir," Issac replies, still in awe. In their eyes, I simply teleported before them.