Chapter 7: This is No Goblin, It’s a Monster
921 Words
A ring of children, barely taller than Alex, quickly encircled him. They wore matching uniforms with curved blades strapped to their belts. Though their faces were youthful, Alex immediately sensed they weren’t your average kids.
The chatter started almost immediately.
“So this is a goblin? It’s so... tiny,” one whispered, craning their neck to get a better look.
“I heard goblins eat kids!” another said, eyeing Alex's claws with a mix of curiosity and dread. “Look at those!”
“I bet I could take on ten of him!” a braver child declared, puffing out their chest.
Alex’s eye twitched. Where did these noisy little creatures come from? he thought. Did they think I was some harmless pet? Goblins were dangerous, not petting zoo animals! Didn't their parents teach them any better?
His gaze drifted toward the two instructors who were watching the spectacle. One was a tall man with an unkempt beard, his intense eyes studying Alex with a look that said, "I'm entertained, but I’m also evaluating you." The amusement in his expression only made Alex’s irritation grow.
Mocking me, are we? Alex clenched his fists. No, he wouldn’t harm the kids, but a little scare couldn’t hurt. He smirked, thinking about how he could make the most of this moment.
Before he could decide which kid to start with, the scruffy instructor spoke up.
“Whoever defeats this goblin first gets an extra ten points on their exam!” Ray’s voice boomed, and his announcement caused a ripple of excitement among the kids.
One eager boy immediately lunged forward. “I’ll go first!”
The boy’s foot flared with a faint aura of energy as he aimed a precise kick at Alex’s throat. Alex barely blinked. With one flick of his wrist, he caught the boy’s ankle mid-air, holding him there like a dangling fish.
“Ah! Help! Instructor Jacob!” the boy yelped in panic.
The instructors exchanged surprised glances. That kick had been charged with energy—strong enough to take down a regular goblin. Yet Alex had stopped it as easily as swatting a fly.
Before anyone could react, Instructor Jacob sprang into action, his body radiating white energy. He swept his leg in a fierce arc, aiming for Alex’s face. With one hand still holding the boy, Alex raised his other arm and deflected the strike with casual ease.
Jacob stumbled back, eyes wide in disbelief. “What... kind of goblin is this?”
Not to be deterred, Jacob charged again, this time unleashing a "Treading Horse Kick"—a move capable of shattering rocks. Alex simply raised his forearm and blocked it effortlessly, sending a ripple of shock through the crowd.
The children stared in disbelief. Their instructor, usually so composed and powerful, had been thrown off balance and forced to retreat. Goblins were supposed to be weak, right?
The kids, who had been full of bravado moments ago, now shifted uneasily, whispering amongst themselves.
“I... I want to go back to school,” one muttered, his face pale.
“I don’t care if I fail the exam,” another whispered, glancing nervously at Alex.
“Help!” the first boy continued to shout, his voice cracking. His attempts to wriggle free were futile—Alex’s grip was like iron.
Jacob prepared to step forward again, but before he could, Ray moved in. His body was suddenly enveloped in a golden aura, and with a roar, he swung a massive fist toward Alex, his punch crackling with concentrated energy.
Alex simply blocked the strike with a calm, almost lazy precision, making Ray’s face twist with irritation. Ray threw a flurry of rapid punches and kicks, each move packed with enough force to send any regular goblin flying.
Yet Alex didn’t even flinch. He swayed with the blows, his stance like a mountain, unyielding.
Ray finally stopped, breathing heavily. Every punch had been parried with ease. Clearly, this wasn’t the goblin he had expected.
“Kids, step back!” Ray barked, drawing a massive black-bladed sword from his back. Blackfang, the legendary sword forged from dark steel, known for cutting through beasts with terrifying power.
The children scrambled back, their faces pale.
Ray lifted the sword with both hands, and Alex, ever the curious one, raised an eyebrow. Now this, at least, should be interesting.
With a battle cry, Ray swung Blackfang in a wide arc, the blade crackling with energy, aiming directly for Alex’s neck.
Alex caught it. With one hand.
Ray froze. His sword, a weapon capable of cleaving through almost anything, was now trapped in Alex’s grip, unable to budge.
Impossible.
Ray’s eyes widened in shock. This wasn’t a goblin. This was something else entirely. A monster.
Unfazed, Alex inspected the weapon in his hand with a casual interest, as if it were no more dangerous than a child’s toy. He smiled.
“Not bad,” he murmured just loud enough for Ray to hear, then flicked his wrist.
With a swift motion, he ripped the sword from Ray’s grasp and tossed it aside.
Ray stumbled back, unarmed and pale. He had poured everything into that strike, every ounce of his strength, yet now he stood defenseless before the goblin who had just reduced him to nothing.
The kids looked on, their jaws slack. Their supposed “enemy” had just taken their instructor’s weapon away like it was a mere twig.
Ray’s heart raced. What had he just gotten them into?
- Writer
