NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Level Up!
The Hob Goblins moved erratically through the lower level of the broken building, their guttural noises echoing faintly amidst the hollow structure. Strange, high-pitched "Kie!" sounds punctuated their communication, mixed with low grunts and shuffles as they navigated the debris-strewn floors. Their sharp, red eyes gleamed in the dim light, scanning the area for threats.
One of the Hob Goblins paused, its ears twitching as a faint metallic clank resonated from somewhere nearby. It grunted, signaling its curiosity, and cautiously veered away from the group to investigate.
The lone creature's clawed feet crunched softly against the floor as it approached the source of the noise. A broken piece of steel lay near a crumbled wall, the faint glint of its edge catching the goblin's eye. Sniffing the air, its twisted mouth twitched, and its long ears flicked as it tried to catch any trace of danger.
Suddenly, the Hob Goblin spun around, its glowing red eyes wide with suspicion. Its body tensed as it scanned the empty hallway behind it. But there was nothing there—just the faint flicker of shadows and the dull hum of wind.
It hesitated for a moment, grunting softly, then turned back to the steel scrap.
That hesitation was its undoing.
A sharp, searing pain exploded through the Hob Goblin's skull as it was forced violently to the ground. The creature's head slammed into the cold, cracked floor, and its red eyes dimmed as its life ebbed away.
The last thing it saw before the world faded to black was a young human looming over it, his red hooded jacket billowing faintly as he yanked a blood-smeared arrow from the creature's head.
…..
Xavier let out a shaky sigh, his breath clouding in the cold air as he glanced down at the lifeless Hob Goblin beneath him. The arrow in his hand dripped dark, sticky blood. He wiped it against the goblin's ragged tunic before turning his gaze toward the glowing red message from his System hovering in the corner of his vision:
[You Leveled Up!]
The glow was almost comforting, a reminder of progress in this chaotic dungeon. Xavier smirked, clutching the arrow tighter as he silently congratulated himself. But his focus quickly returned. There were still more Hob Goblins nearby, and any lapse in attention could mean his death.
He opened his System Stats, watching as his attributes climbed incrementally:
[STAT INCREASE]
• Strength: +1
• Agility: +1
• Vitality: +1
• Intelligence: +1
• Sense: +1
[CURRENT LEVEL: 2]
Xavier flexed his hand experimentally, feeling a faint difference in his grip and balance. "It's starting to pay off," he muttered. But the arrow in his hand was looking worse for wear—splintered near the shaft, its durability clearly on its last legs.
Glancing down at the dead Hob Goblin, Xavier spotted a crude wooden club lying next to its corpse. He crouched, picking it up and examining it as the System provided its details:
[ITEM ACQUIRED]
Name: Crude Wooden Club
Rank: E
Description: A roughly carved weapon used by Hob Goblins. Durable but unbalanced. Suitable for close combat.
Xavier shrugged, stowing the club in his inventory with a flick of his wrist. "Better than nothing," he muttered as he resumed moving stealthily through the building.
Keeping low, Xavier crept between the shadows, silently counting his targets. Seven Hob Goblins remained on this floor—one less thanks to the ambush.
Spotting one of the creatures peering out through a shattered window, Xavier moved with practiced silence. The Hob Goblin's back was exposed, its attention focused on whatever it thought it saw outside. Xavier didn't waste the opportunity.
With one swift motion, he drove the arrow through the creature's back. The makeshift weapon punctured through its chest, blood spraying out as Xavier clamped a hand over its mouth to muffle its scream.
He barely had time to react before another Hob Goblin turned the corner. Xavier yanked the arrow free from the dead goblin's chest, spinning on his heel as the next goblin let out a startled cry.
Without hesitation, Xavier hurled the arrow mid-spin. The weapon sliced through the air with deadly precision, embedding itself clean through the Hob Goblin's skull. The creature crumpled to the floor, dead before it could register the attack.
Xavier stood upright, adrenaline coursing through him as the familiar chime of the System filled his ears:
[You Leveled Up!]
[You Leveled Up!]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 4]
He glanced at his stats again, marveling at how quickly he was growing. The boost in his attributes was almost intoxicating, the raw improvement palpable in his movements.
But his moment of victory was tempered by frustration when he noticed the arrow he'd thrown had snapped in half upon impact. He sighed, glancing down at the fallen goblins. Searching their bodies, he found something that made his heart race: a bow and a small quiver of arrows.
[ITEM ACQUIRED]
Name: Basic Goblin Bow
Rank: D
Description: A simple bow crafted from twisted wood. Effective for ranged combat but lacks durability.
Arrows: 12
Xavier smirked as he hefted the bow in his hand. "This… this could work," he murmured, excitement bubbling beneath his calm exterior.
Though he had never used a bow before—his only experience with arrows being the one he'd thrown moments ago—the weapon felt right in his hands. A rush of anticipation surged through him as he prepared himself for the next phase of the fight.
Peeking around a corner, he spotted the last five Hob Goblins milling about near the center of the floor.
He tightened his grip on the bow and muttered to himself, "Five more to go…"
Unbeknownst to Xavier, his eyes flickered faintly with an orange hue.