That's right, that's what adventure is like!

"Gulp!!!"

The remaining goblins finally realized what was happening, but instead of rushing forward, they retreated in fear—a sign of their cowardly nature.

That's exactly what Roland wanted.

It's not necessary to kill them all; just briefly delaying them from being surrounded is enough.

Almost the instant he killed the two goblins, he had already drawn the light metal crossbow from his waist.

call out--

The crossbow bolt pierced the air, its arrowhead, infused with paralyzing poison, cutting through the hot air rising from the iron pot. Yet, thanks to the rune's effect, its trajectory remained unchanged, precisely striking the goblin's turned head.

when!!!

Metal clashed, the arrow sparked as it struck the raised hammer, then fell limply to the ground.

A roar followed.

"Humans!!! How dare you!!!"

Roland ignored the awkward Common language, put away his crossbow, and with a white light emanating from his longsword, he slashed horizontally at the bear goblin's exposed neck with all his might.

Heavy Strike!

The wind howled, stirring up the dust in the cave. This sword strike gathered all the power he had accumulated over a long period of time. If it hit, it would surely pierce through the thick skin and cut into the blood vessels!

But the goblin reacted faster than Roland.

It didn't even retreat or dodge; instead, it slammed the spiked hammer, which had just deflected the crossbow bolt, downwards at incredible speed.

when!!!

The blade struck the hammer handle, and the recoil made Roland's arm go numb, almost causing him to lose his grip on the hilt.

What's even more astonishing is the strength of the bear goblin; it wielded its hammer with one hand and withstood the sword strike without moving an inch.

But that's alright, because Roland had a plan in place.

He used the momentum of the recoil to suddenly sink his body down, and then raised the blade diagonally upwards!

Parry and counterattack!

As he expected, the bear goblin never anticipated such a move, and was forced to raise his mace, exposing his defenseless chest!

Roland seized the opportunity, the blade continuing to move horizontally, sparks flying off the hammer handle, before pouring towards its neck!

puff-

Warm blood splattered, and the silver-gray blade trailed a trail of blood, successfully slicing through the thick layer of fat. Although it didn't kill in one blow, it was still a huge advantage!

"Aww!!!"

The bear goblin roared in pain and swung its mace, determined to smash the despicable human before it into mincemeat.

But Roland was faster!

The instant he ripped open the blood vessel, he didn't retreat but instead charged forward, crashing into the bear goblin's arms!

He narrowly avoided the force of the mace, then bent his knee and struck the bear goblin in the groin, while simultaneously extending his left hand, bypassing the monster's massive body, and heading straight for the javelin behind it!

The bear goblin sensed the direction the hand was heading, and then a sharp pain shot through his groin, causing his bloodshot amber pupils to dilate instantly.

"You, despicable—"

Roland ignored its painful roars, quickly grabbed the middle of the javelin, and then pulled with all his might!

"roll!!!"

The bear goblin finally had the strength to pull out his thick left hand, grab Roland's shoulder hard, and then violently throw him away!

boom--

Roland rolled on the filthy ground, knocking over the burning campfire, sending flames flying and illuminating the cave.

He stood up, his eyes showing no emotion, and he even had the energy to look down and assess his own condition.

Needless to say, he got the javelin, and all his actions were aimed at it. When he touched it, it wasn't cold, but warm, just as he expected—an extraordinary item. He just didn't know how effective it would be.

More importantly, his injuries, which weren't very noticeable when he fought that bald, burly man, are now extremely obvious.

Torn apart by the goblin, he fell to the ground, rolled several times, and finally crashed into the burning campfire, getting some scalding soup on his body.

But, he was completely unharmed!

"Indeed, money is the fastest way to improve combat power."

Roland gained a completely new understanding of the leather armor he was wearing, which now had some scorch marks.

After such a series of actions, if it were him in the past, even if he didn't break a bone, he would probably have suffered some minor injuries.

But now, whether he is being pulled or hit, he can clearly feel a gentle force that greatly reduces the force on his body and protects his vulnerable parts from injury.

Enchantment: Balanced Stance.

75 gold coins, well worth it.

He looked up again at the enemy ahead.

The goblin stood still, clutching his bleeding neck. He didn't rush forward, but instead looked warily at the javelin in Roland's hand.

It seemed to be well aware of the thing's power.

But Roland was unaware of this and did not throw the javelin, because he caught a glimpse of several dark green figures quietly approaching.

Those goblins who had been cowering at the entrance of the passage had somehow circled around to the side, holding spears and broken swords, their faces contorted with the madness of someone driven to the brink of despair.

"Gurgle—"

The bear goblin roared angrily, and the goblins trembled and pounced!

Instead of a siege, they retreated two steps, blocking all of Roland's escape routes!

"Grass……"

Roland cursed inwardly, feeling that this goblin was even more intelligent than he had thought, and even knew tactics.

This situation is slightly beyond our expectations.

The goblin grinned, revealing its menacing fangs, and raised the mace in its hand.

"Human," it said, "your flesh will be very tender."

boom--

The hammer flew out of his hand, twirled in the air, and smashed toward Roland's face.

It did not come over in person, fearing that getting too close would result in being hit by the javelin, and instead chose to throw it.

when!!!

Roland was about to dodge, but this time a rock flew from his side, forcing him to raise his sword to block it.

The force was fierce; although he blocked the blow, it still forced him back two steps, and his back almost collided with a spear handed to him by a goblin.

He whirled around, the silver-gray blade flashing as it sliced ​​across the goblin's neck.

puff-

One goblin fell, but more surrounded it. Three were facing the sword, two were flanking it, and one had already circled around to the back, holding a rusty dagger!

With his vision obscured, the goblin had somehow picked up the spiked hammer that had been deflected by the longsword and hurled it at Roland once more!

This time, you can't block it, you have to dodge!

The hammer came hurtling in, and Roland lunged forward, charging toward the goblin on his right!

laugh--

As the blade severed the head, the hammer smashed the brains of the goblin behind it, which was holding a dagger, and Roland sheathed his sword.

Yes, sheath the sword, not draw it!

What he was holding tightly in his hand was the javelin with its tip covered in intricate patterns!

This distance is just right!

All the muscles in the body were squeezed to their full potential, and the remaining strength stretched across the tendons and bones, finally converging in the arms.

The runes on the spear tip seemed to sense the throwing motion, and a dark red light flashed instantly, with a burning sensation running through the entire body from the fingertips.

The goblin saw the action clearly, and he also saw the lit-up runes.

"No--"

He roared, his massive body dodging to the side, while simultaneously commanding the goblins to stop Roland's movements.

But it was too late.

The moment the javelin left his hand, it transformed into a dark red streak of light, tearing through the air and piercing through thick flesh!

puff--

The rune javelin pierced through flesh and blood along its trajectory. The thick defense that the longsword could not penetrate was no match for it, and it pierced through the bear goblin's back in the blink of an eye.

"Aww..."

The bear goblin howled, clutching the bloody hole in its abdomen, and stumbled backward.

The javelin was still embedded in its body, but no blood flowed out. The dark red patterns on the exposed tip of the javelin became even brighter, as if it were drawing blood.

laugh.

With difficulty and pain, the bear goblin pulled the javelin out of his abdomen, planted it in the ground to steady himself, and stared intently at Roland.

"Human..." it said hoarsely, its voice slightly weak, "You... are very good..."

Roland remained silent, using his light crossbow to force back an approaching goblin, and then drew his longsword.

The bear goblin isn't dead yet, just a bit weak. That shot was originally aimed at his heart, but it missed.

It needs to be dealt another blow.

However, after taking just two steps forward, his expression suddenly changed.

Rumbling--

The ground is shaking.

It was very slight, but he noticed it.

The bear goblin was the same; it looked at the ground, its eyes flashing with a complex expression—resentment, anger, hatred… and a hint of relief.

"Humans..." It looked up again, staring at Roland, a grin spreading across its face. "It seems we're not having good luck today."

Roland didn't understand what he was saying; he simply gripped his sword hilt and cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

Then he saw it.

In the center of the cave, the soil is rising up.

Or rather, it was explosive!

boom!!!

The ground suddenly exploded, splashing wet soil everywhere, and a huge, multi-legged insect swarmed out.

Roland glanced at the thing and immediately fell silent.

"A burrowing worm!?"