Ding!

[F ranked Mission: Green Elder]

Difficulty: E

Clear conditions:

Defeat the F ranked Goblin Chief: Incomplete (0/1)

Time limit: None

Rewards:

500 Points

Goblin’s Ear

Returning to Waterloo

“Dipping our toes? More like taking candy from a baby. I thought you wanted us to practise our teamwork, I can do this in my sleep.” Avery pulled her bow from her hip, her expression and stance changed as if a flip was switched. She was no longer the perky girl at Waterloo Station, she was now a Hunter. A human who tackled Gates, fought Monsters and saved lives. Unlike the normal citizens who were thrown into this chaotic world, she was ready. The Gates seemed like they had prepared Hunters for this.

Dean swiped the Mission window away with his fingertips and surveyed his surroundings. They had been taken to a forest. The area was full of tall fat trees, the red soil was rich with blue vegetation. It was truly a place loved by mother nature from another world. As he was moving his eyes and taking in the surroundings, they landed on Mary. The poor old woman was visibly shaking with fear, the new foreign land a reminder of the dangers that could be around. Though it was pretty to some, the otherworldly surroundings were an eerie sight for others. It seemed ‘off’. He moved over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, she looked into his eyes. “Steel yourself. We’ll be fine.”

After that, he turned away and summoned a blue piece of candy. The small, sweet sphere dropped into his hand and then he crushed it in a fist and poured the powder into his mouth. His tired haggard appearance loosened; the signs of age that worsened from his exhaustion had faded and his dark bags became lighter, it was as if he had had a pleasant rest. Avery looked at him in surprise as he swallowed the powder, “Where did you get that?”

Dean turned to her and winked “From a friend.” The blue piece of candy Dean took was an ‘Angel’s Tear’, a consumable D ranked magical item that restores fatigue. It couldn’t be used that often though as it pushed the body past it’s limits. There was a case of a Hunter who stayed awake for a week taking them, he passed away from a heart attack soon after he took the eighth Angel’s Tear. After this, the Angel’s Tears were banned from being sold. The only way to obtain one now was to know someone who had acquired it illegally or to defeat an Undead Divine… but Dean would be dead if he challenged one of those. Avery shook the idea out of her head, Arthur must have known someone who had some, that’s all.

“You better be careful with those; they can kill you.” Avery warned him, she shook her head in disappointment.

“Don’t worry, I know. We should get in a formation, Mary in the centre, Avery at the back, Me at the front.” Dean told the other two as he brandished his steel pipe.

“Someone’s been keeping up with their textbooks.” Avery laughed with her mouth covered.

Dean rolled his eyes and the three of them got into formation. Mary was a little slow moving, but Dean was sure she would improve after they levelled up her stats a little. Then as Mary went past Avery, a rustle came from some blue bushes ahead of Dean. Avery, already alert, quickly summoned an arrow into her hand and shot it into the bush. The arrow flew between Mary and Dean as it embedded itself into the bush. And then with a thud, it confirmed it pierced something meaty. A shriek emanated from the bush, followed by something flopping out headfirst. It was a small goblin covered in the red dirt and blue vegetation, gripped tightly in its hand was a crude dagger.

“A goblin scout. These goblins are organised, there’s not supposed to be goblin scouts with this level. There must be a Goblin General…” Avery opened up her Mission Window and inspected the details, but nothing had changed. It only mentioned to take out one Goblin Chief and the difficulty was still E. If there was a Goblin General than it should at least be D, things were starting to feel suspicious.

Avery took a moment to think, “Guys, we should be alright as long as we don’t alert them. Keep low.”

Dean nodded in response; however, Mary’s concern was getting worse. She couldn’t help but worry, they’d only just arrived in the terrifying mission, and things were already looking dire. But she caught herself before her breathing became too heavy, reminding herself that she was no coward, and how she believed in her two teammates. They seemed plenty capable, especially with that shot Avery just took; it was almost as if the arrow had curved around her and Dean. She thought about Tabby and wondered if she was doing okay. She was sure her baby would do fine on her own for a while, she was a street cat before Mary had adopted her. She knew this deep down, but still had her worries.

“Should we continue? We have practice to do if we want to help White.” The two nodded in response to Dean. They continued on through the woods in a low profile, no point in twirling their thumbs waiting for danger.

…

Deeper into the forest, a makeshift fort sat against the bottom of a huge tree. The walls were made from sharp pieces of wood tied together by purple vines. Outside the fort skulls from various creatures hung from trees nearby. The skulls were less of a warning, but more of the way to boast about their strength. A way to show off. However, the fort wasn’t well kept, it was filthy and looked as if it could fall apart at any moment.

Inside the fort, goblins roamed the grounds keeping watch for intruders. Their weapons and equipment were crudely made and rusted. The goblins spoke in an unearthly tribal language, it sounded much more animalistic than human. At the back of the fort, close to a tree that stood as a sturdy support, sat a large tent made from leather. In the Tent a Goblin, much taller than the one from before, laid crouched over, groaning in pain. Another rushed in, worry and dread was deeply engrained in its face. Speaking in the ominous language it asked “Leader, are you okay?!?” The large Goblin replied with a groan. It’s back cracked and contorted, it’s vile green face covered in sweat and full of anguish. The smaller goblin was its right-hand man; it looked short compared to the Chief, but in fact was more than 6 foot tall. The right-hand watched over the tribe while the Chief was ill. After the leader fell ill, and the small goblin took charge, it had been promoted to a Goblin General. It did everything it could to improve the tribe, but without the Chief they’ll be chaos to control.

The right-hand went closer, a bucket of cold water in one hand and a damp towel in the other. “Leader, please. Let me cool you down.” As the right-hand placed a towel on its back, suddenly the Leader grabbed its partners head with it’s clawed long fingers and ripped out its neck with its fangs. Before the Goblin had a chance to react, its eyes went dim. Blood gushed down its neck. After the leader had its first bite, it continued to chew into the Goblin. Its teeth easily broke through its mediocre iron Armor, the bones and metal cracked and crushed in its mouth. As it continued to devour the corpse, its green skin started to dye a deep red. Black marks that looked like mystic tattoos were sprouting against its crimson body.

…

Still deep inside the forest, Dean, Avery, and Mary were making their way to the Goblin Chief. Trying to keep as low a profile as they took out another patrol of Goblin scouts. Slowly gaining experience as a team, things were sailing smoothly for them, and then a black window appeared in front of Dean.

[Adjusting Mission Parameters]

[Side Mission Add-on: Green Elder]

Clear conditions:

Defeat the D ranked Goblin Glutton: Incomplete (0/1)

Time limit: None

Rewards:

800 Points

Goblin’s Ear

Gluttonous Dagger

Returning to Waterloo

“Crap…”

“What?” Avery asked.

“…check your missions.”

Avery and Mary opened their missions. Avery’s eyes went wide, “…We’re not ready for this.”

She started to chew on her thumb nail.

“Will we be okay?” Mary asked.

“D Ranked boss for 800 points and one more reward, it’s not even worth it. How the hell did the mission change…”

Dean was lost for words; he didn’t know what this System was and why it sometimes randomly adjusted missions. But one thing was for sure, if his last mission was anything to go by, then this reward would definitely be worth their struggle. The last reward had helped him in the three days he had trained with Arthur. He chose to not tell the other two it was his fault things changed, it would just ruin moral. Finishing this Mission was what was important right now. They had to form a new plan. “Do you know anything about this boss, Avery?”

She looked at Dean, her thumb still being chewed in her mouth. “Goblin Gluttons are fat grotesque things, with jaws that can get through anything. They have an appetite like no other… They’ll even eat their own kind- “

“Do they have a weakness?” Dean cut in. If she kept on about its strengths then it would just increase their anxieties about the situation.

“Yes, fire. For something that likes to eat. It can’t handle a bit of spice.”

“Spice?”

Avery let out a monotoned laugh, “That was a joke, but actual fire will do the trick.”

“So, we just burn the forest?” Mary gave Dean a disturbed look. Burning this whole place down? Wouldn’t they also burn or suffocate from carbon dioxide.

“No, it’s heart needs to be pierced with fire.”

Dean looked at Mary and Avery, none of them looked like a magic caster. Dean clicked his teeth, what were they going to do now? Then Avery spoke up “I can do it, but you’ll need to give me some time.”

“But you’re an archer- “

[Activating Sage’s Eye Lv1]

As Dean looked at Avery, his eyes turned to a golden hue. A black window appeared in front of Avery, a window only Dean could see.

[Collecting Information]

[Information collected]

Name: Avery May Sparrow

Age: 21

Backer: SunShooter

Backer’s Talent: Lord Archer Lv2, Marksmanship Lv3, Martial Prowess Lv1, Sun’s Revenge Lv1

Skills: Bow Proficiency Lv2, Agility Lv2

Titles: Hunter, Cat Lover, Archer

General Stats: Strength Lv10, Physique Lv6, Dexterity Lv7, Magic Lv3

Bio: A Hunter who shows that big things come in small packages. For having a high talent in Archery, she was chosen by SunShooter. A sweet girl that has a fire within her. Also has a love for cute animals.

“I have a skill that sets things ablaze.” Avery chimed with pride, “… But it won’t burn down the forest if we don’t miss.” Avery said to the worried Mary.

“How long do you need?” Dean asked.

Avery put three fingers up, “Three minutes. However, Goblin Gluttons might have an intense hunger but they’re not stupid. If we initiate an attack and it notices me charging up, then it’ll be ready to block it. I need to pierce its heart with fire, and we don’t have enough firepower to keep it at bay before I do. We’ll have better chances if we try taking it off guard.”

“We should have brought the cat.”

Mary hadn’t input much to the conversation but as soon as Dean mentioned her baby, she said with a clear, stern voice “I will never put her in danger.”

Dean exhaled, for a woman who was terrified, she sure gets courageous when it’s to do with protecting Tabby.

“So, how should we do this?” Dean asked.

Avery cleared the ground below them as they all crouched down. Avery grabbed a thin stick from nearby and started to draw as she discussed multiple plans to tackle this new boss.