The Goblin King towered over Archer at 7 feet 5 inches, a hulking mass of dark-green muscle and raw malice. Archer jumped back as the air itself seemed to thicken around the creature.

  Adrian y crumpled against the cavern wall, blood streaming from his mouth, eyes, and ears. His arms hung at unnatural angles, forearms shattered, hands twisted like broken branches. Every breath sent sharp pain through his cracked ribs and fractured spine. He couldn't see clearly — blood filled his vision, turning the world red and blurry.

  But he could hear. In the distance, swords cshed against each other — metal ringing, grunts of effort, the wet thud of flesh being parted.

  Adrian closed his eyes for a second, assessing the damage internally. Enough mana left to heal… but only just. If I do this now, I can cast one spell afterward. That's it. He focused. White light — faint, controlled — began to glow from his handwraps. Bones slowly mended, grinding back into pce. Muscle knitted. Blood vessels sealed. The process was agonizingly slow, even with the highest form of healing he could manage.

  Fear was gone from Archer's face now. Repced with cold, burning determination. He swung at the Goblin King — a clean, precise arc aimed at the neck. The Goblin King sidestepped it like swatting a fly — minor inconvenience. Archer swung again, faster, for the throat. In that instant, the Goblin King countered, swinging his massive double-edged longsword at Archer's torso. Archer dropped his bde just in time to block. The impact rang like a bell. The force sent him flying backward, boots skidding across stone until he smmed into the wall. He coughed once, blood flecking his lips, but he was already moving again.

  Archer raised his sword, mana surging along the bde. He recited under his breath — voice low, steady.

  "In all that is in front of me, my bde will meet the neck.

  Distance does not matter.

  Angle does not matter.

  By the words of the Air Sovereign…"

  Invisible cuts tore through the air. The Goblin King couldn't see them — but he sensed them. He raised his own bde and blocked every single one with casual flicks of his wrist. A slow, predatory grin spread across his face.

  "It's been four years since my blood has pumped like this."

  Archer's golden eyes lit up with determination. In an instant he disappeared — reappearing right in front of the Goblin King. Two sshes — lightning-fast, aimed for vitals. Both missed. The Goblin King leaned back just enough, the bdes cutting only air.

  Healing complete, Adrian stood slowly, cracking his neck once. He bent down, picked up a fist-sized rock, and crushed it in one hand. Mana surged through the fragments — white-hot, humming with power.

  The Goblin King swung at Archer's head — a killing blow Archer couldn't block in time. Adrian let the rock fly. It left his hand with such velocity it sounded like an explosion — a sonic boom echoing through the cave. The Goblin King noticed at the st millisecond. He jerked his head back. The rock missed his eye by a hair's breadth. It embedded in the stone wall behind him with a thunderous crack, cratering the rock like a cannon shot.

  The Goblin King turned slowly. His eyes locked on Adrian. Adrian stood there, hand still extended in follow-through, white handwraps faintly glowing. Calm. Uninjured. Staring right back.

  The Goblin King's grin widened. Archer jumped back as the Goblin King's massive bde cleaved the air where he had stood a heartbeat earlier.

  Adrian walked forward — slow, deliberate, blood still drying on his chin from the earlier impact. His arms hung loose at his sides, handwraps faintly glowing white under the torchlight. The Goblin King tilted his head, eyes narrowing.

  "How are you still alive?" he rumbled. "I thought I split you in half."

  Adrian smirked — small, cold, almost bored.

  "You couldn't cut me. You hit my handwraps. And that wouldn't work. They can't be cut by bdes."

  The Goblin King's grin twisted.

  "Even so… the impact should have killed you."

  Adrian arrived directly in front of him — close enough to look up into the towering creature's face.

  "You're talking real high and mighty," Adrian said quietly, "for someone who used a sneak attack."

  The Goblin King stared down at him.

  "You shouldn't be talking. That rock that nearly hit my head didn't throw itself."

  Adrian's smirk widened just a fraction.

  "If you can actually fight fair… we're going to do this right."

  He turned and walked back toward Archer, rolling up his sleeves until they bunched at the elbows. The white handwraps gleamed under the flickering light — pure mana threads, unbreakable, humming with restrained power.

  Archer watched him approach, sword still raised, golden eyes sharp.

  "Ready?" Adrian asked.

  Archer exhaled once.

  "Yeah."

  They turned together. The Goblin King cracked his neck. The cave seemed to hold its breath.

  Archer took the lead, bursting forward in a blur of mana-enhanced speed. His bde sang through the air — a perfect arc aimed straight for the Goblin King's neck. The Goblin King swung his massive double-edged longsword downward in a single, devastating motion.

  Adrian moved faster. He stepped right behind Archer, hands open, and caught the descending bde between his palms. The impact rang like thunder. The bde stopped dead — held motionless by Adrian's white-wrapped hands.

  Archer didn't hesitate. He surged past Adrian and sshed upward for the Goblin King's throat. The Goblin King released his sword instantly. He caught Archer's bde with both bare hands, metal screaming against skin. With a casual flick, he threw Archer to the side like a ragdoll. In the same instant he yanked his own sword with Adrian and swung it downward in a brutal overhead smash.

  Adrian let go after two bone-jarring hits against the ground. He rolled back, jumping to his feet beside Archer. Both of them nded in fighting stances again — breathing hard, eyes locked on the towering figure.

  Adrian wiped blood from his lip, voice low.

  "Why was it capable of copying my move after seeing it once? Regur goblins need to see it twice to adapt."

  Archer steadied his grip on his sword.

  "Because it's the Goblin King. It's stronger than any regur goblin. They don't need repetition. One look — and it adapts. And improves."

  The Goblin King grinned wider, fangs glinting.

  "Smart boy."

  Adrian cracked his knuckles once, handwraps glowing brighter.

  "Then let's make this interesting."

  Archer unched forward again, bde fshing in a series of precise strikes. The Goblin King parried casually, each block effortless. Adrian circled, eyes sharp, analyzing. Then he spoke — low, just loud enough for Archer to hear.

  "Let me tell you something. It can't adapt against magical attacks. Only pure physical."

  Archer's golden eyes flicked toward him for a split second. Adrian leaned in, whispering quickly.

  "Keep him distracted for a couple of minutes. I think I have a spell that can end this."

  Archer nodded once.

  "Okay."

  He exploded forward — no more projectile shots. Instead he moved constantly, darting around the Goblin King, sshing from every angle, forcing the creature to pivot and block.

  Adrian stepped back slowly, hands raised. He began reciting — voice low, steady, almost meditative.

  "Let all boundaries colpse.

  Where light cannot flee, let meaning follow.

  I name this existence recorded —

  I name this record denied.

  Matter, memory, cause, and consequence,

  fall inward and be unmade.

  By the silence beyond gravity,

  by the dark that leaves no echo—

  Event Horizon: Null Archive."

  The Goblin King noticed. He ignored Archer's strikes completely and charged straight at Adrian. Before the massive bde could slice through Adrian's torso, the handwraps turned pitch bck. The sword struck — and the part touching the wraps simply vanished.

  The Goblin King froze, staring at the broken stump of his bde. He blinked.

  "Why… am I holding a broken bde?"

  Archer — mid-charge — stopped, confused. Even he looked at the shattered sword in disbelief.

  "Why is he holding a broken bde?"

  Only Adrian remembered the weapon had ever been whole. He lunged forward — two quick punches aimed at the Goblin King's chest. Both missed.

  The Goblin King jumped back, eyes narrowed.

  "I don't know how your spell works… but I know I shouldn't be touched by those handwraps."

  The grin was gone. Adrian exhaled slowly. He released the spell. The wraps faded back to white.

  "Damn it. I missed."

  Archer exhaled once.

  "Yeah."

  They turned together. The Goblin King cracked his neck. The cave seemed to hold its breath.

  Archer took the lead, bursting forward in a blur of mana-enhanced speed. His bde sang through the air — a perfect arc aimed straight for the Goblin King's neck. The Goblin King swung his massive double-edged longsword downward in a single, devastating motion.

  Adrian moved faster. He stepped right behind Archer, hands open, and caught the descending bde between his palms. The impact rang like thunder. The bde stopped dead — held motionless by Adrian's white-wrapped hands.

  Archer didn't hesitate. He surged past Adrian and sshed upward for the Goblin King's throat. The Goblin King released his sword instantly. He caught Archer's bde with both bare hands, metal screaming against skin. With a casual flick, he threw Archer to the side like a ragdoll. In the same instant he yanked his own sword with Adrian and swung it downward in a brutal overhead smash.

  Adrian let go after two bone-jarring hits against the ground. He rolled back, jumping to his feet beside Archer. Both of them nded in fighting stances again — breathing hard, eyes locked on the towering figure.

  Adrian wiped blood from his lip, voice low.

  "Why was it capable of copying my move after seeing it once? Regur goblins need to see it twice to adapt."

  Archer steadied his grip on his sword.

  "Because it's the Goblin King. It's stronger than any regur goblin. They don't need repetition. One look — and it adapts. And improves."

  The Goblin King grinned wider, fangs glinting.

  "Smart boy."

  Adrian cracked his knuckles once, handwraps glowing brighter.

  "Then let's make this interesting."

  Archer unched forward again, bde fshing in a series of precise strikes. The Goblin King parried casually, each block effortless. Adrian circled, eyes sharp, analyzing. Then he spoke — low, just loud enough for Archer to hear.

  "Let me tell you something. It can't adapt against magical attacks. Only pure physical."

  Archer's golden eyes flicked toward him for a split second. Adrian leaned in, whispering quickly.

  "Keep him distracted for a couple of minutes. I think I have a spell that can end this."

  Archer nodded once.

  "Okay."

  He exploded forward — no more projectile shots. Instead he moved constantly, darting around the Goblin King, sshing from every angle, forcing the creature to pivot and block.

  Adrian stepped back slowly, hands raised. He began reciting — voice low, steady, almost meditative.

  "Let all boundaries colpse.

  Where light cannot flee, let meaning follow.

  I name this existence recorded —

  I name this record denied.

  Matter, memory, cause, and consequence,

  fall inward and be unmade.

  By the silence beyond gravity,

  by the dark that leaves no echo—

  Event Horizon: Null Archive."

  The Goblin King noticed. He ignored Archer's strikes completely and charged straight at Adrian. Before the massive bde could slice through Adrian's torso, the handwraps turned pitch bck. The sword struck — and the part touching the wraps simply vanished.

  The Goblin King froze, staring at the broken stump of his bde. He blinked.

  "Why… am I holding a broken bde?"

  Archer — mid-charge — stopped, confused. Even he looked at the shattered sword in disbelief.

  "Why is he holding a broken bde?"

  Only Adrian remembered the weapon had ever been whole. He lunged forward — two quick punches aimed at the Goblin King's chest. Both missed.

  The Goblin King jumped back, eyes narrowed.

  "I don't know how your spell works… but I know I shouldn't be touched by those handwraps."

  The grin was gone. Adrian exhaled slowly. He released the spell. The wraps faded back to white.

  "Damn it. I missed."

  The Goblin King's ughter rolled through the cavern like grinding millstones — low, guttural, and thick with contempt that cut deeper than any bde ever could.

  "You see?" he drawled, spreading his cwed hands wide as if presenting a disappointing performance. "I haven't taken either of you seriously this entire fight. Not once. I've been toying with you — letting you feel clever, letting you think your little tricks mattered. Your wind games, your nothing-spell… cute. Almost admirable. Almost."

  His yellow eyes narrowed to slits, pupils contracting like a predator finally done pying.

  "But now the training wheels are off."

  Adrian dropped into a tight, grounded fighting stance — knees bent, bck-wrapped forearms raised, the faint hum of Event Horizon: Null Archive still lingering in the bindings like a dying ember.

  Beside him, Archer slid one foot back, hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword in perfect quick-draw readiness, every muscle coiled and eyes locked.

  The Goblin King didn't give them time to breathe. He surged forward in a green blur, straight at Archer. Archer drew in a silver fsh — Air Sovereign igniting along the edge of his bde as he sshed upward in a perfect arc aimed at the monster's throat. Two thick, cwed fingers rose zily. They pinched the ft of the bde mid-swing — stopping it dead. Metal sang in protest, then went silent.

  The Goblin King didn't even flinch. Instead, he drove a single, almost casual gut punch into Archer's midsection. The impact was thundercp-loud. Archer's body folded around the fist; breath exploded from his lungs in a wet, red spray. He was hurled backward like a cannonball, crashing through boulders, tearing a long trench across the battlefield, and finally smming into the far wall hard enough to crack stone in a spiderweb pattern.

  The Goblin King turned his head toward Adrian without missing a beat. Adrian lunged — throwing a desperate hook wrapped in bck bindings. The monster spped the punch aside like swatting a fly, then snapped forward with an open palm strike straight to Adrian's face. Bone crunched. Blood sprayed in an arc.

  Before Adrian could stagger, the Goblin King seized the side of his head, yanked him down, and whipped a vicious spinning heel kick — full torque — right across the jaw. Adrian's head snapped sideways; his body lifted off the ground, spinning helplessly before crashing face-first into the dirt several meters away, skidding in a spray of blood and stone chips.

  Archer cwed his way out of the crater he'd left in the wall — coughing crimson mist, sword still gripped in trembling fingers. He raised his head just in time to see the Goblin King vanish again. A heartbeat ter, the monster stood right beside him — casual, almost friendly — ying one massive green hand on Archer's shoulder like a disappointed coach.

  "Come on," the Goblin King purred, voice thick with patronizing pity. "Y'all really made me get serious… for this?"

  Archer snarled and whipped his bde in a vicious reverse arc toward the monster's throat. The same two fingers caught it again — effortless, insulting.

  At that exact instant, Adrian staggered upright — spitting blood, fury burning through the pain — and charged straight toward them.

  The Goblin King sighed theatrically. Without looking away from Archer, he cmped his free hand over the swordsman's face — fingers spyed wide across eyes, nose, mouth, gripping like he was palming fruit. Then, with contemptuous strength, he hurled Archer backward.

  Archer smashed into Adrian mid-sprint. The two collided in a brutal tangle of limbs and armor, tumbling across the broken ground in a heap of dust and groans.

  The Goblin King didn't wait for them to recover. He rushed forward again. His fist crashed into Adrian's chest like a battering ram wrapped in green iron. Ribs flexed inward; air bsted from Adrian's lungs in a choked spray. His body lifted, already hurtling backward — but the Goblin King snapped out his other hand, cmped around Adrian's ankle like a vise, and swung him like a fil — full centrifugal force — straight into Archer, who was just staggering to his feet.

  They collided mid-air with bone-jarring force. Armor buckled, metal screaming as they were both hurled backward together. They crashed into the cavern floor hard enough to crater the stone, then kept going — tumbling, rolling, finally smashing through a thin yer of earth and disappearing into a sudden sinkhole that opened beneath them.

  Dust billowed upward in a choking cloud. The Goblin King nded lightly on the edge of the pit, peering down into the darkness where the two warriors y sprawled among broken rock and splintered roots. Without a word, he dropped. His boots smmed down between them — shockwave cracking the ground further. Before either could react, he drove a knee into Archer's armored chest. Metal crumpled inward like tin foil; the breastpte shattered in a spray of rivets and shards. Archer gasped, coughing blood, arms pinned uselessly beneath the crushing weight.

  The Goblin King leaned down, close enough that his hot, sulfurous breath washed over both of them.

  "You two…" he rumbled, voice low and almost pitying, "…have no idea what you're fighting."

  He reached out and tore the remaining scraps of Archer's broken armor away like wet paper, exposing bruised flesh and cracked ribs beneath. Then he turned his gaze to Adrian, who was struggling to push himself up on trembling arms, bck wrappings still faintly shimmering.

  "I am one of the Sovereigns of this forest," the Goblin King said, the words carrying a weight that seemed to press the air itself thinner. "Not some rabid beast. Not some dungeon boss you can cheese with tricks and teamwork. I am the w here. The root. The hunger that keeps every leaf and every shadow in line."

  He straightened slowly, towering over the broken pair.

  "And you?" His lip curled. "You're trespassers who thought they could py at being heroes."

  He cracked his neck once, the sound echoing like breaking branches.

  "Last chance to run. Or kneel. Or beg."

  The cavern held its breath.

  Adrian looked up — split lip, bruised face, defiant eyes — and smiled through the blood.

  "Not kneeling today."

  Archer forced a ragged ugh beside him, dragging his sword closer with shaking fingers.

  "Neither am I."

  The Goblin King's grin widened — all teeth and malice.

  "Then let's finish this properly."

  He raised one massive foot, hovering it above Adrian's head — shadow swallowing the boy whole. The air grew heavier. Shadows clung to the Goblin King's skin like smoke. The forest itself seemed to lean in, branches creaking in the distance as though the Sovereign's full attention had finally awakened something ancient and hungry.

  Adrian's wrapped hands clenched. The faint hum of Null Archive stirred again — weak, flickering, but still there. Archer pnted his sword in the dirt like a crutch, forcing himself to one knee. They weren't finished. Not yet.

  But the Goblin King had stopped pying. And the casual, effortless brutality he had unleashed was only the prelude to what "serious" truly meant.