Chapter 12: The Three-Eye Goblin

Kael Ardyn cautiously stepped into a dimly lit cavern within the dungeon, the walls slick with moisture. The air carried a pungent odor of decay, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed ominously. Every instinct screamed for him to stay alert.

From the shadows, a creature emerged—a goblin, but unlike any Kael had seen before. Its green skin was mottled with scars, and its three eyes glowed with a malicious intelligence. The goblin crouched low, claws scratching against the stone floor, and let out a guttural snarl.

Kael’s heart pounded. “Three eyes… and it’s watching my every move,” he muttered.

The goblin lunged, faster than he anticipated. Kael rolled to the side, slashing at it, but the creature twisted mid-air, evading his strike with uncanny agility. Kael realized that brute force alone wouldn’t be enough; he needed strategy.

He observed its movements, noticing the pattern of its attacks and the way it relied on its extra eye to anticipate his swings. Kael adjusted his stance, feinting left and striking right, testing the goblin’s reactions.

Hours seemed to pass as Kael engaged in a deadly dance with the creature, each attack, dodge, and counter sharpening his skills. Sweat dripped from his brow, muscles burning, but determination kept him going.

Finally, Kael found the opening. With a precise upward strike, he cleaved the goblin’s arm and followed immediately with a spinning slash that took down the creature’s remaining limbs. The goblin let out a high-pitched screech before collapsing, fading into shadow.

Kael sank to his knees, breathing heavily. He had survived, and the victory was sweeter than any before. He felt the pulse of the mark on his hand grow stronger, a subtle reminder of the power that was awakening within him.

“This… this is how I grow,” Kael whispered, staring at the shadows where the goblin had vanished. “Each battle, each enemy… it teaches me. I will not stop. I will become stronger. I will survive.”

As he stood, Kael felt a strange surge of confidence. The dungeon had tested him, and he had passed. The Three-Eye Goblin was only the beginning, a lesson carved in flesh and shadow. He sheathed his sword and continued, ready for whatever awaited deeper within the darkness.