Chapter 28: Earth Spike Technique Lv.2

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Earth Spike Technique Lv.2

The night receded from the horizon.

In the air of Print Town, the stench of blood mingled with the goblins’ unique, putrid odor, lingering indefinitely.

The goblin cleanup was still underway.

Ever since the Purple-skinned Shaman was impaled, the remaining goblins had completely lost their backbone. Like cockroaches from a disturbed nest, they scattered and fled throughout the town.

Baron Uer and Captain Cardan were directing the Guards and townspeople in groups to hunt them down.

Hesia chose not to join the main force. Instead, he and Bruce weaved through the alleyways, searching for any who had slipped through the net.

He was currently leaning against a wall, panting slightly as he recovered his spent stamina and Magic Power.

Suddenly, Bruce’s ears twitched, and his nostrils flared. "Hesia! Front left! Over by the wall! Something’s moving!"

Hesia’s gaze sharpened, and he looked in the direction Bruce indicated.

He saw a goblin with a broken leg dragging its maimed body, trying to hide behind the wall.

Hesia’s expression was calm as he raised his hand.

[Earth Spike Technique]!

A flicker of intent!

PSHK!

An Earth Spike erupted from the ground beneath the goblin!

The goblin let out a "GAK!" from its throat, twitched a few times, and then went still.

Hesia frowned slightly. ’Just as I thought... you don’t necessarily gain skill proficiency just for getting a kill.’

He recalled the previous battles. ’Killing that giant goblin and the Shaman raised my proficiency by 6 points! But killing regular goblins... including that last one, I’ve killed 12 in total, and I only got 1 point from one of them earlier.’

’Looks like if I want to level up my skill quickly, I have to find tougher opponents.’

’But... what about the traits? I didn’t get a single trait from the giant goblin, the Shaman, or even the regular goblins!’

’Was drawing [Mosquito Swarm Leader] from that Blood Mosquito just a fluke?’

’Sigh...’ Hesia was a bit frustrated. ’It’s not like I was expecting any amazing traits from these greenskins, but getting absolutely nothing is still annoying!’

’My Magic Power is almost back, and my stamina’s okay, but I’m getting a little sleepy...’ Hesia yawned. ’Still, I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep if I went back now. I’ll kill a few more! I refuse to believe I won’t get a single trait tonight!’

He and Bruce continued their search through the various alleyways.

A few hours passed.

The first light of dawn appeared.

Hesia took down another six hiding goblins.

His proficiency didn’t change, and there was still no sign of any traits...

Hesia rubbed his sore eyes. Seeing the fish-belly white of the eastern sky, he was ready to give up.

’Forget it... time to go back and sleep. Looks like my luck’s run out for tonight.’

Just as he turned to leave, Bruce suddenly sniffed the air hard. "Hesia! Behind that big haystack up ahead, there’s a ’big one’ hiding."

Hesia’s spirits lifted!

"A big one?"

He and Bruce immediately crept around to the side.

Sure enough!

Behind a haystack, an exceptionally plump, green rear end was pointed outward, completely defenseless.

Its whole body was burrowed into the hay, leaving half of a thick calf and a huge foot exposed.

Judging by the size of its rear and its thick leg... this goblin wasn’t as big as that terrifying giant goblin from last night, but it was definitely a size larger than a regular one! You could call it an "Elite Monster"!

’Well, well! It’s found a good hiding spot.’

[Earth Spike Technique]

He locked onto that plump, raised rear end!

PSHK—

A meter-long Earth Spike jutted out from the ground at an angle!

A vicious angle!

"GUOAAAAAARGH—!!!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream, so shrill it cracked, erupted instantly.

It was a sound filled with agony.

Bruce’s ears twitched at the shriek. "Hesia, there’s something wrong with you! But that was definitely the most miserable scream tonight... it even cracked!"

The goblin, impaled in the butt, shot up from the haystack.

It clutched its rear with both hands, landing on the ground pigeon-toed.

The thick Earth Spike was clearly visible, piercing straight through its hindquarters at an angle.

Green blood gurgled down the Earth Spike...

It lay prone on the ground, butt in the air, its screams echoing ceaselessly until they abruptly stopped, and it went silent.

[Earth Spike Skill Proficiency +1, Level 2 (0/20)]

Hesia: "..."

He looked at the tragic sight, the corner of his mouth twitching.

’Uh... that angle...’

’Was it because I ’aimed’? Is that why I got proficiency points?’

However, the next notification instantly replaced his slight embarrassment with overwhelming joy!

[You have mastered the skill: Earth Spike Technique Level 2!]

[Wisdom +1!]

A cool sensation flooded his mind, refreshing Hesia’s spirit.

’Wisdom +1!’

’I gained a point of Wisdom?’

Hesia was ecstatic.

’I was so focused on getting Earth Spike Technique to Level 2 that I almost forgot what Teacher Edwin said—mastering a skill can improve your own Attributes!’

’I wonder if more powerful and complex skills give you more Attribute points?’

’I’ll worry about that when I learn one! First, let’s see what’s different about the Level 2 Earth Spike Technique!’

He eagerly began to experiment.

Same position, same target, same length.

[Earth Spike Technique]!

PSHK!

An Earth Spike formed in an instant, once again precisely piercing the target that was still sticking its butt in the air.

’The Magic Power consumption... is noticeably lower!’ Hesia’s eyes lit up. ’And it forms faster! The response from the Earth Element is quicker and more concentrated! It feels much more fluid to control!’

He began to try channeling more Earth Element at once!

A flicker of intent!

This time, he didn’t lock onto just one point!

But... three!

[Earth Spike Technique]!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three muffled rumbles sounded almost simultaneously!

On the empty ground before him, three sharp Earth Spikes burst from the earth in a triangular formation.

’It worked!’ Hesia was overjoyed!

’Before, if I wanted to cast three spikes, I had to cast it three times in a row! Now... I can do it in one go!’

’The total Magic Power consumption is less than casting it three times, and it’s faster, too!’

’This upgrade is so practical!’

His objective complete, a satisfied Hesia led Bruce back to his small house.

After quickly washing the bloodstains and dirt from his body, he collapsed into bed and fell asleep.

He slept soundly.

He didn’t stir until the next morning, when the piercing sunlight shone through the dilapidated window and onto his face.

...

After waking up, Hesia began to methodically pack his bags.

He changed into a clean set of coarse linen clothes and placed David’s notes and the few bottles of Potion into his backpack.

He hung the oddly shaped dagger at his waist.

Just as he was organizing his backpack, Bruce seemed to remember something:

"Hesia! I almost forgot! Last night, when I bit that mud doll, I smelled something!"

"Smelled what?"

"The black hair on that doll’s head wasn’t fake, I could smell it. It was human hair! It carried the smell of long-buried soil mixed with blood!"

Hesia froze instantly. He felt a chill creep up from the soles of his feet.

Real human hair?!

That creepy mud doll... was made with real human hair?!