The ground trembled slightly as the Goblin Brute stepped into the clearing. Alex stared at the monster carefully.
It was far larger than the other goblins—nearly as tall as a grown man. Its green skin was darker and rougher, almost like thick leather. Heavy muscles bulged along its arms, and the iron club in its hand looked powerful enough to crush bones with a single swing.
The smaller goblins shrieked happily behind it, clearly confident that their leader would crush the human in front of them.
Alex slowly exhaled.
"This looks familiar…"
He had seen something similar before. The Shadow Wolf Alpha. A stronger leader monster commanding weaker creatures.
The system screen appeared again.
Enemy Detected
Goblin Brute — Level 6
Threat: High
Special Traits:
• High Strength
• Thick Hide
Alex tightened his grip on the dagger.
"Level six again…"
That was the same level as the Shadow Wolf Alpha he fought yesterday. The difference was that wolves relied on speed. This monster relied on raw power. The brute let out a deep growl and slammed its club against the ground. The impact sent dust flying into the air. Then it charged.
"Fast!" Alex muttered.
Despite its size, the brute moved surprisingly quickly. Alex rolled to the side just as the iron club smashed into the ground where he had been standing.
CRACK!
The force of the blow shattered a large rock nearby. Alex's eyes widened.
"Okay… definitely don't get hit by that."
He jumped back and activated Analyze again.
The skill focused on the brute's body.
Information appeared quickly.
Goblin Brute
Weakness Detected:
• Slow recovery after heavy attacks
• Vulnerable joints (knees and neck)
Alex smiled slightly.
"Good."
The brute roared again and swung the club sideways. Alex ducked under the attack and slashed quickly at the brute's knee.
The blade cut across the skin, but not deeply.
The creature barely reacted.
"Thick hide indeed," Alex muttered.
The brute turned and swung again. Alex barely jumped back in time. The club crashed into the overturned merchant cart, smashing the wood into pieces. Splinters flew through the air. Alex landed lightly and repositioned himself. Three smaller goblins still remained behind the brute, watching the fight.
They hadn't joined the battle yet. But they probably would soon.
"I need to end this quickly."
The brute raised its club again. Alex waited.
The monster roared and charged forward once more. At the last second, Alex sidestepped and slashed at the brute's knee again. This time he struck harder. The blade cut deeper. The brute howled in pain and stumbled slightly.
"There we go."
But the monster was far from finished. It swung its club wildly in anger. Alex blocked with his dagger instinctively. The impact nearly knocked the weapon out of his hand.
He staggered backward.
"Too strong…"
Fighting the brute head-on was impossible.
Alex needed speed. He circled the monster, forcing it to turn repeatedly.
Every time the brute attacked, Alex dodged and countered with quick strikes to the legs.
Small cuts began appearing across the brute's knees and joints.
The monster grew slower.
Angrier.
And more reckless.
Finally, the brute lifted its club high for a massive overhead strike.
Alex saw his chance. The club came crashing down. Alex rolled forward underneath the swing.
Before the brute could recover, Alex jumped up and drove his dagger into the side of the monster's neck. The blade sank deep. The brute froze. For a moment, everything was silent. Then the monster collapsed heavily onto the ground.
THUD.
The system screen flashed brightly.
Boss Enemy Defeated
Goblin Brute Eliminated
EXP Gained
Alex stepped back, breathing heavily.
"That… was intense."
The remaining goblins stared at the fallen brute in shock. Their leader was dead. Fear spread across their twisted faces. One of them turned and tried to run.
Alex sighed.
"Sorry…"
He raised his dagger again.
"…but I still need to finish the quest."
The hunt wasn't over yet.