Life of an Hunter

Haruto crouched low behind the thick bushes, watching as the flames consumed the goblin settlement. Most of the goblins had been reduced to ash, their berserk rage and the fire doing the work for him. But this battle wasn’t over. His eyes were locked on the hulking figure standing near the center of the clearing—the Goblin King.

The monster was massive, towering over the remains of his fallen kin. The Goblin King had emerged from the chaos, dragging a human woman in chains behind him, his glowing red eyes filled with rage. But the king wasn’t alone.

Two figures lurked in the shadows near him—protectors of the Goblin King. Haruto could see them, hidden in the corners, their sharp eyes trained on the king. They were waiting, lying in ambush, prepared to strike if anyone attacked their ruler. Their patience was deadly. They were waiting for someone—him—to take the bait and rush the king. One wrong move, and the protectors would pounce.

Haruto wasn’t going to give them that chance.

His heart pounded in his chest as he formulated a plan. The Horn of Madness was still in his hand, glowing faintly, ready to unleash its power once again. A risky move, but it might be his best chance.

With a deep breath, Haruto lifted the horn to his lips and blew it once more.

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The Horn's Echo

The sound pierced through the forest, eerie and loud, reverberating in the clearing where the Goblin King stood. The two protectors, poised in the shadows, tensed as the sound reached their ears. Haruto watched as their eyes flickered, their bodies twitching. The horn’s power was almost too much for them. They were on the edge of losing control, teetering between sanity and the berserk rage the horn induced.

For a moment, it looked like they would succumb. Their claws twitched, their muscles tensed as if they were about to leap into a frenzy. But these protectors were stronger, more disciplined than the others. They gritted their teeth, fighting against the madness that threatened to overtake them.

But while the horn didn’t drive them into a berserk frenzy, it did accomplish one thing—it caught the attention of the Goblin King.

The massive figure turned slowly toward the source of the sound, his glowing red eyes narrowing as he searched for the intruder. His gaze swept the clearing, and as he scanned the area, he saw Haruto’s position.

With a guttural growl, the Goblin King laid the human woman bare at his feet, using her as bait, and began to move toward where he had heard the sound.

The Battle Begins

Haruto’s heart raced as he saw the Goblin King advancing toward him, his heavy steps shaking the ground. The king was massive, his body covered in thick armor, his eyes glowing with rage. Haruto knew he couldn’t face the king in close combat—he would be crushed in seconds. But he wasn’t planning on letting the king get that close.

He reached over his shoulder and pulled out his sniper rifle, its cold weight reassuring in his hands. Haruto’s eyes narrowed as he aimed the rifle directly at the Goblin King’s chest, focusing on the heart. His finger hovered over the trigger, waiting for the perfect moment.

The king moved closer, his steps heavy, and Haruto pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The shot rang out, echoing through the clearing. The bullet struck the Goblin King square in the chest, right where Haruto had aimed. The king let out a roar of pain, but much to Haruto’s shock, the beast didn’t stop. The Goblin King staggered for a moment, but then he charged forward, barreling toward Haruto with terrifying speed.

He’s still coming?!

Haruto’s mind raced as he quickly reloaded the sniper, his heart pounding in his chest. The king’s HP bar appeared in Haruto’s vision, and he could see that the first shot had taken the Goblin King’s health down to 70%. But the beast was still far from dead.

As the Goblin King charged forward, his two protectors, finally breaking free from the horn’s lingering effect, saw their ruler shot and stagger. That moment of clarity was all they needed to spring into action. They lunged out of their hiding spots, moving with incredible speed toward Haruto, their claws gleaming in the firelight.

Haruto quickly aimed his sniper rifle again, knowing he had no time to waste. With the Goblin King charging and the protectors closing in, he needed to make every shot count.

BANG!

Another shot fired, this time hitting the Goblin King again. The beast roared, but still kept coming, his HP dropping further to 30%.

Without hesitation, Haruto turned his attention to the protectors. His hand moved swiftly, firing at the first protector.

BANG!

The bullet struck the goblin protector in the head, killing it instantly. Haruto spun and fired his last bullet at the second protector.

BANG!

The shot hit the second protector in the chest, and it crumpled to the ground, dead.

Haruto’s breath came in ragged gasps as he watched the two protectors fall. But the Goblin King was still coming. The beast was closing in, and Haruto only had two bullets left.

The Final Confrontation

Haruto’s hands shook as he reloaded his sniper rifle. The Goblin King was now dangerously close, his HP down to 30%, but he was still charging like a beast possessed. Haruto knew he couldn’t rely on the sniper rifle alone—he needed a backup plan.

With the Goblin King closing in, Haruto fired one more shot, hitting the king in the shoulder. The king roared in pain, his HP dropping to 12%, but he was still coming.

Haruto abandoned the sniper rifle and pulled out his bow and arrow, aiming for the king’s vulnerable spots. He fired arrow after arrow, each one striking the Goblin King as he closed the distance.

But the king was relentless.

With the Goblin King almost upon him, Haruto dropped his bow and pulled out Rei’s dagger. His heart raced as the massive beast loomed over him, its eyes burning with fury. Haruto dodged the king’s massive swings, narrowly avoiding the blows, and aimed for the king’s weak spot—its eyes.

With a swift movement, Haruto lunged forward, driving the dagger into the Goblin King’s eye with all his strength.

The king roared in agony, thrashing wildly as blood poured from the wound. Haruto twisted the dagger, driving it deeper, and with a final, guttural roar, the Goblin King collapsed to the ground.

Haruto stood over the fallen beast, his chest heaving with exhaustion. The flames from the goblin settlement crackled in the distance, the bodies of the protectors lying motionless nearby. The battle was over, but the weight of what had just happened lingered heavily in the air.

End of Chapter.