The cave fell silent.
Everyone stared at the creature that had stepped out of the darkness.
It stood nearly two and a half meters tall, much larger than the goblins they had fought earlier. Its skin was a darker shade of green, almost gray, and old scars covered its muscular arms. It wore crude iron armor pieced together from stolen equipment, and in its hand was a massive axe with a chipped blade.
Its yellow eyes slowly swept across the room.
Then it let out a low growl.
The sound alone made the weaker goblins hiding deeper in the cave tremble.
Kael instinctively tightened his grip on his sword.
*"So this is a hobgoblin..."*
The Guild Master stepped forward.
"No one fights it alone."
His calm voice echoed through the chamber.
"Swordsmen, front line."
"Archers, wait for an opening."
"Mage, support only."
Then he looked at Kael.
"You stay behind us."
Kael nodded immediately.
"Understood."
He knew his limits.
Charging in now wouldn't help anyone.
The hobgoblin suddenly roared.
It rushed forward with frightening speed.
Its axe came crashing down toward the Guild Master.
**Boom!**
The ground cracked.
Stone fragments flew in every direction.
The Guild Master barely blocked the attack with his sword.
Even then, he slid backward several steps.
"So much strength..."
One of the veteran adventurers muttered.
The hobgoblin swung again.
A swordsman moved to intercept it.
Clang!
The impact nearly knocked the weapon out of his hands.
"Don't meet its strength head-on!" the Guild Master shouted.
"Attack from the sides!"
The two other swordsmen immediately split apart.
One attacked the creature's left.
The other circled to its right.
The hobgoblin twisted its body surprisingly fast.
Its axe forced both of them back.
"It's smarter than normal monsters," the mage warned.
The archers fired.
Two arrows shot toward its chest.
Thud!
One arrow bounced off the crude armor.
The other lodged itself in the creature's shoulder.
The hobgoblin barely reacted.
Instead, it grabbed the arrow and snapped it in half.
"...Tough."
Kael whispered.
He carefully observed every movement.
The monster wasn't simply swinging wildly.
It watched its opponents.
Protected its blind spots.
Even changed targets depending on who was closest.
*"It knows how to fight."*
The Guild Master attacked again.
Their swords collided.
Clang!
This time the Guild Master deliberately stepped to the side instead of blocking directly.
The hobgoblin stumbled slightly.
"Now!"
The mage raised her staff.
A small fireball shot through the air.
It struck the creature's arm.
The hobgoblin roared in pain.
Smoke rose from the burned skin.
"It doesn't like fire!"
The Guild Master shouted.
The mage nodded.
"I don't have enough mana for many more!"
"Use it carefully!"
Kael remained behind the front line, protecting the rescued old man and watching the battle.
His eyes never left the hobgoblin.
*"Its left leg..."*
He noticed something.
Every time the monster turned...
Its movement slowed for a brief moment.
Not because of the attacks.
Because it was favoring its left leg.
It was injured.
An old injury.
Kael watched another exchange.
The pattern repeated.
Again.
And again.
He quickly ran toward the Guild Master while staying out of the monster's reach.
"Guild Master!"
The older man blocked another axe swing.
"What is it?"
"I think its left leg is injured!"
The Guild Master's eyes widened slightly.
"You sure?"
"I've been watching."
"It puts less weight on it."
The Guild Master glanced down.
For only a moment.
Then he smiled.
"...Good eye."
He immediately changed his orders.
"Everyone!"
"Target its left leg!"
The party reacted instantly.
The archers aimed lower.
The mage launched another fire spell.
The swordsmen shifted their attacks.
The hobgoblin suddenly found itself under pressure.
One arrow struck its thigh.
Another cut appeared on its calf.
The creature roared angrily.
Its movements became slower.
The Guild Master seized the opportunity.
He rushed forward.
Their weapons clashed once more.
This time the Guild Master stepped inside the hobgoblin's reach.
Slash!
His sword cut deeply into its injured leg.
The monster stumbled.
"Now!"
All three swordsmen attacked together.
Three blades struck almost simultaneously.
Blood splashed across the cave floor.
The hobgoblin dropped to one knee.
It swung its axe wildly.
Everyone jumped back.
Its breathing had become heavy.
The Guild Master looked toward Kael.
"Your turn."
Kael blinked.
"...Sir?"
"You found the weakness."
"Finish it."
Kael took a deep breath.
He drew his sword.
The hobgoblin glared at him with hatred.
Then it charged.
Despite its injured leg, it was still dangerous.
Kael didn't panic.
He remembered every movement he had practiced over the past twelve years.
The monster raised its axe.
Kael stepped to the right.
The axe crashed into the ground.
Before the hobgoblin could lift it again—
Kael moved.
One clean step.
One precise strike.
His sword sliced across the creature's neck.
Not deep enough.
The hobgoblin roared and tried grabbing him.
Kael retreated immediately.
*"Too shallow."*
The Guild Master's voice echoed behind him.
"Again!"
Kael nodded.
He circled the creature.
Waiting.
Watching.
The hobgoblin became impatient.
It lunged forward.
Its injured leg gave out.
For the briefest moment...
Its guard opened completely.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
*"Now."*
He stepped in.
His sword flashed.
A clean diagonal slash crossed the monster's neck.
The hobgoblin froze.
Its axe slipped from its hand.
A second later...
Its massive body collapsed to the cave floor.
Silence.
No one spoke.
Then one of the veteran adventurers laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"Nicely done!"
Another adventurer smiled.
"For someone who doesn't have magic..."
"Your eyes are sharp."
The Guild Master walked over to Kael.
"You didn't defeat it because you were stronger."
He placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"You defeated it because you stayed calm."
"You observed."
"You thought."
"Never lose that habit."
Kael nodded.
"I won't."
The Guild Master smiled.
"Good."
As the party began searching the rest of the cave, Kael looked at the fallen hobgoblin one last time.
Something caught his attention.
Around the creature's neck hung a strange black pendant engraved with a symbol he had never seen before.
Before he could take a closer look...
The pendant suddenly cracked.
Then it turned into black dust.
Kael frowned.
"...What was that?"
No one else seemed to have noticed.
But somewhere far away...
A hooded figure slowly opened their eyes.
"So..."
"The seal has begun to move."
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
"Interesting."