"I think we should avoid this one." Oliver said, facing the flaming crustacean monster ahead.
It looked like a giant crab on fire. Its shell burned like hot coal, and flames danced on its claws.
It had six legs, tall and sharp like spears. They glowed from the heat as the smoke followed it everywhere.
It intimidated the party, striking them with fear. But Nate disagreed.
"It's a perfect prey, we just need to disarm it," He said.
Oliver asked, "How's that done?" treating Nate like the party's expert.
"By punching it hard, obviously," Arthur answered with a chuckle.
"Exactly," Nate nodded jokingly, playing along.
The outcome of such an action would turn one of them into a shish kebab.
Unlike normal summoners, he wasn't limited to three living summons. Plus, his mana was back to full, allowing him to summon two more troops.
Moving over to the side, he cast his Spirit Summon skill.
A small, hunched creature with greenish skin stepped out. It had sharp teeth, pointy ears, glowing eyes, and tattered clothes.
It held a bow and a stack of arrows on its back.
"Kreek!" It announced its arrival proudly.
[Goblin(Lv.3 - Archer) was summoned and registered in your troops!]
"A dud..." Nate slumped. He remembered his Soul Craft skill. It was a perfect opportunity to test it.
"Prepare for unforeseen consequences," he said, feeling the need to warn his party.
It was his first time experimenting with such a skill. Plus, his knowledge relied on the past summoners he knew..
He hesitated for a moment, was it the right choice?
"What do you mean?" Ivy asked.
Nate answered, "I don't know, yet. But I believe it won't be a good sight to behold."
The skill's description was good proof.
It was unsettling to him.
He didn't like the situation, but he had to know for a better future.
He shouted, "Hobo Goblin Spirit Craft Goblin!"
"Grahk!" The Hobo Goblin approved, his eyes turning blood red.
He raised his small staff, sending two fireballs at the underling. Just enough to damage it and render it defenseless.
"Kreek?" The goblin screamed fearfully, witnessing Hobo approaching it slowly.
Hobo's staff accelerated, like a club.
It struck the goblin's head, causing it to cry.
Alice screamed from the brutality unfolding before them. Hobo looked like a psychopath on the loose.
"Make it stop!" Ivy screamed, trembling from the shock.
Nate shook his head, he said, "No, it's an experiment."
"This is a war, Ivy. We can't afford any mercy, a goblin won't make any difference going forward."
Although it could easily cause him trauma, Nate reluctantly had to take the step forward.
'Most of them will die eventually, better get used to it.' He thought, convincing himself.
The war was merciless, and sacrifices were necessary.
"Better safe than sorry, we can't afford liabilities now." He said, breathing in heavily.
Alice roared, "You're a psychopath!"
Nate shook his head, staring at her.
"Am I? Wait until the grace period is over, then rethink your choices." He smiled in sadness, confident in his judgment.
They disagreed with him, and their criticism was meaningful, but he stood his ground.
He wasn't heartless.
Grave situations demanded great sacrifices.
'I should probably set a level standard for my summons.' Nate thought.
While he didn't mind sacrifices, he needed a good factor to act on. Either way, the Spirit Craft was complete, halting his thoughts.
[Hobo Goblin(Lv.8 - Mage) has consumed Goblin(Lv.3 - Archer) and leveled up!]
Vitality: 12 => 15
Spirit: 16 => 20
Strength: 12 => 13
Dexterity: 11 => 13
Hobo's stats were important, but his appearance had changed as well.
He stood taller now, his muscles more defined, and his skin leaned toward an ashen red.
The green hue was fading, even though the essence he had absorbed came from a fellow goblin.
Nate's hands were trembling. He drifted to the past, recalling how Infernum wiped out Earth without effort.
If a small sacrifice like this enabled Hobo to advance meaningfully, then it was worth it.
His lips formed a grim line, his face hardening.
'I'm sorry, but it's my only option.' He thought, staring at the goblin's remains.
Progress was progress, even if it came at a cost.
The effect wasn't enough to convince the party, but that didn't matter.
He chose lying, just a little.
"You see? It's level twelve now," he said with a straight face, knowing they had no way to verify.
They couldn't see Hobo's stats after all.
'Just a small harmless lie to boost your morale,' he thought.
A heavy silence followed.
Ivy narrowed her eyes, her gaze flicking between Hobo and Nate.
"That thing just cannibalized his species-men, now he's smiling proudly. Is that normal to you?" She asked.
"It was just a goblin," Nate replied calmly. "Relax."
"It had a name," Alice responded. "It said Kreek!"
"Oh really?! Then Hobo's name should be Grahk as well. It's just a noise, wake up!!!" Nate exploded.
He was fed up with their pointless reactions.
"It's just a level three, you mother fuckers! Was it yours or mine, and why are you so concerned?" Nate grumbled, unable to take it any further.
"ENOUGH, FOOLS!!! I TOLD YOU THERE IS A WAR ON THE DOORS, WHAT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND?!" He screamed, reminding them of what he said.
He was losing his composure.
Arthur shifted uncomfortably. Nate's mood was scary even to him.
"Relax, people. We've got a bigger problem coming." Arthur said, referring to the crab charging at them.
Nate didn't answer right away. He turned around toward the crab.
"It's not even a threat worth mentioning," he said, believing that showing them was much better than explaining verbally.
He continued, "Look, this is a loser. Someone who fell victim to Infernum. If we lose this war, you will become like it."
It was originally a target for the achievement, but Nate changed his mind.
Showing them how weak the monsters were would serve as a decent warning.
Hobo raised his staff, sending seven fireballs at once. The crab halted, stunned from the sheer damage.
Suddenly, Hunter bounced high, ripping off one of its eyes violently.
The crab stumbled from being half blind, it became slightly defenseless as Hobo shot three fireballs.
It collapsed on the ground, dead in less than a minute.
[You've killed an Ash Claw (Lv.9) - +140 Exp!]
[You've leveled up | +5 Attribute Points!]
"Do you understand now? Everything is against you, including the system. Drop that pointless justice, it takes us nowhere." Nate said, believing it was a good proof.
He continued, "My summons may look ruthless, but Infernum's demons are worse."
The kill was anticlimactic; his summons were merciless. Yet they weren't on the demon's level of madness.
"Please, for god's sake. Believe me," He said, huffing and puffing to calm himself down.
Silence gripped the group.
All of them were pale from the shock. No one spoke, not after what they had seen.
Finally, Arthur exhaled, his voice quiet and grim.
"I will believe you, for now. If creatures as strong as your summons come to Earth... we're doomed."
He could no longer deny it. Nate changed drastically in his eyes.
It felt like Nate genuinely meant what he said.
Shockingly… they believed he might be right for the first time.