Henry was just a few steps from the door when it creaked open, and he froze. Two figures emerged, towering, hulking. Not goblins, he was sure of that.
They had goblinoid features, but their muscles were bulkier, their limbs thicker. Their skin was green and oily, veins pulsing beneath the surface. Strips of dried leather were tied around their waists, and their bare torsos rippled with strength like seasoned fighters.
Each wore an iron armour with heavy iron sword in one hand and a battered shield in the other.
Wrestler-like brutes with the look of trained killers.
Henry took a slow step back. "This isn't going to be funny," he muttered, tighten the grip on his bow.
The creatures let out a low growl and stepped forward, and that familiar ding sounded in his head.
[Inspect]
[Name:////]
[Race: Orc Warriors]
[Level: 2]
[HP: 20]
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 3]
[Defense: 11]
[Skills: None]
"Okay, I can work with this... if I fight smart."
Henry shifted into a low stance and released a quick arrow at the first orc.
*Clang!*
The arrow bounced off the orc's raised shield.
The second orc roared and rushed forward, sword swinging from above. Henry twisted sideways and leapt back, narrowly avoiding the slash.
*Thud*.
His feet hit the ground hard. Without hesitation, he pushed forward, sprang up again, and used the first orc's shoulder as a springboard. Mid-air, he fired another arrow point-blank into the back of the second orc.
[-5 HP]
The armour decreased the damage.
Henry landed in a crouch, but before he could regain his balance, the orc he had shot turned around and drove a boot into his chest.
He hit the ground with a grunt, wind knocked out of him.
[-2 HP]
[HP: 23]
Notifications blinked across his screen. Both orcs were alive. Both angry.
And now, he was caught between them.
He looked left, then right. Too close for arrows.
' I'm not wasting my shots, I would distract them a little then aim for their skull' he muttered inwardly. He dismissed the bow into his inventory and took a breath.
The orcs growled and charged. But Henry moved first.
He rushed the wounded one, ducking under a wild swing. He kicked at its sword hand. The blade clattered to the floor. It roared and hurled its shield at him but Henry sidestepped.
They clashed. Fists against fists.
Henry threw a punch aiming for his chest then his fist collided with the armour.
"Ahh…shit, that was painful"Henry whispered while staring at the armour.
The orc swung its fist. Henry blocked, but the force hurled him backward.
[-5HP]
[HP: 18]
He rolled, coughing dust, and pulled his bow from his inventory. His fingers tightened around the grip as he pushed to his feet.
"Time to aim"
He ran forward, ignoring the other orc. One tried to grab him, he slipped past.
He pulled the string taut.
*Whew*
The arrow flew and landed squarely between the orc's eyes.
[You've killed an Orc!]
[+10 XP]
Henry smiled weakly. "One more to go." Then, his smile vanished.
The last orc fell to its knees. Convulsing, Its roar echoed as its body twisted unnaturally.
Henry didn't move. He only watched.
The orc's muscles expanded. Its skin turned dark red, like dried blood. Its eyes burned with a crimson glow.
[Inspect]
[Name: ////]
[Race: Orc Warrior (Mutated)]
[Status: Mutation Complete]
[HP: 25]
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 8]
[Defense: 16]
[Skill: None]
"Shit…" Henry took a shaky step back. "All its stats just jumped."
The creature didn't wait, It charged, and Henry ran.
*BOOM!*
He slammed into the wall.
[-4 HP]
[HP: 14]
"Argh!" Pain exploded in his ribs as he tried to rise. Footsteps thundered behind him.
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
*BOOM!*
He rolled just in time to dodge another blow. Gritting his teeth, he tried to nock an arrow but the orc lunged with a barrage of wild punches.
Henry ducked one, sidestepped another. They were slower, almost sluggish. Why? He didn't care.
He rolled then felt himself yanked off the floor.
The orc had his leg.
"Ahhh!" Henry screamed as it began to crush him.
[-1 HP]
[-1HP]
[-1HP]
His health ticked down fast.
"Is this it? My second life... gone?"
Blood dripped from his nose. His breath hitched.
"I don't want to die…" he choked.
With fading strength, he reached for the bow and aimed.
*Whew.*
The arrow pierced the orc's toe.
[-3 HP]
The orc bellowed in agony and hurled Henry like a ragdoll.
[-1HP]
[HP:10]
Henry hit the wall hard and everything blurred.
A new notification flashed:
[Weapon Cooldown: 17 Seconds]
"Seventeen seconds? I might not even last ten..."
Then he saw it,the orc's fallen sword. Inches away.
He crawled, fingers stretching. Just as he grabbed it, the orc ripped the arrow from its toe and limped toward him.
It loomed above. Snarling, Bleeding, and Furious.
"Ahhhh!" it growled, dragging Henry up by the neck and pinning him to the wall.
[-1 HP]
[-1 HP]
[-1 HP]
Henry groaned, barely able to move. Just as the orc raised it's fist.Henry used the opportunity and plunged the sword into its eye.
[-9 HP]
The beast screamed and dropped him.
[Weapon reloaded -1 HP]
[HP:5]
[Weapon Ready]
"There's still hope" Henry whispered weakly, he tighten his grip around his bow and aim at the orc.
The orc staggering, tied to pull the blade from its eye.
*Whew.*
The arrow struck true, straight into its forehead.
The mutated orc went still. Then fell.
[You've killed an Orc!]
[+10 XP]
Henry dropped his bow, breath heaving. Blood on his lips. Ribs aching.