The kobolds froze in shock as Henry's arrow slashed through the first of their comrades. The creature dropped with a guttural cry, blood darkening the soil.
Before the rest could react, Henry's bow was already drawn.
*Fwip!*
An arrow buried itself into the side of another kobold's skull. The beast staggered once, then collapsed with a dull thud.
[You've killed a Kobold]
[ +10 Experience Points]
*ROAR!*
One of the evolved kobolds bared its fangs, fury twisting its face. It charged, sword raised high.
The blade came crashing down, Henry braced, catching the strike with his bow. The impact rattled his arms, the sheer force sending vibrations through his bones. His eyes widened.
'So strong…!'
He clenched his teeth. The power behind the strike was different, equal to his own.
"The power of evolution…" Henry muttered under his breath.
He leapt back, feet kicking off the dirt just as the other two evolved kobolds lunged forward.
*Thwip* *Thwip!*
The kobolds swerved nimbly, dodging. The arrows slammed into a tree behind them, splintering bark, then ricocheted.
*Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!*
Five kobolds standing in formation never had the chance to react. The reflected arrows pierced through their skulls one after the other, dropping them like puppets with severed strings.
[You've killed 5 Kobolds]
[+50 Experience Points]
Henry blinked, lowering his bow slightly.
"…Wow. I didn't expect that." His voice trembled in disbelief.
*GRRAAA!*
The remaining evolved kobolds roared, eyes glowing with fury. They bolted after him as Henry spun on his heel and dashed into the trees.
Branches snapped beneath his steps, his breath steady as he weaved between trunks. His body felt lighter, faster. Every stride carried him farther than before.
'So this is the speed of evolution'
With one swift leap, he scaled a tree and crouched atop a branch, bow in hand.
Below, one of the evolved kobolds skidded to a halt, sniffing the air. Its eyes darted around, uncertain.
"Hey," Henry whispered softly. The kobold's head snapped up.
*Fwoosh!*
An arrow tore through the air. The creature tried to dodge, but the shaft still sank deep into its arm. The kobold snarled in pain.
Henry didn't hesitate. He vaulted down from the tree, bow flashing in hand.
*Clang!*
Wood meet steel as the kobold raised its blade to block. The impact drove it to the ground, claws digging into the dirt.
The other two evolved kobolds burst from the brush, charging straight at Henry
*Shhk!*
A blade sliced across Henry's shoulder, the pain lancing through him.
[-5 HP]
[HP Remaining: 40]
Blood dripped, but Henry's golden pupils narrowed with determination, he gritted his teeth and steadied his breath.
He raised his bow again, ignoring the sting.
*Thud!*
The injured kobold jerked violently, the arrow planted firmly in its forehead. It crumpled to the earth with a sharp exhale.
[You've killed an Evolved Kobold]
[ +15 Experience Points]
[Five arrows fired]
[-2 Stamina]
[Stamina: 24]
Henry barely had a moment to breathe before a blade thrust into his shoulder from the side again.
[-5 HP]
[HP: 35]
The kobold yanked its weapon back, Henry's blood dripping from the steel.
The torn flesh began to close, muscle knitted.
[Eat or rest for 2 minutes to fully restore HP]
Henry's eyes widened 'Extraordinary body'
The kobold's eyes widened too, It snarled enraged at the impossible sight.
"Graaaa!" it roared, slashing again.
Henry blocked with his bow, the force knocked him off his feet, but he rolled quickly, regaining his stance.
He kissed the bow lightly, whispering, "Thanks, Whisper Fang. You've carried me through every strike."
The sound of dozens of claws raking against the earth drew his attention. The rest of the ordinary kobolds had arrived, snarling and screeching.
Henry exhaled once, steadying himself.
*Fwip-fwoosh-fwip-fwoosh-fwoosh!*
Arrow after arrow, his hands moved faster than his mind could process. The evolved kobolds twisted aside, narrowly dodging each shot, but the ordinary ones were not so lucky.
Screams filled the woods as arrows impaled bodies. Blood splattered across the earth. One by one, the lesser kobolds fell, their corpses carpeting the ground.
[Five arrows fired]
[-2 Stamina]
[Stamina: 22]
[Five arrows fired]
[-2 Stamina]
[Stamina: 20]
[You've killed a Kobold +10 Experience Points]
[You've killed a Kobold +10 Experience Points]
[You've killed a Kobold +10 Experience Points]
[You've killed a Kobold +10 Experience Points]
[You've killed a Kobold +10 Experience Points]
[You've killed a Kobold +10 Experience Points]
The stream of notifications blinked across his vision, but Henry kept firing.
One of the evolved kobolds lunged again, blade swinging. Henry ducked, sliding backward, and released an arrow midair.
The shaft drilled into its chest, embedding deep. The kobold coughed, blood dribbling from its mouth.
Its eyes widened in disbelief, just as another arrow struck its chest. The beast fell with a dull thud.
[You've killed an Evolved Kobold +15 Experience Points]
The final evolved kobold's eyes darted between Henry and the blood-soaked ground, fear crept into its expression.
Henry's lips curved into a thin smile.
"Don't worry," he whispered. "You're next."
*Swoosh.*
The shot pierced its throat cleanly. Blood gurgled out as the kobold clawed desperately at its neck. It took one last shaky breath before collapsing at Henry's feet.
[You've killed an Evolved Kobold +15 Experience Points]
*Ding!*
[Quest Completed: You've defeated the Kobolds]
Reward: Transformation Skill Unlocked, +7 Stat Points
[Status Updated]
[Name: Henry]
[Race: Goblin (High-End)]
[Class: Marksman]
[SP: 27]
[Level: 5]
[EXP: 220/500]
[Evolution Crystals: 5/500]
[HP: 35/45]
[Strength: 30]
[Agility: 29]
[Stamina: 20]
[Vitality: 28]
[Skills: Inspect Lv.2, Bouncing Arrows, Night Vision, Transformation Lv1]
[Traits: Extraordinary Body]
[Transformation: Transform the user's appearance into another form. Cooldown: 30 seconds After 42 Hours. Stats reduced by 50% while transformed.]
Henry's breath shuddered. His hands trembled.
"…Yes. Finally." His voice cracked. "I did it."
The glow of another crystal caught his eyes, hovering above a fallen kobold. He snatched it and swallowed it without pause.
[+1 Evolution Crystal Absorbed]
[Evolution Crystals: 6/500]
Henry wiped the blood from his shoulder and glanced around the battlefield, corpses scattered like broken dolls.
"I'll collect their items first," he muttered, steady now, "then… I'll test the transformation skill.".