The air in the subway tunnel was thick enough to chew. It smelled of wet fur, feces, and something sweet—like rotting fruit.
Arthur walked in the front, holding the splintered wooden shield Brutus had tossed him. It was heavy, poorly balanced, and smelled of mildew. A literal piece of trash gear.
[Item: Militia Buckler (Rank F)]
Durability: 15/20
Defense: +2
"Keep moving, meat shield," Brutus barked from ten feet behind. "Don't stop until you see green skin."
Arthur didn't reply. He marched along the rusted tracks, his boots crunching on gravel.
Behind him, the squad was relaxed. Viper (Level 3 Ranger) was chewing gum, his crossbow resting casually on his shoulder. Sarah (Level 3 Cleric) was checking her nails, looking bored. Brutus (Level 4 Warrior) was smoking a cigar, the red ember glowing in the dark.
They weren't tense. They had a tank now. A tank meant they didn't have to get their clothes dirty.
HP: 165 / 442
Arthur checked his stats. Since entering the tunnel, his Max HP had ticked up another 7 points. His current health was slowly regenerating, but he was still far from full.
"Movement," Viper whispered. His playful demeanor vanished instantly.
Arthur saw it too. Ahead, where the tunnel widened into a maintenance bay, shadows were dancing around a burning oil drum.
Small, hunched figures. Pointy ears. Ragged loincloths.
[Enemy Identified]Tunnel Goblin (Rank F)Level: 2
There were four of them. They were arguing over a dead rat.
"Standard formation," Brutus ordered. "Rookie, go pull aggro. Get them to look at you. If you let one run past you, I break your legs."
Arthur took a breath. Survival Protocol: Active.
He stepped into the light of the fire drum. He banged his pipe wrench against the wooden shield.
CLACK. CLACK.
The goblins froze. Four pairs of yellow eyes locked onto him. They shrieked—a high-pitched, ear-splitting sound—and drew crude jagged knives.
"Come on, you ugly runts," Arthur muttered.
They charged. They were fast, scampering on all fours like monkeys.
The first goblin leaped at Arthur's face. Arthur raised the shield.
THUNK.
The goblin bounced off, but its knife gouged a deep scratch into the wood.
The second and third goblins went for his legs. Arthur kicked out, but they were slippery. A blade slashed across his shin.
[You took 8 Physical Damage!]
"Hit them!" Arthur yelled, struggling to keep the fourth goblin from flanking him.
TWANG.
A bolt whistled past Arthur's ear. It struck the first goblin in the throat.
Critical Hit! Instant Kill.
The goblin dropped without a sound.
TWANG. TWANG.
Viper was a machine. Two more bolts flew. One missed, but the other pinned a goblin's foot to the floor.
Brutus finally moved. He didn't rush in. He waited until the goblins were focused on Arthur, then he stepped in with a massive two-handed mace.
"Smash!" Brutus roared.
He brought the mace down on the goblin pinned to the floor. The sound was like a watermelon exploding.
Overkill.
The last goblin turned to run.
"Don't let it escape!" Brutus shouted. "It'll alert the nest!"
Arthur was the closest. He didn't have the speed to catch it, but he had the mass. He threw himself forward, tackling the goblin. They rolled on the dirty concrete. The goblin bit Arthur's forearm, teeth sinking deep.
[You took 11 Physical Damage!]
Arthur ignored the pain. He jammed his thumb into the goblin's eye socket.
Critical Hit.
While the goblin screamed, Viper put a bolt through its head.
[Combat Ended][Experience Gained: 35 EXP] (Split 4 ways - Reduced due to Party penalty)
"Only 35?" Arthur panted, pushing the goblin corpse off him. "That's nothing."
Normally, a kill gave ~50 EXP. But in a party, it was split. He was doing the dirty work for crumbs.
"Stop whining," Brutus walked over. He kicked the goblin corpse Arthur had tackled. A small pile of coins and a leather belt dropped.
Brutus scooped them up instantly.
[Loot: 25 Credits][Loot: Goblin Leather Belt (Agility +1)]
"Hey," Arthur said, standing up. "That belt."
"Party loot," Brutus said, pocketing it. "We distribute at the end. Standard protocol."
Arthur narrowed his eyes. "You said 15%."
"15% of the total value," Brutus smirked. "We settle the tab when we get back to base. Unless you want to carry the calculator right now?"
It was a lie. They were never going to pay him.
Arthur looked at Sarah, the Cleric. "I took damage. Heal?"
Sarah looked at Arthur's bloody shin and bitten arm. She rolled her eyes.
"It's just a scratch," she said. "Mana is expensive. Drink a potion if you're dying. Otherwise, walk it off."
Arthur stared at them.
They were using him. They were stealing his EXP, stealing his loot, and refusing to heal him.
Rationality Scale: Maximum.Anger: Suppressed.
"Fine," Arthur said. He picked up his battered shield.
HP: 146 / 445
He didn't need their healing. His regen was ticking. And every minute he spent arguing, his max HP grew.
He would play their game. For now.
"Let's move," Arthur said, turning back to the dark tunnel.
One Hour Later.
They had cleared three more patrols.
Arthur was a mess. His clothes were shredded. He was covered in green blood, black grime, and his own red blood. His shield had shattered two fights ago, leaving him blocking with his pipe wrench and his left arm.
But he was alive.
Level: 2 (185/200 EXP) HP: 110 / 505
He had broken the 500 HP mark. He was now officially tankier than a Level 10 Warrior.
The party had stopped at a heavy iron blast door. This was it. The entrance to the Instance proper: [The Goblin King's Throne].
"Alright, listen up," Brutus said, his voice serious for the first time. "Inside is the Hobgoblin Chief. Level 5 Boss. He hits hard."
Brutus pointed a thick finger at Arthur.
"You go in first. You taunt him. You make him face away from us. When he does his [Power Smash], you block it."
"Block a boss skill?" Arthur asked. "With what? My face?"
"Figure it out," Brutus shrugged. "Just don't die before Viper kills the adds."
Brutus handed Arthur a small, dirty vial.
"Here. Strength Potion (Low Quality). Drink it. It'll give you +2 Strength for 5 minutes. Don't waste it."
Arthur took the vial. It was cloudy and smelled like gasoline.
"Generous," Arthur deadpanned.
"Go," Brutus ordered.
Arthur pushed the heavy iron door open.
The smell hit him first—a wave of ammonia and rot.
The room was a massive maintenance hub. In the center, sitting on a throne made of human skulls and subway seats, sat a massive creature.
It was seven feet tall. Green skin like leather. Muscles bulging like tumors. It held a massive iron club that looked like it used to be a support pillar.
[Boss Identified]Iron-Tooth Hobgoblin (Rank F - Boss)Level: 5Status: Elite
Surrounding the boss were six smaller goblins.
The Hobgoblin saw Arthur. It stood up, roaring a challenge that shook dust from the ceiling.
"ROAARGH!"
Arthur uncorked the Strength potion and downed it.
[Strength Increased: 8 -> 10][Duration: 5:00]
Heat flooded his muscles. He felt... better. Not strong, but functional.
Wait.
Strength 10.
Arthur's eyes widened. He reached into his pocket. His fingers brushed the smooth surface of the white orb he had been hiding since Chapter 2.
[Skill Orb: Heavy Strike]Requirement: Strength 10.
He had the requirement. Right now.
While Brutus and the others were hanging back, waiting for him to charge, Arthur crushed the orb in his hand.
[System Alert][Skill Learned: Heavy Strike (Rank F)]
Arthur grinned. It was a cold, predatory smile.
"Hey, ugly!" Arthur shouted at the Hobgoblin. "Your mother was a dwarf!"
It was a weak taunt, but it worked. The Hobgoblin roared and charged, the ground shaking with each step.
"Good luck, meat shield!" Brutus yelled from the hallway, not stepping inside.
Arthur stood his ground. He didn't have a shield. He didn't have a healer.
But he had 500 HP. And now, he had a hammer.
"Come get some," Arthur whispered.