NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Chapter : 9 : The Fight and The Little Girl!
The earth trembled as the orc lunged, its monstrous muscles flexing with unrestrained power. The metal club in its remaining hand whooshed through the air, aimed straight for Aiden's skull.
CLANG!
Aiden raised Stormfang, his enchanted dagger, to meet the attack. Sparks flew as steel clashed against the dagger's obsidian edge, crackling with surging electricity. Aiden skidded back slightly, his boots scraping against the stone pavement, but his smirk never wavered.
"You've got some great arm strength," he taunted, tilting his head. "But what are you gonna do… with only one arm?"
The orc snarled, its deep crimson eyes gleaming with unrelenting rage. Without hesitation, it swung again—roaring as it slammed its club down in a relentless assault.
THWAM! THWAM! THWAM!
Each blow sent shockwaves through the battlefield, shaking the very air. But Aiden moved like a phantom, weaving through the attacks with seamless precision. His blade danced through the gaps, intercepting the brute's strikes with equal force.
Behind them, Luna chuckled, her sharp canines glinting in the dim light. Holding the small goblin girl in her arms, she turned toward Lysandra. "Isn't Master just super strong?" she said with a playful grin.
Lysandra, however, didn't respond. Her crimson eyes were fixated on Aiden, watching the impossible duel unfold before her. Even the little goblin girl, despite the dirt streaking her face, couldn't look away—her tiny hands gripping Luna tightly.
Aiden suddenly twisted, pivoting low as he swung Stormfang in a crescent arc. The obsidian blade struck the orc's club with a high-pitched shriek, sending vibrations through the metal. With a final push, Aiden deflected the attack entirely, shattering the brute's stance.
There it was. His opening.
"Your luck just ran out," Aiden muttered.
He lunged, Stormfang slicing through flesh like butter.
A single diagonal slash from torso to neck.
The orc howled in agony, staggering backward as blood gushed from the fresh wound. But Aiden didn't stop there.
His body blurred—his speed now beyond human.
He struck again. And again. And again.
Each swing was precise, tearing through the orc's thick hide, slicing through tendons and muscle with effortless grace. His movements were a blur of electricity and steel, the sound of tearing flesh drowned by the crackling thunder that followed each strike.
The orc roared, stumbling from the relentless assault, but Aiden wasn't done yet. With a final war cry, he drove Stormfang deep into the beast's chest—plunging it through its heart.
The orc's breath hitched.
Its beady eyes widened in shock.
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
Then—
WHOOSH!
With the last of its strength, the orc swung its club in a desperate, wild arc.
Lysandra's eyes widened in horror. "Aiden-sama!" she screamed.
The little goblin girl clutched Luna's cloak even tighter, her small voice trembling. "Mister… watch out!"
But Aiden was already moving.
In a split-second reaction, he twisted his body, narrowly evading the strike. The orc's club passed just inches from his face, grazing his cheek. He landed a few feet away, steadying himself with ease, his dagger still humming with energy.
Aiden exhaled, wiping the thin line of blood from his face. His expression darkened. "Tch… Close one."
The orc panted heavily, its massive chest rising and falling. It knew. It knew it couldn't win. But there was no retreat. No surrender.
Aiden watched as the beast gritted its tusks and prepared itself for what was to come.
"I guess it's time to use that," Aiden muttered, rolling his shoulders.
A hush fell over the battlefield.
Luna's ears perked up. "Wait, Master, you don't mean—"
Even the little goblin girl, though she didn't understand, could feel the shift in the air.
Aiden took a slow step forward.
The very atmosphere seemed to bend around him.
Then—
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[SKILL ACTIVATED: INDRA]
— A devastating fusion of fire and thunder that bursts the target from the inside out.
— Requires direct contact.
---
The moment the system notification appeared, the world changed.
A powerful aura erupted from Aiden's body, distorting the air itself. The ground beneath him cracked under the sheer force of his presence.
Wind howled.
Lightning crackled.
Flames ignited at his fingertips, swirling together with the coursing electricity. A fusion of elements—an unstoppable storm of destruction.
The orc took a hesitant step back.
For the first time… it felt fear.
Aiden's smirk deepened. "Oh? What's wrong?" He extended his hand. Fire and lightning coiled around his palm like a living entity. "You looked real confident a second ago."
The orc roared defiantly, but Aiden was already gone.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared right in front of the beast.
His fingers wrapped around the orc's face.
The air screamed as energy surged through Aiden's body. His eyes gleamed with raw power.
Aiden exhaled. Then—
"INDRA!"
The word echoed like a divine decree.
The orc's body convulsed violently. Its veins bulged as flames and lightning surged through its very being.
Then—
BOOM!
Flames burst from the orc's mouth.
Sparks exploded from its eyes.
Electricity crackled from its ears, its nostrils, every orifice—until, with an ear-splitting howl, the beast detonated from the inside out.
The shockwave sent dust and debris flying in every direction.
Luna shielded the goblin girl, wrapping her arms around the tiny frame as she crouched low. Lysandra raised her crystalline barrier, protecting them both from the scorching aftermath.
When the dust settled—
The orc was gone.
Not a trace of its massive form remained. Only embers flickering in the wind.
Aiden stood in the center of the battlefield, unharmed. The aura around him slowly faded, the storm of fire and thunder dissipating into the ether.
He exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Well… that was fun."
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[SUDDEN EVENT COMPLETED: DEFEAT THE ORC]
[REWARDS UNLOCKED:]
— 500 EXP
— Stormfang Upgrade Available
— Bonus: Goblin Girl Saved → Can Be Tamed
---
Aiden exhaled, shaking off the lingering sparks of energy from his fingertips. The battlefield was silent now, the once-raging orc reduced to nothing but a scorched memory. As the dust settled, a familiar ding echoed in his mind, followed by a glowing blue screen materializing before him.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[SUDDEN EVENT COMPLETED: DEFEAT THE ORC]
[REWARDS UNLOCKED:]
— 500 EXP (Experience automatically distributed.)
— Stormfang Upgrade Available (Upgrade pending—access Inventory to enhance.)
— Bonus: Goblin Girl Saved → Eligible for Taming
---
Aiden's eyes widened.
Wait… I can tame her?
His gaze shifted toward the small goblin girl, who clung tightly to Luna's side. Her oversized, tattered rags barely covered her tiny frame, and her thin arms trembled. Despite her fear, her large, crimson eyes never left Aiden. They were filled with awe—no, something even deeper.
Gratitude.
Aiden clenched his fists. She must have been terrified…
Taking a deep breath, he dismissed the system screen and walked toward the others.
Luna was the first to react, her tail wagging excitedly. She let go of the little girl and leaped toward Aiden, her black eyes sparkling. "Master… that was so cool!" she gushed, her ears twitching in excitement.
Lysandra, however, took a more composed approach. She stepped forward and bowed slightly. "You fought brilliantly. Thank you for saving us."
Aiden scratched the back of his head with a warm, boyish smile. "Well, can't exactly leave you all hanging, right?"
Then, soft footsteps approached.
The little goblin girl hesitated before stepping toward Aiden, her tiny fingers clutching the hem of her ragged clothing. She lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
"M-Mister… T-thank you for saving me."
Aiden's heart clenched. The way she trembled, the way her voice wavered—she had been living in fear for so long.
Crouching down, he reached out and gently placed his hand on her head.
The moment his fingers touched her meessy black hair, she froze. Then, slowly, her small frame relaxed. A giggle escaped her lips as she melted into his touch, nuzzling against his palm like a child starved of affection.
Luna and Lysandra exchanged soft smiles, their gazes warm.
Aiden chuckled. "The name's Aiden Nightshade. But you can call me Onii-chan. What's yours?"
The little goblin girl blinked up at him.
"I… I don't have one," she admitted, her tone filled with disappointment.
Aiden's smile faltered slightly. He glanced at Luna and Lysandra, who both looked just as troubled.
No name. No identity.
Aiden's expression softened. "I see…" He kept his hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair. "That just means we'll have to find the perfect one for you."
Before the girl could respond, Aiden decided to ask something else. "Hey, do you know where your parents are?"
At that, the girl stiffened. Her eyes lowered to the ground.
"I-I don't know… I never saw them," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Silence fell between them.
Lysandra sighed, her expression unreadable. Luna's ears drooped, her tail stilling.
Aiden took a deep breath. She's all alone…
Then, another notification appeared.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[DO YOU WANT TO TAME HER?]
NOTE: Subject has high growth potential.
---
Aiden stared at the glowing text for a moment.
Then, he looked back at the little girl.
"What if…" He hesitated, then smiled. "What if you came with us? As my companion?"
The goblin girl's head shot up. Her eyes widened, filled with an emotion Aiden couldn't quite describe.
"R-Really? I can?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Aiden nodded.
"You can!" Luna chimed in happily, wrapping her arms around the little goblin girl. "We'll take care of you! You'll never be alone again."
The little girl gasped, her tiny hands clutching Luna. Her lips trembled before breaking into a wide, hopeful smile.
"Onii-chan… take me with you!" she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation and hope.
Aiden chuckled. "That settles it then."
The system responded instantly.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO NAME HER?]
[NAME: ______]
---
Aiden tapped his chin in thought.
Luna and Lysandra exchanged glances. "Hmm…"
"How about… Ivy?" Aiden proposed.
The little goblin girl's eyes sparkled.
"Onii-chan, I love it!" she beamed.
Luna and Lysandra smiled warmly.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[NAME: Ivy Nightshade]
[NAME ACCEPTED]
---
Aiden gently patted Ivy's head again. "From now on, you'll be called Ivy Nightshade."
The moment he spoke those words, a soft glow surrounded Ivy.
Lysandra gasped. "She's evolving…?"
Luna's tail fluffed up. "That's… similar to what happened with me!"
The light intensified, swirling around Ivy's small body. Her figure grew slightly taller, her frail frame filling out. Her hair, once short and unkempt, grew longer, falling past her shoulders. Even her face matured slightly, her features becoming more refined.
When the glow finally faded, Ivy blinked up at Aiden, her crimson eyes wide with surprise.
"Wow…" Aiden muttered, rubbing his chin. "Looking good, Ivy."
Ivy's cheeks turned bright red. She shifted uncomfortably, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden changes. "It… feels weird," she admitted.
Aiden smiled. "You'll get used to it."
Before they could say anything else, a sudden commotion broke out around them.
From the shadows, goblins emerged—cautiously at first, their beady eyes peeking from behind walls and rubble. Then, all at once, they stepped forward, murmuring among themselves.
"He… he saved us…"
"We're safe now!"
"That man—he defeated the orc!"
Then, someone else gasped.
"Wait! Isn't that Princess Lysandra with him?"
"Y-You're right!"
Murmurs turned into excited whispers.
Aiden raised an eyebrow, glancing at Lysandra. "Looks like you're popular."
Lysandra sighed, rubbing her temple. "It appears so."
Ivy clutched Aiden's sleeve, staring at the growing crowd. "Onii-chan… are we going to be okay?"
Aiden ruffled her hair again, offering a reassuring grin. "Of course. You're with me now, remember?"
Ivy smiled softly, leaning into him.
For the first time in her life… she felt safe.
And so, surrounded by the whispers of grateful goblins and the warmth of his newfound family, Aiden took another step forward on his journey.
END OF CHAPTER : 9 : THE FIGHT AND THE LITTLE GIRL!