Becoming Legend

"What are you doing!" Ned said gritting his teeth, forcing Gogmurch's grip to loosen using the magic conjured chains. Just with his thoughts, Ned was able to manipulate the chains around Gogmurch's wrist.

But his body has been out in too much stress lately that Gogmurch was able to resist Ned's strength but put bewilderment in the goblin's eyes.

"Such strength in a short time," Gogmurch growled. " Human, what have you been up to?"

Napond was half as big as Gogmurch, but boy he was big. Blue shining armor with tiger orange edges. With bluish metallic boots that do look like a newly bought, if not crafted, ware. And a giant ax he once held like a stick from an old dying tree fell as his master was half dead. But boy he was big.

But not anymore. His bright and dark noble eyes rolled above and hid under his lids. All the white remains. Reflecting Gogmurch's spiky and moldy tooth. His hands shook as his legs trembled. Veins forming spider webs over his bald head. Boy, he was big no more.

"Stop it!" Ned ordered, increasing tension on both sides.

No hunter would dare approach Gogmurch as his intent was more than enough to succumb to the others out of fear. Around Gogmurch's wrist were white patches, indicating that he was hand locked. As to where? Ned had no time to know.

Behind Ned, was Thirteen and thirteen more of the Ghostbloods. In his hand was a lump of meat: a beating and lively meat. He reached for the lock of the first cage. Once there, he raised his hand with the dull stone and effortlessly unlocked the cage sealed with an Array.

The shaking of the massive cage over the wagon stopped. The cracking noise of wood that held the cage could no longer be heard.

As soon as the first cage opened, the rest stayed still. The massive cage behind the first stopped moving. The two bipedal beasts with enormous slitted eyes paused whining.

Ned had no way to deal with both, now three of them as Gogmurch was about to turn Napond into a paste.

"Gogmurch!" Ned was shouting under the mask. "Do not kill him!"

"Then what? Human?" Gogmurch said with saliva leaving the gaps of his moldy razor teeth. "Just because you've gotten stronger means you can order me now?"

Ned had enough.

Behind him was Thirteen feeding the beast with the lump of lively meat and Maker only knows what he's up to. Before he was Gogmurch who doesn't want to listen to him. And they were the center of everything as the Ghostbloods retreated to Thirteen and the Hunters in brown civilian (more like a farmer jacket) uniform was too afraid to approach Gogmurch even though their leader was about to die.

Behind his vision in red combat mode was his status. A mana of 990 and constantly depleting. Not to mention his energy which was rapidly sucked by the Vanishing Stance. Ned had enough. But his status was more than enough.

His mind flared as his thought was focused on conjuring Fireball. On his right was the pair of chains from his Tier 3 Zephyr spell, and on his left was Fireball.

Ned hurled the Fireball. Hitting the white fur covering the goblin's back.

Smoke along with a whiff of burning hair clouded the base of the hill.

Gogmurch's eyes blaring red as he looked at Ned. He let loose of Napond and kicked him before his body touches the ground. He jumped and said, "I'll tell my Queen you died rescuing me!" and landed before Ned with the chains still attached under Gogmurch's wrist.

Much better this way, Ned thought as he focused and increased the strength of the Zephyr spell which made the Mark of the Knight glowed white under the end of his black coat. Tattered edges waving upon Gogmurch's landing.

With a hand left, he tried to catch Ned the same way as to how he caught Napond but failed since Ned was faster. He was far from sluggish. Ned effortlessly evaded by bending. And with a thought, he retracted the length of the Zephyr chains and pulled Gogmurch out of his balance. This gains an added vein-popping above the goblin' green skin.

Gogmurch wasn't a shaman, which gave him the flaw of unable to conjure a spell. Perhaps he might learn it if he wanted to. But judging from thick skin, which was almost impenetrable by low Tier spells, his massive body clad of muscles, it was more than enough that even Gold Rank Hunters were like ants under his feet.

"Gold Rank?" Ned muttered and swiftly flipped backward leaving a kick under Gogmurch's chin and landed a good meter away from him. "If Gogmurch could easily defeat Gold Rank Hunters, then..."

The thought of Ned surpassing Gold Rank Hunters put a shiver under his skin. He grinned which was supposed to be a smile. Gogmurch was right in—a short amount of time.

Feeling good about himself, Ned retracted the mana coursing under his wrist and canceled the Zephyr spell. He raised a hand and said, "Were you this shallow to ignore your Queen's command?"

Gogmurch stopped on his track. Loincloth fluttering against the breeze which shows green and wrinkled groin like an old man pendulum dangling left and right.

Ah, great. Ned slapped his forehead inwardly. Removing the scene he just saw.

"You are human," Gogmurch said, trying to control the trembling of his hand. "You are the one commanded. Not me."

Ned raised a finger and said, "I am not following someone's command. I do not bow to anyone." But only to my Master, Ned thought and continued. "Not to your Queen. This world's Kings and Lords. And worse, I will never bow before you." This put a tingling sensation inside Ned. He could feel a shiver inside his chest. His Golden Core shook. Shiver then joy. Ned reached for his chest to calm the Core. "Perhaps. I'll tell Sas Koron you died before I could rescue you." And deal with Katolin later.

Ned's voice was muffled and deep under the Kurashinpi mask, silver thread of hair exiting its edges. Under the holes of his mask, Ned's blue eyes lit. He walked casually to Gogmurch with leaves, and sticks, and blood under his boots. He vanished.

And appeared behind Gogmurch with a steaming kick aimed at the latter's neck.

Gogmurch propelled to the edge of the forest. While Ned vanished upon landing on foot and appeared above the down goblin general.

I never felt this good... Ned thought and threw himself over Gogmurch and locked him between his legs.

Slashes of air whistled as Ned threw punches on Gogmurch's deformed face. A tooth broke but the attack never ended there.

"If only I am this strong before..."

Eight consecutive punches went straight to the goblin. Cutting the green flesh under his eyes.

"Quickfall team..."

Ten blurring punches.

"Would still be alive!"

The ground cracked and a thunderbolt shoots out of it.