Chapter 26

This is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictitious and have no relation to any real entities.

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026＿Racial Evolution

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There were some unpleasant moments, but we entered the boss room. There were no remains, so it seemed the previous party had successfully defeated the boss.

I thought they just needed a bit of a lesson for their rude mouths, but I didn't actually want them to die.

There were three bosses: two Giant Spiders Level 12 and one Black Ant Level 13.

"I'll draw the Giant Spiders. Rosalina, take down the Black Ant."

"Okay."

After considering various strategies, we concluded that the best approach was for me to draw the two Giant Spiders while Rosalina took down the Black Ant.

Then I remembered I had Status Points (STP). STP allows you to enhance your stats as you see fit. I allocated all my STP to AGI (Agility).

An old saying goes, "If there's no bread, eat cake."

Both bread and cake are often made from wheat, but that doesn't mean you can eat them interchangeably.

This is just a random thought that popped into my head.

I thought, "If you don't get hit, it's fine," and someone once said, "If you don't get hit, it's no big deal." So, I allocated all 19 points to AGI.

With increased speed, I could dodge monster attacks, and even with low defense, there would be no problem.

The Giant Spiders aren't slow, so it will be a tough fight, but "If you try, you can do it; if you don't try, you can't do it." I can do this. With that determination, I faced the two Giant Spiders.

"Annelise, as usual, intervene if it gets dangerous."

Of course, I'll take precautions. Having a clear mind reduces the chance of failure.

"Leave it to me."

Light rose from the floor, and the bosses appeared. The Black Ant's carapace, which had turned pitch black from the Worker Ant, emitted a strange glow.

"Rosalina, let's go."

"Okay."

I approached the Giant Spider at a speed I had never experienced before and slashed at it, then turned and kicked the other Giant Spider.

"Go, Rosalina!"

"Haah!"

Rosalina attacked the Black Ant, and her mithril greatsword left a sharp, metallic sound.

The Black Ant was tough, and it wasn't an easy opponent to take down in one hit.

My fight with the two Giant Spiders wasn't easy either. I had to stay focused and trust that Rosalina would come through.

I was faster, but it took more than one or two hits to bring them down. It would take dozens of attacks to finish them off with my attack power.

The two Giant Spiders worked together. The bosses on the second floor were also good at coordination, and these were no exception.

Sometimes they would overlap, making one of them disappear from my sight, and then reappear from a blind spot, forcing me to dodge at the last second. I would counterattack if I could, but I focused on dodging.

When I dodged to the right, a web would fly at my feet. If I dodged the web, I would be stabbed by a thin, sharp leg. Dodging these attacks by a hair's breadth was exhausting.

"Phew... It's tough, but I'll see this through."

A web flew at me. – Item Box.

A stab came at me. – Dodge to the left.

A pincer attack. – Jump backward.

With each movement, sweat flew from the tips of my silver hair and dripped into my left eye. My vision blurred for a moment, and an attack was launched in that gap.

A Giant Spider's sharp leg passed in front of me. If I let my guard down, the tide would turn quickly.

"You guys are pretty close, huh."

My light-hearted comment didn't register. Their lifeless eyes saw me only as a target to kill.

I dodged and evaded, moving quickly left and right to avoid the Giant Spiders' attacks. Then, in a moment of high-speed movement, my dungeon leather boots slipped.

I lost my balance and my left knee hit the floor. The Giant Spider took advantage of this opening and approached.

"Damn."

– Shing.

A white blade pierced the Giant Spider's head (or neck?).

With a sharp, metallic sound, the Giant Spider disappeared.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Yeah, I was waiting."

Rosalina had defeated the Black Ant and rushed to my aid.

Now only one Giant Spider remained.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my dungeon leather glove and took a deep breath, feeling a sense of liberation as if oxygen was reaching every cell in my body.

"You've done well, but now it's over for you."

Using my speed, I approached the Giant Spider. My steel one-handed sword hit its leg. I couldn't sever it, but that was fine.

"Haah!"

Rosalina's mithril greatsword came down on the Giant Spider's head (or neck?), which was focused on me. Snap.

The battle ended abruptly. The mithril greatsword was indeed a great weapon.

"It's over."

I sat on the floor, feeling drained.

"Master, some water?"

"Thanks."

I took the water flask from Annelise and drank it in one go.

"Ah, I feel alive again."

Rosalina was also quenching her thirst with the water flask. Did her level go up?

"Ah!?" (Rosalina)

"Oh!?" (Me)

"Eh!?" (Annelise)

Rosalina was enveloped in a dazzling light.

It seemed she had evolved to Villager Level 10.

The light surrounding Rosalina gradually spread and then burst.

"..."

We were all stunned.

"Who... are you?"

Rosalina was no longer Rosalina.

Her fluffy red hair was cut short, and two small horns protruded from her forehead. Her skin was pale but healthy, and she was at least 165 cm tall. Her body had a well-defined figure, and her face was smooth and well-featured.

She looked like a model. Really, who are you!?

"Is that... Rosalina?"

"...Yes, Rosalina...?"

The change in her field of vision seemed to confuse her as well.

I opened the status screen and checked Rosalina's stats.

She had successfully evolved, but I didn't expect her appearance to change so much.

Goblins can evolve into Villagers when they reach Level 10. Most evolve into Hobgoblins, but Rosalina had evolved into a Goblin Fighter.

I was skeptical about such a race, but since it existed, I had to accept it.

The Goblin Fighter is a combat-specialized race. Her job had also evolved to Battle Master Level 1.

Rosalina must have decided to become a Battle Master and worked hard to achieve it. Her strong will had led to her evolving into a Goblin Fighter.

【Job】Battle Master Level 1

【Skills】Power Strike (Minor) Iron Fist (Minor) Kick Strike (Minor) Defense Break (Minor)

【Unique Skill】Fighting Spirit (Minor)

She even had a unique skill that she didn't have as a Goblin. Hobgoblins don't get unique skills when they evolve, so this was a rare evolution.

When I asked Annelise and Rosalina about the Goblin Fighter, they both said they didn't know.

The detailed appraisal said it was the only one in the world. It made sense that they didn't know.

• Power Strike (Minor): +30 ATK points when attacking (Passive Skill)

• Iron Fist (Minor): Fist attack. +25 ATK points for 3 minutes. Consumes 5 MP. Cannot be used for 5 minutes after activation (Active Skill)

• Kick Strike (Minor): Foot attack. +30 ATK points for 3 minutes. Consumes 7 MP. Cannot be used for 7 minutes after activation (Active Skill)

• Defense Break (Minor): 30% chance to lower the enemy's VIT by 5-10 points or reduce the durability of their equipment by 10 points when attacking (Passive Skill)

• Fighting Spirit (Minor): For 10 seconds, quadruple one of your ATK, DEF, MATK, or MDEF stats at will. Consumes 20 MP. Cannot be used for 1 hour after activation (Active Skill)

The Battle Master job can wear gloves, gauntlets, and boots but cannot wield weapons. However, the skills are incredibly powerful. What the heck, these skills are. Even a hero with a greatsword might run away barefoot.

With the passive skill Power Strike adding +30 ATK, the active skill Iron Fist adding +25 ATK, and the unique skill Fighting Spirit quadrupling ATK, who could stop this attack!?

Her attack power is clearly at a monster level. However, Iron Fist, Kick Strike, and Fighting Spirit all have cooldowns, making it tricky to use them effectively.

I was surprised by Rosalina's model-like appearance, but her job was also beyond the norm.

The detailed appraisal had told me that goblins could evolve, but I didn't expect such a significant transformation.

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