Chapter 9: Chapter 8: Sharp Blades and Bleeding Hearts

The goblins that were brutally injured trembled as they saw Zoey starting to approach them, weakly holding onto their daggers, their grip weak and their legs barely able to keep them standing upright.

Zoey smiled upon their weakened state, with bruises and injuries like these, the goblins had no hope for escaping her. She quickly started dashing toward them, storing the [Crude Club] that she held into her [Inventory].

The goblins shrieked in fright, but before they could react, Zoey quickly closed the distance and delivered a brutal slash across one of their chests. The blade had cut deep into it’s flesh, drawing blood and cutting through muscles and tendons with ease.

‘This is really sharp,’ Zoey thought, giving a quick glance to the dagger in her hand that was recognized by the system as a [Stone Dagger].

Zoey then delivered another slash to the goblin, sending it crashing to the ground, leaving it to bleed and cry out in pain. She then heard the sounds of footsteps approaching her, followed by cries of war.

Zoey quickly turned her head to look at the goblins with shields approaching her, her expression hardening a little. Then, the [Stone Dagger] in her hand slowly began to glow in a shimmering gold light.

Immediately recognizing what was happening, Zoey’s head snapped back to look at the first goblin she had killed, seeing that it started to dissapear.

‘Crap!’ Zoey grit her teeth in frustration, ‘I didn’t get the drop!’

Zoey quickly took out another [Crude Club] from her inventory, readying herself for the goblin tanks that were approaching her. A goblin from the five tanks swiftly charged at her, ready to tackle her with it’s shield.

Zoey steeled herself, stepping to the side as she effortlessly dodged a shield bash from the goblin. She delivered a strong smash with her club to the goblin’s face, sending it falling to the ground.

The goblin sprawled on the ground, clutching it’s face in pain. Zoey towered over the goblin, ready to smash it’s face with her club again. As she lifted her club high in the air, a sudden sound of the system ringed in her head.

[You Have Killed A Goblin Bandit! +20% Exp!]

[Activating Talent: A Hundredfold Ascension]

[+2000% Exp!]

[You Have Received A Drop!]

[+Stone Dagger(F+)x1]

[Activating Talent: A Hundredfold Ascension]

[+Stone Dagger(F+)x100]

[Stone Dagger(F+)]

[Description: A dagger carved from stone a and a stick, it’s edge are sharp despite it’s rough grip. Wielded by goblin bandits, this is blade is a good weapon for those of F-Rank.]

[Effect-1: Clean Cut: A powerful slash is delivered to your enemies that cuts deep into their flesh, it has a 5% chance of triggering and could kill monsters that are F-Rank in a single slash upon activation.]

‘Yes!!’ Zoey rejoiced inwardly, grinning happily as she had secured the [Stone Dagger] from a goblin bandit. With this, she could easily turn the tide of the battle.

Zoey stored the [Crude Club] and quickly switched to the [Stone Dagger]. With a small grunt, Zoey delivered a strong slash to the goblin tank before her, cutting a deep wound across it’s chest and making it cry out in pain.

‘Let’s finish this!’ Zoey yelled as she charged at the goblin tanks, drawing another [Stone Dagger] in her free hand and gripping them both tightly in her hand.

Zoey then proceeded to battle the goblin tanks, quickly overpowering them. With her quick reflexes and timed counter attacks, the battle was over quickly with the ground littered with goblin bodies, slowly dissapearing in golden particles.

[Stamina: 15%]

“Huff…Huff….” Zoey caught her breath, clutching her chest as she recovered her stamina. Her eyes fell on the remaining goblin bandits that were still terrified to move, a small grin forming on her lips.

‘Am I that terrifying?’ She thought, reveling at the thought, ‘But I have to admit, it does feel a bit good.’

With slow, menacing steps, Zoey began to approach the goblins on the ground. The goblins took a step back, but immediately grunted in pain, falling to the ground as their bodies ached and throbbed in pain, their bruises and injures not allowing them to move.

Zoey towered over the goblins, raising her daggers high in the air to finish them, a small excited chuckle escaping her lips, her eyes glowing with glee.

——

Outside of Zoey’s apartment room door, the landlord stood outside. She raised her hand in the air before knocking gently three times. No response came from Zoey’s door, a first in a very long time that either meant that Zoey was sleeping, or that she had gone to visit Christine.

“Zoey?” The landlord called for her, waiting a few seconds, but then again, she heard no response.

“Damn it…” The landlord cursed under her breath, before knocking three more times. the landlord proceeded to wait outside for a few minutes, before sighing in defeat and proceeding to walk down the staircase, deciding to confront her tommorow morning.

As she reached the last few steps, a familiar face almost bumped into her,a look of suprise flashing on her face. “Christine?” The landlord raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Greetings Ms. Landlord.” Christine greeted, a small smile on her face. She was dressed in a cute white shirt and blue jeans, one of the casual outfits she always wears when hanging out with Zoey.

“Are you here to visit Zoey again?” The landlord asked, looking up at her room from below the stairwell.

Christine nodded, smiling a bit awkwardly “Yeah, I’ve come to talk to her, something happened at work and she didn’t look too happy about it…..as usual.” Christine added with a small chuckle.

The landlord sighed, “Well, I’ve been to her room a few minutes ago, she’s not answering, so you might as well come later.” The landlord said.

Christine raised her brow in confusion, this was highly unusual. For Zoey to leave her apartment was extremely rare, especially on weekdays considering that she had work tommorow.

“That’s weird…Zoey never leaves her apartment on weekdays…” Christine muttered loudly, glancing around the apartment complex as if to find her.

“Do you have any idea where she could have gone?” The landlord asked, “There’s something important I wish to discuss with her, it’s regarding her rent here.”

Christine shook her head with a sigh, “No…If she doesn’t go out to buy something, she usually comes to my place. Other than that…I have no idea.” Christine replied, a bit of worry evident in her tone.

“Well, it seems that we should just check back tommorow morning.” The landlord said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder “You should go home and get some rest, you have work tomorrow.” The landlord told her before walking away.

Christine remained standing there for a few seconds, anxiously wondering about where Zoey could’ve gone, worried for her safety.

“Where are you Zoey?” Christine muttered under her breath, walking out of the apartment complex. As she did, she noticed a familiar set of shoeprint leading to the back of the apartment complex, she instantly knew who these shoes belonged to, Zoey.

With a rapily beating heart she dashed to the back of the apartment complex, and upon seeing her footprints leading into the dungeon entrance, her heart dropped.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep