CLAA~NG!!!
The Inductee Hobgoblin' Leaping strike drove his mace right into Moonshine's shield, pushing her deeper and deeper into the ground.
"GRAAAH!" it roared.
"Uaaaah!" Moon yelled back. But the yelling was not enough.
BRAM!
Moon's shield and the hobgoblin fell to earth, with Moon completely unsteady, fear in her eyes she knew what was about to transpire. Her eyes crossed with the Inductee, and for the first time, it smiled. A wide, wide grin appeared on its face.
Schwoom! It spun around like a twister, its mace acting like an extension of his arm, completely extended out.
"Craaap!" Moon yelled. She stamped her unsteady foot into the ground and tried to brace herself, hoping that there was no critical.
Faboom!
'Huh?'
... BAM!... Bum!.. bang!.Bam, ba-boom bum-->pshhhhh.
She was launched, rising into the air higher then the hobgoblins and her height combined. As if she was hit by a grand slam, she was launched 10, 20, 30, yards away, constantly bouncing and launching again, until she damaged body slid across the coarse sand.
[You've lost 30% of your health!]
[Your left arm is fractured! Your attack power has fallen by 10%!]
'Tch.'
'This guy is way stronger than a normal Hobgoblin,' she finally realized. 700 hp with no critical?
'Insane. But... I can heal the injury with an Intermediate potion,' she lamented as she struggled to get up. She really hoped that she could just hoard them, as they were quite expensive in her eyes.
*Gulp* "Haaah..." Immediately after drinking the potion, she could feel her damaged arm returning to normal. Recuperating, she tried to think of her current situation. She just lost her best potion, and her shield has all but disappeared from her side.
Just as the notification of her arm's complete recuperation appeared, Moon spun around to glare at the Inductee. As their eyes crossed, she immediately put up her previosly-damaged arm's middle finger.
Although it couldn't understand human language, it most definitely could tell what a rude gesture was. Fumes seemed to be exhaling from the Hobgoblin's ugly nose as it proceeded to yell out.
"GRAAAR!" It immediately started its dash towards Moonshine. With only her broadsword as her offense and defense, she put all her strength into holding the sword. She stomped the ground, as if taunting it.
"GRAAHM!" But that just fueled the Inductee's rage. It crossed the distance in less than two seconds and launched an overhead slam.
Baaash! But...
It missed. 'The angrier something is, the easier it is to predict,' Moon reminded herself. She never really expected her experience in the insurance call center to actually help her in this worl---this Game.
Before it could pull its mace outside of the ground, Moon launched her attack. Completely forgetting basic fighting tactics, she aimed for the head with the face of her sword. BASH! The Hobgoblin was also sent flying in a similar method, but this time, it was hit by a crit and became dazed. Its head was split open, oozing green.
"HAAAAH!" Yelled Moon as she charged. As she got closer and closer, she chose her target: the monster's chest seemed to be shouting at her to cut it. But right before she could take the swing...
"Grrr..." the monster awoke from its slumber. Right before Moonshine's blade could cut into its flesh, it swung its club with all of its strength, crashing right into her chest-plate.
Moon's armor delved in, her sword cutting the monster's arm instead.
"GRAAA~W!!!"
[You've lost 500 of your health!]
[The durability of 'Sturdy Breastplate of Iron' has fallen by 60.]
[You've dismembered your enemy's right arm!]
[Your enemy's stats have fallen by 30%!]
The enemy is bleeding out!]
Although sliding across the ground, she refused to fall. Regaining her balance, Moon dashed for the final time.
The Hobgoblin couldn't even hold its weapon, it was so weak. clutching its open wound, it saw its attacker halt their sliding and start to run at it again. On its final legs, it let the true savagery of a monster overcome itself as it bursted towards its mortal enemy on all three limbs. As their distance closed immediately, it took its leap.
A fatal leap.
Seeing the jump, Moon slid right under the monster and called out her skill name. "Crescent Cut!"
Her sword seemed to glisten from its suddenly sharp edge as she swung her sword above her in a half-moon swing. The monster's body was cut from ass to skull, completely split in two.
As its body fell from monster heaven, Moon sheathed her sword.
[You have Leveled Up!]
[You have Leveled Up!]
.......
'Its shield,' she thought. 'If it never let go of it, even if it didn't throw it... I wouldn't of won.
"GYAAAA!"
Suddenly, a deranged Hobgoblin started dashing towards Moon's location.
'Shit.' She didn't have enough time to heal or gather her thoughts. She just prepared to get attacked. Once the Hobgoblin arrived, she tried her best to parry and defend. But, not too long after the monster arrived, something else arrived.
[You have died! You've lost 12% of your current experience.]
________________________________________________________________________________________
"Well, that is about the whole story. After dying, I immediately ran towards the area I was in again, found the Inductee's shield, as well as my own. Then, I finished my battle with the crazy Hobgoblin. Then..." Moonshine considered her next words.
"... I encountered a certain situation, but was able to get out of it in the end."
The appraiser raised his eyebrow when he heard the last statement, but he didn't press further. "I see," was what he responded with. "Upon hearing your story of utter luck--- I mean, of utter BRAVERY, appraising the item, and overthinking its uses, I think I've come up with a value that you will find acceptable."
"...Yes?" Moon replied, trying to hold back her anticipation.
"50."
'50?' She questioned if she misheard. Sure, 50 gold isn't a small amount, but after building it up that much?
"150."
'Nevermind,' she thought as the readjusted answer hit her. Her mouth slowly started to curve upwards as she thought of the well-earned money.