The moment it moved—
Elios knew.
This was not like the others.
There was no warning.
No screech.
No wasted motion.
The distance between them vanished in an instant.
Elios barely brought his blade up—
Clang—
The impact slammed through his arms.
Not just force.
Precision.
His grip nearly broke.
"…Fast—"
He stepped back immediately.
The goblin didn't chase wildly.
It adjusted.
Followed.
Another strike came—
low this time.
Elios reacted late.
The blade cut across his thigh.
A sharp line of pain tore through him.
"…Tch—!"
He staggered back.
Not enough distance.
The goblin was already there.
A second strike—
Elios twisted.
Barely avoided it.
The edge brushed his side.
Shallow—
but close.
Too close.
His breathing broke for a second.
"…What is this…"
This wasn't just speed.
It was reading him.
Every movement.
Every hesitation.
The goblin wasn't attacking randomly.
It was choosing.
Elios steadied himself.
His grip tightened around the broken blade.
"…Again…"
He forced his body forward.
This time—
he didn't wait.
He stepped in first.
Their blades met again.
Clang—
He pushed.
The goblin didn't resist.
It redirected.
Elios' balance shifted—
Wrong.
The opening appeared instantly.
The goblin struck.
A clean hit across his ribs.
"…Ghh—!"
His breath left him.
His body bent slightly forward.
Pain spread.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
He stepped back—
again—
again—
Too many steps.
The ground slipped slightly beneath him.
The goblin didn't rush.
It walked forward.
Calm.
Measured.
Like it knew he had nowhere to go.
Elios' chest rose and fell unevenly.
His body felt heavier now.
Slower.
His vision flickered slightly at the edges.
"…No…"
Not here.
Not like this.
The goblin moved again.
Faster than before.
Elios raised his blade—
Too slow.
The impact broke through his guard.
His arm shook violently.
The blade nearly slipped from his grip.
"…Damn it—!"
He forced himself to hold on.
Forced himself to move.
But his body wasn't keeping up.
Not anymore.
The goblin stepped in.
Close.
Too close.
Elios tried to react—
His body lagged.
The strike came.
He blocked—
barely—
But the force drove him down.
His knee hit the ground.
Hard.
The shock traveled through his body.
"…Ghh—!"
His grip weakened.
The blade slipped—
almost falling.
The goblin didn't finish him.
It stepped back.
Just slightly.
Watching.
Waiting.
Elios' head lowered.
His breath came out rough.
Uneven.
His body trembled.
Not from fear.
From strain.
From reaching his limit.
"…Why…"
The word came out faint.
Not directed at the goblin.
At himself.
Why wasn't it working?
Why couldn't he keep up?
The hunger stirred again.
Not faint this time.
Sharp.
Violent.
It twisted inside him.
His grip tightened involuntarily.
"…Not now…"
But it didn't listen.
His body felt empty again.
Drained.
The strength he had gained—
wasn't enough.
The goblin stepped forward once more.
Slow.
Certain.
Like it had already decided the outcome.
Elios tried to stand.
His leg shook.
Didn't fully respond.
He pushed anyway.
Forced himself up—
Barely.
The blade lifted again.
Unsteady.
His breathing broke again.
"…I…"
The goblin moved.
This time—
Elios didn't react.
Not in time.
The strike came—
Clean.
It hit.
His body was thrown back.
He crashed against the cave wall.
Hard.
The impact knocked the air out of him.
His vision blurred.
For a moment—
everything went silent.
Then—
Pain returned.
Everywhere.
His arm.
His side.
His leg.
His grip loosened.
The blade slipped from his hand.
Clattered against the ground.
Elios didn't move.
His chest rose and fell weakly.
His body refused to respond.
The goblin approached.
Step by step.
No rush.
No hesitation.
Elios' vision struggled to focus.
The figure blurred—
then sharpened—
then blurred again.
"…Get up…"
The thought came.
Weak.
Fading.
"…Get up…"
His fingers twitched.
Barely.
But his body didn't follow.
The goblin stopped in front of him.
Close enough now.
Elios could see its eyes clearly.
Calm.
Focused.
Not wild.
Not angry.
Certain.
It raised its weapon.
Elios' breathing slowed.
Not by control.
By exhaustion.
"…No…"
The word barely left him.
His body felt distant.
Heavy.
Like it wasn't his anymore.
The goblin moved.
And this time—
Elios couldn't stop it.
End.