Hey guys, I'm sorry that I wasn't able to release a chapter yesterday but I was busy. I have a midterm and several papers due this week so releases will be random. Anyway do tell me how this chapter feels. This is my first battle scene and I would like to know how I can improve. So please feel free to criticize any flaws. I hope you had a marvelous weekend.

Ryu POV

Aahh. My head hurts, my arms feel like jelly. I can’t feel my legs for some reason. Ahhhh! What’s with that bright light. I slowly open my eyes. Is the Badger still there? As I open my eyes, the first thing I see is a pitch black corridor. There was light coming from the sides of the corridor. It looked like the rocks were glowing, providing the tunnel with some light. I look down to make sure I am not hurt. My arms are all right, same for my legs. I look at my legs and see that the scratches from the Badger were all gone. How did they heal that quickly? Then my attention goes back to the tunnel. The Badger is not there. And the tunnel is bigger and wider than I last remember.

Ow, my head. Where am I? What is this place?

I sit up and take note of my surroundings. Should I explore the tunnel? There is no way back, it is a dead end behind me. Before I decide, I make sure that all my stuff are with me. My dagger is on the ground near me. Same with my bokken. I search through my pouch. The herbs and medicines are all there. Then I see the two plant cores and I am relieved. If I had gone through all that for nothing, then I would have been very depressed. I tie up my pouch and make sure that it won’t fall off.

I then look towards the walls around me. The walls to the side of me don’t have any noticeable features. However when i look back at the wall behind me, there is a mural. A picture of 4 books. I read the description.

The ruler’s test you must face,

To conquer all you must show

Valor, cunning, wits and more.

If you are to have any chance

To return above with the powers

Of death, destruction, empires, and life.

This inscription was below a drawing of 4 books. The books all looked different. The books were placed in a diamond formation. The first book had a drawing of a sphere with green and blue. Above this sphere was a big ornate spear. The description underneath merely said, ‘The Codex’. The second book had a picture of a skull on it and green fires on its edges. Its description said, ‘The Grimoire’. The third book had a picture of a scythe and a dark grey smoky design was present on its cover. Its description said, ‘The Tome’. The last book had a crimson fire like pattern on it’s cover. The fire was behind an image of a greatsword wreathed in dark crimson flames. It’s description was even simpler. It merely stated, ‘The Book’.

Looking at these 4 books, I was puzzled. What did the riddle mean? And did it have any connection to the drawings of the 4 books? There were 4 books and there were 4 powers. Did that mean that there were magic spell books at the end of this tunnel! Haha, I can find Super Powerful Spell books. That means I can become Super Powerful too. Yes, Hahaha. I will succeed. I will become the Strongest. I clenched my fist and made this vow. I picked up all of my stuff and moved forward. I kept on holding the dagger, just in case there was some danger. As I move forward cautiously, I come across a turn ahead. As I reach the turn, I see a shadow moving. I stop immediately and slowly move forward. I peek my head around the corner and see a figure moving.

The figure is about 3 feet tall and has green skin. It has a stumpy and sharp nose. Its eyes are small and beady. It is covered in ragged clothes and holding a rusted sword. I KNOW THAT!! It’s a Goblin. I read about it and Dad even told me a lot about them. From what I know goblins have a hierarchical society based on strength. And that goblin should be at the bottom. If it’s like this then even I should be able to kill it.

However, Dad always told me that I should observe my opponents for weaknesses. So I sat there and watch the goblin for half an hour. The goblin would act like it’s patrolling, moving up and down the corridor. It walks towards me for 5 minutes, getting up to 15 feet away from me. Then it turns around and walks for 5 minutes and the farthest point is about a couple hundred feet from me. Alright, I have to aim for the time when the goblin is closest to me and then turn around, facing away from me. The I have to sneak closer and rush the goblin. I have to kill it in one shot otherwise….. I will die. And I won’t be able to see Mom or Dad or Yuki or Sylphie anymore. I made a promise to get strong. And I can’t let them down or break my promise.

I take a deep breath and hold my dagger in my right hand. My hand is shaking. But I must succeed. There is no room for failure. I get into position and wait for the goblin to turn around. The goblin just stands there for about a minute. Then it slowly turns around and starts moving. This is it, the moment that I have been waiting for. I start moving, trying not to make a sound. Dad always told me that only the stupid people scream while attacking others. Why alert them to your presence when you can kill them without creating danger for yourself? So just like Dad said, I started creeping closer to the goblin slowly. There is only 15 feet distance between me and the goblin. 10 feet. 5 feet. 3 feet.

The goblin turns around suddenly as if it felt my presence. I stop walking and begin running towards the goblin. I am right in front of it. The goblin raises its sword, preparing to strike. I draw my bokken with my left hand, moving it so that the goblins sword will be blocked by the bokken. I stab my dagger towards the goblin’s head. The goblin’s sword moves toward me. My dagger pierces its forehead.

YESSSSS!! IT-

WAIT! WHY WON’T IT GO DEEPER???

THE DAGGER IS STUCK IN IT”S SKULL!!

The goblin shrieks in pain. It’s sword swing gets faster and hits my bokken. Although my bokken doesn’t break, the force makes the bokken hit me. The bokken hits my side.

AHHHH!!!! My RIBSSS!!!!

I think some of my bones are broken. I can’t let the goblin get another chance. I pull the dagger out of its skull. I then stab it through the goblin’s left eye. The goblin hits me another time. This time I couldn’t stop the goblins sword completely and the sword scratches my leg.

AHHHHH!! OWW!! OW!!! OW!!

I thrust the dagger in deeper until the goblin stops struggling. Not willing to take a chance, I push the dagger in deeper until even part of the handle is inside the goblin’s head. I sit back, close my eyes, and start breathing in deeply. After some time I look back at the goblin and it’s gone. I sit up straight instantly, check my surroundings almost instinctively. Where is it? How is it still alive? As I am looking, I see my dagger. It’s right there in front of me where the goblin corpse was. Underneath the dagger was a thin pamphlet and a small bright green stone. I pick up my dagger and inspect it. It is completely clean. There is no sign of blood from the goblin’s corpse. I pick up the pamphlet and open it. The inside is blank. Confused I put it in my bag.(pouch changes to bag) I pick up the green stone and look at it. I can see through the stone, it’s completely clear. I don’t know what it is, but I can probably sell it for some money.

I pocket the gem and move forward. After some time, I reach a junction. The path branches in two different paths. One is closed door to my left side and the other is still going straight. As I am about to turn to my left, I see a sword on the ground in front of the North path(the one that keeps going straight). I go and pick it up. It looks exactly like the goblin’s sword. This probably means that there are more goblins up ahead. I decide to check out the other path first.

I turn towards the door. There is no handle or anything. I try pushing the door but it doesn’t work. There is nowhere to pull the door as well. I punch the door in frustration and realize something. There is a small hole in the otherwise smooth door. I stare at it and then reach into my bag. I pull out the small green stone.

This was the only thing that the goblin forgot when it ran away. This is also the only thing that makes sense to fit in the hole. The sword and pamphlet obviously don’t go in here. Oh well. Here goes nothing.

I put the stone in the hole. For a moment there is no change. Disappointed, I try to pull out the stone. Suddenly The stone disappears and the door shakes. Surprised, I move back a few steps. The door just retracts into the wall.(Think how elevator doors open.) I peek my head in and I am blinded by the sudden brightness.

END RYU POV

---------------

Before Ryu woke up

When Ryu disappeared, something woke up, "Hmmm? Looks like we have another challenger."

Another one responded, "Should we lower the difficulty? Afterall, every other candidate failed the very last stage."

The first one responded, "No. It doesn’t matter if he fails. What we want is the strongest. If he fails this test then he isn’t qualified."

The second one said, "As you wish. "

Having finished this discussion, they both went back to sleep.

------------------

The entity was watching Ryu progress through the tunnel and chuckled at his actions, "You are amusing little one. Normal kids your age would cry and break down. However, you came up with a plan and killed another creature without much remorse. Other humans would probably call you a psychopath. But it’s because you grew up in such a unique family that you can do this. Huhuhu, those parents of yours groomed you well. Hell they pretty much wired your brain for combat. I am rooting for you little one. If you manage to pass, you will be the first one in tens of millennia. Hmm. If you pass then I guess it would be appropriate to give you a little gift, considering then you will continue to entertain me for millennia. HAHAHAHA."

As I said before, please feel free to criticize.