The World of Tactics

Chapter Eleven III: Battle Continues

"The currently known line of evolution for goblins is hobgoblins. A hobgoblin would then be able to evolve into an ogre. However, there were not just the typical goblins, but a shaman goblin and a chieftain goblin. Usually, it is quite rare for a goblin to have a role, but it does happen occasionally within a large goblin community.

A goblin who fails to evolve into a hobgoblin would, however, lose out on gaining a potential growth rate spurt. Otherwise, the goblin could choose to become a magic-wielding shaman goblin, a weapon expert warrior goblin, a chieftain goblin that reigns over other goblins, and in rare cases, just another normal goblin with increased status limits. However, doing so would cut their path of future evolution, which is why such goblins are rarely encountered in the wild.

Even if their evolution is almost cut off permanently, such specialized goblins do gain around double the stats gained by a normal goblin when evolved into a hobgoblin. Currently, there have not been any cases where a monster fails to evolve and can evolve after becoming a specialized monster as of yet.

This shall now be known as the evolution rejection theory." -Written by a weird monster researcher.

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The familiar view flashes right before John Smith. [Player's Turn][3/10]. At this rate, he and Uzi might not be able to fully gain as much experience as possible. After all, seven more turns are quite short in his opinion. He did not allow Uzi to attack this turn. Instead, he made sure that Uzi took the last few strands of the first herb batch and used it up. It might seem like a waste, but this was to ensure that Uzi would be fully recovered by the time the next few goblins attack Uzi.

He also had nothing to do, so he ended his turn in the same spot. The turn went to [Neutral's Turn][3/10]. Mike becomes a bit braver and goes close to one side of the ledge and observes the goblins below. Nothing usual about a curious kid like Mike considering that he is currently a kid himself. As for Dork, Dork sat down and kept munching on the greens. Dork was just too funny and the non-existent confidence that Dork was pretty impressive. The two freeloaders ended their turns just like that.

[Enemy's Turn][3/10], the leading goblin kept on being persistent and attacked Uzi. Another red negative number flew on top of Uzi's head while Uzi did another chipping bite. The damage was a minuscule number of three. The same as the previous one (Uzi, EXP +100, Level up). However, the experience was much more important. He put two more points toward Uzi's speed. The next attack and Uzi could now double attack the leading goblin and that would result in four damage. The leading goblin did not have that high maximum health points and the chipping damage would accumulate rapidly even though there were two damages for each attack from Uzi.

The second goblin attacked and he got a surprise. The second goblin's attack misses Uzi. Uzi's high-speed stat was fully on display. He was glad that he added four points in total to Uzi's speed stat. Uzi counterattacked with two more quick attacks and the second goblin was defeated (Uzi, EXP +60, Level up). Uzi was just being Uzi, quick and fast, stacking multiple attacks, and none would pass. This time, he had to ensure that Uzi would have greater survivability. He purposely added one point each to Uzi's strength and defense.

The reason why he did not add any more points to Uzi's speed for the moment was that Uzi's current speed stat would enable Uzi to double attack the leading goblin. This also means that Uzi would be able to easily double attack all of the goblins that were in this battle as well because the leading goblin was the only one that had the highest speed stat out of the rest of the goblins. With speed, wolves dominate goblins but pale in comparison to hobgoblins.

The next goblin was the third goblin to attack Uzi at a level of twelve. It was quite high compared to the second goblin, but the result should be the same as before. Well, a bit different. The third goblin only manages to scrape off a red negative number of two from Uzi. As for Uzi's counterattack, the third goblin suffers a total of eight damage. It was a significant jump from three to six and four to eight (Uzi, EXP +80).

At first, he had imagined that a double attack would be powerful, but it was never to this extent. This time, he finally saw for himself how double attacks could drastically change a battlefield. That was just a single bout and Uzi had ripped off half of the third goblin's health points. It was unbelievable. This time, he figures that if he adds two more points to Uzi's strength stat. That would mean an additional four damage. Plus the original eight damage, then it would total twelve damage which would easily be able to take out a low-level goblin in a single bout.

He felt that he had made the right call to add points to Uzi's speed along with the strength stat. Uzi could easily wipe the floor with the leading goblin right now. While thinking of how strong Uzi had become, he had almost missed out on the goblin that came for him due to the limited open adjacent area of attack for Uzi. The fourth goblin's level was just eleven. The bout was nothing special, he suffered no damage at all.

Meanwhile, that was not true for the fourth goblin. He was able to double attack the goblin and deal six damage each. Sadly, because his attack was lacking in weapons might. The fourth goblin was left hanging with just two health points. He just could not adapt to the drastic change from being able to attack once to being able to attack twice. That was a given since this was his first time being able to attack twice. The battle paces also changed when double attacks were involved. There is nothing he could do about the fourth goblin with two health points remaining (John Smith, EXP +0).

Since the fourth goblin effectively blocks off the way for the next incoming goblins, he just watches as the goblins move one by one. Nothing of that sort mattered though, because he had just realized something important. If he moves back one square, Uzi would be the primary target and he did not have to deal with any of the goblins and Uzi would be the only one getting all of the experiences from the goblins. This makes more sense since he did not need to worry about fighting any incoming goblins. This will also help Uzi get stronger and easier.

He waited and it finally came back again. [Player's Turn][4/10]. The rounds go by quickly and the battle is close to half done. It was already the start of round four now. He had Uzi healed up while he moved back one square to ensure that three goblins would attack Uzi instead of two. Their turn ended simply like that. [Neutral's Turn][4/10] was no better. Dork and Mike stayed within their square and ended their turns. The turns went by quickly and it was [Enemy's Turn][4/10] already. At this point, the leading goblin was still targeting Uzi.

The exchange this time was completely different from the way before because both of them were close to the same level. The leading goblin could only deal three damage to Uzi. While the damage that Uzi suffers decreases by one point, Uzi can attack twice, which deals four damage each. The total damage that the leading goblin suffered was eight points of damage (Uzi, EXP +100, Level up).

Just when he was about to allocate the two points to Uzi's stats. He found something unusual, it was just a few familiar words that always go above the heads of those who level up. What he found was that the leading goblin at level fifteen suddenly levels up to sixteen. That was strange, he had taken it for granted that only his side was the only one that could level up. But, what was stranger was that the square that the leading goblin was in has white glowing orbs that surround the leading goblin.

He found that unusual, as it was just floating in midair. Something strange must have happened to the goblin and as long as he finished allocating the two points. The leading goblin would undergo some abnormal changes. He decided that it was wise to add a point to Uzi's speed and another point to strength for caution. And it happens. The orbs of lights gather around the leading goblins, swallowing the leading goblins in shining lights. He could barely make out that the leading goblin's figure was rapidly changing and becoming bigger as time went on. The transformation did not last as long as a minute, but he knew that it would have taken at least thirty seconds.

The truth came to light. The leading goblin has evolved into a hobgoblin. The one that he feared. He looked at the familiar figure of a hobgoblin at the level of sixteen. There was a difference in levels between the first hobgoblin that he saw and this newly evolved hobgoblin. He checks the status of the newly evolved hobgoblin and the status screen reads:

[Name: N/A][Race: Hobgoblin][Level: 16/36][Rank: 1][HP: 2/16 -> 4/18] +2

[STR: 7(16) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][][][][][][][][][] ] +2

[MAG: 0(8) / [][][][][][][][] ] +0

[SKL: 3(12) / [1][2][3][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[SPD: 6(16) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][][][][][][][][][][] ] +2

[LCK: 3(20) / [1][2][3][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] ] +1

[DEF: 6(16) / [1][2][3][4][5][6][][][][][][][][][][] ] +2

[RES: 1(8) / [1][][][][][][][] ] +0

[Hidden: [CON: 5 -> 8][MOV: 4 -> 6][SKILL: Axe User][EXP: --/100][WEA: Axe: D -> C]]

He choked on his saliva. The hobgoblin's rank was still at one, but the hobgoblin's maximum health points, strength, skill, speed, luck, and defense had increased greatly by one to two points. The benefits of evolution were quite drastic and the level limit of twenty increased by sixteen, the constitution went from five to eight, and [Axe User] skill, and boosted the hobgoblin's ax weapon mastery from rank D to rank C directly. Not only that, if the hobgoblin were able to gain a few more levels. He knows for sure that the hobgoblin would easily be able to overwhelm him with just stats alone.

The only thing that he felt right now was not dread. What he felt right now was luck, overly shining luck. He knew for sure that he could take down the hobgoblin easily because it was quite weak compared to the first one that he had met. Not only that, if he could properly train a spurting hobgoblin like this to the max level. He did not have to worry about encountering any strong hobgoblin like the first one that he had met. Nothing like fleeing for his life would occur again. Just this thought and he was happy beyond anything.

It does not matter if the hobgoblin that he got becomes weaker as a soul core. He was fine with that since the hobgoblin has twenty more levels to develop. That also means that he could be able to max out at least the strength stat or defense stats of the hobgoblin. He could go for a mix of strength, defense, and speed. This would ensure that his hobgoblin would be able to double attack, suffer little to no damage, and be able to chuck out chunks of damage to enemies.

He was so excited about the leading goblin evolving into a hobgoblin that he missed out on the third goblin attacking Uzi (Uzi, EXP +100, Level up). He was startled by Uzi's levels and the prompt to allocate the two points. He contemplates for a second and decides to add one point each to Uzi's strength and defense. Now, Uzi should be able to defeat the low-health hobgoblin in one attack. As for the remaining goblins, Uzi could practically do so in a single bout or two, depending on how high and how low their levels were.

The fourth goblin only manages to deal one damage to Uzi before it is jawed to death by Uzi's bite (Uzi, EXP +60). Uzi's rate of improvement was too drastic and unreal, but he did not care much. It was fine as long as Uzi was useful in battle. His current main concern was the hobgoblin. It sounds wrong, but he will first take the soul core out of the hobgoblin after this battle is over. Since Uzi was already strong as it is, he did not know where to put the extra points.

He decided that speed and strength were much more prevalent than defense. So, he added both of the points to speed and strength. There is nothing wrong with increasing Uzi's high-speed stat even more. After maxing out both the speed and the strength stats, the rest of the points could go into maximum health, defense, or some other stats. Overall, Uzi's current stats and compatibility exceeded all of his expectations. He waited for the next incoming goblin to attack Uzi.

The fifth goblin was not even worth mentioning and Uzi easily defeated the fifth goblin during the bout (Uzi, EXP +20). The sixth goblin was better off with just two health points remaining (Uzi, EXP +40). The seventh goblin and the eighth goblin were also down for the count (Uzi, EXP +2, EXP +20, Level up). He increases Uzi's strength and speed to the max at the same time, which turns the rainbow-like Goon's maxed out stats.

Uzi was barely within the ninth goblin's movement range and attack range. The ninth goblin, too, was not able to resist Uzi's high attack power and double attack (Uzi, EXP +60). At this point, none of the goblins can put up resistance against Uzi's current stats. Even the newly evolved hobgoblin was not even Uzi's opponent right now. It was sweet and fulfilling to see his units getting stronger than ever.

After the ninth goblin, there was no other goblin that was able to get within the attack range, and the [Enemy's Turn] ends. This battle was so exciting because he had Uzi closing in on max level and the new possible hobgoblin's soul core within sight. He had Uzi immediately attack the hobgoblin after he saw that it was their turn, [Player's Turn][5/10]. The result was with just one bite from Uzi and the hobgoblin bites the dust (Uzi, EXP +100, Level up). Nothing more and nothing less.

Naturally, if the leading goblin was a hobgoblin first, then the one to bite the dust would have been Uzi right at the start of the battle. However, a step too late and this was the result. Most importantly, he believes that what played the most important part during the first few turns was the herbs that he had found a while back. Without it, Uzi's limited health points would have been chipped down to zero way before anything else. Naturally, Uzi's stats were also important as well.

With two additional points to add to Uzi's stats. He hesitates about where to put it. Defense is also good, but having higher maximum health points is also good as well. He had decided to put one point each into Uzi's health points and defense. This way, Uzi would be able to sustain more damage and able to reduce more damage. He believes that it was a good choice to do so as well as to add the last two unallocated points to health points and defense.

As for his turn, he felt that there was no need to move anywhere else and stay within the same square that he was on. Thus, their turns ended. [Neutral's Turn][5/10], Mike and Dork were still where they were at and the two of them ended their turns just like that. [Enemy's Turn][5/10] again.