Astonished, Carl quickly sensed everything within his range using his [Dragon Sense] skill, searching for any sign of intrusion.
Sure enough, he detected faint, unstable mana waves stepping into his range and closing in on him at a terrifying speed.
"Damn!"
Just half a second later, Carl swiftly raised his sword and spun around, blocking the unseen blows without even looking. Both hands gripped the sword tightly, but the momentum behind the battle axe's strike was overwhelming, forcing him back a few steps before he managed to steady himself.
Balancing on the spine of the undead fire dragon, Carl's face darkened as his eyes locked onto the creature standing before him.
"Hobgoblin? ... No... It's different."
The hobgoblin, with red skin and a rough face, stared at Carl with its narrow vertical pupils. It quickly shifted into a fighting stance after the failed ambush. The attack should have been flawless—but for some reason, it had failed.
