(A/N: For whoever is saying I have stolen this work... BRUH, this is my alternate account. You can ask me in Discord(Akros Zero), I have already said it there đđ. This is official rewrite of that fic, FR, FR)
...
{Ember Pov}
I gripped the hilt of my sword firmly and fixed my gaze on the Goblin cautiously moving through the undergrowth of the bushes.
Without wasting another second, I launched myself from my hiding place, catching the Goblin completely off guard.
Seizing the perfect moment, I lunged forward, driving my sword straight toward its throat.
Summoning every ounce of strength I possessed, I pushed the blade upward with precision, cleaving the Goblin's head cleanly into two halves.
The monster fell lifelessly to the ground, its body twitching briefly before going completely still.
"That wasn't bad," I murmured to myself, a small sense of satisfaction washing over me.
I was accustomed to eliminating Goblins from a distance with my bow, peppering them with arrows until they were incapacitated or dead.
I had even slain an Orc previously using magic, and more recently, I had managed to take one down with only a few carefully poisoned arrows.
However, my experience with killing monsters at close quarters using a sword was limited, something I urgently needed to improve.
This close combat skill was essential, especially if I were to survive in the wild or face monsters larger and more dangerous than Goblins.
After attaining a reasonable mastery over my swordsmanship through extensive training, I was finally allowed to engage in actual combat exercises against monsters.
I had sparred repeatedly with Noel and even with Juriuf.
Both instructors had praised my sword skills, noting that my technique and agility were impressive.
Yet, they also cautioned me that I lacked real-world combat experience.
While I could hold my own against Elves in sparring matches, facing unpredictable monsters would undoubtedly present unique challenges.
Given that context, choosing a Goblinâa creature significantly weaker than a humanâas my first real combat target was entirely sensible.
I could not even begin to fathom the amount of effort the soldiers and instructors had invested in creating such an ideal, controlled training environment for me.
"Your Highness, that was wonderful," Noel said as he leapt gracefully down from a tree.
"You acted decisively and aimed directly for its vital point. However, remember that Goblins are inherently weak monsters. Even a less lethal strike would have been sufficient to neutralize them."
A platoon of highly experienced Elven Archers was positioned strategically nearby, ready to intervene if anything went wrong.
Further off, additional soldiers were stationed to ensure that no other monsters could breach the perimeter during my exercise.
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment at the level of protection surrounding me.
If the poor Goblin had somehow survived even for a moment longer, it would have undoubtedly been riddled with arrowsâpoisoned ones included and turned from a green goblin to a green porpucine.
The sheer scale of my security was far beyond what I expected or perhaps even needed for a single Goblin.
"Noel, I want to continue training," I said, my determination clear in my voice.
"Taking out a single Goblin is nothing noteworthy; I need something more challenging."
He nodded in understanding, his expression calm and approving.
"Very well," he replied. "A platoon of Elf Archers is currently monitoring a Goblin nest not very far from here. It contains sixteen Goblins in total. If we can manage to separate them into smaller groups, Your Highness will have the opportunity to engage in combat with them individually. This will give you valuable experience while keeping the situation manageable."
"I will engage with all of them," I said firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.
My words immediately widened Noel's eyes in shock and disbelief.
"Your Highness! I absolutely cannot allow you to do something so risky!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with concern and urgency.
"While Goblins are weak individually, in a group they can easily overpower even the most seasoned of warriors!"
I looked him squarely in the eyes, unwavering in my decision.
"It is my order, Noel," I said calmly but firmly, leaving him stunned and momentarily speechless at the resolute tone in my voice.
Gritting his teeth, he let out a long sigh, visibly torn between following my command and his concern for my safety.
"Fine, Your Highness," he said finally, his voice tight but resigned.
"We will allow you to engage them directly. However, understand this: an entire platoon of soldiers will surround both you and the Goblins, and the Elf Archers will release their arrows the moment they sense that your life is in danger."
I raised my eyebrows slightly at his words, a mixture of irritation and mild amusement flickering through me.
While I appreciated his concern for my safety, it was clear to me that I was fully capable of handling a small group of Goblins on my own.
They were the weakest of monsters I would encounter in the entire dungeon.
Even the slime-like creatures in some areas were stronger and more resilient than these Goblins.
I merely nodded, fully aware that if I pushed even slightly harder, Noel and the soldiers might have been forced to outright defy my orders to ensure my protection.
He nodded solemnly in response and immediately began giving precise orders to organize the soldiers and Archers around the area.
At that moment, I reflected briefly: why was I even pushing my luck when I had only just killed a single Goblin?
Yes, Goblins were weak, but their notorious reputation was well-earned.
They were known to kill inexperienced adventurers by overwhelming them in groups, earning the dreaded title of "Newbie Killers," alongside the cunning kobolds on the surface.
They preyed on arrogant adventurers who assumed that the weakest of monsters could be defeated easily.
The lesson was clear: even the smallest enemy could be lethal if underestimated.
I understood the importance of this training.
In the future, I would be fighting hordes of monsters, often alone, in situations far more dangerous than this.
If I couldn't survive an encounter as simple as this under controlled conditions, how would I ever survive after leaving Alf's forest?
This was the perfect opportunity to learn the critical skills of fighting multiple enemies while keeping myself alive, or even learning when and how to retreat effectively.
Additionally, there was the looming question of Falna.
The timing of when I would acquire it remained uncertain.
For a few weeks, I might have to survive without its protection, and in that worst-case scenario, experience would be everything.
I needed to gain real combat experience now, under safe conditions, before I faced truly life-threatening challenges.
The risk of dying here was extremely low.
I was surrounded by seasoned warriors who had fought monsters for decades.
Even if I were to sustain injuries, survival was all but guaranteed.
Losing a limb or two would not be catastrophic, as High Potions and Elixirs had been meticulously prepared specifically for such contingencies.
This was exactly why the present moment was the ideal time for me to learn and test myselfânot later, when the danger would be far greater and far less controlled.
Finally, we arrived at the designated area.
I turned to Noel, my gaze steady.
"Noel, I want all of you to remain on standby. Do not engage in the fight unless my life is genuinely threatened," I instructed.
He nodded immediately, giving rapid-fire orders to the numerous Elf Archers stationed around the perimeter.
Each Archer was assigned a specific Goblin to monitor, ensuring that every single enemy was accounted for.
Observing this, I couldn't help but think how completely overkill this level of protection wasâbut I allowed it, knowing that the experience I was about to gain was far more important than my pride.
I decided to go with a frontal assault, charging forward with full determination.
As I stepped into the open, coming clearly into the view of the Goblins, their eyes widened with surprise at my sudden appearance.
Taking immediate advantage of their momentary hesitation, I slashed one of them clean through the neck, beheading it instantly.
Without pausing, I lunged forward again, driving my sword straight through another Goblin's chest, finishing it off in one precise motion.
By now, the remaining Goblins had begun to recover from their initial shock and were starting to respond, hissing and growling as they prepared to attack.
I didn't give them any time to react.
Lunging forward with agility, I slashed three Goblins in a rapid sequence, each stroke cutting down one after another.
Twisting my body mid-motion, I aimed a precise slash straight through the eyes of a Goblin attempting to strike me, immediately following it with a quick stab that ended its life.
Another Goblin lunged at me wielding a crude wooden club, and I parried the attack smoothly, countering with a thrust that pierced its chest.
The creature let out a painful whimper, but I paid it no mind, kicking its lifeless body away to free my sword and lunged at yet another Goblin, cutting cleanly through its lower half.
I maintained this relentless assault, focusing entirely on the Goblins in front of me.
I parried their attacks, countered swiftly, slashed with precision, and thrust repeatedly.
Before I even realized it, every single Goblin lay dead at my feet.
I panted slightly, my chest heaving, as I looked at the pile of defeated monsters strewn across the ground.
A profound sense of accomplishment washed over me.
I had done itâI had successfully slain an entire horde of Level 1 monsters.
Even though they were among the weakest of creatures, I had accomplished this without the aid of Falna and relying solely on my Sword abilities.
âŠ
3rd Pov
Noel stood frozen in awe as he watched Ember single-handedly slice through the entire horde of Goblins.
Though it seemed to last an eternity from the Goblins' perspective, the fight had barely extended over half a minute.
He, along with the other stationed soldiers, observed in stunned silence as their Highness dispatched the creatures with extraordinary efficiency.
What was most astonishing to them was the fact that Ember did not use Archeryâthe skill most Elves had honed through relentless sweat, practice, and sheer dedication.
Nor did he rely on the Congenital Magic that set Elves apart from almost every other race.
Instead, Ember relied entirely on swordsmanship and close-quarters combat, demonstrating skill, precision, and speed beyond anyone's expectations.
Elves, as a race, were naturally physically stronger than humans, though not by a tremendous marginâroughly an advantage of ten percent.
Despite the modesty of this physical edge, their prideful nature ensured they acknowledged every advantage they possessed over other races.
Elves were born with superior agility, finely tuned reflexes, and a heightened awareness of their surroundings.
Their hearing surpassed that of most demi-human races, and their eyesight outclassed humans and many demi-humans alike.
Their bodies were naturally more flexible, making them adept at acrobatics and combat maneuvers that would challenge most other species.
These inherent advantages made Elves naturally gifted in Archery.
Combined with their innate racial abilities, they were among the few races capable of mastering Congenital Magicâa unique, inherent form of magical talent.
Over ninety percent of Elves could harness this form of magic with proper training.
If they were also granted the blessings of Falna, their potential for magical development was unparalleled across all of Genkai.
Only a handful of demi-human races, such as the Renards, possessed a magical aptitude even remotely comparable to the Elves' natural talent, and even then, they could not match the scope and versatility of an Elven practitioner's capabilities.
Yet, despite their many advantages, Elves had numerous significant disadvantages.
Physically, they were among the weakest races in all of Genkai.
Their strength barely exceeded that of a few races, such as humans and prums.
Most demi-human races were naturally stronger than them, and many could easily overpower an average Elf in direct combat.
Their longtime rivals, the dwarves, were on average three to four times stronger than any average Elf, while the Amazons, the race of legendary warrior women, were roughly twice as strong as typical Elves.
This disparity meant that in close combat, Elves were inherently at a disadvantage.
As a result, only a small number of Elves even attempted to specialize in melee fighting.
Those who did were extremely cautious and almost always fought in groups to compensate for their inherent physical shortcomings.
Only Elves who had been blessed with Falna could truly escape these racial limitations, allowing them to perform effectively in close-quarters combat with greater ease.
This context highlighted the remarkable nature of Ember's accomplishment.
Ember was not a seasoned warrior by any stretch of the imagination.
At merely fifteen years old, he was considered a child in the eyes of other Elves, despite having reached sexual maturity.
Goblins and kobolds, though among the weakest races in the world, were still dangerous in hordes.
Ordinarily, several inexperienced Elf soldiers would be required to safely engage even a small group of these creatures to avoid casualties.
Only a fully trained, battle-hardened warrior with decades of experience could face such a horde alone and emerge unscathed.
Yet Ember, in his very first attempt against a group of these creatures, displayed extraordinary abilities that far exceeded what anyone could have reasonably expected.
There were naturally some mistakes during the engagement.
Noel noted that Ember occasionally made unnecessary movements during the fight, but these were the result of inexperience rather than a lack of skill or capability.
Beyond merely acknowledging his talent, however, the present Elves were prepared to support Ember in any way necessary.
The Archers had already positioned themselves to transform any offending Goblin into little more than a mass of quills the moment Ember was scratched, while the swordsmen were ready to charge at any threatâeven at the risk of their own livesâessentially acting as living shields to ensure their prince's safety.
These actions made it abundantly clear just how highly Ember was regarded among the Elves present.
"Sir Noel, I have finished them. How was my performance?" Ember asked, seeking honest feedback from his instructor.
"Your Highnessâ" Noel took a deep, steadying breath, then continued, "It was absolutely spectacular."
Even the other Elves present joined in, praising Ember's impressive display of skill and bravery.
Despite the compliments, Ember remained composed and attentive.
Once the immediate praise settled, Noel began to carefully explain the minor mistakes Ember had made during the engagement.
Ember listened intently, absorbing every detail with full focus, acknowledging his shortcomings while committing himself to improvement.
After a brief pause, Ember, resolute as ever, made his decision.
He was ready to continue. "I want to hunt another horde," he declared, his determination clear in his tone.
Fortunately, there happened to be a kobold lair nearby, providing him with the perfect opportunity to continue honing his skills in real combat conditions.
...
Ember Pov
We arrived at the kobold lair, a shallow cave-like structure partially hidden among the dense foliage.
There were approximately thirty kobolds present inside.
As usual, Noel expressed his concern about my safety, but I silenced him immediately with the authority vested in me as His Highness.
This lair was not meant for total extermination; the monsters were not killed simply to act as living targets for inexperienced soldiers.
There were numerous kobold lairs scattered across the region.
While most were systematically cleared by experienced soldiers, a few were intentionally left behind to allow the population to replenish naturally, ensuring the ecosystem of the forest wasn't completely disrupted.
I advanced carefully through the bushes, taking in the view ahead.
Small, humanoid creatures came into sightâkobolds.
They had wolf-like heads, two arms, two legs, and a semi-erect spine.
I counted more than a dozen of them clustered together.
Using practiced stealth, I observed the area while the Elf Archers quietly surrounded the perimeter, positioning themselves to prevent any kobold from escaping.
Suddenly, the creatures became wary, sniffing the air and detecting our presence.
Without hesitation, I lunged forward, aiming precisely, and cleaved one of the kobolds in two halves, its body falling lifeless to the ground.
The remaining kobolds screeched and turned toward me with visible aggression.
They attempted to mount a coordinated attack, but I was ready.
I assumed a battle stance, my body moving fluidly as I parried and countered the first attack.
I drove my blade through the eye of one kobold, instantly killing it, and immediately slashed through another.
A third charged from behind, but I caught it mid-lunge, flipped it upside down, and kicked it squarely in the face before moving on to slay the next.
My blade struck with precision, cutting, stabbing, and slicing through the remaining kobolds.
One fell beneath me, and I drove my sword through its mouth, feeling the familiar sting of adrenaline as the blood of my foes splattered across my blade, even staining my armor.
I grinned, noticing the sudden hesitation and fear in the eyes of the surviving kobolds.
Realizing their weakness, they attempted to flee, desperately hoping to save their puny lives.
I charged forward without mercy, stabbing one in the back, slashing another, and cutting down yet another.
I continued relentlessly, my movements fluid and precise.
For the first time, I noticed arrows whizzing past meânot to protect me, but to strike the kobolds that had managed to evade my initial assault.
When the fight ended, I panted lightly, my chest heaving with exertion.
Though I was somewhat tired, my stamina was still more than sufficient to continue for an extended period.
I estimated that I could potentially repeat this feat two or even three more times without faltering.
"Your Highness, are you injured anywhere?" Noel asked anxiously, a healing potion already in hand.
I shook my head calmly, and he let out a relieved breath.
"Your Highness, you are truly a genius," he said, his voice filled with awe.
"You personally managed to slay twenty-four kobolds, and the remaining few that escaped your range were eliminated by the Archers. Remarkable."
He extended the potion toward me again, but I shook my head and motioned to proceed to the next lair.
This time, having full confidence in my abilities, they consented without hesitation.
I reasoned with Noel, explaining that my stamina was sufficient, and I wanted to test my limits to see how far I could push myself.
The kobolds were weakâpathetically soâbut I had no Falna to assist me, meaning my performance was entirely dependent on my skill and training.
I reminded myself that I was not some unbelievably powerful, heaven-defying genius like those Xianxia Novels.
I was still waiting for the system to manifest within me, harboring only a faint hope that it might remain dormant somewhere inside.
Regardless, I refused to remain idle.
I would continue pushing myself forward.
The feats I had achieved so far were the direct result of countless hours of sweat, effort, and rigorous training.
I wanted to extract the best possible version of myself before leaving the Alf's forest, ensuring that I had reached the limits of my current potential.
To be continuedâŠ
(A/N:
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