Magic.
It was more accurate to say that it was the materialization of the world's language. Unlike other games, where you learn magic through scrolls and tomes, in King's Cradle, all you needed to do was think in your head the specific spell that you wish to cast in [Magic Language], or so what the players have called it.
However, it wasn't as simple as one might think. First of all, even a simple light spell will require you to recite two pages' worth of Magic Language. Not only did you need to memorize it, but you also needed to make sure that you had a clear image of all the characters while you were reciting each of them in your head.
To be able to pull that off, you'd need the computing power of more than a single person's brain.
"Burn."
As she opened her eyes, giant chunks of fire made a semicircle above her head, instantly speeding through her foes.
Shriek.
Screams could be heard from the goblins. Their green flesh melting away from the extreme heat that enveloped them.
Slash.
Swing.
"That 4 intelligence is really a cheat to start with...! "
Despite Fran's comment, he was speeding through each goblin like butter, his eyes darted to the next foe immediately after his blade made contact with one. Fran glanced at Axy's display to confirm his progress.
[Fran Asroth ✦]
[Lvl. 3]
[Equipped Beginner Sword (C)(100%)(+2)]
[Strength - 2 (94%)] [Agility - 3 (17%)] [Intelligence - 3 (11%)] [Endurance - 2 (1%)] [Stamina - 2 (78%)]
[Unique Gift - King's Authority]
[Vulnerable Strike Lv. 1 (U)]
[Endless Strike Lv. 1 (R)]
[Goblin Slayer Lv. 1 (C)]
[Current Buffs: Stamina Saver, Strength Boost (Weak)]
[Endless Strike (R) Lv. 1]
[Max Stacks Acquired: (Agility 200%)]
[Agility - 3 (17%)] -> [Agility - 5 (17%)]
Now that Fran has reached 3 in Intelligence, he has cast spells that he always uses when he started out, buffing magic—as they were the easiest to cast, with the trade-off that you have to constantly maintain them by reciting them over and over again. Specifically, one that conserved his stamina and boosted his strength.
"Adding everything together, I should be able to bring out the power of 4 strength with the Fragment."
[Destroy the Fragment]
[Fragment: Goblin King]
[Destroying the Fragment will result in liberating (Barrett Village)]
Fran had trained for the past week or so in the first and second stages. Endlessly training around the cradle using the training stones while also asking Albert to upgrade his weapon using the stones.
"There it is! That's a really big goblin!"
Dorothy widened her arms, as if to emphasize the gigantic green creature that was in the distance—the Goblin King. It was clad in red light, with a red crystal-like object embedded on its chest. It was waiting at what seemed to be the Village's gate.
The sun was setting.
"On it!"
Never losing momentum, Fran swifly moved from goblin to goblin, making sure to never let his Endless Strike die out while approaching the Goblin King.
Gronk!
Seeing the two approaching threats, the Goblin King snarled, and the crystal on his chest brightened while doing so. Wielding its giant club, it began to approach them.
Fran inched closer.
and closer.
Boom!
The ground shook as the Goblin king slammed his massive club onto the ground, creating a crater on where Fran was just standing.
"It's done, Mr. Fran! Goodluck!"
[Fragment: Goblin King (Weakened)]
[Inflicted with modified weakness spell: Endurance (-2)]
Dorothy, now immobile, used all her energy in maintaining a "weakness" spell, which originally could only be pulled off if you had intelligence above 5. It was, however, possible to do it otherwise if you were very acquainted with the spell or had a unique gift that supplemented you.
Grak!
"Now, Axy!"
[Using Goblin's Cry Scroll.]
[Strength - 2 (94%)] -> [Strength - 3 (44%)]
[Vulnerability Strike Activated]
[Revealing all weak points]
"With this...! You're finished!"
As the club narrowly missed him, Fran stomped the ground. Using the momentum, he jumped through the air, aiming for the first yellow streak that he saw.
Thud. Rumble.
The head.
"And this...!"
Mitigating the shockwave that followed, he spun and aimed at his crystallized chest.
Swing. Crack. Fwoom
"Gronk!!!"
The Goblin King had let go of his weapon, stumbling backwards from the knockback that Fran's attacks had inflicted on him.
"One more...!"
Landing on the ground, Fran slightly recoiled from the frequent shockwaves from his attacks. However, he knew he needed to continue his momentum, he had only a few seconds left.
Pierce. Splat.
The groin.
Grak! Grak! Grak!
[Vulnerable Strike Duration Ended]
It screamed in pain at the sensation of his genitals pierced by a sword. Fran didn't wait for it to recover; he couldn't afford to be lax on a stage that requires at least 3 people being level 5 with stats of 4 in everything.
Now that it was down, Fran kept on swinging and swinging. He knew he couldn't deal significant damage to it now that his skill ended—however, he could still make it bleed through cuts and lacerations.
<<----------->>
[Congratulations on Liberating - Barrett Village]
[Cradle resources have been credited]
[Cradle connection has been enforced]
[Rewards Calculating...]
[...]
As Fran received the clear bonuses, he slumped to the ground, exhausted.
"It's really different when you're with an experienced player..."
"Right! Right! Have you fallen for me, Mr. Fran?"
As if the battle hadn't affected her, Dorothy skipped side-to-side around him, trying to elicit a reaction from the now panting Fran.
"I don't even have the energy to fight you back."
Fran kept on doing similar attack patterns after the Goblin King had recovered its footing—by then, his skill cooldown would have already recovered. The battle lasted for almost 10 minutes. The Goblin King was surprisingly sturdier than Fran thought, despite its weakened state.
"You were so cool! It's my first time seeing perfect combo executions firsthand! Are you sure you're not some pro ranker!?"
"..."
Dorothy kept on babbling. Fran could only give her dismissive responses as he was too tired to deal with her chaotic energy at the moment. His body, lying flat on the grassy field, was pestered by the constant shifting movement of Dorothy around him.
Just then...
"Heroes...! The Heroes of our Barrett Village!"
Emerging from the gate, villagers came forth, addressing the two with great awe—in contrast with their current situation.
"With this, we'll finally play the real game..."
"Yeah! We'll have slaves now!"
"I don't think we're on the same page..."
And so, the day ended.