Chương 35: Goros

Joe spread his hands behind him, facing the sky and activated a Mana Blast, transforming his freefall into a dive bomb. The elephant man had no time to react before Joe's body slammed into its chest with the force of a meteor. A deep, guttural groan tore from its throat as it was sent hurtling backwards, crashing into the distant arena wall with a deafening boom. Somehow, in the instant his shoulder collided with the giant's chest, Joe had managed to wrap an arm around Gao.

The moment the impact struck, the mammoth man had released her from his crushing grip. Joe twisted mid-air, pulling Gao close as his back slammed into the ground. Pain exploded through him, but he pushed it aside. He had felt worse. Joe gently laid Gao onto her back, his sharp eyes scanning her as she gasped for breath. She was alive. Barely. Relief flooded through him, but he didn't waste a second.

He pressed a healing pill into her hand, then spun, eyes locking onto the elephant man now embedded in the wall far across the arena. Dropping to one knee, Joe pressed a hand to the floor and activated Nature's Paradise. In an instant, luscious grass erupted from the stone, spreading outward in a wave of green until the entire arena was covered. Mana thrummed in the air. Joe stood, rolling his sore shoulders, his body still vibrating with rage. He moved back to Gao, ensuring she took the pill.

Blood and wounds covered her body, she had fought hard before this bastard had intervened. He crouched over her, eyes fixed on the behemoth as it peeled itself from the wall and landed with a ground-shaking rumble. Joe was about to use Identify when something strange happened. His skill's name had changed. Natural Identify. His breath hitched. He activated it. Natural Identify: Goros, Brutandal (Grade E), Butcher of Calamity - 101. 1 Hidden stat, No Bloodline. Joe blinked. Level one hundred and one.

That was absurd. His mind raced. This monster was Grade E like him, but its sheer level difference was staggering. And now, he could see something new, Bloodline status. Goros had none. He had no idea what had happened to his skill, but this wasn't the time to question it. He had bigger problems. Gao stirred weakly below him.

"Thank you, Progenitor," Gao said.

"You saved my life." Joe kept his gaze locked on Goros and stepped forward.

"Stay here, I'll finish this." He didn't look back. He knew better than to give Goros any opening. Stopping just a few steps from the mammoth man, he demanded.

"How did you turn off the protections?" Goros blinked in mild surprise.

"You speak my language. How unexpected." Joe's expression didn't waver.

"Answer my question." Goros studied him for a moment before shaking his massive head.

"I have miscalculated," he admitted.

"I thought that coming from a world where you failed the tutorial, everyone would be weak and easy prey." His trunk swayed slightly as he spoke, voice deep and resonant.

"But, no matter. Death is merely the next step in the journey to the great beyond. Exalt, mortal! For I am here to bless you with your destined demise!" Joe's anger flared. This Goros refused to answer him, spouting nonsense instead.

"Answer my question. This is the last time I ask," Joe said, his voice deadly calm. Goros didn't so much as flinch. Instead, he studied Joe curiously, then sighed.

"A simple thing," he finally said.

"I merely appealed to the seed's most primal need for death. Add a little mana. And here we are, on fate's doorstep. Ready for the curtain to fall." He lifted his arms and laughed, the sound rolling like thunder through the arena. Joe remained unmoving.

"So that was the purpose of those mana threads," he stated. The laughter stopped. Goros tilted his head slightly, then ran a hand over his face.

"You figured out everything." He exhaled through his trunk.

"Truly, I have blundered today." His grin widened, sharp teeth glinting.

"Too bad I have to kill you now." In one smooth motion, Goros reached into his storage and pulled a colossal axe. With a burst of unnatural speed, he charged. Joe had been waiting for Goros to make a move. His whole body itched to spring into action, but he held back, watching, gauging what the Brutandel could do. And frankly, this first attack only pissed him off. Goros wasn't taking him seriously. He was holding back, seeing Joe as no real threat. That needed to change, immediately.

Joe stepped forward into Goros's charge, spinning into a brutal kick that slammed straight into the Brutandel's gut. The force sent Goros crashing back into the now grass-covered wall. He grunted in pain, but Joe wasn't finished. He exploded forward at full speed, slamming his elbow into Goros's massive frame, crushing him further against the wall. The impact forced a gasp of blood from the giant's mouth.

Joe had to leap back as the colossal axe whistled toward him; he dodged, landing smoothly, locking eyes with Goros.

"Ready to take this seriously? I'd hate to beat you without a proper fight." Inside, Joe was seething. The mana trap, being locked in that bubble, watching Goros try to crush Gao, all of it culminating into a raw, burning rage. He wasn't going to hold back at all. This thing in front of him wasn't human and had killed indiscriminately. He had no hesitation in unleashing his fury. Goros had chosen to challenge their world, to steal their resources, sentencing a billion people to death in the process.

Joe didn't care what the alien was. He was in the way. Joe equipped his mana claws with a thought. He clenched his fists, two translucent blades extending like wicked talons. Then, he charged. Goros, now realizing this was a real fight, activated a boosting skill. His muscles thickened even more as he raised his axe and swung to intercept Joe's charge. The sudden increase in speed caught Joe off guard; he couldn't dodge in time.

With Mana-coating active, he thrust his claws at the incoming strike, hoping to cushion the impact. The force slammed into his hands, sending him hurtling sideways. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the grass. Gritting his teeth, he jumped to his feet and shook out his arms. His limbs felt numb from the sheer force behind the blow. But Goros wasn't about to let him recover. The Brutandel charged again, closing the distance in an instant.

Joe focused, sliding into nature's Grace footwork just as the axe came down. He flowed past it, avoiding the swing by the barest margin. Goros skidded to a halt beside him and activated another skill.

"Axe Barrage." The axe spun in his hands, slashing at Joe in a relentless storm of strikes. The air boomed with each swing, the sheer force shaking the arena. Joe dodged, weaving between the attacks, each strike missing him by mere centimetres. The blade blurred as Goros continued his onslaught, the arena trembling from every missed hit that gouged deep into the ground. The shockwaves alone were enough to make Joe's muscles scream. There was no room to counterattack. No time to breathe. He dodged. Again. And again.

And again. Nearly a hundred slashes came down in a relentless rhythm, until Joe was just a fraction too slow. The axe clipped his shoulder, sending a jolt of searing pain through his body. He grunted, staggering back. His footwork faltered, but he regained his stance and stepped away, finally breaking free from the onslaught. Joe took his first breath in what felt like an eternity, sweat dripping down his face. But there was no time to stop, Goros was already swinging again.

Joe ducked under the horizontal arc and launched a kick, catching Goros off balance. Without wasting a second, he burst backwards, putting space between them. Raising a hand, he fired a barrage of Mana Blasts, forcing Goros to block with his axe. Explosions rippled across Brutandel's frame, but Joe didn't let up. He kept moving, hopping around the arena, keeping his attacks relentless. He wasn't just attacking; he was pinning Goros down. Goros caught on quickly.

With a mighty swing of his axe, he generated a gust of wind strong enough to knock Joe's Mana Blasts off course, clearing a path for him to charge forward. Joe smiled. Perfect. He activated Seeds Will Grow. All across the arena, thick vines erupted from the ground, nearly fifty in total, rising like a forest of writhing tendrils. Two of the largest burst up and slammed into Goros, catching the Brutandel off guard. He grunted as the vines struck with the force of battering rams, forcing him to stumble to the side.

And at that moment, Goros lost sight of Joe. Joe slipped behind one of the colossal vines, using its bulk as cover. His mini-map kept him updated on Goros's position. He popped a Mana Pill into his mouth, but nothing happened; it was still on cooldown. His mana bar flashed at a measly thirty per cent. Damn, his attacks drain too much mana when I have to take a hit, Joe thought. Crouching low, he stayed perfectly still. Goros hadn't pinpointed his location yet. That gave him a few precious seconds to think.

Gao still lay near the other side of the arena. Joe had managed to keep the fight far from her. But if Goros turned on her, she wouldn't be able to defend in her current condition. Joe needed a way to get her out of harm's way. But how? He glanced up at the bubble above them. Can I throw her up there? He wondered. He wasn't sure if it would work or if it was even a good idea. Joe stopped thinking and dashed to his right. Goros was heading straight for Gao.

Joe burst in front of the massive Brutandel and drove a kick hard into his side.

"Not today," Joe said. Goros grunted, momentarily caught off guard.

"Blasted animal!" Goros roared, steadying himself. Joe knew he had to conserve mana, so he abandoned Mana Blasts and shifted into pure close-quarters combat. His clawed fists slashed toward Goros's tree-trunk legs, but the Brutandel blocked with his axe. Joe weaved to the side, trying to force Goros into turning his back to Gao, but Goros sensed the tactic and instead charged at her directly. Joe swore. [Gao, he's coming for you. Can you move?] - Joe. [My leg is broken. I can barely stand.] - Gao.

Joe clenched his teeth. He had to get her out of there. Worse, his actions had foolishly put a target on her. He doubled down on his attacks, forcing Goros to stay engaged with him instead. Sparks flew as Joe's claws clashed against the colossal axe. He pressed the assault, keeping Goros locked in, but the Brutandel had the advantage at this range. He was stronger, and each of his counters carried enough force to push Joe back. This wasn't working. Joe took a risk.

As Goros swung again, expecting Joe to meet the attack head-on, Joe instead ducked, letting the axe sail over him. The sudden lack of resistance made Goros lose his footing for a split second. It was all Joe needed. He turned and dashed toward Gao. [Gao, stand up, I'm gonna throw you to the bubble.] - Joe. Joe sprinted toward her. She was already on her feet, bracing herself. Goros was right behind him, closing in fast. Joe reached her and, in one smooth motion, scooped her up and leapt onto the wall behind her.

With all his strength, he flung her upward toward the top of the bubble. He had no time to confirm if she landed safely. The moment his hands left her, he felt the unmistakable force of an attack incoming. His instincts screamed. He twisted mid-air just as the axe came slicing toward his back. He barely avoided the initial swing, feeling the wind from the blade as it passed beneath him. He was about to counter when the air warped.

Just like what had happened to the Divine Sword, the axe suddenly reversed mid-swing, turning impossibly fast and arcing straight toward him. At the same time, Joe felt a pull; his entire body yanked downward into the blade's path. No control. No time to react. Joe's eyes widened in shock as the axe closed in, centimetres from cleaving into him. Panic flooded him. He tried to move, but nothing. He tried to shout, but his mouth wouldn't open. No! Move! MOVE!

In a last desperate attempt, Joe seized the mana wrapped around him, the residual flow of his Mana-Coating. He pulled. The mana surged, twisting violently around him. It exploded outward in a vortex just as the axe struck his side. __ Esha held her breath as she watched Joe hurl Gao upward, sending her soaring above the bubble. He had done it, Gao was safe. Her relief was short-lived. The massive elephant man swung his axe at Joe, but he dodged, the blade whistling just beneath him.

Esha exhaled, ready to breathe out a sigh of relief, then everything warped. Her stomach dropped. The axe reversed mid-swing, and Joe was pulled into its path, launching him across the arena. He crashed hard, rolling before coming to a motionless stop beside a vine. Esha's scream tore through the bubble.

"Nooooooo!!!!" She barely registered the Elephant man turning, striding toward Joe's unmoving form. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. __ Gao looked down as she soared, catching a final glimpse of the Progenitor below. He had thrown her to safety, putting himself in danger without hesitation. A surge of frustration burned inside her, her own weakness disgusted her. As she reached the peak of her momentum, she spun, preparing for the descent.

She caught sight of Joe once more. He had dodged an axe swing, he was… what was that? The air warped. The axe shifted. The blade struck Joe, sending him flying. She gasped, eyes wide in horror, but before she could see anything else, the bubble blocked her view. Then, to her surprise, she fell through, her body passing straight through the surface like water. She braced for impact, but arms caught her mid-air, slowing her fall. Song set her down gently. She was safe. She turned, desperate.

She had to know, was the Progenitor still alive? __ Joe blinked; his vision swam with red, stars flickering in his sight. He grunted, pain lancing through his side. What happened? His mind clawed back to the moment the axe crashed into him. For a split second, his Mana-coating had moved, just like before. The same strange reaction he'd experienced when sitting near that treasure box. Only this time, it had saved his life. Shaking off the haze, he pushed himself up, stumbling onto his feet.

His body screamed in protest, but he had no time to rest. He scanned the arena, his gaze locking onto Goros, striding toward him like an unstoppable force. His mana bar blinked. Almost empty. He exhaled sharply. He needed more time. His eyes flickered to the bubble above. [Is Gao safe?] - Joe. [Yes.] Relief flooded through him. At least that was done. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. He was exhausted. His limbs felt like lead. Every movement burned. His body wanted to quit.

A storm of negative thoughts crashed into his mind. [Joe! Don't die!] His eyes snapped open. The axe was inches from his head. Joe ducked on instinct. The weapon roared past, splitting the air where his skull had been a second ago. What the hell am I doing? He rolled hard to his right as Goros's next attack obliterated the ground beneath him. He barely had time to think before his eyes landed on something, a seed buried in the dirt near Goros's feet. He activated Seeds Will Grow.

A massive vine erupted from the earth, slamming into Goros's body and knocking him off his feet. Joe's mana bar flashed, five per cent left. He inhaled deeply, steadying his trembling limbs. Keep moving. Breathe. He let his aura explode outward now that Gao was safe, the sheer force shaking the air around him. He popped a healing pill into his mouth, feeling the warmth flood through his veins as his injuries knit back together. Then, a mana pill. His mana bar pulsed with renewed energy. Better. The axe came again.

Joe ducked, barely slipping past the swing. He feinted right, Goros lunged. Joe rolled left, flowing effortlessly into his footwork. It worked. Goros's next attack sliced through empty air.

"I will bury you!" Goros roared, charging after him. Joe staggered as he ducked, crashing into a vine. His breath came ragged; he needed something, a moment to catch himself. With a flick of his will, the vine bent, coiling over him like a protective shield. The axe slammed down. A thunderous crack echoed as the weapon bounced off the vine, but Joe knew it wouldn't hold for long. He planted two more seeds. Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around him in a desperate cocoon. His limbs trembled. He was so tired.

His side burned with every breath. The vines tightened, securing him. He just needed a second, just one. The vines shook violently as Goros's axe crashed against them, over and over, each strike tearing chunks free. Joe gritted his teeth. Was that another skill? Was the axe sharper now? More slashes. More destruction. Light started to pour in through widening gaps. Blood dripped onto the ground below him. Stop chasing me! Joe thought, frustration boiling within him. Why was he always being chased?

His mind flashed to the hounds. To all the times he had been hunted. He hated it. [Joe, wake up!] [Joe!] [Be strong, Progenitor, you are not alone.] Joe paused. His eyes widened. He wasn't alone. His chest rose as clarity settled in, drowning out the haze over his mind. The vines shuddered again, the blade of the axe inches from his face. A shockwave blasted outward as Joe activated Aura Shout. The vines snapped apart and crashed around him while Goros stumbled back, nearly losing his footing. Joe stood.

His vision cleared. His pulse steadied. His mind stopped screaming. Across from him, Goros panted, weariness finally showing in his massive form.

"What are you?" the Brutandel barked.

"How do you have an E Grade Aura?!" Joe didn't answer. He rolled aside, dodging another axe swing, his hand landing against a broken vine. The texture felt… right. His fingers curled around it, an idea sparking in his mind. He let out another Aura Shout, forcing Goros back once more. Then, gripping the vine tightly, he threw it straight at Goros and dropped to his knees, planting more seeds. Goros smashed the vine aside and charged straight at Joe.

Joe activated his skill, and four vines erupted from the ground, surging toward Goros. They struck hard, knocking him back before coiling around his massive frame, pinning him in place. Joe didn't wait. He sprinted toward a vine protruding from the ground, a thick, sturdy length about two meters long. His claws vanished into his storage as he grasped the vine with both hands. He focused. His remaining mana poured into the vine, compressing it, squeezing it thinner and thinner. Behind him, Goros roared.

A burst of raw strength shattered the vines binding the Brutandel as it charged once more. Joe ignored him. He compressed the vine one last time. A loud snap echoed across the arena as the root broke free from the ground. Joe spun just in time. The axe came swinging for his head. He raised the vine in his hands, no longer a simple root, but a quarterstaff of hardened mana-infused vine. Clang! The axe slammed into the staff and was deflected, crashing into the ground with a deafening thud.

Goros froze, staring in shock. Joe stepped back, staff spinning fluidly in his hands. His skill, diabolical Quarterstaffmanship, roared to life in his mind, released from its dormant state after far too long. He exhaled, settling into a stance. A name flashed through his mind for the first time, the name of the stance.

'Anticipation of Feormere' Goros's tusks flared, his muscles bulging once more. Joe noticed a slight hesitation in the Brutandel's eyes. For the first time, it looked unsure. Joe smiled. No, more than that. Joe exalted.

"You think that stick will save you?" Goros Bellowed.

"I will show you true power!" Goros stepped forward. __ Many months ago. Goros, the champion of his world, the ultimate elite. When the system arrived, he had dominated his tutorial, just as he had been told he would. His world had been ready. The strongest factions had stormed the Gates, seizing power, inheritances, and glory. And when the tutorial ended, he stood at the top, ranked number one. His reward had been immense. A boon, a legendary axe, and the first choice in the mentor selection.

He had chosen a C-grade mentor, an unparalleled master of axe-manship and chaotic axe footwork. Under their guidance, he had excelled. The first in his world to reach level fifty, to undergo his rare Class evolution. With that power, he had surged ahead, dominating the rankings, unmatched. Then, the competition between worlds began. And Goros, who had thought himself at the apex of power, had been forced into a soul-crushing reality. His world was weak. He and his world suffered defeat after defeat.

They were utterly outclassed. The other worlds were filled with monsters, beings higher levelled, wielding classes of superior rarity, possessing skills beyond his wildest imagination. His once-proud world plummeted to the bottom of the leaderboard, teetering just above complete failure. But Goros refused to fall. He pushed harder, clawing his way forward, fighting, training, levelling. He reached level one hundred, evolving his Class once more. But this time, … no upgrade. Still just a rare Class. Still inferior.

It wasn't fair. But he wasn't done yet. During the yearly world meeting, he learned about the upcoming World Trade System. In two years, marking the halfway point of the integration competition, he would have the opportunity to leave his broken, failing world. To move to a world worthy of him. But first, he needed to prove himself and remind everyone how strong he truly was. That was when he saw it. A failed world had reappeared on the leaderboard. World 43.

The only world to have failed its tutorial was now somehow vying for reintegration. It was absurd. Ludicrous. Who had ever heard of such a thing? No one. Absolutely no one. So Goros did the only rational thing: he made a petition to the all-mighty seedling, a challenge. It turned out he wasn't the only one to do so. Two other struggling worlds, both ranked below his, also had the same idea. To fight this world. To prove that this failed world was not worthy of reintegration. It was perfect. The smart move.

It would be a guaranteed victory. Thus, the Resource Grab was announced. Just to be sure, he went in with every advantage possible; he reached out to the two other worlds. A little negotiation. A little bribery. He had secured a deal, one of the worlds would drop out, surrendering their claim in exchange for some boosting pills and a mountain of credits. Goros had watched with satisfaction as the first battle unfolded, a perfect demonstration of the power boost granted by his pills. A devastating victory.

If only the system protections hadn't been in place, such a waste. The system was stupid. When that world withdrew, he knew what had to come next. He needed to eliminate the other challenger. He stood alone in his bubble, the sole representative of his world. Everyone else was weak. No one had reached level one hundred but him. So, naturally, he was the only one fit to compete. And he had made sure of that. He had killed anyone who thought otherwise. Then, the other bubble contacted him.

They had a plan, a way to remove the no-kill restriction. An array was already in place, funnelling mana into the human bubble, disrupting the built-in protections. All he had to do was wait. But it took too long. He watched as the final lizard man fought that water-wielding female. The fight dragged on. And then, finally, the moment arrived. The protections snapped off. He had disabled his bubble effortlessly, because, of course, he was smart enough to do that. Then, he had wasted no time.

The lizard man had outlived his usefulness. He killed him for wasting his time. And that's when everything went wrong. A male with weird spiderwebs on his face had appeared. From nowhere. How had he escaped the bubble? Goros didn't care. At first, he had tried speaking with the tiny being, luring him into a false sense of security. But it didn't work. The insect was too smart. Then they fought. And somehow, he couldn't kill the little thing, even after taking a pill. So, Goros had shifted tactics.

He went for the weak little female instead. That should have worked. But no. The spiderweb-covered insect saved her. Big mistake. So, Goros had unleashed the power of the pill's burst move. That should have killed it. But no, the tiny male lived. He couldn't activate the burst move too often because it used too much mana. So he went back to trying to squish the bug like a little boobus worm, but it kept wriggling away.

And then, after all that, when Goros had finally hacked through those stupid, stiff, thin leaves the male had summoned, when he was finally ready to kill, this silly cloaked insect had somehow blocked him with a squashed, thin leaf. It made no sense. So, Goros ate two pills. Two pills were never a good idea. Two pills made his brain slow. But they made him strong. And yet… even after five whole minutes of attacking this tiny thing, the male wasn't dead. Maybe Goros was not as bright as he pretended to be.

Maybe he had made a mistake. Maybe, just maybe, this world wasn't trying to reintegrate because they were weak. Maybe it was because this small, funny-looking male was strong…. __ Joe flowed and danced across the arena, dodging every wild swing from the massive, bloated form of Goros. The Brutandel had activated another boosting skill, its body surging with swollen muscle. But Joe noticed a significant drawback, the sheer increase in power had made Goros's attacks sloppy. He was fast, strong, but unfocused.

The axe swung wildly as if Goros was just hacking at the air, hoping to catch Joe by sheer luck. Joe sidestepped another reckless downward slash, feeling the rush of displaced air as it crashed into the arena floor, shattering the grass-covered surface beneath it. He countered with a sharp thrust of his staff to Goros's right knee. Crack. The Brutandel's leg buckled, and he crashed onto his other knee with a roar of frustration.

Joe didn't hesitate, he followed up with a flurry of rapid strikes, jabbing the staff into Goros's gut repeatedly. The impact forced a pained grunt from the giant, even making him spit up blood as he rolled away. Joe exhaled, shifting seamlessly back into Nature's Grace, each step measured and precise. Having a quarterstaff in his hands again felt right, like something that had been missing this entire time. He hadn't realized how incomplete he had felt without it.

Even before the system, he had loved martial arts staff combat, watching old films of skilled masters twirling their weapons with effortless grace. This, this was how he fought best. He pressed forward, leaping up and smashing the vine staff across Goros's face. The Brutandel's head snapped back violently. Joe followed up with a sweeping strike to the legs, knocking Goros fully onto his back. The moment the giant hit the ground, Joe was on him, hammering him with relentless attacks. But damn, he was tough.

As battered and bruised as he was, Goros still had fight left in him. Joe gritted his teeth. He needed to finish this. His mana reserves were dangerously low, and his body still ached from every deflected axe strike. With a final burst of energy, he disarmed Goros, sending the massive axe flying across the arena. Without wasting a second, he swapped out the staff for his mana claws, surging forward to tear into Goros's legs. His claws ripped through flesh, severing arteries and cracking bones.

Blood sprayed across the grass-covered stone. Goros collapsed fully, his massive frame shuddering as he lay motionless, panting heavily. Joe stood over him, exhausted, his breath ragged. He circled, preparing to end it, his claws gleaming, raised for the final blow. But… he hesitated. Killing a person, or alien, or whatever this counted as. It was a heavier burden than killing a mindless Beast. Goros's massive form began to discolour, a purple hue covering it.

His veins bulged, his body twitching violently as something unnatural happened within him. A deep, rattling breath escaped from his trunk as he spoke.

"It seems I took too many pills." His voice was heavy, resignation clear in his tone.

"My body is collapsing from the inside." Joe remained still, watching as Goros's massive chest rose and fell erratically.

"The fight is over," Goros continued, his once-booming voice weak.

"You have won. I deserve what is to come."

"Why did you do it? Why challenge us?" Joe asked, his voice flat, exhausted.

"For power, of course." Goros coughed, thick blood spilling from his mouth.

"My world could not survive the system…" Another cough wracked his body, his massive frame trembling.

"So I had to gain enough power to escape… to a better world." Joe stared down at him, trying to process what he meant.

"How can you escape your world?"

"A trade, of course." Goros wheezed out a chuckle, his trunk twitching weakly.

"The top ten worlds… they always seek powerhouses to serve them. It's the only way monsters like us from weak worlds can survive." More blood dribbled from his lips as his laughter faded, his skin turning pale. Joe's fists unclenched, his sparkling claws vanishing momentarily. Maybe what Goros had said was important; he wasn't sure, but he didn't care right now. He was too tired. Too done with this. He turned his back.

"When they find out about you…" Goros rasped.

"They will come for you." Joe paused but didn't look back. He didn't acknowledge the dying Brutandel's final warning. He simply walked away. You have Slain Goros, Butcher of Calamity - 101 Title awarded. Winner, World 43. You have won the resource grab. System Message Ding! Profession Nature's Custodian has reached level 50 - stat points distributed. Your Profession, Nature's Custodian(Legendary), has evolved into Profession, Nature's Guardian(Legendary) Two new skills have been learned.

The arena vanished in a flash of light, and Joe was teleported back up into the bubble.