Game Reincarnation: Reborn as the Strongest Villain

"What?! Are you appearing too often these days, Quest?".

Jin watched the translucent blue panel with resignation face, but upon closer look, there was an additional slip amongst the quest details that said 'Optional'. He pondered what sort of joke this was, but when Jin stretched the line toward the first time he received the system, he felt something was moving behind the scenes with a grander plan than he could ever imagine. 

He didn't know that the planner was an ally or even a foe for Jin. What he could do for now is suck it all up and try not to die trying because it would be uncool if he died in the earlier stage without meeting other characters. 

"But, can I do it?".

Fighting a horde of goblins inside its nest, no matter what he thought about it. That was nothing but a suicide mission. However, if he thinks outside the box, this is also a chance for him to test if the system supports him or plunges him into hell. 

[Will you receive the Quest]

[Yes or No]

"...Yes".

The translucent panel shone in golden light before it disappeared, leaving Jin, who voluntarily clicked his tongue to follow the system's will. He recalled the reward, which made him wonder what it was. 

"Dungeon Key? What a strange item?".

*Gyaak!

Jin crouched down and hid behind the bushes, hearing a growl that came from the cave before him. He peeked and saw two goblins, each holding a wooden club and patrolling the perimeter with its yellowish eyes. 

'It's a pretty good distance, let's try it!'. He raised his right palm and began to focus on gathering mana. With the power of his eyes, Jin saw glittering dust-like stars gathered around his palm, which was breathtaking. 

The mana in his palm began to condense and change shape into a slash. Then, Jin straightened his posture and swung his hand twice, sending a compressed wind blade. Taken by surprise, the two goblins bisected diagonally as the magic disappeared. 

"I need to practice more!".

Even though Jin had a theory in his mind, when it came to practicing it, he was still wet behind the ears. He still needed to master mana control so he could launch that wind slash dozens while blinking or even a hundredth, like his mother, who threw dozens of fireballs while yawning. 

After ensuring no other backup is coming from inside, Jin emerges from his hiding and approaches the dark cave. A chilling sensation creeped out from his skin, reminding himself that this was quite dangerous. 

This was the first time Jin had to act this recklessly, but somehow, that term stuck to his soul. His heart told him that he would need it in time. 

Jin inhaled deeply before throwing it out. In a single breath, he stepped forward, entering the dark maw. 

The cave was bumpy and surrounded by a natural structure of rocks that seemed damp by the tiny spark, glittering inside the dim place like stars, coming from a moss that adsorbed mana from the atmosphere. 

He lightened his steps, careful not to make a stomping noise that could echo in this closed space. The cave was a one-way path, and within the innermost part, there was an open space that strangely flickered with light. 

*Gyaak!

Jin's body jolted upon hearing the sound that seemed closed, but it came from the innermost room. He gulped his saliva to cleanse his parched throat and continued. With each step he took, cold sweat began to drench his forehead, and a heavy atmosphere began to suffocate his breath, giving him a hard time controlling his scattered mind.

Arriving within the hollowed space, Jin leaned toward the shadows and observed the inside. 'One, two, ...there are twelve goblins and one goblin that seemed different from others!'.

A flickering torch from animal leather and sap stood around the monsters, lighting the dark room. Jin could see his surroundings well. Twelve goblins were gathered, throwing a party while holding pieces of ripped limbs of some beast. 

One Goblin, twice larger than the other and had a different color, blue, sat alone on a tree trunk holding a big piece of beast leg. Its protruded teeth ripped apart the hunted beast in hand as its pungent scent wafted in the atmosphere. Also different from the other, who only covered its crotch with cloth, that one was wearing tattered armor.

'Huuuf, Let's go!'. At the same time he resolved himself, Jin gathered mana around his palm and dashed forward to face the goblins. 

*Gyaak!

The leader noticed a human approaching fast and with several swings of his hand. Its subordinates' bodies were split into two. Watching all of that, the leader contorted his face, furious, as it took the one-handed axe behind it. 

*Gyaak!

Following its order, the other goblins began to swarm through the humans, but they were easily cut down, and one by one, their subordinates fell, further infuriating the leader. 

*Gaaah!

It roared furiously, reverberating inside the closed space, bursting one's own hearing for a brief while. 

Jin, whose hearing was interrupted, leaped back and shook his head to fix the 'buzzing' sound that invaded his mind. 'Shit, I thought I lost my ears for a second!'.

The remaining seven goblins stormed at him, raising their clubs high. Jin took a deep breath and started to infuse his consciousness into the blade. Jin dashed and arrived at the first goblin before taking a swing and one head fall. He zigzagged and continued moving forward while dodging the attack that came, killing the goblins in one clean strike. 

Seven corpses of goblins now lay wasted on the ground, leaving only the leader, who marched off like a mad bull while raising its battle axe. 

*Gyaaah!

The ground was split open with a roar and a single swing, leaving deep, gouging scars. Jin sweated when he saw the power, and his face hardened upon seeing the goblin leader chasing him, swinging its battle axe. 

Jin settled his blade low and focused on observing his opponent's movement. In its furious state and monstrous stamina, the goblin leader utilized everything it had, whether the axe, head, hand, leg, spit, or dust, to kill the human before it. 

However, because it was a monster and didn't learn proper martial arts, its movements were easily predicted: repetitive swings, wide openings, and no plans. After gaining enough information, Jin already had a plan to finish the game. 

'Here!' After dodging the goblin's diagonal swing, Jin stepped forward and thrust his blade at the monster's flank. His blade easily pierced through the gap between its armor. 

Jin pulled out the blade and jumped to the side, dodging a side slash from the goblin. He lowered his blade and aimed at the goblin's waist. However, before he could execute it, Jin received a heavy blow from his side and made his body roll on the ground before stopping. 

'Kuh, that was my ribs!'. A sharp and searing pain erupted from his side as if steel hot had embedded itself there. 

Each time Jin inhaled, a deep burning sensation crushed his breathing rhythm, and his blurry vision started to wreck his focus on the enemy before him. 

The goblin leader dashed forward, trying to deal a finishing blow with the axe raised high. Jin grits his teeth and forces his body to move with sheer will while holding the excruciating pain. He rolled to the side and slashed the goblin's leg, making it hard to stand up. 

As the monster knelt, Jin fixed his stance into a standing position and planned to end the fight. However, the goblin leader felt its impending death, so it slammed the ground hard, raising a cloud of dust that disturbed Jin's vision. 

'Shit?! Where is it?'. His poor visibility prompted him to make a haste decision to bail out. However, he was late by a nick of time. 

A shadow followed by a ferocious glint of steel travels in a straight path, aiming at Jin's left throat. With his lack of awareness, Jin's body jolted and reacted reflexively by raising his Katana to block the axe. 

*Clank!

Spark scattered as Jin's face turned death pale. The axe's blade kept its momentum because of its advantage in strength; it touched his neck, spurting out a warm liquid that drenched Jin's outfit. 

"You bastard!". Jin shuddered, and acting based on instinct, he activated the skill he had.

[Physical Enhancement activated]

Invisible power surged within his body as he managed to stop the axe from reaching his carotid artery. He pushed with all his might, letting out a spark, and a loud 'clank' echoed before lowering his stance and swinging his Katan upward. 

*Gyaaah!

One of the goblin's arms flew along with its axe; Jin resumed his pursuit with fiery eyes, taking a step forward while clenching the katana hilt. The Pain that assaulted his body and the fear that gnawed at his neck, he poured all of that feeling into this last diagonal swing. 

*Shing!

The silver blade traveled in a diagonal line, forming a bloody trace of the goblin's head before it slid down along with the body. 

[Side Quest complete]