His Unique-grade knight set wasn't just for show. With its defense, only someone at Rank 2 or higher could even injure him.

{A/N: Common – Uncommon – Rare – Epic – Unique – Legendary – Mythical – Fantasy}

"Well, it's your funeral," Katarina shrugged.

They left for the goblin nest, riding atop Emperor as they moved through the forest. Mike kept his eyes on the map, guiding Emperor toward their destination.

The trees grew thicker, and the air became heavier as they went deeper in.

"If there's more than one hobgoblin, then most likely there's a Goblin Captain there," Katarina said from behind him.

Mike nodded.

"That makes sense."

"How will you approach it?" she asked.

"I'll scout first," Mike replied. "If the numbers are high, I'll thin them out before going in."

Katarina smiled slightly.

"Good. Don't rush in blindly."

After a few more minutes, Emperor slowed down.

Mike looked ahead.

"We're close."

He dismounted and gestured for Katarina to stay back.

"I'll check the nest," he said.

"Go," she replied. "I'll watch from here."

Mike moved forward quietly, heading toward the goblin nest.

Mike moved quietly and climbed onto a nearby tree, using the branches for cover. From there, he could clearly see the goblin nest.

It wasn't very large, but it was crowded.

There were many small goblins moving around, carrying weapons and scraps. Among them stood five hobgoblins, larger and better equipped, clearly acting as guards.

At the center of the nest stood another figure, holding a crooked staff.

"So… it's a Goblin Shaman," Mike muttered.

He nodded to himself.

"That's better than a Goblin Captain."

A captain would be a frontline fighter, dangerous in close combat. A shaman, on the other hand, was a caster type. As long as he dealt with it quickly, it wouldn't be a big problem.

"Is this just it?" Mike whispered. "Then only Emperor and me are enough."

He slipped down from the tree and moved back quietly.

Reaching Emperor, he placed a hand on the wolf's snout and smiled.

"Alright, buddy. Let's go and fight."

Emperor let out a low growl, eyes sharp.

"They're just a bunch of weaklings," Mike said calmly.

With that, he stepped forward, heading straight toward the goblin nest.

On the way, Mike equipped his Black Mithril Set. The armor wrapped around his body smoothly, locking into place piece by piece. The dark metal gleamed faintly, giving off a heavy and powerful presence.

Seeing the expensive and clearly high-grade knight armor, Katarina raised an eyebrow.

"Is he a noble?" she thought.

It didn't make sense for a commoner to own such powerful gear, especially when he had just started his adventurer career.

But she didn't say anything and continued watching closely.

Mike stopped at the edge of the nest's range.

"Emperor," he said quietly.

The wolf lowered his body, muscles tensing.

"First, we take out the small ones," Mike said. "No noise if possible."

Emperor let out a low growl in response.

Mike raised pulled out his sword as the Black Mithril Sword gleamed under the sunlight.

"Now lets fight" he muttered.

With a sharp click, black flames ignited along the edge of his sword, crawling over the blade like living shadows.

Black Flame Sword Art.

The air around him grew heavier as he stepped forward, his armor clanking softly.

The goblins at the edge of the camp noticed him a second too late.

Mike vanished from where he stood.

The next moment, black fire flashed.

Two goblins were cut down in a single sweeping strike, their bodies collapsing before any sound could escape them. The black flames burned through flesh and bone, leaving scorched remains behind.

Then Emperor moved.

The massive wolf burst forward like a dark storm, fangs and claws tearing into the panicking goblins. Screams finally rang out as chaos erupted in the nest.

"Enemy! Enemy!" a goblin shrieked.

The hobgoblins roared and charged, weapons raised, while the Goblin Shaman slammed its staff into the ground, dark green mana swirling as it began to chant.

Mike walked forward calmly, black flames dancing along his blade.

He pointed his sword at the shaman.

"Too slow," he said.

The Black Flame Sword Art flared brighter.

The moment the nest exploded into chaos, all the goblins rushed to fight.

Small goblins screamed and ran in every direction, swinging crude weapons wildly. But the real threat came from the hobgoblins.

They charged forward.

Unlike the small goblins, the hobgoblins were tall and muscular, almost human-sized. Their bodies were thick with muscle, and they moved with discipline. Each of them carried proper weapons—steel swords, axes, and shields. Dried blood still stained the blades.

"These are stolen from adventurers," Mike thought calmly.

One hobgoblin swung its sword at him.

Clang.

The blade struck Mike's chest armor and bounced off without leaving a scratch.

Mike didn't even flinch.

He stepped in and slashed.

Black flames tore through the hobgoblin's torso, cutting it in half. The body fell to the ground, burning.

Another hobgoblin attacked Emperor from the side.

Mike turned his head slightly.

"Emperor, take the shaman."

The wolf didn't hesitate.

Emperor leaped past the frontline, sprinting straight toward the Goblin Shaman.

The shaman screeched and slammed its staff into the ground. A fire spell formed instantly.

A ball of green flame shot toward Emperor.

The wolf opened his mouth.

A blast of blue cerulean flame erupted out.

The two spells collided midair.

For a split second, they pushed against each other—

Then the green flame shattered.

Emperor's cerulean fire swallowed it completely and continued forward.

The Goblin Shaman barely had time to widen its eyes before the blue flame hit it head-on.

The shaman screamed as its body was engulfed, collapsing to the ground in seconds, burned beyond recognition.

Katarina's eyes widened slightly.

"Blue flames…?"

Back at the frontline, Mike was already moving.

Three hobgoblins surrounded him.

One swung down from above.

Mike raised his sword and blocked it easily.

He twisted his wrist and released a burst of black flame.

The hobgoblin's weapon melted.

Before it could react, Mike drove his sword through its chest.

Another hobgoblin charged from behind.

Mike stepped forward instead of back.

His shoulder slammed into the creature, sending it flying.

Before it could get up, Emperor returned, ripping its throat out with one clean bite.

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