*Ding*
[You have leveled up seven times.]
Midas's eyes widened with surprise.
[You have reached the threshold to rank up into the next tier.]
He gasped, then grinned.
[Congratulations! You have reached the Vein Tier.]
'Vein...'
[You have gained a significant amount of mana. Energy now flows through your body's pathways.]
[Your speed has been enhanced.]
[Your senses have been enhanced.]
[Your stamina has been enhanced.]
[Current level: 12]
[Unallocated stat points: 14]
As these messages sounded in Midas's head, he was overwhelmed by a tsunami of familiar rejuvenation.
This time, he didn't have to allocate a single stat point. Just by existing, he could tell his body was far superior to the one he had had mere seconds earlier.
His excitement muffled all noise around him as he smiled and gazed at his hands.
He picked up another bone dagger, gripping both and feeling the strength in his very tendons and ligaments.
His eyes felt faster, his breath calmer.
Finally, he lifted his eyes.
Instantly, he was bombarded by the roar of goblins around him.
"He defeated the skullsmasher!"
"What in the world!?"
"What is going on?"
"A player..." A goblin took a step back, "Is this what it means to be... a player? So strong... so fast. He's not normal... not like someone from our planet." The goblin felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.
It was as if he were looking at a demon standing in the midst of the arena.
Midas didn't hesitate to allocate his stat points.
[Vitality: 8/8 --> 11/11]
[Strength: 10 --> 13]
[Stamina: 8/8 --> 11]
[Speed: 8 --> 13]
There wasn't much thinking he had to do. He knew he wanted to keep upgrading all four of his main stats, especially prioritizing speed and strength above all else.
After inputting these stats, Midas once again felt a surge of energy. It even made him break out into a small chuckle.
"Haha... how can one handle gaining so much power?" He couldn't stop smiling, "It's too addictive..." A thirst for more power flashed across his mind.
"Stop it right there!" Yemo yelled from atop the railings, leaning over.
Midas was pulled out of his daze, glancing at Yemo with an eyebrow raised in confusion.
"What now?" Midas said, slightly annoyed at the goblin's tone.
'Should you not be saying congratulations? Looks like even you fools didn't have control over this beast. Plus... I won fair and square.' He thought inwardly.
"You..." Yemo paused, his expression unreadable, as Midas narrowed his eyes. "You... you killed my Balbam!" The Goblin King suddenly burst out into tears.
He fell onto his knees, his hands still gripping the railing.
"M-my Balbam... my only way to protect my people... It's gone because of you!" He screamed with devastation and anger.
Midas scrunched his face as even more confusion riddled him.
Goblins near Yemo rallied around him, kneeling beside him and whispering words of affirmation.
"It's okay, King Yemo. We all still trust you!"
"Don't lose hope, you are our leader!" Even the goblins began to tear up.
"You will always be our protector!" They cried.
Midas exhaled, now feeling a bit awkward...
"You..." Yemo slowly said as rage built up within him, "You will pay!"
"Shaad' up!" Midas abruptly barked, "Quit yer' whining. I defeated you and won this bet fair and square." He paused, shocking Yemo and the others.
"Plus..." Midas said with a cold stare, "You know of my abilities now. Do not make me your enemy."
The gaze pierced through Yemo like an arrow through the throat. He attempted to speak, but his voice refused to come out.
'Fuck! I'm screwed! This player... was he acting weak? No... I failed to recognize his true power.' He despaired.
Then, the goblin had a sudden realization, 'W-wait.... that's right... even if he defeats Balbam, the odds are in my favor. Player or not, this monkey can NOT survive that place and leave with a proper mind.' He panted, slowly standing.
"F-fine..." He said with a breathless voice, "You may enter the Ashen Hollow..." He pretended to be defeated, but grinned inwardly.
'I can still come out on top... I can still have the last laugh!' He wholeheartedly celebrated within, for what he had experienced in that monastery was not meant for mortals...
Midas exhaled through his nostrils with a calm and bold smile, "Good." He sheathed his two daggers on his waistbelt.
'I don't fear these goblins now... If they all come at me at once, it will be a problem. But the fear factor in their eyes alone tells me their morale is at the ground. There is no strength left in their limbs to even think of defying me.' Midas thought with pride.
He had singehandedly taken their souls.
With a grin, he headed toward the Ashen Valley.
As he neared the entrance, Yemo glanced with curious but cautious eyes, 'Go go... get out of my sight already! Damn monster...' He glanced at the dead troll in the arena, 'My weapon... You were a worthy sacrifice for an even greater weapon.'
"Oi!" Midas suddenly shouted, stopping after reaching the exit.
Yemo instantly looked over like a scared rabbit, "W-what now!?" He said with anticipation.
"Let my comrade go. If he is even a little hurt by the time I return... I will see you pay for it." These were Midas's last words before he dashed out of the coliseum.
Yemo paused, blinking a few times.
"That goblin..." He said, his underlings perking their ears to listen, "Free him from all chains at once! Make sure he is well fed, and also well entertained!"
"R-right!"
"On it, sir!"
...
Midas didn't want to waste any more time. He ran toward the Ashen Hollow with one thought in mind.
'I must retrieve that technique as fast as possible...'
After hearing its horrible description by Yemo, he decided not to include Gool in this expedition within the monastery.
'I hope Gool doesn't have any ulterior motives... but for now, I still trust him. He is my comrade. Someone who has walked with me for many hours.' His face was serious, 'I need him alive.'
With those final thoughts, he stopped running. He stopped moving altogether as he faced a large, decrepit shrine in front of the burned gates of the monastery.