Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP

I crouched low, gripping the rocky ground as I watched the hobgoblin tearing through my green brothers like paper.

My pulse raced, and every instinct screamed at me to turn and run.

But I shouldn't—this was the chance to test out my innate skill and level up. 

Get your shit together Eli.

With a deep breath, I chanted my mantra:

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

Repeating until I moved.My body shot forward, my small legs pumping as I sprinted toward the towering hobgoblin.

The closer I got, the bigger it seemed—an orange-skinned monster that stood over six feet tall, its muscles rippling under its thick hide.

Sharp, angular facial features gave it a savage, predatory look, and every swing of its battle axe left carnage in its wake.

Basically, I was walking towards a nightmare and fear seemed like something I should cling unto at this point.

This hobgoblin was particularly brutal, like it was enjoying the slaughter.

It carried a massive shield in one hand and a gleaming battle axe in the other.

And as I closed the distance, I saw the hobgoblin roar, bashing one goblin to the side with its shield like it was swatting a fly, the goblin's body crumpling against a nearby rock with a sickening crunch.

Then, with a single, fluid motion, it brought its axe down on a cluster of goblins scrambling to surround it. Blood sprayed everywhere as the blade cleaved through them like they weren't even there.

I flinched on seeing this and fear won. And I skidded to a halt a few feet away, heart hammering so loudly I was sure the hobgoblin would hear it.

My olive-green skin prickled with cold sweat.

Every logical thought in my brain was yelling, Turn around! This thing's out of your league!

And I was going to obey.

But it was too late, as the hobgoblin had noticed my charge.

Its beady orange eyes locked onto me, and with a grunt, it reached down and snatched up one of the fallen goblins' crude spears.

Shit...I'm dead.

Before I could even blink, it hurled the spear straight at my chest with terrifying force.

The spear sliced through the air, deadly and fast.

Instinct screamed at me to dodge, but I knew there wasn't enough time.

My heart skipped a beat.

Now or never.

I mentally triggered [Switch] just as the spear was inches from skewering me.

And the world around me rippled, like a pebble disturbing the surface of a calm pond.

For a fraction of a second, everything blurred—sounds warped, colors swirled, and then bam!

The teleportation happened.

In an instant, I swapped places with the hulking hobgoblin.

I landed exactly where it had been standing, my feet skidding on the rocky ground.

At the same time, the hobgoblin appeared in my former spot—directly in the spear's path.

The hobgoblin then turned and it was just in time to see the weapon it threw hurtling toward him.

The crude spear slammed into the hobgoblin's abdomen with a sickening thud.

It staggered back, letting out a guttural roar of pain as blood began to seep from the wound.

Its massive hand reached for the spear, but it didn't pull it out— and it glared at me, its eyes blazing with a mix of confusion and pure hatred.

Grrr!

I exhaled in relief and couldn't help but grin feeling more confident on seeing my plan had worked.

Hehe

"Don't look at me like that," I said, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Technically, you threw it at yourself."

Its glare was filled with raw hatred, but I could see the confusion swimming beneath it.

My relief was overwhelming.

The skill had worked, and it wasn't just a fluke.

The elation bubbling inside me gave me the confidence to push the limits even further.

"Alright," I muttered under my breath, adrenaline coursing through me.

It was time to do something daring.

Without a second thought, I turned and bolted toward the edge of the cliff.

wind whipped past me as I ignored the chaos of the battle behind me.

Keep running. Don't overthink.

When I reached the edge of the cliff, I then leaped, and gravity grabbed hold of me immediately.

"Aaah!"

I yelled as I plunged downward.

Regret.

But whats done is done.

The wind lashed at my face, stinging my eyes and pulling at my patchwork clothing.

The ground below rushed up to meet me—a mess of jagged rocks and debris that looked like death itself.

My heart pounded like a drum, but I grinned through the adrenaline.

I wasn't falling to my death.

No, this was for the hobgoblin.

I imagined its face when it saw me leap off the cliff. It must have been baffled.

But that was nothing compared to what was coming next.

As the wind howled in my ears, and I grinned, my blood pumping with a mix of excitement and confidence.

"Switch."

The word left my mouth, and just like before, the world rippled around me.

The hobgoblin's massive frame, still clutching the spear in its abdomen, swapped places with mine.

Suddenly, I was standing on solid ground again—where the hobgoblin once stood.

Meanwhile, the hobgoblin appeared mid-air, flailing as it plummeted toward the rocky abyss below.

The hobgoblin's scream pierced the air, a guttural roar that was equal parts rage and terror. It flailed helplessly, its muscular frame twisting as it tumbled.

Then came the thud.

The sound sickening and final.

RIP Hobgoblin number 1

A glowing notification blinked in front of me:

[You have killed a Hobgoblin Soldier, Rank E.]

[Level up]

I stared at the message for a moment, a wicked grin spreading across my face.

Power coursed through me, and for the first time, I felt like I had the upper hand in this brutal world.

I turned back to the chaos of the battlefield, my gaze scanning the remaining enemies.

The surviving hobgoblins were still tearing through my green brothers, but now they felt... less terrifying.

I raised my hands, cracking my knuckles as my grin widened.

"Time to pick Hobgoblin number 2"