NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 21: Chapter 21 - Grind!
Sam stood firm, his eyes narrowing as the horde of goblins surged toward him. Their snarls and wild cries filled the air, but his expression remained calm, almost cold. He clenched his fist, channeling the immense power of Grandmist into his strike.
When the first goblin lunged, Sam's fist shot forward, traveling faster than the eye could follow.
CRACK!
The moment his fist struck the goblin's skin, something extraordinary happened. Sparks of pure energy ignited in the space between his knuckles and the creature's body, creating a volatile reaction.
"BOOM!"
A massive wave of energy erupted from the point of impact, consuming the goblin instantly. The explosion radiated outward, annihilating several goblins around it in a blinding flash of destructive power.
The ground trembled beneath Sam's feet as the explosion's shockwave rippled through the area. The goblins that had been advancing suddenly froze, their movements faltering as they stared in terror at the aftermath. Where their comrades had stood, there was now only a smoldering crater.
But fear didn't stop them for long. Driven by instinct or desperation, they resumed their charge, swarming toward the fist-wielding figure at the center of the destruction.
Sam's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Fine," he muttered, raising his fist again.
This time, he slammed his fist into the ground with all his might.
"BOOMMMMMMM!"
The impact triggered an explosion so immense it resembled a small nuclear blast. A blinding dome of light engulfed the area, the sheer heat and energy reducing everything in its radius to dust. Goblins, debris, and even the cobblestone street were obliterated, leaving nothing but a gaping void in the middle of the city.
When the light finally faded, only Sam stood in the epicenter of the destruction. The ground beneath him was unscathed, seemingly untouched by the heat and explosive force. Not a single speck of dust clung to his body, and the faint glow of Grandmist around him flickered ominously.
The silence that followed was absolute. The city, once teeming with goblins, was now eerily quiet.
Sam lowered his fist, his breathing steady, and surveyed the desolation around him. This power... It's more destructive than I expected.
He glanced toward the rift, which continued to pulse ominously.
Ding!
You have slain an enemy [Goblin: level 18]
You have slain an enemy [Goblin: level 13]
You have slain an enemy [Goblin: level 17]
...…
...…
...…
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have reached level 30]
[SOUL RECORD]
Name: Samuel Barlow
Race: Human / Heaven
Class: Unbound Initiate
Title: Lucky Man 9, Early Access, The First of Skill Wleider, Barrier Breaker,…]
Level: 30 [Tier 1]
[STATUS]
Strength: 33 +10[+80%]
Agility: 33 +10[+80%]
Vitality:33 +10[+80%]
Endurance: 33 +10[+80%]
Intelligence: 33 +10[+80%]
Wisdom: 32 +10[+80%]
Luck: 100 +10[+80%]
Grandmist: 10 +10[+80%]
Undistributed Stats: 5
[SKILLS]: Mental Ruler
[COMMON SKILLS]: language, mathematics, cooking, exercises,….Etc.
[TRAITS]: The Eye of Heaven, Unbound.
Sam smiled with satisfaction as he reflected on the past two days. Experimenting freely with Grandmist and Source of All Matter had transformed him into a living weapon of mass destruction.
On the first day, his sword—already worn from countless battles—finally gave out. At Level 25, the weapon couldn't withstand the pressure of his enhanced strength and shattered into two useless pieces. Forced to improvise, Sam picked up goblin weapons, but their crude craftsmanship didn't suit him. They felt clumsy in his hands, frustratingly ineffective.
That's when he decided to rely solely on his fists.
At first, he experimented with Source of All Matter to generate antimatter. He thought it might amplify his strikes. But the moment he created it, the antimatter collided with dust particles in the air, triggering a catastrophic explosion.
The blast was devastating. Sam lost both his arms and every shred of clothing, leaving him completely exposed and humiliated. Groaning in frustration, he quickly restored his arms using Source of All Matter and generated makeshift fabric to wrap around his body.
Shaken but undeterred, Sam vowed never to attempt antimatter again—not until he learned how to safely contain it.
His next experiment was more controlled. He created a small cloud of uranium particles, carefully manipulating them with his unique skill. Then, with precise mental focus, he commanded the particles to break themselves apart all at once.
The result? A devastating explosion.
While not as catastrophic as the antimatter incident, the blast was still powerful enough to knock him off his feet and scorch his surroundings. Once again, Sam found himself battered by his own creation.
Determined to master his abilities, Sam refined his approach. He began experimenting with directing the energy released by these atomic reactions. Using both his mental power and Source of All Matter, he worked tirelessly to control the destructive force, channeling it into precise strikes.
The result of his relentless efforts was a new skill: Atomic Fissure.
The power of the skill was unparalleled. Each strike unleashed an explosion that could obliterate anything in its path while leaving him unscathed. The system recognized his mastery, granting him not only the Mythic Skill but also a new title.
[Atomic Fissure
[Mythic Wielder]: You wield the power of Mythic skill when being below tier 4 - Increases the effectiveness of all skills by 20%
And….
[Apex Concentration
[Flash Step
His once-basic skills had evolved into something extraordinary.
Both skills had started as Battle Focus and Quick Step, but after channeling Grandmist into them during combat, they had transformed into their current forms.
Sam's mind raced with possibilities. So, Grandmist doesn't just fuel my power—it enhances the very nature of my abilities. This isn't just an evolution; it's a complete overhaul.
The theory began to form clearly in his mind: Any skill infused with Grandmist is strengthened to Legendary grade or higher.
But one thought lingered. This is still just a theory. I need to test it again on another skill to confirm.
Sam flexed his hands, feeling the raw energy coursing through him. His destructive power was now unparalleled, and with every experiment, he grew more confident in his ability to wield it.
"This is just the beginning," Sam murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
As Sam waited near the rift, his mind wandered. Why are they so late? he thought, frowning slightly. They should've been here already. It's been two and a half days.
His thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps echoing from the nearby city block. He stood up quickly, his gaze fixed in the direction of the noise. Moments later, Michael and the others emerged from the shadows, their weary but determined expressions visible under the faint red glow of the rift.
"They're here," Sam muttered to himself, a small sense of relief washing over him.
He walked toward them, raising a hand in greeting. "How are you all? What took so long?"
Michael sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry. I miscalculated how much time we'd need to recover stamina and tend to injuries. It ended up taking longer than expected."
Sam nodded, his expression neutral. "Fair enough. How's everyone holding up?"
Michael glanced at the group behind him, then back at Sam. "We didn't lose anyone, though we had some close calls. What about you? How have things been here? And... how many goblins have you taken down?"
Sam shrugged casually. "I lost count. Maybe a couple thousand? At first, they came out one by one. Easy to deal with. But once I cleared them all, they started emerging in waves. The first wave was around a hundred. The last wave?" He paused, his gaze shifting back toward the rift. "More than a thousand."
Michael's eyes widened slightly. "A thousand? And you handled that on your own?"
Sam smirked faintly. "I didn't have much of a choice. The good news is, I've figured out the timing. If I'm not wrong, the next wave should start in about two hours."
The group exchanged glances, the weight of Sam's words sinking in.
"Two hours, huh?" Michael said, taking a deep breath. "Then we'd better be ready. No mistakes this time."
Sam nodded, his tone steady. "Let's get into position and prepare. It's going to get even harder from here."
While discussing their next steps, Michael spoke up, his tone firm. "Let's wrap this up in one day. The group outside is waiting for us, and honestly... I don't want to stay here any longer."
Sam nodded. "Fair enough. I'm worried about my family too."
The plan they devised was straightforward: Sam would act as the tank, holding off the goblins and allowing the rest of the group to focus on grinding. He'd let around 300 goblins swarm at a time, giving the others ample opportunity to rack up kills and experience.
For an entire day, the group worked tirelessly, methodically hunting down goblins. By the end of it, they were more than just survivors—they were goblin slayers in truth, even if the system hadn't awarded them the title.
During a break, Sam took a moment to assess their progress. From the group chat, he learned that everyone had now reached Level 20 or higher. Even the two non-combatants, Maria and John, had unlocked their second skill options.
The discussion turned to the discoveries they'd made along the way. One particularly intriguing observation was the way skills interacted with different stats. Eddie and another group member had both selected the skill Quick Dash, yet its effects varied significantly depending on their energy stat.
Eddie, whose primary stat was Kinetic, displayed a silent, fluid movement with Quick Dash, like a breeze slipping past unnoticed. It was perfect for evasion or repositioning without drawing attention.
The other member, whose stat was Stamina, had an entirely different result. Their Quick Dash was explosive, generating a visible burst of force that created pressure on enemies nearby. It was far from subtle but excellent for creating openings in combat.
Sam stroked his chin thoughtfully, filing away this valuable information. So even the same skill can behave differently depending on the energy type that powers it. This could open up endless possibilities for skill synergies.
As the group prepared for the final push, Sam couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. They'd come a long way since the start of the trial, and their progress was undeniable.
As the group took a moment to recover and interact, the distant sound of snarling echoed through the area. Goblins began to emerge from the rift, their eyes gleaming with hostility.
"Gaarrrr!" one of them hissed, its guttural voice filling the air.
Sam couldn't help but smirk at the cocky goblin. Turning to his group, he spoke with a confident grin, "Let's kill some mop."
And just like that, the team grind began.