After a while, their destination was in sight. Their exhilarating and horrifying adventure in the Ashen Land was drawing to a close.

Delilah was filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, she was happy for him as he was close to getting what he came here for, but on the other hand, she was sad that her time alone with Roy was coming to an end. Soon, he would be returning to his lovely wife while she would have to resume her role as his maid.

Just as they arrived at the door to the boss's dungeon, Roy was interrupted by a message from his system, causing him to stop abruptly.

『Ding! The condition to activate a quest has been met』

『Quest Name: Usurping a Fragmented World』

Objective: Obtain the Goblin's Grotto fragment by proving yourself worthy. You can prove yourself worthy of its ownership by completing the following tasks:

1: Eliminate all goblins within the dungeon (Incomplete)

2: Defeat the dungeon boss (incomplete)

Upon completion of these tasks, ownership of the fragment will be granted to you. You can carry it around with you wherever you like, but you can't gift it away.

Reward: Dungeon Escape Talisman.

pǎпdǎ Йᴏνê1,сòМ The Dungeon Escape Talisman was a highly sought-after object that provided a way out of a dungeon without the need to complete it. Its rarity was comparable to that of a phoenix feather, as there were very few items in the Far West Continent that could accomplish the same feat. This made the talisman a truly impressive item, and its worth was considered incalculable.

Roy could become a celebrity by putting it up for auction, but he had no intention of doing it. He wanted to keep it for himself.

Delilah let out a deep sigh as they arrived at their destination.

"We've made it," she said, with a hint of exhaustion in her voice.

"Let's get this over with," he said, eager to begin the boss fight.

With a deep breath, Roy lifted his leg and positioned it for the decisive strike.

Bam!

He felt the weight of his boot as it connected with the door of the boss's chamber, the impact resonating down the hall and reverberating through the stones. The forceful blow sent the door flying open, announcing his arrival to all within earshot.

As he stepped inside, his eyes were immediately drawn to the grotesque hobgoblin perched on a throne of jagged rocks at the center of the room.

Its beady eyes glinted with malevolence as it stared him down, and its gnarled teeth were bared in a vicious grin. Surrounding the hobgoblin were a group of its henchmen, each one armed to the teeth and ready for battle.

"Aaarrrgggh!"

The hobgoblin let out a guttural cry, its command sending a wave of bloodlust through the goblin warriors at its feet. The effect of its cry was obvious as the goblin warriors became bigger and more robust. Their strength has increased, and they have entered a berserk state.

They drew their swords and short knives, charging towards Roy with a fervor born of a lifetime of violence.

Roy looked calm and composed as he swung his hand forward, channeling the strands of black aura lightning within his blood vessels into bolts of thundering power that discharged from his palm and rained down on the incoming enemies.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The black lightning bolts struck their targets with the fury of a Thunder God. The resulting explosion was deafening and left a terrifying aftermath in its wake. The reddish goblin warriors disintegrated in a shower of blood and gore, their bodies torn apart by the devastating force of Roy's attack. They didn't even have the chance to let out a scream before they were silenced forever.

『Ding! Congratulations on killing seven semi-evolved goblins』

『You have gained 700 EXP points』

The two goblin mages in the chamber brandished their staffs with nefarious intent. Their staffs were held in the air as they chanted in a devilish language. As a result, specks of blue light released from the tip of their staffs and gathered in a single point to form a formidable force. The air crackled with energy as the spell began to take shape.

The Hobgoblin looked on eagerly, anticipating the destructive power about to be unleashed. It should be enough to take down the intruder. But fate had other plans.

The group of monsters was still not aware that there were not one but two invaders!

Delilah rushed out from behind Roy before she activated her teleportation ability. She appeared behind one of the mages, her dagger flashing in the dim light menacingly.

Die!

With a swift, expertly aimed thrust, she plunged the weapon deep into the creature's skull.

Puchi!

As the dagger went into its skull, it elicited a sickening squelch that was picked up by the hobgoblin. The goblin mage's lifeless body was yet to crumple to the ground when the hobgoblin turned to face the source of the sound.

What it saw left it enraged!

The beastly creature lunged at her, his massive fist swinging in a wide arc. She had no time to withdraw her dagger. She left it embedded in the goblin mage's brain as she teleported away, dodging the fists of the Hobgoblin that raised wind.

A moment later, she reappeared just behind the other goblin mage, who was still engrossed in his spellcasting.

Without wasting a single moment, she used her ability to manifest another dagger and thrust it into the creature's back. The blade found its mark with deadly accuracy, and the last remaining goblin mage fell to the ground with a final gasp.

Roy's ears were instantly filled with the electrifying sound of the system's notification.

『Ding! Congratulation! Your subordinate "Delilah" has killed two Dark Goblin Mages.』

『She has gained 2000 experience points. They are stored in the array that is fused with her soul.』

『You can take a portion of her experience point if you like. It would only need a thought to do so.』

『Ding! Congratulation. The first task of the quest has been completed!』

Delilah did the hard work, but he was the one that got closer to reaping the ultimate benefit!