--

The Goblin Brute was a formidable opponent, but the team's combined strength was more than a match. Jingwei, now a silent, deadly blur, reappeared behind the brute, her dagger finding its mark. The brute let out a pained roar, and Lakan, his arcane shield shimmering, sent another Firebolt that scorched the brute's arm.

Jingwei uses Swift Strike. -10 MP. Damage dealt: 150 HP. Lakan uses Firebolt. -10 MP. Damage dealt: 50 HP. Goblin Brute's HP: 150/500.

The brute, now enraged, turned its attention to Lakan, but Apolaki used his Taunt to draw its attention back to him. The brute, a mindless force of nature, charged at Apolaki again, its spiked club raised high.

Apolaki uses Taunt. -5 MP.

Yun, seeing his opportunity, used his Swift Strike to finish the brute off. The brute's body, now lifeless, collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud.

Yun uses Swift Strike. -10 MP. Damage dealt: 150 HP. Goblin Brute's HP: 0/500.

A notification appeared on all their screens, a chorus of triumphant tones.

Quest Complete: Clear the Whispering Creek. You have been awarded 500 EXP, 50 Gold, and a new skill. All party members have reached Level 4.

The team, tired but victorious, sat down to rest. Nuwa used her Minor Heal to patch up everyone's wounds, and a sense of calm settled over them. They were no longer a group of five players; they were a team, and they had just completed their first quest together.

As they celebrated, a loud, guttural roar echoed from the back of the camp. The sound was more powerful than the brute's, and it was filled with a primal, malevolent rage. The ground trembled, and a new notification appeared on their screens.

Warning: The Goblin Chief has been alerted to your presence. Goblin Chief - Level 7

• HP: 800/800
• MP: 200/200

The team, now filled with a new-found resolve, looked at each other. Their journey had just begun.

---

End of Chapter 5 Details

New Monster

• Goblin Chief (Level 7): A massive, hulking goblin with an ornate armor and a powerful warhammer. He is the leader of the goblin camp and is a formidable opponent.
• * HP: 800
• * MP: 200
• 
  

Character Progression (Level 4)

• Yun (Vanguard)
• * HP: 1100/1100
• * MP: 520/520
• * Stats: STR: 15, DEX: 8, INT: 4, VIT: 13, LCK: 4
• * Skills:
•   * Active: Swift Strike, Iron Skin, Tactical Roll, Cleave (A powerful, arcing attack that hits multiple enemies in front of the user)
•   * Passive: Leadership Aura
• 
  
• Apolaki (Guardian)
• * HP: 1100/1100
• * MP: 220/220
• * Stats: STR: 14, DEX: 4, INT: 3, VIT: 19, LCK: 3
• * Skills:
•   * Active: Taunt, Shield Bash, Sentinel's Roar (A loud roar that taunts all enemies in a large radius)
•   * Passive: Fortress
• 
  
• Lakan (Elementalist)
• * HP: 550/550
• * MP: 1100/1100
• * Stats: STR: 2, DEX: 6, INT: 20, VIT: 7, LCK: 4
• * Skills:
•   * Active: Firebolt, Arcane Shield, Frost Nova (A spell that creates a freezing vortex, stunning all enemies in a small radius)
•   * Passive: Elemental Focus
• 
  
• Jingwei (Shadowdancer)
• * HP: 650/650
• * MP: 550/550
• * Stats: STR: 9, DEX: 15, INT: 4, VIT: 6, LCK: 10
• * Skills:
•   * Active: Shadow Step, Vanish, Puncture (A quick, single-target attack that inflicts a bleed effect)
•   * Passive: Shadow Veil
• 
  
• Nuwa (Priestess)
• * HP: 650/650
• * MP: 850/850
• * Stats: STR: 3, DEX: 6, INT: 15, VIT: 10, LCK: 12
• * Skills:
•   * Active: Minor Heal, Cleanse, Blessing of the Ancients (A powerful, single-target buff that increases the target's stats for a short time)
•   * Passive: Aura of Vitality, Divine Intervention (A passive that automatically casts a small heal on a party member when their HP drops below 20%)