Goliath POV:

  I ripped the golden mana bde out of the dead Death Knight's chest, splinters of its pristine dark pte breaking apart as blood spilled out with them. The corpse hit the ground just as a system notification rang out.

  "Attention: Pyer Lavapup has received the first title - Propheciesed Maiden. The world quest has been updated."

  I raised an eyebrow, letting the body fall completely still. The armor I'd bought not long ago cttered with every movement.

  Heavy.Grounding.Exactly the way I liked it.

  "A title?" I asked, gncing at the other members of the party.

  They just shrugged.

  "Figures," I muttered. "Things are gonna get chaotic from now on, it appears..."

  I let out a quiet huff, turned away, and didn't bother thinking about it any further.

  What happens is gonna happen. No point breaking my head over things I can't control.

  Behind me, the rest of the party started freaking out over the announcement-voices rising, questions flying, panic setting in. I ignored all of it and made my way toward the next lesser Death Knight instead.

  Focus mattered more.

  I pictured the weapon in my hand as golden mana bubbled up from my palm, liquid light swirling and shaping itself into a near-mastercrafted polearm.

  "Mana Give."

  The substance hardened instantly.

  I dug my feet into the ground and dashed forward, driving the weapon straight through the Death Knight's chest. The bde burst out from its back, radiant light spilling forward, making it look as if the creature had died in front of a setting sun.

  Then the corpse crumbled.

  And with it, the give shattered in my hands like fragile gss.

  The broken pieces dissolved as they fell, drizzling to the ground like a child had just spilled a handful of glitter.

  "Tch... still not strong enough,"I hissed, stretching my wrist as mana gathered again.

  "Mana Greatsword."

  A rge, bulky bde formed in my hands, crystallizing mid-air before its full weight crashed down into my grip. I wrapped both hands around the hilt and slowly lifted my head, eyes locking onto the remaining Death Knights still standing before me.

  They held their battle axes without fear, feet pnted firmly in the cursed soil of this godforsaken nd.

  Behind them, trees burned-some already reduced to charred husks. The remains of houses y scattered, and skeletons that once resembled humans littered the mud.

  "Creatures of darkness..."I growled."...don't deserve to live."

  I swung.

  The glow of the bde traced a golden arc through the air as the first of those vile creations was split cleanly in half.

  No hesitation.

  My next swing went straight for a skeleton archer drawing his bow.

  My feet pushed off the ground just as the arrow unched.

  I frowned slightly and raised the greatsword, blocking the projectile with the ft of the bde. Sparks burst outward as the arrow was deflected-

  -and just like the give before it, the greatsword splintered.

  "Tch. Their durability is ughable."

  I clenched my fist and drove it forward, smashing straight into the skull. Thick, moldy bone shattered on impact.

  "Hmpf. Breaks as fast as my bdes..."

  "Great work, Goliath!"

  A frail-looking blond elf holding a long wooden staff jogged up, one of the party members.

  "I always thought your whole 'I only use bdes' mentality was dumb," he added with a grin,"but damn... you're strong."

  I frowned. His arrogance bled through every word. Annoying.

  Still-He was strong.

  And strength deserved respect.

  "Of course," I replied ftly."That's because knights are simply superior."

  He rolled his eyes and tapped my shoulder without another word.

  I knew he thought I was a lunatic.Didn't matter.

  I watched the others scramble like loot goblins, grabbing every dropped resource before swarming the golden chest that manifested after the final wave.

  "And you sure you don't want any of the loot?"One of them asked, gold coins spilling through his fingers.

  I shook my head."No. I'm not interested. Like I said-the XP buff from being in a party is enough."

  He tilted his head like a confused dog, floppy ears wiggling.

  "Sure... whatever suits you best, mate."

  He shrugged and went back to looting.

  "...Party manager,"I sighed.

  I opened the blue window, clicked the red button, and didn't hesitate when the confirmation appeared.

  A short melody rang out.

  "You have left the party!"

  I closed my eyes and took a slow breath before turning away and walking into the dark, cursed wastend.

  None of them noticed.

  Of course not.

  To them, I was just a hired carry. Now that they had their loot, they didn't need me anymore.

  And that was fine.

  I liked helping newbies-making progression a little easier for them. That alone was enough.

  I smiled faintly as I looked toward the massive dark centipede looming on the horizon, its features swallowed by the reddish sun, leaving behind nothing but a towering silhouette.