TREVOR KING AND SYSTEM MISADVENTURES

Chapter 4: Goblins, Frying Pans, and the Unexpected Rescue

Trevor trudged through the dense forest, his frying pan in one hand and Sir Clucksalot perched precariously on his shoulder. The Pyrocluck had been surprisingly quiet ever since Trevor decided to take on the goblin quest.

“I’m starting to think I’ve made a huge mistake,” Trevor muttered, eyeing the thick underbrush around him. “There’s no way a frying pan is going to help me take down goblins.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” GL1TCH buzzed from his pocket. “Goblins are weak. A well-timed frying pan swing and you’ll be fine. Trust me, it’s all about timing!”

“Right,” Trevor said dryly, glancing down at Sir Clucksalot, who let out a low, annoyed cluck. “What do you think, Clucksalot? Are you ready to save me from a horde of goblins with your firebreathing chicken powers?”

Sir Clucksalot pecked at Trevor’s ear in response.

“Yeah, that’s encouraging,” Trevor sighed.

A rustle in the bushes ahead caught Trevor’s attention. He froze, gripping his frying pan tighter. The sound grew louder, then suddenly—out of the shadows—four goblins leaped out at him with grins plastered across their green faces. They were small, scrappy creatures, each wielding a jagged knife or a wooden club.

“Uh oh,” Trevor muttered. “Okay, here goes nothing.”

The first goblin lunged at him, but Trevor was ready. He swung his frying pan with all the strength he could muster, connecting with the goblin’s head. The creature was sent flying into a nearby tree with a resounding thud.

Critical Hit! Goblin Defeated.

“Hey, that actually worked!” Trevor blinked.

“See? I told you!” GL1TCH cheered. “Now, finish the rest of them!”

Trevor barely had time to register the victory when another goblin rushed him from the side. He swung the pan again, but this time the goblin ducked and slashed at his arm. Trevor yelped, stepping back as pain shot through his shoulder.

“Okay, that wasn’t part of the plan!” he groaned. “Sir Clucksalot, do something!”

The Pyrocluck ruffled its feathers and, with a determined cluck, flapped its wings—sending a small burst of flame directly into the second goblin’s face.

The goblin screamed in terror as it ran in circles, trying to put out the fire.

Critical Hit! Goblin Defeated.

Trevor gaped. “Wait... did Clucksalot just save me?”

Sir Clucksalot puffed out its chest proudly.

“Okay, now I’m really starting to get used to this,” Trevor said, a grin tugging at his lips.

He spun around just in time to face the third goblin, who was charging at him. This time, Trevor didn’t wait for it to get too close. With one smooth swing, he smacked the goblin across the face with the frying pan. The goblin crumpled to the ground.

Critical Hit! Goblin Defeated.

Trevor exhaled, looking around for the final goblin.

“That’s three down,” he said, catching his breath. “One to go.”

Before he could react, the last goblin appeared, sneaking up behind him with a jagged blade raised. Trevor spun around, but the goblin was too quick—it slashed at him again, this time catching him across the back.

He hissed in pain and staggered back, clutching the wound.

“Not good,” Trevor muttered, trying to stay on his feet. “Clucksalot, where are you?”

The Pyrocluck seemed to sense his distress. It let out an aggressive squawk and lunged at the final goblin, pecking at its face with alarming speed.

The goblin screamed, swiping its knife at the chicken. Sir Clucksalot dodged and retaliated with a burst of fire so intense it nearly set the goblin’s tunic ablaze.

Critical Hit! Goblin Defeated.

Trevor collapsed to the ground, clutching his back as the final goblin fell. “You’re a lifesaver, Clucksalot,” he wheezed.

Sir Clucksalot strutted over to him, pecking at the ground like nothing had happened.

“You really did it,” Trevor said, half-laughing, half-crying in disbelief. “We just took out an entire goblin squad with a frying pan and a fire-breathing chicken.”

GL1TCH piped up. “See? You totally got this.”

Trevor blinked and smiled, despite the pain. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep up with this madness.”

He reached into his inventory for a healing potion and winced as he uncorked it. The potion was a disappointing shade of green but, to his surprise, it actually worked, easing the pain in his back and healing the slash.

"Alright, I'm not dying yet," Trevor muttered. "What now, GL1TCH?"

“Now you collect your loot!” GL1TCH said, buzzing excitedly.

Trevor groaned but stood up anyway, walking over to the defeated goblins. As he looted their bodies (which was mostly just some poorly made daggers and tattered clothes), he found something unexpected: a small, glowing crystal tucked inside the final goblin’s pocket.

“What’s this?” Trevor asked, picking it up. The crystal hummed with energy.

“That’s a mana crystal!” GL1TCH said. “You can use it to refill your magical energy. Very rare and very useful.”

“Great,” Trevor said, slipping it into his bag. “Another magical thing I don’t know how to use. So, are we done here?”

“Not quite!” GL1TCH said. “You still need to return to town to collect your reward.”

Trevor groaned. “I swear, if they try to take Sir Clucksalot again, I’m setting the whole town on fire.”

Sir Clucksalot let out a defiant cluck, as if agreeing with Trevor’s threat.

“Alright, let’s get back to the inn,” Trevor said, feeling strangely proud of his fiery little companion. “And hopefully, we can rest for five minutes without some ridiculous quest popping up.”

As they made their way back, Trevor couldn’t help but wonder what kind of world he had stumbled into. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t boring.

But then again, he thought with a sigh, when had his life ever been simple?