They didn't rest—not after the first fight, not after the second. Something had shifted between them, quietly but completely. The hesitation that once slowed their movements had vanished, replaced by something sharper, colder. Purpose had taken its place. Arin moved ahead without a second glance at the fallen bodies, his steps steady, his focus already elsewhere. Kael followed, though his gaze lingered for just a moment before he forced himself to look away. It wasn't guilt anymore—not exactly. Just awareness. They were crossing a line, and neither of them intended to step back.
The forest thickened the deeper they went. Twisted trees grew closer together, their branches tangling overhead and swallowing what little light remained. Shadows stretched across the uneven ground, shifting with the faint wind that carried distant, unnatural sounds. The air felt heavier here, quieter in a way that made every movement seem louder than it should have been.
Kael adjusted the greatsword resting against his shoulder, glancing sideways at Arin. "…So we just keep going until we hit a hundred?"
Arin didn't slow. "…No."
Kael frowned slightly. "…No?"
"We adapt," Arin said calmly. "Numbers will come with efficiency."
It made sense. Annoyingly so.
Kael exhaled through his nose. "…Right. So smarter hunting."
"Controlled hunting."
They fell into silence after that, their pace slowing as their movements became more deliberate. They weren't rushing anymore. They were learning—tracking, listening, reading the environment as much as the enemy. Every step was measured, every breath controlled.
A faint rustle broke the quiet somewhere to their right.
Arin stopped instantly.
Kael froze beside him.
Both of them turned toward the sound, their bodies lowering slightly as their senses sharpened. For a brief moment, the forest seemed to hold its breath—
Then movement emerged from between the trees.
Three goblins.
A smaller group.
Perfect.
Arin didn't speak. He didn't need to.
Kael stepped forward just enough to enter their line of sight, drawing attention without overcommitting. The goblins reacted immediately, their heads snapping toward him as a harsh screech split the silence. They charged without hesitation.
Predictable.
Kael held his ground.
Waiting.
Timing.
The moment the first goblin reached him, he moved—a single step forward, a clean swing. The greatsword cut through it with decisive force, dropping it before it could even comprehend what had happened. The second lunged, claws reaching—but Arin was already behind it.
A flicker.
A distortion.
Then steel met flesh.
The goblin's throat opened in a single, precise motion, its body collapsing without resistance.
The third hesitated.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Fear.
It turned, attempting to flee—but Kael didn't let it. He lunged forward, closing the distance in two quick steps before bringing the greatsword down with crushing force.
Silence returned.
Three more bodies.
Gone.
Kael exhaled slowly, adjusting his grip as a faint grin formed. "…Yeah. This is working."
Arin stepped forward, already scanning the surroundings. "…It's efficient."
Kael shot him a look. "You ever get tired of saying things like that?"
Arin didn't answer.
Because it wasn't a joke.
They moved deeper into the forest.
Time lost its meaning there. It wasn't measured in minutes or hours, but in encounters, in kills, in the steady rhythm of survival. As they advanced, the goblins began to change—not stronger, not yet, but more cautious. Less reckless. More aware.
Which made them more dangerous.
At one point, a group of four didn't rush immediately. Instead, they spread out, circling, their movements slower, more deliberate.
Kael noticed it first. "…These ones are thinking."
Arin gave a small nod. "…Then we adjust."
He vanished without warning, reappearing behind the furthest goblin and eliminating it instantly. The formation broke immediately. Kael stepped in, sweeping his greatsword wide and forcing the remaining goblins to retreat rather than attack. Their coordination collapsed under pressure, and within seconds, it was over.
Again.
Kael exhaled, heavier this time. "…They're getting smarter."
Arin didn't deny it. "…So do we."
That was the difference.
The count continued to rise. Twenty. Thirty. Forty. Each fight grew cleaner, sharper. Their coordination required no words now, their movements aligning naturally. Kael no longer hesitated between strikes, his body moving with instinctive precision. Arin's blink became more refined, used not only for killing but for positioning, control, and disruption.
They weren't just fighting.
They were evolving.
Then—
Something changed.
Kael's gaze caught movement ahead, and his expression shifted slightly. "…That one… looks different."
Arin followed his line of sight.
A goblin, unlike the others.
It wore crude armor, pieced together from scraps and bone, moving with a purpose the others lacked.
Kael tightened his grip, already stepping forward. "…Let's take it—"
Arin stopped him with a single hand.
"…Wait."
Kael frowned. "…What?"
Arin's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the goblin's movement. "…It's going somewhere."
A pause.
"…We follow."
Kael hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "…Yeah… alright."
They moved quietly, keeping their distance as they tracked the armored goblin deeper into the forest. The terrain shifted again, the trees growing denser, the air heavier. The goblin didn't look back. It didn't need to.
It knew where it was going.
And eventually—
They saw it.
A camp.
A goblin camp.
It stretched across a clearing, crudely constructed yet undeniably organized. Barricades made of bones and sharpened sticks surrounded it, stained dark with dried blood. Watchtowers rose above the perimeter, where goblins stood armed with bows, scanning the forest with unsettling awareness.
Kael's eyes widened slightly. "…That's… not small."
Arin didn't respond immediately.
He was counting.
Estimating.
Analyzing.
Kael pointed toward a cliff overlooking the camp. "…There. If we go up there, we can see everything."
Arin nodded once.
They circled wide, avoiding detection as they made their way toward the elevated ground. The climb was quiet, controlled, each step placed carefully until they finally reached the top.
And from there—
They saw it all.
The camp was larger than expected.
Far larger.
At least five hundred goblins moved within the barricades, their presence turning the clearing into something closer to a living organism than a simple encampment. At the center stood a large tent, heavily guarded, its presence alone marking it as something important.
Then—
Movement.
The tent opened.
And something stepped out.
It was massive—easily seven feet tall, its body broader, denser, its presence overwhelming even from a distance. Its mouth hung slightly open, revealing jagged teeth more beast than humanoid.
Kael stared. "…Holy shit…"
A pause.
"…How are we supposed to deal with that?"
Arin didn't answer immediately.
His eyes remained fixed on the camp, scanning, calculating, breaking everything down into pieces.
Paths.
Weak points.
Possibilities.
Then—
"…Now," he said quietly, "…is the time to use my ability."
Kael's eyes lit up instantly, all hesitation replaced by anticipation. "…Finally."
A grin spread across his face. "…I've been waiting to see this."
Arin didn't look at him.
His focus remained on the camp below.
Because this—
Wasn't just a fight anymore.
It was a problem.
And problems—
Had solutions.
Mission Update
Fourth Mission: Goblin Kill Count — 52 / 100
The hunt had just become something else entirely.