CHAPTER 67: THE GOBLIN RAID [PART 3]

The remaining goblins pressed closer, their crude weapons gleaming in the flickering light. But as Lucien cut down another green goblin with a swift diagonal slash, he noticed something that made his blood run cold.

The red goblins weren’t attacking.

They hung back, their beady eyes fixed on him with an intelligence that sent warning bells through his mind. One of them—larger than the others, with scars crisscrossing its crimson hide—tilted its head and made a series of sharp clicks and guttural sounds.

The other red goblins responded immediately, spreading out in a coordinated formation.

’...Uh?’

Lucien’s grip tightened on his swords as the scarred red goblin pointed directly at him and barked what could only be orders.

The green goblins suddenly changed their attack pattern—instead of the wild, frenzied assault from before, they began attacking in waves, forcing Lucien to move in predictable patterns.

"Adrian!"

Lucien called out, spinning to deflect a coordinated strike from three goblins.

"Something’s changed!"

An arrow whistled past his ear, dropping a goblin that had been flanking him.

"I see it too! They’re herding you!"

The scarred red goblin raised its weapon—a crude but wickedly sharp axe—and let out a piercing shriek. Instantly, the green goblins began a suicidal charge, not trying to kill Lucien but forcing him to burn through his stamina with constant movement and blocks.

Lucien’s eyes widened behind his mask.

’They’re studying my combat rhythm. Every time I dodge left, every time I favor the reverse grip...’

A green goblin lunged at his legs while another struck high. As Lucien leaped and spun to avoid both attacks—his signature evasive maneuver—three red goblins suddenly burst from concealment behind fallen bodies.

They had been waiting.

The first red goblin’s spear thrust exactly where Lucien would land. Only his enhanced perception and [Predator’s Instinct] screaming warnings allowed him to twist mid-air, the spear point grazing the side of his armor.

[You have received 3 damage]

The second red goblin was already swinging a spiked club in a wide arc, anticipating his dodge. Lucien brought both swords up in a desperate cross-block, the impact sending shockwaves through his arms.

The third red goblin came from below, a curved dagger aimed at his hamstring—the exact spot he’d been favoring to push off from.

’How did they—’

Lucien drove his knee upward, catching the dagger-wielder in the face, but the coordinated assault had shattered his fluid rhythm. He stumbled as he landed, immediately rolling to avoid the axe of the scarred leader that cleaved the air where his head had been.

"They’re adapting to your fighting style!"

Adrian’s voice was tight with alarm. Thorned vines erupted around Lucien, buying him precious seconds to reposition.

The scarred red goblin studied the vines for a moment, then made more clicking sounds. Two red goblins immediately began hacking at the vegetation with systematic precision while the others kept their eyes locked on Lucien.

A forced smile spreaded on Lucien’s pale face behind the mask. His heart was beating fast with joy.

’These things... They are learning and adapting... it’s awesome. Amazing! What the hell?! Monsters are so cool!’

Lucien wiped blood from a shallow cut on his neck. The red goblins had formed a loose semicircle, cutting off his escape routes while leaving the inner cave entrance behind them. The green goblins had stopped their mindless charges and now moved with purpose, responding to the reds’ commands.

The scarred leader pointed at Lucien’s left shoulder—the one he’d been unconsciously favoring after the club impact. Immediately, three goblins shifted to attack that side.

"Adrian, can you—"

"Already on it!"

A barrage of arrows forced the goblins to scatter, but Lucien noticed they regrouped faster than before, their movements becoming more coordinated with each exchange.

The scarred red goblin raised its axe and let out a different call—longer, more complex. The response was immediate and terrifying.

The remaining red goblins began moving in perfect synchronization, their attacks complementing each other with mechanical precision. One would strike high while another swept low. When Lucien dodged left, another would be waiting. When he parried right, a third would attack from behind.

It was like fighting a single, multi-armed opponent.

Lucien’s breathing grew heavier as he was forced into an increasingly defensive stance. His superior speed meant nothing if they could predict where he’d move. His strength advantage was neutralized by their coordinated blocks and counters.

A red goblin’s mace crashed into his sword arm, sending lightning bolts of pain up to his shoulder. Another’s spear tip drew a line of fire across his thigh. The cuts weren’t deep, but they were accumulating.

[You have received 2 damage]

[You have received 1 damage]

’They’re wearing me down systematically. How is this possible? It’s so... inspiring.’

The scarred leader had been observing the entire fight, its intelligent eyes tracking every technique, every preference, every weakness. Now it stepped forward, and Lucien felt his blood freeze.

The creature moved with fluid grace that rivaled his own, its scarred hide telling the story of countless battles survived. In its clawed hands, the crude axe looked almost elegant.

"Lucien!"

Adrian’s voice cracked with strain.

"There’s something else coming from the cave!"

Through the chaos of battle, Lucien caught a glimpse of the cave entrance. More red goblins were emerging, but these were different—larger, wearing crude armor, carrying weapons that looked far too sophisticated for goblins.

The scarred leader raised its axe and smiled—actually smiled—revealing rows of sharp, yellowed teeth.

Then it spoke.

Not in clicks or grunts, but in broken, heavily accented human speech:

"You... fight... good. But you... fight... like... human."

The axe came down in a perfect arc, aimed not at where Lucien was, but exactly where his analytical mind would tell him to dodge.

Again, Lucien was reminded what fear sounded like. He felt cold dread run down his back.

The scarred leader’s axe whistled through the air, and Lucien barely twisted away, feeling the wind of the blade against his neck. But as he spun to counter-attack, two red goblins flanked him with perfect timing, their weapons crossing in an X-pattern that would have gutted him if he’d completed his strike.

"Shit!"

Lucien abandoned his attack and rolled backward, right into the waiting spear of another red goblin.

[Predator’s Instinct has detected a killing intent]

As the warning came just in time, he arched his back impossibly, the spear point scraping across his chest armor and drawing sparks.

[You have received 2 damage]

"Adrian, now would be good!"

Lucien called out, parrying desperately as three more red goblins closed in.

A volley of arrows whistled overhead, but instead of the usual chaos, the red goblins moved with eerie coordination. Two raised crude shields while the third rolled beneath the arrow fire, coming up in a perfect striking position.

"They’re adapting to my archery too!"

Adrian’s voice held a note of panic.

"Every shot I take, they’re learning to counter!"

The scarred leader clicked its tongue—a sound that sent chills down Lucien’s spine. Immediately, half the red goblins turned their attention toward Adrian’s position.