CHAPTER 70: RED GOBLINS

"It’s time to hunt for monsters! Give me your full cooperation. Let’s smash everything!" Nero suggested with a smile, the prospect of claiming the first place too enticing to ignore. Beyond the prize, the exhilarating feeling of staying at the top was irresistible. This was a team mission, not a solo endeavor, which meant relying on each other was essential; otherwise, the mission would lose its meaning. Sometimes, cooperation was the key to achieving greater things.

By asking for Khione’s full cooperation, he acknowledged her strength. Nero believed she would give her all, especially because of a certain someone fueling her determination.

"Having been beaten to first place last time, there’s no way she wouldn’t aim for the top spot now," he thought, and this assumption was spot on.

"Let’s teach that bitch a lesson," Khione’s eyes gleamed dangerously, a sadistic glint flashing through them as a rare smile graced her lips—something she rarely showed.

Nero hadn’t expected her reaction to be this intense; he raised an eyebrow as he looked at her.

"What?" she asked, tilting her head to the side, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Your reaction surprised me, that’s all," Nero replied candidly.

"Well, making that bitch’s life harder is too fun to miss. It’s time for some payback," she responded with a sinister grin, causing Nero to chuckle.

"She’s a sadist just like Elreth," he mused to himself, impressed by her fierce resolve.

With renewed energy, the duo moved deeper into the forest, ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.

Nero spread his Divine Sense, creating a 3D map of the surroundings in his mind. Within moments, he was able to pinpoint several monsters not too far away.

"120 meters south of our current position," he shared, and Khione nodded, not prying into how he acquired such knowledge. Everyone had their secrets, and it would be unwise to delve into them.

The duo moved south, and soon they arrived at their destination. In the distance, seven monsters stood gathered, seemingly engaged in conversation.

"Red Goblins, huh!" Nero quickly identified them. While they were low-level monsters, they were stronger than your average goblin.

Unlike typical goblins, Red Goblins were taller, more robust, and decidedly more cunning. They possessed a deeper red hue to their skin, which made them stand out against the forest backdrop. Their features were sharper, with elongated ears and menacing grins that hinted at their mischievous nature. Equipped with crude weapons and a knack for ambush tactics, Red Goblins were known for their cleverness in battle, often working together to outsmart their opponents. Though not overly powerful individually, their strength lay in their numbers and their ability to coordinate attacks, making them a formidable threat in groups.

"Gyah!" The Red Goblins let out a battle cry upon spotting the duo and immediately charged at them. However, they were not reckless in their approach; using their cunning, they attempted to circle around, with some charging head-on while others planned to ambush from behind.

Nero and Khione exchanged a glance, communicating silently through their eyes.

’You take three trying to ambush us from the back, and I’ll handle the four up front.’

Khione nodded; it was a solid plan.

Facing such low-level monsters, she felt no need to use her wand. It was only against more formidable foes that she would require its assistance; monsters like these were easily manageable with her skills.

Nero unsheathed his sword, a thin layer of heat enveloping the blade to enhance its sharpness. With a powerful kick against the ground, he vanished, reappearing between two Red Goblins who swung their clubs, aiming to crush his skull. He moved with such agility that he left afterimages in his wake. In an instant, he swung his sword, bisecting the goblin on the right. Without missing a beat, he twisted his body and decapitated the second one, the blade slicing cleanly through flesh. As a third Red Goblin lunged at him, he sidestepped effortlessly, avoiding the creature’s slash and countering with a quick thrust that sent it sprawling to the ground.

Meanwhile, Khione focused on the three Red Goblins trying to ambush them from behind. She raised her hands, summoning her icy powers. The air around her cooled rapidly, and shards of ice began to form in her palms, taking shape as sharp arrows.

With a flick of her wrist, she launched the Ice Arrows toward the approaching goblins. They struck with precision, embedding themselves into the ground and creating a slick surface that forced the goblins to slip and stumble. Khione watched with a hint of amusement as they struggled to regain their balance, their expressions morphing from confidence to panic.

Realizing they were in trouble, the goblins tried to regroup, but Khione was quick to act. She conjured more Ice Arrows, this time aiming with a deliberate slowness that toyed with their anticipation. As they scrambled to their feet, she let loose a volley of arrows, each one finding its mark. The first arrow pierced through the shoulder of one goblin, while another struck a second one in the thigh, immobilizing it.

With a sadistic grin, Khione continued to play with them, creating barriers of ice that trapped their movements and left them vulnerable. The remaining goblins, now desperate and frightened, attempted to flee, but it was too late. With a final wave of her hand, Khione sent forth a barrage of Ice Arrows, striking down the last of the three before they could escape.

As the icy remnants of her attack settled around her, Khione turned to see Nero dispatching the final Red Goblin with ease. Together, they stood victorious, the forest echoing with the silence of their fallen foes.

Because they woke as a team the score was displayed equally. A Red goblin is equal to two points therefore they earned 14pts.

Looking at each other in the eyes, they saw the same thing, the desire to go on rampage, toy and slaughter the monsters.

’’Let’s head deeper.’’ Nero immediately moved deeper into the ancient forest.