The combat power enhancement from physical attributes was far from a simple 1+1=2 equation.

To give an example, an adult facing two children whose combined strength equals his own would undoubtedly achieve one-sided domination.

The gap between that mutated goblin and Larry's group was comparable to this scenario, if not greater.

Lin Mo turned his head at precisely the right moment—just in time to see a spiked club, moving with unstoppable momentum, shatter Renn's worn sword before crushing his ribcage immediately after.

Even from a distance, one could clearly see his chest cave inward, collapsing helplessly into broken fragments.

The anger on Renn's face froze in that instant, replaced briefly by blank shock.

Blood gushed from his mouth like an unstoppable fountain as the tremendous force sent his body flying backward, slamming heavily against a tree.

The young man's body slid slowly to the ground. His final gaze fell upon the girl lying nearby, struggling to crawl toward him. He saw her mouth open in a scream, her face twisted in anguish; he saw glistening tears trailing down her cheeks, shimmering like rippling light under the sun piercing through the trees.

But he could no longer hear her voice. His world seemed to fall into silence, everything fading into tranquility.

"Ph..."

At the very end, he strained to open his mouth, but the name he couldn't utter became a regret he could never mend.

The girl's grief became a cruel melody on the battlefield.

As for the other two?

They had already fled a hundred or two hundred meters away!

The moment Lin Mo turned to deal with the goblins, those two had halted their charge and bolted without a backward glance.

"Damn it..."

Though Lin Mo had anticipated this possibility, he hadn't expected them to betray so decisively.

He quickly ducked into the bushes, distancing himself from the battlefield to avoid becoming the next target.

The mutated goblin didn't seem to focus on him either, instead locking its gaze on the two fleeing figures. Its lips curled into a cruel smile.

In the next moment, the agile creature broke into a sprint, visibly closing the distance. When only tens of meters remained, it hurled its spiked club with savage force. The weapon flew like a swift shadow, striking Larry squarely in the left leg.

"Ahhh—!"

A scream erupted as Larry's left leg twisted at a grotesque angle. He collapsed, howling in agony, but no amount of writhing could alleviate the excruciating pain.

"Larry!"

Leo beside him jolted in shock, his steps faltering briefly.

Sweat-drenched and desperate, Larry turned tearful eyes toward Leo.

"Leo, help me!"

Leo hesitated for less than half a second before his expression twisted into a cold smirk. Instead of stopping, he accelerated, calling over his shoulder, "I can't save you, Larry."

As if struck by a delightful thought, his face lit up with excitement. "But don't worry—I'll take good care of Juliana for you. And your eldest daughter too... hah, she'll be of age in a few years..."

Ever since losing Juliana to Larry, Leo had secretly nurtured this resentment. Only Juliana's presence had forced him to maintain superficial civility.

But now, everything had changed. Larry was going to die!

Once he returned to town, Juliana, left without support, would have no choice but to rely on him. And then—

"W-wait, Leo!"

Gritting his teeth, Larry pulled the goblin's severed ear from his pocket and flung it with all his remaining strength.

"Take this with you."

He looked at Leo with sorrow. "I've always known... you never let it go. But remember? When we were kids, the three of us would play together in town... how we saved for ages just to buy one freshly baked meat pie..." Tears streamed down his face. "Leo, my brother... you were always my closest friend."

His voice cracked. "I won't blame you. So take it. And like you said—take care of Juliana!"

For a fleeting moment, Leo's expression wavered. He glanced at the goblin ear lying barely ten meters away, then at the mutated goblin, which seemed content with its current prey and in no hurry to pursue.

Supporting two—no, three—women would require substantial funds.

Greed overpowered caution. He turned and dashed forward, snatching up the ear.

"Thank you, Larry. I won't forget your kindness—"

As he spoke, a silvery glint suddenly flashed in his vision. A thrown dagger pierced his thigh before he could react.

The pain dropped him to his knees. Rage contorted his face as he glared ahead.

"Larry!!"

"Hahahaha—!"

Larry laughed maniacally, his twisted face a mask of madness. "Serves you right, Leo! If I die, you're not leaving either!"

The mutated goblin finally sauntered over at its leisure, retrieving its club from the ground.

*THUD—!*

The heavy weapon landed mere centimeters from Larry's skull.

The hulking creature paused, in no rush to finish them. Instead, it watched the two with mocking eyes.

"Pathetic... little... insects..."

As a hybrid of goblin and human, its intelligence was mediocre—only notable among its own kind. Yet even it could recognize the depravity on display.

Not even goblins stabbed their own in the back.

But these so-called "intelligent" humans? Such acts were commonplace.

Of course, this worked to its advantage. Saved it the trouble of chasing them down.

In its eyes, these insignificant bugs never stood a chance of escape. Their pathetic scrambling only added spice to the hunt.

This was the Roland Forest—goblin territory. Humans who dared trespass would pay the price.

Including that little bug hiding in the shadows...

Once it finished with these two old men, he'd be next!

The brawny mutated goblin toyed with its club, eyeing the crippled Larry with amusement.

"Little insect... Zaton will... play with you slowly..."

With that, it raised the club high and brought it down with brutal force.

"AAAAHHHH—!!!"

Larry's bloodcurdling scream echoed as the club smashed his intact right leg, shattering the bones effortlessly.

"N-no... please... I don't want to die... spare me..."

The agony jolted him from vengeful triumph back to raw terror. He clawed at the dirt, desperately trying to drag himself forward—as if a few centimeters could free him from the monster, from this nightmare.

"HAHAHAHA—"

The creature roared with laughter, methodically crushing his bones with each swing of its weapon.