Reis was beautiful, invincible, radiant, and peerless—or so she had once believed. But now, trapped in this nightmare, she felt anything but. These goblins, with their grotesque grins and filthy hands, had forced her into a life of unspeakable horrors. They had tried to make her consume things so vile that the mere memory made her stomach churn.
As one of the goblins slowly approached her, Reis crossed her arms, her face a mask of despair. Her mind screamed silently, pleading to anyone who might listen.
"Someone… anyone… please save me."
But deep down, she knew better. No one was coming. No one ever did.
"Help me," she whispered, her voice breaking. She didn't care who it was—human, elf, or even a demon. As long as they could end this torment, she would give herself to them without hesitation.
The goblin leered at her, its grotesque face twisting into a ferocious, lewd smile. "Useless," it sneered, its voice dripping with malice. "Even if you scream until your throat breaks, no one will come to save you."
Its tongue flicked out, licking its lips as it closed the distance between them. Reis shut her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable.
But then—
*Whoosh!*
A flash of steel cut through the air, silent and swift. The goblin's sneer froze mid-grin as its head toppled from its shoulders. Its body crumpled to the ground with a dull thud, lifeless.
Reis's eyes snapped open, her breath catching in her throat. Standing before her was a figure cloaked in shadow, a blade gleaming in their hand. The goblin's blood dripped from the edge of the sword, pooling on the ground.
The World Voice echoed in her mind, cold and mechanical:
*[Congratulations on killing an adult Goblin. Based on the effect of your skill "Prey," you have obtained the Goblin's talent: "Strength Enhancement (D)."]**
Reis stared at the fallen goblin, then at her savior. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of relief and disbelief flooding her senses. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, a flicker of hope ignited within her.