Countless predatory eyes fixed on Rosentine Arzen, her tattered clothes barely disguising her noble bearing.
"Hey," the one-eyed brute sneered. "I don't need to say much... just come out."
The leader, a twisted goblin with a scarred face, licked his lips. His voice oozed filth.
"Brother, I've been looking forward to this for a long time."
"Yeah!" another barked. "Bring your boy with you too!"
"Come watch us have fun with your mother!"
The jeers erupted into cruel laughter.
They hated Kaito — an outsider who had killed many of their kin. Blood ties meant little to goblins, but vengeance drove them now.
Kaito stood still, his head low. His fists clenched, fingernails biting into his palms. Insults aimed at him didn't matter. But his mother? That was different.
"You..."
Kaito moved forward, only for Rosentine to stop him with a firm grip on his arm.
"Mother?" Kaito's voice trembled with confusion.
"Stay here," Rosentine said, forcing a smile. "Trust me."
"Come back?" the one-eyed goblin laughed harshly. "You really think you'll walk away from this?"
"I'll make you beg for mercy before this is over," another sneered.
"I'll show you how we treat noble women like you," the old goblin chuckled darkly. "Don't worry, I've still got a few rounds in me."
"Shut your mouth," Kaito growled, stepping forward.
"Oh? What's that?" The old goblin grinned mockingly. "You want to die too?"
He rapped his gnarled staff on the stone floor. "We're following orders. If you interfere... well, let's just say we won't show mercy."
The staff struck the ground hard, sending echoes down the cavern's walls. "Think you can fight the whole nest?" the goblin sneered. "Your precious mother can't protect you forever."
The one-eyed goblin leered at Rosentine. "I'll take real good care of her." His grin widened as he glanced back at Kaito. "You'll hear her scream."
Kaito's head remained down. Rosentine, glancing back at him, sighed with relief. As long as he stayed quiet, he'd survive.
"Move faster!" the one-eyed goblin barked, losing patience. He reached to shove Rosentine forward.
Swish!
The goblin's arm tumbled to the floor, blood spraying across the stone. The shriek that followed echoed through the cavern.
"Ahhhhhh!"
The goblin crumpled to the ground, clutching his bleeding stump. Another flick of Kaito's dagger ended his cries.
"I won't let you touch her," Kaito growled, stepping over the corpse. His gaze burned with cold fury.
"You brat!" The old goblin snarled, staff raised as magic flickered along its length. "Fireball!"
Before the spell could take shape, steel flashed again — the goblin's hands fell away, severed at the wrists.
"What..." the old goblin stammered, his voice faltering.
Kaito grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground. Bones crunched, and the goblin's body twitched violently before going still.
[Congratulations on killing the goblin. Based on the effect of your skill "Predation," you have gained 1 point of strength.]
[Congratulations on killing the old goblin. Based on the effect of your skill "Predation," you have gained 1 point of magic power.]
[Congratulations on killing the old goblin. Based on the effect of your skill "Predation," you have gained the skill "Fireball."]