ebookland Chapter 78 Goblins
Chapter 78 Goblins
After Ethan and Emily efficiently dealt with the remaining monsters, we continued deeper into the dungeon. However, our progress was quickly interrupted by a piercing scream, the sound of which seemed very close.
giggle!
As a skilled ranger, my instincts should have detected any nearby threats, but this scream seemed to appear out of nowhere, making me uneasy.
'It was so close, yet I couldn't sense it. What's going on?' I wondered, trying to understand the mysterious nature of the scream.
Anya, with her greater experience, offered a somewhat different explanation. "There's a goblin tribe nearby. The sound is just an illusion, used to scare away any monsters that approach."
"Is he a goblin shaman?" I asked curiously.
“Yes. Only they can cast such magic,” Anya confirmed.
Realizing it was illusion magic, I breathed a slight sigh of relief. 'I see. If it was illusion magic, then that explains why I didn't feel any pressure; there wasn't anything powerful nearby to begin with.'
In fact, I know about goblin shamans and the monsters in the tribe. But this is the first time I've heard of goblin shamans using illusion magic to create this situation. It's not mentioned in the game.
What rank is a Goblin Shaman?
"It depends on the situation. But since they are a tribe, they should be low-level Tier 3 mid-tier."
"understood."
With this information in mind, we continued our exploration, remaining vigilant against potential threats ahead.
On the way, I used my [Keen Eyes] skill to try and spot potential threats or figure out the layout of the dungeon. However, the dense forest limited my field of vision to some extent.
Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
As time went on, the forest began to be submerged by the constant rain.
Our progress was soon halted by a mysterious barrier. Anya stepped forward and touched the shimmering barrier.
“We’ve reached the first stage of the barrier,” she confirmed, moving her hand slightly.
This dungeon is a phased dungeon, unlike any I've explored before.
Stage-based dungeons are dungeons that require progression through levels, with limited free exploration. To clear each stage, you must obtain the corresponding dungeon fragments to remove the barriers.
This dungeon has two phases; the first is the goblin horde, and the second is the boss's location. This doesn't even include the hidden phase, which I'll explore on my own.
These types of dungeons are also quite rare. This is why Emily insisted on not giving up her rights to this dungeon until she was in dire straits.
Anya turned to me, asking if I had any scouting skills. "Morse, do you have scouting skills?"
I paused, considering how to answer. I needed to maintain the illusion of limited ability so that Fred would lower his guard and not doubt my true strength.
“In this environment, my reconnaissance abilities are somewhat limited,” I said cautiously. “The dense forest and rain obscure my vision, making it difficult to use my skills effectively.”
In fact, that's not entirely wrong. My Keen Eye skill is indeed limited, and Perception isn't a panacea either.
Furthermore, they might not need my skills, because in the game, players usually deal with dungeons by brute force.
“I understand.” Anya nodded. “As expected, we will have to force our way through. Judging from the dungeon’s level and mana concentration, the goblin tribe should not be a problem for our team.”
However, not everyone agreed with Anya's assessment. Emily and Faye had expressed doubts about my abilities, and couldn't help but click their tongues at me.
“We shouldn’t have too high expectations for a newbie,” Emily muttered, her words dripping with sarcasm. She exchanged a knowing glance with Faye, who also wore a similarly dismissive expression.
Faye was a girl who didn't talk much from the start, unlike Harry. She wasn't very communicative, but it seemed that Fred's skills were starting to take effect.
I didn't respond to them, but silently took my place in formation. After all, this wasn't the first time I'd been looked down upon.
Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
As we ventured deeper into the forest, the rain continued to pour down, soaking us completely.
Anya seemed unfazed by the weather, her determined steps unwavering. The other team members, however, couldn't help but express their frustration.
Emily's brown hair clung to her face as she said in an annoyed tone, "Ugh, this rain is so annoying. Can't it just stop for a bit?"
Faye chimed in, her usually composed demeanor seeming to waver slightly at this moment. "These goblins... they're disgusting, I can't stand looking at them."
Anya nodded, though her anger was more subtle and directed more at the current environment than at the monsters themselves. "We should deal with them as soon as possible and move on. This rain has made everything even more difficult."
Even Anya is starting to be affected, though her reaction is much slower.
Their complaints seemed to extend to every aspect of the journey, from the weather to the monsters they encountered. It was as if they were actively seeking reasons to be dissatisfied, and their discontent grew stronger as time went on.
Considering that Fred caused suspicion among the team after everyone passed the first phase in the game, I know we are still relatively safe.
After a seemingly endless trek through the rain, we finally encountered the first goblin patrol.
'Seven goblins? I guess our captain arranged this battle to warm up the crew.'
Anya assigned the task to two members of our team. "Harry, Faye, deal with these goblins. We need to clear them out quickly."
Harry, a skilled warrior wielding two swords, strode confidently forward. "Leave it to me. They won't know how they died."
Faye, temporarily forgetting her agitation, became resolute in the atmosphere of battle. "I'll make them regret standing in our way."
The two women quickly approached the goblin patrol, their weapons gleaming in the rain. The goblins, initially unaware of them, were caught off guard by their sudden attack.
Whoosh!
Harry charged forward swiftly, his twin swords flashing like lightning, striking his target with pinpoint accuracy.
Crack! Thump! Splash!
A goblin fell, clutching its throat tightly, blood spurting from between its fingers.
Crack! Thud!
The other goblin tried to retaliate, but before it could even move, Faye charged forward. She swung her greatsword, a swift sweep cleaving the goblin in two.
The rain quickly turned the ground beneath them into a muddy mess, sending dirt flying with every slap.
giggle!
The remaining goblins realized they were under attack and raised their weapons in self-defense. They brandished crude weapons—rusty blades, wooden sticks, and even makeshift slingshots.
But they reacted too late. Anya made a wise decision in choosing Harry and Faye to deal with the monsters. Their teamwork was flawless.
'They are a very well-coordinated team. Their movements are also quite fluid, and Harry is clearly much stronger because he's been well-trained.'
Harry engaged the goblin in close combat, while Faye maintained distance, using the length of his greatsword to launch attacks.
Whoosh! Thump!
Harry ducked to avoid a goblin's clumsy swing and swiftly countered, thrusting his sword from below. Another goblin charged from the side, but Faye had anticipated its movement. She swung her sword precisely, severing its arm at the shoulder.
The battle was over in no time. The entire goblin patrol lay dead on the muddy forest floor, their crude weapons scattered everywhere.
Anya nodded in satisfaction. "Well done, you two. Keep going. The goblin tribe should be just ahead."
After the battle, the two returned to their group. Just then, Ethan walked towards me.
“Hey, Morse. Don’t you think there’s anything strange about this?” he asked.
'It seems he's finally starting to realize something.'
"What do you mean?" I asked, feigning ignorance. I could see Fred's gaze on us, but Ethan seemed oblivious.
"I feel like my senses are becoming dull... I can't quite explain it... it's a bit strange."
In the game, this line also serves as foreshadowing, hinting at Fred's betrayal. Indeed, the protagonist is the protagonist.
“I feel that way too, but it’s probably because it’s our first time in the dungeon, and we’re probably nervous.” I shrugged, interrupting him. “Anyway, stop thinking about it and focus on what’s in front of you.”
"Ok."
Shortly after, we dealt with the goblin patrol, and another wave of goblins appeared. But they no longer posed a threat, and the monsters were quickly killed.
And so, we finally arrived at the edge of the goblin tribe.
There were simple shacks and crude fortifications hidden in the dense woods. The rain had lessened slightly, but the ground remained slippery and muddy.
Anya gestured for us to proceed carefully. "Remember, our mission is to clear out this tribe. We can't waste too much time. Don't forget the formation."
Typically, a plan is needed before attacking such tribes. After all, even if we can overwhelmingly defeat these monsters, there is still another phase to clear.
Clearly, Anya's judgment was also beginning to be affected.
We proceeded cautiously, trying not to disturb the goblins. Anya, Faye, Harry, and even Emily moved with practiced ease, their experience evident in every step.
Anya turned to look at me. "Morse, you should be able to see how many monsters are around here from here." We were now in a relatively open area, and my view was not obstructed.
Everyone knows that archers often have keen eyesight, and although my profession is weapon master, this also works for me.
I began to observe, scanning the tribe with my Keen Eye. "There are 40 ordinary goblins, 8 goblin warriors, and one goblin shaman. The goblin shaman and 6 goblin warriors are in a hut in the middle of the tribe, while two goblin warriors are guarding the entrance."
Anya nodded and listened to my report. "How many scouts and patrols are there?"
"This tribe is not advanced. They haven't built any scout towers, and there are no traps visible from here. Either their traps are very well hidden, or they haven't set them up at all."
"Alright. Then we should be able to clear them out. The rain is also starting to subside, so fire-type skills should be more effective. Harry, how are your skills?"
Harry raised his hand and flicked out a small flame. "No problem, much better now. The moisture in the air seems to have decreased."
Tell me, how much power can you use?
"Approximately 80%."
"That's good."
After saying this, Anya looked at our faces.
"Get ready. We're about to begin."
And so, the first challenge in the dungeon began.