Suddenly, Reika heard a Goblin cry out loud for a moment. She hurriedly lifted her sword. A Goblin slowly approached her, trampling on the pieces of wood that Asher had completely shattered apart earlier.
"Kaaaaak."
The goblin that came into her view, was not much different in size from any of the other goblins they had faced until now. However, the weapon was not roughly made of crappy and carved stone, but was carrying a sharp, human-made spear.
In addition, the body was a bit different from the other goblins, even if it was similar in height. It was slightly muscular, and had clearly developed such muscles from repeated training.
The Goblin stared at Reika with a sharp and murderous glint in its eyes.
"…you want to try me?"
Reika took a pose as she taunted the Goblin. No matter how tired she was, She could easily handle at least one goblin. But instead of running away from her, the Goblin did something completely unexpected. It stroked its chin with amusement like a human being.
"You are a rather interesting human being aren't you."
"!"
Reika's pupils dilated with shock. That Goblin could speak the human language? She had never seen that be written down in the literature and books she had studied about the goblins of the past. Even if Asher was here, he would be shocked too.
The Goblin snorted with a chuckle at Reika's shock and started to twirl the spear around itself and took a proper stance. It was unlike any goblin that she had encountered.
"You look like a proper swordsman. I hope you won't be boring like the last human being I killed."
The Goblin twisted the corners of his mouth into a malicious grin. Leica swallowed her saliva down, anxiously. Something was seriously wrong with this Goblin.
"Oi, take a position already. I don't want you to die on me without even trying. Tsk."
The goblin clicked it's tongue in annoyance at Reika's blank stare as he then spoke to her, telling her to get in stance. Reika shook her head belatedly realizing if she didn't prepare herself properly, she would die here. Shifting her foot into the ground and narrowing her eyes in concentration, Reika took her stance properly.
At that moment, the spear moved.
Bang!
"Ugh!"
Reika bounced off with a moan as she barely defended herself properly. She managed to hold onto her throbbing wrist and ease the pain a bit. The movement of the spear was incredibly fast and trained. The Goblin didn't hesitate to wait for Reika, as it thrust the spear again.
Hurriedly, Reika brought the sword in position and defended herself as best she could.
Kaga Gagak!
The spearhead grazed at her whole body as she was trying to defend as best as possible. She couldn't even think of a counterattack because she was so focused on trying to stop the spear's movements. She wanted to be able to even scream at least; but, she couldn't.
Why the hell was a Goblin so proficient with a spear? No… why was it like this in general? It was too much!
As soon as the Goblin gradually started to realize Reika was not doing much to entertain it, the spear stopped moving.
"I don't think that's all you have, is it?"
Goblin asked with disappointed eyes as it looked at her haughtily.
At that moment, something within Reika snapped. Her fragile ego, completely broke and was reborn anew. Her competitive spirit started to flare up within her as she suddenly shouted out.
"Then block this you shithead!"
Her hand shook. The sword in her hand rushed towards the Goblin with pure precision and stayed true to Lepenia's swordsmanship, drawing afterimages.
There were dozens of sword trajectories drawn in the air from her unique movement due to the flexible nature of Lepenia's swordsmanship. Anyone who had mastered Lepenia's swordsmanship to Reika's degree of mastery, could be counted on one hand. The movements she had contained with her sword, had even left Van Ester bewildered with how talented she was.
But something was dastardly wrong here. The Goblin smiled at the sword's images being drawn in the air that were closing in on it, and moved it's spear suddenly with a swift movement.
Kaga Gagakakakakagak!
The spearhead started to paint an afterimage. Unlike Reika, the afterimages created from the spear were due to pure speed and technique, unlike Reika's that was just pure technique. Due to this, the images of the spear wiped out Reika's attack in a heartbeat. As they suddenly disappeared in front of her, the view between them became opened up again.
"Uh…."
It was a movement similar to hers. But the power displayed by this goblin was weird. It wasn't even remotely possible in her mind. That movement that the Goblin in front of her had just displayed, was the movement of those who were at the Peak of Mastery with their respective weapon. It was something that Reika was aiming to be.
Yet, she saw this from a Goblin.
Reika stared blankly at Goblin with her jaw dropped in disbelief.