As the three goblins dropped their crude swords and tried to run away, Kolvar quickly stopped them with his towering presence. The goblins, enraged and afraid at the same time, gnarled and cursed at him in gibberish. Their green eyes filled with fear as they watched Hunter dash at them with a crazed look in his eyes. The goblins stumbled over each other in their attempt to flee, but Hunter caught up to one and repeatedly stabbed it in the back until his hands were covered in the goblin's green blood.
The two remaining goblins raised their hands in defense as Hunter approached them, but it was futile. With lightning speed, Hunter kicked one goblin right between its legs, shattering something squishy. The goblin's agonized screams echoed through the forest, causing Kolvar to squirm in discomfort. The other goblin trembled in fear, paralyzed by the sheer brutality of Hunter's attack.
Hunter's grip was tight and unrelenting as he held the struggling goblin by its neck. The goblin's eyes bulged as it gasped for air, but Hunter's expression remained stoic and unflinching. With his other hand, he slowly raised the devil's cry to finish the goblin. The dagger gleamed in the sunlight as Hunter positioned it over the goblin's chest, ready to strike.
The goblin's struggles grew more frantic as it realized its fate, but Hunter was determined. With a swift and fluid motion, he drove the devil's cry into the goblin's heart. The blade slid smoothly through flesh and bone, and the goblin let out a final, gurgling scream before going limp in Hunter's grasp.
Hunter held the goblin's lifeless body for a moment, his breaths coming in heavy gasps as he took in the gravity of what he had just done. The air was thick with the smell of blood and burnt flesh, and the forest around them was eerily quiet as if even the birds and insects had fled in fear of the brutal scene unfolding before them.
After the battle ended, the surrounding area was quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds. The forest appeared just as it was before, with trees standing tall and the ground covered in a blanket of dry leaves. However, the corpses of the goblins lay scattered on the ground, their green blood staining the earth. The air smelled of burnt flesh and smoke, remnants of Hunter's use of the inferno blast. Overall, the tranquility of the forest had been disturbed by the fierce battle that had just taken place.
Hunter and Kolvar sat down on the grassy ground, their backs against a large tree. Hunter's chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his body still buzzing with the thrill of battle. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had never felt so alive.
But what had really left an impression on him was the moment he had cast the spell. He remembered the feeling of power that had surged through his body, the way the words of the incantation had rolled off his tongue with such ease. It was like a switch had been flipped inside of him, and he had tapped into a well of magic that he had never known existed.
Hunter looked around at the carnage that lay before them, feeling an intense pleasure at the destruction he had wrought. He had danced on the verge of life and death, his body and mind pushed to their limits, and he had emerged victorious. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so exhilarated.
Kolvar, still catching his breath, looked over at Hunter in amazement. "I had no idea you could cast spells," he said, his voice tinged with awe.
Hunter shrugged, not wanting to give Kolvar a straight answer. He didn't want to reveal too much about his past or his abilities, not yet. "It was nothing," he said, brushing off Kolvar's question. "Just something I picked up along the way."
Kolvar nodded, though he didn't look entirely convinced. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Hunter than met the eye.
As they sat there, catching their breath, the forest around them slowly began to come back to life. Birds chirped in the trees, and the rustling of leaves in the wind filled the air. The sun began to set in the sky, casting a warm glow over the forest. Despite the destruction and chaos that had just occurred, there was a sense of peace that settled over them.
Hunter closed his eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the moment. He could still feel the rush of battle coursing through his veins, the memory of the fight still fresh in his mind. He had never felt so alive, so in control of his own destiny. It was a feeling he never wanted to let go of.
Hunter observed Kolvar as he struggled to remove a deep gash on his forearm, his expression wincing in pain as he applied pressure to the wound. With a solemn voice, Hunter spoke up, breaking the silence between them.
"Kolvar, you still have a long way to go when it comes to your fighting skills," Hunter said, his eyes fixed on Kolvar's injuries. "I noticed how you struggled to fight the two goblins earlier. We need to work on both your close and ranged combat skills."
Kolvar looked up at Hunter, taken aback by his words. The scars on his arms were visible evidence of his years spent as a slave, where he was forced to work long hours in the fields and stables. Hunter could see the exhaustion etched into Kolvar's features, and he understood the limitations that had been placed on him in the past. Slaves were denied the right to learn anything that could potentially make them a threat to their masters, including self-defense skills.
Hunter's eyes narrowed with anger as he understood all too well the horrors of the slave system, having lived through it himself by occupying the body of Parker, a former slave. The memories of the whippings, the backbreaking labor, and the constant fear of punishment flooded his mind, and he felt a surge of empathy for Kolvar.
He could see the scars on Kolvar's arms, the physical manifestation of the abuse he had suffered. Hunter knew that it would take time and patience to help Kolvar build his skills, but he was determined to do it.
Hunter spoke softly, acknowledging Kolvar's past. "I understand that you've been through a lot, Kolvar. You didn't have the opportunity to master any fighting skills while you were a slave. But now that you're a free man, you have the right to defend yourself. We need to work on your skills if we're going to build a criminal empire."
He paused for a moment, his gaze meeting Kolvar's. "It's not going to be easy, but we'll start with the basics and work our way up. I won't push you too hard, but I won't let you stay weak either."
Kolvar's expression shifted from confusion to gratitude, and then determination. He realized that he had never had anyone on his side before, someone who believed in him and was willing to help him become better. Hunter's words gave him a glimmer of hope for a better future, one where he could defend himself and those he cared about.
"For the first time in my life, I feel like I have someone who believes in me," Kolvar said, his voice filled with a newfound sense of confidence. "I'm ready to work hard and become a better fighter."
Hunter tore a piece of cloth from his shorts and rolled it around the cut in his hand, wincing as he applied pressure to the wound. As he rose from the ground, his gaze fell on the two goblin corpses lying at his feet. Blood pooled around their still bodies, staining the ground a deep shade of green.
With a determined expression, Hunter began to cut off the goblins' ears. He knew that he needed to provide proof of their deaths to the adventurers' guild in order to receive payment for completing the quest. It was a gruesome task, but one that was necessary to ensure that he and Kolvar were rewarded for their efforts.
Kolvar joined Hunter in the gruesome task, his face set in a grim expression. Together, they worked swiftly and efficiently, cutting off the goblins' ears and securing them in a small pouch Hunter had brought.
After they finished collecting proof of the goblins' deaths, Hunter stood before the cave entrance, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The air was thick with the foul stench of goblins, and Hunter's nose wrinkled at the scent even from outside the cave.
As Hunter peered into the darkness, a feeling of unease washed over him. The cave seemed to swallow everything in its path, and he could barely see anything beyond a few feet. Kolvar, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"I don't think it's wise to venture into the cave. There could be traps or other dangers lurking inside."
Hunter agreed, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there might be something worth investigating in the cave. "It's possible, but I doubt the goblins were clever enough to set traps."
Kolvar raised an eyebrow. "That's true, but there's no telling what else might be hiding in the shadows."
Hunter considered Kolvar's words. He knew that goblins weren't known for their intelligence, but he also knew that danger could come from unexpected sources.
"And besides," Kolvar added, gesturing towards the discarded weapons scattered around the cave entrance, "there's likely nothing valuable to be found in there. Goblins don't hoard treasure like dragons do."
Hunter nodded in agreement, knowing that Kolvar was right. The goblin weapons were crude and rusty, and it was unlikely that anything of value would be found in the cave.
When Hunter turned around to leave, the curiosity in his heart got the better of Hunter.
"What the hell?" Hunter threw his arms in the air and went into the cave against Kolvar's advice. He couldn't resist the temptation of exploring the cave further, despite Kolvar's warning. As he stepped forward, he could feel the unease building inside him. The cave was silent, except for the occasional drip of water from the ceiling. It wasn't long before Hunter realized that the cave was not as complex as he had imagined it to be.
The darkness was all-encompassing, making seeing anything beyond a few feet difficult. But as Hunter made his way deeper into the cave, his eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and he was able to see more clearly. He noticed scraps of metal, bits of rotten meat, and some fresh meat lying on the ground. The smell of decay was overpowering, and Hunter could feel his stomach churning with disgust.
As Hunter approached the end of the cave, he saw a flickering light. It was a campfire, and Hunter could see a pot boiling above it. He couldn't believe his eyes. In the middle of this desolate cave, the goblins had set up a camp.
"It stinks so bad here," Kolvar said, his voice barely above a whisper. He too was taken aback by the scene in front of them.
As he looked around the goblin cave, Hunter couldn't help but feel disappointed. The reality was far from the fantastical adventures he had read in books, where the main characters would stumble upon powerful items and treasures in unlikely places. But this cave held no such thing. Not a single rare or valuable item to be found, not even a single astral coin.
Hunter let out a deep sigh, feeling a sense of anticlimax wash over him. He had risked his life to defeat the goblins, expecting to be rewarded with at least something of value. But as he stood there in the stench of the goblin cave, he realized that the reality of adventuring was much harsher than the stories made it out to be.
Kolvar looked at Hunter sympathetically, realizing his friend's disappointment. "I'm sorry we didn't find anything useful. But at least we completed the quest and got paid."
Hunter nodded, knowing that Kolvar was right. They had fulfilled their duty and were rewarded for their efforts, even if it wasn't the grand adventure he had hoped for. As they made their way out of the cave and back to the adventurer's guild, Hunter couldn't help but feel a sense of determination growing within him. He may not have found anything of value this time, but he was sure that there were still more adventures out there waiting for him.