The air inside the goblin lair was heavy, filled with the stench of rot and filth. The dim torchlight flickered against the rough stone walls, casting shadows of the Goblin Lord standing before them. The creature was much larger than the other goblins they had faced. Its muscular body was protected by crude armor made of old iron and animal hides, while a large, rusted axe hung in its right hand. Its glowing red eyes were full of hatred, staring sharply at Sylvia and Raven, as if it recognized them as the greatest threat in its lair.
Raven stood still, his sharp eyes assessing the enemy before him, though his thoughts were entirely focused on Sylvia. He knew that this Goblin Lord was no ordinary foe; the creature was strong and intelligent, with sharp killer instincts. However, Raven's primary goal was not just to defeat the Goblin Lord he wanted to observe all of Sylvia's abilities, to gauge the true potential of the woman who had caught his attention from the beginning.
Sylvia tightened her grip on the gleaming sword in her hand, preparing to face the threat before them. "This is going to be a tough fight, Ironclad. Don't let your guard down," she said in a serious tone, her eyes never leaving the Goblin Lord.
Raven nodded behind his helmet, though a faint smile graced his hidden face. "Of course, Sylvia. I'm here to support you, but I also want to see what you're capable of," he replied with a mysterious tone, which Sylvia may not have noticed.
Without warning, the Goblin Lord let out a loud roar that echoed throughout the chamber. Its deafening voice was like a death knell, rattling every nerve before the creature leaped at them with a speed that belied its size. Its massive axe was raised high, ready to crush anyone who dared to approach.
Sylvia reacted quickly, jumping back to avoid the Goblin Lord's first strike, which slammed into the ground with tremendous force, creating cracks in the stone beneath it. Raven remained in place, carefully observing how Sylvia moved, how she adjusted her steps and actions to counter the enemy's attacks.
Sylvia wasted no time. In one fluid motion, she counterattacked with her sword, aiming for the gaps in the Goblin Lord's armor. However, the creature seemed to anticipate her move, swiftly swinging its axe to the side, forcing Sylvia to leap back and evade. But Sylvia didn't stop there she spun with agility, launching a series of relentless attacks, exploiting every opening she saw.
Raven watched intently, admiring Sylvia's speed and precision. She was not only fast but also smart, carefully measuring each of her moves and adjusting her strategy based on the enemy's reactions. What intrigued Raven even more was when Sylvia began using her special skills.
Suddenly, Sylvia activated Sword Dance again, making her sword glow brightly. With quick and precise movements, she attacked the Goblin Lord from various angles, creating flashes of light that surrounded the battlefield. Each slash carried deadly power, forcing the Goblin Lord to retreat step by step.
However, the Goblin Lord was not an easy foe to defeat. The creature roared in anger and retaliated with even more ferocious attacks, its axe swinging with enough force to shatter stone. Sylvia, with her agility and skill, managed to dodge most of the attacks, but not all of them.
One of the Goblin Lord's slashes struck Sylvia's left arm, causing her to stagger back with a deep wound. Fresh blood flowed from the injury, but Sylvia only bit her lip, enduring the pain while staying focused on her enemy. Raven observed this with sharp eyes, noting how Sylvia reacted to pain and pressure.
Sylvia realized she couldn't keep staying on the defensive. She changed her strategy and began focusing her energy on one point. In an instant, she activated another skill Raven had never seen before Blazing Strike. Her sword began to burn with a bright blue flame, glowing intensely in the darkness of the lair.
With a roar full of determination, Sylvia leaped at the Goblin Lord, swinging her sword with all her might. The blue flames from Blazing Strike engulfed her blade, creating a wave of heat that radiated along its edge. The attack struck the Goblin Lord's armor with tremendous power, causing the creature to scream in pain as the flames began to burn its flesh.
Raven smiled beneath his helmet. Sylvia was indeed no ordinary adventurer her abilities far exceeded Raven's initial expectations. He began to seriously consider whether Sylvia could be another pawn in his plans, like Seraphina. But before making that decision, he wanted to see more.
The battle continued with increasing intensity. Sylvia didn't relent, launching attack after attack, each move growing more aggressive and deadly. The Goblin Lord, though badly wounded, still had immense strength and continued to fight ferociously. Its axe kept swinging violently, but Sylvia managed to evade and counter with sharper, more targeted strikes.
However, Raven noticed that Sylvia was beginning to tire. Her breathing was becoming heavier, and the wound on her arm was bleeding more profusely. At this point, Raven knew he would have to step in if he wanted to ensure victory. But before he could act, Sylvia activated one more skill one that appeared to be her trump card.
With a shout that echoed through the chamber, Sylvia activated Aetherial Barrier, a shield of energy that glowed around her body. The shield blocked the Goblin Lord's axe as it came down with full force, reflecting it back with enough power to stagger the creature. This was the opportunity Sylvia had been waiting for.
Taking advantage of the Goblin Lord's moment of surprise, Sylvia unleashed her final attack. She leaped high into the air, her sword raised above her head, glowing brightly with magical energy. As she descended, she swung her sword with all the strength she had left, slashing directly at the Goblin Lord's neck.
Sylvia's sword pierced through the Goblin Lord's rough armor, creating a deep gash in the creature's neck. Thick green blood spurted out, and with one last roar that shook the lair, the Goblin Lord fell to the ground with a heavy thud, lifeless.
Sylvia landed lightly on the ground, her breath heavy, but her face showed satisfaction. She stood over the fallen Goblin Lord, the green blood dripping from her sword serving as proof of their victory.
Raven, who had been observing the entire time, now stepped forward. He took a deep breath, ensuring the battle was truly over before speaking.
"Well done, Sylvia," Raven said in a calm tone, though in his mind he was analyzing every skill he had just witnessed. "I have to admit, I'm very impressed."
Sylvia gave a weak smile, still trying to catch her breath. "Thank you, Ironclad. That was a tough fight, but we did it." She glanced at the wound on her arm, realizing how severe it was, but she remained standing tall, displaying her strength and resilience.
Raven stepped closer, his sharp eyes studying Sylvia closely. "You're really strong, Sylvia. Stronger than I expected. The skills you have are very impressive. I can see why you're one of the best adventurers in this guild."
Sylvia only gave a small smile, accepting the compliment with humility. "I just did what needed to be done, Ironclad. But I'm glad I could do it with you."
Beneath his helmet, Raven hid a deeper smile, contemplating his next move. Sylvia was an exceptionally talented adventurer, and the strength and skills she displayed in the battle against the Goblin Lord were remarkable. Raven knew that if he could turn Sylvia into another pawn in his plans, like Seraphina, his position in Veloria would be even stronger.
But before making a decision, Raven wanted to ensure that Sylvia could be controlled, or at least influenced. This battle had given Raven a lot of information, but he wanted to see how Sylvia reacted in a more relaxed situation and how she responded to the influence of someone like Ironclad.
Raven approached Sylvia, extending his hand with a gentler demeanor than usual. "You're badly hurt, Sylvia. We need to get out of here and treat your wound," he said with genuine concern in his voice.
Sylvia looked at Raven with a tired smile. "Thank you, Ironclad. I can walk on my own, don't worry. But your help would be much appreciated." She took Raven's hand, and with a small assist from him, they began to make their way out of the Goblin Lord's lair.
The journey back out of the lair felt longer than when they had entered. The darkness and dampness that enveloped the narrow corridors now felt more oppressive, perhaps due to Sylvia's exhaustion. Raven kept a close eye on Sylvia, watching for any signs of weakness that might appear. Behind the cheerful and friendly demeanor he displayed, Raven always operated with cold calculation.
When they finally reached the exit of the lair, the sun had already begun to set, painting the sky with beautiful hues of red and orange. The fresh air flowing around them brought relief after hours spent in the darkness of the lair. Sylvia took a deep breath, enjoying the air free from the stench of goblins.
"Ah, fresh air... after what we went through in there, it feels like a small gift from nature," said Sylvia with a faint smile, though she still looked tired.
Raven nodded in agreement, though his mind remained focused on Sylvia. He decided this was the perfect moment to dig deeper, perhaps with a bit of teasing like before, to see how Sylvia would react in a more relaxed but still influenced state.
"Fresh air is nice," Raven said, "but you know, Sylvia, I couldn't stop thinking about one thing during this journey."
Sylvia turned to Raven, curious. "Oh, and what's that?"
Raven paused for a moment, as if deep in thought, then replied in a lighter tone, "I kept wondering if I would really drown and be unable to breathe if I buried my head in your... let's say, your impressive assets." He winked with a teasing tone, hoping the joke would break the tension and make Sylvia laugh.
Despite her exhaustion, Sylvia couldn't help but laugh. Her joyful laughter was refreshing after the intense battle they had just faced. "You really can't stop with those jokes, can you? But I have to say, Ironclad, if that happened, I'd make sure you could breathe... at least enough to survive," she said with a playful smile, though her eyes showed she enjoyed the teasing.
Raven laughed along with Sylvia, but he didn't lose his focus. He wanted to see more reactions from Sylvia, to see how she responded to different situations and provocations. This was all part of his observation, to determine if Sylvia could be a valuable ally or perhaps even more.
"Well, at least I know I'll be safe in your hands, Sylvia," Raven said jokingly, though he quickly changed his tone to a more serious one. "But seriously, I was really impressed by your skills in that fight. You were truly amazing."
Sylvia smiled widely, feeling appreciated. "Thank you, Ironclad. That means a lot to me. But you weren't too bad yourself. You have impressive strength and resilience, even with all your jokes."
Raven just nodded, deciding to save his compliments for later. He wanted to keep observing how Sylvia reacted to the praise and attention he gave her. Although Sylvia was a strong and independent adventurer, Raven knew that everyone had a weak spot, and he was determined to find Sylvia's.
As they approached the edge of the forest, Sylvia seemed a bit more relaxed, though she was still tending to the wound on her arm, which had begun to dry. "We should head back to the guild and report our success," she said, though Raven could hear the fatigue in her voice.
"Yes, we should head back soon," Raven replied. "But before that, how about we rest for a bit? You need some time to recover, and I don't want you passing out before we get back."
Sylvia nodded, agreeing with the suggestion. "Maybe you're right. I'm feeling a bit lightheaded." The two of them found a comfortable spot near a large tree, where Sylvia sat down and leaned against the trunk, taking a deep breath.
Raven sat next to her, continuing to watch her closely. He could see that although Sylvia was a tough adventurer, the battle had drained her energy. This was an important moment for Raven to see how Sylvia responded when she was weak and in need of support.
"How are you feeling now?" Raven asked gently, showing genuine concern.
Sylvia closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling the fresh air. "I'll be fine. Just need a little time to recover," she replied in a calm voice.
Raven nodded, then carefully reached for Sylvia's injured arm. "Let me take a look at your wound," he said, not waiting for Sylvia's consent. He gently pulled back Sylvia's sleeve to examine the wound, which was still bleeding, though much less than before. Raven knew that in a situation like this, Sylvia might feel more vulnerable, and this was the right time to build deeper trust.
"It looks pretty deep, but we can treat it when we get back to the guild," Raven said in a soft yet firm tone. "For now, let me bandage it to stop the bleeding."
Sylvia didn't resist, only nodded slightly, allowing Raven to tend to her wound. Raven used some cloth from his attire to make a temporary bandage, carefully wrapping Sylvia's arm. He did this with great care, ensuring that Sylvia felt comfortable and safe with him.
"Sylvia, you know you can rely on me, right?" Raven said as he finished the bandage. "I may like to joke around, but when things get serious, I'll always be here for you."
Sylvia opened her eyes and looked at Raven with a weak but sincere smile. "I know, Ironclad. And I appreciate that. You're not just a great adventuring partner, but also a good friend."
Sylvia's words made Raven think further. He could feel that Sylvia was beginning to open up, feeling comfortable around Ironclad. This was a sign that he might be able to influence Sylvia further in the future, making her an even stronger ally in his grand plan.
After a while of resting, Sylvia seemed to feel better. "Thank you, Ironclad. I think we can continue now," she said with renewed energy.
Raven nodded and helped Sylvia to her feet. "Let's go back and report our victory. And who knows, maybe afterward we can get another free drink," he said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.
The two of them continued their walk back to the guild, leaving the forest with a sense of satisfaction from their victory. Although Sylvia had shown her strength in battle, Raven knew this was just the beginning. He would continue to monitor and influence Sylvia, looking for the best way to use her in his grand scheme.
However, deep down, Raven knew he had to be careful. Sylvia was a strong and independent woman, but she was also human, with weaknesses and emotions that could be exploited. If Raven could play his cards right, he would have another piece as valuable as Seraphina.