Chapter 85: The Adventurer's Fighting Style
"I'm on it!"
Rachel bowed, aiming at the sky.
A blue magical glow surged onto the drawn bowstring, quickly condensing into a sapphire-colored water arrow.
"Whoosh!"
Rachel released the bowstring.
A sharp "whoosh" echoed.
A streak of blue light shot straight into the eye of the hurricane, heading skyward.
At a height of about five hundred meters, the water arrow suddenly exploded.
It transformed into a shower of rain arrows, crashing down upon the surrounding forest.
"Crack!"
The forest echoed with the sound of "crack, crack."
The rain arrows pierced through trees and Goblins alike.
"Waaah!"
Shrieks rang out from deep within the forest.
The tiny rain arrows were like steel needles, penetrating the Goblins' bodies.
Non-lethal hits left Goblins screaming in agony, while those struck in the head or heart dropped dead instantly.
"Martha, the wind is dissipating!"
Eileen's reminder snapped Martha out of her trance.
She raised her staff, chanting a sacred incantation.
"Aru, Koria, Alan!"
Brilliant blue light radiated from the crystal atop her staff.
In the next moment, a ring of white light spread out from the crystal, enveloping the five of them almost instantly.
As soon as the light curtain formed, the hurricane outside vanished.
Without the wind to shield them, dozens of arrows shot forth from the surrounding forest.
The arrows struck the light curtain, deflecting away.
"Rachel, Payes, handle those ranged Goblins!"
"Eileen, hold back for now. Act only when the time is right, and try not to cause too much commotion!"
Eileen, as a mage, would undoubtedly unleash a spectacle if she intervened.
As the captain, Odyssey took on the responsibility of coordinating the team.
Rachel and Payes nodded.
The two darted out of the light curtain almost simultaneously.
Rachel was the fastest.
Her figure weaved nimbly into the forest.
Payes, on the other hand, was more brutish.
With a giant axe in hand, he barreled into the forest like a heavy tank.
Arrows clanged and sparked against his armor.
Some arrows ricocheted, while others pierced his armor, embedding themselves.
As soon as the two entered the forest, the sound of arrows whizzing through the air ceased.
In the depths of the dark forest, only the rustling of movement could be heard.
"Rachel, Payes, don't pursue too far!"
The distant noises in the forest told Odyssey that the Goblins were retreating.
He shouted toward the forest's darkness.
Before long, Rachel and a disgruntled Payes emerged from the shadows.
"Those Goblins are so boring; they ran away already!"
Payes sat back down by the campfire, removing his helmet with a look of dissatisfaction.
By now, Martha had dispelled the light curtain.
"Captain, look at this!"
Rachel approached Odyssey, holding a few arrows in his hand.
Odyssey glanced at the arrows Rachel held, taking one for a closer look.
"Captain, these arrows are strong. They easily pierced my armor!"
Payes, sitting by the fire, spoke up.
The group turned to him, noticing for the first time that he was covered in arrows.
"Payes, are you okay?"
Martha hurried over to him.
Payes shook his head, patting his chest.
"I'm fine. The arrows pierced the armor but couldn't hurt me."
"Really?"
Martha scrutinized Payes.
"Really, I'm perfectly fine!"
Martha pulled an arrow from Payes' armor, relieved to see no blood on the tip.
"If you're hurt, let me know!"
Payes grinned and nodded.
The five of them returned to the campfire.
"Captain, should we relocate?"
Eileen cast a wary glance toward the forest.
Goblins were weak but numerous.
Fighting Goblins at night was dangerous; humans couldn't see in the dark, but Goblins could.
Odyssey shook his head, setting down his shield.
"If Goblins are truly targeting us, moving won't help."
"You all rest. I'll take the second half of the night shift."
Odyssey volunteered for the later watch.
Rachel stared at the arrows in her hand, feeling uneasy.
Bows and arrows weren't supposed to be in Goblin hands, let alone in such quantity.
Meanwhile, about a hundred meters deep in the forest…
"Humans truly are formidable!"
Li Meng was both amazed and shaken by the adventurers' combat style.
Their mastery of magic showed their deep understanding of it, leading to the creation of countless skills.
"No wonder five of them can destroy a Goblin nest!"
Li Meng's mouth watered as he eyed the firelight in the distance.
The tempting aroma of human flesh stirred something primal within him.
He wiped the drool from his mouth.
The Goblin instincts within his body awakened a desire to devour humans.
"No!"
Li Meng slapped himself hard.
"Smack!"
The crisp sound echoed in the forest.
It was strange—he'd encountered humans before but had never reacted like this.
Rubbing his face, Li Meng faded into the shadows.
By the campfire, Rachel suddenly stood up.
"What's wrong?" Odyssey asked.
Rachel's gaze fixed on the eastern forest.
After a moment, doubt flickered in his eyes.
"Probably just a branch falling," he replied.
Odyssey chuckled, attributing Rachel's sensitivity to the earlier attack.
"Just a few Goblins. Don't worry about it."
From start to finish, Odyssey didn't think the Goblins posed a real threat to their group of five.
At worst, they could leave; Goblins wouldn't stop them.
The night deepened, and time ticked by.
The next morning, Odyssey led his team southward.
By the afternoon, they stood silently before the overgrown wreckage of an airship.
"Eileen, where is it?"
"It's close, just inside!"
"I'll go."
Rachel slipped through a narrow gap in the ship's hull.
Rustling noises came from inside.
Before long, Rachel emerged, now holding a crystal in his hand.