The morning after Yuuto cleansed the corrupted tree, Ravenwood was already showing signs of recovery. The oppressive aura that had weighed down the village had lifted, and the villagers looked more at ease. People were returning to their daily tasks, and there was a faint air of hope in the air, though Yuuto knew better than to relax completely.
The Ascendant System had given him strength and tools to protect Ravenwood, but the world of Aetheria was vast, and its dangers far from conquered. Dark magic might have been dealt with, but new threats were always on the horizon.
That morning, as Yuuto went about his usual preparations for training, Brann came to him, his face more serious than Yuuto had seen in some time.
"Lad, we've got a new problem," Brann said without preamble, his gruff voice tinged with concern. "There's been a sighting of goblins not far from here."
Yuuto's stomach sank. Goblins were a nuisance at best, but in larger numbers, they could be a serious threat. Small, quick, and vicious, goblins had a habit of raiding isolated villages like Ravenwood, stealing livestock, burning crops, and ambushing travelers. They weren't as strong as wolves or powerful beasts, but they made up for it in numbers and cunning.
"How many goblins are we talking about?" Yuuto asked, already preparing himself mentally for the possibility of a fight.
Brann shook his head. "Not sure. Some of our scouts reported seeing a small group of them near the outskirts of the eastern forest—probably scouting for weaknesses or easy targets. It's only a matter of time before they come closer."
Yuuto clenched his fists. Ravenwood had just recovered from the dire wolves and the dark magic—another attack, especially from a large goblin force, could undo all the progress they'd made in securing the village.
"I'll take care of it," Yuuto said firmly. "If they're scouting, that means we still have time to prepare. I'll go out and see if I can track them down before they bring reinforcements."
Brann's brow furrowed, but he nodded slowly. "Be careful, lad. Goblins might not be the strongest foes, but they fight dirty. Watch your back."
"I will," Yuuto promised. He tightened his grip on his staff, feeling the familiar surge of mana flowing through him. The Enhanced Mana Detection skill he had unlocked from his last quest would help him sense the goblins before they could ambush him, and his growing arsenal of spells gave him confidence.
[New Quest Unlocked: Quest for Survival: Goblins]
Objective: Locate the goblin scouting party near the eastern forest and neutralize them before they can report back. Prevent further attacks on Ravenwood.]
Reward: 45 EXP, Skill: Fireball Unlocked.]
**Failure: Increased goblin raids on the village, reduced reputation with Ravenwood.]
Yuuto didn't waste any time. He left the village quickly, heading toward the eastern forest where the scouts had reported seeing the goblins. The woods were familiar to him now, the same place where he had fought the dire wolves and cleansed the corrupted tree. But this time, the threat was different—smaller, more elusive, but no less dangerous.
As Yuuto walked, he reached out with his senses, using Enhanced Mana Detection to scan the area for any signs of magical disturbances. Goblins weren't known for their use of magic, but their presence still left a trace in the natural mana flow. A slight distortion in the air, a flicker of unnatural movement—these were things he could pick up on now that his abilities had grown.
The forest was quiet at first, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. But after several minutes of walking, Yuuto felt it—a faint pulse of mana disturbance, low to the ground and moving erratically. Goblins.
He slowed his pace, moving quietly as he approached the source of the disturbance. The closer he got, the more clearly he could sense them—several goblins, moving in small groups through the underbrush. They were hiding, staying low to avoid detection, but they couldn't escape his mana senses.
Yuuto crouched behind a tree and peered through the branches, his eyes narrowing as he spotted them. The goblins were small, about half his height, with greenish skin and sharp, beady eyes. Their bodies were wiry but agile, and they carried crude weapons—daggers, clubs, and short bows. There were five of them, moving cautiously as they scouted the area, occasionally sniffing the air or pausing to listen for sounds.
This is my chance, Yuuto thought. If I take them out now, I can stop them from reporting back.
His mind raced as he considered his options. He had the element of surprise, but five goblins could quickly overwhelm him if they scattered. He needed to strike fast and incapacitate them before they could retaliate.
[Skill Unlocked: Fireball]
Description: A powerful offensive spell that launches a ball of fire toward a target, dealing significant magic damage in a wide area.]
Mana Cost: 30.]
Yuuto's eyes widened as he saw the notification. Fireball was exactly what he needed—a wide-area attack that could take out multiple enemies at once. He quickly glanced at his mana reserves. He had more than enough to cast it, but he would need to conserve energy for any follow-up spells.
Taking a deep breath, Yuuto focused his mana, gathering the fiery energy in his palm. He could feel the heat building, crackling with power as the fireball formed, glowing with a bright orange light. The goblins, still unaware of his presence, were the perfect targets.
With a swift motion, Yuuto hurled the Fireball toward the group of goblins.
The fireball sailed through the air, leaving a trail of heat in its wake before exploding in the midst of the goblins with a deafening roar. Flames erupted in all directions, engulfing the goblins in a wave of searing heat. The explosion sent them flying, their weapons clattering to the ground as they screamed in panic.
Three of the goblins were instantly incinerated, their bodies reduced to ash by the blast. The remaining two, though injured, managed to scramble to their feet, their eyes wide with fear and rage. They turned toward Yuuto, snarling as they drew their crude weapons.
Yuuto didn't give them a chance to regroup. With a swift gesture, he cast Arcane Bind, summoning the glowing chains of mana to wrap around the goblins' legs. The chains tightened, immobilizing the creatures and preventing them from escaping.
The goblins struggled against the magical restraints, but it was no use. Yuuto stepped forward, raising his staff high before bringing it down in a powerful strike. The first goblin crumpled to the ground, unconscious from the blow. The second one let out a final screech before Yuuto finished it off with another strike.
[Goblins defeated. 45 EXP gained.]
Level Up! Yuuto has reached Level 6.]
New Stats: Health: 200/200, Mana: 110/110, Strength: 15, Magic: 22.]
Yuuto stood in the aftermath of the battle, his breathing heavy but steady. The goblins were gone, and the threat had been neutralized before they could report back to their tribe. He glanced down at his hands, feeling the faint burn of magic still lingering from the Fireball spell.
It had worked better than he had expected. The power behind the spell was immense, and the area of effect had been enough to take out most of the goblins in one hit. But Yuuto also knew that the spell drained a significant amount of mana, and he would need to be careful not to overuse it in future battles.
Still, the victory was satisfying. The village was safe for now, and the goblin threat had been dealt with—at least for the time being.
As Yuuto made his way back to Ravenwood, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. His strength was growing, and his magic was becoming more powerful with each passing day. But more than that, he was learning how to survive in this world—how to adapt, plan, and fight for the safety of those who depended on him.
But there was one thing he couldn't shake.
The goblins won't stop here.
This scouting party was just the beginning. Goblins rarely acted alone—they worked in tribes, and where there was one group, there were bound to be more.
He would have to stay vigilant. The world of Aetheria was full of dangers, and each victory only led to the next challenge.