Grug scratched his head, his lips curling in concentration before he raised three thick fingers. Ethan frowned, nodding as he took in the information.
Three goblins.
It was a risk, a serious one, but not impossible. If he could take them out, if he could bring them down like Grug had done—they'd gain experience. Strength. And he'd have more goblins to summon, adding to their numbers, and increasing his own power.
Ethan was not irrational. At the same time, he knew he couldn't afford to remain weak. Not in this world. It wasn't only about survival; it was about adaptation, about pushing every advantage he had.
Three was a good number. He can make this work!
Ethan licked his dry lips, a spark of desperation mixed with a wild, reckless determination filling his veins. It was like standing at the edge of a cliff—one leap and he could either soar or fall. But he knew that standing still was not an option.
He turned back to Grug, meeting the goblin's wary gaze. "Alright, Grug. Here's what we're going to do." Ethan felt his heartbeat quicken. "We're going to find those goblins. But we're not going to attack outright. We'll lure them, make them come to us, one by one if we can. And when they do—we take them out."
Grug's eyes widened in interest, a slow grin creeping onto his face. Ethan couldn't tell if it was the thrill of battle or something else—perhaps the goblin was simply eager to prove himself again, to do what goblins did best.
He drew a deep breath and glanced down at the corpse of the goblin Grug had brought him. It would serve as a tool, bait perhaps. A trap. This plan of his required using everything they had, everything they could use to their advantage.
The scent of blood, a fallen comrade, Grug's knowledge of his own kind—it all played a part in what might be the most dangerous thing Ethan had ever attempted.
"Shadow," Ethan called softly, and the cat perked her ears. "Stay close to me, girl." She rose from her haunches, her muscles rippling as she padded closer to him, her eyes fixed intently on Ethan's face.
Ethan picked up the corpse by the ankles, the goblin's head lolling limply. He had to ignore the weight of what he was doing—both physically and mentally. If he thought too hard about the violence, the blood, the choices he was making, he might hesitate. And hesitation meant death.
The group then walked further into the forest. Ethan did not go too close to the cave the goblin pointed to. Instead he hid in the bushes nearby along with Shadow. Only Grug and the second goblin walked into the lair.
Soon, guttural noises sounded from the cave and three goblins walked out. Ethan immediately recognized two out of the three of them. This meant that Grug and the other one had succeeded.
He waited patiently until the three of them walked away from the cave and were closer to their hiding area. Once they were in the clear, Ethan leaped out from his hiding place and dashed towards the goblin.
At the same time, the other two started smacking the clueless goblin right on his head. The goblin stood no chance at all. Thanks to the combined bonking, the third goblin dropped dead on the ground in no time, its green body sprawled awkwardly on the ground, a crude club still clutched in its hand.
[Ding! You have killed a goblin.]
[Ding! Experience points gained.]
[Ding! The entity goblin has been added to your summoning list.]
Ethan summoned the new arrival, who materialized with a blank, neutral expression. This one, slightly stockier than Grug but no less menacing, tilted its head, awaiting commands. Naming the goblin could wait; there were still enemies to deal with.
"Alright," Ethan said, pointing toward the cave entrance. "We're going back in, but same strategy. One by one, got it? Grug, you and you and…" He hesitated, then waved at the new goblin. "...you go lure one more out. Shadow and I will wait here."
Grug grunted in understanding, nodding to his new comrades. The group exchanged guttural sounds, communicating in their rough language before they slinked toward the cave.
Ethan crouched beside Shadow back into their position, gripping his makeshift weapon tightly. His heart raced as he watched the entrance of the cave, waiting for the inevitable commotion.
Moments later, a ruckus erupted from inside—guttural yells, echoing in the damp air, followed by the sound of scuffling feet. Grug and the new goblin burst out of the cave, sprinting toward Ethan with a snarling, enraged goblin hot on their heels.
"Here we go!" Ethan hissed under his breath.