The goblin, brandishing a jagged spear, charged out into the open, its bloodshot eyes locking onto Ethan. Shadow leaped out from her hiding spot, a blur of black fur, her claws raking across the goblin's side before darting back to safety.
Grug and the second goblin turned on their pursuer, clubs swinging with brutal efficiency. The spear-wielding goblin snarled and fought back, but Ethan saw his chance and joined the fray, swinging his pointy stick with all the force he could muster.
The fight was over in moments. The goblin collapsed in a heap, its weapon clattering to the ground. Shadow returned to Ethan's side, licking her claws with a self-satisfied air, while Grug and the other goblins exchanged triumphant grunts.
[Ding! You have killed a goblin.]
[Ding! Experience points gained.]
[Ding! The entity Goblin has been added to your summoning list.]
[Ding! Level up!]
[Lvl 3> Lvl 4]
[Ding! You have gained five stat points]
[Ding! Your summoning capacity has been upgraded]
Nice. This one had given him an additional summon and a level up. Ethan wiped his brow and exhaled sharply. "Two down, one more to go."
He did not know when he was going to get the next chance to expand his summoning list like this. He needed to strike the iron while it was still hot. After summoning the latest recruit, he turned to Grug and his new allies.
"Same drill. Bring the last one out. Shadow, keep doing your thing. I'll be ready." It was time to finish this and get back to the carriage quickly.
Grug grunted in affirmation and exchanged a sharp glance with the other goblins. With practiced movements, the four of them slipped back toward the cave, their small forms blending into the underbrush.
Moments later, a guttural screech echoed from the cave. Grug burst out first, a look of exhilaration plastered on his face, followed by the last goblin—a hulking brute compared to the others. This one was larger, its jagged teeth bared in a snarl, and it wielded a hefty stone axe that glinted ominously in the filtered sunlight.
[Ding! Goblin brute, Level 10]
"Shit, that one's big," Ethan muttered, sweat breaking out on his brow. Shadow hissed softly, her tail lashing with agitation. "Alright, stick to the plan. We can take him out if all of us attack together."
But to Ethan's surprise, the other three goblins were not coming out of the cave. It was only Grug who was being chased by the goblin brute. The brute goblin roared, charging at Grug, who sidestepped nimbly, his smaller stature giving him an edge in agility.
Ethan clenched his stick tighter, his heart hammering as he realized the dire situation. "Grug, what the hell are the others doing?!" he hissed under his breath, but there was no time for answers.
He knew he couldn't sit back and wait. He did not know how it happened but their plan clearly had been exposed.
Maybe the others were injured and still alive as he hadn't received any notifications. If he did not do anything then all of his goblins were going to end up dead. He did not even know if he could run back to the carriage safely now.
Not that the driver would welcome him with open arms for bringing a goblin to their ride. Heck, the driver himself might kill him or leave him as bait and drive away in the carriage. No, he couldn't rely on someone else at this point. He had to do something.
The goblin brute's heavy axe carved through the air with a deafening whoosh, narrowly missing Grug, who rolled to the side with a groan. The sheer force of the swing left a deep gouge on the forest floor, showcasing the brute's raw power.
"Shadow!" Ethan barked. The black cat leaped forward, a blur of claws and fury, landing squarely on the brute's back.
She raked her claws down its shoulders, eliciting a roar of rage as the goblin swatted at her. Shadow darted away before the massive hand could grab her, disappearing back into the underbrush.
"Good girl," Ethan muttered, his breath quickening. The distraction gave him a sliver of opportunity.
With a determined grunt, he charged forward. He aimed for the brute's exposed flank, thrusting the pointy stick with every ounce of strength he had. He even dumped his newly acquired stat points in strength.
The stick struck home, sinking deep into the goblin's side.
The brute howled, its wild eyes snapping to Ethan. It turned, swinging its axe in a wide arc. Ethan barely had time to duck, the blade whistling over his head. The force of the swing threw him off balance, and he stumbled back, falling onto the ground without any weapon in hand.
Right at this time, Grug attacked the brute from the back aiming for the same wounded spot, driving the stick even further in.
Ethan immediately stood up and picked up a stone nearby and bashed it onto the brute's head repeatedly. Shadow also did not remain idle. The cat once again pounced on the brute and clawed him with everything she had.