"Goblins," Elara whispered, her hand resting on the hilt of a small dagger she had drawn. "They're close."
Drake nodded, his hand tightening on his short sword. He activated *Observe*, scanning the surrounding area. The Codex provided a few details about the surrounding flora and fauna, but no immediate threats were highlighted. It seemed the goblins were skilled at concealing themselves.
The chattering grew louder, closer. It sounded like a mix of high-pitched squeaks, guttural growls, and rapid-fire clicks. The sounds seemed to be coming from behind a cluster of large, moss-covered rocks just ahead.
"Stay close," Elara whispered, moving cautiously towards the rocks. Drake followed close behind, his senses on high alert.
As they reached the rocks, Elara peered around the edge, then quickly pulled back. "There are at least five of them," she whispered. "They're setting up some kind of trap."
Drake cautiously peeked around the rocks. He saw five small, green-skinned creatures busily working on something in a small clearing. They were hunched over, chattering excitedly to each other as they tied ropes, sharpened stakes, and dug small pits in the ground. They were clearly goblins, with their pointed ears, sharp teeth, and mischievous grins.
*Notification: "Enemy Detected: 5 x Goblin Trapper. Threat Level: Low."*
"Trappers, huh?" Drake muttered. "Sounds like they're not expecting a frontal assault."
He observed the trap they were setting. It looked like a simple pit trap, covered with leaves and branches to conceal it. But Drake noticed something else: a thin tripwire stretched across the path leading to the clearing.
"Elara, look," he whispered, pointing to the tripwire. "They've got a tripwire set up. If we walk into that clearing, we'll fall right into their trap."
Elara nodded. "Good eye," she whispered. "We'll have to find another way around."
But as they were discussing their options, one of the goblins looked up, his sharp eyes spotting them hiding behind the rocks. He let out a loud shriek, alerting the others.
"We've been spotted!" Elara exclaimed.
The goblins immediately abandoned their trap and grabbed their crude weapons: rusty swords, jagged daggers, and even a few rocks. They charged towards Drake and Elara, screeching and waving their weapons menacingly.
"Well, so much for stealth," Drake muttered, drawing his short sword. "Looks like we're doing this the hard way."
*Notification: "Combat Initiated."*
The goblins swarmed towards them, their small size and erratic movements making them difficult to target. Drake and Elara stood back to back, defending themselves against the onslaught.
Drake focused on his *Street Fighting* skills, using his superior Dexterity to dodge and weave between the goblins' attacks. He landed a few quick strikes with his short sword, sending a couple of goblins tumbling to the ground.
Elara, meanwhile, used her dagger with deadly precision, dispatching the goblins with swift, efficient strikes. She moved with a grace and agility that surprised Drake.
As Drake fought, he noticed that his *Street Fighting* skill was improving. With each strike, he felt more confident, more fluid in his movements.
*Notification: "Skill Increased: Street Fighting (Level 2)."*
The fight was short and chaotic, but Drake and Elara quickly gained the upper hand. The goblins, despite their initial ferocity, were no match for their combined skills. Within a few minutes, all five goblins were either unconscious or fleeing into the forest.