Chapter 23: Goblins...
The stench hit me like a physical blow as I plunged into the cave. It was a symphony of foulness - rotting flesh, excrement, a sickly sweet perfume that hinted at something far worse. The dim light revealed a scene straight out of my nightmares. Goblins sprawled everywhere, some curled up on piles of refuse, others gnawing on decaying bones. In the center of the cavern, two goblins were locked in a grotesque parody of mating, their contortions illuminated by a single, glowing fungus.There were females here, smaller and less imposing than the males, but with the same sickly green skin and pointed ears. The sight of them mingling, breeding, living in this festering pit of filth.
Gruesome scenes unfolded before me – goblins rutting indiscriminately, males ganging up on smaller ones, no respect shown to age or even pregnancy. It was a barbaric display that defied every instinct of decency I possessed.
Disgust roiled in my gut, a primal revulsion that clawed at my throat. It wasn't just the sight; it was the sheer indifference. They didn't seem to notice the filth, the stench that would have sent a human reeling. They lived in it, thrived in it.
But alongside disgust, a cold anger simmered. These creatures weren't just repulsive; they were a mockery of life itself. How could anything exist in such filth? How could they procreate, perpetuate this cycle of filth?
The rage flared brighter, pushing back the unease that gnawed at the edges of my resolve.These weren't just creatures to be eradicated; they were a disease, infecting the very fabric of this world. Mother hadn't just trained me to fight; she had trained me to see the world in stark terms – us or them. And these goblins, with their depravity, their stench, were most definitely them.
My presence, thankfully, went unnoticed. My movements were silent, my form a blur in the dim light. The ice spike materialized in my hand, a silent promise of death. This wasn't about gaining experience; it was about cleansing. This cave, once a haven for these vile creatures, would become their tomb.
Their savagery wouldn't be tolerated. Today, this cave would become their tomb, a chilling testament to the consequences of their depravity.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on the power coursing through my veins. This wasn't just about brute force anymore. It was about strategy, about using their own barbarity against them. A plan, cold and precise, began to form in my mind.
With a silent snarl, I emerged from the shadows, the icy glint of my weapon a stark contrast to the fetid darkness. The goblins, momentarily startled from their depravity, turned towards me, a cacophony of shrieks and guttural roars filling the air.
They may have been many, but they were a disorganized rabble. I would exploit that weakness, turn their chaotic nature against them. Let them drown in their own savagery as I carved a path through their ranks.
I moved with a predator's stealth, taking down goblins one by one. My emotions were a tangled mess – disgust, fury, a strange sense of pity for these wretched beings. But pity wouldn't win this war. It wouldn't protect the world from the even greater threats that loomed.
As I moved deeper into the cave, the stench intensified, almost overwhelming. But I pressed on, my resolve hardening with each goblin that fell. This was my burden to bear, this descent into the darkness. This was the price of becoming the warrior Mother had envisioned, the warrior who could face anything, anything at all.
The stench was momentarily forgotten as the cave erupted into chaos. A volley of arrows, infused with the swirling power of wind magic, ripped through the air towards me. The lead arrow, faster and more accurate than the goblin rabble I'd expected, forced me to dive to the side. Rolling through the filth, a flicker of surprise flickered through my mind.
There, in the dim light, stood a goblin unlike any I'd ever seen. Dressed in a crude leather jerkin, its green skin surprisingly clean, it surveyed the scene with an air of command. Not all goblins were degenerates? The thought flickered, sparking against the cold fury that still burned within me. But then I saw it – the other goblins, just as filthy as ever, nocks drawn on their makeshift bows. The answer was a resounding no.
Dressed or not, they still made this filth their home, and by proximity, were filth themselves. My mission remained unchanged – green extermination.
The robed goblin snarled, gesturing to the others while drawing its own sword. It was a six-star, its eyes gleaming with a cruel mockery that mirrored the four-star archers behind it. Fury threatened to boil over, but Mother's teachings echoed in my mind. "Emotions cloud judgment." I channeled my ice,I sliced through the barrage of arrows, transforming myself into a whirlwind of ice and steel. My own icy bow materialized, arrows singing through the air as I targeted the goblins firing upon me. The leader, now wielding a wickedly curved sword, met me head-on. A six-star, his mocking grin mirrored the derision in the eyes of his four-star brethren.
Anger clawed at me, but years of training held it back. Emotions were a liability in combat, a truth Mother had drilled into me. We clashed, blades singing a deadly song. Strength, however, wasn't my only advantage. A swift knee aimed at his face was met with a surprising dodge. But I wasn't finished. Mid-air, I backflipped, conjuring an icy bow and sending a frosted arrow towards his heart.
He reacted with inhuman speed, swirling his wind magic, deflecting my arrow and sending a barrage of wind blades back at me. An ice shield materialized just in time, the blades clattering harmlessly against it. We locked eyes, a silent battle of wills.
A tense silence followed. Then, I pointed a finger upwards. The goblin followed my gaze, its eyes widening in horror. Dozens of ice swords hung suspended, gleaming in the dim light. With a flick of my wrist, I sent them raining down, skewering the goblin leader.
The ice pierced through him, pinning him to the cavern floor. With a cold finality, I turned to the remaining goblins.
"You done spectating?" I spat, my voice echoing in the silence.
"You done spectating?" I growled, turning towards the darkness where red eyes were starting to flicker. My senses screamed with the presence of threats – a horde of goblins, four-stars, five-stars, even a couple of pseudo seven-stars.
This was no longer just a cave overrun with filth. This was an organized force. But fear? It didn't feel any. I was an Isolde warrior, honed for battle. Today, this cave wouldn't just be purged – it would become a testament to my strength, a warning to all who dared to underestimate me.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone