29 One Versus Many 2

Goblins. According to some video games on Earth, Goblins are one of the few starting monsters a player encounters in the early stages of the game. They are usually portrayed as weak, easy-to-beat monsters.

Some players consider them as training dummies for their low damage output and predictable attacks which even a kid would be able to read easily. They allow new players to get used to the game mechanics and become prepared for the coming mid and endgame levels.

In the world of Alteria, however, Goblins are depicted rather differently. They are intelligent, vicious, and brutal creatures who know their strength. Goblins are aware of the fact that they are the common target of adventurers who are new to their work.

And so, they use that knowledge to lure in prey. Once these foolish people fall to their trap, a pack of Goblins will swoop in for the kill, feed on their flesh, and reproduce. This is their way of survival.

Before the others arrived, the pack of eight Goblins has been tailing Lyrica ever since the Long-legs incident. I know this because I can see everything on top of Lyrica's head like a 360 camera with a motion detector. Despite that, I've decided not to tell Lyrica nor hint about them, not just because I shouldn't, but also because I want her to figure it out herself.

A 50-50.

However, without my knowledge, Lyrica was already suspecting that she's being followed which turned out to be right.

When Lyrica threw the fishbone at the Goblin, I had a striking thought.

Back when Lyrica made eye contact with one of the green monsters, she wasn't thinking of a way to fight the Goblins alone. That is because she's already battling against them way before she reached the Snake River.

It all started after she got rid of the White Rabbits and went deeper in the forest. While on the way, Lyrica already assumed she was being followed because of her scream which resonated throughout the forest. For that reason, Lyrica immediately thinks of ways to protect herself if ever something ambushes her from the bushes, or from atop the trees.

Lyrica wasn't certain she was being followed, it was just an assumption because she's feeling it. However, after encountering the Treants, Lyrica learned that monsters are indeed stalking her.

How did she figure it out, you may ask? Well, Lyrica learned about the stalkers using the Treants' eyes.

Back when Lyrica was trying to approach the Treants, somehow, the tree monsters all looked at her in unison.

One might think this is all because of their incredible ability to sense the presence of others around them. While there is truth in that matter, the other reason why the Treants turned in her direction was because of the malignant presence coming from behind Lyrica.

While the ones in front are looking at Lyrica, the others on the far side and further back are looking at eight different angles. Thanks to her keen eyes, Lyrica is able to confirm the Goblin's presence, as well as how many are stalker her.

After that, Lyrica decided to head to the Snake River. During that time, Lyrica's back was way too open. It's almost as if she's deliberately tempting the Goblins to attack, but they didn't.

Why? Because of other dangerous creatures present in the forest.

It's not like Lyrica knows exactly where they are, but the path she took towards the Snake River appeared to be a hotspot for a lot of monsters that appeared to be stronger than any Goblin.

Lyrica witnessed a giant toad catch a White Rabbit with its tongue, she also saw a humongous flytrap she said to be capable of swallowing an adult boar.

Judging on how the Goblins did not make a single move during her first two encounters, Lyrica was able to figure out that Goblins are indeed aware of their strength. Otherwise, they'd mindlessly make a ruckus in capturing Lyrica, alerting other monsters nearby.

Soon after learning one crucial trait of the vicious green monsters, she begins to utilize their wariness by deliberately walking past other dangerous monsters nearby. It was a risky move, but Lyrica is slick enough not to get noticed.

And then, after exiting the dangerous part of the forest, Lyrica made eye contact with the Goblins. And she did it for two reasons.

First, it was to show dominance. She wanted the Goblins to know that she's not afraid of them and she has the strength to fight everyone. By doing so, the Goblins weren't able to make a move, not until the others arrive.

As for the second reason, it was for the sake of farming EXP. She gambled on Goblins to take the bait and call more of them, which they did. Had things gone differently, it would be Lyrica trying to chase them down, and possibly fall on their trap. But there's no point thinking about that now.

Her plan worked. She arrived at the Snake River and gets to eat safe and sound, just before the Goblin reinforcements came. And that brings us to now.

"They started rushing in after seeing one of them get killed, so much for being clever creatures," Lyrica remarked.

Looking back, I can't help but be amazed at how fast she picks up and understand things, as well as devising a different course of action on different occasions. But it's not over yet. Because up until now, she continues to impress me by using her head against the Goblins.

Lyrica's strength and speed may have increased, but she's not overpowered. She's well aware of that, just like the Goblins with their strength. That is why she used the same trick the green monsters tried using against her–A long-range attack.

It was only a matter of who will break their formation first. And it was the Goblins that did so after witnessing one of them being killed.

Filled with rage and vengeance, the Goblins rushed in towards Lyrica, giving her the freedom to fight them on her own accord.

Lyrica never intended on fighting them head-on. She knew exactly that fighting them all at once would be troublesome, even if she uses Heavy Metal. Not to mention, it only lasts for three minutes.

For that reason, Lyrica picked up a bunch of tiny rocks, more specifically those with a sharp edge on them.

Lyrica diligently picked up those rocks, but the Goblins failed to understand the reason behind them. To be perfectly honest, even I was oblivious to why she kept those to herself. I was only able to decipher their true purpose at this very moment.

She grabbed one of the stones from her side pocket and threw it like a pitcher in a baseball game towards another Goblin. Yet again, it was a clean headshot.

[You Have Defeated A Goblin - Lv. 10!]

[You Received 1050 EXP!]

"Two down, twenty-three more to go."