The Expedition

The next morning, a thin mist hung over the village. Sunlight streamed in through the window, dispersing the darkness of the room.

The air was filled with the refreshing scent of plants, interspersed with occasional bird calls and the sounds of villagers starting their day.

As David opened the door, he was greeted by a voice.

"Ugh, Lady Goddess, good morning!" Emma leaned lazily against the door frame, looking exhausted and clearly having not slept well.

"Morning, Emma," David replied with a smile.

"Cursed Bern, he's afraid to offend you so he made me stand guard all night!" Emma complained with a yawn.

"Ah, Lady Goddess, you're awake! Here's the breakfast I prepared for you," Leah said cheerfully.

She held a wooden tray laden with freshly baked black bread, homemade yogurt, fruits, and roasted meat, emitting tantalizing aromas.

The innocent, kind-hearted girl was doing her utmost to accommodate the honored guest.

"Thank you," David smiled and accepted the tray. He was quite touched by Emma and Leah's enthusiasm.

Just then, a slightly shy voice spoke up. "Hello, I'm Clara!"

A girl with long black hair stood to the side. Her tone was stiff, clearly she was introverted and not adept at taking initiative to interact with others.

"Hello there, Miss Clara!" David responded amiably.

Clara blushed and lowered her head.

Now all three holy maidens were gathered at the door. Emma, Leah, and Clara standing together had clearly been meticulously arranged by Elder Bern, demonstrating his steadfast faith and determination to avoid any mistakes during the upcoming Triple Goddess ritual!

"Inform the Elder that we will go to the southern woods. It's been too long since I've stretched my muscles," David instructed after finishing his simple breakfast.

Soon, at Emma's notification, the Elder swiftly assembled the village's most elite hunters and warriors.

They were familiar with the surrounding forest routes, having confronted goblins at the edges before. They knew which areas were suitable for activities and which to avoid. These were seasoned veterans of the forest hunts.

Over a dozen burly hunters, bearing spears, battleaxes, and bows, wore leather armor and hunting knives at their waists, vigor and morale high as they prepared to set out.

"We're finally going to fight those wretched goblins, huh? They'll piss themselves in fear when they hear the Lady Goddess' name!" one middle-aged hunter bellowed heartily.

"Haha, let me take the vanguard. With the tempering of the Crimson Gemstone, I feel my body's regained its youthful vigor. Let's see whose arrow can touch me!" another hunter brandished his longbow confidently.

"Hmph, you think you alone grew stronger? Thanks to the Lady Goddess, even my kids have shot up tall and sturdy!" a hunter father laughed.

The atmosphere was lively and spirited, everyone brimming with fighting morale and confidence.

"To think that punk Mark used to boast being the most gifted of our generation. Who knew he'd dare offend the Lady Goddess? He got what he deserved!" an elderly hunter with snowy hair lamented.

"Hmph, he wasn't that strong anyway. Lately I've seen Jack improve by leaps and bounds, with the Lady Goddess' potions empowering him. He may well surpass Mark soon!" another youthful hunter interjected.

David glanced over them, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Under his gaze, everyone immediately quieted, taking care not to say anything improper to offend the Lady Goddess.

"Just these men then?" David asked.

"Yes, all the elite warriors we can muster are here. The rest are either guarding the flocks at the border, or hunting deep in the woods yet to return. We still need some to garrison the village..." Elder Bern quickly explained respectfully.

"This expedition will be very dangerous," David frowned slightly.

The men all assumed the Lady Goddess felt the troops were inadequate. They hastily vowed undying loyalty and willingness to die in service.

"We're well aware of the southern Goblin King's might. Without your lead we'd never dare venture south!" Elder Bern affirmed, then tentatively proposed:

"Shall I summon more hands from the pens?"

"No. My point is, bringing too many, I may not be able to protect everyone," David elucidated.

"Just four or five self-sufficient warriors will do. No need for so many men, my power is limited."

"Huh?!"

"What?!"

The hunters were all shocked speechless. They had assumed the Lady Goddess was worried there were not enough troops to confront the goblins. Who would've thought she was actually concerned about the warriors' safety!

This meant the Lady Goddess intended to take on an entire goblin tribe alone...

For ordinary people this was simply unimaginable, far too terrifying and incredulous!

"Very well, we shall obey the Lady Goddess in all things!" After a moment of contemplation, Elder Bern decisively responded. After last night's events, he had absolute faith in the Goddess, not daring to defy her in the slightest.

The hunters also silently nodded. Though difficult to comprehend, they would unconditionally submit to the Goddess' will.

In the end, Elder Bern, Warrior Chief Joseph, three agile young hunters, plus the three Holy Maidens, nine in total, formed the expedition party, embarking on the campaign against the Southern Goblin King.

The party trekked along a forest path. Lush trees surrounded them, interspersed by chirping birds and gurgling streams.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting spotty shadows on the ground. The air was rich with the scent of soil and wild berries.

The uneven terrain forced the group to advance slowly.

Rounding a hill, the goblin settlement appeared in the distance, simple thatched rooftops and watchtowers faintly visible.

They arrived at a vantage overlooking the valley. Ringed by tall trees and dense bushes, it provided ample concealment to observe the goblin colony below.

"So this is the goblin settlement...it's far bigger than I imagined!" Joseph's expression hardened. "I sense several powerful auras here!"

As the village's mightiest warrior, even he had never ventured deep into this region long controlled by the goblins. To them, this was forbidden land, ripe for ambushes.

The others' faces also grew somber, their earlier gusto and confidence vanishing, replaced by heaviness and fear.

The thought of so many gathered goblins, with their hulking, agile forms and overwhelming aura, sent chills down their spines.

The three Maidens had gone deathly pale. Merely sensing the aura here paralyzed them with dread, limbs stiff and frozen.

"Hm?" But David seemed unperturbed, his gaze suddenly drawn toward a nearby bush.

"There's someone over there," Lynn helpfully reminded in David's mindspace.

With this body's keen senses, and Rinne's greater perceptiveness, she had already noticed the rustling.

"Alright alright, I'm coming out, don't attack me!" Right then, the bushes shuffled as a man emerged reluctantly.

He was a tall, muscular youth with disheveled blond hair, covered in blood and dirt.

His left leg was badly injured, forcing him to limp. Face ghastly white, he looked extremely frail.

Save for David, the rest were shocked to find someone concealed so close without their notice!

Warrior Chief Joseph was especially rattled. Judging by the man's potent aura, he was no ordinary fellow, even able to evade their detection.

If not for the Lady Goddess, they might never have discovered him!

"Who are you? Why are you here?" Joseph demanded gruffly.

"I'm Alec, adventurer of the Diago Kingdom Guild, LV2 Enlightenment Sentinel!" the man answered tersely.

Hearing his identity, they were even more astonished. LV2 Enlightenment Sentinel?? Such an incredible level of strength!

He was practically a warrior of unthinkable might!

In ordinary people's knowledge, cultivators were divided into four Realms - Initiation, Awakening, Enlightenment, Transcendence.

Even reaching the Initiation stage was considered a tremendous achievement. Awakened were one-in-a-thousand geniuses. Their entire village had produced only a single Level 1 Awakened, despite the True King's blessings.

Yet this Alec before them was already a Level 2 Enlightened!

Even the worldly few who had visited city-states couldn't help but regard him deferentially.

One wondered how such a powerful warrior ended up in this sorry state. What fearsome existence could have battered him so?

Apprehension and admiration filled them simultaneously.