Encountering The Goblin Lord

[Limloo hesitated for only a moment before nodding. His core glowed brightly as he replied, "As you command, my Lord. I will protect the village and ensure no harm comes to our people. The Goblin Lord's forces will not breach our defenses."]

[You stepped forward, your mind sharpening as you prepared for the task ahead.]

[Closing your eyes, you reached inward and activated the unsealing of your Lord's Authority.]

[The sensation was immediate—a surge of power coursed through you as the combined mana reserves of Limloo and the slimes became your own.]

[A faint, golden glow surrounded your body as your connection to your subjects deepened.]

[Their power flowed into you like a roaring river, and you felt a profound strength unlike anything you had ever experienced before. Each slime's contribution, no matter how small, added to the collective might now at your disposal.]

["This… is incredible," you muttered, clenching your fists. The energy within you hummed with potential, and you knew that this was the power of a true lord.]

[Limloo's telepathic voice broke through your thoughts. "My Lord, your unsealed authority suits you well. With the strength of our combined mana, you are unmatched. However, please proceed with caution. The Goblin Lord may have hidden strategies."]

[You nodded, stepping out of the hall and into the open.]

[The slimes nearby wobbled in acknowledgment, their faint glows a testament to their loyalty. "Limloo, I'll leave the village in your hands. Protect it and our people at all costs."]

["Understood, my Lord," Limloo replied. "May your strength bring victory."]

[With a deep breath, you focused on the mana flowing through your veins and cast a spell you had observed Limloo using earlier—Air Bounce. However, you employed a refined variation of it instead: Air Step.]

[Mana gathered beneath your feet, solidifying momentarily as you pushed off the ground and into the air.]

[The sensation was exhilarating. You darted forward, running across the sky as though it were solid ground. Each step resonated with power, propelling you toward the Goblin Village with blinding speed.]

[The forest blurred beneath you, trees and shadows merging into a singular green haze as the air rushed past, carrying you closer to your destination.]

[Your heterochromatic eyes gleamed with determination as you approached the edge of the Goblin Village.]

[From your elevated vantage point, you could see the crude huts and the Goblin Lord's central dwelling—a makeshift wooden structure slightly larger and more adorned than the others.]

[Landing silently on the outskirts of the Goblin Village, you crouched low, observing the goblins milling about. They were disorganized, many still reeling from the earlier assault on your village.]

[The absence of their lord on the battlefield confirmed your suspicions: the Goblin Lord was a coward who preferred to command from the safety of his lair.]

[You smirked, your lips curling into a predatory grin. "He won't see this coming."]

[Drawing upon your Lord's Authority, you heightened your connection to Limloo and the slimes, ensuring you could monitor the battle back home even while infiltrating the Goblin Village.]

[The faint mental hum of their combined mana reassured you that the situation at your village was under control.]

["Limloo," you communicated telepathically, "continue paralyzing and containing the goblins. I'm going after their leader."]

["Understood, my Lord," came Limloo's calm and resolute reply. "The village remains secure. You may proceed without concern."]

[Reassured, you turned your focus back to the task at hand. Creeping closer, you carefully avoided detection, using Air Step to ascend onto the rooftops of the goblin huts.]

[You moved with precision, each step light and deliberate as you perched atop the makeshift wooden rooftops.]

[The goblin camp below bustled with activity, but the disorganization was evident—goblins argued over scraps, repaired damaged weapons, and tended to their wounded. None noticed your presence overhead.]

[Your heterochromatic eyes locked onto the central dwelling, the Goblin Lord's hideout.]

[A crude but fortified structure stood slightly apart from the chaos, its reinforced wooden walls and watchful sentries a testament to the lord's paranoia.]

[You crouched low, observing the guards stationed at the entrance.]

[Two burly goblins armed with jagged spears stood watch, their eyes scanning the surroundings with sluggish diligence. It was clear they didn't expect an attack.]

["This should be easy," you muttered under your breath, channeling mana into your legs.]

[With a silent burst of Air Step, you leaped from your perch, landing behind the guards without a sound.]

[The first goblin turned, sensing a shift in the air, but you were faster. With a precise strike of mana-infused force, you knocked it unconscious, its spear clattering to the ground.]

[The second goblin barely had time to react before you incapacitated it with a well-placed blow to the back of its head.]

[The path to the Goblin Lord's lair was clear.]

[You pushed the heavy wooden door open, stepping into the dimly lit interior. The air was thick with the scent of damp wood and iron, and the faint glow of a single lantern illuminated the crude room.]

[Sitting at a wooden table, hunched over a map of the surrounding territories, was the Goblin Lord.]

[His messy brown hair framed a sharp face, and his leather armor bore the signs of wear but was well-maintained. At his side rested a jagged sword, its edge gleaming faintly in the flickering light.]

[The Goblin Lord looked up, his sharp eyes narrowing as he registered your presence. His lips curled into a sly grin, though a flicker of surprise betrayed his initial confidence.]

["Well, well," he drawled, rising slowly from his seat. "The lord of the Slime Village, gracing me with a personal visit. I must admit, I didn't expect you to have the guts."]