Victor and Kierra clicked without hesitation.
And why wouldn't they?
This was nothing short of a heaven-sent opportunity. They had planned to attack the den anyway, but now, with an official quest backing them, they had a chance to gain additional rewards while doing what they had already set out to accomplish.
"Be careful. There could be higher-level Hobgoblins in there," Kierra warned, her voice low but firm.
Victor nodded, his gaze shifting toward the darkening sky. Evening was fast approaching. The Hobgoblins inside would soon realize something was wrong when their warriors failed to return as expected.
Or worse—they might already be aware of the attack and be lying in wait, ready to ambush intruders.
So caution was essential. A single misstep could turn them from hunters into prey.
"Let's move," Victor whispered before stepping forward with silent steps with leather boots.
Kierra followed closely, swiftly ducking behind one of the rocky structures for cover.
They advanced cautiously, scanning their surroundings for any potential traps. Thanks to Victor's past life experience, he had an uncanny knack for detecting hidden dangers. A mere glance was often enough for him to determine whether a trap had been set.
But to his mild surprise, the entrance was clear—no tripwires, no pitfall, nothing.
The house before them was slightly apart from the rest and noticeably larger than the average human dwelling on Earth. The crude construction of wooden beams, stone slabs, and thatched leaves served as a reminder that Hobgoblins prioritized function over aesthetics.
As they crept inside, a series of muffled sounds reached their ears—panting, low grunts, and occasional moans.
Kierra's face immediately turned red as her gaze landed on the sight before them.
Inside, two female Green Goblins and a male Hobgoblin were engaged in a heated, intimate act. Their bodies tangled together, oblivious to the silent intruders who had just entered their den.
Kierra clenched her fists and quickly averted her gaze, suppressing her embarrassment.
Victor, however, remained cold and unfazed. This was not a time for hesitation or discomfort.
These creatures were brutal killers—monsters that had massacred countless travelers, raided villages, and taken people captive for their twisted desires.
No matter what they were doing now, it didn't change their fate.
They all had to die.
But the next sight made Victor's heart tremble, his breath hitching as his eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
Against the far wall, a human girl lay bound by thick, crude ropes, her body stripped bare. Her once-living flesh was now cold and lifeless, her abdomen grotesquely torn open, internal organs missing.
Her mouth hung open in a silent, eternal scream, filled with a viscous green liquid.
Victor didn't need to think twice to understand what that liquid was.
It was the secretion produced by male Goblins.
The realization sent a deep chill down his spine. This girl had been brutally violated, tortured, and then killed in this very place.
Kierra, who had been cautiously peering from behind him, caught sight of the scene and immediately covered her mouth, a muffled gag escaping her lips.
Her entire body trembled.
The sheer cruelty, the unimaginable suffering this girl had endured—it was horrifying beyond words.
As a woman herself, Kierra felt sick to her core. She wanted to scream, to vomit, to look away and pretend she hadn't seen it.
But at the same time, something inside her burned hotter than ever.
A fiery rage surged within her, so intense that her irises briefly shimmered like bright embers.
Her hands clenched into fists.
These monsters…
They didn't deserve to live.
"Whoosh!"
Kierra lunged forward in an instant, her movements fueled by sheer fury. The dagger in her grip ignited with an intense, fiery glow, radiating raw destructive energy.
Victor wanted stop her but couldn't.
Though his sharp eyes caught the unusual brilliance of her weapon. The flames around it were far more potent than any basic fire spell he'd seen her use before.
Was this a hidden spell she had yet to reveal?
Or… something else entirely?
Victor had no way of knowing what kind of power Kierra had just unleashed, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
The male Hobgoblin froze mid-thrust, his ears twitching at the faintest noise. His yellow eyes darted toward the entrance—just in time to see a blinding flash of fiery light.
A split second later, his head flew off his shoulders, rolling onto the dirt floor with a sickening thud.
The two female goblins shrieked in horror, their wails echoing through the hut. Green blood splattered across their bare bodies as they trembled in fear.
But their cries lasted only a moment.
"Flash!"
A crimson arc sliced through the air.
Their heads separated from their bodies, spinning before landing lifelessly on the ground.
Kierra stood over the corpses, panting heavily. The power she had just unleashed had taken a toll on her. But even though her body ached, she felt no regret—only grim satisfaction.
Still, the price for her rage came swiftly.
The noise had undoubtedly drawn attention.
Her fiery eyes met Victor's, guilt flickering in their depths. But he didn't give her a chance to speak.
Without a word, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the hut, dragging her behind a nearby wooden barricade.
Just as they crouched into cover, the village erupted into chaos.
More and more Hobgoblins spilled out from their crude homes, snarling and shouting in their guttural language. Their numbers grew rapidly—at least a hundred of them now filled the village center, their sharp weapons gleaming under the dimming sky.
Victor and Kierra exchanged tense glances, both understanding the situation had taken a dangerous turn.
So much for a stealthy extermination.
Some of these creatures were mere civilians, but mixed among them were several warriors—battle-hardened fighters, each more dangerous than the last.
And worse yet, they spotted at least a few level 9 Hobgoblins among the horde.
Their mission had just become far more difficult.
As the green monsters crept closer, Victor let out a weary sigh.
"I'm sorry, Raizel. It's all my fault. Please forgive me," Kierra whispered, her voice trembling with genuine guilt and shame.
She felt she had acted immaturely and feared that Victor might blame her for what had happened.
To her surprise, Victor simply shook his head and replied, "It's okay, Kierra. It happens to all of us at some point. Although, this might be proven our last mistake," he joked lightly.
Kierra playfully pinched his waist, momentarily distracted from the overwhelming guilt she felt.
But both of them were tensed inside, because the life-and-death moment drew near. They knew well that this battle could very well be their last, but they were determined to fight honorably until the very end.
Victor was unwilling to give up; he had envisioned a grand future for himself, yet that vision now seemed bleak. Still, no matter how reluctant he was, fate would take its course.
Oscar and Lulu, their pets, trembled as they clung to their owners, their little lives hanging by a thread.
Slowly, the Green monsters advanced toward their hiding location armed with large weapons and ready to strike at any intruder at sight.
The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and the duo waited patiently behind the wooden barricade.
Step, step, step.
Then, finally, a figure appeared to the right side of the barricade and the duo became completely exposed.
Victor's heart beat faster, realizing they were caught at last.
But they couldn't just stood idly by.
He was just about to strike, but something astonishing happened next.
The Hobgoblins who had come searching for them, suddenly paused, their eyes scanning the area for a few fleeting moments before they scratched their heads in puzzlement, as if they couldn't see anyone at all.
"Just what is going on?"