Lin Luo sketched a map of the area. Beyond mere drawing skills, his depiction held uncanny precision—far exceeding what they’d observed while walking.
"Not bad, kid. You’re actually useful," Zhang Dajian muttered with grudging praise.
*You kid. Little Lin.* His nicknames for Lin Luo shifted randomly, leaving her utterly baffled.
"Let’s pull back," Zhang Dajian announced as dusk settled. With water secured and the map recorded, he decided it was time to return. "Move it. No dawdling."
Han Lianfei reluctantly left the streamside. The group headed back, their guard visibly lowered this time—discarding even their earlier formation. Lin Luo still trailed behind, staying closer to the three girls. Not because he was eyeing the female mage’s swaying hips ahead. He’d already sensed the lurking danger.
Just as Zhang Dajian swaggered into the woods, his greatsword slung over his shoulder, he finally noticed movement in the bushes ahead.
Four grayish-green creatures emerged, blocking their path. Their amber eyes gleamed with primal malice. Unfazed by the much taller humans, they clutched crude weapons, standing no taller than children.
"Ah!" Han Lianfei gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.
"What the hell are these things?" Zhang Dajian tightened his grip on his greatsword.
At the sight of the vile, ugly creatures, Lin Yuxun shuddered violently. Her chest heaved; breath came in short gasps. As the Holy Maiden, her eyes burned with disgust. "Everyone, be careful! They’re goblins! Though no stronger than children, they’re vicious. They hunt in packs—slaughtering men and dragging women back to their caves for... unspeakable acts..."
*Hold on, Holy Maiden. That’s straight out of some game lore. This isn’t that kind of world.* Lin Luo edged subtly closer to the girls.
The goblins stared, waving their shoddy weapons.
"Hah!" The lead goblin suddenly spoke. "Perfect! Soft city-bred adventurers! Kill the men! Take the women to the caves!"
*Seriously? That exact script?* Lin Luo sighed inwardly. *I may be the God Emperor, but how would I know the habits of lowly creatures in this endless world?* He glanced at the Holy Maiden beside him, trembling with fear. *Why does Yuxun know more about weird isekai games than I do?*
*SHING!* Li Ping drew his short sword, flashing a grin. He strode past the girls, raising one eyebrow at their frightened faces as he smoothed his neatly parted hair. At 175cm, he loomed over the sub-120cm goblins, a look of superiority flashing in his eyes. "Midgets? You dare talk of slaughtering men? With sticks and rusty blades?"
"Inferior creatures!"
Li Ping lunged, slashing fiercely at the lead goblin.
In that instant, the goblin’s eyes turned icy and sharp.
"Watch out!" Zhang Dajian yelled instinctively.
Too late.
*CRACK!* The goblin swung its oversized club with a force ten times its size, sending Li Ping’s sword flying. It leapt—Li Ping’s palm stung from the impact, his momentum still carrying him forward.
*THUD!* The club smashed into his shoulder mid-air. Li Ping crashed meters away.
The others froze, stunned into inaction—even Zhang Jie.
"Damn it!" Zhang Dajian, no stranger to brawls, charged first. He swung his greatsword at the goblins. The sheer force scattered them momentarily, but the blade’s weight made his swing wobble wildly, slowing its descent.
*THWUMP!* The sword buried itself in the dirt.
Two goblins instantly turned on him, clubs raised. The other two charged Zhang Jie—their last perceived threat.
Rustling erupted from the bushes. More goblins leapt from both sides, lunging at the girls.
The fastest one pounced behind Han Lianfei. She dodged with a shriek, but its gnarled, oversized hand snagged her robe’s hem.
"Ah——!" Her scream tore through the forest.
