Soon afternoon fell and the forest to the south of Stormerga stirred as the smell of blood permeated the air.
Surrounding a small makeshift camp, five guards brandishing rusty axes and wearing leather armor fought fiercely against a group made up of dozens of disgusting creatures.
The creatures' huge eyes were completely red and their faces looked disfigured, with strange proportions and tumor-like masses of flesh surrounding their bald heads.
Their stature was no greater than that of a ten-year-old child, their green-skinned bodies fat in some parts and malnourished in others.
"Captain Clyde, we won't be able to hold out for long! We have to evacuate the baron and baroness!" One of the guards shouted towards a tall man.
"I fucking know! I just need two more minutes. Fight with your life-" Clyde's voice was interrupted.
His powerful body shuddered and he coughed up large gulps of blood as he covered his throat, which now had a tribal arrow through it from end to end.
"Captain!" The guard shouted before dropping his fight against one of the creatures and running towards Clyde, only to meet a fate similar to his captain's and fall a few meters from his body.
Soon after, one by one, the other three guards fell, finally leaving the camp completely unprotected.
The small creatures quickly organized themselves around the entrance to a dirty, decaying-looking hut in the center of the camp.
Some kept animated glances at what was inside, while others more hurriedly piled onto the corpses of the guards and tore them apart with their sharp teeth.
"Grrrhk" One of the green-skinned creatures grunted before taking the lead and advancing with quick steps towards the hut, brandishing its blunt, rusty sword with confidence.
"Die, vile creature!" A male voice emerged from the depths of the hut and a man stepped through the entrance, swinging a black sword that sliced through the small creature's chest.
The thing died with a horrified look on its hideous face.
"Who's next? You damned goblins, come!" The man shouted as he swung his sword clumsily from side to side.
With a bald head, a large belly and a short stature, his appearance was not much better than that of the goblins.
Unfortunately, all the bravery and courage in his words died the moment he realized how many goblins still surrounded his tent.
The first of the goblins stepped forward and roared before advancing towards him with a ravenous stare.
"Please... NO!" The man choked on his own words.
His body froze and his sword slipped out of his hands as he closed his eyes. His face distorted into a mixture of terror and despair.
With his eyes closed, he cowered like a coward and waited for the little creature's blade.
"Not even going to react? At least die with glory." Like a saving light, a voice entered the man's eardrums and he opened his eyes in time to see a figure in a black cloak appear beside the goblin and brandish a long sword, cutting him in half.
That man was Ethan, who glanced lazily towards the pathetic figure kneeling just behind him before focusing his eyes on the goblins.
'System, do I gain anything by killing these creatures?' Ethan asked mentally.
[System: No.]
"Hm... Then I'll have to do it out of kindness..." Ethan muttered before swinging his sword and letting all his aura pour out, pointing it directly at the group of goblins who shuddered and slowly began to take several steps backwards.
"Come!" Ethan exclaimed and his feet sank into the ground, propelling his body forward in a burst of speed.
"Ghkriii!" The goblins roared and also began to run, not advancing towards Ethan, but fleeing in the opposite direction while leaving nothing but frightened grunts and a trail of destruction behind them.
"What the fuck?" Ethan stopped his steps and his face twisted into a strange, confused expression as he watched the small creatures flee.
He knew that goblins were opportunists and would hardly fight anyone who had the upper hand, but he could count more than thirty goblins against him alone.
Running away simply didn't make sense.
Ethan was tempted to ask the system about it, but soon realized he had more important things to do when an irritating, arrogant voice entered his ears.
"Hey, commoner! What are you doing standing there? Help me up right away!"
Ethan sighed and a slight hint of regret appeared on his face as he stood up and turned towards the man.
"Tell me your name." Ethan demanded, without moving to help him.
"I am Baron Stuart Whitemane, and what name do you bear to have the audacity to speak to me like that?" The man shouted at Ethan, expecting him to cringe at his noble name. Unfortunately for him, his words had the opposite effect.
'Is this guy retarded? And what kind of baron is incompetent enough to get stuck in the early levels of the awakening stage?" Ethan asked himself, feeling even sorrier for having saved him.
'Ah! An honorary noble!' A term popped into Ethan's mind, causing him to smile contemptuously in the man's direction.
Honorary nobility was common among many merchants.
They didn't have fiefdoms or command armies, being restricted to small private guards and having insignificant advantages over the rest of the commoners.
"My name is-" Ethan decided to at least speak his first name to that arrogant jerk, but was interrupted when a soft, feminine voice rang out from inside the hut.