Ryan chased after the scream echoing through the depths of the jungle. Behind him, the others—Kaito, Nora, Grace, and Ayaka—were struggling to keep up, falling further and further behind.
His speed was extraordinary, blending into the shadows of the forest like a ghost. But suddenly, he skidded to a halt. Before him lay a wrecked carriage—something straight out of ancient times, like a horse-drawn relic—shattered and scattered in pieces. Around it, five or six human corpses were strewn about. They looked like medieval soldiers, their bodies clad in heavy plate armor. Swords lay discarded beside them.
Without wasting a second, Ryan tossed aside his broken sword and picked up two of the fallen ones, gripping them tightly.
Just then, the rest of the group caught up, panting heavily. But the sight of the carriage wiped away their fatigue in an instant.
Kaito stared in disbelief. "Whoa, what kind of carriage is this? And why are there so many bodies here?"
Ryan replied calmly, "Looks like they got attacked by some beast. They must've died fighting it off."
From the side, Nora chimed in, "If it was a beast attack, why didn't these soldiers take down even one? I don't see any beast corpses around."
Her words made everyone pause, tension rippling through the group. They all went on high alert. On the ground near one of the soldiers lay a medium-sized dagger. Ayaka's eyes lit up at the sight, and she quickly snatched it up, readying herself.
The group scanned their surroundings carefully. Ryan sensed something on the opposite side of the carriage. He moved toward it and froze in shock. There, lying in a heap, were ten to twelve bizarre creatures that looked somewhat human. They were only about 2.5 feet tall, with green skin, enormous eyes, and long ears.
Ryan couldn't make sense of them. What kind of creatures were these? He called out, "Guys, come over here for a sec?"
The others rushed to his side, their faces twisting in surprise at the sight. Ayaka yelped in fear and hid behind Ryan.
Kaito pondered for a moment before saying, "These things... I feel like I've seen them somewhere. But where...?"
Nora sighed in exasperation. "Are you crazy, Kaito? Where would you have seen creatures like this? They don't even exist!"
"Yes! It just hit me. They were game characters. They're called goblins."
No one believed him. Nora, Grace, and Kaito immediately dove into an argument about it.
Suddenly, the scream rang out again—this time much closer. Everyone followed the sound, advancing cautiously. Ahead, they saw a soldier being mercilessly stabbed by several goblins with spears.
Ryan said in a steady voice, "Kaito, these are your prey. Don't let a single one escape." With that, he dashed toward the source of the scream.
Kaito flashed a sly grin and approached the goblins. They turned, spotting him, and hurled their spears.
He dodged swiftly to the side, evading the attack, then lunged forward.
"Blood Moon Slash!"
The strike severed the heads of three goblins in one fell swoop.
Meanwhile, Ryan reached the scream's origin. There, a girl lay on the ground, trembling. In front of her loomed a massive giant goblin, easily 10 feet tall and incredibly bulky, wielding an axe. It advanced slowly toward her.
The girl was shaking in terror at its monstrous size, screaming words in a language Ryan couldn't understand.
But he got the gist—she was begging for help. He pondered how to take down this beast. Its size and bulk made body strikes tricky. He'd aim for the head.
He charged at the goblin. Just as it raised its axe to strike the girl, it paused, sensing someone behind it. It whirled around, spotting Ryan, and let out a guttural roar.
Ryan didn't hesitate—he surged forward.
The goblin swung its axe from the left in a wide arc.
Ryan ducked low, dodging the blow, and in that opening, he slashed heavily at the goblin's knee with his sword.
The creature bellowed in pain but didn't fall, its massive frame holding strong.
It lunged again, extending its enormous hand to crush Ryan's head.
Ryan leaped back, but the goblin charged from behind, slamming him into a tree.
The impact sent a sharp pain through Ryan's chest.
He didn't let it slow him. He pressed forward once more.
This time, he crouched low and slid between the goblin's legs, leaving a trail in the dirt.
Before the goblin could turn, Ryan climbed onto its back—using its knee as a step, then its shoulder, and finally perching on its neck.
The goblin flailed wildly, arms and legs thrashing in rage. But Ryan was ready...
He unleashed his special technique.
"Rolling Slash!"
The giant goblin's head separated from its body. The massive corpse crumpled to the ground.
The girl stared in wide-eyed shock at the headless body before her. Ryan stepped in front of her, asking if she was okay.
But she responded in that unfamiliar language, leaving him clueless. As he tried to say more...
A searing pain erupted in his chest. He realized it was the poison's effect. The world around him darkened.
And finally, he collapsed, unconscious.