The hollow trunk was quiet except for the sound of Arin's breath. He stared at the glowing red panel hovering in his vision, its letters sharp and regal.
___________________________
Subordinate: Raul Slade
Core Talent: Combat Sense
Rank: Soldier (43%)
Talent Skills: Sixth Sense, Martial Kinesthesia
Regular Skills: Basic Dagger Mastery, Quick Footwork
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Upgrade Panel (Raul Slade):
Upgrade Rank to Captain — 1000 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Basic Dagger Mastery → Advanced Dagger Mastery — 100 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Quick Footwork → Nimble Steps — 70 Lord Coins
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Current Lord Coins: 72
___________________________
Arin's eyes narrowed. They had enough for one upgrade. And Raul was their blade, their edge. Every coin spent here mattered.
The panel pulsed, waiting.
Do you want to upgrade your subordinate Raul Slade's skill: Quick Footwork into Nimble Steps?
Confirm (Y/N)
Arin didn't hesitate. "Yes."
The command sank like a stone into water. The panel shimmered.
Command confirmed. Skill has been upgraded. 70 Lord Coins consumed.
The letters shifted:
___________________________
Upgrade Panel (Raul Slade):
Upgrade Rank to Captain — 1000 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Basic Dagger Mastery → Advanced Dagger Mastery — 100 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Nimble Steps → Flowstep — 150 Lord Coins
___________________________
Arin blinked the panel away and looked at Raul. "How do you feel?"
Raul tilted his head, then flexed his legs. "Lighter." He activated the skill. His body blurred, one step, two, then a leap that carried him halfway across the clearing. He landed softly, almost soundlessly.
Raul grinned, sharp and rare. "Yeah… I'm about twice as fast. And it's weird. Feels like the skill's been carved into my head. Like it was always there."
Victor gawked. "What just happened?"
Arin smirked. "I upgraded his Quick Footwork skill. Looks like the speed is doubled. A pretty successful upgrade, I'd say."
Victor's jaw dropped. "You can actually do that? I thought you were just joking? Me next! Me next!"
Arin chuckled. "Later. For now, Raul's our carry. He needs to be as strong as possible."
Raul spun his daggers, eyes gleaming. "I'm pumped. Let's test this in a real battle."
They didn't wait long.
The next goblin scout never saw Raul coming. One blur, one flash of steel, and its head rolled into the moss before it could scream. Arin's panel flickered:
Your subordinate killed a Soldier-rank Fellhide Goblin, +2 Lord Coins.
Current Total: 4.
Raul grinned like a wolf. "Next."
The hunt began.
They circled the goblin village like shadows, striking fast and vanishing before the forest could twist paths against them. Raul was a storm, daggers flashing, feet whispering over roots. Arin held the line when needed, sword biting deep. Victor… Victor surprised them.
When five goblins rushed their bait spot, Victor, shield in hand, planted his feet like a wall.
Victor gritted his teeth. "I hate tanking."
The first goblin slammed into him. The shield rang like a bell. Victor roared, half fear, half fury. And shoved back hard enough to send the goblin sprawling. His forging hammer swung next, clumsy but brutal, cracking bone with a sound like breaking stone.
Arin grinned. "Not bad."
Raul didn't waste time. He was already behind the goblin archer, daggers carving silence into its throat. Blood sprayed, hot and dark. The goblins panicked. Raul cut through them like wind through grass, fast, merciless.
Victor blocked another strike, hammer smashing down. Arin's blade swept in tight arcs, holding the line. When the last goblin fell, the clearing stank of iron and sweat.
Victor collapsed against a tree, panting. "I… I think I broke my arm."
Arin checked him. "You're fine. It's just bruised."
Victor groaned. "I hate this plan."
Raul grinned. "I love it."
They kept going.
One scout. Two. Five. Ten. Raul's speed turned every fight into a slaughter. Arin's blade kept them at bay, and Victor's Shield and hammer, heavy and ugly, became a weapon of fear. Goblin skulls cracked like rotten fruit.
By the end of the day, fifty more goblins lay dead in the dirt. The forest reeked of blood. Arin's panel glowed bright:
___________________________
You've gained Lord Coins: +98.
Current Lord Coins: 102.
___________________________
Victor slumped against the hollow trunk, sweat dripping down his face. "Fifty goblins. Fifty. Do you know how insane that sounds?"
Arin wiped his blade clean. "Insane keeps us alive."
Raul sat cross-legged, daggers resting on his knees. His eyes gleamed in the dim light. "We're not done."
Victor groaned. "Please tell me we're done."
Arin's lips curved faintly. "Not yet."
Outside, the forest creaked, low, slow, like laughter.