Chapter 20: A Sudden Turn of Events

RUSTLE RUSTLE. A hurried sound approached from a distance.

Raine and Kaelin quickly identified the source of the noise. It was a flurry of panicked footsteps mixed with the sound of snapping branches and leaves, rapidly approaching their area. The two quickly exchanged a glance. The sound of boots hitting the ground meant the newcomers were likely other Adventurers, but this didn't mean they were safe; it was highly probable that the other party was being chased by something.

"It's the sound of two—no, three people," Kaelin said. Her Perception Power was evidently stronger. Her ears twitched slightly as she quickly determined the number of newcomers. "As for whether there are pursuers further away, I can't tell yet."

"Take cover. Let's observe the situation first," Raine said. He gripped his bow tightly and silently vanished into a dense bush. Kaelin followed closely behind, leaving only a pair of sharp eyes peering through the gaps in the leaves.

Before long, three disheveled figures stumbled and crawled into their line of sight. They were three young Adventurers, whom Raine somewhat remembered. When he had registered as an official Adventurer, they had been huddled in the corner of the Guild hall, chattering away. The lead Archer, in particular, had a booming voice; his nickname seemed to be Blind Shot.

At this moment, Blind Shot had long lost the boastful smile he wore in the Guild, leaving only a ghostly pale face completely devoid of color. The big guy next to him was filled with panic, his sturdy body covered in mud. A large tear at the knee of his coarse linen pants revealed a bloody gash, staining the surrounding fabric red, and he clutched a Woodcutter's Axe tightly in his hand. The last person, a scrawny young man holding a Wooden Spear, was in an even worse state; he seemed to have sprained his ankle and limped as he ran.

All three were covered in dirt and grass clippings, with sweat pouring down their foreheads. They had clearly just fled for their lives.

"It's over, it's all over!" Blind Shot gasped for air as he leaned against a large tree to rest, practically collapsing onto the ground. "Basement Rat... he's definitely doomed!"

"I told you a long time ago not to go into that damn cave, but you just wouldn't listen!" The scrawny young man with the Wooden Spear grimaced in pain from his foot and complained, "Now look! Basement Rat's fate is unknown, and I've sprained my ankle!"

"But there really is treasure in that cave!" the big guy argued, raising his voice to constantly emphasize his discovery. "I saw it clearly just now. Right at the very back, something was glowing! It was shiny; it definitely wasn't a stone!"

"Treasure? Fuck the treasure!" The scrawny young man almost jumped up, completely forgetting the pain in his foot. "That place is definitely a Demon's lair! We barged right into its home!"

"Could it be a nest of Goblins?" Blind Shot's bloodshot eyes lit up, hoping their opponents were the Green Skins they were most familiar with.

"It can't be Goblins!" the scrawny young man immediately retorted sharply, a look of lingering fear surfacing on his face. "They didn't make that weird chattering sound. I heard it loud and clear; maybe it's a nest of even more troublesome Kobolds!"

"Kobolds? Absolutely not!" the big guy abruptly interrupted him. His usually muffled voice was much sharper due to fear. "That was a giant monster! I saw its shadow the moment Basement Rat was dragged away!"

"Stop arguing! Both of you, shut up!" Blind Shot covered his ears in agony, almost on the verge of tears. "What about Basement Rat? We can't really just leave him behind, can we? Last time, he was almost gutted by that lone Warg Mount just to save us!"

At those words, the other two instantly fell silent. Only heavy panting echoed through the forest, mingling with the intermittent whistling of the wind, making the atmosphere exceptionally oppressive.

After a long moment, the big guy muttered in a barely audible voice, "But we definitely can't beat it. Going back is just suicide..."

In the nearby bushes, Raine took in the entire scene. As an Adventurer, he was naturally very interested in the shiny object inside the cave. Although he didn't know what that giant monster in the cave was, this was only the outskirts of the forest after all. Logically speaking, it was impossible for an overly strong Demon to nest here. Perhaps this was actually an opportunity to record information on a new Demon. As for the three guys in front of him, although their strength was rather limited, they could still exert some combat power at critical moments and provide at least a little necessary support.

Just as Raine was weighing whether to reveal himself immediately, a gleam of excitement flashed in Kaelin's eyes beside him. It was as if her target, the one she had been searching for in the forest for days, was hiding right in the depths of that dark cave!

She could barely suppress the urge to step out, wanting to grab the big guy by the collar and interrogate him about the cave's exact location. However, she quickly took a deep breath, forcefully pushing down the impulse. As a member of their temporary two-person squad, she still had to consider Raine's thoughts.

Just as she turned her head slightly, preparing to quietly exchange opinions with Raine, a sudden change occurred.

SCREECH SCREECH!

A series of sharp, ear-piercing shrieks abruptly rang out from the nearby thicket. Seven or eight murderous Goblins rushed out like hyenas catching the scent of blood, brandishing Stone Axes and wooden sticks. Their murky, dark yellow eyes locked onto the disheveled trio in the clearing, drool even hanging from the corners of their mouths.

"It's Goblins! Formation! Get into formation quickly!" Blind Shot yelled in terror. He clumsily tried to draw his bow, but his hands were trembling so badly that the moment he pulled out an Arrow, it fell to the ground with a CLATTER.

Before his words even hit the ground, the leading Goblin bared its fangs and brandished its claws, already swinging its Stone Axe down on them.

"Ahhh!" The big guy roared, swinging his much larger Woodcutter's Axe. Accompanied by a muffled CLANG, he only just barely managed to knock his opponent back.

More Goblins surrounded them. Shrieking wildly, they lunged at the trio, their ugly faces filled with ferocity and sinister smiles. The scrawny young man was so scared that his screams went out of tune. Closing his eyes, he thrust his Wooden Spear forward blindly. Not only did he fail to hit his target, but he also nearly stabbed Blind Shot in the lower back.

The scene instantly descended into utter chaos. The three were already exhausted from running, their faces a picture of wretchedness. Under the Goblins' siege, they scrambled helplessly to defend themselves. Even with their backs against a large tree, their defensive line was on the verge of collapse.

"This is troublesome; they just had to start fighting right here," Raine said, his brows knitting even tighter.

His gaze fell behind the big guy, where a patch of Calming Bellflowers was growing. If the big guy took just two more steps back, those few Calming Bellflowers would be trampled into mush beneath the soles of his heavy boots. After all, just one stalk of that rare plant was worth 4 Silver Lions!

Kaelin quickly noticed this as well, her delicate brows knitting tightly together. The two exchanged a glance, no longer hesitating.

If they didn't act now, when would they?