The sudden notification on Sakeer's attribute panel told him one thing — his shout had startled his hidden stalker.
Whoosh— Whoosh—
A flock of startled birds burst from the jungle canopy, flapping noisily as they disappeared into the distance.
Sakeer stood still, his sharp gaze fixed on the seemingly quiet jungle ahead. Yet no trace of movement — no shadow, no figure — was visible.
Through his time exploring the forest, Sakeer had learned something crucial about his innate Player ability: it only reacted when something entered his field of vision.
That meant the goblin tracking him had been nearby — within sight — even if concealed.
"You can hide from my eyes... but not from my ability."
His gaze sharpened.
"So, it's magic — first tier Camouflage."
Sakeer knew this spell well. It reduced the caster's presence, blending them into their surroundings much like a chameleon. While effective in dense environments like the jungle, it had its limits.
More importantly...
"Camouflage is faith-based magic... which means the stalker must be either a Forest Priest or a Druid."
There were stronger classes that could use similar magic, like Forest Mages or elite spellcasters, but Sakeer doubted a goblin would have such rare professions.
"A Druid...?"
Druids specialized in tracking and faith magic — a potent combination for someone following him unnoticed. While Druids only had three tiers of advancement — Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced — power still varied significantly even within the same rank.
Much like Paladins, Druids weren't classified as full-fledged spellcasters despite wielding magic.
"Or... is this goblin a dual-class?"
A second possibility surfaced in Sakeer's mind.
"A Forest Priest combined with a tracking-focused class..."
His expression darkened.
"That would explain why they've been so elusive."
Now that Sakeer had a general idea of his stalker's location, all that remained was to draw them out.
Camouflage magic excelled at concealment in forests, but its downside was clear — the caster couldn't move vigorously without disrupting the spell.
Sakeer shifted his stance, preparing to sprint forward — but before he could move...
Boom! Boom!
Thunderous footsteps shook the ground.
From the towering trees at the entrance of the narrow path, two hulking figures crashed through the foliage — massive ogres, each wielding crude wooden clubs.
They roared, blocking the path with their towering frames.
Sakeer's steps faltered briefly. Then, he sneered.
"So they're pulling this trick again?"
It was obvious — these ogres were stationed to cut off his retreat. If he charged into the goblin settlement now, the moment those ogres closed the gap, he'd be boxed in.
Even if he could defeat them, valuable time would be lost — enough for the goblin forces to swarm him.
"Tch... smart move."
Bang!
Without hesitation, Sakeer slammed his foot into the ground, accelerating like a bolt of lightning. He sprinted toward the entrance, faster than the ogres could react.
"Quick Slash!"
His voice rang low and sharp as he activated his skill.
Before the ogres could fully position themselves, Sakeer was already upon the one on the left. His iron sword flashed through the air — a horizontal strike, swift and brutal.
Slash!
Green blood sprayed violently as the blade carved through flesh. The ogre staggered, eyes wide in disbelief. The powerful strike had sliced it clean through the waist, nearly severing its upper body from its legs.
Blood splattered Sakeer's clothes, but he barely noticed.
Without breaking stride, he pivoted sharply and lunged toward the second ogre.
"Quick Slash!"
This time, without the skill's full force, Sakeer's strike wasn't as powerful — but still fast enough to force the ogre into a panic.
Eyes wide with fear, the second ogre raised its massive club in defense.
Crack!
Sakeer's sword bit deep into the thick wooden weapon, splintering it nearly two-thirds through. Wood fragments flew in all directions.
The force of the strike staggered the ogre, forcing it back a step.
Though ogres possessed the raw strength of demi-humans, Sakeer's superior power — bolstered by his max-level Sword Master skill — still held the advantage.
The gap was clear.
Yet...
"It's a pity."
The problem wasn't Sakeer's strength — it was his weapon.
"If only I had a better blade..." Sakeer muttered under his breath.
The iron sword he wielded was crude and barely adequate. Had it been forged from quality metal — or better yet, enchanted — his strike would've cleaved through both ogres with ease.
The surviving ogre, still reeling from the sight of its fallen companion, seemed momentarily confused. Its dull gaze flicked from Sakeer to the gory remains beside it, as if struggling to comprehend what had just happened.
But that confusion didn't last long.
The ogre's panic faded, replaced by a twisted grin. Its jagged teeth bared as it regained confidence — convinced the human's sword lacked the strength to finish it off.
"Roar!!"
With a guttural snarl, the ogre raised its free hand into a fist and swung it at Sakeer like a battering ram.
Whoosh!
The punch tore through the air with frightening force.
But Sakeer sidestepped effortlessly, his expression calm as he watched the massive fist pass inches from his face.
"A human would've turned and fled after seeing their companion die like that... yet this idiot actually went for a counterattack?"
Sakeer scoffed, his voice laced with mockery.
The ogre's fist struck nothing but air. Despite its strength, what good was power if it couldn't connect?
In that brief moment, Sakeer's empty left hand flicked upward — and in an instant, another iron sword materialized in his grip.
With precision, he thrust the blade straight toward the ogre's chest.
Shunk!
The sword pierced clean through the ogre's tough hide, driving deep into its heart.
The creature's eyes bulged in shock.
"Graaahhh!"
Its agonized scream echoed through the jungle.
Sakeer twisted the blade sharply before pulling it free, sending a spray of dark blood across the ground. The ogre crumpled, clutching its chest as life drained from its body.
Without sparing it another glance, Sakeer stepped past the two fallen ogres and continued deeper into the jungle.
Moments later, his attribute panel flickered with updated information:
『Gained EXP: 310』
『Gained EXP: 285』
『EXP Points: 3215/5000』
"Not bad..." Sakeer murmured. Even with their resilience, ogres couldn't survive after being bisected or impaled through the heart. Both were dead within moments.
Just as he was about to proceed...
"ROAR!!"
"WHOAAAH!!"
"AARGH!!"
A chorus of enraged cries erupted from behind.
Sakeer turned his head slightly — just in time to see five more ogres crashing through the trees.
"So there's more..."
It was obvious — these ogres had been waiting for him to step into the goblin settlement before ambushing him. But seeing Sakeer break through their vanguard and retreat instead had forced them to reveal themselves early.
However...
The narrow jungle path couldn't accommodate so many large bodies at once. The ogres bumbled into one another, snarling and shoving as they struggled to push forward.
"Tch... too slow."
Sakeer's lips curled into a cold smile.
Gripping a sword in each hand, Sakeer turned back toward the jungle ahead.
"Let's flush you out."
His blades swept through the air in wide arcs, slicing through shrubs, branches, and foliage with ruthless efficiency. Leaves flew, grass was shredded, and the once-dense underbrush became a chaotic mess of broken vegetation.
Hiding just ten meters away, nestled beneath the cover of thick grass and a large tree, the goblin trembled violently.
Its skin, magically altered to blend perfectly with its surroundings, rendered it invisible to the naked eye.
But that didn't stop its fear.
"I'm going to die..."
The goblin's thoughts spiraled in panic.
"I'm definitely going to die..."
The whites of its eyes gleamed amid the shadows, wide with terror. Every fiber of its being trembled, and no amount of magic could mask the overwhelming dread that consumed it.
(End of Chapter)