"Go-a-head-sho-ot!" After those words, Amara, Kael, and Selene raised their hands in the shape of a gun, starting the typical game. While these three played, you could hear the laughter and flirting of Nico and Liora, who were together but a little separated from the others.
After a few rounds, Amara noticed that Adriel had left after they discussed who should be the leader. She stood up and was about to raise her voice, but someone spoke before she could.
"I have two pieces of news: one may be our salvation, while the other may be our downfall," Adriel calmly emerged from the grass.
"What were you doing in the woods? Were you using the gear stick? You'll probably say something like trees can get pregnant and your fluid just fell on one," Kael began moving his hand up and down, simulating the movement of a man masturbating.
"You're disgusting," Selene quickly punched Kael before Amara could.
"No, actually, this might be worse.
When I left without warning, I found a lake, but there were goblins in it. This tells us that we were very lucky that they didn't find and kill us in the night. It also tells us that there could be even worse creatures out there," Adriel shared his new knowledge while stifling a laugh.
"So? I say we should go. How many were there?" Nico stood up and came face-to-face with Adriel.
"About four, but there could be others hiding," Adriel looked away. "I'm afraid of what they're capable of. Usually, they're very weak and not very horrible, but there's a manga I saw where goblins were disgusting creatures." Adriel's expression showed tremendous disgust as he spoke.
"How bad can goblins be? According to your description, they're not very difficult to defeat based on the stories in general." Selene remained in place as she tried to get an explanation out of Adriel.
"The goblins I'm afraid of are just horrible. A man's fate is to die, but women are raped and abused, breaking their mental state until they are no longer useful." Adriel looked away, terrified that such goblins might try to capture them.
Everyone fell into an uncomfortable and unpleasant silence after hearing Adriel's words.
Amara, feeling quite uncomfortable, gestured for them to look at her: "Hey, no... We can't say that fiction can be reality."
"No, the simple fact that we're here tells us it could be true, but I ve an idea: the reason those goblins are so fearsome is because they usually attack in huge groups, and when you try to go after them, you fight in narrow caves that put you at a disadvantage. The fact that those goblins are out in the open helps us overcome all those disadvantages," Adriel looked Nico and Kael in the eyes.
"No, it's too dangerous to stay here!" Nico looked to his right, where Liora was standing. "We have to move to a more remote location."
Adriel's expression darkened: "Nico... I won't force you to fight, but if you think about it, we don't know what's in other places. If we move east, north, or south, we could die horrible deaths. Generally, goblins are the initial monsters, and their position plays totally in our favor."
Kael approached Adriel and grabbed his shoulder: "Come on, I'm sure the two of us can do it."
A small smile appeared on Adriel's face: "I know." He grabbed Nico's wrist: "But it's better to be safe." Nico let out a small sigh, but followed Adriel without resistance.
Before leaving, Adriel pointed to the three girls: "Be careful." Without another word, they left.
...
The three boys stood in a circle. Soon, Adriel spoke: "I think you know this, but... there's no plan. If there's anything to say, it's that I'm going to take on two goblins, and I'm asking you to try to pop their eyes out. Although it's not lethal in the short term, it can affect their minds, and their battle level will be nullified by the clear disadvantage of not being able to see."
"Okay," Kael nodded in understanding. "Anyway, I'll help you if I finish mine before you finish the second one."
"Good," Adriel turned around and started running towards the goblins without warning. Kael and Nico reacted quickly, running after him.
Four goblins were on the riverbank, collecting water with their canteens. "Are they still collecting water? No, there's no way it takes that long." Adriel looked at them more closely as he ran and realized that these goblins were not the same ones he had seen before. "They probably organize themselves to go collect water."
After his brief thought, Adriel began to act. Once he was close enough, he spread his arms and grabbed the shoulders of two goblins to push them forward.
In just an instant, Nico and Kael were able to successfully separate their prey from the rest. Kael had no tact whatsoever and grabbed the goblin's head to sink his thick fingers into its eyes, and after applying a little pressure, they gave way and were destroyed.
Nico, for his part, tried to approach him, but he was too afraid. He felt his blood run cold as the green creature approached.
At the same time, a dance was taking place. Adriel dodged or blocked the goblins' attacks, waiting for the perfect moment. One lunged at him, putting all his weight into his attack. As it was a frontal attack, Adriel had enough time to react and kick him so that he fell.
The goblin on the ground felt Adriel climb on top of him. His hands grabbed the monster's small head and forced it to turn 360 degrees, killing the goblin instantly.
At the same time, Kael had already finished off his enemy. He was about to go help Adriel, but he saw Nico frozen in place. Without hesitation, he ran towards Nico and kicked the goblin, which helped Nico gain more confidence and move closer to grab and break the goblin's arm.
After the painful crack of the break, Kael finished off the goblin. When he turned around, he saw Adriel being wounded by the goblin's long claws, but instead of being terrified or backing away, Adriel grabbed the goblin and pinned it to the ground, beginning to repeatedly punch it in the head.
"Fuck you, you son of a bitch, die already! I swear by all the gods created that after I kill you, I'll go after your whole fucking family!!!" The rage in Adriel was palpable; the goblin's head could do nothing but give way.
Adriel felt something strange.
Without taking his eyes off the goblin's completely disfigured face, he began to stomp on his chest until he broke his rib cage. Then he grabbed a beautiful, shiny blue ball bathed in the goblin's horrendous blood.