Lavesh stored the chest rewards inside his newly unlocked inventory and continued deeper into the forest.
The direction he chose wasn't random.
It was the same path the goblin had been following before its death.
If one goblin had come from there, then more monsters were probably nearby.
That was his logic.
Simple.
Dangerous.
But logical.
---
The forest grew thicker.
Branches blocked portions of the sunlight.
The air smelled of damp earth and rotting leaves.
Lavesh kept moving carefully.
Sword in his right hand.
Goblin Iron Dagger in his left.
Every sound made him alert.
Every rustle of leaves tightened his nerves.
---
Fifteen minutes later, he froze.
Three figures sat beneath a large tree.
Goblin.
Goblin.
Goblin.
---
All three were Level 1.
They seemed relaxed.
One was scratching its ear.
Another was chewing on something that looked suspiciously like raw meat.
The third was talking animatedly in a language Lavesh couldn't understand.
"Grah-kik! Grah! Kik-kik!"
Their ugly voices echoed through the trees.
---
Lavesh immediately crouched behind a bush.
His heart started beating faster.
Three monsters.
At once.
This was completely different from ambushing a single goblin.
Still...
A plan formed in his mind.
If I can kill one before the fight starts...
His eyes shifted toward the dagger in his hand.
Maybe I can even the odds.
---
Lavesh took a deep breath.
He gripped the dagger.
Pulled his arm back.
Aimed.
Then threw.
---
The dagger spun through the air.
For one beautiful second, he imagined it striking a goblin's skull.
Then reality happened.
The dagger missed by several meters.
It flew past the goblins.
Straight into a patch of bushes behind them.
---
Silence.
---
The three goblins slowly turned.
Their yellow eyes locked onto him.
---
"..."
"..."
"...Shit."
---
The goblins shrieked.
"GRAAAAH!"
And immediately charged.
---
Lavesh turned around and ran.
Leaves crunched beneath his feet.
Branches slapped against his face.
Behind him came the sound of three monsters crashing through the undergrowth.
They were fast.
Far faster than he expected.
---
If my Agility wasn't twelve...
I'd already be dead!
---
His mind raced while running.
Then his expression changed.
The goblins weren't chasing in a straight line anymore.
One suddenly veered right.
Another darted left.
Only one remained directly behind him.
---
Lavesh's stomach dropped.
"They're trying to surround me..."
The realization hit instantly.
If all three attacked together, he was finished.
"No."
His eyes hardened.
"I'm not letting that happen."
---
He abruptly spun around.
Instead of running away—
He charged directly at the goblin behind him.
---
The monster looked surprised.
It immediately thrust its crude dagger forward.
But Lavesh wasn't afraid anymore.
A thought flashed through his mind.
My sword is longer than your dagger.
---
He stepped inside the attack range.
And stabbed.
---
THUK!
---
The blade plunged into the goblin's chest.
Right where the heart should be.
The goblin screamed.
Blackish-red blood burst from the wound.
Yet it didn't die immediately.
It staggered backward, clutching the sword wound.
Losing blood rapidly.
---
Lavesh didn't wait.
The second goblin was already approaching from the right.
---
He sprinted toward it.
The goblin swung wildly.
Lavesh ducked.
Then slashed.
---
SHHK!
---
The monster's weapon arm was cut open.
Before it could recover—
Lavesh drove his sword into its chest.
---
The goblin shrieked.
Stumbled backward.
And collapsed.
---
At that exact moment—
Movement above.
---
The third goblin had climbed a tree while Lavesh fought.
Now it jumped.
Straight down.
Like a predator.
---
Lavesh reacted on instinct.
He thrust his sword upward.
The falling goblin couldn't completely avoid it.
The blade pierced its abdomen.
---
But not before—
SLASH!
---
Pain exploded across Lavesh's left hand.
The goblin's dagger sliced deep into his palm and wrist.
Blood immediately began flowing.
---
"Aghhh!"
Lavesh gritted his teeth.
The goblin crashed into the ground.
Twitched violently.
Then stopped moving.
---
The first wounded goblin finally collapsed as well.
Blood loss had finished what Lavesh started.
---
Silence returned to the forest.
---
Lavesh stood there breathing heavily.
Blood dripped from his injured hand.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Every muscle ached.
---
Then the familiar blue notifications appeared.
---
Goblin Defeated ×3
EXP Gained
---
New Notification
Three Normal Grade Chests Obtained
---
Another window appeared.
---
Open Chests?
Yes / No
---
Despite the pain, Lavesh immediately selected—
Yes.