The hollow trunk was silent except for the faint hum of Arin's thoughts. Victor was snoring softly against the wall, his shield propped beside him like a loyal dog. Raul sat cross-legged, sharpening his daggers with slow, deliberate strokes. The sound was soft, but sharp enough to cut through the quiet.
Arin's eyes flicked to the glowing red panel hovering in his vision.
___________________________
Subordinate: Victor
Core Talent: Blacksmithing
Rank: Soldier (63%)
Talent Skills: Steelcraft, Forgemind
Regular Skills: Advanced Hammer Mastery, Basic Shield Mastery
Upgrade: Locked (Unlock with 100 Lord Coins)
Current Lord Coins: 102
___________________________
Victor's rank had barely moved, 1% in days. No forging, no crafting, just repairs with his trusty hammer, although he gained the basic shield mastery skill. Arin considered unlocking his upgrade panel for a moment. Then dismissed the idea.
Not now. Spending 100 coins on Raul gives us immediate gains. Victor's growth can wait. We need strength now.
He closed Victor's panel and opened Raul's.
___________________________
Subordinate: Raul Slade
Core Talent: Combat Sense
Rank: Soldier (49%)
Talent Skills: Sixth Sense, Martial Kinesthesia
Regular Skills: Basic Dagger Mastery, Nimble Steps
----------
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
Current Lord Coins: 102
___________________________
Arin's lips curved faintly. Perfect.
Do you want to upgrade your subordinate Raul Slade's skill: Basic Dagger Mastery into Advanced Dagger Mastery?
Confirm (Y/N)
"Yes. Do it."
The command sank like a blade into flesh. The panel shimmered.
Command confirmed. Skill has been upgraded. 100 Lord Coins consumed.
The letters shifted:
___________________________
Upgrade Panel (Raul Slade):
Upgrade Rank to Captain — 1000 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Advanced Dagger Mastery > Dagger Arts — 200 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Nimble Steps > Flowstep — 150 Lord Coins
___________________________
Arin blinked the panel away and looked at Raul. "So? What changes?"
Raul stood slowly, daggers gleaming in his hands. He swung one, then the other, smooth arcs slicing through the air. Then he spun them together in a blur, his wrists twisting in a motion so fluid it looked like water folding over stone.
"First of all," Raul said, voice low, "these feel… natural. Like I've been holding daggers for years."
He flipped one blade, caught it by the tip, and rolled it down his arm before snapping it back into his grip. The motion was sharp, clean, perfect.
Raul grinned, a wolfish grin. "This is awesome."
Victor blinked awake, rubbing his eyes. "What's awesome?"
Arin smirked. "I upgraded Raul's dagger mastery. Looks like he's a different beast now."
Victor groaned. "Wow, now let's fuck these goblins up."
Arin chuckled. "I'm looking forward to it."
Raul spun his daggers again, eyes gleaming. "I'm also itching to test this. Let's hunt."
They slipped out of the hollow trunk, moving like shadows through the undergrowth. The goblin village loomed in the distance, smoke curling from its crude fires. They watched from the treeline, eyes sharp.
That was when they saw it.
An armored goblin, bigger than the rest, plates of jagged bone strapped across its chest, a cleaver-like blade in its hand. It moved alone, away from the village, its gait heavy but sure.
Raul's grin widened. "Perfect timing. Let's test my upgrade."
Arin frowned. "You sure? That thing looks dangerous."
Raul clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Danger is my middle name, baby."
Victor muttered, "Pretty sure it's 'reckless.'"
Raul ignored him. He melted into the trees, silent as smoke. Arin and Victor followed at a distance, hearts pounding.
The goblin stopped near a fallen log, sniffing the air. Raul was already behind it.
One breath. One step. One strike.
His dagger flashed, biting deep into the goblin's side. The creature roared, a guttural, bone-shaking sound, and spun, cleaver swinging in a brutal arc.
Raul ducked low, the blade whistling over his head. He slid forward, daggers carving twin lines across the goblin's thigh. Blood sprayed, hot and dark.
The goblin bellowed, slamming its cleaver down. Raul twisted, Nimble Steps carrying him sideways in a blur. The blade cracked the earth where he'd stood.
Raul grinned. Faster. Cleaner. Deadlier.
He darted in, daggers flashing like silver fangs. One stabbed deep into the goblin's shoulder, the other slashed across its throat. The creature staggered, roaring, swinging wildly.
Raul danced around it, steps light, strikes sharp. Every move was instinct now, every angle perfect. He carved flesh, dodged steel, struck again.
Finally, the goblin dropped to its knees, blood pouring from a dozen wounds. Raul stepped behind it, crossed his daggers, and ripped them free in a single, brutal motion.
The goblin fell. Silent. Dead.
Raul stood over the corpse, breathing hard but grinning like a wolf. "Good game, big fella."
Arin's panel flickered:
Your subordinate killed an Elite Fellhide Goblin, +10 Lord Coins.
Current Lord Coins: 12.
Victor whistled low. "That was… insane."
Raul wiped his blades clean, eyes gleaming. "And that was just the start."
They dragged the goblin's corpse into the shadows and crouched low, watching the village from afar. Fires burned brighter now. Drums thudded, a slow, heavy rhythm that made the ground hum.
Arin's eyes narrowed. "They know."
Victor swallowed. "Know what?"
"That something's killing their scouts," Raul said, voice flat. "And they're angry."
Shapes moved in the village, bigger than goblins, hunched and horned. One carried a staff crowned with bones that glowed faint green.
Arin's breath caught. "A shaman."
Raul grinned, sharp and hungry. "Finally. A real challenge."
Victor groaned. "Why do you sound happy?"
Raul spun his daggers, eyes gleaming like steel under moonlight. "Because now the hunt begins."
The drums grew louder. The forest creaked, low and slow, like a gentle laugh.