The Hero's pursuit of the Goblins didn't last too long.
In the realm of humans, especially in a place like the Border City, the Goblin's pride in their numerical superiority was only a temporary advantage. As the City Defense Army and the Patrol Guards quickly responded, these roaming Goblins were soon surrounded and torn apart under the stabbing of well-crafted Bladed Spears.
Moreover, in the Border City, there gathered quite a few Adventurers of extraordinary ability. While they might not condescend to take on the humble task of eradicating Goblins under normal circumstances, in such moments, no one would stand by and let these Low-level Demons run rampant in the city.
However, in the midst of these Armor-clad, blade and spear-wielding Professionals, a barefooted girl in a white dress seemed out of place.
But when she threw a punch, compressing the air directly and shattering a nearby Goblin into dust with a loud bang, the surrounding Professionals tacitly withdrew their surprised gazes and continued their own battles.
The Hero shook her fist, casting off the non-existent blood, her face showing a hint of Exhilaration, eagerly preparing to join the others in the Goblin eradication squad.
After all, this was the first time she collaborated with so many people to hunt Goblins.
However, before she had taken two steps, the sound of painful groans and low comforting reached the Hero's ears.
The Hero stopped in her tracks and quickly turned around, her gaze locking onto a pained casualty by the wall.
It was a young woman, also the favorite target of Goblins.
Beside her lay a Goblin corpse, with its head blown apart by a distant arrow, while her body bore the marks of resistance.
Her companion was squatting by her side, also a little at a loss, wanting to help her up, but discovering that her leg was injured, could only comfort her in a tense, low voice.
Although it was not a fatal injury, it was clear that mere words could not relieve her Pain and panic.
The Hero looked around, her Perception spreading, finding that there were many more such injured civilians.
Although some Soldiers and Adventurers were trying their best to take care of the wounded, most could only perform some simple bandaging. More often than not, they would instruct the injured not to move and to wait for rescue before they continued to chase after Goblins.
There was no help for it; after all, they were a team responsible for combat, and the Church's Medical Care staff had not yet arrived. For now, the casualties could only endure the pain and wait for further assistance.
The Hero took a deep breath, no longer paying attention to the Goblins scattering in the pursuit. Instead, she quickly walked towards the wounded.
"It's alright, let me see your injury."
She approached the young woman, showing a gentle smile that made both of their guards drop.
[Hero activates Skills: Innocence, Lantern, Unpaid Love]
The Hero's hand gently brushed over the bloody wound on the casualty's forehead, a faint Radiance emerging from her palm. Accompanied by the output of Beast Spirit Magic Power, the wound was healed by the Ether, and the pain also vanished.
Without the energy to respond to the grateful words of the other party, after treating another casualty, the Hero, exhausted, wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Unable to maintain the Status of Pure Fluid, this action stained her brow with a smear of grime, but it didn't detract from the girl's beauty.
Suddenly, the Hero's expression changed. She perceived something and, somewhat surprised, looked up.
Magic Power swiftly circulated to her eyes, expanding her field of view. In the Magic Element realm that was difficult for ordinary people to see, she saw a huge magic element vacuum appearing in the atmosphere near the city gate.
The sword mark stood tall like a mountain, cleaving everything within it, leaving behind a chilling void.
"What's that...?" The Hero murmured softly, her eyes filled with a bit of shock and confusion.
[Nightmare Sage's escape has failed]
The aftermath of the Spellcasting shook the ground; intense vibrations traveled from the street's surface to the underground, causing a Goblin in the middle of a desperate escape through the sewer to stumble.
But its running didn't slow down at all; instead, it hit the corner wall with an exaggerated motion and, twitching a few times, it lay still.
Then, in the still-chaotic street above, a casualty scratched by a Goblin being supported by companions was about to be taken to the treatment location when he suddenly rolled his eyes and collapsed.
His companions exclaimed, quickly lifting him to continue for medical attention. But after being moved less than a Li, the injured person struggled back to consciousness.
Not far away, a Goblin stealthily looking for female prey also rolled its eyes, its expression becoming vacant, as if in a sleepwalk. Yet, its actions were abnormally swift, suddenly turning its head and dashing toward the city gate.
Such aberrations were not isolated incidents. Just like that, whether fainting or frenzied, the Nightmare Sage's Power covertly circulated, hypnotizing one life after another, swiftly moving through their narrow or impoverished dreams, manipulating them towards the final hurdle.
[Nightmare Sage LV42]
Constitution: 108(-10)
Intelligence: 250(-50)
This sensation was not pleasant; the nearly non-existent brains of Goblins, and humankind's impoverished Spirits whatsoever, could not bear the entire existence of a Fantasy Species. It was like trying to stuff oneself into a piece of bread or squeeze through a water pipe.