"I thought those 3 adventurers were idiots," Giliberu muttered, holding his breath. "It seems goblins are targeted by everyone. I can't even use my Appraisal here."
Things would have been easy for him if he knew their levels.
He closed his eyes and released a wave of mana, attempting to acquire a detection-type spell.
He had seen the Elder Slime use it multiple times before; however, he didn't learn it due to the lack of time.
To his dismay, his mana couldn't enter the cave, as the crest on the corner of the cave glowed with golden light for a moment and stopped the wave of mana, manifesting a transparent gold barrier.
"Damn." He clicked his tongue. "It's indeed safe to hide here."
"I think it can even hide the noise." He narrowed his eyes at the crest, muttering, "Too confident… Let's test that."
He tore open a thin branch of wood and jumped down to a nearby tall tree.
Then he cast "Fireball!"
A crimson magic rune flared on his palm as a basketball-sized flame sphere appeared on top of the rune. He placed the branch on it. Zzz!
Once the stick in his palm caught fire, he threw it down on the trees that covered the cave.
He was still channeling his aura to Hide Presence as he hid behind the trunk of the tree.
The trees below caught on fire quickly. The smoke rose up, making the surroundings hot.
Through the blaze, a raspy, middle-aged man's roar echoed. "Who is it?"
"Water Tornado!" The middle-aged woman cast the spell as a flood of mana rushed out from the cave.
The water wiped out the raging fire with overwhelming power.
Thud! Thud!—the adventurers from the cave rushed out with strong footsteps.
"There's no one here," a young lady with short green hair, clad in light brown armor, muttered, glancing around with a scowl.
The middle-aged man in violet light armor warned, "Be careful. Look carefully, Luxi—use a detection spell."
The middle-aged woman, clad in a grey mage robe, nodded and cast "Detection" with her long brown staff.
Blue magic rune flared on her staff.
Blue energy spread out from her in all directions.
Watching from the tree, Giliberu poured his aura into Hide Presence, increasing its effect.
The wave of mana spread through him quickly and proceeded forward.
The young woman asked, "Big sis, did you find anyone?" She narrowed her eyes with a cunning glint.
Luxi opened her eyes, frowning. "No. There's none."
"Did you check carefully?" the middle-aged man asked, glancing back at the burned trees and vines.
The cave was fully on display, visible to everyone even from a distance.
Luxi nodded, brows still arched high. "Yes. I checked for a few kilometers. No presence has been detected… except for mindless creatures."
"Extend the search," the man hissed, glaring at the large trees in the surroundings.
He mused, 'Are they exceptional in hiding?' He'd doubt the large trees where hiding is easy while keeping watch over them.
The middle-aged woman nodded and cast "Detect" again. Waves of mana searched from her body, spreading in 360 degrees.
'He seems to have hidden as well,' Giliberu thought. 'He left them to me.'
He used "Appraisal," glancing from behind the trunk.
A few moments later, 'Urgh… so weak,' his lips were twitching. 'I expected them to be strong… mere level 29, 31, 27.'
'I don't even need any class skills,' He thought.
"Reinforced Body! Haste!" He no longer cared about hiding.
His hiding skill wore off as his body surged with the aura.
Whoosh!—he jumped down from the trunk and landed in front of the 3 adventurers. They glared at him, radiant eyes and wide grins.
"So it's you," the young lady muttered in the human tongue.
The middle-aged adventurer asked in a raspy voice, "Surrender yourself. We will not harm you."
Luxi's lips still curved up. She barked, "It's best if you tell the hiding spot of your… companions—"
"Else we'll have to break your bones." The young lady cut in and snapped her fingers with a cruel grin.
"Oh? You're ready to torture me?" Giliberu asked back, with an amused smile.
"You know the human tongue?" the middle-aged man exclaimed.
The woman and the young lady kept barking in the human tongue, but they never expected a reply.
"Is it so special?" Giliberu replied as his aura surged even more.
Whoosh!—he flashed in front of the middle-aged man and hissed, "Before proceeding to fight, you'll have to check one's status."
"Acid Fist." He slammed the man's chest with his glowing left fist.
Thud! The man was flung away.
"Are you idiots? Lacking even common fighting sense?" Giliberu questioned, glancing at the two women.
"How dare you?" the young woman roared, as her aura flared.
Luxi raised her staff, ready to cast, as a blue magic rune flared on it.
Giliberu's left fist, glowing gray, flashed in her eyes before she could complete her spell.
Her eyes widened as his fist connected with her nose.
Boom!
Her head burst, and blood splashed on the ground. Her body fell to the ground, twitching.
"Big Sis {Luxi}!" the remaining two adventurers roared.
"It's such a pathetic trio," Giliberu shook his head.
"Why aren't you even running or using your proper skills?" He frowned. 'Of all the humans I have seen, these three aren't even worthy to be called adventurers.'
Finally, the middle-aged man's mind clicked. He used "Appraisal."
"Isn't it too late?" Whoosh!—Giliberu stood in front of him as the man fell to the ground, trembling in fear.
"Level 34… How? How could a goblin be so powerful?" he gasped.
Giliberu felt his arms being held tightly.
He pivoted his head and noticed the young woman holding him in a tight hug.
"Uncle, run! Run—escape!" she cried, with tears flowing down.
With a slight twitch, the young lady was pushed back.
Boom!—Giliberu flashed in front of the middle-aged man, who was running with all his might, aura raging.
"Trash," Giliberu's glowing right fist connected with the man's chest.
Thud! The man fell to the ground dead with a gaping empty hole in his body.
Clap! Clap!
"Good job," the Goblin Lord praised, appearing from behind.
"We also gained a good toy." He grinned, glaring at the young woman whose body was trembling.
'She's beautiful enough to be taken by goblins… Should I kill her?' Giliberu thought, frowning. 'It would be mercy to give a good death… or.'
He glanced at Goblin Lord, who was already walking towards the woman, who couldn't even stand as she pissed herself in fright.