A swarm of goblins lay hidden in a dense patch of underbrush, their long green ears twitching slightly beneath the leaves. The foliage filtered the sunlight in slivers, casting the scene in an eerie emerald glow.
"Hah! Look at those clueless humans," one goblin snickered, peering through a battered spyglass, his beady eyes gleaming with malice.
They were a savage race—cunning, aggressive, and completely unrepentant. Already, they were discussing how to divide the spoils.
"Kill the males," one grunted. "Save the females. Use them first. Then kill them."
Laughter rippled through the group, crude and ugly. Greed and lust were already written across their twisted faces.
A goblin nearby turned toward Kaito, who stood silent at the back of the pack.
"Hey, Kaito—after this, let's go find some elves. Heard you've got one back in your quarters, don't you?"
The others perked up, eyes narrowing with envy and interest.
"Really? An elf? You're holding out on us, huh?"
Kaito didn't answer.
Another goblin leaned in with a leer. "Bring her out for us. Don't worry, we won't ruin her... much."
The goblins laughed, circling closer.
That was the last straw.
Kaito moved.
Steel flashed in the sunlight.
The closest goblin dropped before he even realized what had happened—his throat cut clean, blood gushing across the moss-covered earth.
"What the—?!"
The goblins froze, staring at the twitching corpse.
"Kaito!" one shouted. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Goblin Mang stepped forward, feigning outrage. "You just murdered your own! That's a crime!"
Kaito's cold gaze swept across them. A faint smirk touched his lips.
"You want elves?" he said quietly. "Then go find them. In the afterlife."
"You arrogant bastard!" Mang snarled. "You think the General's protection means anything out here?"
He drew a blade and lunged.
Kaito vanished.
A blur of motion—and suddenly he was behind Mang. A dagger plunged deep into the goblin's chest. Mang gasped, mouth wide in disbelief, as blood spilled from his wound.
Kaito pulled the blade free.
"Who's next?" he asked calmly.
The goblins hesitated—then rage overtook fear.
"Kill him!"
Steel rang out as they charged. Axes, swords, crude spears. A dozen goblins rushing forward, howling for blood.
But Kaito was already moving.
He slipped between shadows, his movements fluid and silent. A sword arced toward him—he ducked. Another thrust—he spun past it. His dagger found a throat, then another. The forest floor was slick with blood.
The goblins fell one after another.
And as they died, a voice echoed in Kaito's mind:
[You have slain a goblin. Predation successful: +1 Strength][Predation successful: +1 Speed][Predation successful: +1 Constitution][Predation successful: +1 Strength]
"No—please!" one goblin shrieked, stumbling backward.
But Kaito was already behind him.
Steel flashed.
Silence followed.
The clearing was slick with blood. Bodies sprawled across the ground, limbs twisted at unnatural angles. The few goblins still breathing were barely clinging to life.
Goblin Mang, half-slumped against a tree, stared in horror.
This wasn't the same goblin they once sneered at. This wasn't a runt.
This was death wearing a goblin's skin.
"I—I was wrong..." Mang whimpered, falling to his knees. "Please... I didn't mean it..."
No answer.
He waited.
No blade came.
Relief flooded his face.
He dared to smile.
And then—
A silver arc of light.
Mang's head flew from his shoulders before the smile could fade.
His body slumped forward, blood gushing onto the forest floor.
[You have slain a goblin. Predation successful: +1 Strength][Predation successful: Acquired Talent: Speed Enhancement D]
Kaito stood still, expression unreadable, blade dripping red.
No mercy. No hesitation.
Only the hunt.