The two goblins reacted immediately to the attack on Lyon. As if driven by a fierce instinct of loyalty or a newly established hierarchy, they lunged aggressively at the traitor.
The attacking goblin tried to defend himself, curling his body and taking a defensive stance. But the female was faster. In an agile leap, she raised her small knife with a chipped blade and struck a precise blow. The traitor twisted his body at the last second, and the blade grazed his belly, causing only a superficial cut.
However, while he was dodging the female's attack, the other goblin had already moved silently, appearing from behind. With a dry and determined growl, he slid his rusty blade against the traitor's legs, carving two deep gashes behind his knees. The wounded goblin screamed and instinctively jumped to escape, but the leap was poorly executed, clumsy and desperate.
It was his downfall.
In midair, defenseless, he had no way to avoid what came next. The female goblin, eyes wide with rage, advanced in a precise and brutal motion. Her knife went straight into the traitor's left eye with a wet, grotesque sound.
"Keeeeeee!" The high-pitched, savage scream echoed through the clearing as the goblin fell to the ground, thrashing violently, limbs twitching in spasms, clawing at the earth like a dying bird. The pain was visible, alive, almost pulsing in his frantic movements.
Without hesitation, the second goblin, now overtaken by a silent fury, stepped forward and drove his blade into the traitor's neck with force. The sound of metal piercing flesh was muffled by two quick, almost ritualistic slashes. Blood spurted in small, dark jets, soaking the ground beneath.
With the enemy now completely still, the goblin grabbed one of the corpse's thin legs and dragged it effortlessly toward Lyon, who was still kneeling, pressing his hand to the side of his neck, his face twisted in pain as he tried to stem the bleeding.
The female goblin approached the corpse, planted her feet firmly on the ground and, with a decisive tug, pulled the knife from the traitor's eye. A viscous, grotesque sound accompanied the motion. She spat on the dead body without hesitation, a look of disdain carved into her face, and even kicked the goblin's ribs, making the body roll slightly to the side.
Then she turned to Lyon. Her gaze, fierce until then, softened slightly, as if seeking approval or recognition. The blade in her hand still dripped with blood.
"Stay there! Don't come any closer!" Lyon exclaimed, his voice choked with fear and tension. He was kneeling, one hand pressing the wound on his neck, while the other trembled slightly, raised in a warning gesture.
His eyes focused especially on the female goblin, still holding the bloodied blade. As much as she had just killed the traitor, Lyon couldn't fully trust her. It had all happened too fast, and those creatures, though small, had just displayed a terrifying ferocity.
The goblin tilted her head to the side, like a curious dog. Her wide eyes blinked twice, and then she spoke in that shrill, raspy voice.
"Babu babi?"
Lyon didn't respond immediately. Instead, he let out a trembling sigh and looked up at the gray sky for a moment, feeling a surge of despair rise in his chest.
"Damn it... Shit..." he muttered through clenched teeth, as if spitting out the words. "Why did I click that ad? Damn... why did I have to be curious?"
On impulse, perhaps driven by discomfort or adrenaline, Lyon extended his leg and lightly kicked the dead goblin's head beside him, pushing it away slightly, as if the mere presence of the corpse still made him nauseous. The wound on his neck throbbed, hot, and the blood was starting to coagulate slowly.
At that moment, one of the living goblins, the male who had participated in the attack, approached with small, cautious steps, as if waiting for some sign of permission. Lyon clenched his teeth and kept his gaze firm, ready to react if necessary. But the goblin didn't advance threateningly. On the contrary, he just smiled foolishly and began clapping enthusiastically.
"Babu babu!" he shouted, like a child praising a theater play.
The female didn't take long to imitate him.
"Babu babi!" she exclaimed, also clapping, as if celebrating the end of a big problem.
Lyon looked at the two, still wary, and with ragged breathing, asked in a low voice, almost hopeful.
"You're not going to attack me... right?"
The two goblins stopped clapping for a brief moment and shook their heads vigorously from side to side in denial. Their eyes still gleamed, not with hostility, but with a strange excitement, as if they saw in Lyon something more than a stranger. Perhaps a leader. Perhaps a master.
The tension in Lyon's shoulders eased slightly. He allowed himself to relax and collapsed onto the damp underbrush, sitting down with a muffled grunt. His hand went to the side of his neck, where he carefully touched the wound. It wasn't deep, but it stung. The dried blood was beginning to itch around the skin, and he winced as he pressed the spot.
"Damn..." he muttered, more to himself than to the goblins. The surrounding forest was silent again, as if the world itself was waiting for his next move.
"Babu babi!" the female goblin said, rubbing her belly with a clear gesture of hunger, and soon her bright eyes turned to Lyon, almost pleading.
Lyon frowned, understanding the message without needing translation. "You're hungry, huh? All right, then we need to hunt." His voice came out firm, assuming the role the situation demanded. He grabbed the knife from the dead goblin, gripping the short, worn blade with some apprehension, and looked at the two small companions by his side.
Without wasting time, Lyon began to move carefully, joining the goblins, advancing through the thick brush in search of prey that could provide food.
Minutes later, they were crouched, nearly invisible among the low shrubs and undergrowth. Breathing controlled, eyes locked ahead, where an imposing animal stood out. A huge boar, with scaly skin and not a single hair, revealed a natural carapace that reflected the faint light of the cloudy sky. The backward-curved tusks stood out like sharp blades, and the robust body, easily reaching two meters in length, exuded strength and danger.
Lyon gripped the small knife in his hand, feeling the slight weight of the metal against his fingers, and silently wondered. "Will these blades even pierce that carapace?" The fear mingled with the adrenaline, while his eyes missed none of the boar's movements.
Without hesitation, Lyon raised his head and, with authority, gave clear orders, assuming his role as commander. "I'll give the signal" he said. "You, goblin, run to that bush over there." He pointed with his finger to the left, where a cluster of dense foliage offered a perfect hiding spot.
The female goblin nodded immediately, her eyes sparkling with determination, and in an agile motion disappeared into the leaves with surprising speed, ready to execute the planned strategy.