Cold air drifted through the tunnel.
The deeper the party walked, the darker the cave became. Water dripped from the ceiling every few seconds, the sound echoing through the narrow passage.
Kael walked near the back of the formation, just as the Guild Master had ordered.
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
He wasn't nervous.
He was focused.
The Guild Master raised his fist.
Everyone stopped.
He pointed toward the ground.
Footprints.
Small.
Fresh.
"There," one of the archers whispered.
The mage quietly lifted her staff.
"I can feel them."
"How many?" the Guild Master asked.
She closed her eyes.
"...Five nearby."
"Only five?"
"I sense more farther inside."
The Guild Master nodded.
"We deal with these first."
He looked toward everyone.
"No shouting."
"No chasing."
"We move together."
Everyone quietly acknowledged the order.
Kael listened carefully.
He wasn't disappointed that he wasn't leading the attack.
Instead...
He was watching.
Learning.
The experienced adventurers weren't just stronger than him.
They were organized.
Every movement had a purpose.
The two swordsmen walked in front.
The archers stayed several steps behind.
The mage remained protected in the center.
No one wandered away.
No one rushed ahead.
Kael quietly thought to himself.
*This is how real adventurers fight.*
Not alone.
As a team.
A few moments later...
A rough chamber appeared ahead.
Several crude wooden cages stood against one wall.
Old bones were scattered across the ground.
The smell made Kael wrinkle his nose.
One of the adventurers quietly pointed ahead.
Five goblins.
Three carried clubs.
Two held crude spears.
None of them had noticed the party yet.
The Guild Master slowly raised three fingers.
Three...
Two...
One.
"Now."
The two archers released their arrows.
Thwip!
Thwip!
The arrows struck two goblins before they could even react.
The monsters collapsed instantly.
"What?!"
The remaining goblins shrieked.
Before they could gather themselves, the swordsmen charged.
Steel flashed.
One goblin swung wildly.
The veteran blocked the attack effortlessly before striking the creature across the chest.
Another goblin tried running deeper into the cave.
"Don't let it escape!" someone shouted.
The second swordsman intercepted it.
One clean slash.
The goblin fell.
Only one remained.
It looked around in panic before rushing toward Kael.
The Guild Master glanced back.
"Kael!"
Kael understood immediately.
This was his chance.
The goblin screamed as it swung its club.
Kael stepped to the side.
The club missed completely.
Instead of rushing his attack, Kael waited.
The goblin overextended.
Its balance shifted forward.
*Now.*
Kael's sword moved.
One precise strike across the goblin's shoulder.
The monster cried out, dropping its weapon.
Kael immediately stepped back.
The Guild Master nodded.
"Finish it."
Kael didn't hesitate.
His second strike ended the fight.
Silence returned.
One of the older adventurers smiled.
"Nice control."
Kael looked at him.
"I've practiced a lot."
"It shows."
The Guild Master walked over to the fallen goblin.
"You didn't panic."
"You watched."
"You waited for an opening."
Kael nodded.
"I couldn't overpower it."
"So I waited."
The Guild Master smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Most beginners think faster means better."
"It doesn't."
Kael quietly remembered those words.
---
The party continued deeper into the cave.
The tunnel widened.
Soon they reached another chamber.
This one was much larger.
Crates.
Broken barrels.
Stolen farming tools.
Animal bones.
Goat hides.
Everything the farmers had reported missing was here.
"So they brought everything back," one adventurer muttered.
The Guild Master nodded.
"Search carefully."
Everyone spread out.
Kael walked toward one of the wooden cages.
It was empty.
Another.
Also empty.
Then...
A weak sound.
"...Help..."
Kael froze.
He quickly turned.
The voice had come from the far corner.
He hurried over.
Inside the last cage sat an elderly man.
His clothes were dirty, and one of his arms was wrapped with torn cloth.
When the old man saw Kael, his eyes widened.
"A... adventurer?"
Kael knelt beside the cage.
"It's alright."
"We're from the guild."
The old man let out a shaky breath.
"I thought..."
"...I thought no one would come."
Kael examined the lock.
It was old and rusted.
He looked toward one of the veterans.
"Can I break it?"
The older man nodded.
"Go ahead."
Kael stepped back.
One controlled swing.
Clang!
The rusty lock broke apart.
He opened the cage.
The old man slowly crawled out.
"My legs..."
Kael immediately supported him.
"Easy."
"You don't have to stand yet."
The old man smiled weakly.
"...Thank you."
"What happened?" Kael asked.
"I was checking my sheep three nights ago."
"They ambushed me."
"I tried running..."
He shook his head.
"There were too many."
Kael helped him sit against the wall.
One of the guild's healers came over and examined his injuries.
"He'll be alright."
"Just exhausted."
The Guild Master looked around the room.
"So there really was a prisoner."
He turned toward Kael.
"Good catch."
Kael shook his head.
"I just heard him."
"Most people wouldn't have."
---
Just as everyone relaxed...
The mage suddenly raised her staff.
"...Wait."
Everyone looked at her.
Her face had gone pale.
"I..."
She swallowed.
"I can feel something."
The Guild Master immediately stood.
"What is it?"
"It's..."
She looked toward the tunnel ahead.
"...Big."
A deep growl echoed through the cave.
Not from behind.
From deeper inside.
The ground trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
One of the veteran adventurers slowly tightened his grip on his sword.
"...That's not a goblin."
The Guild Master's expression hardened.
"No."
"It isn't."
Another growl shook the cave.
Closer this time.
Kael instinctively placed himself in front of the injured old man.
The Guild Master noticed.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Even in danger...
The boy's first instinct wasn't to attack.
It was to protect someone weaker.
The Guild Master quietly thought,
*He's still inexperienced...*
*But he's becoming a fine adventurer.*
Then...
A pair of enormous yellow eyes appeared in the darkness ahead.
The creature slowly stepped into the dim light.
Everyone fell silent.
No one had expected...
A **Hobgoblin**