Chapter 84 – Goblin Settlement

Chapter 84

Goblin Settlement

Date : Day 7 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Hyoren and Elise continued their walk. Their boots crunched against loose stones. The morning air grew warmer as the twin suns climbed higher.

Hyoren scanned around. On the ridge. The rocky terrains. The sparse pine trees that clung to the slopes. Searching for any sign of movement. Any threat.

"Elise, let's move away from the main path."

Elise nodded. Her emerald eyes swept across the landscape.

"True, we need to circle around."

She gestured toward the western slope.

"We shouldn't approach the Old Quarry from the main road."

They changed their course. They didn't follow the main path. Instead, they angled west. Using the rocky outcrops and sparse, thorny bushes as cover. Every step was measured. Deliberate. They were no longer just adventurers. They were predators stalking a much larger prey.

They continued walking. Avoiding jutting rocks. Looking for an easy path to traverse. Unlike the main path which saw some traffic despite being sparse, they now walked over treacherous terrain. Loose gravel. Hidden crevices. Uneven ground. It slowed down their pace considerably.

Elise checked the direction of the mountain. Her gaze swept across the peaks. The rocky slopes.

"I think we should reach the Old Quarry soon, Hyoren."

Hyoren also looked at the surroundings. The terrain was growing rougher. More desolate. The vegetation was sparser. The air carried a faint musk.

"So far, we haven't encountered any other goblins."

He scanned the ridges.

"But let's do as we plan. We avoid the quarry first. Look for a high cliff. A vantage point… A place where we can see the quarry in a clear view."

Elise looked at him. Nodded.

"Yeah. Let's do that."

The land rose steadily. A series of steep, rocky ridges that offered increasingly commanding views of the surrounding landscape. They climbed in silence.

After an hour of careful, silent climbing, they found what they were looking for.

They had successfully circled the Old Quarry. And now their position was directly north and above the quarry.

Hyoren looked around. His eyes swept across the ledge. The rocks. The trees.

"Elise, this place is… Perfect."

He walked over to the edge of the cliff. His boots stopped at the drop. The wind brushed against his face.

"This vantage point is too good for us."

He looked back at her.

"It's almost like it was specifically made for us to scout the Old Quarry."

Elise walked over to him. Her steps were quiet on the rocky ground. She stood beside him. Taking in the scenery.

"Yeah, Hyoren. This place is perfect."

Hyoren then turned his eyes to the place.

It was a broad, flat ledge on the face of a sheer high cliff. About a kilometer north of the Old Quarry. The rock surface was smooth and solid. Large enough to set up a camp.

He looked back at the Old Quarry direction. The view was unobstructed and clear.

The approach was hidden from below by a jumble of massive boulders. A massive oak tree grew near the edge. Its branches spread wide. Offering both shade and an additional layer of concealment.

Most importantly, the ledge provided a breathtaking, panoramic view of the entire Old Quarry.

"We can erect a tent here."

He turned to Elise.

"Without worrying the goblins might see us."

Elise went over to the tree. Checking them. Her hand touched the rough bark.

"Yes. These massive rocks and oak tree provide concealment."

She looked up at the branches.

"The foliage is thick enough to hide our silhouettes."

She then checked the solid ground. Her boots stepped on the rock. Testing and probing.

"And the cliff will provide shelter for us."

She nodded.

"We still need a tent as the weather is cold, but on hotter nights, this place provides enough wind break."

Hyoren then looked over the ledge. The drop was steep. No one could climb up without making noise.

"Elise, come here."

He waved.

"Look at that Old Quarry."

Elise walked over. She stood on his side. And looked over the edge.

The quarry was a massive, ugly scar on the land. A huge, bowl-shaped depression carved out of the earth by centuries of stone industry. All of Akela's stones came from here. Once, it had been a place of industry. Workers. Noise. Life.

Now it was something else entirely.

Steep, terraced walls descended to a flat, dusty basin below. The remains of old stone industry structures littered the floor. Crushing platforms. Support pillars. The skeletal frames of long-abandoned workshops. It was a maze of stone and shadow. A perfect place for an infestation to hide and multiply.

But it was no longer just an infestation.

Elise squinted her eyes. Focusing on the details below.

"Mara was right. There was no more infestation. It's a huge settlement."

She scanned the basin. Her emerald eyes traced the structures. The walls. The movement of goblins.

"Crude wooden walls. Shacks. Watchtowers."

She shook her head slowly.

"It's an organized army."

She looked at Hyoren. Her expression was serious.

"Now I'm sure it's a Goblin Lord who led this, Hyoren."

She gestured toward the settlement.

"If it was a Shaman, there would be more totems or indications of magic being used. This camp shows a clear hierarchy and primitive army structure."

She looked back at the goblin settlement. Her eyes narrowed.

"Now. We need to gauge their numbers."

Hyoren nodded. He activated his Aethell Sense. The world shifted. Colors brightened. Magical signatures appeared as soft glows.

He scanned the settlement with his new perception. Hundreds of tiny specks of malevolent energy scattered throughout the quarry floor. Larger clusters near the old stone buildings. The magical signatures pulsed.

He deactivated his skill. The world returned to normal.

"Elise, I checked their numbers."

He turned to face her.

"And it's indeed higher than we expected."

His expression was serious.

"I can easily see over 200 goblins in the settlement. And that's before we count the ones inside the buildings or quarry tunnels."

Elise nodded. She tapped her chin. Calculating.

"200 visible. So I assume the total number might reach 300. Or even 400."

Hyoren grimaced. The number was daunting. Far more than they had anticipated. He met her eyes.

"That's a lot. But we'll still do it. Right?"

Elise smiled. Reassurance warmed her features.

"Yes, Hyoren…"

She placed a hand on his arm.

"The number is way bigger than we first estimated. But we can still do it."

She squeezed his arm.

"As long as we are careful."

Hyoren nodded. His determination returned.

"And luck is on our side too."

Elise scanned the clearing. The ledge. The rocks. The view.

"That's right. This clearing is a godsend."

Hyoren's grin widened. It was like the gods giving them a tool to overcome their adversaries. The perfect vantage point. Perfect camping site.

He whispered. His voice low.

"This is it, Elise. This cliff is made for us."

He gestured toward the quarry below.

"We can see everything from here. Patrol routes. Gathering points. Their main encampment… It's all laid out like a map."

He looked around their ledge. A strategic plan was already forming in his mind.

"We'll make a temporary base here."

He turned to her.

"It's defensible. Concealed. Close enough to strike but far enough to remain safe."

He paced across the ledge.

“We can observe for the rest of the day. Establish their patterns. And plan our first ambush for dusk or dawn tomorrow."

Elise nodded in agreement. Her eyes were already tracing potential paths and ambush points below.

"It's perfect."

She pointed toward the boulders.

"We can use the boulders to break up our outline and the tree for cover."

She turned to him.

"No one will be able to see us from below unless they know exactly where to look."

***

Without another word, they set about establishing their small, temporary base.

Elise first took out their camping gear. Their tent. Tarp. Sleeping bag. Each item materialized from the void of her storage bag. She then moved around the clearing. Placing the four square Ward Stones around the perimeter. The protective barrier would keep them hidden and safe.

Hyoren meanwhile took the tent. He picked the place hugging the cliff. Far away from the edge. Where the rock face provided additional shelter. He erected the tent with practiced motions. Driving stakes. Securing poles. He had already experienced doing this. Countless times.

Next, he laid out the waterproof tarp and sleeping bag on the ground. Near the edge. This would become their place to observe the goblin settlement. The position offered a clear line of sight. Unobstructed. Perfect for surveillance.

He then looked at Elise.

"I think we should not light a campfire, Elise."

He gestured toward the quarry.

"The boulders and trees conceal us, but smoke and fire might still be visible through the foliage."

Elise nodded. Her silver hair fluttered in the breeze. The wind carried the faint scent of pine and distant goblin musk.

"I agree."

She reached into her storage bag.

"We'll use our magic lamp, toned down to dim light as our light source."

She then swirled. Her cloak swayed with the motion. The fabric rustled softly.

"And as long as we keep wearing our cloaks, we don't need fire to warm our body."

They then sat on the laid out tarp. The fabric was cool beneath them. The stone ledge was solid. Stable. Elise took out their portable magic stove. The small device appeared in her hands. Compact. Efficient.

"We can't light a campfire."

She set up the stove.

"But at least we can still cook a warm meal and boil water to make warm tea."

Hyoren's smile widened. His hands rubbed together. He already felt some chill. The autumn air was crisp. A warm drink would be welcomed.

"I would love a cup of hot tea, Elise."

Elise then worked with the kettle. She prepared the tea leaves. The Yilmint and Blue Tea leaves. Their favorite. The leaves were fragrant. Aromatic. Then she poured the hot water after it was done boiling. Steam rose from the kettle. Curling into the cool air.

She gave one of the mugs to Hyoren. The ceramic was warm against his palms.

"Thanks, Elise."

He sipped the tea. The warm drink enveloped his body. Spreading warmth from his throat to his stomach. The familiar taste was comforting.

She then sat beside him. Looking over the goblin settlement. Her shoulder brushed against his.

Hyoren looked at her. Her emerald eyes reflected the distant view.

"Now, we wait while observing."

He gestured toward the quarry.

"Noting their schedule. Their patrol routes. Their composition."

Elise sipped the tea. And nodded.

"Okay, Hyoren." She lowered her mug. "Time for observation."

The hunt was paused. But the mission had entered its most critical phase—the waiting game. From their perch high above, they were silent observers. Gods of death looking down upon their chosen domain. Ready to unleash their judgment upon the goblin infestation below.

"Look at their composition, Elise."

Hyoren said, pointing with his free hand. His finger traced the outline of the settlement below.

"The majority are the scrawny normal ones, as you'd expect."

He watched the movement below.

"But every ten or so, there's a bigger one. A Warrior or a Fighter."

He narrowed his eyes.

"They're not just a random mob. They're organized into squads."

He turned to her.

"Definitely a Lord, right?"

She watched for a few more moments. Her emerald eyes scanned the quarry. Counting. Observing. Analyzing.

"You're right, Hyoren."

She nodded slowly.

"This is definitely the work of a Goblin Lord."

She took another sip from her mug. The steam curled around her face.

"And based on the numbers... two to four hundred goblins total..."

She paused.

"This is definitely not a Chieftain. A Chieftain's warband is a true army, with more than thousands of followers."

She set down her mug.

"This is a large, dangerous raiding party, but it's still just a raiding party."

Hyoren absorbed her explanation. The numbers settled in his mind. Two to four hundred goblins. Even with their skills, a frontal assault was suicide. They were two against an army. But an army had supply lines. It had patrols. It had vulnerabilities.

"So, a Goblin Lord."

Hyoren's mind was already shifting gears. Calculating. Planning.

"He'll likely be in the central main tunnel. The best-defended position."

He traced the layout with his eyes.

"He'll have the best guards. The patrols we just hit were probably his outermost screen."

He looked at her. A grim, determined smile appeared on his face.

"How about this, Elise?"

He laid out his plan. His voice was steady. Confident.

"We definitely can't attack the body. So we'll start cutting off its fingers. One patrol at a time."

His voice grew cold.

"We'll bleed them dry. We'll make this Goblin Lord wonder why his scouts keep disappearing into thin air."

He gestured to the empty air. His lips curled into a predatory smile.

"We'll make him paranoid. We'll make him angry. And when he gets angry, he'll make mistakes."

Elise's lips curled into a matching predatory smile. Her emerald eyes gleamed.

"And when he makes a mistake..."

She leaned closer.

"We'll be there to drive a spear through it."

They sat in silence for a while. The sheer scale of the task before them settled in. But there was no fear. Only the cold, clear focus of two hunters who had just found their perfect, oversized prey.

The sheer scale of the goblin presence was daunting. A churning sea of malevolent green that filled the quarry basin. Movement everywhere. Noise. Chaos. Organization.

Hyoren finally spoke again. He laid out his plan.

"Hear me out, Elise."

He straightened his posture. His back pressed against the cool stone.

"I'm sure our attrition strategy will be effective. I suggest we give ourselves one week."

He held up a finger.

"One week of constant, quiet harassment."

He gestured over the settlement. His hand swept across the view.

"We hit their patrols. Ambush their foraging parties. Pick off their sentries at night."

His voice was measured. Strategic.

"If we can reduce their number down to less than a hundred, their morale will be shattered. Their command structure in chaos."

Hyoren finally turned to look at Elise. His eyes burned with a fiery ambition. The same ambition she had seen before. The same drive that pushed him to survive. To excel.

"And that's when we'll go for the frontal assault."

Elise's mind processed the timeline. Decades of adventuring experience helped her analyze. Evaluate. Confirm.

"One week."

She nodded slowly.

"It's aggressive, but not reckless."

She tapped her chin.

"It's a solid, tactical plan with clear milestones. Reduce. Disrupt. Assault."

She smiled. Warm. Approving.

"I completely agree with your plan, Hyoren."

She looked at the settlement. Her emerald eyes traced the structures below.

"Less than a hundred goblins before we do a frontal assault."

Elise repeated. Testing the number. Weighing the odds.

"That's manageable."

She nodded.

"At that point, their patrols will be minimal. Their forces concentrated. We'll be able to pick our approach and hit them hard before they can organize a proper defense."

He nodded. His decision was made.

"One week."

He stared at the quarry.

"We'll use the days for observation and ambushes on their patrols. We'll use the nights to infiltrate their perimeter and take out sentries."

His jaw tightened.

"We'll make this quarry their graveyard. And we'll do it one body at a time. We will become a ghost in the hill."

Elise nodded.

"It looks dangerous."

Elise said that, but her voice was calm and measured. Betraying none of the awe the scene inspired. Her tone was steady. Professional.

"But I think we can manage this."

She placed a hand on his arm.

"We just need to be careful. And we need to do it slowly."

Hyoren nodded. He looked at the sky. The dual suns of Kresneger were nestled at their zenith. Noon. The brightest part of the day.

"Now, let's get comfortable, Elise."

He relaxed his posture. His shoulders loosened.

"The first patrol won't be out for another hour or two, based on the twin suns' position. Let's see what else we can learn before we start the killing."

They settled in. The grim but exhilarating plan settled between them. They had a deadline. A target number. A clear path to victory. The week-long war was about to begin.

The wind blew across the ledge. Carrying the distant sounds of goblin activity. The faint musk of their presence. The stone was cool beneath them. The tea was warm in their hands. And below, the quarry waited.

Any sane adventurer would have seen this settlement—marked it as a Silver-rank threat—and retreated to report it. But Hyoren and Elise were not just normal adventurers. They looked at the overwhelming numbers and saw not an obstacle, but a puzzle to be solved.

Unknowingly to them, the numbers were not the only daunting thing that was going to greet them. They should not have been complacent or overconfident. They should have quickly returned to the Guild to report this massive settlement.

The thought of grinding that many monsters to gain experience and easy level-ups clouded Hyoren’s judgment. His old self from the survival phase in the Forest of No Return would have screamed at him for being careless.

And the confidence from emerging victorious in an impossible battle with Alpha, along with the infectious excitement of her lover, made Elise—the veteran ranger—lose herself in that same excitement.

At that time, they had not yet known what kind of danger they were about to enter. Consciously.