Chapter 32: Efficient Coordination
Gauss, who was hiding, had long quietly activated Mage’s Hand.
Due to concerns about the scent being exposed, the remaining team members hid relatively far away.
Only Gauss, restricted by the casting range of the Mage’s Hand, stayed within a ten-meter radius.
However, his hiding spot and scent masking had been taken care of by Medvedeva.
So the six goblins drawing nearer hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
Approaching the gray rabbit, one of the goblins cautiously tossed a stone in the rabbit’s direction.
"Plop!"
The stone landed beside the gray rabbit, and still, nothing happened.
Seeing this, the goblins visibly relaxed.
Observing their surroundings one by one, confirming that there were no other creatures in the surrounding open area, they eagerly rushed under the tree.
The largest, leading goblin grabbed the gray rabbit with both hands.
An excited yet cruel smile appeared on its face, and murky drool dripped from its thick lips as its yellowed fingernails tightened, snuffing out the lifeless gray rabbit.
"Wah wah wah!"
The other goblins crowded around, jumping up and down around the gray rabbit in the lead goblin’s hands.
This seemingly free meal made them very happy.
After all, goblins are omnivores, and they don’t always have meat to eat.
Before they could begin their celebration.
"Snap!"
A subtle sound of a triggered mechanism echoed.
The goblins, seemingly hearing the noise, raised their heads to look toward the source of the sound.
What they saw was a net unfurling and quickly descending.
Triggered by Mage’s Hand, the capture net was released by the mechanism.
Due to the counterweights at the edges of the capture net, it descended rapidly.
In an instant, it was right above the goblins’ heads.
Realizing what was happening, the goblins were about to turn and flee, but it was clearly too late.
Clustered together, the goblins who hadn’t had time to run were directly covered by the large net.
Driven by the specially-designed closing mechanism with magnets, the capture net tightened, trapping the goblins like a closing purse.
"Wah wah wah!"
"Wah wah!"
The iron spikes entwined in the net pierced the goblins’ bodies, causing them to scream in pain instantly.
Moreover, with their instinctive struggles, the entangled capture net tightened, causing further wounds as the iron spikes dug into their flesh, trapping them even more securely.
At the same time, the poison applied beforehand on the iron spikes started to take effect.
"Is it really that easy?"
Gauss, the closest, witnessed everything clearly.
The mechanism crafted by the Wandering Apprentice Medvedeva worked even better than he had anticipated.
A group of goblins, enough to cause some trouble for the group, were trapped effortlessly.
Though he wasn’t sure how long they could be detained.
Gauss noticed that a few goblins were enduring the pain and starting to cut at the capture net with their weapons.
The other members of the Night Owl Squad came out from their hiding spots.
Nevertheless, none of them were as fast as Gauss, who was the closest due to being responsible for triggering the mechanism.
As they approached, Gauss was already striding quickly with a rapier toward the goblins.
He wasn’t going to miss this perfect opportunity to finish them off.
Reaching the trapped goblins, his rapier mercilessly struck at each goblin’s vital spots swiftly.
Each stab hit flesh!
Every thrust left a bloody hole in their bodies, and viscous, foul-smelling blood gushed forth like a fountain.
He had no feelings for the goblins, not even sympathy.
The sword in his hand was as cold as a knife slaughtering fish.
"Goblin killed *1"
"Total monsters killed: 13"
...
"Total monsters killed: 14"
"Total monsters killed: 15"
...
"Total monsters killed: 18"
Six goblins fell under Gauss’s relentless rapier, transforming into a tally on the bestiary’s cumulative kill count.
One step closer to the next stage of fifty kills.
And it seemed, perhaps just a illusion, that after dispatching those six goblins, his rapier felt increasingly fluid in his grip.
The newfound harmony seemed as if he’d magically trained with the rapier for several additional days.
Once Gauss swiftly "slaughtered" the goblins, the rest arrived leisurely near the trap.
Since there was no urgent situation, everyone took their time getting there.
Seeing Gauss already lowering his blade, they were in even less of a hurry.
Who killed them didn’t matter, and Gauss’s rapier had little chance of damaging Medvedeva’s nets.
"Gauss, just a heads up, we’re not distributing rewards based on kill count, alright?"
"Even though triggering the mechanism was your work, you can’t claim all the task rewards for these six goblins," Levin joked, half-seriously.
"Understood." Gauss nodded, feeling delighted. He had already received the reward he wanted the most; the rest were extras, and the mission’s spoils would surely include his share.
"I simply wanted to hone my sword skills against goblins." He casually explained.
Internally, he was quite pleased. Compared to his strenuous efforts in Birch Village against goblins, these six kills felt almost like a gift, effortless.
This was thanks to the pre-laid mechanisms.
Gauss silently noted in his heart.
If you skillfully use tools and traps, even alone, he might easily and safely annihilate a smaller group of goblins?
He specialized in small-scale beast traps, but for large capture traps, he’ll need to take lessons from Medvedeva.
This halfway proficient Hunter’s skill at making traps was obviously inferior to Medvedeva’s, a Wandering Apprentice.
Reflecting on this, he suddenly understood why Medvedeva, despite being aloof and uncommunicative, held a steadfast position in the team.
Every squad needs someone who can both scout, make traps, concoct poisons, and support with dagger and one-handed crossbow at the flanks.
Maybe, this cloaked, gloomy character was indeed the true core of the Night Owl Squad.
Gauss glanced at Medvedeva, who quietly rejoined the group.
Later, my squad will also include a formidable Wanderer. Gauss silently thought.
Thinking of effortlessly "looting heads" like now in the future, he couldn’t help but smile.
This sudden smile sent a chill down Doyle’s spine as he quietly observed him.
Was it worth being this happy just for killing a few defenseless goblins?
Was Gauss truly a psychological deviant, or did he have some untold past, like a deep-seated grudge against goblins?
Doyle’s mind couldn’t help but wander.
"All right, folks. Prepare for frontal combat," Levin suddenly reminded everyone. "The enemy should be coming soon."
"Understood."
"Understood."
"Got it." Gauss’s heart also tightened, reeling in his wandering thoughts.
The commotion just made, whether the sound of falling nets, footsteps, or the prolonged cries from goblins, would undoubtedly alarm the goblins within the ruins.
Medvedeva’s reconnaissance indicated 15-22 goblins.
With six already dispatched, there were roughly 9-16 remaining.
Silently contemplating, everyone got into formation, fully prepared.
Soon after, a chaotic shuffle of footsteps approached.
A group of goblins arrived on the scene.
Five goblins wielding small wooden shields and clubs were at the forefront, followed by three bearing Stone Spears and two with Steel Blades.
The final four goblin archers lingered at the rear, evidently looking for a favorable position to shoot from.
A total of fourteen goblins.
Though there was no exceptional individual like last time in Birch Village, this group exhibited much better discipline, with even simple but complete professional roles.
Especially the threat posed by the four goblin archers could not be ignored.
This was the level of threat a nearly twenty-strong goblin tribe should present; last time in Birch Village, the goblins were just two small teams merged, with only one abnormal goblin without enough time to gather fighting strength.
Observing the number and formation of goblins from afar.
Levin briefly outlined the tactics.
"Medvedeva, Oliver. Handle the goblin archers; we’ll take care of the front."
"If needed, I can also provide ranged support with Magic Missiles," Gauss added, eager to practice skills in real combat.
To gain strength, he would seize every opportunity to attempt getting kills during the battle; his original role in the team was free beyond launching Magic Missiles at core enemies.
Who said getting kills isn’t a form of support?
"Got it, appreciate it."
"Then let’s get ready for battle!"
"Wipe them out!!"
Levin slammed the Oak Great Shield into the ground, and everyone instantly entered battle mode.