The significance of "Enhanced Focus" soared in my mind after this experience. In a short span of time, I had gained a vast amount of knowledge and understanding from various encounters, such as the confrontation with the boss snake and the ambush by the goblins. These incidents highlighted the immense value of my heightened focus and concentration. They underscored how "Enhanced Focus" enabled me to perceive details, anticipate threats, and navigate complex situations with greater effectiveness and awareness. Notably, it became considerably easier to interpret the creature’s expressions and intentions. My mind operated at an accelerated pace, processing information swiftly and efficiently. Clarity and sharpness characterized my thoughts, allowing me to concentrate on desired objectives and gather a maximum amount of valuable information in a minimal amount of time.

The trap had become glaringly obvious to me. The small goblin served as a lookout, scanning the area and relaying information to its comrades. Taking note of the direction he had gestured, I had a general sense of where his allies might be positioned. Now, my objective was to assess their numbers and determine if I stood a chance against them.

The plan was straightforward: stealthily maneuver around the goblin lookout's position without alerting them, assess the number of their companions, and based on that, engage in combat if necessary. The thought of abandoning the entire endeavor crossed my mind, but deep down, I recognized the importance of becoming stronger. I needed to shift my mindset from avoiding confrontation to embracing and overcoming challenges. I acknowledged that things wouldn't magically improve, so I had to proactively push myself to grow and adapt in order to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.

…

With utmost caution and attentiveness, I began circling around the main tree, ensuring that I remained undetected while thoroughly scanning the surroundings for any signs of the lurking ambushers. Initially, I found no trace of the goblins, as they remained hidden from view, as I neared the suspected location of the goblins, guided by the indications from the lookout, I observed that they were not clustered together as a single group. Instead, they were divided into several smaller groups far from each other, each varying in size.

Upon observation, I discerned the presence of approximately four distinct groups of goblins. Two of the groups consisted of a single goblin each, while another group comprised two goblins. The last group, receiving updates from the lookout, consisted of three goblins.

Maintaining a safe distance that ensured my presence remained concealed, I realized that I held the advantage in this situation. None of the goblins were aware of my existence, providing me with an opportunity to strategize and gain the upper hand. With a total of seven goblins, excluding the small lookout, attempting to engage them all simultaneously was not a viable option. Sneakiness and the element of surprise became my best allies, with the plan set, I would keep activated “Enhanced Focus” during all its execution, helping me maintain unwavering concentration on the objective, preventing any distractions or wandering thoughts. My strategy involved silently circling and eliminating the two lone goblins without making any noise or raising suspicion, the challenge lay in dealing with the remaining two groups. Specifically, I was uncertain if I could eliminate the third group, composed of two goblins, without making any noise that would alert the last group, composed of three Goblins.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Not completely sure of my course of action yet, I invested the necessary time to restore my energy fully and maximize the duration of "Enhanced Focus." Placing my backpack discreetly behind a bush to conceal it, I extracted my spear and attached knife, ensuring they were within reach. Additionally, I retrieved Brandon's sword from my backpack, taking it out but intentionally leaving it behind as a contingency weapon in case I needed to retreat.

My primary objective was to eliminate one of the lone goblins taking cover beneath the roots of a knotty tree. The intricate network of exposed roots provided an excellent hiding spot, one that I likely wouldn't have detected had I not been actively searching for them using "Enhanced Focus." I intended to exploit the goblin's blind spot by sneaking up on him from behind the tree. Circling around the tree, I planned to employ my spear to poke him through the gaps in the roots, ensuring a swift and silent takedown. Maintaining an intense concentration on harnessing the knowledge of "Hide Presence," I advanced towards the tree with utmost stealth. As I circled around and caught sight of the goblin, my heightened senses, courtesy of "Enhanced Focus," revealed his evident boredom through subtle body language cues. With silent movements, I gripped the spear firmly with both hands and deftly maneuvered its tip between the gaps in the roots. My aim was precise, targeting the backside of the goblin's neck for a swift and lethal strike, as my strike connected with precision, the tip of the spear finding its mark on the goblin's vulnerable throat, a gurgling sound escaped his lips. With his vocal cords severed, he perished in silence, only the sound of his blood flowing accompanying his final moments.

Feeling fortunate for the successful elimination of one goblin, I took a moment to acknowledge my luck. With seven more to go, I recognized the importance of maintaining a sharp and focused mind. To replenish my energy and clear my thoughts, I retraced my steps to where I had left the sword and settled down for a brief respite. It was crucial to regain mental clarity and ensure my mind wouldn't wander to the gruesome scene of the goblin's demise. So, I waited patiently, allowing myself a moment of calm before continuing with my mission.