Arkensaw Town, Dakota Dukedom.

World: 72 days.

Arkensaw: 27 days.

There was silence everywhere. The onlookers didn't dare blink or breathe for most of the 5 minutes this bout lasted for. For all except the 'Returning Master', this spar was the most intense hand-to-hand display they've ever seen in their lives.

The Master was leaning over Jason on one knee panting hard. 'Wow. He forced me to go all out in the end. I would have been in trouble if I didn't.' Though Jason's Master as she loomed over his unconscious form.

After catching some of her breath, she fishes out a vial from who knows where, uncorks it, and waved the opening under Jason's nostrils.

"GAH!" The smell awoke Jason abruptly, then he grasped at his broken nose in pain. The Master could only act sheepish for a moment before clearing her throat and announcing.

"Well, congratulations Jason. I'm more than satisfied with your performance, and thereby nominate you to participate in next year's Master Tournament at the Primordial Festival!" She then fished out an envelope and presented it to him.

At that moment, clapping was heard. Then another. Soon everyone present was applauding. Jason couldn't help but be a tad embarrassed at it all as he got to his feet and turned to face the master.

"Got anything to take care of, or do we leave right away?" Jason asks.

"What? Won't you give a speech or something to tie the whole event up in a neat bow."

"Hmmm... Nah."

"Fine. Be that way. But at least say goodbye to your little friend."

"He already did." Both Jason and the master turned to face the speaker: Taiga.

"Go on, you too. You're burning daylight." Taiga urged.

Both could only smile at that as Jason reached out to fist bump Taiga. "Take care of yourself, OK?" Jason tells her.

"Yeah yeah, whatever, now git!" Not needing to be told twice, Jason and the Master left the clearing, then the town, and began heading for the village of Escaville.

Time passes, and just before dusk, the two found themselves a few miles from the village and closing in fast. They chatted along the way, and Jason even learned the Master's name: Chanty.

"Looks like we have company.~" Chanty noted as the two spotted a group of goblins emerging from the forest to the side and running their way.

"Good, good! Come to me you green abominations. Snuffing out your lives will make great warmup for me." Declares Chanty.

Jason got the hint, and let her do her thing. The two maintained their pace on their way to the village, letting the goblins chase after them. They didn't want to waste time fighting them, but would unalive any fast and stupid enough to catch up.

The goblins chased after them and began to thin out. When the one in the lead got close enough, Chanty chopped its head off with a ki blade coating her hand and continued to jog. This happens a number of times till the group got tired of taking Ls and stopped their chase.

By that time, the two already made it to the village only to see a fight taking place as it was being attacked by goblins led by Hobgoblins.

With how the beasts were spread out, Jason took to a nearby roof and began letting loose rocks with his sling. Chanty on the other hand would run over to any villager who was struggling in their fight and assist.

After Sniping a couple of hobgoblins and dozens of goblins, the winds of battle turned to the side of the village, and the goblin attackers began retreating while being pelted by Jason.

With the threat gone, things began to settle down. There was a head count: one dead, a dozen injured, 2 abducted. After getting off the roof, Jason is waved over by Chanty standing next to a big muscular man holding what looked like battle pickaxes.

The man introduces himself as the chief of the village before thanking the two for their assistance. Accepting his appreciation the two explain their reason for being there.

“Hahaha! I never doubted Sam would pull through for me. Always trustworthy, that one."

"You know Sam?!" Asked Jason.

"Aye! Known him for years. He's been adventuring from town to town around the region area for decades. He's pretty well known as a result. Always looking out for others, that one. If he sent you two ahead of everyone else, you must be worth your salt." Jason and Chanty nodded to that.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Anyway, let's walk while we talk. I'll take you to our inn while I fill you in on what's going on."

As they walked, the chief explained the village's situation: The goblins have hunted a sizable portion of the hazard beast population in the area. They've also occupied all the mines. The hoglins have been attacking what little farm land they have going on, hurting the village's food stores.

The chief also notes that the goblins have attacked the village 3 times now, causing death and injury, but what upsets him the most is the 5 abducted women and girls from their village so far.

From his understanding of Goblin behavior, they were taken to be used by the ogre or hobgoblins for their sexual release. Their fate was grim: death or overwhelming trauma is all that awaited them.

The residents are illequipt to protect themselves, much less mount a rescue. The population is less than a hundred. Most able bodied people left after the mines closed; leaving behind old, disabled and/or non combatants. The frequent attacks have been wearing them out.

Evacuating is also an issue: most people don't want to leave their homes, and the few that want to leave can't possibly fight their way through the dangerous road.

Worse yet, the village is too poor to pay for an adventuring party strong enough to handle a horde this big. The only silver lining is the Adventuring Guild's Eradication Campaign policy, but that would take up to a week to organise, transport and execute. They'd very well be wiped out within that week especially if the ogre decided to pay them a visit. They've been at their wits end.

"Here we are. I'll talk to the innkeeper so you don't have to worry about paying for your rooms. With what you'll be doing for us the next couple days, it's the least we could do." The Chief tells them.

"Thanks!" Jason appreciated that.

"Think nothing of it. You two get some shuteye. You'll need your strength for tomorrow. I'll be off patrolling." His piece said, the Chief turned away and left.

Jason and Chanty settled in to their rooms. Tomorrow was going to be something else.

World: 73 days.

Escaville: 2 days.

"Well, I'm sure you're well aware our job is to take out hunting parties of goblins and hoglins, also to never engage the ogre if we encounter it. I for one don't want to waste arrows, so I'll be using my trusty sling. What are you going to do?" Asked Jason.

"Oh, I shall sit back and watch you work. You seem to have things under control." Replied Chanty.

"Oi! What happened to giving me a hand?"

"You shall get a hand if you need it. You seem fine enough."

"OK, pretty solid reasoning, won't argue with that."

"Good, good! Now lead the way."

Exiting the village, they immediate encounter a hoglin. It took off running right away before receiving a stone to the head for its troubles. As they continued to the nearest mine, Jason ended dozens of hoglins along the way.

"Jeez. These things are everywhere. And I haven't seen a single other hazard beast yet." Complains Jason.

"Hmmm... Then it's good we came when we did. If the goblins truly hunted other hazard beast in the area to such an extent, they'd soon march to another area; destroying the village along the way." Commented Chanty.

"Yeah. Gotta whittle them down hard." Declared Jason.

Arriving near the closest mine to the village: A ragedy old walk-in mine. They could see a number of goblins milling about. Not waiting for an invitation, Jason took his sling and began to whirl. As usual, the noise exposed their position, but it didn't matter.

Wham!

A stone rockets out and takes out a random goblin. A bunch begin to run towards Jason, and some are taken out before they get close. Once they get within melee range, Jason uses Crescentstyle to oneshot the whole bunch: 1 hit per gob. He then stores away their bodies and gear. "I'm almost full to the brim. Better head back and drop off my kills."

Goblin meat didn't taste particularly great, but it could me made passable with the right cooking recipe and ingredients. Also, the fact it was bipedal like a human made people even more reluctant to try. Only in times of desperation would one go there.

Hoglin meat on the other hand was closer to bacon in taste, so it was leagues more tolerable.

"Here's your pile, mister!"

"Good work kid, here's your pay!"

"Thanks! I'll have more ready for you in the evening."

Earlier that morning, Jason tasked a random kid with gathering stones he'd use for ammo. He didn't want to have to do it himself.

After dropping off the bodies, Jason returned to the wilderness with Chanty in tow, and repeated the process over and over again. Bringing back dozens of Goblin bodies, and hundreds of Hoglin cadavers. By dusk, they had hit 4 out of the 5 mines. The only mine left was the biggest one which was furthest out. It was where the ogre was most likely residing, so the two had to be careful. But that would have to wait for tomorrow. It was already so late.

World: 74 days.

Escaville: 3 days.

There was some trouble getting to the mine last mine. Jason would unalive so many hoglins along they way, he had to return to the village to drop off their bodies multiple times. At this rate, he'd never get there. When lunchtime rolled around, he decided to give the Chief a visit.

Explaining the situation, Jason made a request: at least 1 cart with 1 person to pull each. The plan was to have them transport the bodies back to the village with Chanty acting as their guard. This will save Jason the hassle of having to make the trip back.

The Chief agreed right away, and took about an hour to put things together: two carts and two willing sturdy guys to pull them. After negotiating payment for the cart and labor, they all set off.

A third of the way to the mine, Jason sent the first cart back full or cargo with Chanty in tow. He continued on with the other cartman for another third of the way before it too was full.

Deciding to wait, Jason continued hunting hoglins plus some stray goblins a short distance around the cart. When Chanty returned, he had the returning cart filled too, and Chanty escorted both back to the village.

Now alone, Jason walked a short distance in the direction of the mine and began hunting. Soon he was full, and proceeded to dump the bodies in a pile and continued. By the time Chanty returned with the 2 carts, Jason had 3 piles of bodies ready.

"It's getting dark, Jason. This will do for today, no?"

"You're right. Let's head back."

They sorted out the Hoglins to carry back, and Jason carved out the hearts of the goblins for their life cores.

Back at the village, the group of 4 made their way to the butcher's shop to drop off the bodies. As they did, the owner stepped out to greet them. "Hahaha! There's my favourite client bringing me more work!"

"Yup! That's me. How's the processing going?"

"Aye. We've hired a bunch of people working shifts inorder to handle the sheer quantity you've been bringing in. We should be done with most of this batch here by morning. However, my freezer won't be able to hold much more soon."

"I see. I'll speak to the Chief tomorrow to see if he can lease me room to smoke the excess. Just carry on as usual and leave the rest to me."

"Will do, young man. Now go get some shut eye! I'll handle what you've just brought in."

World: 75 days.

Escaville: 4 days.

After speaking to the Chief, Jason was assured his request will be handled, so he set off to the largest mine with Chanty and the other 2.

Along the way, he noticed that the smaller mines he hit 2 days ago had resumed activity as goblins where moving in and out. So the group took detours and attacked those mines till no goblin dared come out.

However because of this decision, the group was unable to make it to the largest mine before dusk, so they packed up and left. When they got to village, Jason was shocked to see...

"Wyverns!?"

World: 75 days.

Escaville: 4 days.

Escavile Village, Dakota Dukedom.