Rain made camp and began crafting with the Obsidian Blaze Leopard's pelt. He liked the set he had acquired after the trial, but it was damaged—riddled with scars and burns—and didn't offer enough protection against attacks. The leopard's fur, much more resilient, would hopefully provide better defense against the enemies lurking in the Mistwoods.

As Rain carefully worked on his new cloak, he reflected on his recent battle. There were many things he could have done differently, and he regretted not using his water clone, which might have saved Tide's life. He had grown too accustomed to overpowering his foes, neglecting strategy—a flaw that could eventually lead to his downfall.

Cutting and stitching the fur, Rain crafted a decent-looking cloak. It was lightweight, hanging just below the Wakizashi fastened securely to his lower back. The leopard's head formed a hood, with its fangs sewn into the mouth for a more intimidating appearance. The cloak resembled something that belonged to Hercules more than a bo-staff-wielding frog person, but Rain hoped it would make most creatures think twice before attacking.

Rain set off once more, recreating his sphere of perception as he cautiously moved through the forest. As he passed through the trees, he sensed the presence of multiple large solitary creatures but chose to ignore them; he needed something a little weaker. Before long, he detected several smaller entities entering his sphere. They felt weaker than most other beings in the Mistwoods, which made them a more suitable target.

He snuck up on the creatures, moving as silently as possible, with Aqua and Cascade lurking close behind. The creatures soon came into view. They were smaller than most things in the Mistwoods, standing at around five feet tall. They wore simple leather armor and wielded makeshift spears coated in some green liquid. Rain knew he couldn't afford to underestimate anything in this place—his last encounter had taught him that much. But this time, he had a plan and no intention of charging in recklessly.

He commanded Aqua and Cascade to stay in position and not move until he gave the signal. Quietly, he approached the goblins, hoping they wouldn't sense him. Fortunately, they didn’t, and he slipped behind the one furthest in the back. Unsheathing his wakizashi, he swiftly slid the blade across its throat, ending its life instantly. Rain quickly retreated into the cover of the trees, still holding the goblin's body. Only then did the notification come through:

["Forest Goblin was slain. Intermediate Rune of Strength obtained."]

Rain grabbed the goblin's spear and summoned a water clone, sending it forward to provoke the remaining goblins. The clone stabbed one in the back, causing it to scream, while Rain circled around the pack. As the clone was destroyed, Rain activated his fog cloak, filling the area with mist. His wings unfurled, and he signaled Aqua and Cascade to attack.

Rain leapt down onto a goblin, slamming his staff with immense force, shattering its skull. He quickly turned to the three remaining goblins, watching as Aqua and Cascade swiftly took down two of them. He rushed the last one, trapping it with Aqua Vortex, and watched as it perished under the relentless slashes of water.

["Multiple Forest Goblins Slain. Intermediate Rune of Dexterity awarded(2). Intermediate Rune of Strength awarded"]

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Rain dismissed the mist and began investigating the area. Two of the goblins had leather shoulder pads, indicating a higher status within their group. This was likely a hunting party from a larger force. The captain goblins carried small bags at their waists, and inside, Rain found wooden containers filled with the same green liquid that coated their spears. He also discovered a rolled-up piece of leather.

Unrolling the sheet, Rain revealed a rudimentary map. These goblins were far more intelligent than he had anticipated. He studied the map and quickly identified what appeared to be their stronghold. Placing the map into his bag, Rain realized he now had a clear destination. The only thing left to do was to figure out his current location on the map so he could navigate his way to the stronghold.

Rain hid between the trees once more and unfolded the map, searching for any recognizable landmarks. Near the stronghold, there should be some large rocks. There was something written underneath, but it was in a language Rain couldn’t decipher. Climbing to the top of a tall tree, he scanned the horizon and spotted what looked like a cluster of large, stony formations in the distance. He made his way toward them.

Moving carefully to avoid disturbing any creatures, Rain approached the giant stones. He found that they were surrounded by wooden walls, and two goblin guards stood at the entrance, wielding actual spears and flanked by lizard-like creatures. These goblins wore steel pauldrons and simple armor, indicating a higher rank.

From his vantage point, Rain observed as another goblin, mounted on one of the lizard-like creatures, approached the guards. This goblin was clad in almost full steel plate armor with leather accents and carried a sword and shield. After a brief exchange with the guards, the mounted goblin rode off into the forest. Rain deduced that this goblin was likely searching for the hunting party he had dispatched earlier.

Rain sent a water clone forward to create a diversion. The guards tensed, raising their weapons and shouting at the clone, which remained unresponsive. One of the guards took a defensive stance, and red energy began to charge around their spear. The guard thrust the spear forward, sending a dart of red energy that destroyed the clone instantly. Realizing it was merely a distraction, the guards became more alert as the clone dissolved into water.

Rain slipped through the forest and approached the back of the goblin stronghold. He climbed to the top of the wall and peered inside. The area was bustling with activity: goblins without armor were busy with various tasks, such as processing carcasses, tanning hides, and crafting armor. Female goblins were also present, engaged in similar duties. However, Rain noticed the absence of children, indicating this wasn't their primary living area.

He moved cautiously to the front of the stronghold, positioning himself close enough to overhear the goblins' conversation.

"Stay alert, Brokr. The clone user could still be near," one of the goblins said.

Rain could understand their speech but struggled with the written language. The ability to understand spoken language was useful, but being able to read was crucial. He was puzzled about why he could comprehend their speech but not read their language. If it were due to his blessing, it might have provided more clarity, but he speculated it could also be related to his intelligence stat. He resolved to ask Rajan about it when he had the chance.

Brokr, one of the guards, readied his spear and responded, "I know, Oleg. I don't need you breathing down my neck all the time."

Brokr and Oleg—interesting names. Rain knew he had to find a way to separate them to avoid unnecessary risks. He picked up a nearby rock and threw it against a tree. The sound caught the attention of the goblin duo, and one of them sent their lizard to investigate.

Rain grimaced, realizing he had forgotten about the lizards. He needed to split the guards up, so he sent out another water clone. However, one of the guards spotted the clone as it emerged from behind the wall, and he quickly got into a defensive stance, preparing to confront it. Rain jumped back, realizing his attempt to split them up had failed. Now, it was time to engage in combat.