As they left Elfheim and headed north he still felt the god's pressure on him, but it started to weaken. The forest started to get denser. More and more bushes and trees were in the way, so they had to deviate from the original path. But as he learned from talking with Bran, noone can get lost in this forest. The God of Life makes everyone find their way to their goal, even if they are not their creations.

While Joseph was moving forward on ground, Leafa was jumping from tree to tree and surveilled their surrounding, so that noone can get a suprise attack on them. Even though they are on the northern part and it's close to the city, it's not rare to see enemies around.

'It's strange. They said that they patroll the city's territory, but somehow there are creatures that sneak in without their notice. Is it because of the doing of an other god?'

Leafa jumped down on the ground and stopped Joseph and whispered to him.

"Wait! There are two goblins in front of us."

He replied whispering.

"Then we should avoid them!"

"Quiet the opposite! We are still in the territory of Elfheim! We have to take them out. Also it's just two goblins. Didn't you say, you could take on them?"

He got embarrassed.

"Yeah! You're right! Then let me do it."

"Allright! But just in case I'll watch out for you. If you are in danger I'll shot one of them down!"

"Then I'll be in your care!"

He was nervous. Not because he had to kill them, but because it was dangerous. Last time he almost died, but now he actually had a weapon he can use.

'It will be different this time!'

Then he realized.

'Wait! Last time I didn't even cared about that I just killed it. It's strange! Why was that?'

Then he sneaked closer to the goblins. They were moving in an other direction than he was.

'I should go in front of them and hide to get a surprise attack.'

After finding a good place, he hid behind a bush, that was high enough for him.

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'We are still in the city's territory. So I have to kill them with one hit, or they will get healed quick. It would've been a lot easier, if we would've got further, so this power is weaker. But whatever I won't die as easy as well!'

The goblins reached the bush. They weren't that different from the last one he killed. They had the same equipment, but their face was somewhat different.

'Hopefully they are just as "weak". Now just a few seconds, until they go further away from the bush and I can backstabb one of them.'

He waited for the right moment with his sword in hand. Then he moved slowely after them and when he was close enough, he jumped forward and slashed at the right one's neck.

Leafa was suprised. She didn't expect him to deliver such a precise cut. The goblin's head came off with one struck.

'Woah! This sword is awesome! It is so sharp, it went right through the goblin's neck!'

The other goblin was so suprised, that while turning around he stumbled and fell on the ground.

"Now it's your turn!"

He stabbed in the goblin's chest. It shriek loud, but didn't die.

"Huh? You are more persistent than I thought!"

He pushed his sword out through the side of it and it died. Then he fell on the ground shaking.

"I am too excited. I feared the worst, but got the best."

Leafa approached him.

"That is how you should be. If you always expect the best, you'll die fast."

"Thank you for the encouraging words!"

"It's just the thruth. Anyway! Do you want to take their stuff?"

He looked at the bodies. They had nothing of value or use.

"No. Not really."

Then he cleaned his sword off and watched as Leafa got closer to the bodies.

"It seems like grandpa forgot to tell you something."

She got closer to the bodies and pulled out her knife.

"These monsters have cores. The cores are good magical components, you should always take them out. I show you how to do it!"

She cut it out from both of them. The core was a little ball around five centimeters in diameter. It was dark brown with purple spots, which eminated light out of it.

"As I said you can use them as components, or just break them and absorb their power. I don't really need these, they are really weak. Try them out."

She handed them over to Joseph. The balls felt like rubber balls.

"How should I break them?"

"Just squeeze them with your hands."

After breaking them he got a few windows with informations.

Notice

You have absorbed the core of a goblin. You have recived 10 experiences.

Attention!

You got corrupted!

Attention!

Corruption stat unlocked.

Attention!

Corruption stat increased by 1.

"CORRUPTION? I got corrupted by these?!"

Leafa head an indifferent look on her face.

"It is not a big deal! It will cleanse out with time. Well... Except if you get too much of it. But you shouldn't worry about these. Even if you take a lot of goblin cores, it wouldn't do much. Also do you remember we are still in the city's range?"

A new window appeared.

Notice

The natural power of the forest helps with the corruption in your body. Corruption stat got reduced by 10.

Notice

Corruption stat went below 0. The stat stabilized to 0.

"I see!"

Leafa was lost in thought.

"How did you know that you got corrupted? I didn't even felt if when I took the first core as a child."

"Maybe I felt it, because I'm weak? Hahaha..."

He was laughing awkwardly.

"That must be. Then let's continue on our way."

'I didn't share anything with Bran or Leafa about this system. It seems like it's not a normal thing in this world. I shouldn't use it while she is around. I'll wait with the other core until we get separated and then I'll inspect it.'

After the break they continued on their way.