They followed the goblin and reached the goblin village. The village was nestled within the dense forest, a collection of ramshackle huts made from a mishmash of materials: twisted branches, dried leaves, and scraps salvaged from various places.

The paths were winding, snaking between the huts, adorned with flickering torches and strange, colorful trinkets hanging from the makeshift fences.

In the center, small bonfires crackled, where goblins were bustling about. Some were cooking peculiar dishes in bubbling cauldrons, while others were engaged in lively, animated conversations.

"They are weaker than I thought," Ethan said as he observed the village. "Let's finish this quickly."

"What? Can't you see their numbers?" Emily looked at him with disbelief.

"Yes, boss, we should be careful," Leo nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry, I have a plan." Ethan smirked.

"And what is it?" Emily frowned.

"Simple. Burn the village."

Leo's eyes widened as he heard Ethan's words. He looked at the village, then at Ethan, trying to understand if he was serious.

"Are you serious?" Emily's voice wavered, a mix of disbelief and unease. Ethan's casual attitude towards incinerating an entire village, even though it was filled with goblins, left her unsettled.

"Why? Is there a problem?" Ethan asked nonchalantly.

"No there isn't." Emily stopped thinking about other things and focused on the immediate situation.

She took out an bow from her backpack and used her skill [flame arrow]

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She aimed at a large hut in the center of the village and let the arrow fly. It hit the thatched roof with a loud bang, setting it on fire. The flames quickly spread to the other huts, creating a blazing inferno.

The goblins were caught off guard by the sudden attack. They screamed and ran in panic, trying to escape the flames. Some of them tripped and fell on the debris and corpses of their fellow goblins. Others were engulfed by the fire, their flesh burning and their bones cracking.

Leo watched the horrific scene with a pang of pity in his heart. He felt sorry for the goblins, even though they were enemies.

Soon the fire calm down leaving only few goblins alive. The hut of goblin king was also in ruins and smoke covered the area.

"Finish them." Ethan commanded Emily and Leo.

Emily positioned herself as Leo dashed towards the remaining goblins. The remaining goblins, scorched and disoriented, attempted to regroup, their numbers greatly diminished.

The goblins, still reeling from the fire's devastation, found it challenging to coordinate any cohesive defense. Some tried to attack Leo head-on, only to find their strikes deflected by his sturdy shield. Others attempted to flank him, but Emily's accurate shots hindered their efforts

With Emily's precise shots and Leo's agile maneuvers, the goblins found it difficult to coordinate an effective counterattack. They struggled to retaliate against the duo, their movements slowed by their injuries and fear.

Some goblins tried to attack Ethan seeing him easy prey as he was just standing there only get shot by Emily arrows.

Ethan felt a sudden presence and looked around the ruins. He saw the goblin king emergeing out of the ruins.

The goblin king was bigger than a human being and wielded a two-sided axe that glinted with blood. He wore an armor clawed with skull and bones and possessed a formidable strength.

The goblin king, his eyes blazing with fury, lunged ferociously at Leo. Leo predicted his move and swiftly sidestepped, then struck back with a his mace to the king’s arm. For a fleeting moment, Leo felt a surge of triumph until the goblin king, fueled by rage, retaliated with astonishing force. In a blur of motion, Leo found himself ensnared by the goblin king’s powerful grip.

The king’s grasp tightened, and with a mighty heave, Leo was propelled backward through the air. He felt his body twist in mid-air, then hit the ground with a thud. He rolled and skidded across the rough terrain, feeling the rocks and dirt scrape his skin. He shook his head, trying to clear the dizziness from the forceful throw. The goblin king stood, snarling victoriously, as he looked at Ethan.

He dashed towards Ethan with a murderous intent, his fist glowing with a dark energy.

Ethan took his attack head on and activated his blood rage, a crimson aura enveloping his body.

The two punches collided with a thunderous sound, creating a shockwave that shattered the nearby buildings.

Ethan got pushed back by the force of the impact, crashing into a pile of debris.

Leo tried to go to help him, but Emily stopped him.

“Stop.” She said firmly.

“But Boss needs help?” Leo protested, not understanding Emily’s intention.

“Don’t worry. Just observe. Something is about to happen.” Emily said calmly, her eyes fixed on Ethan.

Leo didn’t understand what she meant, but he followed her gaze.

“Hehehe…” soon a wild laugh echoed the battlefield, sending chills down everyone’s spine.

Everyone turned their attention to the source of the laugh and saw Ethan.

"This is the second time I got surprised by something."

His eyes and pressure around him had completely changed, making him more ferocious and formidable.

"Hehehe....it is interesting."

His eyes seemed red, as if they were burning with a demonic fire. His right hand was wrapped in a sinister blood red aura, resembling a claw of a beast. He grinned wickedly, showing his sharp teeth.