Chapter 28 You've Been Duped, Melon Peels (Seeking Recommendation Tickets!)
In the Feilengcui Ruins.
Patches of green-skinned goblins were scattered about, huddled in groups of threes and twos—some sleeping, others boiling something over a campfire, emitting an indescribable smell, and a few playing with dirt...
Four elves and a "human girl" were tiptoeing stealthily, lying low in a patch of grass not too far away, the special attack team of players who had infiltrated after setting up the Teleportation Array.
Gazing at the distant ruins, which still exuded a majestic beauty despite their decay, Little Xian Miao couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment:
"This is Feilengcui... I wonder how beautiful the city must have been before."
Salted Cat closed his eyes and carefully listened for a moment, his expression turning slightly grim:
"There's a large number of goblins. Besides the ones we see, I can't even discern how many more are hidden amongst the ruins. Moreover... there are some strong presences, likely of Black Iron rank. One of them has an exceedingly chilling aura, which is quite frightening."
"Hss—"
Hearing this bit of news, the Chosen Ones sharply inhaled.
"It's a good thing we didn't let the players rush in all at once; otherwise, we probably would've faced a group wipeout."
Boxed Meal said seriously.
Li Mu gently patted Demacia on the shoulder, saying:
"Demacia, stick to the plan. Aim for those three goblins playing with dirt over there, they seem weak and poorly equipped, probably not even level 10. Whether we can lure the creatures over depends on you!"
Demacia: ...
He forced a grim smile:
"Can I... not go?"
"No."
The four replied in unison.
Demacia: ...
"Ah, never mind, never mind, the wind howls and the Yi River is bitterly cold..."
Demacia gave up struggling, flicked his long hair—now returned to its disguised form—and stood up from the grass.
...
At the edge of the ruins.
Three goblins were sitting together, joyfully playing with clumps of dirt, occasionally letting out "gah yah yah" weird laughs.
Suddenly, a stone flew from behind, striking precisely on the head of one of them.
"Thunk!" Blood immediately began to flow.
The hit goblin was bewildered in an instant.
It stood up, looking around and met eyes with a companion.
Anger surged instantly, and with an outraged cry, it "smack" gave its companion a blow to the head, leaving the other just as dazed.
Then the two goblins started brawling...
"Thunk!"
"Thunk!"
Two more stones came flying, hitting the embroiled goblins right on the head.
The third goblin stood up, eyes wide, pointing and yelling "ah ah" in the distance.
Attracted by their companion's noise, the two brawling goblins stopped their scuffle and looked in the direction it was pointing...
Several dozen meters away from the ruins.
A seductive lady was leaning against an old tree, twirling a strand of hair around her finger while caressing her thigh.
Seeing the three goblins gazing her way, "she" blinked at them, then licked her lips and blew a kiss their way.
The eyes of the three goblins went straight at that moment.
Right then, their simple brains started the most complex calculation they'd ever encountered...
Head + two legs + upright + good-looking clothes = Human
Human + XX + XX = Woman
Woman = Offspring
...
Their eyes suddenly lit up.
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The goblins grabbed their weapons and charged at the "maiden," shouting wildly.
The "maiden" spun around and ran into the depths of the forest with the agility of a swift cheetah.
Several goblins didn't notice anything wrong and chased like fish hooked on a line, following closely and running farther and farther away...
A few minutes later, three goblins felt something was amiss...
That woman, she seemed to run too fast, as fast as an "Child of Nature" elf.
At this moment, they had chased her to an open area, surrounded by lush shrubs and forests.
The maiden in front stopped, turned around, and revealed a smug smile, her voice rough and mocking:
"Dupe heads, you've been played."
As soon as she finished speaking, a glow flashed over "her" body and she transformed into a red-haired, garishly dressed elf - Demacia.
The three goblins were stunned at this sight.
Before they could react, several vines suddenly shot out from all around, striking at the three goblins.
It was Li Mu's entangling vine skill.
Afterward, Salted Cat and Lunchbox jumped out from the bushes, forming a triangle with Demacia, encircling the goblins.
"Take them down!"
Armed with a wooden sword she had hidden nearby, Demacia rushed forward excitedly.
The goblins panicked for a moment, then let out an angry howl, drawing their weapons to strike at the vines...
"Crack"...
To Li Mu's surprise, the magic vines were cut by the goblins' curved blades, and the three players engaged in combat with the goblins.
However, once combat started, the scene was somewhat comical...
"F*ck! Sister Salted Cat, you almost kicked me!"
"Sorry, you were in my way."
"These goblins are so strong!"
"Wait, I think I got slashed..."
"Heal light wounds!"
"Where's the magical support, Xiao Xian Miao's magical support?!"
"It's coming, it's coming!"
"Damn, your Fireball Technique burned me! Can't you aim?!"
"Don't rush the fight, everyone! Conserve Magic Power and stamina, focus on self-defense! Seize the opportunity to attack! We outnumber them, they can't outlast us!"
Yet when the real fight began, all plans fell apart. Under the frenzied attacks of the three goblins, the five players seemed overwhelmed... and were actually being suppressed.
Especially the three players engaged in close combat, if not for the nimble Lunchbox constantly putting out fires, Demacia and Salted Cat would probably have been severely injured by now.
Even so, the three were struggling to hold on.
Berserker was hiding not far away in the forest, watching all this with furrowed brows.
"Five level 10 Chosen Ones being suppressed by just three level 8 goblins, what a joke."
His voice carried deep disappointment.
You see, on the Segis Continent, goblins are synonymous with stupidity and weakness. To draw an analogy, it's akin to the prejudice humans on Earth have against pigs and cockroaches.
On the Segis Continent, goblins are not only the name of a species, but also a derogatory term.
Calling someone "You goblin!" is the ultimate insult to an intelligent being.
This is why Berserker and Alice felt so repulsed when Demacia suggested the lure tactic...
It's as crazy as humans on Earth trying to seduce wild boars and cockroaches, and that too, with a risk of it backfiring...
"Mother Goddess, it seems they're good at building but not at fighting. Why did you hold such high hopes for them?"
Berserker knew that Eve was also paying attention to this battle and did not hide his confusion.
Eve, who was watching the live stream, let out a light laugh, then Her authoritative voice echoed in Berserker's mind:
"Don't worry, just keep watching."
Hearing Eve's response, Berserker felt resigned but still watched with a frown.
Well then, let the goblins squash their cockiness, so they stop messing around all day.
However, gradually, the situation seemed to be subtly changing.
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