A Goblin's Nest

As Lilith lay on the bed in her rented room, the soft glow of moonlight streamed through the small window, casting a gentle illumination on the simple yet comfortable furnishings. She stared at the wooden ceiling, her mind turning over the events of the day.

"So, the room costs one gold for two weeks," she murmured to herself, her brow furrowing. "Or was it fifty silver for one week? No, wait, maybe it was sixty... And the longer you stay, the cheaper it gets... Hmmm." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I really should've paid more attention."

At least she could understand the people of this world—that was a relief. Her thoughts turned to the World Tree sapling, El, and the gifts it had granted her. She shifted her gaze to the sword resting beside her, a blade forged from pure mana. Reaching out, she picked it up and held it in her hands, marveling at its ethereal beauty.

The saber-like blade shimmered faintly, resembling polished wood in appearance, yet exuding an otherworldly presence. It felt almost alive, humming softly as if resonating with her mana. "It's crazy to think this sword was made from the essence of a World Tree and a dragon," she whispered, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns along the hilt. "It feels like a wooden sword... until you pour your mana into it."

She closed her eyes, allowing a small flow of mana to seep into the blade. Instantly, the weapon transformed, its dull appearance shifting to one of lethal brilliance. The edges gleamed with a razor-sharp glow, its aura radiating power. A smile touched her lips as she whispered, "Thanks, Mother."

Lilith hugged the sword tightly to her chest, the familiar warmth of its magic soothing her. It was more than a weapon—it was a reminder of her purpose, her origins, and the strength she carried. As her thoughts quieted, she murmured softly, "I'll do my best..." before drifting into a peaceful sleep.

Lilith yawned as she reached the edge of the forest, the crisp morning air brushing against her skin. The sky was painted in hues of pink and gold as the sun began to rise, casting long shadows among the trees. "Damn, this is early," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. "The sun's only just coming up."

She stretched, feeling the mana of the world around her hum gently, replenishing her energy. "At least I don't need food or water," she mused. "Feeding off the mana of this world is enough to keep me going. One less thing to worry about."

As she surveyed the forest, her mind shifted to her task. She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Now, how should I go about this? Should I try to sense every living being in the forest and pinpoint their nest? That should be easy enough if I focus."

Closing her eyes, Lilith allowed her senses to expand. Mana pulsed gently through the environment, intertwining with the life force of every creature. She focused, trying to pick out patterns, clusters of movement that could hint at the goblins' hideout.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest, hidden in the shadows of a cave, a goblin war party celebrated their return. The stench of damp earth and blood filled the air as crude torches flickered against the jagged walls. They had ambushed a traveling caravan earlier, leaving a trail of destruction behind them.

In the corner of the cavern, their spoils were piled: crates of food, stolen goods, and, more chillingly, several captives. Females of different races—beastkin, humans, and even an elf—huddled together, bound and terrified. The goblins jeered and leered at their prey, their guttural laughter echoing through the cave.

The war chief, a larger and more brutal-looking goblin, barked orders to his subordinates, ensuring their loot was secured. His sharp, cruel eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he surveyed the captives. The goblins were emboldened, their recent success only feeding their savage ambitions.

Back at the forest edge, Lilith's brows furrowed as she honed in on a faint cluster of chaotic energy deeper within the woods. Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Got you," she murmured, gripping her mana saber tightly. "Let's see just how bold these goblins really are." 

As Lilith focused on the chaotic mana signature deep in the forest, she suddenly sensed another cluster nearby, smaller but distinct. Her brow furrowed. "What's this? Another group of mana... Did they capture other creatures?" She paused, considering. "Could be worth investigating. But first, let's get closer to that cave."

Scanning the area with her sharp senses, she pinpointed a spot that was both concealed and within range of the cave. "There. That should work."

With a soft shimmer of mana and a faint hum, Lilith vanished from her spot and reappeared moments later in the shadows near the cave. She crouched low, her senses on high alert, listening to the faint sounds coming from within.

The guttural voices of goblins echoed out, their language foreign yet filled with unmistakable malice. Lilith narrowed her eyes, focusing on their words. To her surprise, fragments of meaning started to form in her mind. "Huh... I guess the sapling's gifts help me understand different languages too," she murmured.

What she heard made her lips press into a thin line.

"Tell the Goblin King," one goblin hissed, its tone eager and sly, "that the war chief has captured some very nice prey. He'll love it!"

Another goblin snickered, its voice rough and low. "Especially the elf. A rare treat for him."

Lilith felt her stomach twist in disgust. "So that's it," she whispered, gripping her mana saber tightly. "They've captured humans—and likely others too."

Her gaze hardened as she peered toward the cave entrance, faint flickers of torchlight illuminating the jagged stone. She could sense the fear radiating from the captives, their life forces faint but steady. "I can't let this go on."

Taking a slow, measured breath, she steadied herself, letting her mana flow into the saber. The blade shimmered faintly in response, its deadly edge pulsing with power. "Let's see what these goblins are really made of," she said softly, her tone laced with determination.

Lilith stood just outside the cave entrance, assessing the situation. With a deep breath, she extended her hand, channeling mana into a protective shield. The barrier materialized around her, a translucent dome that encased her entire body. It shimmered faintly, the soft glow of mana reflecting her abundant energy.

"This should keep me safe," she murmured, inspecting the barrier. "Arrows, blades, whatever these goblins throw at me—it won't get through easily."

Her eyes darted to the cave entrance, narrow and jagged. While she couldn't see any other exits nearby, she didn't want to risk them escaping. Raising her free hand, she created a secondary barrier at the entrance, sealing it off with a shimmering wall of mana.

"There," she said, satisfied. "No running for them now."

With her defenses in place, Lilith turned her attention to the two goblin guards stationed at the entrance. They were oblivious to her presence, casually leaning on their crude spears and grumbling in their guttural language.

Without a sound, Lilith teleported between them, her mana saber already glowing in her hand. The goblins froze in shock, their yellowed eyes widening as they realized too late what was happening.

Lilith moved swiftly, her saber slicing cleanly through both of them in a single motion. The goblins crumpled to the ground, their weapons clattering uselessly at their sides.

She stood over the bodies, her protective shield shimmering softly around her. With a glance toward the darkened cave, she could hear faint laughter and muffled cries echoing from within. Her grip on the saber tightened.

"Two down," she murmured, her tone calm but resolute. "Let's finish this."

With her shield glowing around her and her mana saber in hand, Lilith stepped into the cave, ready to confront the horrors within.

It took Lilith no more than a few steps—less than ten meters—before she decided to act. With a shimmer of mana, she blinked forward, reappearing in the midst of a small group of goblins.

They didn't even have time to react. Mid-conversation, they froze in shock as Lilith's mana saber swept through them in a deadly arc. The glowing blade cut cleanly, felling the goblins before they could raise a single alarm.

As their bodies hit the ground, Lilith exhaled softly, her protective barrier still shimmering faintly around her. She glanced down at the lifeless forms. "That makes seven," she muttered, her tone calm yet resolute.

Pausing, she closed her eyes and reached out with her senses. The mana within the cave was chaotic, pulsating with the life force of countless goblins. She focused, her keen awareness zeroing in on the swirling clusters of energy deeper inside.

"Oh..." she murmured, her eyes narrowing. "A little over a hundred. This is no small nest."

Her grip tightened on the saber as a determined smirk played across her lips. "Time to get to work."

Adjusting her stance, Lilith strode forward, her steps purposeful and silent. The air in the cave grew heavier, the faint sounds of goblin chatter and distant cries growing louder with each step. Her mana surged as she prepared for the battles ahead.

One by one, she would cut through them. These goblins had made the forest their hunting ground, preying on travelers and innocent lives—but tonight, Lilith would ensure they paid the price.