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"What just happened?

" Terlas asked as everyone returned to the platform.

nThe goblins were now all hiding so they certainly could not follow the old plan. Everyone also wanted to know what they just saw. Unable to process that such a weak-looking creature could cause so much destruction.

nEldrian turned towards Cephaphyr,

"He showed me what he is capable of.

" Eldrian said, feeling this is the only thing he could do to explain things. He still struggled to link the line of dead goblins to this little Alicorn. The two things felt like things that should never be in the same sentence.

nNo one replied to Eldrian's statement. They did not know what to say, they knew that the grown Alicorns were strong, but to see this little one do so much more. Almost more than what took them an entire day, in just a few minutes. It destroyed the pride they had as elite soldiers. Especially when they realized that that was without using magic.

nLooking back at the caves, Eldrian felt his face twitch as he saw the goblins hiding in them. He did not know if Cephaphyr would be able to run inside the caves. He felt it unlikely, worried that the caves would be too narrow, leading to them being surrounded.

nIf he had known how strong Cephaphyr was, he would have tried to lead the goblins far out. Killing them all in one go.

nSighing Eldrian thought of the lost opportunity as he finally started accepting it. Seeing just how weak he and humans, in general, were when compared to Mythical Beasts.

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"So... Now what?

" Sabrea asked, causing everyone to look at Eldrian. Their stares seemingly saying that the goblins hiding was his fault.

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"We can probably still get them to come out, or we can just kill them from a distance if they don't. We just need to figure out a new method.

" Eldrian said, feeling that the time for entering the caves had come early.

nLuckily the goblins had not run deeply into the caves, fearing that that too will be their death. They were now all torn between dying by the Oni or by the devilish horse creature.

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"Margit, can you maybe teach me a fire spell. One with a large area of effect which is also a Tier 1.

" Eldrian asked as they left the forest. They were all certain that the goblins would not chase them far, the forest being a safe ground. Even if it weren't, they felt the Alicorns, Unicorns, and Pegasuses would not sit still when a horde ran into their forest.

nDue to this confidence, they had set out as a group. Planning to act as one party this time, instead of as two. Sabrea would be responsible for keeping the goblins at bay if they do charge, while everyone would slowly retreat. Until the right moment came for Eldrian and Cephaphyr to take them all out.

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"No, sorry,

" Margit replied, quickly adding to explain herself.

"Most Tier 1 spells have a small area of effect. Even my Tier 3 spells only have a meter or so.

"

nSighing Eldrian gave up on that plan, but he could still probably use Frost Needle. He might not have mastered it to Rank 3 like Nidia. But he did have it to Rank 1, he had never really tried using it in combat since getting it to that rank.

nHe wondered if he might be able to thread it through a few goblins, seeing as they were each so weak on their own.

nArriving just a hundred meters from the caves, everyone stopped. Seeing the goblins still not charging, only hiding in their caves, the group sighed in unison.

nThey could not go nearer, since doing so would mean they could easily be surrounded by goblins from the other caves. Hence they would try and kill more goblins from here, their hope being that the goblins would charge out after a few died.

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"Let's see how they react to getting attacked from here,

" Eldrian suggested, causing everyone to go into action. Preparing their spells or arrows. Eldrian's Frost Needle landed first as he needed less than a second to cast it.

nEldrian simply aimed at a goblin's chest, losing sight of the ice as soon as it passed through the goblin's chest. It dying without even knowing what happened. The resulting experience gained informed Eldrian that he had killed three goblins with that one spell. Yet even with that, the goblins were still hiding. No, instead they seemed to be retreating further into the caves.

nJust as the goblins Eldrian's attack had killed died, the other attacks from the party also started landing. Even Sabrea cast a few Tier 1 spells she had learned long ago, Floyd trying to also help by sending some spheres of light into the cave.

nThese allowed them to see as the goblins died. The entrance soon covered by corpses as the goblins finally broke and ran further into the caves.

nThe goblins felt that they would rather try and fight the Oni, than that monster standing next to the elf with silver hair. They dared not leave the caves while that devil-horse was still there.

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"Well...

" Eldrian sighed,

"This sucks, I guess we are going to need to enter the caves.

" Eldrian did not plan to do this right away, he first wanted to go to each entrance and kill as many goblins as possible. The more killed, the better later.

nJust as everyone was about to walk towards the next cave, a shout born out of pure anger echoed from the caves. Eldrian did not understand what the shout meant, but he could hear the echoes of the goblins rushing back.

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"Something scared them back, did any of you understand the shout?

"

nNo one replied, instead they all started walking backward. Seeing their actions, Eldrian realized it was about time to mount Cephaphyr.

n'Alright, don't attack right away, let them come out fully first.' Eldrian told Cephaphyr, who nodded in reply. Eldrian had already explained the plan to him.

nWhile still being so nonchalant Eldrian suddenly felt a deep murderous intent. He had no idea how he managed to feel this, never having trained in doing so. But now, it felt like all the mana surrounding him had become agitated.

nIt was so bad that it almost caused the mana inside of him to flood. Something he had never even known was possible, and certainly something he wanted to test later. When it was safe.

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"Run!

" Eldrian shouted aloud while telling Cephaphyr to protect them.

nHe had reacted just in time, allowing Cephpahyr to spread his wings to cover the others as a blast of poison landed on him. It might not have killed the others, but it would likely have taken them out of the fight.

nThe blow was so hard that Cephaphyr shot backward a few meters, the shock of the attack so great that Eldrian was blown from his back. Coughing up blood from the rough landing, likely having broken a couple of bones.

nWhat the hell was that? Eldrian wondered as he looked at the party, everyone running for the forest. They had decided to run for their lives after they saw that attack, certain that it was at the level of Tier 6 spells.

nEldrian was not angry when seeing this, no rather he was glad. It was the agreed-upon action if something really bad happened. Eldrian had asked them to do this since he doubted Cephaphyr would be killed and if it really came to it, then Zamia would save him. Eldrian was certain of this, and naturally, he did not care nearly as much if he died. He would gladly sacrifice himself for the others.

nTurning his sight to Cephaphyr, Eldrian was glad to see him mostly alright. His feathers looked ruffled and some of them were burnt, or rather melted. But Eldrian failed to see blood or even a piercing wound, things he had been expecting.

n'Ouch, ouch ouch ouch!' Eldrian heard Cephaphyr complaining lightly. This relieved him more as it told him the damage was not great. But it also informed him that the new enemy was strong, really strong.

nIt had to be if it was capable of hurting an Alicorn, even if it was only a Tier 3 Alicorn.

nStruggling to his knees Eldrian heard more of the language he did not understand.

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"You dare interrupt us! You dare kill my underlings! I will make you suffer!

" The Oni shouted as he threw the shaman aside like he was a piece of garbage. The shaman splattering the walls of the cave the Oni just came out of.

nSeeing this red and green orc-like thing. Eldrian did not know what to think, Observe gave him no info. Leaving him grasping at straws as he struggled to breathe and saw his HP lowering, slowly.

nI think my ribs are broken. No, more like they broke and are piercing my lungs. Eldrian though, glad that the pain was lessened. It might seem like he was gasping in pain, but he did not feel all this pain. More it was the fact that he could feel his lungs being disrupted that caused him to gasp so much.

nCephaphyr finally recovered from complaining about the pain and looked at the one who sent the poison spell at him. He shouted mentally, but only Eldrian heard since Cepahphyr failed to create a connection to the Oni.

n'Why the hell did you hurt me?!'

nThis caused Eldrian to chuckle, which in return made him even more aware of how useless he would be now. A few piercing shots of pain informing him that walking would be really hard.

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