A goblin is a disgusting creature. They seem to be beings with reason, yet they always choose foolish actions that inevitably lead to their demise. They survive by pillaging and attacking humans, slaughtering many and devouring their flesh. To them, humans are easy prey. It never crosses their minds that they might lose—until they do. Then, suddenly, they encounter powerful humans and are wiped out.

  The few who survive harbor a deep hatred for humanity. And if a male goblin reaches a hundred years old, he can grow to over three meters tall and develop immense musculature. Those who have encountered such beings call them "Champions"—a great achievement for their kind.

  Most people cannot distinguish between male and female goblins; all of them are equally horrific in human eyes. Few scholars have studied them in detail, but those who have can discern the difference. And now, someone who has studied goblins closely realized that a particularly powerful female was leading this group.

  She was a goblin shaman—a rare sight—and Lucy immediately recognized her.

  "How curious... It's already strange to find a goblin who can use magic, but even more so a female," Lucy thought. "She's tall, which suggests she's over 100 years old, but maybe because she's female, she hasn't grown as large as that Champion fighting Max. I have a bad feeling about this."

  Lucy braced herself to face the goblin shaman. She knew this creature was dangerous, not just because of her magic but also because of her intelligence and cunning. Goblin shamans could strategize and use their magic effectively, making them formidable opponents.

  Meanwhile, Maxwell and his bodyguards battled the Champion and the smaller goblins. The fight was brutal, and goblin blood stained the ground red. Despite its size and strength, the Champion was agile and fast, making its attacks difficult to dodge. Maxwell, with his regenerative ability, could heal his wounds quickly, but he knew he couldn't rely on that alone. The smaller goblins, though weaker, attacked in swarms, making them a constant threat.

  The battle raged on, leaving both sides exhausted. The smaller goblins were falling one by one, but the Champion and the goblin shaman fought with relentless fury. Lucy, summoning spheres of fire with her staff, managed to eliminate several goblins, but she knew her real target was the shaman.

  Suddenly, the goblin shaman raised her staff—a twisted, dry branch that looked more like a piece of rotting wood than a mage’s scepter. Unlike the elegant, straight staffs used by human mages, hers was wild and primal.

  She cast a spell.

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  A ring of fire erupted around Maxwell and his bodyguards, trapping them inside a burning prison. The Champion seized the opportunity and swung its massive axe, landing a devastating blow on Maxwell's chest.

  —"Max!"—Lucy screamed, watching her friend collapse.

  Lucy’s fury ignited. With a cry of rage, she unleashed a powerful lightning spell.

  —"Grand Thunder!"—she shouted.

  A blinding bolt of electricity struck the goblin shaman, sending her sprawling to the ground, unconscious. Lucy rushed to Maxwell, who lay motionless.

  —"Hold on, Max,"—she pleaded, her eyes welling with tears.

  The Champion’s axe had pierced Maxwell’s chest. Lucy knew his power had one major weakness—his heart. Panic gripped her, but then she noticed something that made her pause.

  The Champion’s arm—the one wielding the axe—had been severed. Maxwell had somehow managed to protect his weak spot.

  —"Dear Lucy, my family has developed various techniques to shield against heart-targeting attacks. To be honest, this is my first time using one."

  Lucy immediately understood—Maxwell had activated a magical barrier around his heart using an enchanted necklace.

  —"A magic barrier... That gives me an idea!"—Lucy exclaimed.

  Maxwell, already regaining his footing, smirked and gripped his sword. The Champion, now one-armed, picked up its axe with its remaining hand and charged.

  Its speed was astonishing.

  Just as it swung, the Champion felt something cold pierce its neck—a deep stab wound. Then another strike—this time to the heart.

  Darkness overtook the beast. Its lifeblood spilled onto the ground as its towering body collapsed.

  Maxwell wiped his blade clean.

  —"That one put up a real fight. I finally understand why they call them Champions."

  —"My lord, we've taken down the smaller goblins. Shall we assist Lady Lucy?"—asked Gunter, one of Maxwell’s bodyguards, noticing that his prince had defeated the Champion.

  —"It depends,"—Maxwell said, sheathing his sword. "She doesn’t like interference in her battles. Only Axel can get in her way and walk away without getting hit."

  The goblin shaman launched a barrage of fire spells at Lucy, who dodged as best she could, barely avoiding getting burned. Her preferred attack was conjuring flaming spheres, each one a deadly projectile.

  Lucy focused her mana at the tip of her staff, forming a brilliant magical disc that spun at incredible speed. With a swift motion, she hurled it like a spinning blade.

  A grotesque scene followed—the goblin shaman’s head was severed cleanly from her body.

  A deafening wail echoed through the city.

  Elsewhere, goblins began shrieking in agony. Their morale crumbled, and the warriors fighting them seized the opportunity to finish them off.

  The battle was won.

  —"The female wasn’t just a shaman; she was a matriarch."—Lucy’s voice was laced with realization. "Most of these goblins were likely her offspring or her mates. When she died, the mana bond between them broke... That's my best guess."

  Blood still stained Lucy’s face. Her expression was distant.

  It was the first time she had ever killed a monster.

  Maxwell, noticing her fatigue, picked her up onto his back.

  —"Let's go find Axel. Although, to be honest, I doubt I’ll be much help—I spent all my mana on that last attack."

  Carrying Lucy, Maxwell dashed toward Axel’s last known location, moving at incredible speed.