Chapter 24: The Unseen Enemy
Returning to the village with the Stonefall warriors in tow, Srabon felt a surge of confidence. Magnus and his men were formidable, their muscles honed by years of combat and their eyes steely with resolve. Yet, despite the new reinforcements, Srabon couldn't shake a lingering sense of unease.
"Something's off," Mira said, her gaze sweeping the surrounding forest. "The Goblin King wouldn't just sit back and let us gather more allies."
Srabon nodded, eyes scanning the treeline. "Agreed. He must have spies everywhere."
[New Quest: Uncover the Spy Network. Reward: 900 Gold, 600 Elixir.]
Later that night, as the village settled into a restless sleep, Srabon sat alone in his hut, staring at the system map. Red dots blinked ominously, indicating potential threats. A sudden rustle outside made him tense. Grabbing his sword, he stepped outside and scanned the area.
"Show yourself!" he shouted, the blade gleaming under the moonlight.
A shadow darted between the trees. Srabon lunged forward, slashing at the figure. The cloaked enemy blocked the strike and retaliated with a swift kick, sending Srabon stumbling back.
"Who are you?" Srabon growled, regaining his footing.
The figure remained silent, eyes gleaming beneath the hood. Then, with blinding speed, the enemy rushed forward, a dagger aimed at Srabon's heart.
Srabon barely managed to parry, but the force of the attack sent him crashing into a nearby barrel. Before he could react, the attacker vanished into the night, leaving only a tattered scrap of cloth behind — marked with the Goblin King's insignia.
Mira rushed to Srabon's side. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Srabon said, rubbing his bruised ribs. "But this was just a warning. The Goblin King has spies among us."
Mira's expression hardened. "Then we need to root them out."
Srabon picked up the scrap of cloth, eyes dark. "And we need to do it before the next attack."