I appeared right beside Ariel, and the first thing I saw was her feet dangling, her body thrashing weakly as an armored goblin's massive hand gripped her throat. His aura was suffocating—dense, cold, and heavy enough to press against my skin.
The goblin turned, his golden eyes locking onto mine, calm yet predatory. I didn't wait. Instinct took over. I swung Gravefang in one swift motion toward his arm, aiming to sever it and free Ariel.
But he was fast.
He withdrew just in time, leaping back with frightening precision. My blade sliced through the empty air where his arm had been, the impact throwing up dirt.
Ariel fell, coughing and gasping, and I caught her before she hit the ground.
Her body felt limp—cold—and I could tell her mana had been completely drained. I placed her down gently and pressed my palm to the ground, marking a seal just in case.
Then I looked at him again and used [Analyze] to confirm if he was truly who I suspected him to be.
