The scout remained in the clearing, her legs trembled, but she refused to step back into the tall grass.
Not because the clearing was safer.
But because on the off chance that the boy returned, she needed to be here.
She still wasn't sure what she had witnessed.
That killing intent, that disappearance, that severed hand.
"If any of that was real, my best chance of survival is to stay close to him."
Suddenly, a feral scream tore across the grasslands, chilling her to the bone.
The sound made her knees weaken and her breath hitch, like icy fingers gripped her lungs.
She turned toward the direction of the scream, gulping unconsciously, but even then, she didn't leave the clearing.
Something told her moving now would be a mistake.
Back with Adam
He stood over the corpse of the mutated goblin, or rather, what remained of it.
He clicked his tongue.
"There goes not getting blood on my clothes."
He looked like a butcher, drenched in thick goblin blood.
But the corpse… the corpse looked like a grotesque masterpiece.
All four of its limbs had been cut off and shoved deep into its mouth.
A closer look showed the creature had no claws, Adam had peeled them cleanly off, leaving only the nail beds behind.
To make room for the limbs inside its mouth, Adam had removed its fangs down to the root canals and dislocated the jaw entirely.
Its abdomen had been gutted, and its intestines wrapped tightly around its torso like a macabre, knotted bow.
For the finishing touch, its fifth limb had been lodged deep up its rear.
Adam admired his work proudly.
To him, it truly was a masterpiece.
He even believed the creature would marvel at its beauty, even in death.
"I might actually have a talent in art," Adam mused with a satisfied smile.
He had already harvested the granulite and every valuable organ.
The rest, he'd used for his creation.
But then his expression darkened.
"The rift has become more dangerous."
Though he had dispatched the mutant goblin easily, the same could not be said for anyone else in the rift.
Mutant monsters had their levels increased, meaning the goblins were no longer unranked level 1.
Every goblin in the rift would now be unranked level 2.
Far beyond what most Martial Apprentices in Gob Valley could handle.
"If multiple groups team up, they might minimize losses."
"But there will still be many casualties."
He shook his head, brushing aside the grim calculations.
There was something he needed to do first.
He turned toward the direction of the clearing.
Through [Connect], he could see the scout's soul flame.
"Seems I'll be playing bodyguard for a while,"
Then he moved,
his body blurring into motion so fast that it seemed to disappear completely.
****
The scout's eyes were still fixed on the direction that the feral scream had come from.
Even though the grasslands had grown silent again, she couldn't tear her gaze away.
Her muscles were still locked, her body ready to bolt at the slightest sign of danger.
"Hey."
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest at the sudden voice, as she spun around in panic.
Only to find Adam standing there.
He was drenched and completely covered in thick, green goblin blood.
It dripped from his clothes and even stained parts of his hair.
Anyone would know instantly where it came from.
The scout stared in stunned silence, and Adam noticed her staring as he smiled awkwardly.
"Hope you don't mind the appearance. I didn't bring any spare clothes."
She blinked, taken aback, before steadying herself.
"I... don't mind."
Silence settled between them, it was awkward and yet, strangely calm.
Then the scout finally spoke.
"Thank you, for saving me."
Adam shook his head lightly.
"It's no big deal."
He paused before asking,
"What of your group?"
A painful expression crossed the scouts face.
"That monster, killed them."
Adam fell silent for a few seconds, his expression hard to read.
"I'm sorry to hear that."
The scout exhaled shakily.
"It's okay."
"Even though I couldn't avenge them."
She looked up at him, eyes sad yet grateful.
"I'm glad you were able to do it instead."
Adam studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable beneath the drying blood, then he nodded once.
"I'll create an exit to get you out of here," he said.
"So stay close."
She nodded immediately.
After what she'd seen, she had no doubt he could do exactly that.
Someone who killed that monster so effortlessly, had to be, at minimum, a Martial Expert.
As she followed behind him, she caught herself thinking:
He must be using a technique to hide his essence-capacity.
Her thought paused abruptly as Adam spoke again, interrupting her thoughts.
"By the way, I'm Adam."
She blinked, startled again, before realizing she hadn't even introduced herself.
She pulled back her hood, revealing a petite yet mature woman with striking black hair, sharp eyes, and a beauty that contrasted starkly with her bloodstained state.
"My name is Scarlet."
There was a brief pause.
Adam didn't look back, but he replied,
"That's a beautiful name."
Scarlet felt an unexpected warmth touch her chest.
And after that, neither of them said another word as they continued trekking through the tall grass.
****
Adam and Scarlet walked for several minutes through the swaying tall grass, the shifting shadows brushing against their legs.
Scarlet kept close behind him, her senses sharp, her heartbeat refusing to settle.
The grass suddenly rustled violently, and three mutant goblins lurched out.
Scarlet froze instantly.
Their bodies were bulkier, their limbs elongated, their skin darker and harder than normal goblins. Their eyes glowed with a feral intelligence that normal goblins shouldn't possess.
So, it really is a mutant rift.
The realization hit her fully now.
But even knowing it, seeing three mob-unit mutants at once still made her breath hitch.
If these were just mob units, how powerful would the elites be?
Scarlet swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, as she sent a silent prayer to the void.
Scarlet didn't doubt Adam could create an exit.
No, after what she witnessed earlier, she believed he could definitely do it.
But even a Martial Expert would struggle against an unranked level 2 Elite.
And if Adam faced something like that, she knew she would only be a burden, and she didn't want that.
If Adam could hear her thoughts, he would've laughed.
To him, unranked level 2 mob or unranked level 2 elite, there was no difference.
They were all the same.
Fodder.
Including the three baring their fangs at him right now.
Scarlet instinctively stepped back, hands tensing around the grip of her dagger.
But Adam stepped forward casually, as if taking a stroll.