Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 199 Sudden Enlightenment, Hunter and Prey
Xia Nan rarely ventures into the misty forest at night.

From the very beginning of the journey, the experiences of the mediocre team, and the repeated warnings from teammates along the way.

This had already deeply ingrained the concept that "the misty forest at night is very dangerous" in his mind.

Even after obtaining a professional rank and having more and more trump cards to protect himself, he still adhered to this principle, which was summarized by countless adventurers at the cost of their lives.

Currently, due to the requirements of the mission, he must leave the camp at night.

Xia Nan became extremely vigilant.

While attention is highly focused, perception is also unconsciously condensed.

With both hands gripping the decapitation sword tightly and his body slightly tense, he could use either [Fang Hunt] or the "Deflection Field" of the [Death Line] ring instantly with a thought.

And perhaps it is precisely because of his more acute perception than before.

He also gained a deeper understanding of the misty forest under the cover of night.

First and foremost, there is quiet.

It is not absolute silence.

To some extent, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe the sources of sound as "numerous".

The rustling sound of branches and leaves rubbing against each other in the evening breeze, the strange chirping of insects rising and falling, the occasional flapping of wings from the treetops, and the distant roars of unknown beasts...

And it is precisely against the backdrop of these noises that the surrounding environment appears even more tranquil.

Then came darkness.

The Seathorn Squad prepared a lighting tool, a lantern carried by Cash.

It comes from a fairly well-regarded general store in River Valley.

On the road just before leaving River Valley Town and entering the Misty Forest.

Xia Nan had personally witnessed the bright light emanating from the inner cover of the lantern, illuminating almost half of the camp with everyone in the center.

But right now, the thick fog filling the air has completely suppressed the light that should have brought brightness and a sense of security to everyone, confining it to a small, extremely cramped space.

Even the bushes and grass on both sides couldn't be clearly photographed; only blurry outlines could be seen.

The only saving grace is that Xia Nan's perception ability has been greatly enhanced. Although it is affected by the gray fog in the forest, the range of his perception is still much larger than before.

This gave him a sense of security.

As for the smell...

It can only be said that the camouflage powder that Kash specially sprinkled on everyone before they left was a two-way thing.

Other creatures cannot smell the human scent on them.

All that remained in Xia Nan's nose was the rich, fresh scent of pine resin.

Proceed cautiously through the dark, dense forest.

Unlike their positions during the daytime journey, the Seathorn Squad's formation had now undergone a significant change.

The mint was still protected in the very center.

As the spellcaster, healer, and crowd controller in the team, she is relatively weak in melee combat and does not have any strong defensive capabilities.

As the core of the team, it's only natural that he should be protected by several people.

Cash, holding his spear, walked at the very front.

But slightly behind her was Veris, who should have been roaming the side of the squad as a "wanderer".

Dark elves from the underground, the bloodline of the drow.

This tall, mixed-race woman possesses exceptional night vision, requiring her to lead the group, ensuring her teammates can see the road clearly and be alert to danger.

As for Xia Nan, he lagged behind at the end of the line.

After a few days of getting to know him, the impression he left on them was that of a warrior with quick reflexes, good perception, and expertise in close combat.

He is also the only player in the team besides Cash to own a player in the China League One.

Based on this premise, having him stay behind can both prevent the enemy from flanking and ambushing him, and also allow him to provide timely support to his teammates when in danger, thus allowing for a certain degree of leeway.

Xia Nan had no objection to this.

He was even quite pleased with it.

At least this way, compared to being at the very front, you don't have to worry about teammates betraying you from behind.

This is Xia Nan's first time officially teaming up with professional-level teammates for an adventure.

Putting aside everyone's ulterior motives, overall, the experience was pretty good.

At least in his view, the members of the Seathorn Squad all possessed the professional qualities that he believed professionals should have.

Walking at the back of the group, he could clearly see that the people in front of him were highly vigilant, but not as nervous and flustered as ordinary adventurers.

Everyone is doing what they are supposed to do.

Even the frail girl "Mint," who was expected to lack experience, walked calmly in the middle of the group, holding her yew wood staff that resembled a tree branch.

Given her "Druid" origins, this environment might actually be her home turf.

Hmm...that's normal.

The orange lights swaying in front of the procession were reflected in his dark eyes.

Xia Nan's gaze swept past Mint, then subtly swept over the backs of Veris and Cash.

Thoughts swirled in my mind.

The "Tempur Night Wolf" and the missions they might take on later were not the purpose of their trip to Riverdale.

According to them, they came to River Valley Town because of a target they had been tracking all along.

The reason for stopping here is merely the suspicion that the wild beasts in the forest may be related to the target.

They then sought temporary teammates, accepted commissions, and attempted to track down the target using the mission information provided by the association.

The two seemed unwilling to reveal too much, and Xia Nan, too lazy to get involved, did not inquire further.

Anyway, it's already agreed that they'll help me complete the mission about "beastmen" later.

As long as he could get his hands on the metal materials needed to upgrade the Serpent Scale Arm Shield, he didn't want to care about anything else.

hum-

Suddenly, a familiar warmth emanated from the wooden sword "Green Pine" carried on my back.

Xia Nan suddenly stopped walking.

He remained constantly alert to his surroundings, and his sudden movements were noticed almost instantly by his three teammates in front of him.

The advancing squad also came to a stop in place.

"hiss……"

Before I could even ask.

As if sensing their movements, a dense bush not far ahead, which was not easily noticeable, suddenly began to sway.

Accompanied by the fleeting, colorful scales illuminated by the lights and the distinctive hiss of snakes, the commotion quickly receded into the distance.

As the warmth behind him faded, Xia Nan stared intently in the direction where the venomous snake had disappeared, and gently shook his head.

"It's alright, let's continue."

The group breathed a sigh of relief.

And it was at this moment that...

Ouch——

A short, sharp, strange wolf howl echoed once again in the night.

And the sound is clearer than before.

They are clearly not far apart.

Cash looked serious and waved to the people behind him.

Looking around cautiously, he lowered his voice and said, "We're almost there. Get ready!"

……

The Seathorn Squad would certainly not attempt to search for such a dangerous and powerful wolf pack in such a complex and dangerous environment, under the cover of night, in a dense forest filled with mist.

The most significant difference between humans and wild animals lies in their level of intelligence and their proficiency in using tools.

After confirming that the wolf pack was close enough, the Seathorn team stopped advancing.

They then stayed where they were and started making arrangements.

First and foremost, there are all sorts of traps.

Originating from River Valley, this recently popular trap, designed specifically for large wild animals, has been cleverly placed in the narrow passage between two trees, in rock crevices, and under fallen leaves.

To restrict the wolf pack's movement, some simple snares made of vines, ropes, and branches were also set up around the area.

Secondly, there was a palm-sized cloth bag that Cash had buried deep inside his backpack, hidden under layers of protection and concealment from an oak box and an oil-paper bag.

The moment Cash carefully took it out of the bag, everyone in the arena smelled an extremely strong odor, a mixture of blood and decay.

This is scent bait that they specially purchased before they came, specifically to attract carnivores.

After carefully setting it up.

Cash sprinkled some camouflage powder on everyone before leading a few people up the towering oak trees near the bait, just as planned.

The pitch-black night, the thick fog, and the lush tree canopy.

Hiding among them, even if you stand below and look straight up, it's difficult to spot a person in the dense foliage.

As long as you don't make any noise, there's basically no chance of being exposed.

With his chest rising and falling slightly, Xia Nan controlled his breathing, making it more slow and long.

The body is in a semi-squatting position, with the left hand gently supporting itself on the tree trunk to maintain the body's center of gravity.

The heavy iron armor and the two longswords behind him made his posture look somewhat awkward.

But a pair of leather boots landed remarkably steadily on the thick branches.

The invisible effect of his professional skill, "Tidal Shaping," made him as firmly anchored to the spot as if he were an iron nail, completely immobile.

Waiting quietly.

A cold evening breeze brushed against my cheeks, and the air was filled with the fishy smell of bait and the resinous aroma of medicinal powder.

Xia Nan's gaze pierced through the gaps in the branches and leaves, fixed on the still woodland below.

His body remained completely still.

For some reason, at this moment, he suddenly recalled the scene when he was learning [Fang Hunting] from Fukugang.

The winter wolf, emerging from the depths of the icy plains, lies prone in the snow, its massive form blending seamlessly with nature, patiently waiting for its prey to approach.

It seemed to have merged seamlessly with his figure at that moment.

The swaying branches and leaves in the wind, the nameless flying insects rising and falling under the moonlight, the long, slow, almost disappearing breaths, the intense concentration...

A subtle feeling arose in my heart, and a strange realization surfaced in my mind.

"Proficiency +5"

"【Fang Hunting】lv3: (39/100)"

Semi-transparent characters flashed before my eyes.

Xia Nan was taken aback, and he snapped out of his daze.

"What does that mean? It directly added 5 points to proficiency!?"

He wondered to himself.

Xia Nan used to think that proficiency, which determines the progress of combat skill upgrades, could only be slowly accumulated through daily training and use in battle.

Inside the Lunar Cathedral of Nium, Xia Nan's increased proficiency after observing the structure of divine magic through [Mind-Guiding Vision] made him realize:
"Proficiency" may represent more than just its literal meaning.

It is a general term for a broader and more comprehensive concept.

To some extent, it also seems to represent one's level of understanding of combat skills.

What Xia Nan had just experienced confirmed his suspicions.

Savoring the wonderful experience of that moment, he silently smacked his lips.

"Could this be considered some kind of... 'sudden enlightenment'?"

Xia Nan crouched in the tree canopy, focusing his attention once more, trying to enter that mysterious state again.

But no matter what I tried, there was no response.

Realizing that such opportunities are rare and precious, I stopped wasting my energy and simply kept that wonderful moment in my heart before returning to reality.

I don't know if there was a problem somewhere.

As the silver moon hung high overhead, the strange noises in the forest grew more frequent.

There was still no movement from the woodland below, which was filled with traps.

It was already past midnight.

If we wait any longer, the danger will increase exponentially.

Cash gave a few coded signals, indicating that the group should retreat temporarily and continue the next night.

He then quite nimbly leaped from the treetop to the ground.

"This is really strange," Cash muttered to himself, tidying up the traps.

"Could it be that the kid at the grocery store took a kickback and sold me inferior goods?"

"That shouldn't be the case, isn't it said that the public opinion is quite good?"

Beside her, Mint yawned slightly, but she didn't let her guard down. She held her branch-shaped staff in her hand, keeping watch over the surroundings for everyone.

Although Vera didn't seem tired, a hint of complaint crept onto her face:

"I already told you to go to those general stores recommended in the Adventurer's Handbook. These things are a little more expensive, but it doesn't matter."

“You’ve been out for so long, and you still don’t know the tricks in the manual?” Cash carefully picked up the bait from the ground and put it back into his leather bag. “If I had connections in the association, I could open a shop and still get on the list!”

"There are only a handful of truly conscientious ones."

"It doesn't matter if it's a river valley town or a fish bay, it's all the same!"

Xia Nan remained silent, keeping a vigilant eye on the scent bait in Cash's hand.

As if realizing something, he suddenly frowned.

He opened his mouth and asked:
"Your bait isn't just for the night wolves, is it?"

“Of course!” Cash nodded. “Baboons, vultures, tigers, bears… anything that eats meat will be useful.”

"And because it's near the wolf pack, no more dangerous monsters will be attracted."

"But we've been keeping watch here for most of the night. If your bait really hadn't failed, there should have been at least a tiring response, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Cash realized the problem and was stunned.

The next second, he had the bluish-gray stone spear firmly in his hand.

"alert!!!"

A low growl instantly echoed throughout the entire arena.

The traps, which had not yet been completely removed, lay silently on the ground;

The air was filled with the stench of decay, characteristic of carnivorous bait.

The identity of the hunter and the prey

It seems that at some point, a change occurred.

(End of this chapter)