My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Goblin.

The common dictionary name is goblin, or little goblin.

They are a race that lives underground but is active in the surrounding forests and villages. They are short in stature, generally between 3 and 3.5 feet, and weigh about 40 to 50 pounds.

Normally, an adult woman can easily subdue an unarmed goblin;

Even against a goblin wielding a weapon, a peasant woman holding a pitchfork would not be at a disadvantage.

Unfortunately, goblins are almost never alone; they always travel in groups and use weapons such as scimitars, bone clubs, short bows, and slingshots.

They set traps and then hide in the shadows to shoot with short bows.

Hordes of goblins will even venture into villages to raid them.

In goblin tribes, the most primitive law of "survival of the fittest" is followed;

The strongest and most cunning goblin will become the leader.

In Xiuqi's eyes, the five goblins in front of him were nothing but a bunch of worthless bastards, not at all like the kind that had a leader to rule them.

Beside the campfire in the depression, a crude short knife, a bone club, and a short bow were carelessly tossed at his feet.

Their skin was dark green, and their pointed ears twitched nervously as they uttered goblin chatter he couldn't understand.

Clearly, these little greens were completely unaware of the impending disaster.

Xiu Qi did not rush to make a move.

Instead, they chose to observe for a while longer and wait for the best time to take action.

The depression offered a clear view of the terrain, with nothing obstructing the view.

Like a natural battlefield, it is very suitable for mage apprentices like Xiu Qi, whose swordsmanship follows a wide and sweeping style.

Of course, the lack of any obstruction also meant that as soon as he emerged from the haystack, he would be quickly noticed by the goblins.

Therefore, he needed to devise a plan, a foolproof decapitation strike plan.

Xiuqi set off today with the determination to kill at least 9 goblins.

Another important reason for choosing to observe is to wait for the return of other goblins.

After all, according to information provided by the Adventurers' Guild, this group numbers around ten.

He wouldn't mind having five; at least that would be enough to strengthen "Princess".

Xiuqi's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze as precise as calipers.

He quickly assessed the distance, angle, and posture of each goblin.

He gently patted the "princess's" little head, then held up three fingers, pointing to the spot closest to him in the depression where three goblins were gathered, and then pointed to himself.

"Waaah—"

The "princess's" eyes widened instantly with excitement, and she grinned and nodded quickly.

understood!

He raised another finger, pointed to the goblin dozing with a short knife on the right side of the depression, then pointed to the "princess," and made a "knocking" motion with both hands.

"Waaaaah—"

The princess's pointed ears began to twitch violently, and her big eyes lit up with excitement as she nodded vigorously.

That's it!

Xiu Qi silently unbuckled the belt of the longsword at his waist. He did not draw the sword immediately, but began to gather his thoughts and feel the spiritual energy in his chest.

A warm current rushed into his chest, making his senses clearer, his thinking sharper, and his magic more abundant.

He moved his lips and silently recited the incantation.

Blade Protection

A protective net with a cold, metallic sheen instantly covered the entire body, bringing a subtle sense of tightness.

He then sketched out a more complex model—

Midas's Primary Deflection Field

A subtle arcane field rippled around him, and the surrounding air began to distort slightly.

Although the royalties of 2 silver coins are a bit painful, as a prudent mage apprentice, one must always be well-prepared.

Even if the opponent is five goblins taking a leisurely nap.

At the prestigious Royal Academy's Arcane Institute, he had heard countless stories about those unfortunate mages.

A high-level mage of class 5 died from a goblin's dagger because he failed to replenish his [Mage Shield] in time.

After all, even high-level mages are just mortals. Their mortal bodies would also feel great pain if they were stabbed like that.

With the double protection, Xiu Qi felt somewhat at ease.

Of course, he didn't forget the "princess" in front of him.

As Xiuqi's lips moved rapidly, a flash of white light disappeared from the little guy's body;

A protective net woven from arcane energy quickly took shape, its outer layer gleaming with a metallic sheen.

Since the [Blade Protection] spell was upgraded to level 4, he can not only apply it to himself, but also cast spells on his allies.

The "princess" stretched out her arms and looked at her entire body, which gleamed with a metallic sheen, her eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.

Now that everything was ready, Xiuqi patted the little guy on the head and winked.

A knowing glint flashed in the "princess's" eyes. She bent over and slowly crouched down in front of the tall grass.

The next moment, the little guy started eating!

There was no warning, and no skill animation delay.

The figure of Xiu Qi's contracted partner in front of him suddenly dimmed, then became transparent, until it disappeared completely.

A fierce gust of wind swept outwards from the spot where the "princess" had just been, sweeping away fallen leaves and dust in all directions.

This was the first time he had ever been so close to witness the little guy's talent, "Void Walk," so directly.

"This is... way too fast!!!"

As far as he knew, some melee classes also had similar combat skills, but none could be as swift, ghostly, and silent as this.

The afterimage of the "princess" before my eyes dimmed slightly, and the silver-gray figure 60 feet ahead suddenly appeared, its thick wooden stick covered with hard bumps held high in the air, extremely dazzling.

The little guy's talent, [Void Walk], allows him to move significantly further.

At the same time, Xiuqi, like a cheetah poised to pounce, emerged from the tall grass, revealing a ferocious yet agile figure.

His steps were as light as falling leaves, each step landing precisely in the optimal position for exerting force.

The moment the soles of the feet touch the ground, the immense force carrying the weight and impact is transmitted to the earth. The ground surges back with force, propelling the feet out like an arrow released from a bow.

With each step, the speed increased.

With a speed and constitution of up to 8 points, he was able to perfectly avoid the dead branches and fallen leaves that might make a sound, moving silently like a ghost.

The scenery on both sides rushed past him, and the sharp sound of the wind in his ears was like the mournful cry of birds.

The gray robe trembled rapidly like a sieve, and the jet-black hair danced wildly as if it were tied up vertically.

The scene seemed to freeze at that moment.

Above the head of the dozing goblin beside the depression, a pair of slender, delicate hands held aloft a thick, bumpy wooden stick, which was perfectly perpendicular to the ground.

A gray figure, like a cheetah, gripped an ancient longsword that shimmered with a cool, clear light, and shot closer and closer like an arrow released from a bow.

Forty feet, twenty feet, ten feet...