Tower of Paradise

Chapter 62: The third floor

The dense forest that stretched at my feet displayed a colorful cacophony of different shades of green that covered an enormous area as far as the eye could see. It was so vast that the sea of green seemed to extend eternally, far beyond the horizon.

Although the sun shone brightly overhead, the interior of the forest was dark and in shadow. The trees, tall enough to cover the sky, did exactly that: they blocked the sunlight and cast a thick shadow over all the vegetation.

As soon as I entered the forest, the hot, stifling air came into contact with my skin. The feeling of the muddy ground beneath my feet made me nervous for some reason, while the tall grasses and intertwined bushes continually passed beside me, brushing against my clothes.

As I ventured deeper, the sounds were replaced by birdsong, the whisper of wind through the leaves, along with the cries of unknown beasts in the distance and the invisible flowing water.

In the distance, I could make out monsters holding crude weapons, with disgusting faces, bodies of children, hidden among the undergrowth. They appeared before me like threatening shadows.

Contrary to what one might think, goblins were quite intelligent monsters. While their physical abilities were not particularly outstanding, they were civilized and moved in groups, which made them a species that was quite difficult to deal with. I didn't underestimate them for a second.

Crr, crrr—

Ca, ca—!

The goblins seemed indignant. The reason was simple: their treasure had disappeared. I watched as dozens of goblins sat in the trees above and looked toward one side of the forest.

The treasure was nearby; the goblins knew it because they had sprayed a unique scent on the necklace so they could track it easily. A detail I hadn't anticipated, but that I would now have to incorporate into my strategy.

Crr, crack—

It was me. The human who had stolen their treasure. I was approaching, not escaping, but returning, which was strange to them.

They knew there was no way I would return there without any reason. But still, they wouldn't be afraid of a single human enough to retreat. Their confidence in their numbers was their strength and their weakness.

Creak, creak...

The Goblin Fighter, the largest and most muscular goblin, who seemed to be in charge, raised his hand. The others widened their formation and prepared. It wasn't to chase me, but to prepare for defense. They knew the culprit would soon enter their territory.

I slowly entered their territory. I wore fine armor and carried a sword and a spear hanging from my shoulders. I was strolling, as if I didn't have a care in the world. I greeted the goblins with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

—I've heard that you are the predators in this part of the forest —I said as I held the sword of the goblin I had killed and the spear in each of my hands—. So...

Crr—?

Unable to understand me, the leader of the goblins tilted his head to one side. At that moment...

Splat-!

The sword flew from my hand and pierced the goblin Fighter's head against the tree. Blood splattered in all directions as his body collapsed.

As soon as the others got angry, I raised my spear, feeling the adrenaline flowing through my veins.

—Die.

The goblins immediately surrounded me, their eyes glowing with bestial fury. I knew there were many of them, but I was fast and cunning. I swung my spear in a wide arc, impaling three goblins at once. Their bodies fell heavily to the ground.

Squawk, squawk!

The cries of the goblins filled the air, but I didn't let myself be intimidated.

A goblin jumped from a tree, trying to attack me from above. Without wasting a second, I rolled to the side and drove my spear into his chest while he was still in the air. The goblin let out a sharp squeal before falling silent.

—Too slow. —I muttered, retrieving my spear from the lifeless body.

I knew I had to keep moving constantly. The goblins were weak individually, but as a group they represented a considerable threat. My strategy was to divide them, confront them in small groups where my superiority in skill and speed would make the difference.

I moved among the trees, using the terrain to my advantage. Every time a group of goblins cornered me, I found a way out, either by climbing a tree or sliding under a dense bush.

Crrrr, crrr!

The goblins were becoming increasingly frustrated. I could feel it in their cries, see the desperation in their increasingly erratic movements. They were used to being the hunters, not the prey.

One of the goblins, larger than the others, lunged at me with a crude club. I waited until the last moment, when he was fully committed to his attack, and stepped aside. The goblin's momentum carried him too far, leaving him vulnerable. I didn't waste the opportunity. My dagger found its way to the back of his neck, silencing him forever.

The remaining goblins began to retreat, aware that they had underestimated their opponent. But I couldn't allow them to regroup. If they did, they might plan a more effective strategy, perhaps even seek reinforcements.

I caught up with one of the fleeing goblins and brought him down with a precise blow to the back of his knees. He fell forward, and before he could get up, my boot crushed his skull against the forest floor.

A whistle in the air was my only warning. I instinctively ducked, narrowly avoiding an arrow that passed close to my cheek. The goblin archers had arrived. This complicated things.

—So you have ranged weapons. Interesting. —I quickly sought cover behind a thick tree.

Arrows began to rain down from various directions. I was trapped, at least momentarily. I needed to think fast. The archers would be in the trees, out of my immediate reach with melee weapons.

The number of goblins and the difficulty varied depending on the person, as the floors adjusted to the skills of the ascenders within their respective zones. In short, I felt fortunate to be alone.