"We've been discovered!"
Lin Xiyue's figure flickered as she swiftly retreated to Lin Qingyue's side, raising her shield once more.
"Sis, they finally noticed that half their comrades have been wiped out!"
Lin Qingyue gazed at the goblins huddled together—trembling yet feigning ferocity—a flicker of regret in her eyes.
So close.
Just a little more, and we could have achieved a truly "Perfect Stealth" infiltration.
Still, eliminating half of them first had drastically reduced the pressure.
[Ding! The "Perfect Stealth (Physical)" plan has been interrupted due to the enemy's sudden, extraordinary mathematical prowess! The dramatic irony of plans going awry has generated +50 Elation Value! Host, never underestimate a creature that needs its toes to count!]
"Change of plans," Lin Qingyue announced calmly, her hands tightening around the seemingly harmless pink staff.
She paused, her tone carrying a chillingly matter-of-fact coldness.
"Since stealth has failed..."
"...then we'll turn all remaining witnesses into corpses."
"As long as no one is left alive to see us, it's still a perfect infiltration."
Lin Xiyue froze for a moment.
Then, she nodded vigorously, a brilliant smile blooming on her face as she raised her longsword and shield.
"Makes sense!"
"Sis, your logic is always so flawless!"
[Ding! Redefining the standard for "Perfect Stealth." The logic is self-consistent. Elation Value +99!]
Lin Qingyue tightened her grip on the staff, her gaze fixed on the huddled, bewildered goblins. "They're all clustered together. Perfect..."
Her eyes swept over the chattering goblins before finally settling on the glittering pile of treasure.
Thanks to the Wind's Blessing, she could "hear" the faint vortex of air forming above the treasure hoard.
A bold plan instantly took shape.
"Xiyue," she whispered, a cunning glint in her eyes, "what do you think would happen if we made their treasure 'come alive'?"
Lin Xiyue blinked. "Come alive?"
"Exactly." Lin Qingyue pulled a handful of relatively light bee stingers and colorful pebbles from her System Space—items she had collected earlier. "Let's put on a show for them: 'Flying Treasure'."
She closed her eyes, focusing her senses entirely on the airflow.
The paths of several faint air currents within the cavern materialized clearly in her mind.
She couldn't command the wind, but she could become its friend, finding the perfect trajectory to let her projectiles ride its momentum.
Now!
Her eyes snapped open. With a flick of her wrist, she launched the bee stingers and pebbles at an incredibly precise angle!
These projectiles didn't fly in a straight line.
They carved strange arcs through the air, skillfully harnessing the cavern's natural air currents. As if plucked by an invisible hand, they struck the topmost layer of the treasure pile with pinpoint accuracy, hitting the small, light sequins and crystal shards!
Clatter-clatter—tinkle-tinkle—
A sudden, dense chorus of crisp collisions erupted!
Countless glittering trinkets were sent flying into the air. Illuminated by the glowing moss, they exploded like fireworks, scattering in all directions with a fatally alluring gleam!
The once-raucous cavern fell instantly silent.
Every goblin, including the warhammer-wielding chieftain, froze.
Their beady eyes widened, fixated on the "escaping treasures" that streaked through the air in shining trajectories.
The next second, a deafening chorus of "Gah-gahs!" nearly brought the cavern roof down!
"Gah-gah-gah! Sparklies flying! Flying away!"
"Mine! That's my sparkly flake!"
"Catch them! Don't let them get away!"
"Get lost! I saw that one first!"
The Goblin Chieftain's roars were completely drowned out.
Discipline? Orders?
Worthless in the face of flying sparklies!
The goblins descended into utter chaos, swarming like a kicked anthill. They lunged wildly at the treasures dancing in the air or rolling on the ground, shoving, clawing, and fighting each other. The scene spiraled completely out of control.
"Now!"
With a low cry, Lin Qingyue and Lin Xiyue tore through the air, their figures erupting from hiding!
Their target: the Goblin Chieftain, still roaring futilely as he tried to restore order!
"To catch the bandits, first catch the king!"
The Goblin Chieftain, seeing the two "Ugly Brutes" charge straight at him, reacted with a mix of shock and fury. He swung his warhammer in a vicious arc. "Gah! Kill the ugly freaks!"
Lin Xiyue didn't hesitate, raising her shield as she advanced. "Holy Light Barrier!"
BOOM!
The warhammer slammed into the barrier of light, producing a deep, muffled thud. The barrier rippled violently but held firm, completely absorbing the blow.
Meanwhile, Lin Qingyue slid low to the ground, her form flickering through the shadows. In an instant, she slipped into the massive opening on the Goblin Chieftain's flank!
Her Pink Staff struck like a viper, stabbing straight at the joint of his hammer-wielding arm!
The Goblin Chieftain cried out in pain, his movements freezing for a split second.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Xiyue slammed her shield forward, staggering him half a step back. Her knight's sword flashed in her right hand, a streak of white light aimed at his throat!
The Goblin Chieftain desperately dodged. The sword tip grazed his neck, leaving a spray of blood in its wake.
Shocked and furious, its body began to glow with a berserk red light.
"It's going berserk! Finish it quickly!" Lin Qingyue warned.
With a thought, the hidden blade on her left arm shot out. She dropped low, sliding under the Goblin Chieftain's swinging warhammer.
The hidden blade flashed with cold light, precisely slicing open its unarmored ankle!
"Gaaah!"
The Goblin Chieftain shrieked, its center of gravity failing.
How could Lin Xiyue miss such an opportunity?
She charged forward with her shield, Holy Light condensing on her sword until it seemed solid. She unleashed a swift, decisive thrust!
"Crusader Strike!"
Puchi!
The knight's sword, blazing with Holy Light, accurately pierced the Goblin Chieftain's chest, bursting out from its back!
The Goblin Chieftain's roar died abruptly.
It stared down in disbelief at the blade protruding from its chest. Its massive (relatively speaking) body swayed, then crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
[Ding! Killed Goblin Chieftain (Lv. 25). Points +100! "Decapitation" operation complete!]
The chieftain was dead.
The remaining goblins, just beginning to snap out of their treasure-induced frenzy, witnessed the horrifying scene.
"Gaa?! Boss is dead!"
"Sparklies... Boss... sob... Run!"
After a brief, stunned silence, the surviving goblins shrieked in terror. Their will to fight completely shattered, they scattered like headless chickens.
"Chase!"
Lin Qingyue's command was curt, her gaze icy. Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.
The ensuing battle became a one-sided slaughter.
Lin Xiyue raised her shield and sword again, charging like a heavy war chariot into a flock of sheep. Amid flashes of Holy Light, fleeing goblins fell one by one.
Lin Qingyue, meanwhile, leveraged her superior speed, becoming a phantom on the battlefield. Alternating between her staff and hidden blade, she precisely reaped the stragglers who tried to hide or escape down side passages.
Screams echoed through the cavern, then quickly faded into silence.
When the last goblin fell beneath Lin Qingyue's staff, the only sounds left were the sisters' breathing.
Lin Qingyue leaned on her staff, panting slightly.
Lin Xiyue wiped the sweat from her brow. Gazing at the carnage and the silent goblins, she let out a long sigh of relief.
"Sis, this 'stealth mission' of ours..."
Lin Qingyue scanned the area, confirmed there were no survivors, and nodded in satisfaction, cutting her sister off.
"Absolutely perfect."
"We used the environment to create chaos, executed a precise decapitation strike, and eliminated all witnesses."
"This is a textbook-level stealth operation."
Lin Xiyue: "..."
[Ding! Successfully executed the "Heart-Stirring Treasure" tactic, completing both decapitation and total annihilation. You have once again redefined "Perfect Stealth," creating a dual delight of tactical and logical satisfaction. Elation Value +250! Host, your tactical prowess (and thick skin) grows by the day!]
Ignoring the System's teasing, Lin Qingyue turned her gaze to the closed metal door at the far end of the cavern.
"Let's go. Time to claim our 'spoils of war'."