About an hour later, the river curved, and the faint sounds of clashing weapons and shouts drifted from ahead. The scale of the conflict seemed considerable.
The two exchanged a glance, suppressed their auras, and crept forward, using the trees for cover.
Parting a thick patch of reeds, they froze at the sight before them.
Ahead lay a forest clearing, dominated by a crude Great Goblin village enclosed by rough wooden fences and mud walls. It was far larger than the scattered skirmishers they had wiped out outside the previous Goblin "fortress." The village teemed with at least twenty to thirty Great Goblins, including several [Great Goblin Warriors Lv. 20-22] wielding iron weapons and wearing tattered leather armor. Hiding in the rear were even a few [Great Goblin Shamans Lv. 23] brandishing bone staves.
Attacking this village was an unfamiliar four-person party.
A [Berserker Lv. 22] wielding a great axe led the charge, roaring as they hacked at the wooden fence. An [Elemental Mage Lv. 21] chanted from the rear, precisely landing fireballs and ice spikes among the Great Goblins behind the fence. A nimble [Ranger Lv. 20] skirmished on the periphery, their arrows specifically targeting the Great Goblin Shamans and ranged units attempting to throw javelins. Finally, a [Paladin Lv. 21] stood guard beside the Mage, shield raised in vigilance, occasionally stepping forward to support the Berserker with their warhammer.
The party's coordination was flawless, their assault relentless, and their levels impressively high. They clearly weren't local examinees from Prosperous City—the sisters knew, or at least recognized, most of the top students above Level 20 from their city.
"It's a team from another city," Lin Xiyue whispered, her voice tinged with curiosity. "It seems this Dungeon randomly scattered examinees from different cities across various regions."
However, just as the party was about to breach the outer fence and storm the village interior, the Paladin at the rear seemed to sense something. They whirled around, their sharp gaze instantly locking onto the reed patch where the sisters were hiding.
"On guard! Someone's behind us!" the Paladin barked, his voice carrying clearly across the battlefield.
The moment he spoke, the Berserker and Ranger at the front, who had been relentlessly attacking, froze. Without hesitation, they abandoned their assault on the Great Goblins and swiftly retreated to regroup with the Mage and Paladin. The four instantly shifted to a defensive formation: the Berserker and Paladin stood at the front, while the Mage and Ranger took up the rear. They stared warily in Lin Qingyue and Lin Xiyue's direction, their eyes filled with scrutiny and undisguised suspicion. Their reaction was lightning-fast, their formation change fluid and seamless—clearly, they were well-trained and extremely wary of the classic "mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind" scenario.
The Great Goblins in the village, who had been getting routed just moments before, seized the chance to catch their breath. Though confused, they huddled behind the shattered fence, chattering and screeching, but made no move to charge out.
For a moment, the scene became strangely tense.
On one side stood the fully-manned, four-person party, on high alert as if facing a formidable enemy.
On the other stood the newly revealed pair of sisters—one of whom was holding a pink staff.
Between them cowered a group of shaken Great Goblins, cautiously watching the standoff.
Lin Qingyue looked at the other party's defensive posture, which screamed, You're definitely here to steal our kills, snatch our points, or backstab us! She glanced at the blindingly new shield in her sister's hands, then down at her own equally new pink staff...
She felt it was necessary to clear things up. She really was just passing by and happened to stop to watch the show.
Under the tense gaze of the four adventurers, Lin Qingyue raised her empty left hand, signaling she meant no harm.
"Relax, we're just passing through," she said, keeping her voice as calm as possible. "You can continue. We'll be on our way."
Lin Xiyue cooperated, lowering her combat stance and resting her shield against her shoulder. She offered a friendly smile. "Yeah, yeah! We're just here to watch the fun. You guys go ahead and fight."
However, instead of relaxing, the four adventurers grew even more vigilant.
The Paladin Captain snorted coldly. "Passing through? At a time like this? Just as we were about to breach the village?"
The Berserker sneered. "If you're going to lie, at least make it believable! Two girls 'just passing by' a Goblin Village alone in a Dungeon? Who are you trying to fool?"
The Mage narrowed his eyes, the elemental glow on his staff intensifying. "Captain, they're definitely stalling for time, waiting for us and the Goblins to wear each other out!"
The Ranger's arrowhead shifted slightly, locking onto Lin Qingyue. "Or they're waiting for their teammates to flank us."
Lin Qingyue sighed helplessly. "We really are just the two of us, and we really were just passing by. Do we look like we're trying to steal your points?"
Lin Xiyue nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! If we wanted to steal your points, we would have attacked already. Why waste time talking to you?"
But the Paladin Captain only grew more convinced of his judgment. "Just as I thought! They're probing our defensive weaknesses! Don't fall for it, everyone!"
After this went back and forth a few times, with the sisters' explanations falling on deaf ears, Lin Qingyue's patience finally ran out.
She took a deep breath, turned to Lin Xiyue, and her tone turned dangerous. "Xiyue, I'm suddenly feeling a little pissed off."
Lin Xiyue pouted. "Me too, Sis. We explained nicely for so long, and they didn't believe a single word."
"Since they're so convinced we're here to steal their points..." Lin Qingyue slowly raised her Pink Staff, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes. "...wouldn't it be a waste if we didn't?"
Lin Xiyue grinned, understanding perfectly. She raised her shield again, assuming a battle stance. "Makes sense! We can't take the blame for nothing!"
Just as the four opponents were bracing themselves, thinking the sisters were about to attack them, Lin Qingyue suddenly spun around. Her Pink Staff whistled through the air with a heavy whoosh as it smashed straight into the dilapidated wooden fence!
BOOM!
The already crumbling fence collapsed completely, revealing the panicked Great Goblins behind it.
Lin Xiyue charged in right after, her shield leading the way like a war chariot. Dawn's Light carved a dazzling arc through the Goblin ranks.
"See! They're attacking after all!" the Paladin Captain roared, both shocked and furious. "I knew they were here to steal our points!"
The Berserker bellowed, "Despicable! They're clearing the Goblins while our guard is down!"
The Mage hastily began chanting a spell. "Quick! Don't let them take all the points!"
The four-person squad snapped into action, charging toward the Goblin Village as well.
However, the battle that unfolded next was utterly bizarre—
The sisters fought with perfect coordination, clearing the Goblins as effortlessly as cutting through melons. Each swing of Lin Qingyue's Pink Staff landed with crushing force, sending Goblins flying as if struck by boulders. Lin Xiyue, a silver whirlwind, charged through the enemy ranks, a blur of Holy Light and flashing sword shadows.
In stark contrast, the four-person squad fought with their hands tied.
The Berserker swung his axe at a Goblin but kept glancing nervously at the surrounding woods, fearing a sudden ambush. The Paladin held his shield but was distracted, constantly protecting the Mage's back instead of focusing on the enemies in front. The Mage, halfway through chanting, sensed movement in the bushes to the side, hastily interrupted the spell, and turned—only to watch his fireball miss completely. The Ranger's arrows were even more absurd; half of them flew into empty shadows, as if enemies could leap out at any moment.
"Captain, they must have teammates hiding in ambush!" the Mage whispered, his eyes darting around nervously. "These two girls are this strong—their allies must be even more terrifying!"
The Berserker, panting as he cleaved through a Goblin, growled, "Exactly! They wouldn't dare steal our mobs so brazenly unless they had backup!"
The Paladin Captain's face was grim. "Everyone, stay vigilant and watch our surroundings! They're definitely waiting for us to show a weakness!"
And so, the four-person squad grew even more distracted, fighting Goblins while constantly scanning for their imaginary ambushers. As a result, their combat efficiency plummeted; it often took them several hits to kill a single Goblin.
In stark contrast, the sisters fought with unwavering focus and perfect coordination, clearing Goblins at nearly twice the squad's speed.
Lin Qingyue unleashed a sweeping attack, sending three Goblins flying simultaneously. Lin Xiyue slammed her shield into a Goblin Shaman, stunning it before finishing it off with a swift sword strike. The two moved like precise, efficient killing machines, leaving a trail of fallen Goblins in their wake.
"Sis, why are they fighting so slowly?" Lin Xiyue asked, glancing at the squad during a brief lull.
Lin Qingyue had also noticed their strange behavior. After a moment's thought, she understood the reason and couldn't help but chuckle. "They're probably still waiting for our 'teammates' to show up."
Five minutes later, the battle was over.
Of the thirty-odd Goblins in the village, the sisters had eliminated over twenty. The four-person squad had managed fewer than ten—and that was only because the sisters had deliberately left a small group for them.
Lin Qingyue lowered her staff and sighed softly. Lin Xiyue, still itching for a fight, flicked the gore from her sword and glared at the sour-faced four-person squad.
"What are you staring at?" Lin Xiyue snapped. "Weren't you the ones so sure we were here to steal your points?"
Lin Qingyue added coolly, "Well, we've stolen them now. Are you satisfied?"
The Paladin Captain opened his mouth to retort, but seeing the field littered with Goblin corpses and the sisters' relaxed posture, he swallowed his words. He scanned the surroundings warily and whispered, "Stay sharp. Their teammates could still be nearby."
The Berserker shot the sisters a resentful glare but kept his voice low. "Captain, they took so many points. Are we just going to let it go?"
"We're pulling back," the Paladin Captain said grimly. "The situation is unclear; we can't risk a direct confrontation. If these two girls are this strong, their teammates must be even more formidable. We might already be surrounded."
The four-person squad maintained a defensive formation as they slowly retreated, their eyes still warily scanning the surrounding woods as if a massive army could burst out at any moment.
Watching their paranoid display, the sisters exchanged a smile, turned gracefully, and continued walking along the riverbank.
[Ding! Host has successfully practiced the Elation Philosophy of "If you're going to be falsely accused, you might as well make it true." By trapping the other party in a logical loop while reaping tangible points, Elation Value +233! Aha loves this kind of righteous counter-play~ (Masked Maniacal Laughter.jpg)]
Lin Qingyue listened to the System notification, the corners of her lips curling upward.
Hmm... this feeling of being misunderstood and just rolling with it... it's actually kind of satisfying?