Deep in the shadows of the stalactites, Selene lowered her voice, a tremor of excitement in her tone.
She poked half her head out, then quickly pulled it back.
"One, two, three..."
"Sis, there are so many! At least thirty!"
"That big guy with the hammer looks particularly tough."
Celeste said nothing.
Her breathing was steady, but her gaze had long since drifted past her sister, transforming into invisible tentacles that brushed over every inch of the cavern hall.
The light here was dim, and the jagged stalagmites and rock walls cast large, heavy shadows—a natural hunting ground.
More importantly, the wind element perception granted by the venti trial card allowed her to clearly "hear" the flow of the air.
The heavy, steady breathing over there—that was a sentry dozing off.
The sluggish, scattered footsteps there—that was a patrolman wandering around in boredom.
The airflow deviating around the corner—that was where the next target was hiding.
The layout of the entire cavern hall and the positions of all the goblins had already formed a precise, real-time 3D map in her mind.
"A direct confrontation is unwise," Celeste whispered.
Her fingertips tapped the air as if selecting pieces on a chessboard.
"Let's play a game."
"It's called 'Perfect Infiltration'."
"Infiltration?" Selene looked down at the polished knight's armor she was wearing, then at her sister's simple, oversized cloth robe, her expression troubled. "Sis, with our gear, how are we supposed to infiltrate?"
"Simple."
A dangerous curve tugged at the corners of Celeste's mouth.
"Kill everyone who sees us."
"Wouldn't that be a perfect infiltration?"
Selene was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, lowering her voice in excitement: "Got it! physical stealth!"
"Exactly." Celeste's mind stirred, and the hidden blade obtained from the system lottery quietly appeared under her wrists, cleverly concealed by the wide cuffs of her priest robe.
She detached the hidden blade from her left arm and handed it to her sister. "Do you know how to use this? It's quieter than your sword."
Selene curiously took the delicate killing mechanism, turned it over in her hands a few times, then decisively shook her head and handed it back.
With a soft "clang," she drew the knight's sword from her waist with a backhand grip.
In the dim light of the cavern hall, the blade shimmered like an autumn pool.
"Thanks, Sis, but I'm not used to this little gadget."
She confidently spun the sword in a flourish. Although the faint whistling sound was slightly noticeable in the silence, her eyes were resolute.
"I still trust this more. Don't worry, I know how to make it 'quiet'."
Celeste raised an eyebrow, stopped insisting, and reattached the hidden blade to her wrist.
"You take the left, I'll take the right."
"Use the shadows and rocks to kill the stragglers first."
"Move as fast as you can, and don't let them make a sound."
The next second, two figures vanished behind the stalactites.
They were no longer sisters, but two apex predators slipping into a sheep pen.
Although Selene was wearing armor, she deliberately softened her footsteps, kept her center of gravity low, and stepped firmly onto the rock, keeping the metallic clanking to a minimum.
Celeste's movements, however, were almost ghostly.
The blessing of the wind made her landing silent, and her perception of the airflow allowed her to always "hear" the movement behind the corner in advance.
She was like a grim reaper walking in the gap between reality and shadow.
The first target appeared.
It was a goblin leaning against the rock wall, clutching a hand axe and dozing off.
Celeste emerged from the shadows behind it.
Her left hand reached out, and the hidden blade sprang forth!
"Puchi!"
The blade precisely pierced through the gap in the cervical vertebrae, instantly severing its central nervous system.
The goblin didn't even wake up from its dream before its soul returned to the earth.
[Ding! Silently assassinated a slacking goblin with a hidden blade, achievement unlocked: "Why Do Slackers Make Things Hard for Slacking Goblins!", joy value +30!]
Next target.
Two goblins were arguing incessantly over a shiny rock, saliva flying everywhere.
Celeste approached silently.
The pink staff in her hand was a lethal bludgeon!
The crystal at the tip of the staff struck the left goblin's temple with precision.
"Thump!"
The goblin didn't even grunt before its body went limp.
Almost at the same instant, just as the goblin on the right opened its mouth to scream, Celeste's left-hand hidden blade struck like lightning, piercing through its wide-open mouth and out the back of its head!
All terror was choked off in its throat.
[Ding! Double Kill! Clean and efficient, joy value +30!]
She was like an artist of death, every strike possessing both efficiency and aesthetic beauty.
Using her airflow perception, she could even predict when a patrolling goblin would turn around. She would slide behind a stalagmite in advance, and the moment the goblin brushed past her, her left arm would lock around its neck like iron pincers, while the handle of her staff slammed into its back!
With a crisp "snap," another soul was quietly reaped.
On the other side.
Selene displayed the "violent aesthetics" of a Paladin.
She abandoned all wide, sweeping moves, using only the simplest and most lethal stabs and cuts.
Approaching a target, her left hand would clamp over the goblin's mouth and nose, stifling any cries for help.
At the same time, the knight's sword in her right hand would strike without hesitation, precisely piercing the throat through a gap in the leather armor!
Or it would drive straight into the heart through the gaps between the ribs!
When the blade was withdrawn, it brought with it hot, viscous liquid.
Although there was slight struggling and muffled sounds, against the inherent noisy background of the cavern hall, it was like a drop of water falling into a lake, causing no ripples.
Her method was the absolute efficiency of a knight!
The points on her wristband were rising crazily and silently.
The signature "gaga" sounds in the cavern hall were thinning out at a visible rate.
[Ding! Assassinated Elite Goblin Guards (Lv.20-23) x3, gained points +120! Current infiltration rate: 10%! Host, I'm starting to understand your definition of 'infiltration'!]
[Ding! Assassinated Elite Goblin Guards (Lv.20-23) x6, gained points +240! Current infiltration rate: 30%! The perfect stealth is to make all the red dots on the map disappear!]
[Ding! Assassinated Elite Goblin Guards... Current infiltration rate: 60%! Victory is in sight!]
Just as the two of them silently took down the sixteenth goblin, an accident occurred.
That Goblin Chieftain Lv.25, which had been motionless the whole time, seemed to feel that the scene was a bit too quiet.
Its murky, mung bean-sized eyes blinked, and blinked again.
Something was wrong.
Today... seemed exceptionally quiet?
Why were the brats who usually made its brain ache with their noise not "gaga-ing" anymore?
It extended its green claws with sharp nails and began to count its subordinates using its mathematical ability, which might have been as high as "within 10."
"Squad one... ga..."
"Squad two... wu..."
"Squad three... ji..."
It counted and counted, only to suddenly discover a shocking fact!
Its fingers seemed to be enough today!
This wasn't right!
This was very un-goblin-like!
Usually, after counting three squads, it would have to take off its smelly leather boots and start counting its toes!
"Ga——!!!"
A roar that pierced the clouds and cracked stones exploded in the Goblin Chieftain Lv.25's throat!
The remaining dozen or so Goblin Guards were frightened out of their wits and jumped in shock.
"Missing! Missing! My shiny guards are missing so many!"
The Goblin Chieftain Lv.25 brandished its war hammer, furious.
"Bad guys! There are bad guys stealing goblins!!"
This roar was like a giant boulder crashing into a calm pond.
The remaining goblins finally woke from their stupor. They panicked and huddled together, looking around in terror, only to realize that nearly half of their companions had vanished at some point!
"Ugly big guys! It must be those ugly big guys!"
"Where are they?!"
"Find them! Avenge Stupid Ga, Skinny Ga, Stinky Ga... (it reeled off a dozen names in one breath)!"
The goblins fell into a frenzy of panic and rage.
They no longer scattered but huddled tightly around the chieftain, frantically scanning every shadow of the cavern hall with fierce, fear-filled gazes.