Chapter 206: One Week

A mercenary group of three people led by an A-Rank hid through the alleys of Constance City.

“Is it okay for us to do this?” one of the B-Rank members asked.

The boss glanced at him and revealed a haughty smile as he pointed to the city.

Precisely pointing at the empty street, the abandoned cars, and the closed and abandoned stores.

“Everything is empty. This is our chance,” said the boss without controlling his smile.

Looking at the main street that previously would have been crowded with cars and people, today it was completely silent.

Cars were spread out along the street in a mess too shocking for a big city and the buildings were silent, with no one in sight.

“But... It’s only been a week. If we get caught, we’ll be in trouble,” added the frightened member, anxious.

One week.

That was how long it had been since the high goblin had left the Abyssal Portal with the head of the Romanian expedition leader, who had gone inside days before.

At that time, the allied forces covered the retreat of the citizens and, thanks to them, it was possible for many citizens to flee.

Although the city center and its surroundings were occupied by these creatures, fighting was frequent on both sides.

Goblins... Creatures are known to be wild and dangerous.

Those who were young would know them from video games or stories and if they were old or players, then they would remember them or would have personally seen them in Terra nova.

They were ‘monsters’ that novices had to slay to level up, but on a large scale, they could become terrifying existences.

The fast reproduction of the race stood out, and above all, the ability to reproduce with any race was something ‘magical’.

It was common to think that when a woman was caught by these creatures... She would not have a good end and could become an ‘object’ for the reproduction of the species.

It was for such a reason that the first action taken by the leaders of the allied force was to send the citizens as far away as possible while they covered the retreat.

However, that unique characteristic was for this small group a blessing.

“There are many of those green creatures. The smaller ones are Rank C. Wild and unintelligent. If we catch one of those creatures alive, we can sell it to researchers,” the boss murmured and licking his lips, he added. “Mediums are just as intelligent as a human. If we catch one of them, we can sell it for several million.”

The skittish member swallowed at the sound of ‘millions’ and the chief continued.

“Just imagine. They are a magical race. A new magical race appearing on Earth. The Archmages would love to investigate them... No, the scientists themselves would like to open them carefully and analyze every part of them,” the boss announced and, giving a smile, he added. “Investigate how their DNA is compatible with ours? Investigate their rapid reproduction and rapid birth. Or simply the reason why their children are always born of their race.”

The chief was not very knowledgeable; he was just taking in all the doubts that were asked in the research programs.

However, he wasn’t lying.

Every one of those doubts was a questionable issue that the brightest researchers were slow to analyze.

Although there had not yet been reported cases of births or reproduction of these creatures, these characteristics were taken from their idea of Terra nova.

Perhaps, like Terra nova humans and earthlings, there would be a difference, but in general terms, both were the same.

And researchers or archmages would love to verify that difference in detail, even if they had to pay to have a research specimen.

After all, that race was ‘invaders’ and, in legal terms, they were considered monsters.

“Screw the allied forces... They can’t keep everything themselves,” declared the other member with eyes full of greed.

Despite the authorities sealing off the main area and declaring it off-limits to ordinary individuals, they were still inside their camps.

Did they gain anything by fighting creatures?

That question didn’t matter when they could make money by capturing them.

The skittish member gained courage and nodded with slight excitement.

With the boss in the lead, they both advanced down the sidewalk while looking carefully to either side.

They were in the vicinity of the goblin control area and the group could tell that the tents were full, making it obvious how quickly their owners had to leave.

Traveling quickly, hiding among abandoned cars or buildings, the group heard noise coming from a supermarket.

Drawing their weapons, they approached while also carrying stun guns.

From a wand with a sleep spell to a high voltage taser capable of incapacitating weak and defenseless targets.

Entering through the broken window, trying to make as little noise as possible, the trio noticed a group of three small goblins opening and eating everything they came across.

Short swords were lying on the floor as the attention of those creatures was focused on the food.

Tearing open bags and munching on all sorts of snacks with savagery and hunger.

The boss signaled to his team, pointing at the third creature, and when his teammates nodded; he charged forward with his sword in hand.

“UGhh...”

Slashing his sword into the goblin’s chest, the creature could only let out a groan of pain for the last time as it was pierced.

“GRAA!”

The creature’s companions snarled, but before they could grab their weapons, a sword pierced one in the neck, while the stun gun electrocuted the other.

The boss reacted immediately and kicked him in the head, stunning that little creature.

Then, when the electric power stopped, he used the sleep wand to get it to sleep soundly.

“...” Looking at the fallen creatures, the boss couldn’t help but laugh and, without controlling his smile, he announced. “This was our lucky day!”

Without having to go deep into where the stronger creatures were, in a nearby supermarket, they suddenly encountered these creatures.

“Let me demon!”

“Lady, I’m not a demon! I’m a human from fire lands! A human with horns!”

“Stop shouting, the little devils are chasing us...”

*BOOM*

Before they could react to those voices, an explosion sounded and a goblin the same size as an average human crashed through the wall of the supermarket and landed next to the group.

When the creature got up, he wiped the blood from his mouth and touched his bruised face, and looked at the three mercenaries who had one of their race on the ground.

“Gugurua...”

With guttural and incomprehensible sounds, the creature stood up and, taking his sword, charged toward them.

“Run!” shouted the boss, coming out of the supermarket.

The creature chasing him was no normal goblin, it was even more troublesome.

The tallest goblins found among their race, known as ‘hobgoblin’, that creature averaged just like a human and were usually A-Rank.

Skilled and capable with their weapons, they were like any human in skill... No, they were more experienced than an average A-Rank, perhaps because of the environment they lived in.

“GRAA!”

Hearing the roar behind them, the trio walked out into the supermarket and their eyes widened as they saw the battle happening on the main street.

A young woman wearing black arms coming out from behind her back was carrying five people who were wrapped around some of those arms.

Other black arms were protecting the people she was carrying from a round of arrows.

Beneath her was a human figure… No, what they could describe as a demon.

Reddish skin with small horns on his head.

Everyone who looked at him would describe him as a demon and that individual was carrying an old woman like someone carrying a bag of potatoes on his shoulder.

That old woman was slapping the demon’s back in panic.

“Grraa!”

The roar echoed at the group’s back, and the mercenary leader drew his sword to clash with the goblin’s sword.

“Ugh...” The hobgoblin’s strength was superior to the boss’s, causing it to let out a groan and retreat.

With a single sword clash, the boss realized the difference in strength and, as if the creature wanted to show that the experience was also different, the hobgoblin immediately attacked.

With only two sword exchanges, the strength and ferocity difference was revealed, making the mercenary boss turn pale.

Before he could react, the hobgoblin backed away.

*BOOM*

The boss noticed how a young woman’s fist created a small crater and, without wasting any time; she charged the hobgoblin, starting a dangerous battle.

“You, get out of my way!” ordered the ‘demon’ as flames rose around him.

The group of mercenaries ran sideways trying to dodge and that individual carrying the lady, waved his only available hand.

A great flame spread forward, engulfing the small goblins that were running to where they were.

Some could hide and others were burned alive.

*BOOM*

From inside the supermarket, the hobgoblins shot out and were buried in another building.

“Let’s go now. I think he called for reinforcements!” Warned the fighter as she appeared in front of the mercenaries.

Before the mercenaries could escape, the gaze of the young woman, who was no more than her twenties, turned to them and commanded. “You will also come with us.”

The tone allowed no refusal.

******

In a camp of the allied forces, an old woman bowed to a man with reddish skin and small horns.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you a demon. I was too scared,” an old woman muttered, lowering her head in sorrow, giving Siba a glance.

Aurora’s expression trembled as she saw the reaction of that human from the fire lands.

His reddish skin was all too evident and his small horns stuck out despite his size.

“Don’t worry, ma’am, we all get scared when we see someone terrifying,” Siba replied with a strange expression.

It was as if he understood, but at the same time, it bothered him and he couldn’t do anything about it.

What was worse was that Meden and Alros, who could be considered Siba’s colleagues, were nearby watching the scene, secretly laughing.

Aurora tried to control her expression as much as she could.

Even though they both had the status of ‘captain’ and were technically ‘colleagues’ in equal standing, it wasn’t like she wanted to laugh at someone she had seen once before and only met mostly during this week.

The madam just gave an embarrassed smile, not knowing what to say at those words and, with the other rescued individuals, climbed the military truck.

Aurora watched the mercenaries, who were also being taken away under arrest.

The Romanian government considered the area around the center of the abyssal portal and practically a large part of Constanta City a forbidden area.

The crime of going into this area was several years of prison and more because of the dangerous situation of the abyssal portals.

“You have quite a charm, Siba!” joked Meden as the truck pulled away from the main camp.

“I could be her grandfather,” Siba replied, giving the dwarf Meden a fierce look.

Aurora took another look at that human from the fire lands and realized that his appearance had fooled her.

In reality, Siba looked like a middle-aged man in the prime of his life full of vigor, but she didn’t imagine that his age could overcome an old woman whose appearance seemed in her seventies.

It wasn’t as if she had interacted with many elves or other races; Cithrel and Urfin were her most notable non-human acquaintances.

The truth was that age puzzled her a bit... It was hard to think that her new colleagues had lived over a hundred years.

“Stop making us look bad. Our new companions will think poorly of us,” Alros interjected in a serious tone, looking at her and Alice.

“Bah, she should have met us by now,” Meden replied with an amused laugh and, giving Alice a look as she passed her some snacks, she asked. “Isn’t that right?”

“Sure,” Alice replied as she nodded as if they were old friends as she accepted what was offered.

Some small sandwiches and a hot drink as if it was a light breakfast.

Aurora couldn’t help but laugh.

In just a week, Meden had discovered Alice’s interests and because, in a way, they both shared a fondness for food, they hit it off well.

Before Aurora could comment, her holographic clock vibrated with Urfin’s announcement.

“Urfin is calling me. We’ll have lunch later,” Aurora said, letting out a slight exhausted sigh.

The others gave smiles, and she waved to her companions, headed for a building.

Right now they were in the southern part of Constanta city, in the area of influence of the Falion Empire, basically Greece.

They took control of a small residential area of gated apartments, and this place was ideal to turn into the main camp.

Although they called them the ‘allied forces’ in reality, there were three influences in the city Constanta... Four, if one considered the goblins.

In the north, covering that entire area, was the Church of Order, with their major force the ‘Executors of Order’ being present.

Led by Cardinal Auguste, they were a force to be reckoned with.

In the west were the Romanian authorities, the headquarters of the army, and especially the Romanian guilds, along with those closest to them.

Finally, to the south was the area of influence of the Falion Empire, who led the teams that came from Greece.

There were also individuals belonging to the Church of Time and Space and some support teams belonging to the Cosmos Company.

While the army was serving as support to the major forces, the high numbers were the only advantage they had, as the strength of the members was low overall.

The soldiers mostly used weapons of war and in very few cases had up-to-date equipment.

In the center surrounded on all sides and with the black sea to the east was the abyssal portal and the goblins, whose numbers in Aurora’s eyes seemed to increase every day.

Entering a building, Aurora made her way to the command center, where dozens of computers and magical artifacts were located.

Screens connected to satellites, cameras, or drones monitored the entire forbidden zone, while other screens kept track of the different communications of the teams patrolling the area.

Urfin was in the center of it, all watching intently.

“I heard they ran into a hobgoblin and several patrols of those little devils. I’m glad everything went well,” Urfin said, giving a smile of greeting.

“It was unexpected, but not too troublesome. He was a tough opponent, though,” Aurora replied calmly.

She had run into those hobgoblins and had found them to be troublesome opponents.

In some cases more difficult than some A-Rank militiamen.

It made her wonder what kind of environments they lived in to develop such an overwhelming experience and ability to fight.

Urfin gave her a signal to follow him, and they both started walking.

“I also heard you caught some mercenaries,” Urfin said, and sighing, he commented. “Trouble is slowly brewing. I’m sure if this doesn’t stop now, other problems will arise.”

This was the first group of mercenaries she had encountered... Individuals who were blinded by money wandered into the forbidden zone trying to make some money.

Aurora wasn’t overly knowledgeable in matters of magical or research, but she knew that many people were interested in goblins.

That not only extended to research, but worldwide.

Professionals in the different branches were not the only ones concerned about goblins, but ordinary people were concerned as well.

Was this an invasion? A dimensional war as heard in the ancient history of Terra nova?

“It’s hard to satiate everyone’s interest,” Urfin muttered helplessly, and when they reached his office, he closed the door and explained. “The Cosmos Enterprise has obtained goblin corpses for further research.”

The man’s expression did not change despite what he had just said and he gave a half-smile.

“We too have given material to the Archmages for research. After all, we are a magical empire. Knowledge and research are one of our pillars,” Urfin announced, holding nothing back.

It was most common... Aurora could understand it.

For creatures that had no legal status and were treated as enemies in the eyes of all, it was common for them to be researched as if they were animals or magical beasts.

“If you tell me that so, I won’t be surprised when I find out... You don’t need to,” Aurora commented and, giving a sigh, she revealed. “I don’t know how I see them, but what I know is that I don’t want to let innocents die because of them.”

Were they monsters? A race like elves or dwarves? Were they demonic creatures like the demons themselves?

Monster, human, elf, or demon... As long as they harmed innocents for Aurora, they could all become her enemies, and it would make no difference.

That was why all this week she was moving around the city of Constanta, participating in rescue missions, or supporting the military with their retreat from the city.

“Maybe in the future, you question everything...” Urfin muttered and without explaining, stated. “Anyway, with this last group they rescued, it can be said that the goblin’s area of influence was completely evacuated.”

Aurora sighed as she saw the projections Urfin revealed to her.

In the north the enforcers of order rescued those they encountered and took them out, in the west in the Romanian zone of influence the guilds were also on the move.

On this side, she had led a team with Siba and Alice to rescue the small group that was well within goblin influence.

“Now that the most troublesome has been removed, the higher-ups wish to move. You’ve seen it. Mercenaries infiltrate trying to capture goblins. These are the first, but it’s quite possible demons are watching hiding in nearby towns or cities, and not to mention the damn cultists,” Urfin said and with a serious look, he commented. “In many kingdoms and empires, wild goblins are considered monsters... The reason is simple: they breed like rabbits, using female individuals as incubators.”

Aurora was silent.

She had seen the cruelty of humans, demons, and even magical beasts.

Smilodon Fatalis liked to eat human flesh, lammergeiers liked to lift humans and drop them from high in the sky, watching them fall to the ground.

In the ‘Assault’ mission alone, she watched as General Kavuri was transformed into a monster, while in warehouses, innocent people were hung like cattle to bleed out.

Cruelty was everywhere... Even in herself.

For such a reason, it was that she remained silent.

“I don’t know if these goblins are the same. Practically, we know nothing about them, but no one wants to wait to learn their way of life,” Urfin said with a serious tone and looking at Aurora, he commented. “I tell you this because I know you... From this moment on, it will truly start with the confrontation and I don’t know what might happen.”

Do you want to stay, or will you withdraw?

That was the question Urfin was asking, and Aurora remained silent.

Urfin didn’t mean it in a bad way, but it made sense.

There were so many questions and yet so few answers, but one thing was clear... Things could change immediately.

“Think about it calmly. You have until tomorrow they will start moving,” Urfin said, giving her a half-smile.

Aurora left the office in silence.