Caleb took the lead again.
This time, they didn't stalk just one.
They waited until a group of five passed through the woods—laughing in harsh, guttural voices, dragging some half-eaten animal between them. They were clearly relaxed. Unaware. That would change.
Caleb whispered, "Positions. Same as before. Marek and me hit first. Dina and Soren flank. Ellen supports."
They moved.
This wasn't like the last kill.
These goblins saw them.
They had time to react.
But not enough.
Caleb slammed his weight into the first one's chest, knocking it back with a crunch. Marek followed up, breaking another's leg with a snapped branch, then caving in its skull.
Dina's chain whipped out, catching one around the neck. She yanked—too hard. The goblin's body hit a tree, spine first. It slid down and stopped moving.
The fourth goblin lunged at Soren, stabbing with a jagged bone blade.
Soren caught the wrist, twisted it, then used the creature's own momentum to drive its head into a rock.
The last one turned to flee.
Ellen threw a stone. It missed. But Caleb was already moving.
He tackled it, drove his knee into its back, and didn't stop hitting until it stopped twitching.
They all stood still, breathing hard.
Blood. Dirt. Steam rising off corpses.
They were stronger now. Faster. Not skilled—but brutal. Efficient.
The interface lit up again.
Objective Progress: 10%
Contribution Experience Calculated Individually
Caleb checked his own panel.
EXP: 34.1%
STR: +1
AGI: +1
New Skill Acquired: Improvised Weaponry – Tier 0
(Gain minor bonus when using non-standard weapons in combat)
They weren't just surviving. They were evolving.
He looked down at the goblin corpses. Crude leather wrappings, twisted metal blades chipped at the edges, even a sharpened bone that had clearly been used like a dagger.
"Gear up," Caleb said. "Use what fits. Leave the rest."
It wasn't much but it was better than nothing. Marek strapped a bent cleaver to his belt. Ellen tied a length of bone shard to a stick, testing its weight. Dina hesitated, then picked up a rusted knife and wiped it clean.
For the first time since entering the Tower, they didn't feel naked.
"Still think we don't stand a chance?" Caleb asked.
Soren gave a half-smile. "I think we're learning faster than they are."
Caleb looked at the others.
"We're going to finish this village in three nights."
Dina's mouth opened slightly. "What makes you so sure?"
He held up the bent metal shard.