Arin woke to find his essence had recovered somewhat during the night, though not nearly as much as he'd hoped. Sleep helped, but true recovery required either time or the absorption of creatures. He checked his Status with growing concern.

  [Name: Arin]

  [Species: Adaptive Slime]

  [Level: 9]

  [Mass: 195% of base]

  [Essence: 62/180]

  It was better than the critically low 34 he'd gone to sleep with, but still barely a third of his capacity. The goblin operation would be dangerous, and he'd need every advantage he could get. At least his mass was still elevated from yesterday's encounter with the kobolds, giving him some buffer against damage.

  The pre-dawn streets of Greengate were quieter than usual as Arin made his way to the north gate. Other adventurers moved through the darkness with the same purposeful stride, all heading toward the same destination. This wasn't a single-party operation but a coordinated effort involving multiple Bronze rank groups, and the atmosphere reflected the seriousness of the situation.

  When Arin arrived, he found the area already crowded with adventurers. Torvin stood near the gate, speaking with another dwarf from a different party. Essa was checking her supplies one last time, her expression focused and determined. Kelsa stood slightly apart, studying a map with several other party leaders.

  Master Torven was there as well, along with Captain Thorne and a contingent of town guards. The guild master's presence suggested this operation was more important than Arin had realized.

  "Listen up!" Torven's voice cut through the murmured conversations. "We have five parties participating in today's operation. That's twenty adventurers plus a squad of ten guards as support. Our target is the goblin encampment north of the farmlands, approximately two hours from here."

  He gestured to the map Kelsa and the others had been studying. "Intelligence suggests between thirty and forty goblins, possibly more. They're organized, well-armed, and have been coordinating raids across multiple farms. This is not a typical goblin rabble. Expect resistance."

  A murmur ran through the assembled adventurers at the numbers. Thirty to forty goblins against thirty humans and their allies, assuming the goblins didn't have reinforcements.

  "Each party maintains its own formation but coordinates with the others," Torven continued. "Party leaders, you've received your assignments. Alpha team takes point, Beta and Gamma flank left and right, Delta holds center with the guards, and Epsilon provides rear security. Move as one unit, fight as one unit. No heroics, no breaking formation. Clear?"

  A chorus of acknowledgments answered him.

  "Good. Captain Thorne's guards will focus on protecting any civilians we might find and securing prisoners for interrogation. Adventurers focus on combat. Standard engagement rules apply, you know what to do." Torven's eyes swept across the assembled group. "The guild is paying thirty gold total, divided based on contribution. But more importantly, you're protecting Greengate and its people. Remember that."

  Kelsa returned to her party as the group began organizing for departure. "We're the Beta team, left flank position. That means we'll be first to engage if they try to circle around the main force. Stay sharp, watch for their scouts, and don't get separated from the main group."

  "How's everyone feeling?" Essa asked quietly. "Any injuries from yesterday that need attention before we move out?"

  "I'm good," Kelsa said. "Leg's still a bit sore, but manageable."

  "Arm's fine," Torvin added. "Your healing did its job."

  They all looked at Arin.

  E S S E N C E I S L O W, he formed honestly. O N L Y A T 6 2 O U T O F 1 8 0

  "That's concerning," Kelsa said, frowning. "Can you fight effectively at that level?"

  C A N F I G H T B U T M U S T B E C A R E F U L W I T H S K I L U S E

  "Alright. Conserve your essence then. Only use Stealth when absolutely necessary, and save Charge for critical moments. We'll adjust our tactics to compensate." Kelsa looked at the others. "Everyone good with that?"

  Torvin and Essa nodded. No one suggested Arin stay behind, which he appreciated. They trusted him to manage his resources and fight effectively despite the limitations he currently had due to his essence.

  The combined force moved out as dawn began to break, a coordinated column of adventurers and guards that would have been impressive under any circumstances. Arin had never been part of something this large before, and the sheer scale of it was both reassuring and intimidating.

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  Alpha team, led by a scarred human fighter Arin had seen around the guild hall, took point about fifty yards ahead. Their scout, a half-elf woman with a bow, ranged even further forward. Beta team, Arin's party, moved on the left flank with clear sightlines to both the main column and the forest edge. The Gamma team mirrored them on the right, while the Delta team and the guards maintained the center. The Epsilon team brought up the rear.

  The first hour passed without incident. Farmland gave way to rougher terrain, and the forest pressed closer on both sides. Arin's party maintained their position, alert for threats but finding none. The birds had gone silent, though, that same ominous quiet that always preceded danger.

  Kelsa noticed it too. "Something's watching us. Stay ready."

  The attack came from the right flank, a dozen goblins bursting from the forest to hit Gamma team's position. But this wasn't a serious assault, Arin realized immediately. This was a probe, testing the column's response and coordination.

  Gamma team held their ground, their tank absorbing the initial charge while their damage dealers cut down goblins with practiced efficiency. The guards moved to support, maintaining formation while engaging targets of opportunity. Within two minutes, the goblin probe was broken, and the survivors fled back into the forest.

  "First contact," someone called out. "Six goblins down, six fled."

  "Reform lines!" The Alpha team leader shouted. "They know we're here now. Expect heavier resistance ahead."

  The column continued forward, but the atmosphere had changed. Everyone was tenser now, weapons held ready, eyes scanning constantly. Arin flowed slightly ahead of his party, using his 360° vision to watch for flanking attempts.

  Another attack came fifteen minutes later, this time hitting the Beta team's position. Eight goblins charged from the forest, but Arin spotted them before they reached the party.

  I N C O M I N G L E F T E I G H T G O B L I N S

  "Defensive positions!" Kelsa commanded. Her party responded instantly, Torvin moving to intercept while Kelsa and Essa provided support. Arin engaged the goblins trying to circle around Torvin's shield, his acidic nature making short work of two before they could flank.

  [+14 Mass]

  [+11 Essence]

  [+12 Mass]

  [+9 Essence]

  The brief fight ended with all eight goblins dead and Beta team uninjured. The column barely slowed, incorporating the skirmish into its forward momentum.

  "Good work," Kelsa said. "That's how we do it. Quick, efficient, no wasted energy."

  The pattern repeated three more times over the next hour. Small groups of goblins would attack from different angles, probe the column's defenses, then retreat or die. Each encounter gave Arin a bit more essence as he absorbed fallen goblins, slowly building his reserves back up.

  [Current Essence: 98/180]

  Better, though still not at full capacity. The constant small skirmishes were helping him recover, but they were also revealing something troubling. The goblin attacks were coordinated, each one testing different parts of the column's defenses. Someone was directing them, learning the column's strengths and weaknesses.

  "They're being smart about this," Kelsa observed after the fifth skirmish. "Not committing their full force, just wearing us down and gathering information."

  "Aye," Torvin agreed. "Which means when we reach their camp, they'll know exactly how to hit us."

  The Alpha team scout returned at a run, her expression grim. She spoke quickly with the team leader, who then called a halt to the column.

  "Goblin encampment ahead!" He announced. "Larger than expected. Estimate fifty to sixty goblins, multiple structures, and defensive positions. They know we're coming and they're ready for us."

  Master Torven moved to the front of the column to confer with the party leaders. Arin couldn't hear the conversation from his position, but he could see the serious expressions and pointing at the map. After several minutes, Torven raised his voice to address everyone.

  "Change of tactics! The encampment is too well-defended for a frontal assault. We're going to draw them out." He pointed to the Alpha and Beta teams. "You two will make a visible approach from the north, make them think that's our main force. Gamma and Delta will circle around to hit them from the east once they commit to the north. Epsilon stays back as a reserve and protects the guards."

  "That's going to put Alpha and Beta teams at serious risk," the Alpha team leader pointed out. "We'll be outnumbered until the flanking force arrives."

  "Which is why you don't fully commit," Torven said. "Make them come to you, harass them, fall back slowly. You're bait, not a suicide squad. Once they're drawn out and Gamma and Delta hit their flank, you press forward and we crush them between our forces."

  It was a solid plan, though Arin didn't like being part of the bait. Still, it made tactical sense. The goblins would be more likely to commit their forces if they thought they outnumbered the attackers.

  The column split as directed, with the Beta team joining the Alpha team for the northern approach, while the other teams circled around through the forest. Kelsa gathered her party together before they moved forward.

  "This is it. The big fight. We're going to be outnumbered initially, which means we fight smart. Torvin holds the line, Essa keeps us alive, I provide damage. Arin, you focus on their scouts and any goblins trying to get behind us. Don't engage their main force alone, and if things go bad, you fall back with us. Everyone clear?"

  They all acknowledged understanding, and the combined Alpha and Beta teams advanced toward the goblin encampment. Arin could see it now through the trees ahead, a collection of crude structures surrounding a central fire pit. Goblins moved between the buildings, armed and organized in a way that was deeply unsettling.

  Then he saw what stood at the center of the encampment, and his core went cold.

  A hobgoblin, but larger than any he'd seen before. Nearly seven feet tall, heavily muscled, wearing proper armor rather than crude scraps. And its level marker blazed in Arin's vision like a warning.

  [Hobgoblin Warlord - Level 12]

  This wasn't just an organized goblin encampment. This was a proper military camp led by a creature strong enough to challenge Silver rank adventurers. And Arin's party was about to walk straight into its waiting forces.

  The battle was about to begin, and it would be the biggest fight Arin had ever faced.