Echo Of Infinity: 100× exp

The Echo of Infinity: Chapter 5 - The Goblin Trail

The anonymous note caused a stir. Kael watched from a distance as Elara emerged from the Drunken Dryad the next morning, holding the crumpled parchment, her expression thoughtful rather than dismissive. She conferred with Elder Rowan and Borin, the retired [Veteran Warrior Lv. 52 (Tier 3)], whose experience, though dated, was still valued.

"It confirms the totem sighting," Kael overheard Borin rumble, his voice raspy with age. "Eastern stream, just as I said. And larger tracks? Worrying. Sounds like Hobgoblins, or Goblins enhanced by shamanic rituals."

Elara nodded grimly. "The note suggests the informant got close. Either they were exceptionally lucky, skilled, or foolish. Regardless, the information is credible enough to warrant investigation. We can't afford to let a potential Shaman consolidate power this close to a settlement."

She decided on a cautious reconnaissance mission, led by herself. She needed scouts familiar with the terrain, but her only Tier 1 combatant available besides herself was Borin, whose mobility was limited. She requested volunteers for a supporting role – primarily carrying supplies and acting as lookouts under her direct command.

Marcus, predictably, volunteered instantly. Two other village youths, aspiring [Apprentice Warriors], also stepped forward nervously. Kael watched, his insides twisting. He *knew* the exact location, the type of tracks, the feeling of the totem's magic. He could lead them straight there, bypass dangers with his [Detect Presence], and offer Tier 1 combat skills far exceeding Marcus's enthusiastic flailing.

But he couldn't. Not without revealing himself.

He spent the day on edge, doing chores, practicing his skills secretly, and constantly checking his real status. The EXP from defeating the wolves and practicing had pushed his [Shadow Scout] to Lv. 10, just shy of Tier 1.

```
[ Shadow Scout leveled up to 10! ]
[ New Skill available: [Shadow Scout] - [Enhanced Hearing Lv. 1] ]
```

Another crucial skill unlocked. His scouting abilities were becoming formidable.

That evening, Elara's small reconnaissance team returned, looking grim. They hadn't gone far, establishing a forward camp and sending out short-range patrols. They’d found more tracks, confirming the note's information, but hadn't located the Shaman or the main Goblin encampment. One of the young apprentices had tripped a crude snare trap, thankfully suffering only minor injuries thanks to Elara’s quick intervention ([Disarm Trap Lv. 4], Kael noted mentally, glimpsing her Weave status briefly).

"They're cunning," Elara reported to the Elder. "They know their territory, and they're using the terrain. We need someone who can move quietly and spot signs others miss." Her eyes swept over the assembled villagers, lingering for a fraction of a second on Kael.

Did she suspect him? Was it just a coincidence? Kael forced himself to maintain his meek posture.

Later, unable to sit still, Kael felt an overwhelming urge to act. Oakhaven was his home, flawed as it was. If a Goblin force was truly gathering, the village was vulnerable. He couldn't join the official patrol, but perhaps... perhaps he could scout ahead, alone. Gather information Elara's team couldn't. It was reckless, blurring the lines of his secrecy, but the potential threat felt too real to ignore.

Under the moonless sky, Kael slipped out of Oakhaven. He equipped his optimal scouting set: [Shadow Scout Lv. 10], [Swift Blade Lv. 11], and [Gatherer Lv. 21]. This gave him stealth, detection, tracking, Tier 1 combat speed, and familiarity with the environment.

He moved swiftly and silently towards the eastern stream, his [Enhanced Hearing] picking up the scurrying of nocturnal animals, the sigh of the wind, the distant hoot of an owl. He reached the totem he’d found before. It pulsed with a slightly stronger, fouler energy now.

Using [Track], he picked up the trail left by Elara's party, and then, branching off from it, the heavier Goblin tracks leading deeper into the woods. He followed, moving like a ghost. Miles deeper than he'd ever gone before, the woods grew thicker, darker. His [Detect Presence] began picking up multiple faint hostile signatures ahead. An encampment.

He climbed a tall, sturdy oak, using his high DEX and [Gatherer] skills to ascend quickly and quietly. From the vantage point, hidden among the leaves, he looked down upon the source of Oakhaven's fear.

It was a makeshift camp, nestled in a hidden ravine. Perhaps thirty Goblins, maybe more in the crude hide tents. Many were indeed larger than average, carrying crude axes and spiked clubs – Hobgoblins, or magically augmented Goblins as Borin suggested. In the center, near a large, crackling bonfire, stood a figure draped in filthy robes adorned with bones and strange symbols. The Goblin Shaman. It held a gnarled staff topped with a glowing, sickly green crystal, chanting in guttural tones. Around the fire, several Goblins were sharpening weapons or gnawing on roasted meat Kael didn't want to identify.

He spotted crude cages made of woven branches. Inside one, whimpering softly, was a captured Wood Sprite, its wings torn. The Shaman was likely draining its natural energy for rituals.

Kael focused on the Shaman, trying to gauge its power. Its Weave status flickered erratically, obscured by its own magic, but he could guess it was likely Tier 1, maybe [Goblin Shaman Lv. 15-20]. A serious threat, especially with thirty guards.

He needed to get out, report this. As he began his descent, a twig snapped below him. Not his doing. He froze. A Hobgoblin patrol, two of them, had circled around the edge of the ravine and were passing directly beneath his tree. They hadn't seen him, but they were too close.

He held his breath, activating [Silent Movement] to its absolute peak. Minutes stretched like hours. Finally, the patrol moved on. Kael waited until they were well out of range before descending the rest of the way.

He retraced his steps, moving quickly but cautiously. He’d gained invaluable intelligence: location, numbers, confirmation of the Shaman, Hobgoblin presence, and the captured Sprite (a potential bargaining chip or sign of the Shaman's methods).

He also received a cascade of notifications. The prolonged use of [Track], [Detect Presence], [Silent Movement], and [Enhanced Hearing] under stressful conditions had pushed his [Shadow Scout] class over the edge.

```
[ Shadow Scout leveled up to 11! Tier 1 Achieved! ]
[ Attribute Points Gained: +2 (Allocate Manually) ]
[ New Skill available: [Shadow Scout] - [Shadow Meld Lv. 1] ]
```

Another Tier 1 class. [Shadow Meld] – the ability to blend into shadows, becoming nearly invisible while stationary. Invaluable. He quickly allocated the points: 1 to DEX, 1 to INT.

He arrived back at Oakhaven's outskirts just before dawn, exhausted but exhilarated. He couldn't reveal his journey, but the information burned within him. He needed to get it to Elara, anonymously again, but more detailed this time.

He found a smoother piece of bark and used charcoal, carefully writing: *'Ravine camp, 2 miles NE of totem. 30+ Goblins/Hobgoblins. Shaman Tier 1 (est). Staff w/ green crystal. Captured Wood Sprite. Cages. Be wary of patrols.'*

He slipped it under the Guild post door again, hoping this detailed intelligence would be enough for Elara to act decisively, and praying his second anonymous note wouldn't draw unwanted attention directly to him.

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date of publishment: 3/4/2025