Then she thrust forward.
Squelch-
It was just a straight thrust.
Blood sprayed.
The Goblin, which had been baring its fangs and claws, suddenly stiffened.
Sasamori Aya's pale hand pierced straight through the Goblin's chest like a red-hot blade slicing through butter, despite its unarmored but tough flesh and protective ribs.
Her entire hand entered through its chest and emerged from its back.
"Squeak..."
The Goblin let out a brief, pained cry and twitched twice.
Then.
Poof.
It dissolved into a cloud of black ash and vanished into the air.
Only a fingernail-sized magic stone remained.
A body of tempered steel, limbs turned into blades.
That was the "Incarnate Blade."
"..."
That single strike.
Even though Tsubaki had already guessed that Sasamori Aya fought along the same lines as the Ishtar Familia's combat prostitutes who specialized in hand-to-hand combat, her eyelid still twitched.
What the hell was that?
After all.
Weak as Goblins were, they still had monsters' bodies.
Their chests were protected by ribs!
Even an adventurer wielding a sharp blade would struggle to stab clean through one like that.
Let alone.
With a bare hand?!
And.
When she pulled her hand out, aside from some blood, there did not seem to be so much as a scratch on it.
Was that hand even made of flesh?
Still.
The battle did not end there.
The other Goblins did not retreat at their companion's death. Instead, the smell of blood drove them into an even greater frenzy, and they charged with shrill cries.
"Since Sasamori has made her move, we can't fall behind."
Onigawara Rin stepped forward.
"Too slow."
Spotting another Goblin trying to rush her.
Onigawara Rin placed her hand on the priceless Famous Sword: Black Crow at her waist.
But she did not draw it.
Apparently, she felt that a monster of this caliber was not worthy of dirtying her new blade.
And so.
She turned slightly, driving power through her waist.
[Mask equipped]-strength and endurance greatly increased.
Thud!
A simple, unadorned kick.
Her long leg, clad in a black thigh-high sock, lashed out like a steel whip.
Bam!
The Goblin took the blow head-on. Its body folded in half and flew backward three times faster than it had charged, smashing into the rock wall and bursting into black smoke.
Meanwhile.
"How crude. It's better not to let filthy things like these touch your clothes."
After watching Onigawara Rin, Kikakujō Mary curled her lips, unwilling to be outdone.
She stepped forward and flicked her wrist.
The Rapier in her hand, Rose Thorn, traced an elegant flourish.
Before another Goblin could pounce.
Swish!
Silver flashed.
The sword tip pierced the Goblin's throat with pinpoint accuracy.
The instant it went in, she pulled it out.
Clutching its throat, the Goblin had not even staggered more than a few steps before it dissolved into ash.
Chapter 30: Leaving Nothing Standing: Loot, Fight, Extract
That was not all.
"There's another one~"
A Goblin had been lurking in the shadows of a crack between the rocks, clutching a sharpened leg bone scavenged from some corpse. Cruelty gleamed in its tiny, beady eyes as it stared at Onigawara Rin's unguarded back.
It saw an opening.
Clearly, it wanted an easy kill.
It bared a mouthful of yellow teeth and prepared to spring.
However.
It had failed to notice.
Death was already breathing down its neck.
Until-
Swish.
A gray arc swept silently through its body.
Fast.
Far too fast.
The Goblin was still poised to attack, its toes only just leaving the ground.
But its vision suddenly began to shift out of alignment.
What its left eye saw flew upward, while what its right eye saw fell.
The world broke apart before its eyes.
Squelch-
A line of blood stretched from the very center of its crown down to its crotch.
Immediately afterward.
The Goblin split into two perfectly cut halves.
Poof.
It did not even have time to scream.
Both halves turned into black ash in midair, leaving only a thumb-sized magic stone.
It fell to the ground with a clink.
Behind that cloud of black ash.
Nemumeno Satori stood, looking charming.
She held the dull, lusterless katana Gray Snake in her hand. Her long, emerald-green hair stirred gently in the Dungeon's chilly draft, and the same sweet, harmless smile remained on her face.
"Oh my~ This sword really does feel just right~"
Smiling, Nemumeno Satori flicked the blood off the blade, then lightly sheathed it.
Click.
Smooth as silk.
"Wha...!"
Hearing the movement behind her, Onigawara Rin whipped around. Only when she saw the magic stone on the ground did cold sweat break out along her spine.
"Don't look so surprised~"
"We're companions. Isn't covering each other what we're supposed to do?"
Nemumeno Satori tilted her head, seemingly oblivious to how frightening her movements had just been.
"Hmph, don't celebrate too soon."
"There are still more."
Hanabishi Warabi looked at the last few Goblins and snorted dismissively.
"Fierce Man! Clear them out!"
Roar-!
The enormous black bear roared and charged like a heavy tank.
The thick armor covering him gave off dull metallic clangs as he barreled forward.
Against such a behemoth, the Goblins' frail little bodies might as well have been made of paper.
Bam!
One swipe of his paw slapped a Goblin against the wall, turning it into a mural.
Splat!
He sat on another, giving it no time even to scatter its ashes.
"Nicely done, Fierce Man!"
Rising onto her tiptoes, Hanabishi Warabi gave the black bear's broad backside a hearty pat, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
"..."
After watching it all unfold.
Tsubaki, who had watched the entire battle from the rear, looked at the magic stones littering the ground, straightened up, and clapped her hands to draw everyone's attention back.
"For rookies, you did fairly well this time."
Although she was still outwardly trying to rein in the newcomers' cockiness.
Inwardly, Tsubaki.
Had already cast aside every trace of contempt.
After all.