Help! I'm just an extra yet the Heroines and Villainesses want me!-Chapter 104: Deeper Exploration (II)

They continued deeper, encountering more slimes in groups of three to five. Each engagement followed similar patterns with front combat pairs handling most threats, partnerships dealt with flankers or breakthroughs.

Lin and Kai worked in an efficient rhythm. She created openings with water techniques that disrupted slime movement, while he followed up with precise strikes to destroy cores. After three encounters, they barely needed to communicate, with each anticipating the other’s actions through observation and essence sense.

"You two work well together," Seraphina commented during a brief rest. "Very synchronized."

"Lin’s competent," Kai said.

"That’s high praise from you." Seraphina glanced at where Derek stood scowling in Roland’s direction. "Though I don’t think Derek appreciates your partnership."

Lin appeared, carrying water flasks she had refilled using essence condensation. "Here. Stay hydrated, the air inside the dungeon is drier than it seems."

"Thanks." Kai accepted the flask, noting how Lin’s hand lingered slightly when passing it over.

Derek’s scowl deepened from across the chamber.

The team pushed forward after the rest break, reaching a larger cavern where the passage widened significantly. Essence crystals grew in massive clusters here, some taller than a person, their light bright enough that support mages could dismiss their illumination orbs.

"Hold position," one of the scouts called. "Movement ahead. Multiple signatures."

Kai’s essence sense detected them immediately although they were not slimes this time. These signatures were more different and seemed more organized.

They were of course goblins.

Six of them emerged from behind crystal formations, each about four feet tall with green-grey skin and crude weapons, stone clubs, bone knives, and one carrying a jagged metal sword that looked salvaged from some previous adventurer.

"Combat formation!" Marcus ordered. "This is a coordinated threat. They’ll work together."

The goblins spread out, clearly having fought organized groups before. They chittered to each other in harsh guttural sounds, coordinating their approach.

Derek and Roland moved to intercept the first two goblins. Derek’s sword blazed with fire as he brought it down in a heavy overhead strike. The goblin with the stone club raised its weapon to block, and the impact sent cracks spreading through the stone.

Derek twisted his blade and channeled more fire. The stone club exploded in a shower of superheated fragments, and Derek’s follow-up strike caught the goblin across the chest. It screeched and fell with green blood hissing where it touched the ground.

Roland faced his opponent with a more calm approach. The goblin with the bone knife darted forward, surprisingly quick, aiming for Roland’s legs. Roland brought his sword down in a defensive arc, catching the knife and deflecting it aside. He stepped forward into the goblin’s space and drove his shoulder into its chest, sending it stumbling backward.

Before the goblin could recover, Roland’s practice sword came around in a horizontal slash that caught it across the throat. The creature gurgled once and collapsed.

Two more goblins tried to flank around the combat specialists, moving with coordinated timing that suggested pack tactics. They separated, one going left toward the support section, the other right toward where Kai and Lin stood.

"Lin!" Kai called.

She was already moving before Kai had called out to her. Water essence gathered around her hands, forming into multiple thin streams that shot forward like whips. The streams wrapped around the left goblin’s legs, yanking them together. The creature fell hard, its bone knife skittering across the stone floor.

Emma, one of the support mages, hit the fallen goblin with a concentrated bolt of wind essence that snapped its neck with an audible crack.

The right-side goblin charged directly at Kai, raising its stone club for an overhead smash. Its yellow eyes gleamed with feral intelligence, and its muscled arms suggested this club had killed before.

Kai sidestepped as the club came down, the weapon striking stone where he’d been standing and sending chips flying. He channeled wind essence into his movement, flowing around the goblin’s right side while it was still recovering from the missed strike.

His sword came up in a swift diagonal slash that opened the goblin’s side. Green blood sprayed across nearby crystals. The creature howled and spun to face him, club raised defensively despite the mortal wound.

Kai didn’t give it time to attack again. He stepped forward inside its guard, his blade moving in a precise thrust that pierced through its ribcage and found its heart.

The goblin shuddered once and fell, its club clattering from nerveless fingers.

The remaining two goblins saw their pack dying and attempted to retreat. Sarah and Michael, positioned as rear guard, intercepted them efficiently.

Sarah’s sword, enhanced with earth essence for increased weight, caught the first goblin mid-turn and sent it crashing into a crystal formation with bone-breaking force.

Michael engaged the sword-wielding goblin in a brief but intense exchange. The goblin was surprisingly skilled, its stolen blade moving in practiced patterns that suggested its previous owner had been a trained fighter.

But Michael was better. He deflected three strikes, found an opening, and drove his practice sword through the goblin’s throat. The creature dropped its metal blade and clawed at its neck before collapsing.

"Clear!" the scouts confirmed after checking the cavern thoroughly.

"Casualties?" Henrik called.

"None. Minor scrapes only," Mira reported after quick assessment.

"Excellent work. That was coordinated combat against an intelligent enemy. You performed well." Henrik moved to examine the dead goblins. "Note the metal sword. These goblins have killed cultivators before and taken their equipment. Treat them as serious threats going forward."

The team took a longer rest in the cavern, students catching their breath and recovering essence. Lin sat beside Kai, drinking water and looking energized rather than tired.

"That was intense," she said. "But we worked well together. Your timing is perfect—I barely need to warn you before you’re already moving."

"Your water techniques create good openings."

"Thanks." She smiled, then hesitated. "Would you... want to practice together sometimes? After we get back to the academy?"

Before Kai could answer, Derek’s voice cut across the cavern. "Of course he would. Why wouldn’t he want to train with someone who keeps making eyes at him?"

The cavern went silent. Everyone turned to stare at Derek, who stood with his fists clenched and his face flushed.

"Derek," Roland said quietly. "Don’t."

"No, someone needs to say it." Derek pointed at Kai. "Lin’s been throwing herself at him since the expedition started, and he’s just... accepting it. Like it’s normal. Like he deserves that kind of attention."

"Derek!" Lin’s face went bright red. "What are you—"

"I’m saying what everyone’s thinking!" Derek’s fire essence flared around his hands, small flames dancing between his fingers. "This guy shows up out of nowhere, acts mysterious, beats me in one sparring match, and suddenly everyone thinks he’s special. Including you."

Henrik stepped forward, his voice commanding. "Student Derek, control your essence and stand down. That’s an order."

Derek’s flames guttered but didn’t completely extinguish. He glared at Kai with open hostility, breathing hard.

Kai stood slowly, keeping his movements non-threatening. "This isn’t the time or place for this conversation."

"Of course not. Because you’re too perfect, too—" Derek cut himself off, clearly struggling with emotions he couldn’t properly articulate.

Lin stood as well, her voice quiet but firm. "Derek, stop. You’re embarrassing yourself and me. Kai and I are partners for this expedition. That’s all."

"For now," Derek muttered, but the fire essence around his hands finally died completely.

Henrik’s voice cracked like a whip. "Everyone, prepare to move out. We’re pushing deeper while we have daylight—" he paused, glancing at the dungeon ceiling, "—metaphorically speaking. Derek, you’re with me at the front. Roland, fall back to rear guard."

The formation reorganized with Derek separated from the main group. The mood had shifted from confident to tense with the students exchanging uncomfortable glances.

Lin looked mortified. "I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he would..."

"It’s fine."

"It’s not fine. He shouldn’t have said those things in front of everyone." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I do like you, for what it’s worth. But I wasn’t throwing myself at you. I just... wanted to get to know you better."

"I know."

Kai replied leaving her and walking forward.

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