The guild hall buzzed with its usual evening chatter when Ren and Lyra stepped through the doors. The smell of oil lamps, parchment, and faintly spiced ale filled the air. A few adventurers lounged by the quest boards while others turned to glance at them—most recognizing Ren as the newcomer who'd been quietly taking low-tier quests since his registration.
But the moment Ren approached the counter with that grim look, Kara's smile faltered.
"Ren? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Not a ghost," Ren replied, his voice calm but firm. "A horde."
That word alone made three adventurers in the corner freeze mid-laughter. Kara straightened, her eyes narrowing. "Horde?"
"Goblins," Lyra added, stepping forward. "At least thirty. Maybe more. They were gathering near a cave east of the old overgrown mansion."
The air in the guild hall grew heavier. Whispers broke out.
"Thirty?""No way. We haven't had goblin activity in this area for months…""That's too close to the village."
Kara's professional mask returned, though a flicker of unease crossed her expression. "Are you sure of the number?"
Ren nodded. "Lyra spotted them with her Keen Sense. I confirmed the tracks myself. There's no mistaking it—they're nesting."
The receptionist exhaled sharply and reached under the counter, pulling out a thick leather-bound logbook. "That area isn't under current patrol routes. Damn it…" She began jotting notes quickly. "If they're forming a nest, we'll need to act fast. Did you notice any larger ones? A hobgoblin, shaman, or—"
"No," Ren interrupted. "Not yet. But it's only a matter of time."
Kara bit her lip. "Understood. I'll send a report immediately to the Guildmaster. We can't afford to let them multiply." She turned toward the adventurers lingering nearby. "All available ranks D through C—prepare for immediate formation. This isn't a request. It's a guild-mandated subjugation order."
The idle chatter died completely.
Within moments, boots thudded and steel clinked as parties began rising from their seats. Some faces turned grim; others excited—hungry for the bonus rewards that came from extermination missions.
Ren quietly stepped aside as Kara finished dispatching a messenger toward the upper office. When she returned, her tone softened a little. "You did well reporting this quickly, Ren. If we'd waited a few more days, we could've had a full-blown infestation."
"I wasn't about to risk it," Ren said simply.
Kara's eyes flicked to Lyra. "And you too—your senses saved lives today."
Lyra gave a polite nod. "I just noticed what was already there."
Kara smiled faintly before leaning closer to Ren. "A subjugation party will depart within the hour. You two are both E-rank, correct?"
"Yes," Ren answered.
"I'm supposed to restrict new adventurers from joining major exterminations," she said quietly, "but given you're the ones who discovered it, and your records so far…" Her eyes studied his calm composure, then softened. "If you wish to participate, I can authorize it under a supervised clause."
Ren didn't hesitate. "We'll join."
Lyra looked at him, then nodded firmly. "We can help. And we'll know what we're walking into."
Kara hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But stay near the rear line until instructed otherwise. If this turns into something worse—run, not fight. Understand?"
Ren smiled faintly. "Understood."
As Kara filled out their temporary authorization tags, Ren watched the guild hall shift from calm to organized chaos. Veterans armed themselves, smiths in the corner began sharpening blades, and supply runners darted between groups distributing potions and torches.
The tension was thick—but so was determination.
Lyra glanced around in quiet awe. "It's… different seeing them like this," she murmured.
Ren nodded. "This is what the guild was made for. When something threatens the land, everyone moves."
Moments later, Kara handed him two stamped tags. "You'll be under Captain Darek's command. He's a B-rank warrior and one of the guild's core team leaders. Report to him near the west gate."
Ren took the tags and gave a small nod. "We won't let the guild down."
"I know you won't," Kara said softly. Then, more quietly, "Just make sure you come back."
He met her gaze and gave a small reassuring smile before turning away.
Outside, the sky was shifting into dusk, the clouds painted in orange and violet hues. Dozens of adventurers gathered near the west gate, some joking to mask their nerves, others checking their weapons in silence.
Ren and Lyra walked side by side through the crowd until they spotted a broad-shouldered man clad in partial plate armor. His beard was streaked with silver, and his single gray eye gave off the impression of someone who'd seen far too many battles.
"You two the scouts who found the nest?" the man rumbled.
"Yes, sir," Ren replied.
The captain gave a curt nod. "Good work. We'll use your directions. You'll be assigned near the third formation. Don't break ranks, don't chase stragglers."
Ren nodded again. "Understood."
The captain studied them a moment longer. "You've got steady eyes for a greenhorn. Keep it that way."
A faint smirk tugged at Ren's lips. "I plan to."
As the formation began moving out, Ren and Lyra fell in step near the rear line. The forest ahead loomed dark and silent, the wind carrying a faint metallic scent that prickled Ren's heightened senses.
"Lyra," he said softly.
"Yeah?"
"Stay close. No matter what."
She looked up at him with quiet confidence. "Always."
The torches ahead flared to life as the command was given.
And beneath the fading sky, the first Goblin Subjugation of Ren began—unaware that what awaited them in the darkness was far worse than a simple nest.
Ren's boots sank slightly into the moss-covered soil as the group approached the goblin den. The air was heavy with a foul mixture of rot and damp stone — the scent of a nest that had gone unchecked for far too long. Torches flickered against the cave mouth, illuminating rough claw marks across the rock walls. The low growls and erratic squeals echoing from within told them one thing — there were far more than a few strays here.
The guild's subjugation party had assembled swiftly after the report. Nearly twenty adventurers stood ready, their ranks a blend of seasoned fighters and fresh recruits eager to prove themselves. Kara herself had taken the lead, clad in light armor, her long spear gleaming faintly in the dim light. Lyra stayed close beside Ren, bow in hand, her movements sharp and steady.
"Alright," Kara announced, her voice firm as she surveyed the entrance. "We'll proceed in three groups. Frontline fighters first, ranged in the middle, healers and mages behind. Remember—"
"Wait," Ren interrupted quietly, his tone calm but resolute. "Before we rush in… we should secure the perimeter."
Kara turned to him with a raised brow. "Secure it? You think they have an escape route?"
Ren nodded, scanning the surrounding forest. "Goblins rarely rely on a single exit. They dig tunnels, burrows — any way out if things go wrong. If we storm in without blocking those, we'll only kill half and drive the rest deeper into the forest. Give them time, and this will turn into another infestation."
There was a pause — the kind that held weight. The adventurers exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the truth behind his words. Kara exhaled slowly, then gave a curt nod.
"Alright, you heard him. Split into pairs and sweep the area. Look for tunnels or cracks wide enough for goblins to crawl through. Report anything suspicious."
The party scattered, fanning out through the undergrowth. Ren and Lyra moved east, their steps silent, senses sharp. The forest floor here was uneven — twisted roots and scattered stones giving way to hidden depressions.
Lyra crouched low near a thicket. "Ren, over here."
He joined her and found a narrow fissure between the rocks, faint traces of muddy footprints leading inward. The smell of decay seeped out from the gap.
"Found one," he murmured. "Small — only goblins could fit through."
Without hesitation, he gathered some nearby stones and moss, sealing the gap tight. Lyra helped, pressing thick roots over the stones to blend them with the ground.
"Three down," another team called from the distance. "Found two burrows on the west ridge!"
Kara's voice echoed through the clearing. "Good! Seal everything up! Nobody enters until every path is closed!"
An hour passed as the party worked, sealing off every escape route they could find. The forest had grown eerily silent, as if holding its breath. Only the rhythmic sound of shovels and clattering stones broke the quiet.
When they finally regrouped, the last rays of evening sunlight filtered through the canopy. Ren glanced toward the cave mouth once more — its darkness seemed to pulse faintly, as though something deep within stirred restlessly.
Lyra tightened her grip on her bow. "They know we're here."
Ren nodded. "Then it's time to make sure none of them ever leave."
Kara raised her spear high, the steel catching the fading light. "Everyone ready? Once we enter, stay close. No heroics. We end this in one strike."
The adventurers drew their weapons, the air charged with tense anticipation. As they stepped toward the gaping maw of the cave, Ren's gaze lingered briefly on the sealed exits surrounding them — his precaution now the barrier between victory and chaos.
"Let's move," he murmured.
And with that, the group descended into the shadowed tunnels where the goblins waited — unaware that their last escape routes had just been sealed shut.