After realizing that Ayla’s control over Pyromancy was far beyond anything he could grasp, Jaxon stayed close to her. Not just close, he practically stuck to her back like a shadow that refused to separate.

While Kenji and Kael focused on planning the ambush for the goblin horde, Ayla took Jaxon along the side tunnels to clear the scattered goblins along the path.

"Fireball!" Jaxon shouted.

A small flame, no bigger than his fist, shot forward and struck a goblin in the chest. The creature screeched as the fire clung to its skin, but it did little more than scorch the surface.

The goblin staggered, still very much alive.

Ayla watched from the side, arms folded.

"You are very weak," she said plainly. Then she tilted her head. "Also, why are you shouting your skill name every time?"

Jaxon froze. Heat rushed to his face. He scratched the back of his head, avoiding her gaze.

"I thought... it helps with focus," he muttered.

"It does not," Ayla replied immediately.

To her, it was a simple observation. To Jaxon, it felt like mockery. He forced a laugh, though it sounded strained.

"Right... I guess that makes sense."

Ayla let out a quiet breath. No wonder his memories had not made her smarter. He was just as inexperienced as she was, only with more years behind him.

She had already shown him how to gather warmth from the surroundings instead of relying on his own mana.

That alone should have made things easier for him.

Yet he still struggled.

Even when she guided his hand and made him feel the flow of heat, he could not replicate it. Ayla narrowed her eyes slightly.

Was controlling warmth actually difficult?

For her, it felt natural. Like moving a limb. She did not think about it. She simply did it.

’Perhaps for him it’s difficult.’ Ayla nodded, feeling pity for his lack of talent.

They moved deeper and found another group of goblins. This time, Ayla let Jaxon take the lead again.

"Try again," she said.

Jaxon inhaled, steadied himself, and raised his hand. This time, he did not shout. The air shimmered faintly. A small spark formed, then flickered out.

"...I almost had it," he muttered.

"No," Ayla said. "You did not."

Jaxon winced. Why couldn’t she acknowledge his little milestone? He cried out internally.

He didn’t know that for Ayla there wasn’t ’almost’; she only considered ’did it’.

She stepped forward and ended the fight herself. A thread flashed through the air. One goblin dropped before it could react.

Another burst into flames from the inside. The rest did not last long.

Jaxon watched her in awe. This girl was so strong. She was probably better than Kenji. Yet, why hadn’t he heard about her?

"Let’s go..." Ayla said as they continued moving forward.

Ayla observed him as they moved on. He could not control the ambient warmth like she could. That meant he had to rely on his mana for every skill.

Inefficient.

He would run out of mana within a few skill uses. No wonder he always died under the goblin horde.

They continued hunting for half an hour. By the time Kenji and the others regrouped with them, the path was mostly cleared. Ayla had reached level five in that time.

The change was noticeable. Her range had expanded. She could now feel and control heat across nearly a hundred meters.

The threads of Bloodnet also responded faster and sharper. She had begun experimenting as well, combining traits.

When she encountered a goblin with tougher skin, she no longer relied on external fire. Instead, she guided its own blood inward, forcing it toward vulnerable areas.

Then she ignited the heat inside these vulnerable areas.

The result was immediate. Clean. Efficient. Ayla preferred it that way.

She mainly used Bloodnet and Pyromancy. The rest of her abilities remained hidden. There was no reason to reveal everything, not yet.

Keeping her cards close was the human way. Exposing them early might satisfy her ego, but hiding them and using them when needed sounded more interesting.

The group gathered together, forming up as Kenji directed. He and Kael took the front. Elara and Ayla positioned themselves along the sides.

Sora stood in the center, while Jaxon stayed at the rear.

The scouting goblins had already been dealt with, so the horde remained unaware of their presence. They reached a wide chamber with only two entrances.

A natural stone formation rose at the center, surrounded by a pool of thick, foul-smelling liquid. The surface rippled slowly, reflecting faint light.

Ayla glanced at it. Since they were inside a creature, it was likely some kind of bodily fluid. She did not dwell on it.

Kenji and Kael began working quickly. They moved sharp stones into the liquid, positioning them where the goblins would not notice.

"Step carefully," Kael said. "Once they charge in, they won’t see these."

Elara nodded. "Good. It will slow them down."

Ayla watched silently. Humans were marvelous. They did not just fight. They prepared. They shaped the battlefield before the battle even began. Interesting.

More time passed as they set additional traps. When everything was ready, Kenji gave a small nod.

Jaxon cleared his throat. Then he shouted.

"Help! Someone help!"

His voice echoed through the chamber. Sora joined in. "Please! We’re trapped!"

Elara added her own voice, making the cries sound desperate and real. The sound carried through both tunnels.

They waited. Only a few minutes passed before the first signs appeared. Footsteps. Fast. Many.

"Do not move forward," Kenji said quietly. His gaze shifted briefly to Ayla. "Let them come to us."

Ayla did not respond. Her eyes were fixed on the tunnel entrance. Her lips parted slightly. She licked them.

The first goblin rushed in. It did not even get a chance to react. Its body froze mid-step, then collapsed. Blood seeped from its eyes, ears, and mouth. Dead.

The others hesitated behind it. Kenji paused, the command he was about to give dying in his throat.

Ayla glanced at him.

"What did you say before?" she asked, her tone playful.

Kenji stared at her. For a fleeting second, he saw something in her eyes. Gloating. He looked away.

’Where did she even learn that...’

His gaze shifted toward Jaxon. Had he influenced her somehow?

Jaxon blinked in confusion when he noticed that accusing look.

"What?" he asked, rubbing his head. "Why are you staring at me?"

Kenji shook his head and turned back to the tunnel mouth, where three more goblins were already pouring through.

Behind them, deeper in the corridor, came the heavier tread of something larger.

The Hobgoblin Warrior’s shadow stretched across the chamber wall.

"Hold the line," Kenji ordered, drawing his blade. "Ayla, save the showmanship for the big ones."

"As you wish."

Her smile widened. The dimples returned to her cheeks.

The horde came in.