Goblin Commander

As I stared into the eyes of what may very well be my own demise, I lamented over my previous actions.

I really shouldn’t have gotten too cocky. I could have just as easily escaped after I dispatched the first two Goblin warriors. In fact, that would have been the perfect time to leave, considering I already found a health potion that may very well save Hina’s life…

Maybe it was the fact that I had naively assumed that I could spend as much time here to farm as I wanted, seeing how Hina’s condition was pretty stable (by that, I mean she wasn’t dying anytime soon). I had no sense of urgency.

Or maybe it was because my level up speed caused me to gain too much confidence. I had grown complacent fighting these “low leveled” goblins that I completely forgotten about their boss.

I continued to stare, not daring to move an inch. In fact, I was still in mid crouch from when I motioned to pick up the goblin sword.

The Goblin Commander stood stock still. It heavily breathed in and out as it snorted while surveying the scene in front of him. His eyes briefly glanced over the corpses of his subordinates.

It scowled upon seeing their dead bodies, but other than that, he made no move to avenge them.

It glared silently at me. I returned its glare with my own, partly since the fear prevented me from looking away. The importance of levels was solidly etched into my mind, due mostly to my experience with games and the fear of the unkown.

I didn’t know how much of a gap in ability something more than ten levels above me would have. In fact, I only recklessly challenged the other goblins since our level difference was less than 5. I figured with that gap, and their height disadvantage, I could somehow manage.

I didn’t dare to apply the same logic to this creature.

As if to snap me back into reality, the restroom stall once again opened. It creaked rather forebodingly as 4 additional goblins entered the scene. They were all goblin warriors, and while two sported the broad sword I had seen several times before, the others had spear like weaponry.

Their savage faces shifted into shock upon seeing their fellow comrades cold and lifeless on the tiled floor. Although that shock was readily replaced by an even uglier scowl as they shifted their hatred towards me.

The Goblin Commander, who watched its subordinates silently, suddenly made a grunting noise as it pointed to one of the goblins wielding a sword.

The two Goblins exchanged grunts before the warrior stepped up towards the empty hall.

It moved rather threateningly towards my direction while the Goblin Commander stepped backwards and watched behind the backs of its other subordinates.

Confused, I stayed still, not knowing what to expect.

I had thought that with the addition of the four goblins, plus the Goblin Commander himself, they would have all ganged up on me. This sudden turn of events was rather… unusual. From the looks of things, it seems like the Boss Goblin had sent a lone subordinate to face me.

I didn’t understand why though. It could have easily disposed of me with the help of its subordinates.

Was… was it testing me?

I’m sure that around the world, some aboriginal tribes would show respect, and sometimes even reverence to opponents they deemed strong. Was this situation similar?

If this was the case, then I’d have to reevaluate my view on goblins. They weren’t just some mindless mob produced by a system trying to savagely kill me and the rest of humanity.

Well, thinking about such things right now was pointless.

I glanced at the goblin commander and his complacent subordinates. It didn’t look like they were going to be attacking any time soon. The only real danger now was the goblin in front of me.

Of course, I’ve already fought this type of monster 5 times, and at this point, soloing one of them is pretty easy.

If that level 20 monster wasn’t going to attack me, then I’d use this chance effectively.

I psyched myself up for the coming fight as I picked up the broad sword.

I had two weapons in hand right now. I could feel the boost in stats from dual wielding, but I wasn’t stupid enough to fight using two swords. No, contrary to how it looks in certain anime or manga, dual wielding swords is a difficult thing to accomplish. Especially for an amateur like myself.

If I were to give up sword control over stats, that would spell my doom. The way I see it, dual wielding puts me more at a disadvantage than wielding a single sword, despite the stat bonuses it might give.

Instead, I was going to go with the familiar tactic that I had used during my earlier fight.

As the goblin warrior drew near, it suddenly broke out into a sprint.

I braced myself and got into a stance as I waited for the perfect time.

5...4...3...2….1.

When it got within 1 meter of me, that’s when I decided to throw the sword.

It soared past the air, and while it may not have penetrated its skin, it did manage to make the creature stumble.

The thrown sword hit its knee as the creature’s speed suddenly slowed as it fought gravity to stay upright.

I monopolized on this opportunity. I rushed at the goblin. Sword bent above my head.

With one vertical slash, I lodge the weapon deep within its shoulder blade.

It lost 20% of its hp from that slash.

When I viciously yanked the blad free, it lost another 10%.

The goblin screamed in agony, as I observed a sword approach my abdomen through my peripheral vision.

Fully expecting the move, instead of stepping back, I moved closer. I was now too close for the sword to efficiently damage me. Instead of receiving a fatal hit, I knead the creature in the stomach, lifting it off the ground a good half a meter or two.

The attack shaved of 7% of its hp.

As it flew back, I began to run as I followed its trajectory. Once I reached it falling creature, I slashed out again this time towards its eyes. My blow caught the goblin off guard, as the blade swept past its retinas. The impact caused a faint ring to occur while the critical hit icon flashed on top of its head.

The Goblin warrior lost another 50% of its hp.

It grasped at its eyes. It was pretty obvious that the creature had lost its ability to see.

I finished off the remaining 13% of its hp with a horizontal slash to its stomach.

Its lifeless corpse fell on the floor with thud.

This time around, I didn’t motion to pick up its sword, due to my fear of somehow offending the Goblin Commander who just silently watched one of its subordinates die. Instead, I did a vague scan with my eyes for any dropped loot.

Unfortunately there wasn’t any.

I stood there silently as I shifted my attention once more towards the goblin commander.

After looking down at the new corpse with disdain, It then motioned for two of the goblins to step forward. One Of the goblins held a sword while the other had the spear like weapon I had seen earlier.

With a grunt from its commander, the two goblins bolted forward, as I got into a stance of my own.

This subsequent fight no doubt took longer, considering I had to fight two, but just like my previous fight, I readily came out on top.

I killed both goblins with a slash to their throats.

Seemingly satisfied by this outcome, the Goblin Commander grunted. I could only stare helplessly at this imposing creature.

The monster in question received my stare with unflinching eyes at it motioned for its remaining subordinate to move forward. Additionally, he grunted some sort of command. A few moments later, a horde of about 8 goblins appeared from the restroom.

I could only imagine this crowd made up the whole of the goblin tribe residing within that restroom.

These goblins weren’t all warriors. Rather, they were a coalition of scouts and warriors.

“Ha..hahh…”

I laughed dryly at this scene. 8 + 2… that was 10 goblins! I wasn’t ready to face off against ten goblins! If I stuck around any longer and go through more of this crazy goblin’s arena style death matches, I’d surely be the next corpse to flop down on the floor.

Plus, my stamina was running out, if I continued with this, it wouldn’t be a stretch for me to drop mid battle.

Without waiting for the Goblin Commander to issue anymore orders, I immediately ran backwards.

I turned the corner, sword in hand, as I heard the angry roars of the goblin commander and the seething shrieks of the rest of the goblins.

I could also hear the marching of feet, and I immediately knew that the goblins were chasing me.

Right now, I needed speed.

With one sword in hand, I reached behind me and pulled out the larger than a regular dagger sized short sword I had kept.

I dual wielded both weapons and immediately felt the slight boost in agility take its effect. Normally, I wouldn’t used two swords in combat, but for now, two swords helped my fleeing speed.

Rather, I contemplated holding an additional sword in my mouth like a certain anime character, but in the end, I decided against it. First, I didn’t know whether I would actually get the boost or not, and second, I could only imagine how ridiculous I would look.

I dove into a nearby classroom. I frantically locked the door behind me, and as I was about to move a desk to block the entrance, I decided against it. There were windows in this room, and I could only imagine the scene where goblins bursted through that flimsy see through material and proceeded to flood the room with their tiny green bodies.

Instead, I choose to continue running.

As I leapt through the doorway of the connecting room, I could hear the frantic pounding of tiny goblin fists against the wooden doorframe. A moment later, I heard the shattering of window pane.

I continued to run, leading this haggard group of tiny killers across a maze of interconnecting classrooms. Every now and then, I’d lock a door, or shove a nearby desk or chair in their way, but nevertheless, I continued running.

Eventually I knew I was gaining ground, but the foreboding sense of danger still lingered.

Of course, I was just basically circling around the nearby classrooms. I didn’t dare to go back to where Cielle and Hina were waiting. I wasn’t about to subject them to a fate as gruesome as goblin chow.

As I racked my head for an idea while I ran, my face darkened.

A ridiculous idea suddenly popped into my stupid head. I knew it was stupid… but I couldn’t think of anything else that would stop this hoard from killing me.

“...Let’s do it…” I muttered through haggard breath.

I continued to run, now fully intent on leading these goblins through a wild goose chase with the hopes of confusing them. A little while later, after I was somewhat satisfied with the results, I slammed a classroom door shut while I ran out into the hallway.

This hallway was the same one I had spent so much time in. The place where I fought several Goblin scouts and warriors. As for why I was here, well, that was part of my stupid idea.

Like I expected, save for the original corpses I slew, the hall was empty.

The goblins were a pretty stupid bunch. To leave such a precious area so close to their base unguarded, tsk, tsk. They used all their manpower to track down an intruder without even realising my full intent.

I ran quickly, fully aware that they could burst through that locked door at any time. I sprinted past the goblin corpses, the dropped swords, everything as I looked at my destination with determined eyes.

I heard the goblins spill out into the hallway, and as I strained my ears, I could hear the Goblin Commander’s once imposing voice turn frantic.

I ignored all this and continued by dead sprint ahead.

I ran and ran and ran until eventually… I reached a familiar door.

Without an ounce of hesitation, I opened the door, entered the restroom, and locked it shut.

This school was weird. Their restroom doors were the type that could withstand bullets (well, maybe that’s an exaggeration). Anyways, they were pretty sturdy. I doubt a group writhe midgets could get through that type of industrial grade doorframe.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, I quickly turned around and surveyed the room I locked myself inside.

The restroom.

For me, the place where it all began.

Unsurprisingly, it was empty. I had gambled on the Goblin Commander’s stupidity, and I had won. He really did send out all of his troops to chase after me. He completely left his base defenseless.

I sighed out in relief once more. The only reason I ran into this place with bad memories was that the restroom was the only location I could think of with a sturdy enough door and no windows.

I could hole up here for a while.

BAM!

I jumped in fright. I could now hear the angry grunts and screeches from the goblins behind that door. I shivered at the idea that they could overturn my expectations and power their way through here.

But, like I expected, the door was too much for those writhe midgets to handle. After three minutes of desperate banging, they couldn’t muster the force to break through this “fortress”.

I laughed maniacally. For now, I had survived and in retrospect, this opportunity might have been a godsend.

I looked past the stall and towards the toilet which had spawned the first goblin.

I paused for a moment, waiting for the thing I was expecting to happen. A minute or two passed before the familiar sound of flushing and squelching could be heard.

My lips curved upwards in a sinister smirk as the words, “How about a little camping?” escaped my throat.

****

Author's Note:

Seeing the polls from last chapter, I was surprised to see how close the actual results were. "Change: New World" just barely won over the rest of the competition, but that doesn't mean you all still can't recommend some new name ideas. The story's till within its infancy, so I'm open to all suggestions, be it name changes, plot device, heck maybe even character ideas you guys might have.

And if you like the story so far, comment, favorite, follow, rate, etc. This is new, so it needs a little boost right now. Thanks.