– Day 12-

Catacombs, Part 4

No, what am I thinking? If we fall back and take another path now, there's no guarantee these guys won't ambush us later. The risk is higher leaving them in play. We have to take them out here and now but the question remains, how?

[Activate Night Eye]

HP: 666 / 666 MP: 1386 / 1386 ST: 933/933

..Hmm. The tunnel is narrow, about wide enough for five people to fight side by side comfortably. It's about three times more in height, and I couldn't estimate in length...150? I don't know; it's a long straight basically with lots of up-crops of rocks scattered about..

If we funnel the goblins through the chest high up-crop closest to us, then we should turn the terrain against them as only 3 or 4 will be able to pour through the gap at a time. Combine it with the moss on both the walls and up-crops, their movement will be seriously hampered as well. Anything stupid enough to try climbing or jumping over us also most guaranteed to lose their footing or get an arrow from Sybil or Emily. This could work..

[Deactivate Night Eye]

HP: 666 / 666 MP: 1388 / 1400 ST: 933/933

The best play is probably Risk, Bella and myself up front. With me in the forward middle position. I can hold and bash attackers to the left or right into Risk and Bella's paths, maintaining our formation. Our main advantage being that the goblins are small in size, translating to me out-powering them in physical combat due to my STR value. As long as I'm quick and the goblins don't reach me too many at a time, this should correlate into me being able to throw them around from behind the shield. Then Bella and Risk use two-handed weapons to cleave the ones I toss into their range while guarding my blind spots. Emily, and I guess Sybil with here throwing knives, can take pot-shots at the more nimble and lucky ones that manage to dodge or get out of range.. Katharine has less combat experience so it would be best if she can watch the rear this time.

With the terrain supporting this formation, only so many can get around me and flanking us will be impossible.. If we do this, it has to be done quickly though. We don't know what might be waiting just up ahead.

I quietly explain the plan to the others who nod and form up before I gesture a count.

3.

2.

1.

Bella, Risk and I dart around the corner like a wild wind followed briskly by the others. Before the goblins even realise what's going on, I unleash three spells in quick succession aimed at the Goblin Warriors in the rear.

[Void Lance]

[Void Lance]

[Void Lance]

Sybil and Emily, after getting into position start tossing out Lumi stones ahead and around us--

HP: 666 / 666 MP: 1100 / 1400 ST: 933/933

*SPA-CRACK SPA-CRACK*

Two are fatal hits, killing the warriors where they stood in yet another bloody display. The third, a misfire that only luckily managed to dismember a nearby Greater Goblin.

*GRRRREEKK KA!!!!*

[ Goblin Language: Nall Dialect acquired ]

*THUD THUD CRANG THUD*

The remaining goblins waste no time grabbing their weapons and charging straight for us. It appears the goblins have no use for tactics or formations and there's definitely no clear leader among them.

I bash a goblin out to my right and Risk stabs it in the neck with a spear before pulling out of position to throw the same spear through the air. It hurtles past me with a wicked sound and through 2 goblin warriors chests before it finally comes to a stop. Risk then swiftly and effortlessly hops back to position and generates a new weapon. That was some display of skill.

"[Field of Winter]!"

I activate the shields skill, bringing a blizzard to the fight. It should be super effective in further slowing down the goblins with their low magic defence.

*Clang CLANG clang*

[Shield Bash]

[Shield Bash]

HP: 666 / 666 MP: 1108 / 1400 ST: 533/933

The passive [Reverb] effect on my shield is more useful than I first thought with goblins losing their weapons at my feet more often than expected.

"[HOWL]!"

The goblins are already focused on me but forcing them via a skill should prevent anyone changing targets.

As planned, Risk and Bella are chopping up the ones that get round me with quick finesse. It's hard to believe, but we've already killed 11--

"GRALA KA GRALA KA GRALA KA!!! GRRRRRRRAAAAAAALLLAAA-KAA!!!"

The remaining three goblins, hearing the sort of chant, move back to where the last goblin warrior stands and join him in chanting loudly.

"I don't like the sound of that!"

Katharine shouts out from the rear while a loud horn begins to sound off from a distance, far ahead of us. I look to Bella then Risk who both shrug.

*BOOM* ... *BOOM* ... *BOOM*

Okay... that really doesn't sound good.

"A-Aburi. The ground?"

Emily this time. It's not like I can't see this myself guys.

"I know, something's coming towards us. Everyone, holdfast and be ready!"

Far off shrieks can be heard gradually getting closer and closer.. There must be hundreds of them down that tunnel. I guess we've been classed a threat--

"GRALA KA GRALA KA GRALA KA!!"

Oh, shut up already!

[Void Lance]

*SCRACK*

*blink*

*Gulp Glup*

The slight shaking grows into a fierce consistent rumbling. This is it, any second now they'll be on top of us..

"Shit me! Aburi!?"

"Hold!"

"Aburi, we should run--"

"Run to where Risk?! We stand, and we fight! HOLD!"

Bella cricks her neck while rotating her right shoulder.

"Oh, this is gonna suck..."

"This is madness Abur--"

Well. Risk isn't exactly wrong here. I easily count over 60 various goblins charging in on us from the front with ever more pouring out of the tunnel behind them. The rumbling hasn't died down at all either so this is likely only the start of it, and of course, there's also that loud, ominous booming sound every few seconds of something substantial. Risk really isn't wrong for wanting to high-tail it out of here ..but something I've noticed since we started our initial attack--

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAA--"

"[HOWL]!"

*THUD THUD THUD THUD*

[Shield Bash]

*Squish Swoosh--*

"ADVANCE SLOWLY! KEEP FORMATION! PUSH INTO THEM--"

*-- Squish* *THUD THUD THUD THUD*

[Shield Bash]

*Squish STAB STAB STAB*

"[HOWL]!"

These goblins are insanely weak. Their levels are pretty much just for show and they only really have numbers on their side. Thanks to [Shield Bash], [Field of Winter], [Howl] and this terrain, I'm confident we can use their numbers against them. No matter how many of them there are, only a certain amount can attack at one time, and they must strike me thanks to [Howl]. The rest have to wait for an opportunity to attack. Even their archers can't find a line of sight and are stuck with nowhere to turn. With more pouring into this tunnel and no sign of their charge slowing, eventually, their going to stampede their own troops as we continue to press into them.. I've not even mentioned that [Field of Winter] is slowing turning them to gobsickles.

[Shield Bash]

"Sybil, Emily; As we advance over the corpses--"

*THUD THUD*

"--ARGH" [Shield Bash]

"--stab their heads. We can't risk a live one getting inside our formation!"

*THUD THUD* *THUD THUD THUD*

[Shield Bash]

"Katharine, keep your eyes sharp on the rear but don't fall behind! Risk, Bella, call out--

[Shield Bash]

"--if you need Katharine or Sybil to swap position with you to catch your breath! We're moving to the next--"

*THUD THUD*

"--UP-CROP!"

"This is crazy!"

"Oh shut up Risk, you're like an old woman! This is AWESOME!"

Well, I'm glad you're having fun Bel--

*SLCREK*

--la.. Gross.

"Aburi, the left!"

[Void Lance]

"Got it, thanks, Emily. Feed me one of your stamina tonics after my next bash!"

Again and again, enemy after enemy. Focus on the task. Again. Again, focus. Breathe, push, Breathe! LEFT! Focus. Focus!

Bella and Risk are chipping away the goblins to my flanks like stonemasons shaping stone at an insane pace. Both have been using spears for some time now due to the added reach they offer with Bella having long since abandoned her sword somewhere in the mountain of corpses behind us. There are still hundreds remaining in front of us as they just keep coming in but many of the goblins have been completely frozen and are acting as further obstacles for their old allies, constraining them even further. I almost feel sorry for them, huddled together amid a blizzard. They kind of remind me of penguins...very ugly penguins.

[Shield Bash]

I won't lie and say I could keep this up all day. If it continues on much longer, my shield arm will give out. I've only kept on this long thanks to Emily feeding me tonics between skills.

The booming has finally stopped but without any visible sign of that which was causing it. Whatever that was though, it's undoubtedly just up ahead but cannot get to us until we kill off all its friends.

"I can't believe this is working..."

With the pace slowing on new goblins coming into the kill zone, we have a chance to converse--

"The goblins only have limited intelligence. We're a threat; they have numbers. They were probably certain of victory so they just blindly ran at us. I knew we'd have the advantage before long if they just kept coming"

"And if they didn't?"

"I would have warped us out of here Risk. It's why I refilled my mana before they came into view."

[Void Lance]

[Void Lance]

Risk is shaking his head at me again. That's becoming a thing it seems, though I can't tell if he's annoyed with himself or me?

"Anyway Risk, you should have more faith in me. I'm not one to charge blindly ahead without a clear advantage--"

Most of the time anyway. Queue Ogre flashback; *shudder*

*blink*

"--but let's keep our focus. We can talk later. I know most of them are frozen but they still number in the hundreds, and we still don't know what lays further in. Steel yourselves and let's get this done!"

*Gulp Gulp Gulp*

Hmph. I don't feel so good...

[** Blood toxicity level, critical **

[** You should not consume any more potions **]

Wait, what? That's a thing!? Why are you only telling me this now!?

[*Liver Enzymes can only process STA/(Lifetime Cycle*n3)*level units per litre of blood. Simplify. Ingesting too much of something is bad *]

...When you put it like that, its kind of obvious.. Then I'll need to conserve my mana just in case.

We continue to carve our way through the mix of goblins and gobsickles, cutting down anything stupid enough to come too close. Our weapons, armour, boots, and even our undergarments now caked in green goblin blood. Their green blood that's spread over every surface is now so thickly covering the cave walls; you'd think we had painted them. The stench of dead goblins will permeate throughout these tunnels for years; I do not doubt that.

[Shield Bash]

After what seemed like hours, the Nall Goblin Massacre looks to be officially over with the remaining goblins in full retreat. As to whatever the booming came from, we still don't know. The goblins fled, but it didn't start back up, so it's likely still waiting up ahead with those too stupid to escape. For now, though, it seems like we can catch our breath.

*Blink*

I take the 3 of the four water barrels from storage and crack them open.

"They're in retreat. Let's use this time to recover and get some food in us. Use these two water barrels to get freshened up. This one for drinking--"

"No Ale!?"

"..Er, fresh out. Sorry, Bella, I'll remember it next time. Anyway, keep alert. Just because they're running doesn't mean we're safe!"

We take turns washing the blood from our weapons and skin while the rest keep watch. I throw a few more Lumi Stones around to light up the area some more to ensure nothing can use the shadows to sneak up.

*blink*

I walk around and hand out some of the food Millie prepared for us before taking a seat beside Sybil and munching down mine.

Mmm, salted ham and pickle sandwiches.. Ah, Millie, you'll make someone a delighted partner someday. I think I'll probably cry a river should that day ever arrive.

..Everyone's quietly eating. Too quiet actually. I can't tell if they're stressed out or just staying alert.. this could be bad.

It's important to take into account peoples mental health in combat situations. If they're too stressed out, their more likely to make mistakes and mistakes cost lives.. Perhaps we should call it a day here.. Hmm, no one looks really exhausted though with the exception Risk of course who's practically sleeping over there.. Guess I'll just ask them.

"You're all very quiet. If you think we should call it a day, let me know. That was a hell of a battle we were just in, and I can understand if any of you feel overwhelmed by it--"

"Overwhelmed? That was bloody awesome Aburi! We just erased an entire fucking goblin tribe! My blood is boiling arrgh! I haven't felt this alive in years! Why the hell would we stop now!?"

You've certainly changed from your arduous alcoholic nature. Actually, aren't people who suffer from depression usually prone to rushes of endorphins causing wicked highs and lows? I think I remember reading that somewhere...

"Bella, you're a whole different animal. You've lot's of combat experience, so I'm not really surprised you feel right at home on the battlefield but--"

"I'm fine Master. I'm a little tired but I can. No. I want to go on."

You were the one I was most concerned for.

Considering all the blood, guts and combat, she's been exposed to; I am seriously surprised that Emily wants to continue.

"Me too. I was just thinking about the battle and my mistakes."

Katharine stands and takes a hi-guard before swinging down to the left and looping round with a shoulder follow through.

"I want to improve so I'm envisioning it while eating. Please don't worry about me!"

Was I worrying for no reason? I turn my head to Sybil who I'm sat beside. Our eyes meet. She takes a bite of her sandwich and then nods at me...

"Risk?"

"The groups spoken. I'm good to continue if the lasses are too"

He thinks we should leave. He's too obvious with it also. It's small at the moment, but a rift seems to be forming between us.. Our styles don't look to be compatible.

"Then we'll finish resting up then harvest the magic stones from our kills before heading on."

Everyone agrees in their own way before going back to their food. I finish mine quickly and decide to take a count of our kills.

...

Insane..

The final number. Three hundred and sixty-seven. Their levels ranged between 14 and 32, averaging..

[** 81 **]

..81 exp a kill. We can times that by four thanks to the EXP tonic...

[** 118,908 **]

Yep, it's not hard to see why I'm now level 49.

Level: 49

EXP: 121855 / 122750

HP: 1133 / 1633 MP: 3030 / 3430 ST: 586 / 4572 (ST Buffed: 2286)

Hunger: 22% Thirst: 0%

Blood State: low

STAT points remaining 292

Skill Points: 145

It's going to be fun spending those later.

My bloods a little low but I'm not so desperate to sneak off and absorb some of the dead.. I still remember what the last goblin tasted like thank you.

[Detailed Scan: Katharine]

Level: 20 (64)

EXP: 3288 / 4266 (12800)

HP: 733 (2346) / 733 (2346) MP: 406 (1301) / 406 (1301) ST: 116 (2944) / 1840 (ST Buffed: 920) (2944)

STAT points remaining 88

Skill Points: 21

Hmm? AE, why are there numbers in brackets?

[** Rest required **]

[** Cannot process accumulated experience **]

[** Estimated processing time of acquired EXP. 174 Hours. Reiterate. 7 Days **]

So she won't have her bracketed stats until then? Wait, that doesn't add up. She went up eight levels just the other... Is there any way to speed it up?

[** Forced. Possible. Reiterate. Dangerous **]

[** Do not recommend **]

Okay, guess we wait.. I'm a little confused by this, but it's hardly the time to dig into it.

What's my blood toxicity at? Can I consume more potions?

[** Toxicity High **]

[** Do not recommend intake **]

[** Additional intake possible. Limit. One**]

Right--

"We should start collecting the stones now we've had a breather. We don't know when more enemies might show up Aburi."

"Risk's right. Emily, Sybil and I will take care of it Aburi. Could you, Bella and Risk could be on guard?"

"There's a lot here Katharine; we should rotate."

...

Frack me; it took us longer to harvest the stones than kill the damn goblins! Looking at the haul though, I guess it was worth it.

Inventory: 54 / 99

- Small Orange Magic Stone x107 -

- Small Orange-Blue Magic Stone x59 -

- Orange Magic Stone x11 -

- Small Blue Magic Stone x53 -

- Small Blue-Green Magic Stone x30 -

According to AE, magic stones don't just vary in size but also colour and concentration.

Orange -> Blue -> Green -> Red -> Purple -> Grey -> Black

Based on this chart, none of the monster's stone are particularly decent--

"This is an amazing haul!"

--But Katharine seems over the moon by it. I'm more interested in what this means for the city defences. AE?

[** Estimation **]

[** 12 Days. Heavy. 1 Month. Passive **]

Really? I'm seriously surprised by that. I thought the defences would require the higher end stones.. Well, this is excellent news for us then. This might even buy back my good name with Graham and justify my spending!

"You're right Katharine, we've done well here. Bella, you're getting the best ale money can buy when we get out of here!"

"Oh my god, you're the best boss ever! Should I kiss you? I'm gonna kiss you, lemme kiss you!!"

"Okay okay--"

I push away with all my strength.

"It's good you're all in high spirits and all, but we're still in the rakshaws den. Counting the eggs before they hatch and all that."

What the heck is a rakshaw? I guess I get the gist of what he means though.

"Risk is right. Let's form up and move on. Sybil, scout ahead but be extra vigilant. Something big is probably laying in wait up ahead."