Chapter 15 - Sizable Advantages

Nothing like a potentially fatal situation to help foster new alliances. I spare a quick glance over my shoulder at my new-found ally.

I quickly gesture for Sten to follow me as I charged forward, closing in on the nearest enemy as fast as I can. Which apparently surprised them because they did not start to really move to defend themselves and didn’t even have their weapons up to guard until my first spear had already been plunged into the closest of the goblins. Shrieking, they immediately spread out and started to form a circle.

Seeing their quick reaction, I did not slow from my previous attack and charged right at the second goblin, ripping my weapon out of my first victim and whipping the point forward towards my next target.

Sadly, while I may be quicker than them, they seemed to have some experience fighting, because no sooner had I started my charge towards the next goblin they attempted to regroup and each goblin to either side of my newest intended victim quickly leveled their weapons at me and closed ranks with their compatriot.

This left me partially surrounded with two goblins to my left which included the injured one I had hit with the spear before charging, three to my right with and the last and closest three goblins in front of me.

I was not in a good position and it seemed the goblins knew it. Closing in on me from each side, their guttural language grated on my ears as I focused on dodging each potential attack, while the monster’s weapons repeatedly sliced through the air as they sought to end my life. Luckily, I was not alone and having taken their attention with my what may have looked to the goblins to be insane charge towards them I had afford Sten the time he needed to catch up.

I spared a glance at him as he barreled past me right into the two goblins to my left. Not even stopping it looked to me like he might just impale himself on their weapons with his charge. Yet, by some stroke of luck he must have managed to smack aside their weapons as he slammed bodily in the first injured goblin and managed to roll or maybe more accurately fall towards the second to engage it while the first dropped to the ground, Stens weapon impaled through it with what must have been at least a quarter of the weapon protruding from its back.

As he faced his second opponent I refocused on the six remaining goblins that had momentarily stopped attacking me when Sten barreled by. Seizing the opportunity, I close the distance with the three closest goblins in front of me with a leap and use the spear like a baseball bat. The spear connects with the goblins head with such force the goblin has no time to even react before its head simply disappears, along with a good portion of my weapon. The two goblins standing to either side of me snarl and shriek as they realize what had just happened right next to them. Overcoming their shock as to my apparent ability to vanish and reappear within striking distance. Even as they stepped in to stab me with their spears however, I had already focused and used my ability.

Summoning bright blue flames to roll around me and engulf the goblin I had just effectively beheaded. My attackers stumbled in surprise as the flames writhe in the air as if alive not knowing that the flames are harmless. Still, I will not surrender the advantage and let them recover, I grab at the spear of the nearest goblin and yank it straight out of its hands. Delivering a quick kick that lands solidly on the goblins knee, I use the new weapon to bat aside its compatriots spear before stepping inside its guard and slamming my weapons point directly into the third goblins stomach.

Not pausing for a moment, I wrested its own weapon from its grip as it stared down at the spear that is sticking out of it like a new limb and grab the second goblin by the throat while using my ability to drain it of its remaining life force as it clawed at my arm fruitlessly while I stare down my three remaining enemies.

I can still hear Sten fighting behind me, but I know that it is not the time to check on him as the last three goblins I am facing seem to be losing their minds. Their guttural high pitched gibbering being about as distracting as it possibly can be. They charge at me as one, which may have been effective. Except that as soon as they had maybe a few steps they all turned and ran in opposite directions. I silent reflect on the wonders of goblin loyalty as I turn around to see Sten finishing off the last goblin on the ground, blood slowly dripping from small scratch wounds along his arms.

Briefly, glancing at the spears which littered the ground and bodies I decided to give them a brief search. Slowly turning over each body it seems clear that each goblin had nothing of value on them except their weapons and makeshift clothing.

Sliding some of its makeshift clothing off its body, I rip it into strips and head back to Sten.

"Here you go, use these to wrap the cuts on your arms." I gave another look at his arms as he slowly took them from me. He glanced from the rag strips in his hands back to me.

"Do you think this is made from human skin?" Sten started to look ill. "Look, I don’t know what they are made of, but you are losing blood. So, either make your own bandages or use those, just try to stop your bleeding please, you should start to regen if you can stem the bleeding."

Sten looks up at me confused. "Regen? What are you talking about?"

I pause for a moment before instructing him about regeneration due to stats. Sten looked shocked and afterwards explained to me why he had no clue about regen. Apparently, he had only just activated his status screen moments before he was snatched away via teleportation to the where I was, along with the others by Master Protocol.

It was seriously starting to seem to me like "Master" Protocol was seriously power tripping or had a vastly different perception of what being ready for a challenge meant.