Hit a few plots bottleneck that I shouldn't hit. Change to 3rd point of view from now on and also trying to adopt a new writing style. I was taken writing a fiction too lightly. Didn't expect it to be this hard to write a non OP main char.

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Once they get back to the camp in front of the goblin lair what they were expecting isn’t there. There are no army defend the camp nor any sight of the Human army at all. What the heck happened? How the hell did they disappear? And then something that hit his mind. He start screaming inside his head.

*Oh, no no no don’t tell me that. Gods please, have mercy, if he really gave out such command then he is the most stupid commander I have ever seen or heard about in my entire life.*

Cleon: Where could they be? Shouldn’t they left at least a few man in the camp?

Damon: Yeah, even those from peltast unit are nowhere to be seen and it doesn’t look like we were under attack here.

Eumenes: I have a guess but if my guess is right … Sigh … We will need to run away from this place as soon as possible.

Belynda: I won’t run from enemies.

Eumenes: It might be 12 of us facing 1000 goblins or more. You don’t want to die in vain, do you?

Everyone: “Gulp”

Damon: It can’t be that bad, right? Hey bro, you know something and yet you don’t tell me anything.

Cleon: I don’t know anything. It’s Eumenes.

Belynda: Okay so can you split it out already? It is tiring to stand here and guess what did you find out.

Eumenes: Well, it’s just that our god damned commander might have ordered an all out attack into that goblin lair which god know how long it is and right now the Goblin that ambushed us in the forest must be hitting their back. Trap from both sides they won’t last long, and once those goblin done with our commander it’ll come to our turn.

Everyone shiver once I done with my words. Damon’s face once again becomes as pale as when he was saved by Belynda. I don’t know what kind of face I am making but I believe that it’s the most horrible one I have. Even Belynda can’t hold her cool anymore.

Belynda: How could you be so sure? You are imagining things to scare us, right?

Eumenes: I said that’s my guess, didn’t I? It should explain why we still have all rations and reserved equipment intact here. We went on the offensive but it doesn’t mean we are going to win. You have to understand that we come here straight after you done with those goblins inside the forest which mean there are no goblins left in the middle between us and our army.

Once we are here we see no one that means they left the camp long ago. But I don’t believe that the goblins inside the forest were all killed and the rest of our 300 men group was able to return here before us.

I can only assume that out of 300 men went into the forest only us 12 able to make it out alive. That lead to the idea that the goblins are attacking our stupid commander. He probably think that 300 men in the forest are wining or just some useless trash that he can use to buy him enough time to finish the goblin's lair so he just gather the whole 800 troops he has and throw them all to hell.

Damon: It’s can’t be. Goblin is known to have very low intelligent. How could they have such great tactic?

After think about it for a few seconds I answered.

Eumenes: It’s possible that their leader is a Hog-goblin shaman which is far more intelligent than the normal goblin.

Everyone fall into silent. To tell the truth even if we try to help the main force we can't do anything. If the goblin was actually kill off the whole 300 of my group then the number of them outside the lair must be more than 800. Even if half of them die during the process that's still a number that can crush us easily. But we can't just run away like this.

Eumenes: Whatever we can't just sit here and wait. That's just my guess. Anyone know how to conduct scouting?

Damon: I know a little.

Cleon: No, you are not going anywhere.

Eumenes: I know you don't want him go but if he don't go we may all end up dead.

Cleon: ...

Eumenes: Damon, can you ride horse?

Damon: Yes, of course. But what for?

Eumenes: Then you get one of those horses for officers behind the camp and go. It should help you run away if they spot you. You only have to make sure that the lair entrance is being held by goblins. Once you see them get back here as soon as possible and change to a new horse get back to the city to report.

Damon: Got it. But ... but what about you guys?

Eumenes: I will try to do something about it, at the very least we can keep ourself safe by running away so you don't have to worry about us.

Go NOW!

Damon quickly jumped on one of the horse and rode straight to the lair leaving us behind at the camp. The rest of us now can only hope that Damon find our army instead of those goblin. It is the only chance for us to leave this place without any trouble.

Cleon: Now what should we do?

Belynda: Stand and fight. What else are you thinking about?

Cleon: ...

Eumenes: Belynda, I don't think it's a good idea. To be honest if Damon come back with the news that the Goblins has the lair gate I will be the first one who run away from this battle.

Belynda: That's because you are a coward.

Eumenes: Thanks! And I won't stop you from finding your death. That's for sure. Feel free to go, just don't drag anyone down with you.

He was getting angry. Part of it because she is a girl but she is strong and brave up to the point that can be called as stupid at the same time. He don't want to be called as a coward especially by a girl but a pointless death won't do any good even if this is just a game. He also don't understand why such a girl act like that. It's like she is ready to throw her life away to prove something, what is she trying to prove he don't know but he won't throw away people's life just for her sake.

Upon hearing such words Belynda's face turned beet red. She wanted to say something more but couldn't find the word she need. In the end she stumped loudly then walked away.

Cleon: You are harsh, man. She is just a girl.

Eumenes: Sure, a little girl that can kill both you and me in a few sword swings.

Cleon: Hey, hey don't take it out on me.

Eumenes: Okay, whatever, first you go get any horses that the commander and his man left behind, one of them is for your brother, he might need to change horse so he can run straight back to the city to report. Any others horses is for us.

Cleon: Are you sure? you could be kill if the commanders or his men get out of the lair, you know?

Eumenes: This situation call for it. I am an "stranger" so I won't die anyway.

Cleon: What? How? This expedition shouldn't be open for stranger. How could you join it?

Eumenes: The old man must have pull some strings. You know Phalces the old trainer?

Cleon: Who in Minos don't know him is an idiot. He is a legend to the kids here. Wait!!! You said he trained you? He wouldn't train anyone personally. What could have you done to get him train you? Well scratch that. Our safety take priority here. I will go now.

Leaving Eumenes and 3 men behind Cleon took the rest of them to secure the horses.

After checked around the camp Eumenes turned back to the 3 men behind him. At the same time Cleon and his men come back with the horses.

Cleon: There are 15 horses enough for all of us.

Eumenes: Okay since we are pretty much lost this battle you should go get some weapons or armors that left in the camp. Hopefully we'll find something nice. Make priority of weapons, armor can help us in battle not in escape.

Searching the camp they find plenty of weapons and damaged armor that the owner clearly throw them away or want to repair once they return. Not like they can return if they are now trapping inside the lair anyway. all that's left is waiting for Damon return.

Personally Eumenes took a pair of graves, they are not bad, a little crude but can still have some use for him.

Item receivedRusty Proknemis (Bronze)A pair of graves. Old and rusty. It have seen more battles than it's owners.Defend:15.

Eumenes: Wait a second where the hell is that woman?

???: You mean Belynda? I saw she walk toward the lair a while ago.

Eumenes: God damnit. Cleon, give me 2 horses. Once Cleon come back if what I guess is right give him a new horse and let him run back to report. I will go find that hot head idiot.

Cleon: What? you gonna go? Then what should we do?

Eumenes: Run away if that happen of course.

Cleon: Wait a second Eumenes.

Cleon throw an upper body armor to Eumenes.

Cleon: It's not at it's best but it will save you life, go unarmored into enemies territory is suicide. And be safe, my friend.

Eumenes: Thank you.

Spoiler :

Item receivedBattered Light LinothoraxDefinitely not the best armor in this world. If you bought this armor for 5 gold coin or more then you have been swindled by the seller.Defend:30.

Can be worn with coat

Wearing the "new" armor now for the first time since he played the game he now feel like he is an warrior, a real one who live and die in this world. The feeling made his blood run faster in his vein as if he can feel it. Jumped on the horseback, he found out right away that he lack the proper skill to ride a horse as the system told him he has a speed penalty for riding one without skill but he have no choice. Turned his head back one last time he said.

Eumenes: Take care, brothers.

Cleon: You too.

Before anyone else able to say anything else, the horse already ran at it's fastest speed toward the goblin's lair. He really feel like brothers in arm with those AIs, in one way or another, they are human who live in this virtual world. They are as real as he can feel.

"Good people like them shouldn't die in such stupid batte"

After crossing almost 1 mile road he was close to the lair entrance and this time he found a dead horse on the ground, he immediately realized that it's the one Damon rode. Fearing that the worst have come but as he saw no human's body around so he followed the trace on the ground that lead to the forest close by.

HYAAAAAAAAAAAA!

A sound like a warcry made him almost fall off the horse, he rode quickly to the source of the sound only find out the similar screen that he once saw it. A girl covered in blood while butchering the goblins and Damon in wounded but he still standing. They are facing 4 goblins and one of them is an [Elite]

"There is no time to admire the screen" he thought and rode straight in the battle, javelin on one hand he threw toward the closest goblin.

Speed bonus: +80% damage.

You killed a Goblin. You received 150 exp.

It seem that by combine the horse speed he can increase his damage in weapon. 80% is no joke, That can one shot any goblin even without crit hit.

The second javelin was sent to the [Elite] goblin's that facing Belynda. The sudden pain distracted it from Belynda and she quickly moved in and finished the job.

Damon was facing 3 goblins and almost lost his hope but the sudden appearance of Eumenes change everything. With one of the goblin down and now the [Elite] gone too it change from 4 vs 2 into 2 vs 3 and they swiftly killed the two remaining goblins.

Giving one horse to Damon to rode back right away. He now have to convince Belynda to leave. But Belynda, as cold as she is, not even showed any sign that she want to listen to a conversation.

Hearing the sound of the goblins drawing closer and closer, without a choice he graped her hip and pull her up on the horse then rode back to the city right away.