Σ>―Noah Solomon→
[Day 31]
Now, what are we supposed to do next? They just left us suddenly. They gave us three options... catch the guild master, steal 20 cards, or reach the end of the dungeon. Catching the guild master is next to impossible even with the advantages of being a [Ancient Human]. Stealing 20 cards is too easy and reaching the end of the dungeon will take days. Wait a second didn't Kane said our ranks will depend on our performance? So does that mean completing all of the options can make me achieve a higher rank?
"Can everyone hear me out? I have a proposal that will benefit everyone here."
"And what is that? Spit it out already we don't have time to waste."
"I suggest that we party up instead of going solos if we do that it will be harder for other people to steal our cards. It's also safer to explore the dungeon. I know why you're hesitating because partying up with someone you don't know might be a bad idea but I think going solo is more dangerous. What do you think everyone?"
"I see that makes sense."
"Should we do it?"
"I don't know."
Are these people are dumb? That's common sense... Well, I understand their concerns because backstabbing is a common occurrence when it's just a newly created party.
"I see you are still hesitating then I should start first. Can you join my party the beautiful girl with an ax over there, the cute girl with the black staff, and especially you the guy beside the tree?"
Ho? He's inviting me?
"Sure why not."
"I have no problem with that."
"Same here."
As soon as we started partying up the others soon followed. I see he's a leader type.
"Let's go over there without any people around. Ah! I still haven't introduced myself right? I'm Castriel Dashwood!" He removed his cloak revealing his spiky, light blue hair and orange eyes. "I know you might find the color of my hair strange but I don't know myself the reason for that. As you can see I'm an elf... I'm a level 209 [Ranger]."
He's a tall height, a lean-built young man but you can tell that his a sheltered boy who knew nothing about the outside world. His hands look soft, not rough like you would usually see in a Ranger. He wore a yellow tunic, a hose, low black shoes, and a green hood. He has a longbow and a knife hidden in his leg.
"Nice to meet you... My name is Ophelia Mavros I'm a human and a level 230 [Blood Warden]."
Despite her class which is known for its toughness and its terrifying raw strength she elegantly bowed. The first thing that came to my mind was beautiful... What a beautiful woman despite having a big ass ax on her back.
"I g-guess it's my turn then. I'm Stella Remes a beastmen and I'm a level 197 [Battle Mage]."
T-that ears?! This is my first time seeing fox ears! She's a cute, snow-white skinned, black-pony tailed beauty. She wears an elaborate, jet-black cloak adorned with a gold border. She wields a wooden staff.
"My name is Artemis Zapherius a human and a level 150 paladin."
"A level 150 huh? I did not expect him to have such a low level..." Castriel murmured.
"Did you say something?"
"Ah, it's nothing anyways what do you guys want to do? In my opinion, going to the dungeon is the best option but I want your opinions."
"I was also thinking about the same thinking."
"I agree."
"How about you Artemis?"
"That's a good idea..."
"Then the dungeon it is."
"Wait I'm not finished. While I do think it's a good idea but do you know how to get there?"
"Ah! E-erm now that I think about it not really..."
"Then do you know what kind of a dungeon are we going? I don't want to be that 'know-it-all' guy but going there unprepared is as dangerous as the other options and call me Art."
"Then do you know?"
"Yes, it will take us 1 day to get there. It seems like it was a newly found dungeon 1 month ago. Just like the name, it's full of big and giant monsters like a golem, ogre, troll, etc."
"How even did you know all of this?" Ophelia asked.
What? I should be the one who's asking 'how did you not know?'. Gathering information is just common sense.
"Do you guys remember what the guild master said? He gave us 3 hours to prepare right? That's exactly what I did. I even bought clothes and 1 week's worth of food just in case. Don't tell me you didn't prepare anything...? These idiots."
Hey now, don't you avoid my eyes. You're telling me you did not do anything for three hours?!
I sighed in defeat.
"D-don't call us idiots!! Not all of us have the money you don't know our situations." Ophelia commented as she quickly shut her mouth.
"Why do I have to care about your situations? You signed up for this and don't you lie to me. Your weapon is too shiny that it's blinding my eye. You just bought that didn't you just for tod-" Ah crap she's angry... wait is that tears I see? Did I go too far?
"Now, now, stop crying and gently put your weapon down."
"S-shut up! I'm not crying!"
"Alright everyone calm down. I know you're worried about our safety Art but I think you owe miss Ophelia an apology."
Simp? And why do I have to apologize? *Sigh* I'll only apologize so we can end this right now.
"I'm very sorry for my words miss Ophelia I took it too far but let me just say this for your sake... that kind of attitude will get you killed in no time," I warned her in a serious tone. I was also naive and someone who strongly believes in justice before. The only reason I could think of why I survived for a long time before was because of the kind people around me and the status of Hero.
"Let's go now we have no time to waste here."
The bad atmosphere has calmed down after a while when we were traveling to the dungeon. It's been a peaceful trip until we run into a goblin. This one seems strange...? Why is it wearing a cloak? It's like it's screaming 'attack me I dare you.'
"It's just a goblin let me handle these ladies. No need to dirty your hand."
He took out his bow and aimed at the goblin. He pulled the string slowly and released it. The arrow flew straight into the goblin's body.
*Clang*
"Bullseye! Stay there let me get my arrow and its ears." Castriel cheerfully walks towards the goblin to pick up the arrow.
Wait a minute... Did I hear that right? Clang? Is it wearing armor?
"[Life Detection]...! You fool evade it!" Castriel was about to pick up the arrow but as soon as he heard my shout he instinctively avoided the dagger that was aimed at his heart. While he did avoid a vital spot he still got stab at the stomach instead.
"Castriel!!!" The girls exclaimed.
"We got careless. Ophelia! Stella! Get ready we got an army to fight." Right now I'm getting Life signals from everywhere... We got baited.
"Kill!" The goblin shouts as it removes its cloak revealing an armor.
The goblins that were hiding from the thick forest were slowly appearing. 30... no 50 goblins? What are they doing here? They are supposed to hide in caves or dungeons.
"W-we should run," Ophelia mumbled
"How about Castriel?! Are we going to leave him behind?" Stella replied.
"..." Ophelia hesitated.
"I don't want to but we have no choice! They are 50 of them what are we supposed to do?"
Arghh! This is the worst possible outcome. They are shaking in fear how are you going to fight like that? The goblins are much smarter than you two. They know we aren't going to leave Castriel behind so they left him alive.
*Slap* I smack their head and pulled their heads close to mine.
"Calm down you two. Look into my eyes it's gonna be okay. Tell me what is a [Blood Warden] and a [Battle Mage]? What are their job and their strong points?"
"[Blood Warden] is a tanky damage dealer. They can also use arrays. Their job is to be the sub tanker while dealing damage to the enemy."
"[Battle Mage] deals a huge amount of damage to the enemy using short time cast. Their job is to keep dealing damage to the enemy."
"Exactly! Now Stella go crazy to the enemy we're gonna protect you. Ophelia start creating defensive arrays."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna rescue that idiot. I'll be back real quick. Let's see what is that spell again? Is it this? No this one. [Light Weight], [Supernatural Condition], and [Fortitude of Atlas] that should be enough."
Noah removes his sword from the sheath and started chanting spells while running towards Castriel.
This is a doubled edge spell but this is not the time to worry. "[Dusk]!" It's a spell for taking the sight of anyone near me including myself. That's why I cast [Supernatural Condition] so I can hear clearly [Light Weight] to evade attacks and [Fortitude of Atlas] just in case I got hit.
*Shriek*
"Sh*t it hurts"
"There you are Castriel. Damn you're heavy hahaha. We need to go to the array now hold on tight!"
"Stella make a way for me!"
"Roger! [Hymn of the Yeti]." A super-thin needles made of ice launch against the goblins. Freezing them from the inside.
"Ophelia do you have any healing skills?"
"I do but it's only for minor wounds but I think I can close the wound. [Cure]!"
The injury was slowly closing. His ragged breathing stopped and his pale skin returned to normal.
"This is the only thing I can do. He lost a lot of blood we need to bring him somewhere safe."
"Then let's end this already. Stella and Castriel stay inside the array while I and Ophelia will deal with them outside. Stella watch our backs alright?" Ophelia was already rampaging I guess I should start too.
The hobgoblin leaps at me but I dodge it easily. We both clash swords together I swung my sword at his arm. The hobgoblin falls on the ground writhing in pain from losing its arm. As soon as it gets up, it attacks again. This time, I manage to parry its attack and stab it in the body with my sword.
It screeched in pain and drop its weapon. It stands up slowly, still trying to recover from the wound. I take advantage of this moment and slice it repeatedly in the chest until it collapses onto the ground once again.
Jeez, back in the days I can kill hundreds of them in one slash or spell.
"Zdravstvuyte vse!"
"Kak pozhivayesh'? Khorosho, spasibo."
"Khotel by ya byt' ptitsey."
"Mne zhal'."
A ball of fire was gathering on the goblins staff it aimed it at the sky and fired. It releases concentrated magic blasts that split into multiple fragments. The magic blast was raining down from the sky and will hit us. The moment the spell came in contact with us it created a burst of magical energy.
They even have a mage among them? Good thing we returned to the array but the attack was so powerful that it destroys the array. As expected of a spell that requires a long time to cast.
Noah sprints toward the mage ignoring the other goblin that was trying to stop him. "[Blackout]!" Its mind right now must be fighting to stay awake and its eyes must be struggling to open. This is my chance... I slashed my sword to its neck killing it instantly.
The goblins were trembling in fear seeing that I managed to kill their mage.
"Don't be afraid! There are only two of them. Think about it if we defeated them we can use the women and their equipment not only that our level will rise too."
This one must be the leader...
"Ho? You dare underestimate us even after you saw me killing your mage and underlings easily?"
"Y-you understand us?!"
"Nevermind that. What are you guys called again? I think there's a term for that? Aha, I remember it you guys a moron, idiots, meathead, and muscle brain. Full of courage but lacking in the brain compartment hahaha!"
"Y-you! Kill him! Huh? Why are not moving? I said ki-"
*Stab*
"W-why? What ha- I see what did you do human?" *blargh* The goblin vomited blood.
"So how does it feel? Seeing your fellow goblin backstab? Do you feel anger? Are you confused? You guys are idiots. Don't give your opponents time to breathe. Because of you, I have enough time to use [Raise Undead]."
The goblin fell to his knees crying instead of feeling pain from his injury. His mind was filled with many thoughts. Such as 'When did things go wrong?' 'Why did this happen?'. The emotional pain he received surpass the pain he got from his injury.
"You monster..."
"Hey now, I feel weird being called a monster by a monster. Oh, right you said you want to take the girls from my party?"
"Hey, you! Yup, you hold him down while the other eats him alive start by eating his private part alright?"
"No! NO! NO! STOOOOP! GET AWAY FROM ME!" The goblin desperately crawled away but unfortunately for him, there are too many of them to escape.
The others hold his head, arms, and legs. He was getting eaten alive by his former comrade. He cried in agony. He begs me to kill him until its shouts get weaker and weaker.
After a while, the whole forest remained silent.