They turned their heads and gazed behind their backs to see ten familiar silhouettes—a silhouette Michael will never forget. It was the first monster he'd ever met. The encounter that marked the change in his life.
Seeing the murky expression of the goblins', Michael's face formed a bitter expression.
He would have never thought a time where he had to fight for his life would come.
He thought he would marry the love of his life, living, loving, and dying eventually from the sands of time. He thought he would have children.
He thought he would live his days peacefully albeit boringly.
But that privilege was now gone. Taken away from him abruptly.
To live long he had to fight, and for the sake of the people of this world, he had to fight for them also. He didn't want that.
Although it wasn't the goblins' fault, Michael subconsciously detested them as if they were the ones who forced him. His eyes shone a glint of hatred as he thought of the things he would no longer experience and others that were supposed to come.
When he first transmigrated, he didn't think too much of it. It didn't even feel real at all. He thought one day he would just wake up on his bed again.
But he was gravely wrong.
It wasn't until he almost died that everything processed—he took his previous peaceful life for granted. And he regretted that greatly.
He regretted wasting his time and living in luxury instead of doing something productive.
Shaking from self-guilt and regret, he clutched both of the daggers tightly though the grip didn't fit his hand properly.
"Don't worry," Zack suddenly pat Michael's back.
"We can do this." He continued, reassuring him after he saw Michael's trembling hands albeit not knowing the reason for his sudden downcast.
Michael said. "Of course, we can. I have you, after all."
Hearing this, Zack's eyes widened in surprise before smiling. "And I have you also-"
"Precious cannon fodder." Michael continued with a grin.
"Wha-"
"On your left!" Michael suddenly called out as one of the goblins leaped towards Zack.
Swoosh!
The goblin slashed its sword downwards but was easily and skillfully dodged by Zack. He was rapidly improving same with Michael who first blocked his counterpart before kicking it away fluidly.
"C'mon man! We had a moment there!" Zack cried out jokingly whilst he followed up a slash to his opponent.
"No, we did not! Focus on the battle!" Michael shouted, letting out a sigh of relief as a faint smile grew. Zack was once again there for him when his heart faltered as he had always been even before this hell. And Michael couldn't have been more grateful.
After all, if it weren't for him, perhaps…
Michael would have still been stuck in a prison of his creation, where he pushed everyone away. The lowest of his life.
But it wasn't the time to remember pointless things such as the past. Now was the present that they must make decisions and choices to carve their future. Michael will surely run away from his responsibilities—being a hero, when he gets a chance, but that didn't matter right now.
First, he had to kill his opponents.
Thud!
Michael kicked the advancing goblin again, hitting it on its calf. The spot it least expects him to as it swung its sword towards him—if the kick didn't deal enough damage to stop the goblin, Michael's head would have been caught off instead.
However, it was a calculated risk. With the goblin's thin legs, even a weak kick was enough to make it unbalanced.
The goblin was surprised and staggered, but Michael wasn't able to finish it off as another one came charging at him.
Dodging an attack then running after, he yelled. "We'll take five each!"
To which Zack replied whilst running also. "Of course! If you want, I can take six!" Using the trees as cover like his strategy earlier.
"Don't get cocky! You might die because of it!" Michael retorted, blocking and dodging. Blood splashed as shallow cuts appeared on his body. He was still sloppy in terms of reaction time and eye-hand coordination.
Both looked at each other before they went separate ways; Zack going further into the forest for his strategy to the right and Michael to the left, towards a scenery he uncovered yesterday that might be of use.
They had successfully split the group with five goblins tailing each.
Good luck! Their eyes uttered upon contact before stiffly looking away. Nervous thinking this might be the last time they see each other if something goes wrong…
Michael gazed behind him and took a sigh of relief. Because knowing his luck, it may very well make him fight all ten.
Now with fortunately even numbers allocated, he has a good chance of defeating it without getting gravely injured.
But fighting a group is in no way easy. It was very dangerous. And he was running out of healing pills.
He had to be careful.
The healing pill may be able to mend and restore his stamina, but it doesn't heal him mentally. He was still drained and exhausted emotionally.
And right now, he was barely pushing on. His eyes felt heavy and his mind clouded.
If he wasn't careful, he may unscrew the last bolt and break down. The fatigue even made him accept death twice.
But he wasn't going to let that happen ever again. It's not over till it's over!
Running, he checked his gear—he only had 6 pills left and he was forced to use another one for his stamina. It was a waste, but he had to do it if he doesn't want to be caught by the goblins.
Which he took another piece of to check the item after as he flabbergasted by its effects. To think that it could fix a broken spine! It had to be high quality.
[ Body Healing Spirit Pill (Great) {4th Tier} ]
But the fact only made him feel even more guilty for wasting such pills on stamina. However, Michael was more puzzled by its bland name. Although only for a moment as the tier caught his attention.
But he didn't have time to gaze at it as he had already arrived in his planned area—a small open field with a rocky hill.
He immediately climbed the small hill, planning to fight a king of the hill battle.
Because the person who has the high ground has the advantage. Everyone knows that!
Fortunately for Michael, the random hobbies he tried came in handy. He proudly boasts beating level 1 of a rock climbing gym! So he has experience under his belt. Somewhat.
His heart raced, scaling the hill feeling the presence behind his back. But he kept his cool and reached it calmly and quickly.
He turned around to see the goblins struggling. There were many mountains in this forest, but not as rocky as the one they were standing on.
Then, he did what any normal being would do and flipped them off before doing a quick preparation. "Fuck you!"
He took out a belt and swiftly attached it on his waist, placing his daggers there as he materialized another weapon accompanied by its bag—a bow and quiver filled with arrows.
However this time, he had no experience using or even holding one other than a toy bow he had as a kid.
Regardless, he raised the bow with confidence and loaded it.
"Wait, where the hell is the hole?"
He only held a toy bow before…
"Kekekeke!"
But he didn't have the time to think as the goblins steadily climbed. He quickly placed it on the side, placing it on his hand to aim then pulled—
Swoosh! … … Thunk!
It missed! It landed on a tree down the hill, missing a goblin's head by a few meters.
…Close enough.
But the goblins had not stopped advancing.
He needed to bring them down now as fighting up in a hill on the equal ground will be his bane. With the small space, he'd barely be able to dodge. And outnumbered, he'll simply be slaughtered.
His plan will backfire greatly if he doesn't fix his aim.
"Tsk!" He shot.
Swoosh! … Thunk!
"Hng!" He fired again.
Swoosh! Thunk!
"Fuck!" He cursed, pulling back the bowstring.
Thud!
It missed once more.
"Please!" Michael cried out, releasing another.
Squelch!
Finally hitting.
"Yes!" He exclaimed. He hit the goblin smack dab on its head, rolling down and taking others with it.
Although it was right in front of him.
But his celebration was cut short as two remained and step foot on the peak.
However, it didn't charge at him like he expected them to. Instead, they assessed him first, circling him.
Even so, he didn't back away. Backing off would only lead to his death. Taking a big gulp of saliva—gulping down his fears. He attacked first.
Swoosh! Shik!
"KAK!" One of the goblins dropped down dead.
Michael threw one of his daggers, miraculously hitting a headshot again.
His body feels like shit. His head feels like shit.
His head was throbbing in pain.
But this was going to be over soon—he's going to end it right now.
"Hold on body, just a little longer!"