I raised my dagger, the clang of metal ringing in the air and stunning me for a moment. However it did not totally paralyze me as I was able to start my magic circuits. The familiar warmth flowing into me as it reinforced my limbs.
The strength was just what I needed as moments later I was flung to the side. I used that momentum to kick off the wall and lunge towards the first of my two enemies.
With the dagger outstretched straight towards my opponent's neck I made it there in mere seconds.
Yet it was still enough time for the goblin to move from its fixed position. I had to manipulate my body mid air just to be able to kick off of the blade that had appeared in my way. Even then I could feel the failings of my muscles as they strained and broke against the intense usage of them.
I had to ignore the pain as I dodged to the side from another attack aimed at both my back and front.
However this had given me the chance that I needed as the moment in which the blades reached the ground they were stuck.
The goblins had the choice to abandon them and defend with their bodies or risk death to try and pull their weapons from the ground.
In that moment of decisions I went after the one that I saw trying to strain his wrist. My dagger slashed at his neck and cut far enough that in mere moments he would choke on his own blood.
Yet I still did not keep my eye off of him as it was in those last moments that they could be the most dangerous.
I was right to do that as with his last strength he pulled the blade from the ground. With a ear rending shout using his last breath he swung with reckless abandon.
It was faster than anything I had encountered so far. Yet as I was expecting this I was already in the air above the sword.
His eyes widened at the futility and for a moment I could swear that I saw regret in those eyes but I could not dwell on that as in but another mere moment I felt a punch rend the air from my stomach.
I was sent flying, however I had already done this song and dance. A moment later I was upon the last goblin.
With him being disarmed it was laughably easy to maneuver to the back and slash at his neck. Unlike his compatriot though he seemed to accept his death and went peacefully into that dark night.
"Shit!" It was sudden and with the dark night I was barely even able to see it.
However the impact… that I felt.
It was a cut tight across my leg, no it was even more precise than even that.
It hit at the precise angle as to sever the joint. The only thing allowing me to even move right now being the mana in my system that had hardened it enough to stop the complete piercing of it.
That didn't mean that I came out unscathed as I was still bleeding and the dagger in me was also limiting my mobility.
I grit my teeth and pulled the dagger out only to come face to face with another sword.
It was poised to pierce my heart. However it wasn't fast enough as I crouched and lunged.
I ducked under the blade and made my way to where I assumed the goblins heart was and stabbed as far in as I could.
I heard a grunt of pain above me along with the grasping of a dying grip.
However all it did was increase his pain. I felt the dagger pierce the heart and within seconds he was dead.
Yet I did not let go of he corpse as I felt the impact of dozens of more knifes hit the back of the same goblin.
I charged forth, the corpse acting as a shield for me.
And when I felt I was close enough I threw it as hard as I could and burst through their formation.
My first attack hit the side of one of their chests with the next hit being fatal.
That still left me with more than five goblins staring at me with ravenous bloodlust.
And I was far from in perfect condition. Even now my arms and legs ached from my sudden exertion. I even felt the coming of cramps that would hinder my movements.
That was not even mentioning the wounds that I had taken previously.
I was half sure that my ribs had broken.
Still I lunged, taking the initiative from them. Their reactions were as expected. They all readied themselves, lowering their own center of gravity so as to put more power into their swings.
Yet that meant nothing as I approached with explosive speed. Mere moments after lunging towards them I was upon them. Dagger in hand and slashing at the neck of one.
I was lucky that they were quite spaced out as in that moment I was caught upon the goblin. His hand holding onto my wrist.
Even then though, I twisted the dagger and subsequently let go. With the pain and suffocation that came with it, it allowed for me to escape his grasp.
But even then I was weaponless. The dagger that had done me good for the past few days stuck in the dying body of some random goblin.
"Heel!" I heard yelled behind me. I startled, jumping back as I crouched and reached for a non-existent dagger.
Again I startled and clenched my fist, ready to fight hand to hand if need be. However while that was happening my brain decided it would finally work as it registered the words. The sudden english that the goblin spoke despite evidence to show that they had their own language.
My eyes widened in surprise at that as I looked upon the goblin that had spoke. He was taller than the others, maybe even a little bulkier but that was not the most significant difference.
What was the biggest difference was his attire. What I had seen from them was mostly loin cloths and nothing else, maybe the occasional necklace or skull hanging off of their side but nothing like this one.
He had proper clothes that seemed to be weaved out of the skin of some poor animal. Instead of a sword or dagger he had in hand a tribal staff. On his head was a hood made of skulls and leather.
"Human… your name… I want the name of our worthy foe."
I hesitated for a moment before I opened my mouth. The days of disuse and intentional silence bringing about a croak for my first words. Yet after that my voice had finally returned.
"Mihr… my name is Mihr."
"Mihr. A good name, strong name. Take this and fight me."
With that last sentence he threw a sword at me. It landed in the grass, the blade piercing the dirt to hold itself up.
Cautiously I stood from my crouch and walked to it. My eyes finding purchase on each of the goblins around me. There were three left, the rest being nothing but corpses however despite the rage and battle in their eyes they left me alone and subserviently formed a circle around us.
I finally reached the sword and grasped the handle. For a moment I was surprised. It was the same sword that I had been given at the start of this tutorial.
Even though I was surprised I did not let it show on my face as I firmly gazed upon the goblin in front of me.
"GOOD! GOOD! My name is Akil, the second in command under the chief of the village. Let us have an honorable battle"
"Yes… lets." I said quietly as I charged forward.