As people were picking up knives, Rargnes and Sengrar descended through the frightened crowd. At the bottom, people were fighting with knives against goblins who, due to their size, positioned themselves in the back, equipped with spears approximately 3 meters long.
Rargnes took out his pistol and fired. The gunshot pierced the goblin's throat, causing it to collapse on the ground, blood in its mouth. The goblins immediately retreated, filled with fear. He fired two more shots, hitting a fleeing goblin in the stomach. The bullet went through its layers of clothing but did not come out.
He ran towards the bleeding goblin with Sengrar, crushed its back, and disarmed it before putting it over his shoulder, the goblin's blood staining his coat.
"What are you doing with that?!"
"We need info!"
Around them, humans were running in every direction. Rargnes looked back and saw the emergency door broken down, revealing medieval humans in armor.
Rargnes rushed forward, passing the goblin to Sengrar, then ran toward his apartment.
Once they arrived, the barely conscious goblin was subjected to an interrogation.
"How many are you?" asked Rargnes, knife in hand. His voice was uncertain, and his face pale.
"Mercy, mercy," said the goblin as he recited religious verses.
Sengrar barked at him. "How can someone like you ask for mercy?" He grabbed him by the collar, and the goblin spat out blood.
"Calm down," said Rargnes, placing a hand on Sengrar's arm.
The questioning resumed. Rargnes asked how they had come, but the goblin repeated, "Mercy." So, taking out a first aid kit, he handed the pistol to Sengrar and asked him to guard the locked door secured with an iron chain.
Sengrar busied himself by loading and unloading the pistol as quickly as possible.
Rargnes bandaged and tried to clean the bullet wound, causing screams of pain from the goblin.
"Make him shut up!" growled Sengrar
Bloodstained hands, Rengnar asked new questions.
"We came through the portals." said the goblin, words spaced apart.
Rargnes looked at him. He needed to cut the conversation short; otherwise, the goblin wouldn't hold up. He didn't have much confidence in his healing abilities, and seeing the blood spread on the fabric armor of a goblin - less resistant than a human - if the goblin lost consciousness, it might never regain consciousness.
"What are these portals?"
"Doors to your world, opened by mages."
The word "mage" seemed wrapped in an honorary title attached to the word, even though Rargnes' language didn't have one.
"And what was this storm that separated us?"
"The system imposes constraints..." sighed the goblin in pain. "It separates areas to test humans."
It sounded more like a belief than serious information. Testing humans? Why was he the only one remembering the apocalypses?
Rargnes thought about what he could say. The goblin spoke again:
"They have mastered their classes..."
"Who?"
"My masters, the humans who came."
"And what are their classes?"
"Warriors. Only warriors dare to venture out. Mages are reserved for goblin slaves of aristocrats."
"And why are there goblin mages, then? Do you have classes?"
"Everyone can empower themselves with warrior or mage powers. Class is just a bonus given to humans. With enough knowledge, you can achieve the same result..."
"What about the lord class, then?"
"The lord class is a separate class, which produces wealth. It is banned from orientation at birth. All goblin mages ensure this."
"How do you strengthen yourself as a warrior or master magic?"
Sengrar listened too.
"Magic costs a lot and can only be mastered with tools and conduits located in the body, except for a small group of chosen ones. Warriors, however, strengthen after each fight, hence training since childhood with warriors. The greater the risk, the greater the reinforcement."
"How does one escape from this area? What is required to find others or use your portals?"
"Using the portals would mean your death..."
Sengar gave him a dark look.
"A goblin cannot lie... That's why all races understand them, and they make the most loyal slaves... If I return, I will die too."
There was silence.
"So what should we do?"
"The tutorial will stop in a month, and the areas will disappear. Let me guide you. There are plenty of opportunities in the tutorials..."
"Is what happens to our world common to all worlds?"
"All worlds are gradually invaded, yes..."
The goblin seemed really weak.
Rargnes looked at Sengrar: "What should we do?"
"Can we trust him?"
"Better than nothing."
Goblins couldn't lie; that was a known fact in his previous life. The goblin was genuinely honest. What harm could it do if he was human or not? As long as their interests coincide, everything would be fine.
He gave some medicine to the goblin and laid him on the bed. Once asleep, he scoured him, afraid of any hidden weapons.