Watching the hobgoblin clutch its neck and scream in agony sent a rush of satisfaction through June. She balanced on her left ankle, her right one still aching from the fall. A smile crept across her face as the creature bled out slowly, its life slipping away.
But in that moment of triumph, she made a rookie mistake—she dropped her guard. As she turned to retrieve the knife that had come loose when she fell, the hobgoblin found a last burst of strength. With a roar of rage, it stood and swung a massive fist right at her.
Dave and the other skeletons sprang into action, diving in a "get down, Mr. President" move, but they were a second too late. One of the unnamed skeletons lost an arm to the blast, and June was sent flying into a nearby column, the impact knocking the wind out of her.
"JUNE!!" Tanya screamed, her heart racing as she rushed forward, panic surging. The sight of June crumpled against the column sent a chill down her spine. There must be cracked ribs at least—what if her head is messed up?! Oh god, what if she's seriously hurt?!
When Tanya reached June, her heart sank. Blood poured from various wounds, and June's body hung limp, her eyes fluttering shut. The worst part? Blood oozed from the back of her head. Panic gripped Tanya. She grabbed June's arm and felt for a pulse. Relief washed over her when she found a faint one—there was still hope.
Quickly, she pulled a cloth from the supplies they had gathered earlier and wrapped it around June's head, securing it with a makeshift headband.
"Dave! Get over here!" she shouted, rallying the skeletons. "We need to gather materials for a stretcher!"
As Dave led the skeletons in their task, Tanya focused on June, trying to position her for a quick transfer. Lifting June's shirt revealed some dark skin but not much bruising. As she pressed gently on June's ribs, dread filled her. At least five were broken on the right side and about three on the left. Please, don't let anything vital be damaged.
Then, out of nowhere, a chime echoed in her mind, and a blue hologram popped up in front of her. Cautiously, she waved her hand through it, realizing it was solid but not sure what to do next. She leaned in to read the message:
[Congratulations on unlocking a subclass! As you are the first to do so, you will receive a first-timer reward.
Subclass unlocked: Healer
This subclass was unlocked as you showed care and compassion for your injured partner. Subclasses can be unlocked by similar acts of devotion or through repeated actions. Limited to one per person.]
Bing! [You have received a First Achiever package. Would you like to open it now?]
Tanya hesitated, her mind racing. Could this really be trusted? But the thought of June in pain pushed her forward. 'It said I'm a healer—what's the worst that can happen?'
"Yes, open the package!"
Bing! [You have received 3 low-tier healing potions, +5 stat points, 1 50 ml Heal All jar, +260 exp points, +10 strength points, +10 mana points.]
Seeing the items gifted, Tanya started having more hope for June's recovery. June had previously explained things to her so she had a bit of knowledge on how to work with the system. "This could actually help June, but we need to get her to safety first. I'll distribute the stat points now."