We finally let our guard down, the relief of victory washing over us like a cool breeze. But just as we began to relax, a blinding light erupted from the Goblin Chief's fallen corpse. I squinted, struggling to make out the source until I saw it—a small, pulsating red core embedded deep within the ruins behind the Chief. The core thrummed with dark energy, and before our eyes, it began to channel its power into the Goblin Chief, reviving him and boosting his level to an astounding 40.
"Everyone, Get Back!" I screamed, instinctively shoving my friends behind me while others sprinted away. Just as we scrambled to safety, the Goblin Chief unleashed a scorching beam of fire magic. I planted my feet and raised my shield, bracing against the full force of the attack. My shield absorbed the blast, but the sheer heat seared through the metal, and I could feel my arms burning under the strain.
"Guys, I can't hold it!" I shouted, gritting my teeth as I dug my heels into the ground. Aki and Rick rushed to my side, grabbing my back and shoulders to keep me from being pushed away.
"You can do it! Hold on!" Aki yelled, his voice full of determination. Rick nodded, his grip firm as he helped me stand my ground.
After what felt like an eternity, the fire beam finally ceased. My shield was glowing red-hot, and my arms were covered in painful burn marks. I gasped, my strength waning. "Guys... I can't..." The world around me faded to black as I collapsed, unconscious.
Aki and Rick sprang into action, charging at the Goblin Chief with everything they had. Meanwhile, Zouno turned to the girls, desperation in his voice. "One of you must be a healer! You all chose the path of magic, right?"
The girls exchanged hesitant glances before one of them, a shy girl named Amaii, stepped forward. "I-I'm a healer," she stammered, her voice trembling as she knelt beside me. She placed her hands over my burns, her magic slow but steady as she began the healing process.
While Amaii worked, Aki and Rick fought valiantly against the revived Goblin Chief. Rick darted in and out, landing blows with his newfound speed, while Aki parried the Chief's relentless attacks, struggling without the protective cover of my shield. They were holding their own, but the Chief's power was overwhelming.
"Girls, don't use offensive magic! They're fighting in close combat—focus on buffing them!" Zouno instructed. The girls nodded and began chanting, casting haste and strength buffs that enveloped Aki and Rick in shimmering auras. Zouno joined the fray, his blade flashing as he moved to support his friends.
Gradually, Amaii's healing magic brought me back from the brink. I opened my eyes, my vision blurry but clear enough to see the battle unfolding. "I'm sorry, I'm still new to healing," Amaii said, her expression tinged with guilt as she continued to mend my wounds.
"You're doing great," I muttered, trying to reassure her. But just as I was about to stand, the Goblin Chief delivered a devastating blow, sending Rick flying through the air. He crashed into the ground with a sickening thud.
"Rick!" Aki and Zouno screamed in unison, their faces stricken with fear as the Chief turned its attention to Rick's motionless form. It ignored their frantic attempts to stop it, charging straight toward Rick with murderous intent.
"NO... RICK!" I shouted, forcing myself to my feet despite the searing pain in my arms. My shield, still steaming from the earlier attack, was my only hope. With all my remaining strength, I activated Shield Rush and hurled myself in front of Rick just as the Goblin Chief's fist came crashing down.
"I've got your back, Rick!" I roared, blocking the powerful blow. The impact rattled my bones, and I could taste blood in my mouth, but I refused to budge. The Chief roared in frustration, following up with another brutal strike. I braced myself, activating another skill to strengthen my defense. My shield trembled, and the ground beneath me cracked under the force, but I held on, driven by sheer willpower.
"Girls, use offensive magic! Now!" I shouted, my voice strained. The girls hesitated, fear in their eyes, but seeing no other choice, they began casting their most powerful spells. I threw my shield up, protecting Rick and myself from the barrage of magic. My hands were shaking, the weight of the attacks pushing me to my limits.
As the final spell hit, I collapsed once again, still gripping my shield. The Goblin Chief fell, its body scorched and smoking, but it wasn't finished. With one last surge of energy, it rose to its feet, determined to crush us with its dying breath.
Aki and Zouno arrived just in time, their weapons gleaming. With synchronized precision, they struck at the Chief's neck, their blades slicing through its vulnerable spot. The Chief's head toppled to the ground, and its body slumped, lifeless at last.
"We did it!" one of the girls shouted, her voice filled with relief. But Rick, still struggling to stand, pointed toward the red core that had revived the Chief in the first place. "No... it's not over yet. We have to destroy that core!"
Aki and Zouno staggered, barely able to move after the grueling battle. "We're too exhausted... it's up to you girls now," they said, collapsing to the ground.
The girls steeled themselves, stepping forward as the red core pulsed ominously. Sara, one of the more confident girls, clenched her fists, lightning crackling around her fingers. "I'll handle this," she declared, her eyes locked on the core. With a fierce yell, she unleashed a powerful thunderbolt, hurling it at the core. The others joined in, firing spell after spell until, finally, the core shattered into pieces.
The moment the core broke, a rush of energy washed over us. The system's windows appeared before our eyes, and a flood of experience points surged into our bodies. Everyone leveled up to 35, while Aki, Zouno, Rick, and I reached level 40, the system distributing the experience evenly.
"It's strange... the experience distribution feels... controlled," someone noted, puzzled by the seemingly deliberate leveling.
"Yeah, it's like the system wants to keep us at the same level," another replied, shaking their head.
"Well, we can figure it out later. Let's focus on getting everyone healed," one of the boys suggested, his eyes scanning the battlefield for loot. The system rewarded us with 500 coins each for our feat. Without hesitation, a boy collected coins from the group and purchased four high-grade healing potions. We were administered the potions, and as the warm, healing energy coursed through us, the pain and exhaustion melted away.
We gathered around the fallen Goblin Chief's remains, finding a large treasure chest alongside the core fragments. "Let's wait until everyone's awake to open it," someone suggested, and everyone agreed.
The girls busied themselves, collecting magic crystals from the monsters' hearts, which the system identified as a valuable currency that could be exchanged for points. Meanwhile, the boys set up tents and a campfire, laying Aki, Zouno, Rick, and me inside to rest.
The battle had taken its toll, but we were alive, and we were together. Whatever awaited us in this world, we knew we could face it as long as we had each other.