The world around Edwin seemed to slow as the heavy, metallic feeling of exhaustion weighed him down. The system's message echoed in his mind like a grim reminder of his situation, but the question gnawed at him far deeper than any physical pain.
[Will you give up on this quest?]
Every movement, every thought, every breath was heavy with the weight of that question. It wasn't just the goblin that had him in its grip, but the relentless cycle of pain and death. Why had he kept going through this madness? Why hadn't he given up?
'Is it truly worth it?'
Edwin's bloodied face twisted in grim determination. His body screamed at him to stop, to just give in, but his mind was unwilling to surrender. There was no way to explain it—not even to himself—but the truth remained: he had no choice but to keep fighting. The thought of giving up wasn't even a viable option.
His entire body burned with pain, but he gritted his teeth and locked his gaze onto the massive goblin standing over him. The creature's red, glowing eyes seemed to mock him, daring him to break. But Edwin wasn't going to break. Not now. Not when he had already come so far.
'I have to survive. I WILL survive!'
With a ferocious grunt, Edwin pushed against the ground, his bloodied hands digging into the dirt as he rolled sideways just in time to dodge the goblin's massive sword. The blade crashed into the earth, sending a shockwave through the ground. The force of it sent loose rocks flying and dirt raining down over him. Edwin had only seconds before the goblin would strike again.
Through the haze of pain, Edwin grinned. His eyes sparkled with madness, and he flipped the goblin off, his bloodied lips curving into a defiant smirk. "You want me to die, huh?" he spat, his voice hoarse, "Well, that's not happening today.I am not dying to you any longer!"
The goblin bellowed in fury, clearly enraged by the human's insolence. Its massive arm raised the glowing sword high, the runes etched into the blade flashing ominously. The goblin swung it down toward Edwin, a blow that could cleave a tree in half. Edwin, barely able to move, knew he needed to think fast.
The goblin was predictable, and Edwin's body, though broken, was used to fighting in desperation. He couldn't fight like he usually did—not when his body was in so much pain—but he could still outsmart it. His hand scrabbled at the ground, his fingers brushing the dirt for something—anything—he could use.
As the goblin brought down its sword, Edwin darted toward the side, his muscles screaming as he forced himself into motion. The blade cleaved through the air with deadly precision, but Edwin was already out of the way. He reached for his sword, which had fallen just beyond him, his fingers grasping the hilt.
But the goblin was relentless. It swung again, its rune sword moving like a blur. Edwin barely blocked the strike in time, his sword trembling under the force of the blow. The goblin grinned, a twisted, malicious smile on its tusked face.It spoke in It's own language but Edwin could understand it was a taunt.
Edwin's grip on his sword tightened, his blood mixing with the dirt on the ground. "You talk too much, ugly," he said, pushing against the goblin's strength, feeling his muscles strain.
The goblin growled, but Edwin could see its frustration. It was fast, but not fast enough. It was strong, but it was also slow to adapt, caught up in its own anger. Edwin could use that.
He sidestepped another brutal slash, the force of it sending a shockwave through the air. As the goblin's sword embedded itself in a nearby tree, Edwin saw his chance. With a roar, he pushed forward, his sword raised high, and slashed at the goblin's exposed side.
The blade connected with a sickening crunch,swinging its massive sword again, but Edwin had already pulled back, dancing out of the way just in time.
The goblin's eyes narrowed, its frustration growing with every failed strike. "ARGHHH!".It screamed in annoyance.
"You maybe be stronger," Edwin panted, his voice thick with exhaustion, "but I'm smarter." He grinned, wiping the blood from his lips. "And that's all I need.You green,ugly piece of shit!"
The goblin lunged again, but this time Edwin was ready. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the goblin's strike, and with a burst of speed, he slammed his shoulder into the creature's chest. The goblin stumbled back, its feet slipping on the loose earth.
Edwin didn't hesitate. He was already on the move, pushing himself to the limit. He grabbed a handful of Holcrane berries from his pack and crushed them in his hand, feeling the juice seep through his fingers. The smell was pungent, like a mix of burning rubber and rotting fruit. It burned his skin, but he didn't care.
He darted toward the goblin, using its momentary disorientation to get close. Without warning, he slapped the crushed berries onto the creature's wounded eye. The goblin screamed in pain as the berries' poison began to take hold, burning through its flesh. The creature howled, thrashing wildly as the skin around the wound bubbled and steamed, a terrible, red glow emanating from the injury.
"Feel that?" Edwin sneered, watching the goblin thrash around in pain. "That's the taste of what you deserve."
The goblin swung its sword wildly, but its movements were slower now, clumsy, filled with rage and confusion. Edwin used this to his advantage. He ducked under one of the wild swings and drove his sword deep into the creature's neck. The blade sliced through the goblin's flesh with a sickening squelch, but it wasn't enough. The goblin's hand reached out and grabbed him by the throat, its grip tight and unrelenting.
The goblin's bloodshot eye glowed with fury, and it squeezed harder, lifting Edwin off the ground. "AHRGGHHH!!".The goblin screamed.
Edwin gasped for air, feeling his throat constrict. His vision blurred as his oxygen supply dwindled, but he fought against the blackness creeping in. Not yet. I'm not done yet.
The system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Will you give up?]
"No." Edwin spat, his voice hoarse but defiant. "So fuck off!"
With all the strength he had left, he grabbed the goblin's wrist, forcing its hand to loosen. He twisted his body, using his legs to kick upward, sending the goblin's arm flying backward. The grip on his throat weakened just enough for him to gasp for air. He didn't waste the opportunity. He lunged, pulling his sword from its sheath and stabbing into the goblin's chest with all his might.
The goblin let out one final screech of pain, its eyes wide in disbelief as Edwin twisted the blade inside it, cutting through the monster's heart. Its grip loosened completely as the life drained out of it. The goblin collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from the wound, its body twitching once before going still.
Edwin staggered back, gasping for air, his body shaking from exhaustion. He looked down at the fallen goblin, then at the bloodstained sword in his hand. For a moment, he simply stood there, his chest heaving, his mind numb with disbelief. He had done it. He had survived.
With a weak smile, Edwin wiped the blood from his lips.
The world around him felt oddly still, as if the battle had stolen all the noise from the forest. Edwin stood alone, his sword raised slightly in the air. His heart was still racing, his body still screaming in agony, but he had made it through.
End of Chapter-9