What a fake rage... Dignity of a fellow human? I couldn't care less, truth to be told and I would probably abandon a live one to save my own skin if in such a situation. I'm way to weak in front of these monsters to play hero. There was this novel I once read that said 'Justice without power, is meaningless!' and now I understand why. But because I needed to use that spear drenched in blood and viscera of a human being, I felt the need to justify my reasoning and find something like retribution for the dead guy, only to fool myself with.
I didn't know I am this weak mentally...
A sudden movement and a thud brought me back to reality. The first to react was the Guard Goblin. He started groaning all of a sudden and collapsed on the ground, with froth around his ugly mug.
Seeing this, the soldier tried to get up and go to him but found himself in the same situation and shortly after, started writhing in pain as well. I watched carefully as their HP was slowly draining away, not rushing and hoping that it saps every ounce of strength they could muster.
I watched them roll through the grass and the makeshift beds because of the pain the poison brought them, for about an half an hour and then looked at the spear which still had the head stabbed in as a declaration, standing only about five, maybe six meters away from the tree. I started descending slowly, making sure that each place I put my foot on is stable and that I won't screw something up now, most of the noises drowned by the crying Goblins. After patiently waiting more than six hours, another couple of minutes were no problem to me.
So I managed to climb down behind the tree and while tiptoeing I headed towards the wooden spear. Upon reaching it, I found myself starring at the disturbingly bloodied head with sad eyes. However, I decided since the beginning that I won't freeze here for my own sake and for the sake of the revenge I wanted to achieve for the killed man, even if it wasn't as real as I wanted it to be.
Therefore I reached my hands towards the hair and pulled carefully, until it came off with a disgustingly splashing sound. I placed the head on the ground silently and gripped tightly the spear, while heading back behind the tree.
Like planned inside my head in the hundreds of scenarios I went through, I needed to take care of them one at a time, first one being the Guard Goblin which was further away from the camp fire and closer to the tree, chased away there by the soldier. It seems like their hierarchy based on power will work in my favor this time around.
I silently strengthened the grip on both of my hands since the spear was still covered in blood and I didn't want to have it slip of, while approaching the guard that was now kneeling and clawing at his neck, with his back facing me while trying to reach for the water leather bag.
"No hesitation! This is for my own survival!"
Deciding on something and actually doing it, are two different things and while now put face to face to taking a life, even if a shitty one like this Goblin's, I found it difficult to follow through with it. But not impossible!
"HAAAAA!"
Critical damage inflicted! HP -178!
Due to the piercing effect of the blow, your target is inflicted with Bleeding status! -25HP/sec!
Due to the heavily sustained damage, your target is stunned for 3 seconds!
I loud and unplanned yell bellowed from my throat while I stabbed the spear through the back of the Guard Goblin and not only reaching his heart, but also piercing out of his chest and nailing him to the ground. Surprised, he tried to turn his head and with his small arms trying to grasp a hold of me or the weapon, but its flailing limbs barely twitched, probably due to the stunned status as I retreated outside its range, momentarily letting go of the spear. He remained voiceless on the ground after a couple of seconds, dying probably due to blood loss, while the other was watching with eyes containing unmeasurable hatred.
I grab hold of the spear again and with my right foot I press against the dead Goblin's back, pulling out the weapon.
"Don't worry, you are next!"
The adrenaline kicked in and surprising enough, I mustered some courage. Even the hesitation from before vanished, leaving behind nothing but a silent anger and bloodlust against this ugly creature, but in a eerily calm manner. Probably it was because I didn't pray for it to the heavens, instead I decided to enact it! Killing, taking a life...was it THIS empowering!?
HP
245/530 (-1.2/sec) (Poisoned)
With confident steps I walked towards the Soldier Goblin, rotating the spear in my right hand. Upon checking his status window, he had about half of his remaining HP and was trying to get up, reaching for the sword on his waist.
"Like I'd let you do that!"
I dashed towards him with a big step forward trying to skewer him, when I saw him reach the hilt of the short sword. My aim was his head, to be more exact his right eye, since not even with this game system could a live being survive while receiving such critical damage. I have just confirmed it with the Guard Goblin after piercing its heart.
However, right before my spear reached him, his hilt glowed for a second and in an instant the sword, still covered by the scabbard, hit shaft of the spear and deflected it upwards.
Then with a similar glow, his right arm pulled the blade out and during the same instance brandished it towards me. Realizing that only my right hand was still on the bloodied spear, I reasoned that I need to parry somehow and forcefully brought back the ascending spear, feeling an intense pain in my right hand as I did so, all in order to meet the blade or hit it, while myself took a step back slightly regaining my balance.
Your right hand muscles suffer from overexertion and tear! -50HP!
With the teared muscles in my right hand as explanation, I look stupefied at the result of the collision of the two weapons: the spear was cut in half and the blade continued on its path, barely missing me and hitting the ground at my feet, at the same spot where I was a milisecond ago. I stomped his right hand and then kicked his head out of instinct as hard as I could and the soldier groaned loudly and flew backwards while dropping the short sword. I quickly drew towards me using my feet once more while not taking my eyes of the green piece of shit. I picked it up with my left hand and checked the status window again of this nemesis of mine again.
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Blunt trauma inflicted! -32HP!
Target has been stunned for 2 seconds!
HP 78/530(-25/sec)(Poisoned)(Muscle tear)(Internal bleeding)(Contusion) MP 25/50(0/sec)(Contusion)
"Serves you right you bastard! You tried to look cool and hit me four times in a second!? How do you like them apples now!? Fucking piece of green shit! Did my shoe taste good? I can give you a second serving right away! AHHAHAHA!"
While taunting the monster, I quickly analized the status page and saw four different afflictions. I was responsible for the poison and the contusion, but the other two were 100% self-inflicted due to overexertion, like it happened to me earlier.
Also, not only his HP, but his MP dropped as well. Meaning that the previous actions were probably the skills. He used his Consecutive slashes to first knock the spear away, then pull the blade out of the scabbard and attack me from above with it in the same second, while applying the Power Strike to deflect my initial attack. That explains the strong impact I felt at the moment he reached my spear, almost like a freaking truck charged into me.
"However, you are done green-piss! You are almost dead and you have no weapon! I can end you fast, or let you die to the poison and the other afflictions...'tis all the same to me."
I then realized that I just made a classic third-rate villain mistake and instead of killing the little shit I fucking taunted it unnecessarily. I really need to shut up from time to time and stop tripping over flags. His green skin became slightly red in the dim light provided by the camp fire as he stood up. The previous poison which was impeding his movement was still there but...it didn't stop his body from moving freely anymore.
I have the sword, but if I am right and that is his third skill Rage, he won't take any damage from physical attacks. But he can still die from the poison or other affliction attacks. I took a step back again and then I realized that I had behind me all I needed to end this farce...however, one wrong move and his hands will wring my neck like a chicken's and drag me down with him, or cut me down with the sword he'll take alongside with my entire left arm while beating me with it... I gulped loudly and prepared myself, while pushing stupid thoughts aside.
It's a gamble then! I'll show you that luck is more than a number you green bastard!
"Come on you green shit! What are you doing sleeping there?"
[GYAAAAAAAA!]
He roared and started running at me, charging like a bull in the corrida.
Not yet, be patient! Slowly and carefully. No need to rush. Come on you bastard, run faster! NOW!
"Catch, ugly mug!"
I threw the sword towards him rather clumsy, but not with the intent of cutting or impaling, but rather to distract him. For a second his eyes followed the weapon upwards, while I kicked his right leg with my left foot like in football, tripping him.
The result? He fell on top of the campfire with the sword near him and the rag around his waist was lighted like a Christmas tree. When he saw that, he started rolling around the grass in the attempt to put out the fire. By the time he managed to do so, I was already climbing back the tree.
I realized when his skin became red that he activated that invulnerability cheat and that the couple of meters that were between us wouldn't allow me to outrun him. Therefore I made a bet and threw the weapon at him, hoping that he could catch fire and die. However that invulnerability was no joke, as he didn't even take damage from anything. His HP remained fixed at 53, while his eyes were searching hungrily for where I hid in hope of retaliation.
Out of breath, yet quiet as a cat, I watched him from the tree as he was searching about. I also realized that the Strength status was rather absurd, as my left leg was bruised badly from the previous collision with the monster's. But I kept quiet! I did so for the next five minutes, until I saw his HP drop to 28. He was near the roots, close to where I was hiding. The distance between me and this green creature? Two meters at best.
Jump down on him? No way I'd do such a stupid thing, so I silently descended the tree again and blindly searched for the broken wooden spear that should be on the ground nearby. Unluckily, I found the broken staff half of it and approached again the tree from behind, as the creature was planning to climb it from the looks of it.
Kneeling because of the pain and with no more mana to use, he nervously looked around while still holding the sword in his right hand.
"However, I have no intention of being killed by you, green filth."
Critical damage inflicted! -122HP!
Your target died!
I raised the right hand that held the remaining of the spear and stabbed it in the back of his neck, piercing out through the left side with the splinters and then taking a couple of steps back as a precaution.
Contrary to my expectations, he hit the ground face first and silence took ensued. Every so often, the burning wood of the disturbed campfire threw embers into the air, which to me seemed to be fireworks celebrating victory.
But is night and is dangerous to stay for too long here. So I took the sword of the soldier and the pouch of the guard as I walked towards the clothes of the human. Using the sword I cut them into strips sloppily and climbed the tree. By binding the strips together I created a rope that I used to tie myself and the branches around me together, something I saw in a movie once. Surprising enough, it could barely sustain my weight. I then secured the sword and the pouch in a similar fashion and upon relaxing ever so slightly, I found my consciousness drifting .
Upon taking another look at the ground under me, it seemed like the two Goblins were sleeping in front of a campfire. It looked like a session of peaceful camping under the summer night sky.
"Right...it's supposed to be Spring here..."
So, I followed suite.
Due to a Special Action, Job (Human) is replaced by the Job (Scout)!
Level up!
Level up!
...
Level up!
Congratulations! You have advanced to level 7!