1st January 2017
I woke up with the spinning fan greeted my sight. My head was a bit confused, but I force myself to lean upwards. Groaning a bit in pain, as I prop my upper body up, my left forearm stings a bit. My upper body quickly falls to the left side as the left forearm wasn’t able to support me.
“son!” a familiar feminine voice. I glance to the sides and saw my mother with tears dripping on her cheeks. Beside her was my brother who look quite downfall. “bro, you okay?” he had a gloomy look on his face. dad on the other hand was sitting at the corner of the room with his face downcast,
I don’t know what happen to him. but at least all of them are fine and uninjured. Looking outside out of the window, the sun was already out and it was as bright as the day. “how long I have been asleep?” I ask out in random.
“Don’t know, probably 3 or 4 hours I guess” said Black while he glances at his smartphone screen. For him who fainted, 3 to 4 hours can be considered good enough. But as he inspect his body. The injury that was inflicted on him was still there but less prominent. It wasn’t bright red as before and the pain was substantially lessened. The bite mark has healed a bit with scabs already forming. It was a miracle for such deep bite wound to form a scab, usually one would still bleeding with flesh exposed. I know since I do learn a thing or two about puncture wound injury a topic I learn back in college.
Still, I focus myself on to the biggest problem. My left forearm. I raise it up a bit and try to clench my fingers into a fist. Thankfully, it can still move albeit there’s pain along with it but it was still a sign that my nerve was still intact and my bone recovering. Touching my forearm I felt the pain was dispersed in all direction, I need an x-ray scan to see whether it’s broken in pieces or just a fracture. Still, although painful seeing it able to move was gratifying enough.
“son please don’t confront them, you will die!” a trace of fear in her voice but I need to reason with her. “mom, if not for me, all of us would be dead by now. So don’t worry, I try not to die” I try to reassure her but at the same time I made her even more worried. “son, please don’t!” I don’t really have a way with words. My intent is usually misunderstood by my wrong usage of words. but what can I say I’m a true blooded introvert.
I was half naked while only wearing my short briefs. Most blood stains were already clean off thanks to my mother I guess. I walk out of the bed, trying to stand. I barely had the energy to stand but it was enough for now. I walk towards the bathroom which was connected to this room after a burdensome effort of walking. My legs were also badly injured as I limp a bit while walking dragging these two heavy feet of mine.
“son don’t move you are still hurt. Please just rest” she was too worried about me. I politely turn down her sweet gesture as I made my way to the bathroom. “its fine mom, its fine.” Taking a step in the bathroom, the mirror in front of me was already reflecting what I was looking for.
‘Level three, huh~ I thought I level up a bit more since I took down a lot of those pesky goblins’ I look closely to the numbers display and not one change compare to previous one. This point usage is basically too weak. One point is not going to make a difference. Still with one point to use, I didn’t hesitate as I touch the plus sign correspond to strength.
The number increased to four. I wash my face with the cold water. The cool sensation envelops me in peace. Since the fight from last night was akin to burning my whole body in fire. Being calm was my usual self and I would like to stick to it.
Stepping back into the room, I saw my dad already stand to my mother side with his hand clenching my mother’s finger tightly. He was looking at me rather determine as if he had make up his mind on something. I can’t help but to ask; “what is it? is there something wrong”
“I will help! So you don’t need to go out there anymore” his voice carries determination along with that hint of anger in it. To me his voice can’t really run away from that anger like tone, not that I mind. “nah, it’s okay. I will be fine.” I casually spoke while I prepare to go out intending to find some clothes to wear. My bedroom was at the opposite so it would be a brief trip.
“no son! You can’t! I’m the father of this household and my words goes without question!” he’s spouting that authority kind of thing again. I know he’s my father and all, sure I would gladly comply with it if the world was still the same like in 2016 but this year maybe not. The world has abruptly changed and having a fix salary isn’t going to save lives in this brand new age which I assume it will be.
“sorry dad, but I will tell you the truth, you won’t last even a second out there. Trust me” I non-chalantly tell him the reason. “on what basis are you telling me that?” he won’t give up, stubborn old man. “I’ve been through it and I nearly die. Enough reason.” I didn’t want to talk any longer since my jaw was quite aching a bit. Jeez, the injuries on my body were no joke since even talking was a bit difficult.
As I drag my body to the door, I slowly turn the knob not wanting to induce any sound. Carefulness is the key in anything!
I open the door and slowly slide out as I close the door back. I accidently glance to the staircase and saw the horrifying scene of dead corpses. The smell was also getting worse, nauseating to the core. A gut wrenching scene. out of the corner of my eyes, I saw something.
‘what do we have here’ I made my way downstairs and walk among the dead goblin corpses. I squat down and fiddle with one of the corpses. To my surprise, a small vial laid there among the gores of the goblins. I pick it up with utmost disgust as I shake it in the air a few times intending to shake off those smelly mushes.
‘red liquid? it can’t be can it’ I was intrigue. One of the important factors in role playing game, loot! Every creature that dies under the hand of a player, a loot will drop off from the dead corpse of the creature. Like a reward after accomplishing a task. But this? in real life. What kind of logic it dictates.
Or am I just running the guns here, this vial can be something already kept by this goblin all along and the suddenly appeared loot after vanquishing an enemy may not be possible. Thus to disagree that hypothesis of mine, I scour through the disgusting corpses intending to find any loot that I can gather.
Unfortunately, this small vial was the only thing I gain among the corpses. ‘cheh! I guess the impossible is still impossible.’ The so called loot appearing out of nowhere didn’t exist like I thought it was. Still I need to experiment further. A bit of hope couldn’t hurt would it.
I went upstairs once again and wore fresh new clothes. Even with an injured body, I pressed on and went downstairs, I pick up the hammer that I drop before and carefully made my way to the kitchen. Thankfully no goblin came around here. With the kitchen leaving a door hole there. I can’t help feel a bit worried. It would be troublesome if those creatures step in here once again. Nevertheless, I went upstairs and seek the help of my brother.
“Black you need to come with me” my tone was flat showing neither interest nor fear. “What! Didn’t you say it was dangerous?!” Black was flustered a bit since he knows what I’ve been through evident by the injuries. “don’t worry, I just need your help carrying those corpse back at the kitchen.”
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“ey? Why? It’s disgusting” he spoke those words with a disgusted face. “yeah, I know and that’s why I’m moving them, come on we need to hurry who knows when those goblins would jump out again.” My brother couldn’t deny my order any longer as he helps me carried the corpses to the kitchen piling them up. While the mush and gore both of us clean it up with utmost difficulty since every time we move it one of us would puke our stomach out.
Afterwards, I instruct Black to block the first floor staircase with the closets and beds piling up one another completely blocking the sole entrance of the staircase. But before we block it, I take the pleasure of taking out foods in the kitchen and store it upstairs. I even brought up a portable stove in case my mom decides to cook or something. I intended to bring the whole refrigerator up but since the sense of danger is still in play I would be defenseless while carrying that thing. Dry food would be enough for now.
“son, I want to help. I can’t let both my sons do all the hard work” it was dad, he was determine in helping us and the tone of his voice was a lot more tone down as compare to before. Still I decide it would be best if he had just stay put. I know he’s working type of man, but I don’t want to expose him to needless danger.
“Sorry dad, both us are good enough besides we are just blocking the staircase. It would end in a jiffy.” My dad didn’t push me further as he just complies. It sadden me to see him with that gloomy face but what matter was staying alive than just protecting useless sense of pride.
After completely blocking the staircase, the second floor can be considered safe. My parents are allow to roam around the second floor but there was nothing much to do. The sliding door leading up to the balcony was expose since most of the things blocking the staircase came from the barricade of the balcony.
But consider the probability of them attacking from above was minimally small thus I chose the staircase rather than the balcony entrance. “son, this food is not enough for the four of us at least it can feed us for two to three days. What are we going to do?” all of this time my mother words carried a sense of worried and anxiousness. I have never seen her like this except when both my grandparents die. Still I need reassure my mother.
“mom, don’t worry. I will figure out a way. Black did you call the police?” I ask Black.
“I did, but it didn’t reach them. More like no one picking up” his words were troubling to my ears. Since if a police force who had guns and other defensive weapon couldn’t uphold their station, hoping for them to help us would be like short candle waiting to dies out.
Still if I can get my hands on some firearm, it would be a lot easier confronting those goblins. This is the only the day that I resent my country for not allowing citizen to purchase firearms. If the United States faces this kind of situation, they can handle it with a breeze.
Even then, I need to think off a plan. With my current body in pain like this I don’t think I can fight my way through. More so last night, the amount goblins that I saw were more or less hundred in counting. If fighting eight in one go was such a life and death circumstances then fighting a horde would be suicidal. With nothing else to do, I stare out from the window. The outside was calm and collected, unperturbed and the scary thing was no one was outside not a single soul.
Even goblins were not on sight. ‘Could they only move during the night? Nocturnal maybe?’ I take a guess of how they behave. Without any source of information, I turn on my laptop hoping that the internet connection still works.
‘yureka!’ fortunately, the internet still exist. Thank god, if not all of us are going back to the stone age. As I scroll down the search directory. The whole World Wide Web explodes into flurry of chaos and panic. It has spread to Chine, Europe, Southern America and even U.S.A.. Other than the news relaying about this event, there was no one posting about the catastrophic event. So there was not much of information that I can get from the web for now.
I was hoping for someone to post about the status character. But I was too hopeful about it. nevermind for now, I need all the rest that I can get since this body is still aching. As I close my eyes laying down on the comforter, I silently went to sleep. But I heard the slow whisper of those around me.
“Red is sleeping?”
“yeah, bro is sleeping. He must be too tired.”
“then let him rest then, it must have hurt real bad. Shouldn’t we bring him to the hospital?”
“mom, I don’t think the ambulance is available right now. Since even….”
A heartfelt notion from my mother making me easily fall asleep.
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I woke up with eyes still heavy. But I still open it and peek through the window. The night blanket the sky whiles the street lamp lighting the road with little vision. The playground was dark with nothing on sight. But I saw those goblins running past under the street light.
Like I thought, those goblins must be nocturnal. Wait what, I can move my finger rather easily. Albeit there’s still pain compare to this morning the barely moving fingers can move rather efficiently. Is this because of my status window or is it because of something else. I don’t know what to think off since there are so much possibilities.
As I was thinking about the countless possibilities. Noise starts coming out from the staircase. My mind went on full on alert, as I grab the hammer and ran to the staircase. My parents and Black were already in front of the staircase, with a worried expression plaster on their face.
“bro, what should we do they know already we are here”
“Don’t worry, those things can’t go through it.”
“How can you be so sure about it?”
I didn’t bother to respond as I went to the balcony. While grabbing one of my father abandoned golf club iron. “Lock the doors, Black”
“What?” I didn’t bother to respond as I went out and stand at the balcony with my the golf club on my hand. I close down the sliding door as I scream my lungs out.
“Come out!” I was on the brink of madness since this action of mine was utterly reckless and stupid. But I can’t help myself since there’s a possibility of me having a greater regeneration rate. The thought of it tremble my whole being. I know it for myself since a broken forearm couldn’t be heal overnight, okay technically my forearm still hurts while moving it but the duration it took to reach this state was astonishing. An upper limb fracture usually takes at least 3 weeks and not only a day.
Without a doubt, I sense my confidence beginning to swell. With the accompaniment of the balcony dim white lamp, I hold my ground and waited for the incoming noise. Yes, those mangy goblins start flocking in front of my house, even the noisy sound from the staircase starts to migrate towards the front of the house.
A horde, yes a freaking horde. In front of my house, these goblins were gathering with their numbers no less than fifty or so. Even then I can sense, the number was rapidly increasing. My body starts to shake, having an inflated confidence was one thing but going up against these numbers with me alone was way going over the limits.
Still I waited, the goblins from below starts climbing up wall between the houses from the sides taking the initiative. With their short stout body, they really weren’t adaptable in climbing since I can see their struggle. I can see a two of them manage to climb upon the ridge of the balcony with their disgusting smile plaster on their face. as they were hanging by the edge of the balcony with only their arms and head visible, I rush forward intending to end it.
I swing from above and crash down the iron head of the golf club straight to its head. once was not enough but twice make up the slack of the force behind it. the goblin drop to the ground while I hear its agonizing cry. It wasn’t dead but I sure know, they at least have some injury with a few hits in the head and falling from three meter in height. I once fallen from the balcony and it hurts as hell thankfully there’s my car blocking me to fall straight to the ground if not I would have hurt badly.
As I slide off the past, I concentrate on the future. I move to the other side and repeat what I did to the first goblin. Tonight will be a repetitive night and I wouldn’t mind since if I shave off some of their numbers here, I can guarantee that some who are still alive around here can make it out and escape from their home.
The night passes on and my repetitive movement was beginning to tire me out. Still it was a lot easier and less stress compare to yesterday life and death duel. But then I made a mistake.
As I was concentrating to one side of the balcony, the other side managed to climb up as they jump on the balcony revealing that devilish smile. ‘shit!’ I kick down the goblins head and send it back to the ground while it fortunately fall at the protruding metal spike part of the divider of the house. At least there one less goblin that I need worry about.
I rush back to the balcony and confront that lone goblin, before others can succeed in climbing up. The goblin swing wide as I duck down easily dodging the incoming attack. I push it off using the shaft of the golf club and did an impromptu inner leg sweep. A move I imitate from a variety show I watch luckily I manage to send it down to the balcony’s floor and as I quickly maneuver mounting on top of it. I use the shaft of the golf club pressing down on its neck as I put both my knee on to it as my free hand take the courtesy of grabbing the beloved steel hammer of mine.
I brought it out in case something like this happen, with the goblin below me struggling to escape from my mount and also breathing as I slowly try to crush its neck. I was not polite as I hammer down on to that helpless head an easy target until after a while a crack sound was heard and the goblin turns lifeless.
To my dismay, the time I put into this single goblin allow another one to pop out at the balcony as it incomprehensible shriek alerted me as it rush forward. ‘damn it!’ I curse out as I defend using the golf club shaft but sadly the force behind its swing manage to break it in half leaving me defenseless if I don’t do anything else.
I follow my instinct as I rush forward to the goblin taking this small chance of it being open. I punch straight to its neck, leaving it coughing a bit as I further took the chance and grapple it from behind. Both my legs lock its lower limb and both my arm restraint its neck with a choke hold. Although with my amateurish skill, I manage to execute it with a bit of difficulty.
The goblin couldn’t stand any longer as it plop to the ground and I tightening the grip of the choke hold. The goblin try to swing its club vigorously hitting my arm in the process, my head takes cover behind that smelly goblin’s head but I withstand the pain and try to twist its neck. After a few struggling attempt, a nice tune of bone snapping was heard and another lifeless corpse.
I don’t know how I manage to pull that stunt off but knowing my life would be in danger put me on the edge and maybe contributing to my success. The strength addition poses a bit of help since I felt more stronger while confronting these goblins, it wasn’t as weak as last night.
My breath was ragged showing my stamina depleting but the goblins keep on persisting trying to climb this balcony of mine. I quickly take measure stopping the goblins from both sides from having a foothold on the balcony as even facing a lone goblin was already tiresome. Just like this my night passes on.
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