Chapter 11
NAME: TSARINA
Red Knight - level 7
HP: 1040/1040
MP: 185/185
-SKILLS-
* Pierce - 10 MP
* Empower - 20 MP
NAME: ALURA
White Mage - level 7
HP: 660/660
MP: 530/530
-SKILLS-
* Focus - 0 MP
* Heal - 25 MP
NAME: CHRIS
Monk - level 7
HP: 835/835
MP: 215/215
-SKILLS-
* Bleed - (passive)
* Spirit Mend - 20 MP
NAME: RIN
Black Assassin - level 7
HP: 560/560
MP: 180/180
-SKILLS-
* Stealth - 0 MP
* Shadow Strike - 10 MP
“Rin, you take the lead and scout for any ambushes,” I instructed as we entered the dimly lit cave.
“Got it,” Rin replied, activating her stealth ability and merging with the shadows. Deeper within the cave dwelled an ogre, but we knew that goblins had also made this place their home. The narrow corridors limited Rin's ability to silently eliminate the goblins as we had done in their camps outside. Her role now was to detect any threats and alert us, then leave me to spearhead the assault.
In a single day we had all gone from level 1 to level 7, but we would only be able to take full advantage of that growth after returning to our statues, where we could allot our attribute points and learn new skills. I would have liked to do just that, but Leon insisted we top off the day by finishing the ogre quest.
Chris and Alura followed close behind me. With my armor and Alura's healing magic, I was a walking shield. I felt indestructible. Then, the combined prowess of Chris and Rin ensured that the goblins would meet a swift end. Even though we started off under-leveled for this area, we had effective gear and a strategically built party that made conquering the goblins a simple task.
The ogre, however, was an unknown challenge.
A few paces back, Leon casually tailed us with his spear balanced behind his neck, wedged into place between two relaxed elbows. A confident smile graced his lips. His role was to maintain his distance, but intervene if the situation became dire.
Rin halted at a curve in the cave, her eyes narrowing. She tiptoed back to us and whispered, “Three goblins around the bend.” Her gaze flicked to each of us, a silent signal to prepare.
Chris and Rin flanked me, their movements tense, poised for action. We shared a nod, and I then charged forward. Shield at the ready, I initiated the assault.
The goblins whirled around, panic flashing in their eyes. I swung my sword, connecting with the first goblin. The other two lunged at me―one collided with my shield, while the other's weapon grazed my armored forearm.
Rin and Chris darted into the fray, closing in on a single goblin like a pair of choppers. Their movements were swift, efficient, and deadly―a symphony of destruction that left the goblin unable to counter.
Another turned away from me and attacked Chris, but he danced out of its reach. I slammed my shield into the creature, pinning it against the wall. My sword slashed mercilessly, and though the goblin fought back, its strikes barely dented my armor.
Rin and Chris closed in on the other remaining goblin as it tried to attack me from behind. Their relentless barrage of blows formed an unstoppable storm, and the creature crumpled to the ground within seconds.
The last goblin I cornered between my shield and the cave wall. I activated the pierce skill, feeling the enhanced sureness as I thrust my weapon into its chest, skewering it. I then used my foot to dislodge the now-lifeless body from my blade.
Leon stepped forward, clapping softly as we knelt to loot their corpses.
They usually had jewelry or small coin bags. When we were done, we were 85 copper pieces richer and had 2 necklaces with stone charms on a thin rope band that we could sell for more.
“Let’s keep moving,” I said, “I’d like to get out of this cave before dark.”
“Eh, you got me with you,” Leon said. “You don’t have to worry about being in the woods late.”
“I just don’t want to develop any bad habits,” I said. “Besides, a late night often means a late morning, and I prefer to keep to an early schedule.”
“Fair enough,” Leon said.
We pressed on, encountering a duo of goblins that Rin nearly dispatched by herself. After assassinating the first with deadly precision, Chris and I joined her to make short work of the second.
As we delved deeper into the cave, we stumbled upon a group of five goblins gathered around a chest. This was the first battle in the cave where we actually faced a considerable challenge.
As I ran forward to initiate the attack, the goblins snarled and charged at us, their weapons swinging wildly. Chris and Rin focused on one, each expertly dodging its strikes while landing their own. Alura's staff glowed with healing magic, her eyes locked on the unfolding battle, ready to mend any wounds.
Meanwhile, I engaged three at once, my shield deflecting their relentless blows. Sweat dripped down my forehead as I struggled to maintain my footing. Just when I thought I couldn't hold them off any longer, Rin darted in, her daggers slicing through one goblin's throat, silencing its battle cries.
Chris landed a powerful punch on another goblin's jaw, sending it sprawling. Before it could recover, I slammed my sword into its chest, ending its life as Rin slit the throat of the fourth.
The fifth and final goblin, sensing its impending doom, attempted to flee. However, Leon stepped forward, cutting off its escape route. It hesitated in front of the high-level wielder, giving Rin time to catch up with an agile leap and lay her daggers into its back. She followed its corpse to the ground, then looked up, exchanging a smile with the black lancer as he lifted his spear over his shoulder.
“Thanks,” she said, a golden glow coming over her as she leveled up along with the rest of us.
“Anytime,” Leon winked at her. “No need to waste energy chasing down a straggler, right?”
Only slightly wounded, we gathered what loot we could off of the corpses, then approached the chest, hoping its contents would be worth the battle.
Alura cast her heal spell on all three of us, restoring us to full health, and I tapped my crystal to check her mana.
Name: Alura
White Mage - level 8
HP: 685/685
MP: 455/570
“Alura,” I said. “Wait until we are about half health before healing, in order to save your mana.”
“Okay,” she said. “I just thought it was safer.”
“Of course, but it won’t be if you end up running out and we have to rely on berries. They are effective, but we have to stop attacking while we use them.”
“Alright, got it!” Alura answered.
Rin opened the chest and picked out its contents, holding up a great sword which the warrior class would normally use. “This is too big for you, right Tsarina?”
“Yes, one-handed weapons are better for me,” I held out our deep satchel. “We can still sell it in town.”
“Okay, just don’t forget I get a 1/4th cut,” Rin said as she placed the sword inside the satchel, the large weapon disappearing effortlessly into the much smaller container.
“Of course, that is what we had discussed,” I answered. I still did not agree with the compromise, but I supposed it was better to limit squabbles amongst the party. If she could not accept a shared pool for our loot, then that is just what it would have to be, though I believed it was inefficient.
As we ventured further into the cave, the sound of heavy breathing echoed through the narrow passageways. I exchanged a glance with Rin, who swiftly vanished into the shadows. She tiptoed ahead, her movements silent and graceful.
Reaching the next bend, Rin gestured for us to follow. We crept forward, our hearts pounding in our chests. As I peeked around the corner, I saw the ogre, its immense size dwarfing us all, at least three times the height of an average person, and perhaps five times thicker. Its flesh was marred by scars that hinted at its battle-hardened existence.
The ogre gripped a blood-stained wooden club in its meaty hands, the weapon's lethal potential unmistakable. A tattered loincloth barely concealed the brute’s monstrous form, while an assortment of trinkets dangled from its neck―ill-gotten treasures, no doubt pilfered from terrified villagers.
The cave floor around the ogre was littered with bones, chewed bits of meat still attached to some. The gruesome sight sent a shiver down my spine, and bile rose in my throat as I took in the grisly scene.
I tapped my crystal and cast analyze.
Grommgash
Ogre - level 20
HP: 5,000/5,000
MP: 0/0
Weakness: Ice
--Skills--
Fury - Hammering Blow - Sweep Strike
It had a weakness, but that was useless to us today. I did not yet have any imbune skills that could give our weapons an element. The amount of HP was far higher than anything we’ve faced so far, but the size of its club concerned me the most. How much damage would a single hit from that thing take from us? We were far lower leveled than it. Alura could only heal ruffly 15 times before running out of mana.
“It’s got a lot of health,” Chris said. “It’s going to take a lot to bring it down.”
“Perhaps we should save this for another day...” I said. “At least wait until we’ve updated our skills. Now that we know its weakness, we can prepare.”
“No, that won’t work,” Leon said. “I mean, it will, but Goliath is an hour and a half walk from here. You want to go three hours out of your way? Trust me, you got this. Between your damage buff on Rin and Chris you’ve got great DPS, so it should only take about five minutes to bring him down.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“If I could imbue our weapons with ice, that damage would be significantly higher,” I said. “The standard multiplier for damaging a monster’s weakness is one and a half times. Not to mention Chris and Rin will unlock some stronger skills as well once they visit their statues.”
“All of that is true, but you’re talking about taking a 5-minute engagement down to maybe 3 minutes, so who cares?”
“2 minutes is a long time in battle,” I persisted. “So far we’ve defeated the goblin camps in about thirty seconds. Yet, a lot happens in those thirty seconds.”
“Why don’t we vote on it,” Rin said.
Leon shared a smirk with her. “And I’ll be the tie-breaker?”
“That sounds fair to me,” she said.
I glared at her, the outcome really only depended on Chris under those conditions.
“No,” I said. “It should be unanimously agreed upon if it is something like this, not a vote.”
Rin shrugged. “We are not unanimous with going back to Goliath, so what’s the difference?”
“She’s got a point,” Leon added with a smirk.
“No, she doesn’t,” I spoke firmly. “When it comes to something dangerous versus a safer option, then it is the dangerous path that should require unanimous consent.”
“Sounds like you just want things your way again,” Rin said with a dry tone. “Look, there is a treasure chest back there, I bet it’ll have really good loot. And what if another party shows up and finishes the quest before we make it back?”
I sighed. “Chris, what do you think?”
“Well, I kind of hate walking, so...” he shrugged. “Besides, I think we’ll have no problem. We’ve crushed higher-level monsters before.”
“But nothing like this,” I countered.
“Still,” Leon added. “Every other time you’ve been worried about it, things turned out better than expected. Right?”
“This isn’t the same.”
“Leon’s here,” Rin said. “Why do you make everything so difficult? If it doesn’t go well, then he can finish it for us.”
I relented with a sigh. “Alura, do you think you can keep up?”
“If we are going to go for it, then I believe I can do my part,” she answered. “I’m not up there at risk of getting hurt like the rest of you.”
“So, all in favor?” Leon asked, raising a hand. “Say AYE!”
“Skip it,” I spat at him. God I wanted to punch him. “I’ll charge in first. Once it’s distracted, Rin and Chris, you get behind him and disengage if he turns around to attack you. I’m worried about how much damage that club will do to your weaker armor.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Chris said, bumping his spiked knuckles together.
I held my hand out for Rin’s daggers and Chris’s knuckles and cast empower on them. I then unsheath my sword and raise my shield. “Here it goes, good luck everyone,” I said, and charged in.
The ogre’s movements were slow, looking up as I approached and growling as if it were annoyed. It gripped its club and stepped forward. I swung my sword upon approaching, slashing its stomach. It barely reacted to the blow, and next thing I knew, the club was coming at me.
I got my shield up in time, but was not prepared for the shock that ripped through my body regardless. I stumbled backward, almost falling, then repositioned myself. My arm hurt.
Name: Tsarina
Red Knight - level 8
HP: 1045/1155
MP: 120/200
Even with my shield it took health off of me. What would a direct blow do? “Do NOT get hit by it!” I said to Rin and Chris as they swept in from behind me. “Prioritize caution!”
The ogre growled and came at me again, his club coming down from above this time. I deflected it with my shield, still feeling the shock rip through me, then used pierce, diving my sword forward into its fat belly. It roared in pain. That attack seemed effective, and with it enraged and its sight focused in on me, Rin and Chris slipped past and got behind him.
The ogre roared and pounded his club down on top of me, then again, and again. I managed to catch all of the blows with my shield. Then it let out another beastly roar as Rin and Chris began their assault. I dove forward with two quick slashes to keep its focus on me, the aggressive move having consequence as it’s club came around again, smashing into the side of my body and throwing me into a wall.
I felt my ribs crack, all the air exited my lungs, and that was with heavy armor on my body. Rin might as well have been naked for how much her own armor covered her. I could not imagine what it would be like taking that kind of blow without defensive gear.
I got back to my feet and faced it, blocking another strike that sent ripples through my body.
Name: Tsarina
Red Knight - level 8
HP: 530/1155
MP: 120/200
The pain then exited my body as I felt the warmth of Alura’s healing magic. Rin and Chris were still chopping away, and as the ogre turned to face them I lept forward once again, slashing with my sword. But it ignored me and raised it’s club in their direction.
“Don’t get hit!” I ordered. “Fall back!”
The club swung across their positions, but they each lept away like startled cats, their classes offering much more agility for such maneuvers. “Disengage!” I ordered, slashing my sword across its back. “Wait until its focused on me!” It continued to step towards Chris, ignoring my second and third slash.
“Come on! You fat bastard!” Chris yelled. “YOU WANT SOME OF THIS?!” The club swung again, this time Chris had no room to jump backwards so dove to the side, the club barely glanced his arm, causing him to fall and roll but he jump right back to his feet.
Name: Chris
Monk - level 8
HP: 795/1000
MP: 240/240
“Damn, stung a little!” Chris laughed, shaking his bruised arm. His feet remained in a fluid back and forth dance as he clapped his hands to cast spirit mend and heal himself.
“Circle around and get behind me!” I shouted, as Rin went in close and slashed at him a few times, her daggers chopping away with quick strikes. “I SAID DISENGAGE!”
The ogre looked at her through the corner of his eye, as if he was a mean kid looking down on a yappy dog. It’s free hand lashed out at her, and smacked her upper body, tossing her into the wall.
“RIN!”
She spat out blood as she got back to her feet and I positioned myself in front of her. The ogre turning and finally seeming to see me as its target again.
Grommgash
Ogre - level 20
HP: 4,200/5,000
Weakness: Ice
We have not even done a thousand points of damage yet! I thought for sure we would have been further than that by now. I had no idea how long we had been fighting but it felt like a long time.
“I’m alright,” Rin called back to Alura. “Save the heal, I’m fine!”
“No, HEAL RIN!” I yelled, raising my shield to block the club again. “Keep them at full health! A direct hit might kill them!”
Leon, you bastard, I thought. I hope you’re enjoying the show back there. This is what you wanted isn’t it? To witness a life and death struggle? The conquering heroes against an enemy leagues stronger than themselves? Risk your own damn life if that’s what you’re into!
I slashed at the ogre and blocked its next strike and Chris and Rin dispersed to the left and right, circling behind him once again. I saw a white glow cover Rin for just a second, showing that Alura obeyed my order. At least one member of this party knew how to do as they were told, though I wondered how much mana she had left.
I exchanged blows once again, blocking the club then returning a swift strike of my own. “Alura what’s your MP?”
“380, I’ve got fifteen heals left!”
“Chris, Rin!” I yelled. “You can NOT get hit! Alura will run out of mana and we will lose the fight!”
“We!” Rin slashed at it. “Got!” double slash. “BERRIES TOO!” I could hear her heavy breathing as she exerted herself.
The ogre began to turn again, and this time Chris and Rin matched it’s steps to keep behind it. It roared in frustration, and banged its club against the ground over and over.
“GET DAMAGE IN!” Leon yelled from behind us. “It takes extra damage while it’s using fury!”
Rin obeyed instantly, and Chris followed her lead. I watched them fearfully, as the ogre roared in rage, swinging its club left and right wildly, not properly focused on any of us but the sweeps were so wide a simple mistake could put them in its wild path. My heart dropped as Chris almost made just that mistake, but he ducked under it just in time.
“Right here!” I yelled, banging my sword against my shield as the ogre’s rage passed and it seemed to get more focused. “RIGHT HERE!” I used pierce and dove directly into it, stabbing my sword deep into its stomach. It’s hand lashed out and smacked me against the wall, then it’s club raised before I could get back to my feet. I raised my shield, being crushed under the weight of it as it slammed down on top of me, but it was a succesful block none the less.
“Nice! You guys are getting it good!” Leon called. “Keep it up!”
Grommgash
Ogre - level 20
HP: 3,400/5,000
Weakness: Ice
I had to focus fully on defence. I felt its attacks had gotten faster, not as slow and lethargic as at the begining of the fight. I could not get back to my feet until it let up and gave me a few seconds, so I laid there, blocking blow after blow, feeling the shock rip through me. As the pain started to get too bad, Alura’s warmth filled me, and moments later another glow from her heal to keep me at full health.
Rin and Chris continued their assault through the beat down, and finally the ogre seemed to have had enough of them as it suddenly turned, outstretching the club in a wide haphazard swing that swept a 180 degree circle.
Chris glided out of the way flawlessly.
Rin was not as lucky.
The club caught her full on, her torso bending around it as I heard the cracking of bone. Her limp body rode it until the end of its swing where she was tossed backward, rolling and tumbling across the floor until landing by Alura’s feet.
“Rin!?” Alura screamed, already casting her healing spell. It was clear Rin could not move, already blood was dripping from her mouth, and, worst of all, the ogre was charging right for them!
“Alura! Step backwards while you heal!” I yelled, getting to my feet and running a few paces behind Chris as we tried to catch up. I was only vaguely aware of Leon back there, watching with folded arms, and an amused glint in his eyes.
Alura did as I said, increasing the distance between herself and Rin. The spell was almsot finished, but the ogre’s club was in the air once again.
“RIN!”
The club smashed down on top of Rin’s body, her limbs bouncing like a ragdoll.
Was she dead?
Alura began casting heal once again, and I realized the first must have completed just in time.
Chris and I started attacking with everything we had. I cared more for drawing its attention than the amount of damage I was dealing.
Rin’s body was crushed once again as the club came down. She was lying flat, I could hear the wheezing of her lungs and see her hands shaking as she tried to lift her daggers.
“KEEP HEALING!” I screamed.
I used pierce, stabbing my sword deep into the ogre's back, causing it to roar. However, it’s focus remained on Rin, crushing her for the fourth time as Alura desperately tried to keep up.
Attack me! I thought, swinging my sword, slashing madly. Just turn your attention back to me!
Five times Rin was flattened by the club.
Six times.
Unable to move, it seemed a horribly cruel torture, enduring that kind of pain over and over. Her body only allowed a moment of relief from the healing before being crushed again. I just prayed Alura could keep up.
“Leon! Enough!” I yelled. “Help us!”
“2,600 HP guys, almost half way there!” Leon said. “If I step in now it was all for nothing! Rin, you’re a champ!”
I watched her limbs bounce as she was crushed again.
I screamed: “LEON! YOU BASTARD!”