1.11

Eric passed the untouched corpses of his previous targets. Spear in hand he continued down towards the 3rd floor. There were no longer any sounds of battle within the apartment area. This worried Eric, he had hoped that either the goblins would win or that the battle would be ongoing. If the goblins were dead… Well it would suck. All that experience wasted. Eric smirked at the thought. In all seriousness, the idea of fighting such a large number of snakes wasn’t high on his wish list. Eric entered the apartment area. There were around a dozen snake corpses on the entrance of the fire exit door. In comparison, there were only 7 goblin bodies. Eric noted the pouches and fallen weaponry. If he survived, at least there was plenty of loot.

As always there were 8 apartments, all the doors were on the floor or in splintered pieces. The main hallway was covered in bodies, around 10 goblins and probably double that snakes. Lots and lots of loot. Eric started. His body was tense. His eyes were flicking from the ceiling to the floor to the doorways and then back to the ceiling. He really did not want to be surprised.

There were muffled sounds coming from the furthest away apartment. Muffled yells and crashes. Eric shrugged. At least he knew where to look. Stepping past the open apartment doorways, Eric inwardly flinched. He was asking to be attacked from behind now. He wasn’t or at least they didn’t instantly jump out. Nervous. Eric stepped towards the last door. He stopped and with the spark of an idea. Eric picked up an extra spear. He figured if a knife throw hurts a spear probably feels worse. Feeling cleverer, Eric entered the last apartment.

Stepping through the dangerously splintered doorway, Eric took in the enemies arrayed before him. From where he was standing he could see 2 separate battles taking place. In the lounge, there was a squad of goblins contested by a swarm of snakes. Neither seemed to have an advantage. Further on, by the kitchen, a smaller group of goblins led by the larger goblin from before fought against an incredibly large snake. Like really big. And scary. Eric’s foot stepped heavily on the splintered wood of the fallen door.

At his appearance, the monsters within the room reacted. Eric gulped as dozens of malevolent gazes turned upon him. “Uh hi?... “As you were”. The battles resumed but unfortunately many of the creatures decided that Eric would make a juicy target. 3 goblins broke off from the fight, rushing towards him. Eric smirked and threw his recently retrieved spear. Its weight was all wrong for throwing but within the confines of the apartment accuracy wasn’t particularly necessary. The spear sailed through the air, wobbling slightly. Its target the leading goblin ducked under his missile. The following goblin wasn’t so lucky. It took a spear to the upper chest, toppling it over. The other two goblins ignored their down comrade. Their eyes focused solely on Eric. Eric stepped forward into open space. He didn’t want to trip over the door at inopportune moment. The goblins were upon him moments later.

With greater experience under his belt. Eric used his longer legs, greater reach and speed against his foes. As the first stepped forwards and stabbed towards him. He agilely stepped aside and countered with his own spear. Stabbing straight into the goblins throat. The second goblin arrived on the scene seconds later. With a heavy iron sword in its hand it seemed to be a bit more cautious. Eric thrust tentatively at the goblins legs. The goblin responded by whacking its sword down on his spear shaft. Leaving a wicked cut in the wood and jarring his hands. The goblin used its advantage to swing dangerously at him. Backpedaling the swords edge missed his chest by centimeters. Sweat tricked down his forehead. The goblin swung again. This time Eric had his guard up. He bobbed under a wild swing at his head. Stepping to the side and knocking the still swinging sword to the side with his spear. The goblin overbalanced as it struggled to hold onto the sword. Eric’s spear whipped out and with a couple of quick thrusts the goblin fell onto its back. Dead.  

The now understaffed goblin squad regrouped into a defensive position. Snakes surrounded the formation, using furniture as cover they would dart out and try to strike. Occasionally feinting, the goblins were getting frustrated but with their weapons and general toughness they had the advantage over the snakes. That is if they had the discipline to stick together. Many of the snakes annoyed at the continued perseverance of the bjørn goblins turned to confront Eric. Hissing aggressively, they started their attack.

Eric had stayed where he was after slaying the goblins. He truly was hoping that the enemy would kill each other off and he could just y’know clean up afterwards. Unfortunately, that would not be the case. Observing the snakes approach, Eric felt a primal fear within him. Intellectually he knew that he was better off fighting snakes than goblins but that didn’t stop him from feeling an irrational fear at the wildness and malevolence of the savage reptiles. Realizing that stabbing with a spear would be rather difficult against such nimble opponents Eric dropped his to the ground. Pulling a knife out of his jacket and retrieving the ridiculously heavy and unbalanced sword from the ground. He took a prepared stance.

4 snakes had pulled off from the fight with the goblins. They formed a semi-circle around Eric and began feinting and darting towards him. Eric in turn swung sweeping strokes fending off the reptiles. He had stepped away from the doorway and with open space and little furniture Eric had a massive advantage over the snakes. Without cover to hide behind the snakes themselves were vulnerable. Confident in his abilities Eric began a dance of death. Or rather that’s what he hoped would happen. In reality, he dodged a couple of snake lunges swung his weapons madly. Received a couple of vicious but unthreatening bites that he returned with knife cuts to their bodies. 2 snakes fell headless as their attacks proved ineffective. The other 2 were caught off guard one stabbed through its open mouth in mid-air by a well-timed knife thrust. The last was struck by a kick to the body stunning it into vulnerability where it was finished off by a brutal chop of the sword. Breathing heavily Eric stepped away from the carnage and once again took in the battle.

Not much had changed in the closest battle. The bjørn goblin squad was holding its positions. A dozen over-ambitious snake corpses surrounded them but many more were still attacking. A couple of goblins had fallen in return and several were bleeding profusely but still they seemed to hold an advantage. The far battle was going less well for the goblins. The monstrously large snake had killed off several goblins. Their remains were splattered over the kitchen and lounge floor. The goblin leader and company seemed to be more focused on avoiding the snakes oversized mouth to retaliate. The snake was going to be trouble. With it came the realization that it is likely that he would be facing the snake before long. Gulp.

Goblins were occasionally glancing at the human before them and most wanted to stab him with something. Fortunately for our hero, the goblins were unable to leave their position. Eric returned the malicious gazes with a smirk. Truthfully, Eric wasn’t sure how to continue. He felt a strong desire to get stuck in the fight. Cut his way through goblins and snakes alike. Logic prevailed. That would be both risky and stupid. Eric smiled to himself. Would be fun though but… probably painful. Eric sighed in disappointment. He would have to play it smart. Retrieving the spears he had thrown and dropped. Knocking aside a sneaky snake in the process. It bounced away and decided to be elsewhere. Smart snake. 

The goblin formation collapsed as his thrown spears struck two of the defenders. He doubted he got the experience from them as instantly the snakes pounced on them but the sudden chaos was well worth it. The goblins discipline collapsed as snakes got within their formation. Attacked from below and behind goblins toppled as they were suddenly overwhelmed. Of course, they didn’t fall quietly. Snakes were caught by swinging weapons and flailing limbs. Eric took full advantage of the distraction.

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Striking with both sword and knife Eric targeted diverted enemies. He only managed to eliminate one goblin, it had practically walked into his sword, but he took out half a dozen snakes in about as many seconds. Focused entirely on the goblins, the snakes completely ignored the foe targeting them from behind by the time they realized it was too late. Eric stepped back as the fight devolved into small skirmishes. To continue was asking to be attacked from behind. A spear to the back would hurt. The remaining half dozen goblins were split into pairs or singles fighting off

 snakes without the benefit of teamwork. Well as you might guess it wasn’t going too well for them.

Pulling back Eric drew the attention of several snakes and with a small smirk he prepared to face them. He was caught off guard when all four attacked at once. Two were whacked away mid strike but the others managed a vicious strike to his thigh and above his right hip. Gasping in pain Eric swung wildly at them. They darted back as quickly as they had attacked. Feeling blood trickle on his skin Eric retaliated by chasing down the assaulters and bringing them to a vicious end trying to ignore the twinges in his leg in the process. Distracted, Eric never noticed one of the snakes he had knocked away had recovered. Striking swiftly, it bit the back of his leg, the impact almost making Eric lose his balance. Angry now, Eric struck back with his sword. The snakes attempt at dodging failed. The snake body was split in 2. The last of his most recent attackers still struggled to shrug off his strike. Eric finished it in his usual brutal fashion. Frustrated by his wounds Eric called out “Status” and voila:

 Name: Eric Scot

 Age: 27

 Race: Human

 Class:

 Level: 7

 Faction: Unaffiliated

 Distributable Status Points: 0

 Hitpoints: 83/110

 Stamina: 61/137.5

 Health Regeneration: 1.1/s

 Stamina Regeneration: 6.5/s

 Vitality: 11

 Mana: 100/100

 Strength: 15

 Mana Regeneration: 0.5/s

 Agility: 15

 Intelligence:10

 Dexterity: 15

 Wisdom: 10

 Luck: 5

 Charm: 5

“Not too bad”, he muttered. Painful but not too damaging on his Hitpoints. He could feel blood around the wounds and he hoped that the loss of blood would not cause a steady loss of hitpoints. A couple he could afford but anymore and he might have to retreat back to his apartment. Groaning at the sharp pain coming from his leg, thigh and side. Eric struggled to regain his composure. He had work to do and experience to gain.

Picking up a spear from the first goblin he killed. He threw it at one of the remaining bjørn goblins. The throw went wide of its mark. The goblin didn’t even need to dodge. The wide throw struck a snake mid lunge, cutting deeply into it. An impressive throw if you ignore where he intended it to strike. Eric took a moment to admire the terrible lucky throw before delving into the fray.

The battle was whinding down and surprisingly the goblins won. That was until Eric finished them off. The 2 goblins that remained were so weakened from blood loss that they barely reacted when his sword skewered them. Eric tried to suppress the sickening feeling that overcame him as he felt the sword sinking into flesh. It was a new world and he had tried to overcome his squeamishness. His fear and revulsion still came and no matter how much he suppressed it. It would occasionally show its face. Bodies surrounded him. He had slain 4 more snakes and one goblin after throwing the spear. The rest succumbed to wounds of a different maker. Trying to look on the bright side Eric thought on the experience he had gained. Enough for a level, maybe 2. Suddenly, a roar reverberated throughout the apartment. The last remaining goblin, The leader, seeing Eric standing over the carcasses of its fellows. In a mad rage the goblin picked up a fallen spear and attacked.

Surprisingly, the goblin didn’t attack Eric. It charged suicidal at the huge snake monster. The snake’s head darted blindingly fast at the goblin. The goblins spear struck and embedded deep in the eye of the monster. Milliseconds later the snakes hulking head impacted on the goblin leader. With a sickening crack of breaking bones the goblin flew across the room to strike with another crack against a wall. Astonished Eric stared wide-eyed at the colossus before him. That was until he realized… he was the only enemy left.

“How the hell do I kill this thing?”, Eric asked himself speaking aloud. The snake had obviously noticed him. Its remaining bright red eye stared hungrily towards him. Its occasional hisses seemed to echo throughout the apartment. The snakes head was grisly, the spear lay embedded inside the its eye. It hadn’t gone deep. Enough to destroy the eye but not deep enough to slay the monster. “Pity that”, Eric muttered. The snakes lower jaw was covered in goblin blood. The inside of the snake’s mouth was equally as nasty. Suddenly the snake seemed to gather its wits.  Before he knew it the monster was moving towards him. \

Breaking out of his observation, Eric prepared himself for conflict. Like the monster rat he expected this would be a matter of dodging and choosing his strikes. Suddenly the snake was… just there. He took a glancing blow to the chest. The blow knocked him on his back. He had only just dodged. One moment Eric was wondering how something so big had moved so fast, the next he was on his feet dodging lunges from the snake’s jaws. Every near miss he thanked his increased agility. He utilized the snakes wound trying to stay in its blind spot. As he began to get a rhythm, even if it was one he had no hope of sustaining. Eric began cutting at the snake’s torso when he got the chance. The result was a series of nicks and gouges in the snake’s natural armor. A couple were relatively deep and caused blood to spill out but most were ineffective. He rarely got the chance to utilize his strength causing his strikes to be weak swings. This could not continue.

Eric dived under a particularly close miss. Rolling back to his feet, surprisingly himself with his own gymnastics, he guessed desperation makes even the clumsiest man nimble. Getting to his feet he once again turned and faced the snake. The relentless assault stopped momentarily. Eric heaved in a breath. The sheer pace of the fight had exhausted even his upgraded body. Then the snake struck.

Caught flat footed, Eric was forced to lunge desperately forward. The snakes mouth opened wide. Its head darting towards him. His lunged carried his sword past the row of ridiculously large and sharp teeth. The sword's brittle blade entered the flesh on the roof of the snake jaws. Then shattered as it impacted bone. Eric had the fleeting thought of holy shit did I just kill this thing? Before the snake’s weight fell on him. Teeth stabbed into his torso. Eric felt pain, acknowledged that he was falling then he lost consciousness. Not expecting to reawaken.