POV Raizen

So very unlike the last time I made my way to the Dungeon, we actually ran into the Goblins in the forest about halfway through. At first it was just a few but eventually we got swarmed by about 50 of them.

There were two big ones included as well.

Well, there would’ve been two if I hadn’t gone and taken out one of them long before they reached the group.

I don’t think they’re ready to fight two of those things with just the 5 of them.

Of course, I gave them a bit of a warning before I left to do that.

“Richard. Theres two big guys and maybe 50-ish goblins that will be here very soon.”

Richard’s eyes went wide as he digested what I was saying.

“I will go take out one of the big ones, it will be up to you defend yourself against the remaining big guy and the other Goblins.”

“I…I understand…” He nodded to me solemnly and started barking out orders as I left.

“Brandon! We will work together to hold off the big one as long as we can, while Trent, Christine, and Lance will clean up the rest and then help us finish off the big one! Be prepared to move and react on the fly! Remember everything we have been learning!”

Huh…I couldn’t help but think to myself that he was much better at this leading thing than I realized. Did he learn this from the instructor during their training? Maybe I should try to focus on them more to see if I could learn something too…no...the Outpost Leader would never give me the time for that…anyway all of that brought us to the current situation.

I was standing relatively close as I watched them battle. Of course, I wouldn’t let any of them die but I am definitely going to let them get a small injury here and there. They needed this experience. How would they have gotten out of this situation if I wasn’t here?

Though this was a good experience for me as well. Getting a front row seat like this to watch other people fight is valuable. Even hearing Richard bark out orders and seeing his team members doing their best to follow them.

“Brandon step back! He’s charging again!”

“Trent and the rest of you hurry up!!”

“Brandon MOVE!!”

He didn’t stop for even a moment, as he kept watch of his own battle while doing his best to watch the others. I don’t know how he was doing all of this. Would I be able to command a battle this? Would I even need to? Hm...well what if I did? I don’t plan on following anyone else so doesn’t that mean either I’ll be alone all the time or people will eventually follow me?

Wait…aren’t these guys following me right now? They are, aren’t they. I’m confident I can focus on multiple things at once as you kind of have to do that to fight 400 Goblins in an enclosed space, but focusing on everything is just one aspect, I need to be able to process information and then give instructions based on them…Yeah I need to learn how to do that since I don’t necessarily want to be completely alone.

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Oh, that Brandon guy just slipped.

“Bradon!!!”

Richard cried out as the big guy saw the chance to pounce on Brandon and wasn’t going to miss it.

Though despite all my thoughts, I was paying attention to the battle and got there first.

I ran into the fight and as Brandon’s feet gave away and he was stumbling backwards. I simply grabbed him by his collar and threw him to the side.

The big guy slammed his fists down into the area where Brandon was.

“RAHH!!”

He apparently wasn’t very happy about it as he roared and glared at me. Though this wasn’t my battle, so I simply kicked some dirt into its face and backed up.

“Back to you Richard.”

“Thank you Raizen! Get back up BRANDON!!

“What’s taking the rest of you so long!”

Of course, the other three were moving as fast as they could, and it wasn’t like the fight has been going on for a long time either. Richard was just giving them some motivation.

Well, it wasn’t until a few minutes later that the other three managed to finish off all the remaining Goblins, and finally join up with Richard and Brandon in fighting the big guy.

It took them a little bit and I had to step in two more times, but they eventually brought it down after all the wounds caught up to it. Something I noticed was that they were barely able to inflict deep wounds on it with how strong its body was but by slowing stabbing and slashing at it multiple times, it moved slower and slower until they could go for bigger and bigger attacks to do more damage.

This experience was definitely better than my first time fighting one of these guys. But I guess having help and being warned before it even got here was a big help to them. Oh, and having me on standby didn’t hurt.

“Good job. Collect all of your cores and rest up for a bit. I’ll guard us.”

I decided to play watchdog and give the team a much needed rest. It wouldn’t be good if they had to tackle the Dungeon while they were drained. They needed experience but not like that, at least not yet I don’t think.

As I watched them plop down from exhaustion and rest in near silence I couldn’t help but realize that I might actually like this feeling. Even telling them good job like I was their supervisor or something. That felt good. Is this how Richard feels when he leads people?

Maybe I should do this more often.

Anyway, I watched and listened for signs of any Goblins approaching as the team took out food pills to eat on.

“Sigh…I wonder when we will have real food to eat again. These pills don’t taste like anything!”

“Yeah tell me about it Trent…You know I think they did taste like something at first, but it’s all the same now. I’m dying to eat some actual chicken.”

“Oo what type of chicken? I would love some barbeque chicken right about now. I could taste it now.”

“Heh me? I’d love some chicken tikka masala! I’m convinced my grandma makes the best version in the world, and I’d almost kill for some right now.”

“You say your grandma makes the best everything Lance, but that does sound good.”

“That’s because she does! Anyway, what about you guys? What would y’all want to eat right now?

“I went to Jamaica last month for vacation and I tried something called Jerk Chicken…I’d definitely kill for that.”

“Wow Cristine, that sounds good too. Richard? Brandon?”

“I’m vegan.”

“Well, isn’t there a vegan dish you’d really want right now?”

“…Not really.”

“Maybe you should stop being vegan…well what about you Richard?”

“Hmm Lance, I’m not really sure, but some ribs sound heavenly right about now.”

“Ah I didn’t think of ribs, those sound good too. And uh Raizen!”

Hm? I was somewhat listening to their conversation and was a little surprised when the one called Lance I believe reached out to me. What was it again? Something I wanted to eat right now huh…well I’ve always wanted to eat my mom’s spaghetti again. I didn’t like it very much growing up but after she passed I wished almost every day that I could have it again.

“My mother’s spaghetti. That’s something I’d kill to have once more.”

I don’t know if it was because how I calm I said that last part, or if it was my food choice, but Lance looked at me a little weird before chuckling and continuing on.

“Yeah who wouldn’t kill for their mom’s cooking right about now!”