Chapter 3: The Martyr

My body jerked and my eyes bolted open when a series of soft, but continuous rustling sounds were heard inside the room. My heart violently thumped as my eyes scanned the dimly lit four walls of our abode, with only the digital numbers from my son’s watch as source of light; it was five o’clock in the morning. I noticed that everyone else aside from me were in deep slumber; the dreadful scenarios from before without doubt had taken its toll.

With the light wheezing sounds from my sleeping wife and son as background, I perked up my ears as I tried to catch the tiniest bit of sound inside the room, trying to figure out if my mind was playing tricks on me, if everything was the product of my paranoia. The sounds from before had completely stopped the moment I completely woke up.

Seconds passed and quickly turned into minutes, and I vigilantly sat there, fists ready and ear alert for any inconspicuous movements. I almost jumped in fright when I heard the student survivor at the corner mumble an incomprehensible word in her sleep. Another minute passed.

Again, another series of rustling sounds were heard but this time, I realized that it came outside. The screeching sounds were followed by soft thuds, numerous soft thuds.

I glanced at my sleeping family then to the student crouched at the deepest corner. After a gulp and a loudly beating heart, I crawled towards the bathroom’s entrance as I craned my neck, eyes peering at what was going on outside. My eye widened when I saw the small innumerable figures tottering about, dragging the corpses to somewhere I would rather not know. Their bodies were small, incredibly so, hardly running past a feet in height.

Despite the lack of illumination, I was able to discern their bulbous nose, and the patches and protrusions that filled their dark green skin. Their nails were long and jagged, definitely rotting. Their eyes were large, almost bulging. At their naked back, a small, almost inconspicuous tail flailed about.

“Goblins?” I mumbled in disbelief. I never expected to encounter one. The Minotaurs themselves were already enough abomination, and now, we were forced to encounter these discreet, pesky little creatures.

I realize that there were significantly fewer corpses than before. Furthermore, I noticed that only the corpses of women were being dragged off by the creatures, leaving the male bodies to rot in their places.

Where were they taking the corpses? Why were they taking only the bodies of women? What were they going to do with it? Such questions filled my mind as my eyes remained glued at the figures, my body cold and clammy.

The thing that bothered me the most were not the fact that the creatures were taking away the corpses, but their size and numbers. Before, our temporary haven, in the form of the bathroom, had driven away the Minotaurs. Those beasts were simply too large to enter inside, and thankfully, the walls of the murky room were thick, probably sturdy. But now, our abode’s only advantage had disappeared. With their sizes, I was sure that those creatures were able to easily get inside this place. The only question was when.

I tapped my wife as I tried to wake her up in the gentlest way possible. I did not want her to suddenly shout and scream, giving out the fact that there were survivors here. After a soft moan, she slowly opened her eyes then blinked thrice in succession.

“Wake up,” I whispered. “We can’t stay here much longer.”

She glanced at my son that remained snuggled deep in her bosom, then to me. She also replied in a whisper, “What is it? What do you mean?”

I paused for a full second, mind filled with various thoughts. “Goblins. They’re outside, dragging dead bodies. There’s no assurance that they won’t find us here. It’s too risky.”

I glanced at the bathroom’s entrance. Specifically, I stared at the door decimated beyond recognition. Only tidbits of wood had remained. “We need to find a better shelter.”

“But it’s too dangerous to go outside! Nicholas! You’ve seen those monsters, right? There’s no way humans can win against those!” She breathed.

I was in dilemma. Should we stay, or should we escape while we still have the energy to do so? I was stuck in between such choices. The goblins were creatures unknown to us before, and we had no idea what they were capable of. Once those creatures found out that there were survivors here, and they flocked to us in the dozens, our chances of survival were definitely slim.

“The best course of action is to stay here… for now,” a voice from the corner was heard. It came from the student. To my surprise, her voice was perfectly calm and composed, a complete contrast to her hysteric sounds from before. It seemed that our little conversation had woken her up. She added, “You said that the goblins were dragging the bodies, no? Then in all probability, those creatures are unable to fight at the same level as the cow monsters from before—hopefully. They must have been tasked to collect the spoils of war… if we are to state it in better terms.”

I had thought of the same things as before, but the fact that we hardly knew anything regarding the little creatures did not change. It was too risky to stay in such a place surrounded by hundreds of such monsters. I bit my lips as I gnashed my teeth. I sat there like a Buddhist statue, unmoving, pondering.

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I broke out of my trance when I heard soft footsteps coming to our direction. Upon looking, my gaze met the eyes of a small creature. It opened its large mouth and squeaked, its ears perking up and down as it stomped its feet on the tiled floor. My immediate fear had become reality. A goblin had found us.

“Kreeee!” A long screeching sound echoed as I immediately stood up, my knuckles white and ready. Without hesitation, I kicked the goblin before me, sending its body crashing against the wall. It skidded downwards until it slumped onto the ground, unmoving.

“It’s weak? Incredibly weak!” I said in disbelief. My words ignited hope within the group but such hope was quickly crushed when we heard numerous rumbling sounds coming towards our direction. To my horror, the sounds of hooves crushing bodies were horrifyingly familiar.

You have killed a Goblin Worker!

You have gained 3 Experience Points!

The familiar blue window from before popped up a few seconds after I sent the goblin flying away. Although I wanted to find out what that window was and what it entailed, I currently have no time for that.

I grabbed and carried my sleeping son. With a firm and resolute expression, I told everyone, “No time to waste! We need to get out of here! This room won’t hold like before!”

What I said was the truth. Before the lights from the day before had completely vanished, I had already noticed that the walls were filled with innumerable cracks. I was no engineering graduate, but I was sure that it would no longer be able to withstand another series of attacks and forceful squeezing of bodies inside.

Like compressed spring, everyone got to their feet in haste. Two more goblins appeared at the doorway, and I kicked both without hesitation. Their bodies were sent flying backwards, and despite the lack of proper illumination, I saw one of them vomit out blood before collapsing on the ground. Thank God, the little pesky bastards were weak!

You have killed a Goblin Worker!

You have gained 3 Experience Points!

Once again, the same notification popped up, and I immediately dismissed it from my mind.

Outside, I could hear the roars of the cow-like monsters from before. They were probably alerted by the squeaks of the goblins. Damn it.

The sounds from the charging Minotaurs were becoming louder as we got out of the room, our feet moving at a quick pace towards our survival. We ran. We ran. We ran. Through the pieces of broken furniture, broken walls, and over dead bodies, we ran with all our might.

My heart was close to exploding as I afforded a glance at our pursuer, seeing nothing but almost a dozen gigantic silhouettes chasing after our group. A roar from our front was heard, and a livid Minotaur appeared, blocking our path.

“Take him!” I said as I shoved our recently woken son towards Francesca. My son, Marco, was staring at the gigantic beast before us, with only my body as partition.

I snarled, “What are you doing!? Go! Go! Go!”

I picked up the splintered wood on the ground and unreservedly dashed headfirst towards the Minotaur before me. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Francesca, Marco, and the student go down the flight of stairs. Just below us was the ground floor, and it was only a few more meters away from the mall’s exit. Someone had to stall these monsters here. Otherwise, we would all die a dog’s death.

I heard Francesca wail and sob as her figure, along with those of others, eventually disappeared from sight. I bit my lips as my body came skidding to a halt when a large hand came cruising towards my direction, definitely aimed at my head. I ducked, and using all strength I could muster, I smashed my wooden weapon at the monster’s calf.

The Minotaur stared at me for a second, my feat definitely nothing but a small spank before this almighty beast. I threw away the piece of wood when I noticed that it had broken right at the middle after the impact. I was weaponless, defenseless, and my current use was nothing but a meat shield.

By now, the other Minotaurs from before had caught up, and I soon found myself surrounded by more than a dozen of them, each of their bodies towering absurd heights. Series of roars echoed as I stood my ground, knees wobbling, body shaking. I was going to die. I knew, but I did not regret.

From my position, despite the roars that served as background, I could hear the faint sounds of footsteps at the floor below. Those same footsteps made my lips turn into a small curl, something that was incomprehensible in my current situation. At least, my role as meat shield had served its purpose. Those three were going to survive.

They have to survive.

With a smile that conveyed all my will and resolve, my life and emotions, I opened both my arms wide, further mocking the beasts that surrounded me. I licked my lips as a sole tear made its way down my cheeks. “Come and get me! Damn Monsters!”

After those words, the beasts again roared, and my body was crushed beyond recognition.