The sibling duo had by now reached us and were standing in front of us heavily panting, seeing the gun in my hand they had relieved expressions.
Although it was a bit hard to discern, with both completely covered in filth, likely from falling into the sewage.
Hearing the screams of the person they had left behind in the background, I asked In a annoyed tone " What are you running from?".
The girl answered, " I..I.I think it is a goblin, you know one of those small green creatures".
"How many?"
"Wh-What?"
"How many FUCKING GOBLINS ARE CHASING YOU?"
"Ohh, just one", she said timidly after I lost my patience and spoke my last words harshly.
Her brother looked at me a bit strangely but ultimately decided to keep quiet.
After my outburst I sighed looked at Lily and said softly " I have to go for a little while okay".
It seemed like she wanted to say something but before she could, I turned around looked at the siblings who seemed to be a few years older than me and said, "Protect the girl, if I don't manage to defeat the goblin take her and run, she knows the route to a safe place".
Both widened their eyes as I sprinted past them running in the direction I last heard the screams come from.
Turning around the corner I found the girl, she had dropped her phone illuminating the scene of being pushed down by a goblin.
It was smiling lecherously with both hands on a dagger raised above his head, about to be thrust into the girls throat.
Meanwhile the girl whose arms were pushed down by its legs was screaming "NO, NOO SOMEONE HELP, HELP ME PLEASE!".
It seemed her desperate pleas made the goblin smile grow wider and more wicked, as it licked its lips.
Meanwhile I quickly lifted the gun and aimed at its head. And just when it noticed me I pulled the trigger.
BANG
As the distance wasn't far the bullets aim shot true and hit the goblin.
Squelch
The goblin recoiled backwards as the bullet penetrated its temple making it loosen its grip on the girl allowing her to escape and run in my direction.
Seeing that the girls face and clothes were also covered in grime, it seemed she had also taken a dip into the manure river.
So perceiving the sight of her crying while trying to thank me by shaking my hand, made me shudder as I quickly pulled back.
"Thank you so Mu.."
And just as she was about to thank me I interrupted her.
"You should run to your friends behind the corner"
"W-Why?"
"Because the battle isn't over".
To my response the girl eyes widened as she immediately looked behind her.
And there stood the goblin, it gave of a dreadful aura as he stared at me and the girl with bloodshot eyes while the center of its head had a trail of blood trickling down.
The girl who was previously assaulted seemed to be out of it as she stood frozen until I again told her to go.
"You should run now".
Hearing my words the girl turned to my direction thanked me again and then ran off, leaving me alone to face off against the goblin.
"GI GI!"
Seeing that its prey was leaving the goblin was enraged as it charged towards us at a inhumane speed.
Although fast my reaction speed seemed to be just enough to fire another bullet in its direction luckily hitting its knee.
"Gi?"
The bullet although not having done allot of damage stopped the goblin in its tracks, as it was now observing me with a contemplative gaze as if not understanding how it was getting injured.
Then after a few seconds of standoff, it took another step forward prompting me to shoot again, but this time it quickly raised its dagger in front of its head where I was aiming and deflected the bullet.
*Ting*
As I saw the bullet falling from the dagger the goblin was holding I had a dumbfounded look on my face and thought 'What the actual fuck.'
As I was contemplating how it managed to deflect a bullet, the goblin on the other hand began grinning as it continued running at me quickly closing the distance.
Unable to react in time to defend my self, it punched me in the chest, sending me hurtling into the wall, slightly cracking the brick stones from the impact.
Feeling like I had broken something, before I could open my eyes I let out a scream as I felt a gut rendering pain coming from my right side, and when I looked I found the goblins dagger fully submerged into my waist.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"GHi GHi GHi"
Seen the goblin laughing at the pain I was experiencing I felt Incensed, however I couldn't stop myself from forming a thin smirk on my lips as blood leaked out of my mouth.
Seeing my expression the goblin had a confused gaze, only making my grin grow wider until I was genuinely smiling for the first time in ages.
Now laughing I asked the goblin a question "Have you ever heard the saying, never bring a knife to a GUN FIGHT?"
"Gi?"
Seemingly even more confused, I did not give the goblin time to think as I spat the gathered blood in my mouth in its face temporarily blinding it, and using that chance to raise the gun I managed to hold onto, and shot it three times at the exact same location in its left chest.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
As the scent of gunpowder assaulted my nostrils and I began being covered in a warm liquid I new the bullet had managed to pierce the goblins defense.
The fact was only enhanced by the goblin stumbling backwards and looking at me with a horrified expression before falling on its back, starting to cough up blood while its breathing became ragged.
This was the result I expected after having punctured its lungs with the bullet, making it drown on its own blood.
Managing to stand up with great strain I walked over to its body.
Standing above the goblin and staring at its eyes that were becoming hollow I couldn't help but notice how they were beginning to reminisce mine.
"Should this be some sort of personal life lesson or something?"
Unable to come up with anything and beginning to feel dizzy I aimed the gun at its eye, pretty sure that was still made of soft tissue and pulled the trigger.
*Click*
But nothing happened as all the bullets were used up.
"Huh, guess I used all the bullets".
A bit regretful that I couldn't kill it immediately I stumbled backwards and sat against the wall, resigned to watch the goblin die in front of me.
laying down, I was reminded of the people around the corner and somehow found the strength to yell "Hey! You guy's can come out now".
Initially I heard no movement and thought they had ran off without me, which would be pretty understandable, heck if I was in their situation I would have done the same, or wait actually I wouldn't hence my current state.
'I am quite stupid aren't I'.
And what was worse about this situation was that I didn't even feel fulfilled about having protected those people at all.
Although I did feel a little better knowing the kid was save, which was the actual reason that I attacked the goblin, as the goblin was blocking our path to the north side anyway's and it was better to attack it while it was distracted by somebody else.
I also genuinely smiled again, which was nice, It had been a long time since that happened.
So maybe this was for the best, I don't feel particularly sad at the thought of death either, although a bit regretful that I couldn't fulfil my parents wish but otherwise…..It sounded quite peaceful.
As I was accepting my death, I was shaken out of that thought by a little girls scream, "Mister are you Okay!".
The group was running towards me, with only Lily immediately approaching me after the others spotted that the goblin was still breathing, but after a short moment of hesitation still decided to approach although keeping a wary eye on the dying creature.
Seeing their expressions I said, "Don't worry, its choking to death on its own blood right now".
The news didn't seem to relieve there concern as their gazes were now focused on me instead of the goblin.
Lily and the others seeing me up close were naturally shocked, with my body being covered in blood, having a dagger stuck in my waist and blood still trailing from the corner of mouth, I looked anything but fine.
Even I had to admit that I was in a pathetic state, which was quite sad especially since I had only been attacked twice by the goblin. But wanting to seem tough in front of the kid I lifted my thumb up and said "I am okay, 'Cough'".
While saying that I was fine I seemed to have coughed up some blood that was blocking my airway.
Lily seeing this eye's widened before she fainted.
'Huh, for the second time, whats up with this kid?'.
Finding it strange that she fainted again, the others meanwhile were extremely surprised and Raya, I think was what her brother called her, managed to scoop her up before she fell.
Looking at the child with concern I decided to say my peace, "You guy's should leave me behind".
After that everyone looked at me in silence, my reasoning was pretty obvious as currently I was in no state to move, if I did I would die of blood loss or at least significantly slow them down and with enemies roaming the sewers they had to get out of here as fast as possible.
The others naturally also understood this but still decided to rebuke my plea by saying "There is now way we are leaving you behind, You risked your life for us!".
"Yeah, at the very least we could bring you to safety".
Lastly the girl who was assaulted by the goblin also chimed in, "I owe my life to you, let me repay my debt".
Hearing those words I was about to make it clear that I would likely die in a couple of minutes, but before I could, I heard the faint sound of sickening laughter and footsteps.
"Heh, I guess you guys have no choice now".
"What, Why?".
"More goblins are coming".
After my statement all the people looked at me in shock, and the guy asked "How, do you know?".
"I heard them and besides if I move I will die anyways, so you guys need to run away now with Lily.
If you guy's continue heading straight and turn left at the first junction, and then keep on moving straight, you guys will be at the edge of the city from where you can make a run for the forest".
Just when Raya wanted to say something they too began hearing the sound of goblins.
Knowing they had no option the trio hesitantly looked at me, in response I plastered a fake smile on my face and said "You don't have to feel guilty this is my own decision".
Seeing my resolve and with time running out they had no other choice but to leave me behind, but before leaving they all thanked me for what I had done while having down trodden expressions on their faces.
Seeing the group about to leave I recalled something , "Before you guy's go I have one request, if you guys manage to return to civilization could you inform the authorities of my death and…ask them to bury me next to my parents".
Hearing this each of them had different expressions on there faces from sad, to sorrowful, while the guy seemed to be angry although not at me.
The girl I had saved then quickly responded through stifled breath, "I promise it will be done, so what is your name?"
Oh yeah totally forgot I never introduced myself, " My name is Aeron, Aeron Wharton".
After saying my name the girl turned around and quietly said thank you again before running off prompting the other to also thank me again before running after her.
Seeing them disappearing to my right I sighed as I turned my attention to my left, from where I could make out the faint outline of 4 goblins traveling in my direction.
Looking at the goblin I had defeated, its breathing was now dangerously slow, I grinned as I said to it, "Guess were both dying to day buddy".
The charging goblins not that far away from me were now able to see me and targeted me.
Seeing the sight I used all the strength I had left and managed to stand up, while a solemn smile came over my face as I pulled the dagger out of my waist causing a flood of blood to gush out of the wound.
But I did not care as the goblins were now a dozen meters from me and I at least wanted to wound one of them.
But it seemed I had underestimated my current state as the blood loss was making me feel woozy, so before I could even react a goblin was already next to me, its knife a blur as its blade neared my temple.
With the knife poised to strike, just as its tip was a mere centimeter away from piercing my skull.
I disappeared.
"Gi?"
The goblin left confused as its knife hit nothing but air, called over its friends to look for his vanished opponent, but all they found was their dead comrade killed by a small hole in its chest.
While the goblins were looking around, the last thing that I remembered before blacking out was few strange messages.
[You have slain Lvl18 {Goblin}]
[You have slain an E rank opponent while being F rank]
[Extra experience will be granted]
[You Leveled UP]
[You Leveled UP]
[You Leveled UP]
[You Leveled UP]
[Ding- you reached LVL 5]
[You will now be transported to the {Class Trial}]