Chloe cautiously poked her head near the railing, peering down at the first floor where most of the monsters were roaming about. They were like an ocean of green, waving all around the floor in just a rhythmic yet nauseating manner. There were so many of them that it almost looked like it was endless. Turning away, she faced her friends as they lay on the catwalk with her, all of them exhausted.
Lucy leaned back against the railing, her breathing ragged and sweat beading down her face. She used up most of her mana healing Chloe and the others, leaving her completely exhausted. Arthur was next to her, trying to comfort her while she struggled to relax. Despite being healed by his friend, the Knight still hadn’t fully recovered. His head still bled a little and he was wheezing deeply, displaying the level of exhaustion he was going through.
Aside from those two, Rick was the one in the best condition. Mainly because he wasn’t all that hurt to behind with, he suffered a couple of blade cuts from the goblins, but nothing too life-threatening like Chloe or Arthurs’. Of course, his constant fidgeting and incoherent babbling to himself wasn’t all that reassuring to Chloe. Especially when they needed to keep their wits in a situation like this. Because of that, the youngest Cribb didn’t know what to do at the moment. All she could do was keep an eye on the catwalk paths and make sure no goblins spotted them, otherwise, they’d die.
“L-Lucy,” She called out to her close friend. “How are you holding up?”
Lucy groggily glanced at Chloe, her eyes barely opened as she responded. “T-too tired. I-I used too much energy to…heal you guys.”
From what Chloe could tell, she looked like she was about to pass out from exhaustion. That wouldn’t be good. They needed to at least get to higher ground before they were allowed to fall asleep. Not when all this chaos was happening around them.
The four of them were currently stuck on the first floor, hiding on the catwalks above the horde of goblins scrambling around below them. The catwalks that Chloe and the others were currently on were slightly hidden thanks to all the ceiling pipes and tubes all around. However, this catwalk didn’t have a path that could lead the group to the second floor. Because of that, they would have no choice but to move from this spot and make their way to the stairs that led to there, which were currently below them.
Chloe peered her head through the railings, scanning the first floor before locating the stairs. They were located at the far end of the building, away from most of the monsters, but there were still a few going up and down the stairs, meaning that they were frequently between the two floors. Even if they were to make it to the steps, they still had to deal with the goblins. And if they alerted the rest of the horde…then they would face a familiar situation from before that got them here in the first place.
They needed to lure the goblins there away. Which meant they needed some kind of distraction. Thinking about this, Chloe’s eyes drifted over to Rick, who was in the best condition out of all of them. He was still mumbling to him, frantically looking around like a madman, desperate to find a way out of this place.
A part of Chloe felt that she likely wouldn’t be able to get through to him in his current disturbed state of mind, but she didn’t have any other options to choose from. If she and the rest of her group were going to survive, they needed to work together. Besides, Rick was partly responsible for putting them in this situation in the first place. And it was time for him to make up for that mistake.
“Rick…”
“S-shut up…” Rick snapped, glaring at her for a moment. “I-I don’t have time to deal with your crap. I-it’s bad enough that you got us in this situation when we entered this building. S-so, just be quiet and let me think of a way that I can get out of here.”
Chloe was stunned, absolutely speechless at what Rick just declared. This was her fault? Like hell it was! Feeling a surge of anger build up within her, she glared at the bandit while hissing at him with disdain.
“This is not my fault! I said from the very beginning that this building felt dangerous. But, no, you wanted to show off and act all high and mighty, trying to prove that you were a better leader, even though you were only allowed to join us as an extra member!”
At the point, Chloe just wanted to sock the bastard, but resisted the urge and just followed along, not bothering to make things worse. But, in the back of her mind, she promised herself that if things got bad, she would leave this bastard to his fate since it was what he deserved. Sadly, none of them were allowed to escape. When they were first ambushed by the goblins, their first thought was running back to the exit to escape, but they were blocked by some energy field that prevented them from leaving the building.
What was worse was that they received the quest to exterminate the monster nest, with only four people at that, or else they weren’t allowed to leave. Thanks to that, they fought their way through the horde and managed to get to the catwalk, but they all sustained severe injuries in the process. And it was all Rick’s fault.
“You got us into this mess, asshole!” Chloe snarled, ignoring the pain flaring up in her chest. “So, you’re going to help us get out of this.”
Rick shook his head, acting like a lunatic. “N-no, this is not my fault, dammit! You’re the leader, so you’re responsible, you got that?!”
Chloe slowly lost her patience. This bastard was the only one healed enough to try and help, and yet he was acting like a coward, avoiding his responsibilities. Out of frustration and adrenaline, Chloe grabbed a hold of the railing and pulled herself up before she rushed toward Rick with murderous intent.
She grabbed the coward by the collar and pulled him close, making sure they were making eye contact as she yelled at him. “Listen up, asshole. You are the only one in this group that is barely injured. This means you are also the only person who can help us get to the stairs that leads to the second floor. If you don’t cooperate with us, I will personally throw you over this railing, and watch as the goblins rip you to shreds until there’s nothing left! Do you understand?!”
Rick grimaced in response before aggressively jerking away from Chloe, a look of displeasure and annoyance plastered on his face.
“F-fine…!” He surrendered. “What do you want me to do exactly?”
Instead of smiling at Rick’s cooperation, she simply marched past him and pointed her finger down the railings and toward the set of stairs leading to the second floor that was currently guarded by goblins going up and down the steps.
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“You need to distract those goblins long enough for us to get to the stairs, and get to the second floor. Staying here will only put our lives at risk, so we need to get out of this floor so we can regroup and catch our breaths.”
Rick raised an eyebrow, looking both suspicious and alarmed. “You want me to risk my life by showing myself to those gremlin-looking bastards?!”
Chloe immediately smacked Rick upside his head, making him wince and whimper in response. “You idiot! Use your head and think!” She pointed at her skull, gesturing her words to make it clear to the idiot bandit. “I’m saying you need to distract them and get them away from the stairs. I didn’t say anything about fighting them, alright?!”
“O-oh…” Rick stuttered, finally realizing Chloe’s intentions.
The boxer couldn’t help but palm her face in shame, annoyed at the fact that she had to deal with such an idiot when their lives were in danger. That and are currently in his hands at the moment since everyone else was too weak to move around, including her. The fact that they had to rely on the person who put them in this situation was bad enough as it was, but seeing how he acted and thought, a hint of dread filled Chloe at what her future may hold. That being her getting ripped to shreds by the goblins and turned into food.
Slowly collecting herself, Chloe took a deep breath before continuing. “You need to draw the enemy away from the steps long enough for the rest of us to get there and move to the second floor. I suggest guiding the goblins around using sound. Throw a coin or something near them, and have the bastards investigate the situation, alright?”
Rick nodded. “Got it…”
Swallowing nervously, Rick cautiously moved toward the stairs along with the catwalk. Chloe watched him move away before crouching before Lucy and Arthur, who were both still breathing heavily and wincing from their injuries.
“Lucy, do you think you can walk?” She asked her friend.
The healer weakly shook her head. “N-no…t-too tired.”
Hearing this, Chloe bit her lip, unsure of what she should do before turning to Arthur. “Arthur, please tell me you have some strength left in you…”
Arthur slowly lifted his head, his eyes barely open as they threatened to close, maybe even permanently. “I-I do. B-but I don’t think I-I can fight…”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to put you through that,” She assured him. “I just need you to carry Lucy while we move, alright? I’ll do most of the heavy lifting, got it?”
“O-okay…” Arthur wheezed out a reply.
Turning away from her friends for a moment, she glanced over at what Rick was doing. It didn’t take long for him to make his way over to the other side of the catwalk where the stairs were located. He crouched down, while carefully monitoring his enemies. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a coin. He pulled his arm back and then hurled the coin away from the stairs, but close enough for the goblins nearby to hear it.
As soon as a loud metal cling sound was heard, the goblins quickly heard the noise and whipped their heads at the source. Before going out to investigate, the goblins looked at one another while conversing in their gibberish and grunting speeches. Then, all the monsters near the stairs made their way to the coin that made the sound.
As soon as they left, Rick turned to Chloe and gestured that they were ready by making a thumbs up. Chloe responded with a nod before turning to her friends once more.
“Come on, guys,” She told them while helping them get up. “It’s time to move. If we don’t take this chance now, we’re dead.”
Arthur weakly pulled himself up while reaching for Lucy to carry her. Chloe helped by lifting the healer and placing her on the Knight’s back. Once Lucy was set on Arthur’s back, the boxer guided her friends over to the end of the catwalk where the stairs were located. Although Arthur was still a bit weak, he was able to pick up the pace and quickly make his way to the stairs.
Once they got there, with the help of Rick and Chloe, the vulnerable pair managed to go down the catwalk steps and get to the stairway leading to the second floor. There were a couple dozen steps lined up against the wall that guided people up. If the group made haste, they should be able to get to the second floor and catch their breaths for a moment.
“Come on, you two,” Chloe told her friends. “We’re almost there. Just hold on a little long-!?”
Before Chloe could finish, a stray arrow flew past her head and struck the brick wall, easily piercing through the rock-like material. When the boxer whipped her head around the source, her face turned pale as she saw the goblins that went to check out the coin had returned far earlier than she expected. They were grouped together with archers lined in the back, their bowstrings knocked back with arrows, ready to fire at a moment’s notice, along with melee goblins positioned in the front, prepared to attack.
As the goblins slowly approached the group, Chloe could only say one thing to them “M-move! Go now!”
At her command, Arthur hastily climbed the stairs with Lucy on his back. As for Rick, he was at the front, also reaching for the top of the stairs to get to the second floor. Chloe was behind them as she knocked away arrows with her gauntlets that were launched their way. As they continued to go up the stairs, Rick screamed, making the boxer turn to see what was happening to him, only for her eyes to widen with horror.
Near the top of the stairs, more goblins emerged, likely from the second floor. As they started to appear from the top, they were blocking Chloe and the others' path to the next floor.
“S-shit…!” She swore, her heart pounding against her chest, making it ache even more than before. “Rick, you need to push through! At least so Arthur and Lucy can get to the floor!”
“A-ah…ah…aaaaah!” Unable to stay calm, Rick let out a primal scream of fear before rushing toward the goblins, pushing them aside one after another.
For a moment, Chloe was relieved, but that soon changed to horror and shock as she watched the bandit continue to push through the goblins, but not letting Arthur and Lucy join him. He was just moving like a bulldozer, clearing a path only for himself as he made his way to the second floor.
Then she realized what was happening. That little bastard was abandoning them!
“Rick!” Chloe roared at him. “Don’t you dare run away, you bastard!”
Just when she was about to shout more obscenities at the bandit, a goblin leaped at her, prompting Chloe to drive her gauntleted fist through its head, crushing its skull instantly as it fell backward on the stairs. And just as she turned around to locate Rick, he was already gone.
A mixture of fear and anger swelled up within Chloe. Fear of what was going to happen to her two friends, and anger over Rick abandoning them like a coward.
“That disgusting low-life bastard!” Chloe snarled before seeing a goblin approach Arthur and Lucy. “Arthur!”
Although Chloe tried to call out to her friend to watch out, the goblin already leaped in the air to attack him. However, just as the monster got close to latching on, Arthur pulled out his sword and stabbed the creature in the chest, his blade piercing through to where his blade poked out of its back. With the goblin still on the sword, Arthur used its body as a shield to keep the monsters in front of them at bay.
Meanwhile, Chloe slowly backed up the stairs while punching and kicking away any goblins that got close to her. However, the horde was already climbing the stairs with them, blocking both exits and leaving them trapped on the stairs.
“A-Arthur…” Chloe muttered, her voice trembling with fear.
“Yeah…?” He replied.
“You think you can hold on a little longer…?” She knew what she was asking of her friend in his current state, but she was out of options.
“I’ll hold out as long as I can…”
Hearing the determination in Arthur’s voice, slightly raised Chloe’s morale. Despite how hopeless things were, he was still determined to make it out of this alive. No doubt it was his Knight Class providing him with a bit of confidence. Either way, it was enough to give the boxer some hope that they could get through this situation.
However, as she peered over at the goblins from the first floor slowly making their way up the stairs, and even climbing the walls and rails, she wasn’t sure she could hold on to her hope for long.