CHAPTER 11: Second Attempt
After school they met with Lucas’s gang, got the gear from Carlos’s car, and headed towards the first warehouse. Since they didn’t have to shop this time, there would be more light for their hunts. It was also Friday, so they would have more time to rest and recover if they needed it.
When they were at the car, Ed came hurrying up with a carefully set up pair of bags, one on his back and the other in his hands. They included collapsed poles, boxes, and expandable gadgets.
Many in the group were giving Adam glancing looks as the girls walked closely to him, even as he hefted the two large bags of equipment. Alissa was to his right with Brittney next to her, and Andrea and Abbey on his left. Even Adam thought the situation was weird, but he wasn’t going to complain about cute girls giving him attention. Instead, everyone casually chatted about whatever came to mind. The tension was high for most, nervousness surrounding them.
At the warehouse they all geared up. Adam stripped his shirt, getting some cat calls from everyone, then put on a new poncho and the previous gloves. True to their word, the triple As had brought snacks. They had sports drinks, sandwiches, and energy bars. Since Adam’s appetite had been increasing, he was very grateful for the food, eating two peanut butter and one ham sandwich and downing a medium sized sports drink. Jokes and laughter kept breaking out as the comradery seemed high in the group. Adam could only hope it stayed that way, and that everyone stayed safe.
“What’s the plan for today, boss?” asked Tom when everyone was gathered.
"Yesterday it seemed like the goblins were watching us and trying to ambush us once we went into their warehouse. I think today we should stay outside and focus on the alleys and roads around the place. Let’s head over two roads to the back of the second set of buildings. We’ll follow that along, checking each alley, and then we’ll check the western most alleys. Unless anyone has a better idea?”
“Why don’t we just head to where they hit us before?” asked Tom. “We probably won’t find many from the further roads.”
“I know it might be more boring,” responded Adam, “but we really need more levels and combat practice. If we can fight smaller groups, I think it will be safer. A few more levels and everyone will be able to perform better.”
Adam looked up at a slightly buzzing drone. Then he looked at Ed. Ed had a pack on his back and a weird vest that folded out into a platform, like airplane seats. A laptop was attached to the platform. There was a goofy looking helmet on his head that had a two-sided camera on top.
“Ed, are you going to be able to film this while moving?”
“I’ll do my best. The head camera can see in 360 degrees around us, so I can get every angle. I have some shotgun mics recording in different directions and I’ve set the drone to follow you,” Ed answered without lifting his head from staring at the laptop.
“The drone might get damaged if it flies too low. We’ve also seen goblins on the rooftops. It would be helpful if you can scout the roofs when we approach a new building.”
“Just let me know.”
“I will lead the way in the beginning. I want Nick and Carlos with me learning to scout. You guys listen closely. Don’t get too near anything, and if there is a shadow you can’t see through then try your night vision followed by a search light. If the shadow stays, I’ll approach it expecting an assassin. Brandon, I need you to watch Ed. Make sure he isn’t too absorbed in his filming to protect himself.”
With those orders given the group got into a formation and headed out. They left the rest of their bags amidst the broken boxes in the rubbish warehouse so they wouldn’t be easily found.
Stalking two streets over didn’t find anything. Then they followed the outside of the rear of the warehouses and still didn’t find anything, looking in the alleys as they passed. For half an hour they moved, and everyone was getting bored. Ed had to change the batteries in his drone.
When they had turned the corner at the furthest most warehouse, Adam felt eyes on him. There were some yawns and complaints in the group. People were moving sloppily. It was time for a lesson.
As they reached an alley, Adam told Ed to check the roofs. He could feel what was coming next. Everyone looked up to watch the drone. With their eyes looking away from the alley, no one noticed some shadows shifting towards them. Only Adam watched as the shadows reached along the walls, thick enough to cover a single body, but long enough to hide multiple. The shadows were too dark considering the position of the sun, obviously a skill or magic, so Adam nonchalantly slid towards where it was closest to Carlos, while looking towards the group.
Carlos was at the entrance to the alley, with Nick about ten feet behind him. As the shadow got within two feet of him, a stone knife was thrust at Carlos’s abdomen. Adam reached out and grabbed the goblin wrist right as the knife touched Carlos. Falling backwards in surprise, Carlos hit the ground and yelped. He was staring at the arm reaching from the shadows and sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.
“I think you still need work as a scout, Carlos,” Adam said casually. His voice caused everyone to look at them and see the arm. The goblin was trying to pull its arm back into the shadow, but Adam held him tightly. Weapons came up and the formation tightened.
“Everyone ready?” asked Adam. It took just a few more seconds before Tom called out.
“Yeah, boss. How many?”
“I guess we’ll see.” Adam firmed his feet and then yanked the goblin towards the group. The assassin flew the distance and landed stomach down, trying to get to his feet. It was pinned quickly through the back by Tom, as Lucas pushed the head of his hammer on the goblin’s neck to hold it down. Then he stepped on the knife hand.
The shadow in the alleyway disappeared and there were three more goblins; a brawler, a shield-bearer, and an enforcer. Adam stepped back, allowing them to manage their confusion and decide how to attack.
Stolen story; please report.
“Everyone get a hit on the assassin, then Lucas kill him. Make sure you move in a way that allows someone to always watch in other directions. Ed, what’s on the roof?”
“Three goblins and a weird shadow. They are waving and running towards other roofs. It looks like they are trying to communicate. I’m bringing the drone down to film now.” Ed’s statement caused Adam to shrug. He was pretty sure his group would be alright, but it was obvious more goblins would be coming.
Before everyone had finished their hit on the assassin, the three goblins in front of Adam began moving with the shield-bearer in front and the melee fighters slightly back, but with enough space that they could rush forward.
“Brittney, come here once you’ve gotten your hit in. Mages, tag everything but don’t shoot otherwise unless you absolutely need to. Melee fighters need practice, and we all need levels.”
Carlos and Nick were already with the group, having gotten their hits on the assassin. Brittney was moving to him. Everyone else was forming a line, with the other two spearmen next to Tom, still pinning the assassin. Lucas pulled out his machete and cut its neck, then dragged the body out of the way.
Goblin “Assassin [5]” slain. 24 shared XP gained.
“All clear, boss,” called Tom. Nick and Carlos stood with the spearmen. The three mages stood a few steps behind them, with Lamar a bit off to the side with his dad’s bow and an arrow notched. Ed, Brandon, and Abbey were behind them. The drone was now hovered just in front of the group, focused on Adam.
“What did you want me for, Adam?” asked Brittney. “I really need to get a shield.”
“That’s why you are here,” Adam responded as he passed his sledgehammer to his left hand. Seeing Adam’s movement, the goblin in front brought up his shield. Quickly stepping forward, Adam grabbed the top of the crude wooden and hide shield with his right hand and brought his sledge down on the goblins arm. There was a crunch of the bones, a scream of the goblin, and then Adam was back handing Brittney the shield.
“Listen, this shield is terrible, but it’s something for you to get used to. Roam with me and try to defend using it. I don’t think it should be too heavy for you.”
“No, with the strength upgrade from last night it is fine in short bursts. Not sure how long it will last though.” Brittney’s face was serious as she grabbed the leather arm straps that were bolted to the back of the shield. It was a square item a little wider than her own forearm, but overall didn’t cover much of her.
The goblins began getting over their surprise of the human approaching them so casually. They moved forward, so Adam walked backwards to the group with Brittney.
“Ok, I’m going to sit this out. Let’s see how you guys do. Work together and stay safe,” Adam told everyone.
With his words, Adam could see everyone tense up. He really didn’t want their survival build on him. Being a wall between them and the monsters seemed like a bad idea, especially since he didn’t even know how to improve with his class being unable to level. Currently he was stronger and faster than everyone, but that might not last if he was starting at his peak.
It was a challenge for Adam not to be involved. Even if it made logical sense to foster his team, the heat in his heart was pulsing out.
Any time he saw, or even smelled, the goblins, an irrational hate rose in him. The heat pushed that hate through his body and when the river formed it drew in his anger and turned it into fury. Keeping it from affecting him was no easy feat. Often, he would internally feel for the bit of cool in his mind to make sure it wasn’t going to let him get carried away by the emotions that didn’t even feel like his own.
Adam might have looked in control to the others, but inside he felt the precarious balance. An uncontrollable outburst was just waiting for his willpower to falter.
The three goblins approached the group. They tried to get close, but the spears held them back. Three goblins against three spears.
They got poked, and a few mana darts went out and hit them. The light impact of the darts didn’t do much to the goblins, but when the brawler, who was on the right, growled at them, Lamar’s arrow hit him right in the chest, knocking him back a step. Lucas came around him and hit his kneecap head on, making a loud crack. The brawler fell. Shortly after an arrow hit the enforcer on the right, and Nick and Carlos rushed forward and cut its tendons on the ankles, causing him to fall.
The shield goblin wasn’t sure what to do, but it didn’t matter as an arrow hit it from the front and a sledgehammer from the back. Everyone got their hits into the downed goblins, with the support using the spare scraper for their hits. Ed winced as he stabbed them.
“I’ve gotta say,” spoke Randall, “Even though we outnumber them this is still scary as hell. I mean, a fist fight as kids is one thing, but stabbing monsters is just scary.”
“Do you want to go home?” asked Lucas.
“Nah, man. I’m just saying. They are ugly mothers and even if it was easy, it just feels exhausting.”
“Well don’t take too long to catch your breath,” said Adam. “There are eight more coming. Four from this alley and four from the next.”
Everyone froze at his statement, and Lucas sighed.
“Carlos, Lamar, and Nick, kill these three. Get used to it, this is war. Everyone else back up three steps so these bodied aren’t in our way. They’ll instead be in the goblins’ way,” Lucas started giving commands. Adam just watched, ready to help if it is needed.
Fortunately, even though two groups were coming, the goblins weren’t smart enough to coordinate. The four from this alley attacked straight away, as the other group further down took time to arrive.
The shield goblin did a good job blocking the spears, and the three goblins with him didn’t come into range. Adam wasn’t sure if it was Lamar’s skill or just that he was standing so close, but he continued to put arrows in the chests of the attacker goblins, allowing Nick and Carlose to cut their leg tendons, dropping them down. Once all three had fallen like that, Lucas came behind the shield goblin and hit him with the sledgehammer, and the spearmen pinned him.
The group barely had time to hit each and finish off the goblins when the next group was on them. Once again Lucas told them to take three steps back and then they used the same strategy of arrows and taking out their legs so everyone could share the experience.
While the group was finishing up, Adam slipped away towards the outside corner of the warehouse, where his group had entered the area. A shadow was against the wall and four goblins were trying to enter it, setting a trap for them.
Adam set down his sledgehammer, pulled out his machete and then one at a time he cut their legs and arm tendons without killing them.
The goblins tried to fight back, but they were always surprised when Adam dropped and swung low, and he made sure to only engage one at a time, keeping his target between him and any others. It wasn’t unusual for the next goblin to shove its teammate out of the way, only to get hamstrung themselves.
“I’m out of mana,” Adam heard Andrea say when he got back to the group.
“Me too,” said Alissa.
“I have two more shots left,” added Elias.
“My arrows are expensive. I don’t have many,” Lamar said as he was pulling the ones he had fired out of the corpses.
“Should we retreat?” asked Randall, looking around cautiously. “These scrapers have gotten dull. It takes too much strength to puncture the monsters.”
Lucas looked to Adam, who nodded.
“Alright, we’re retreating,” said Adam.
“Are you sure we need to?” asked Joseph. “These groups are easy.”
“Sure they are,” agreed Adam. “Except a third of your fighters are useless, and sixteen more goblins are on the way.” He pointed to other alleyways where groups of four were coming out. “Oh, and around that corner where we are retreating to are five more that were setting a trap at our backs.”
Several people straightened up at his explanation, and others started looking around with more effort. Lucas, who had appeared calm the whole time, started giving more orders to get everyone moving in a useful way. They gathered what they needed and got back into the circle formation to return. Around the corner they each hit the different goblins and Adam made the mages and support finish them off. There was a lot of hesitation, but Adam’s insistence, using his scary face, and the knowledge that more were coming pushed them into it.