Amaya seized the moment, pivoting gracefully and bringing her blade down in a swift arc. With a fierce cry, she aimed for the goblin's midsection, her movements fluid and precise. The creature barely had time to react before her blade connected, sending it crashing to the ground.
["Congratulations, you have killed a low-ranked goblin."]
Amaya dashed toward another goblin barreling her way, Ryu hot on her heels. She swung her blade, the worn metal glinting as it met the goblin's crude weapon. The sound of clashing steel rang out, but in the heat of the confrontation, a glimmer of movement caught her eye.
From her waist side, Ryu thrust a goblin spear forward with impeccable timing. The spear shot like lightning, piercing the air and striking the goblin square in the chest. The creature's eyes widened in shock. It knew Ryu was using a dagger, but the sudden spear move caught it off guard as it was lifted off its feet, the force of the blow sending it crashing to the ground.
["Congratulations, you have killed a low-ranked goblin."]
Amaya and Ryu fought side by side. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and steel, and the cries of battle filled the corridor. Together, they formed a fierce frontline; in no time, they had already death with six goblins more started coming.
Kato stood firm, his eyes scanning the battlefield, ready to join the fray if needed. He could feel the adrenaline surging through him, the thrill of combat igniting his spirit.
Drawn by the clash, goblins swarm Kato's team from behind. Jin, wielding a spiked gauntlet, strikes. His massive fist connects with a goblin's chest, launching it skyward. The creature slams into the ceiling, cracking stone. As it falls, three bloody holes mar its pale torso. More foes close in from all sides, a relentless tide of green flesh.
Jin's fist collided with a satisfying thud. His face lit up, radiating contentment. He'd been itching to try these gauntlets, and now, savoring the moment, he declared,
["Congratulations, you have killed your first goblin."]
["Congratulations, you have killed a low-ranked goblin."]
["Congratulations, you have passed the second mission. You have taken a life."]
["Congratulations, you have been awarded 200 mana stones."]
Jin not only killed his first goblin but also did the second mission in the process.
"They're worth every coin." The anticipation has resulted in a significant reward.
Remi's spear flashed, fell an approaching goblin. Despite its low level, his uniquely designed weapon demonstrated significant value. He relished wielding it, finding pleasure in its swift efficiency against foes.
The system alert flashed incessantly: "You have killed a goblin. You have levelled up."
Kato spotted archer goblins and signaled. Akio and Sara eagerly showed their skills. Blue energy formed balls around their right hands. They fired mana missiles, causing explosions that killed the archers, instantly ripping holes in their bodies. Some archers still survived, but they were disrupted.
["Congratulations, you have killed your first goblin."]
["Congratulations, you have killed a low-ranked goblin."]
More alerts popped up as Amaya dashed ahead, finishing off the archers. Kato noticed a fatally injured goblin fleeing. He leapt forward, stabbing it with his blade. The goblin grimaced before collapsing.
Kato felt accomplished, also seeing the level-up alert. More goblins appeared, and the team fought cohesively.
"Stop stealing my kills," Amaya said as she glanced at Ryu.
"It's teamwork. I'm assisting you," Ryu smiled.
"I didn't request it," Amaya retorted, looking ahead.
Remi and Jin effortlessly dispatched goblins attacking from behind. As another group approached, Akio and Sara fired mana missiles. They obliterated the group in an instant.
The relentless alert continued:
["You have killed a goblin. You have levelled up."]
As they fought together, the energy of battle surged through Kato's team, each successful strike granting them the power to level up and earn mana stones. A sense of pride filled the air, but Amaya remained distant, her expression cold and contemplative.
Her gaze swept the hallway, taking in the blood-soaked ground. It was clear that a fierce struggle had taken place; the signs of violence were all around, yet there were no bodies. A chilling thought crossed her mind—had the goblins feasted on the fallen?
Nearby, Ryu was grinning, sharing a light moment with Akio as they exchanged jokes about how weak the goblins seemed. "I mean, look at them!" he laughed, glancing at the scattered creature's body he had killed. But Jin, standing close by, shot him a knowing look.
"You were the first to run when you saw one up close, remember?"
Ryu's laughter faltered at Jin's words. But he quickly composed himself and shrugged it off. Meanwhile, Amaya remained silent, her mind racing with darker thoughts. The gruesome fates of the goblins' past victims weighed on her. They pulled her from her friends' lighthearted banter.
As the team pressed on, Amaya felt a deepening resolve. They had to stay vigilant; there was more to this fight than just battling goblins. With each step, she steeled herself for whatever horrors lay ahead, knowing their survival depended on their unity and awareness of unseen threats in the shadows.
They had looted the goblin corpse they had killed as they kept moving forward.
The morning light filtered through the windows of Rose High School, but it was already covered by woods meant to keep the students in; Kato and his team found themselves at a fork in the hallway. One path stretched deeper into the shadows while the other veered left, leading up the stairs.
"This is where we part ways," Amaya declared, turning to face her teammates, her voice steady and unwavering.
"Stay safe," Ryu said, offering her a reassuring smile, though a hint of concern lingered in his eyes.
"Isn't it too dangerous? What if we," Jin started, worry creeping into his voice, but Amaya cut him off.
"We talked about this. The supplies are important, and I'll be fine," Amaya replied, meeting Jin's gaze with unwavering confidence.
"Stay safe, darling," Sara added, her voice soft yet firm, filled with affection.
"Let us know if anything goes wrong," Kato said, his expression bold. He nodded to Amaya, feeling a mix of admiration and jealousy as he watched her stand tall, ready to face whatever lay ahead alone. Memories flooded his mind of the moment she had saved him from a goblin's attack, striking it down with fierce determination.
"This is good," Ryu whispered to Kato, sensing his inner conflict.
"You can level up, too," he added, a hint of excitement.
Kato tightened his grip on his blade, determination igniting in his eyes. The morning sun provided a glimmer of hope, filling him with purpose as he prepared to face the unknown. "Let's do this," he said to Ryu, steeling himself as they turned toward the path ahead.
Ryu and Kato ascended the stairs while Amaya took another route, but stayed on the ground floor, their determination unwavering. As they reached the top, a group of goblins appeared, eyes glinting with malice. The two friends sprang into action, swiftly engaging the creatures in battle.
While Ryu and Kato reveled in their success, Akio and Sara felt the weight of exhaustion pressing down on them. Despite not having fought directly, the accumulation and utilization of mana energy had drained them significantly. They pulled out potions filled with a vibrant blue liquid, their only means of recovery, and drank deeply.
"You have recovered part of your mana energy," the system alert chimed, affirming their efforts.
As they assessed their stats, they noticed that both had similar mana points, though Akio held a slight edge with just two more than Sara. She had 5/20 mana energy, and as she drank the potion, her energy surged to 15/20, gaining a much-needed boost. But the cost of a Mana Missile attack weighed heavily on her mind, 5 points per use.