A Sound Like No Other

I’m so glad I didn’t skip my morning run today…

Though the archers kept their aim, more goblins came out from the trees—the shaman not even once averting its gaze from him, the goblin’s glowing eyes filled with malice.

Yuushin felt a chill.

Four goblins charged at him—two running full throttle while the others jumped—from all directions. Clenching his jaw, Yuushin blocked the ones that jumped at his face with his arms, hitting them hard on their heads. The ones running, he knocked them out with two consecutive low kicks—striking them in the chest and neck.

From afar there was another shout, the chief signaling with its staff. Three more goblins charged at him while the archers loosened their arrows—their timing different from each other. Yuushin dodged the arrows, blocking once again the goblins that jumped at him. Though they were incredibly fast, their bodies were too light. Although…

My muscles are too stiff…

How many years since he had practiced? No, forget about practice—he hadn’t even stretched. And a morning run wouldn’t help him there. Well, perhaps he could consider that his warm up.

Yuushin kept blocking the creatures’ attacks, countering with hits of his own, again and again. When the next incoming of arrows came, two of them grazed his face and shoulder. And though he couldn’t tell how deep the cuts were, they started aching and burning right the next second. Were they using poison or some kind of toxin?

Yeah, waiting to find that out was a big no. Yuushin needed to get to a safe place as soon as humanly possible. And as the shaman shouted and waved its staff to give its orders, he clenched his fists. In order for Yuushin to survive…

I need to get rid of that annoying guy first…

And for that, he needed to get closer.

Lucky for Yuushin, he soon got his chance. As the archers took aim again, another goblin jumped at him. He grabbed the monster by its neck, using its body to block the arrows, making his way toward the shaman.

At times he would miss the timing, giving the goblins the chance to bite or scratch him before Yuushin could put them down. Still, little by little, he was getting closer. Yuushin grinned as he locked eyes with the shaman.

“Just wait for me, you ugly freak…”

But then, the shaman giggled again. And this time, his staff started glowing, the skull’s eyes shining a deep crimson light.

Yuushin never had a chance to block.

It was as if the air gained its own conscience and slapped him into one of the trees, crushing his body hard against the bark. Yuushin gasped, pain spreading across his entire body.

“…tsk…these fancy clothes are not just for show, huh?” Yuushin grunted, the words escaping through his lips like rough stones scratching against his throat. Apparently, hoping the shaman couldn’t use magic didn’t pay off well.

It would sure be nice if I could use magic as well, now that I’m here.

The pressure keeping him stuck lessened, his body falling to the ground like an empty sack of rice. When Yuushin tried to stand up, however, the skull’s eyes shone again as the chief goblin's grin widened—the creature licking its teeth before waving the staff.

Another invisible blow came from behind, sending Yuushin flying. The clash against another tree knocked all the air out of him, his vision filling with dark spots, his head ringing.

Once again the pressure crushing his body dissipated, making him collapse to the ground. Yuushin gasped for air, sweat dripping from his face. Then his vision cleared. He was a lot closer to the shaman than before.

No pain no gain, huh?

The chieftain shouted its orders again, sending more goblins at him. Yuushin grunted, forcing his legs to stand as he took a defensive stance again. A few meters ahead of him, the shaman giggled at him, moving its body in a joyful dance as if to mock him.

A weak laugh escaped his lips and, for a brief second, something flicked inside him. A faint spark, like a flame surging from within.

I may lose a limb, but I will make sure to wipe that smug look off your face, you hairy freak.

Blocking and dodging the goblins’ charges became not only more taxing, but more arduous. The creatures managed to scratch and hit him before he took them down, every movement making his muscles cry, his ribs hurt. Perhaps that had been the shaman’s goal all along.

But then…if the shaman had only used magic to exhaust him, that meant it couldn’t use magic that much, right? Or that it had a limit to how frequently it could use those spells. So if Yuushin wanted to take that monster down—

I need to stop playing defense.

As his body grew a bit warmer, Yuushin changed his stance. His movements became quicker, more precise, as he stroke goblin after goblin while doing his best to ignore the throbbing, increasing pain. And one by one, step by step, he got closer—so close, Yuushin could hear that cursed giggle.

Yuushin saw an archer aiming at his head, the goblin’s fingers loosing on the arrow—

He ducked, leaning his body forward as he took charge, putting all his strength in his legs. Yuushin didn’t care for the goblins that grabbed him by his clothes, much less the ones who clung to his legs and arms. There was only one thing he could see at that moment—staring at him away from the small glade, surrounded by those monstrous trees.

And it was starting to wave a skull staff at him, the skull’s eyes taking an orange glow.

Around the shaman, flames started sprouting one by one, their heat increasing. Yuushin smiled, raising his fist. Strengthening his grip. Chuckling with an uneven breath.

“Too late now, dumbass.”

And struck the shaman on its jaw with all he had, sending the creature meters up in the air.

Hah, goblins sure are light… How convenient.

It took less than seven seconds for the shaman to be back on the ground. Seconds that Yuushin dedicated solely to the goblins attacking him, crushing their windpipes and sinking his elbows in their faces. And at the last second, the moment he heard that thud behind him…

“What, you’re not giggling anymore? Did you choke on a bug on your way down?”

Yuushin cracked his fists, matching the hatred in the shaman’s glare with ease. A thick, purple liquid ran down the shaman’s mouth as the goblin stood up, its legs shaking for a second. A smile bloomed on his lips as he walked closer. Funny enough, seeing that scene lessened his pain a bit.

“C’mon, laugh for me one more time.”

The shaman raised its arm, the skull’s eyes glowing stronger as new flames started to form. But Yuushin didn’t have any intention of letting the monster finish that spell. Within a heartbeat, he hit the blue-skinned goblin with his palms right on its throat—the shaman choking as it dropped the staff.

“Not that fun, right? Not being able to breathe.”

Still fighting for air, the goblin squinted its eyes with loath, its hand closing around an arrow stuck in his leg and twisting it, making it go deeper into Yuushin's flesh. Since when was that there? No, actually…

That was good. Really good.

Pulling out the arrow himself, Yuushin spun his body and threw a kick at the shaman’s head, sending it straight to the ground. Then, pinning the goblin down with his knees, he gripped the blooded arrow tighter.

“Last chance. What about some giggles now?”

The shaman bit its lip, and right as it was about to open its mouth—

Yuushin dug the arrow deep into its throat, purple blood flooding around the creature’s neck and his hands. Yet as he did so, the goblin’s eyes turning completely white alongside the skull staff beside him. Then, it opened its mouth, the air around them bending and twisting as its final words reverberated throughout the open space.

Once the shaman’s body became limp, Yuushin let out a shaken sigh, turning around. Around him, he could see the rest of the goblins feeling almost desperately.

And that’s my cue.

As Yuushin started walking, he ignored the pain. Ignored the scorching pain from the arrows’ wounds. Even when he almost passed out, digging into his wound to force his mind to stay awake, he kept ignoring the pain.

Yet those screams? Those desperate pleas for help?

Those, he couldn’t.

Lungs burning, muscles aching, Yuushin gave one last sprint. One last charge toward a stranger paralyzed in fear as a goblin came out of the bushes. Then, he grabbed a sharp branch from the ground—

And pierced the creature’s skull.

Yuushin turned to the man, relief spreading across his chest.

I made it…

He extended his hand, still a bit out of breath. “Can you stand?”

The stranger nodded again and again, thanking Yuushin with tears streaming down his face. Yuushin smiled, trying to comfort him.

I was never good at this, though…

But hopefully, as long as we find others, we can all stay together and—

*thwack*

A thick, black thorn crossed the young man’s skull as if it were made of butter.

Yuushin’s heart stopped. Warmth left his body. And as he shifted his gaze, Yuushin realized he had been wrong. So, so painfully wrong.

This is when boss music would play…

Coming out of the woods into the trail, with a new thorn sprouting out of its arm, a monster that was more than two meters tall. A creature that could crush his head with its bare hands—a Hobgoblin.

And judging by the look in its eyes…

Its target was Yuushin.