Chapter 91 Helen's Death

Suzuka stood face to face with the goblin shaman that held the young girl hostage, her terrified eyes pleading for help. But the shaman was cunning, and he knew well how to play his cards.

"Ke ke ke! Fight back, human! Girl suffers," the shaman hissed, his eyes flickering with malevolent glee, "Oh you adventurers, always so smart and brave! Always looking down on us goblins, how does it feel to fall into a trap set by weak goblins you look down on?"

Suzuka asked, "What are you talking about, you stinking goblin? Do you call this a trap? You're just holding a child hostage! I wouldn't call this a trap. But, it would seem you knew we were coming."

"Ke ke ke! Woman! Of course, we knew. The survivor from the previous camp you attacked came back and warned us."

The goblin that was hurt came close to the shaman and pointed at David while talking in the goblin language. The shaman laughed and ordered the orc who was holding David to bring him to his knees. 

Shaman pointed his dagger at David, "This man! He wanted to kill this goblin, but he failed. And he came to warn us." 

"Oh for fuck sake, David! You screw us again?! You know what stinking shaman? You can kill him, you would do us a favor, really. I had it with him constantly putting us in danger."

"I'm sorry! I let one goblin slip past me, I didn't think this would happen. I'm sorry!" David pleaded for forgiveness for his mistake.

"If this damn goblin doesn't kill you, I will roust you alive myself, David! I will not forgive you." 

"Silence! Woman! Do you think me is a fool?! I know what you doing! Trying to trick me! Me! The great Gobler! I will not be taken for a fool! This is your last chance! I Offer choice. Woman! Surrender for breeding, populate strong goblins for us! Agree and men can leave, alive! Resist, they will die."

With disgust in her voice, "I will not be your plaything, vile creature! I rather die than let you touch me with your dirty hands, you scum! Filthy creature!" Her response was loud and clear.

"Then you shall die!" Shaman pointed his finger at Larry, "You! Filthy human! Go take her sword and kill her with it! Now! Or this girl gets it!" Shaman ordered as he pressed his dagger tighter against the girl's neck.

Larry hesitated, his eyes darting from the shaman to Suzuka. He didn't want to hurt his friend, but he was too afraid for the young girl's safety. Suzuka took a deep breath, her mind racing with a plan. She knew she couldn't let the girl die.

After a short pause, Larry walked to Suzuka and stopped in front of her. Rain was still pouring down strong, the sound it made muffled Larry's and Suzuka's conversation.

Larry whispered, "Helen, any bright ideas? We are in a really bad situation right now." 

"Larry," she whispered back, her voice barely audible over the shaman's cackling laughter and showering rainstorm. "Trust me. I have a plan, do as he says. Stab me in the abdomen. Just do it, I will be fine."

"Are you crazy? That's madness, I don't see how that helps us in this situation."

 "Just do it, Larry. Trust me and make it believable. Hurry, before he hurt the girl. I will get us out of here alive." 

With a heavy heart, Larry plunged his sword into Suzuka's abdomen. She fell to the ground, her blood staining the dirt beneath her. The goblin shaman basked in his amusement, his guard down while he watched Suzuka writhe in pain as blood poured from her wound.

The goblin shaman had been so focused on his victory that he failed to notice Suzuka was using her box magic power. As he cackled with delight, Suzuka made her move, swiftly and silently. With a powerful strike, she used her power on the shaman's head, causing it to cave in on itself with a sickening crunch. The force of the magic caused the shaman's head to pop like a balloon, sending bits of gore and brain matter flying in every direction. 

 The two orcs who had been standing guard nearby froze in place, their eyes wide with shock and horror at the sudden, violent demise of their leader. They had been so focused on the shaman's victory that they hadn't even noticed Suzuka's magic. Now, they stood there, unsure of what to do, as their comrade's blood and brain matter splattered across their faces and armor.

 It was all the time Suzuka needed to get up and launch her two swords at the orcs. With a fierce battle cry, she threw at them her swords. The orcs still stunned and disoriented by what had just happened, had no time to react. With quick, precise strikes, Suzuka's blades plunged into their chests, killing them instantly. The orcs fell to the ground, their bodies twitching and convulsing as their lifeblood spilled out onto the grass. 

As the rest of the camp descended into chaos, Suzuka stood there, her chest heaving with exertion and her abdomen still dripping with blood. After retrieving her blades she wiped them clean and began to make her toward David.

But before she could come close to him and give him the beating she was about to deliver Larry stepped in front of her, "Helen! Are you alright? You need to stop moving, you are bleeding!" 

"I will be fine when I beat a living shit out of this damn misfortuned fool! Step said Larry, I will not be satisfied until I at least punch him once! He screws us yet again!"

"Helen, stop! Please! Don't hurt him, If you want to punch someone, punch me! This is all my fault, I started this party, I persisted to keep pushing on fully aware we are ill-equipped, and I was against turning back. This is all on me, not on him."

"God damn it, Larry! Stop covering for him! You did nothing wrong, he did."

"Please! Let's get out of here first, then we will settle this. We need to rescue the girls and escort them safely back to town. That's the most important thing right now. Forget about David for now, let's go get the girls out of that cage and leave this place!"

"Okay, okay Larry, your right. Let's focus on saving the girls, you and David go get them I will make sure the remaining goblins don't interfere."

 "Are you in any shape to fight? How is your wound, I cut you deep. You should rest..." Larry was interrupted by a familiar ground stomping sound, the behemoth was charging. 

Larry's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene before him. His gaze shifted from Suzuka's wound to the incoming threat, and he quickly turned to face the behemoth charging toward them. The ground shook beneath their feet with each thunderous step, causing the flimsy shacks around them to tremble and creak.

As the behemoth charged forward, its massive form barreling through the makeshift structures like a wrecking ball, Larry's heart raced with fear. He knew that the beast's trajectory was set straight toward David, and there was no way he could evade its path in time.

But before Larry could even react, Suzuka had already sprung into action. With lightning-fast reflexes, she pushed David out of harm's way and took the full brunt of its attack.

The behemoth swung its giant wooden club with devastating force, the weapon hurtling toward Suzuka like a missile. She braced herself for the impact, and the club connected with her body with a sickening thud. The sheer force of the blow sent her flying through the air, her body spinning and twisting as she hurtled towards the nearest shack.

With a resounding crash, Suzuka collided with the structure, smashing through the flimsy walls and reducing it to a pile of splintered wood and debris. Her body lay motionless amidst the rubble, blood seeping from the wound where the behemoth's club had struck her.

Larry rushed over to Suzuka's side, his heart heavy with dread. As he knelt beside her, he could see the extent of her injuries. Her body was twisted at an unnatural angle, with blood showing from cuts and bruises all over her skin. He saw her left arm was bent in a way it should not have been.

 Larry knew that Suzuka had taken the full force of the behemoth's swing, and the injuries she had sustained were severe. He gently touched her face, but she did not respond. As he examined her injuries, Larry felt a wave of sadness and anger wash over him. Suzuka had sacrificed herself to save David and him, and he could not let her efforts go to waste. 

As Larry sat beside Suzuka's motionless body, he knew that her injuries were too severe, and there was nothing he could do to save her. A feeling of numbness spread through his body, followed by a deep sense of anger and determination. Larry had lost a friend and a comrade, and the behemoth was to blame.

 As he slowly stood up, his eyes locked on the giant creature, he knew that he had to avenge Suzuka's death. However, Larry was not going to let his anger consume him. He had learned long ago that letting rage blind him would only lead to death. He took a deep breath, and his mind cleared, focused on the task at hand. 

 Drawing his sword, Larry slowly walked towards the behemoth, which was still bellowing in victory. As Larry walked towards the behemoth, his steps became steady with every passing second. He knew that he was facing a mighty foe, one that he had never fought alone before, but he also knew that he had to avenge Suzuka's death.

David was cowering in the bushes, too scared to even move, but Larry felt no fear standing alone against the giant creature. His anger fueled him, he gripped his sword tightly as he launched his attack.

The behemoth was taken aback by Larry's sudden assault, and for a moment, it hesitated. Larry took advantage of the momentary lapse in the behemoth's defenses and delivered a series of quick and precise strikes.

The creature roared in anger and pain, swinging its club wildly, but Larry was too quick for it. He dodged each attack with ease, his movements fluid.

Larry knew that he had to wear the behemoth down, chipping away at its strength until it was vulnerable enough for him to deliver the final blow. He continued his assault, his sword flashing in the air as he struck again and again.

The behemoth was tiring, its movements becoming more sluggish with each passing moment. Larry's body was also starting to show signs of fatigue, and he knew that he was nearing his limits. It was a miracle that a normal human like him had survived for so long against a behemoth, but he also knew that he couldn't let his guard down.

The giant creature was dangerous, even in its weakened state, and Larry had to stay alert. He continued to circle around the behemoth, trying to exhaust the beast. 

Suddenly, the behemoth let out a roar, it was angry. With a second wind, the behemoth charged at Larry in an attempt to crush him but the giant creature was no match for Larry's speed and agility. He darted in and out of its reach, delivering quick and precise strikes. The behemoth swung its club wildly, trying to land a hit on Larry, but he dodged each attack with ease. Larry knew that he had to be patient, if any of the massive attacks land, he will perish. 

Larry waited for the right moment to strike. Finally, the behemoth made a mistake, overextending its swing, leaving itself open. Larry seized the opportunity and plunged his sword deep into the creature's side between the ribs, with a precise piercing strike to its heart.

 The behemoth let out a roar as it collapsed to the ground, its body shaking the earth beneath Larry's feet. As he stood there, victorious, Larry couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. Suzuka was gone, he was barely standing and David was no help in the current state. Even with the beast on the ground, he is still outnumbered by the remaining goblins. 

Larry was left with only a thought, "At least... I avenged your death... Helen."