8.1 - Art of War

Our respite was short-lived as swarms of goblins came rushing out of the entrance, numbering in mass and popping out one at a time. we spread out in a pincer position, creating a wide arc around the entrance. Silica and I prepared devastating magical spells, poised to unleash their destructive power upon the goblin horde. Tina positioned herself in the center, ready to provide healing and support whenever needed.

Yumi, utilizing her ranged abilities, skillfully picked off the goblins from a distance with her precise shots. Tang! Arrows fired by Yumi clashed with the metallic sounds of goblin armor, while flames from our fire magic engulfed the battlefield. We mercilessly slaughtered single goblins as they jumped out rushing a person at random. Approximately 100 goblins came flying out. They were blinded by the light, running to the closest thing they could see. It was either a metal weapon or a ball of fire they ran into. Luckily they were goblins and one swing from our vanguard gave a fatal blow. our group has been killing goblins for 2 months now, and Lukes group has been killing them for a month and a half. We knew how weak they were.

Eventually, their numbers dwindled, and the last few remaining goblins retreated inside. More than 100 goblin corpses lay outside the blood soaked entrance, along with approximately 30 that ran back inside from our previous encounters. We had to go back in for Zero.

“Zero, where are you” “Zero!” as we started calling out.

“We have to go back inside!”

We must have spent 15 minutes outside fighting nonstop as goblins jumped out of the entrance. We were all tired from being sneaky inside to running out full speed. Then fighting nonstop.

“We have no choice but to go back in! No man left behind!” Luke declared walking back inside with all of us behind. It took Soro and Steef a few more seconds for them to join us.

“Zero! Zero Zero Zero!” we called out scanning each room with light magic as we passed.

We finally found him in a corner of a room we cleared before retreating.

“Zero! What happened” Zero was covered in all black clothes and very hard to notice. Luckily my light magic shined into his eyes. Like seeing a cat's eyes in the dark.

“There’s blood on your face! What happened? Are you ok? Tina heal him!”

As he appeared in the light. “Zero what were you doing? Were you running away again” Ryota punched Zero on the arm. Seemed like he was joking but had a very worried face on

“Sorry, everyone. I took a wrong turn and by the time I figured out, everyone was gone. Goblins appeared between us.”

“Don’t worry about it Zero, let's get out of here for now” We pulled Zero along and got outside to take a long delivered breather, that I would have hoped for.

It must have been two hours since we first stepped into the catacombs. We were being careful after all. I would have said over 150 goblins lay dead inside and outside. Our raid had been a resounding success so far, with no injuries among our group. However, that would be the case if Zero didn’t get lost. Exhaustion weighed heavily on each of us, and we took a moment to regroup and catch our breath. But our brief reprieve was interrupted as, just 10 minutes after the last battle, the sound of commotion arose from within the catacombs.

"Get ready! More are coming out!" shouted Luke, his voice filled with determination. Sora and Steef, though less experienced, fled to the rear to assist in providing backup to the rear. It felt like drums sets but instead of drums, it was footsteps coming inside.

"Bring it on!" Ryota Screamed with his adrenaline surging.

We eliminated 10 of them quickly with our pincer placement around the entrance. Same as before

“Hobgoblin!” I called out. Not just one but two came out back to back!

“Two!” Silica shouted out.

That's not just all, 10 normal goblins came flying out behind them. We weren’t ready for this many!

“Zephyr!” I called upon; a green diagram symbol of a wind spell. It was still a basic wind spell but stronger than my wind gust that knocks down enemies. My new spell I was working on. I picked wind because no one in a raid can use wind. The fire was Silica specialty and light magic was useless in battle.

My wind bell flew by in an arc, cutting a charging goblin, giving him a massive wound. Not immediately fatal but it would cause great pain and possible death if untreated if he makes it that long. My spell wasn’t intended for the goblin. my true aim was for the hobgoblin behind him. “tisc! stupid goblin got in the way!”

“Liquid fire!” Silica’s intermediate fire spell. It was more complex and had more mana consumption than the fireball. A ball of fire appeared and shot forth at the front hobgoblin. Hitting square in its exposed stomach. It was different than a fireball. Fireball was more like a rock covered in flame hitting you. This was more like burning hot water hitting you that kept burning. The liquid fire hit and started burning the hobgoblin's skin. It was screaming in pain but not dead! It had massive third degree burns on its stomach. It was not happy! As it ran toward her in blind rage. An arrow smacked into his broad chest, sticking onto him. Not even slowing him down.

“What! You kidding me!” Yumi screamed as the hobgoblin kept on charging at Silica.

“Fireball” as I shoot a fireball at the hobgoblin's face. Luckily I hit his face. If I didn't it would have flown right over. Fire magic was still a better offense spell than wind.

The hobgoblin fell to his knees with its hands on his face. As Silica called on her fireball, delivering to the upper chest. Fallen over.

“There's too many of them!” as of ten no, twenty! More Goblins ran out of the entrance. Right was a hobgoblin fighting Kendra. Thud! As it hits the ground with its mallet. On the Left, Luke was fighting a third hobgoblin. A third when did a third appear?

I have no time! four goblins were running at me! Our formation was breaking.

From right to left, we had Zero, Soro, and Kendra as vanguard. With Hourka, Yumi, and Steef as rear guard.

Middle was myself and Silica, we couldn’t have people in front of us since we cast the biggest spells.

Left of Silica was Tina and Anna in the rear guard with Ryota, Daki, and Luke in the vanguard.

I had no choice but to draw my sword. It was just a regular cheap one hander. I trained with Kendra once and I never looked back as she kicked my ass. I didn’t want to have to use this.

Four goblins charged me and Silica. Pulling my sword and taking a wide arc. I swung my sword. Cutting deep into the side of the first goblin. Trying to pull it out. I can't! It’s suck. As a second run at me. I have no weapon! Only one option left I guess. I lifted... Smack! With a swift and calculated motion, I raised my leg, bending my right knee, as the green sluggish goblin closed in. A resounding smack echoed through the air as my boot made firm contact with the wicked creature. It fell over. it was only a three-foot goblin in my defense. Thud! Thud! A few stomps to the head will do it. Of the other two goblins one ran after Silica and the other looked scared as looking at me.

I bent down to grab my sword from the squirming goblin with my sword still in. Pulling out the sword brought the end of the first goblin. The third goblin, still terrified, stared and ran off back to the cave.

“There's too many! Do we retreat?” cried Steef.

Kendra was still fighting a hobgoblin and other goblins. “Wind Blast!” I cast at two charging goblins after Kendra.

“Kendra, you good”

“Yeah”

“Let's do this!” as I build mana into my light spell. Shining it into the semi cut hobgoblins Kendra was facing, blinding the creature. The creature hobbled in pain as coving its eyes. Kendra skillfully dodged its attack and struck its neck with a jump and a single swing to its neck. Bang! ending its threat.

Bang! A ball of fire zoomed by me. Ahhhh! A big bang and a girl's scream.

“SHAMONS!”

Two goblins equipped with staff, outside the entrance of the catacombs. One was casting! The other just shot a fireball at Yumi. A crater was near Yumi our ranger, lucky it missed, and the impact made her fall. Two goblins started charging her when she was still down.

“YUMI!” as Soro and Steef both attempted to intercept them. They engaged in combat for the first time.

“LUKE!”

Luke was engaged in a fierce battle with another hobgoblin, their strengths seemingly matched. Suddenly, a fireball from one of the shamans struck Luke from the side, causing him to stagger. The shaman commanded the smaller goblins to surround him.

Luke, still standing strong, contined hitting the hobgoblin back. Ryota and Daiki came in to help and started beating the goblins charging him then helped with the hobgoblin. wack! wack!

Luke was strong willed and was able to take a direct hit from a fireball and still swung his two handed mallet at the hobgoblin.

"SILICA!" realizing the urgency of the situation. "We must deal with the shamans first!"

Both Silica and I aimed, conjuring our most powerful fireball spells. “Fireball” “Fireball” as 2 large balls of fire swore toward the two of the shamans. One hitting and one just missed as the shaman dodge the attack. The remaining shaman reacted faster than us and started casting another fireball toward me. He’s going to get the cast off!

“Die you bastard!” Yumi sent an arrow at the shaman. Hitting him in the right side of the chest. realizing the odds were turning against them, the shaman and the few remaining goblins fled back into the labyrinth, abandoning the fight.

Luke, Ryota, and Daichi finally took down the last remaining hob. As Luke fell to his knees then onto his back.

“Tina!”

“Yes” as she ran toward Luke who lay on his back with his fist pumped into the air for victory.

As Tina rushed towards Luke to tend to his injuries from the fire spell, few enemies remained. Two chasing after Zero who was running away. Two were still fighting Steef and Soro. And Kendra just stabbed her last enemy. The victory was in sight as we helped Zero and Steef with their goblins. Soro was the last to finish his enemy. It was his first one on one duel with an enemy that day, besides stabbing the ones sleeping.

Amidst victorious cheers and celebration within the group, we gathered together and took a well-deserved break and lunch!

"Phew, that was quite a lot of them," Steef remarked, panting.

"Yeah, I managed to take down one hobgoblin and five goblins. How about you, Steef?" Ryota asked curiously. "Uh, just one," Steef replied, sounding a bit disappointed. "Haha, in all that chaos, you only got two goblins. You're pathetic," he teased playfully. Curious about Luke's condition, I left the victory talks.

"How's Luke doing?"

"Just a flesh wound, I’ll be fine," He responded. Relieved to hear that Luke's injuries were minor, I took note that he only suffered a bruise and some burned clothing.

“You’re not fine! You’re lucky your armor blocked the fire, but the impact still hit you! You oaf!”

Considering our next course of action, I voiced the question, "What should we do now?"

"We could either continue further into the labyrinth or head back," Anna suggested. Daiki interjected excitedly, "Let's go back in and finish the job!"

Silica chimed in, proposing that we take a break before producing. There were still goblins inside. We need a break and have some lunch. We also need some time for Luke to recover.

We rested for over an hour near the battlefield. We were 5 minutes away from it. There were so many bodies that it was sickening looking at them. There was a possibility some will sneak out and flee before we made it back, but a risk we took.

“Where’s the food!” Daki called out for

We hardly had any food. We still need to eat in this world After all; it was a spiritual body. This world did not have magic bags with infinite space like the games or the books do. We didn’t plan for this! Lesson learned if you travel bring food! The only shortcut for not having a magical bag was summoning food. Which entails summoning a creature like my horse. When I summon him, he brings whatever’s attached to him. So, a saddle and more. In this case, we attached a tent to each of our horses but no food. Well, this sucks.