Pick Me Up!

This was no time for emergency treatment. If any one of us stepped out, the passage would be immediately breached.

Hanson swung his sword, unaware of Zeeth’s fading life behind him.

Zeeth let out a faint gasp.

Foamy blood mixed with his breath, trickling out.

“Wait!”

Jenna swiftly rotated her body and unleashed four arrows in quick succession. Each arrow found its mark on a different goblin vaulting over the wall.

With that, the quiver ran dry.

[08:05]

Jenna rushed to Zeeth’s side.

His eyes grew hazy, unaware of what lay before him.

“Damn it!”

As her dager came down, the goblin’s skull split vertically.

“Ah, ugh, ah…”

Even if there was time for emergency treatment, there was no solution.

To pull out the knife embedded in his abdomen? It would unleash a gush of blood like a fountain.

Jenna knew there was nothing she could do. She slowly shook her head and rose again, gripping her bow.

[‘Zeeth (★)’ has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His unwavering spirit will be forever remembered.]

“Ze… Zeeth, just take over for a moment. I only need 30 seconds… Just a moment.”

Hanson gasped, his words trailing off.

But there was no one left to listen.

A goblin thrust its spear. I caught it at my side and yanked it out. The long spear slid out smoothly. It had been a while since I wielded such a useful weapon. Gripping the spear with both hands, I thrust it forward.

First one pierced, second one too, third, fourth, all the way to the sixth.

I poured every ounce of strength into it. The muscles in my ankles and calves flexed with vigor.

I pressed on. A powerful recoil surged back. I clenched my teeth, tasting the tang of blood. The goblins in the passage began to give ground.

With unwavering resolve, I drove the spear into the goblin’s chest, piercing through to the handle.

“Kueeeek!”

I must have pierced at least ten of them.

A momentary pause befell the goblin advance.

I dashed straight to the open space.

“Hanson, head to the left passage! I’ll handle this side!”

“Hyung-nim? What about Zeeth…?”

“He’s resting, exhausted. No time for words, just go!”

“Ah, understood!”

Hanson dashed off to the left.

He seemed to have missed Zeeth’s lifeless body on the ground. The path was blocked by a heap of goblin corpses, granting us a brief respite of 30 seconds to a minute.

I flicked my sword, wiping away the sticky blood and fat.

[In the face of dire circumstances, the heroes’ spirits awaken!]

[Drumroll!]

[Skill awakened!]

[‘Han (★)’s ‘Low-rank Swordsmanship’ has reached Level 5!]

[‘Han (★)’s ‘Pain Resistance’ has reached Level 2!]

[‘Han (★)’s ‘Calmness’ has been raised by two levels! Now at Level 3.]

[Drumroll!]

[Skill awakened!]

[‘Jenna (★)’s ‘Low-rank Dagger Mastery’ has reached Level 3!]

[‘Jenna (★)’ has acquired the skill ‘Swift Agility’!]

Being hailed as a hero or sacrificing oneself meant nothing if it led to certain death.

Without hesitation, I charged forward.

The situation in this corridor was reaching a breaking point. Though trapped in a narrow passageway, the goblins were waiting for the balance to tip, ready to flood the open space in a relentless onslaught.

I struck the foremost goblin’s head with force. Despite kicking their chests with all my might, they held their ground. The goblins behind them acted as a cushion, absorbing the impact. Well, then let them die right there. I kicked and struck them repeatedly until they met their end, blood spewing from their mouths.

[05:21]

Jenna gripped her dagger tightly, swiftly maneuvering across the open space.

The arrows had long been depleted. The goblins, undeterred by the towering wall, surged over it one after another.

“Aaargh!”

[‘Hanson (★)’ is experiencing bleeding. Health decreases at regular intervals.]

A cry echoed from the left passageway.

Hanson’s right arm was drenched in blood, bearing the marks of a brutal slashing.contemporary romance

The bleeding was severe, far from a clean cut.

‘…We no longer can fight back.’

“Gather in the open space! Abandon the passageways! Strengthen the walls!”

The goblins had four entry points.

The left, right, and lower alleyways, and finally, the stone wall surrounding the open area.

To halt their advance, we needed a minimum of four people.

Remaining in combat readiness were myself, Jenna, and Aaron.

“Hyung-nim, save me! Please, save me!”

If I went to his aid, I would be putting myself in jeopardy.

I clenched my teeth, I really had no choice.

I made my way towards the open space.

Goblins poured out from the lower passage like an unstoppable wave.

“Where should we regroup? Where?”

Aaron seemed flustered.

His leather armor was unrecognizable, soaked in blood from head to toe. I likely didn’t look much better.

“Jenna, Aaron, stick close to me.”

[‘Hanson (★)’ has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His unwavering spirit will be forever remembered.]

“What about Zeeth and Hanson… Are they dead?”

“If you want to mourn, do it after we’ve survived!”

The path was open. Goblins flooded out onto the open space, resembling an army of ants.

Jenna, Aaron, and I positioned ourselves with our backs against the northern wall. I took the center, Aaron on the right, and Jenna on the left.

“Are we going to die here?”

“Don’t speak such nonsense.”

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