['Zid (★)' is Bleeding. Health decreases periodically.]
"Switch!"
"Zid, just hold on!"
"I said switch! Don't worry about him! Block the goblins!"
"But..."
The left passage I'm guarding is blocked.
Goblin corpses form a wall. It should hold for a while.
"Jena, stop Zid's bleeding."
"What about the goblins?"
"I'll block those."
I ran into the open area.
From the side, one was just about to jump down from a roof. I slashed upwards, and its severed head fell.
Jena tore off her sleeve with a dagger and wrapped it tightly around Zid's wound.
"My hand, my hand!"
['Zid (★)' falls into Fear! All stats decrease by 30%.]
"Stop whining! It'll heal when we return!"
"Kkuh, kkuhh!"
"You maggot!"
I kicked Zid.
"Get a grip, bastard! You planning to get us all killed? It's your left hand that's cut. Swing your sword with your right!"
"S-sorry..."
"Stop the bleeding as fast as possible and pull yourself together. If you don't switch, Hanson dies."
"Y-yes!"
"Jena, return immediately once the bleeding stops."
"Will do!"
Already, three goblins that had climbed over the wall were milling about in the open space.
I immediately ran and swung my sword wide. Two goblins caught in the radius had their upper bodies sliced off diagonally. The other one, I smashed its head with the edge of my shield.
Left side, the corpse wall is collapsing.
Some were even climbing over the bodies.
"..."
No time to curse. I raised my sword to meet a goblin jumping into the open space. The goblin became a kebab mid-jump. On the opposite side, two more goblins were scaling the wall again.
The sword is disadvantageous. The distance to run is too far. But I don't stop. If those guys reach Aaron or Hanson, things will get even worse. Running, I beheaded the two. This time, three appeared from different locations.
"Not done yet?"
"Done!"
"Kiaaaaa!"
The corpses in the left passage fell with a thud, and goblins began pouring out.
"I'm returning. Handle those!"
"Yes!"
Jena jumped up and immediately drew her bowstring. Three lightning-fast shots, and three goblins crumpled side-by-side.
Just in time, goblins who had breached the barricade on the left were flooding out.
"Get back in, bastards!"
I kicked the foremost goblin with all my might. The goblin tumbled back, knocking down the ones behind it like dominoes. I relentlessly stabbed my sword.
Spent too much time covering the open area. Now the left side had become the most dangerous. A goblin dagger slipping through the corpse pile scraped the elbow part of my leather armor. If the dagger had been slightly sharper, it might have hit bone. I cut off the goblin's wrist.
Kick down any that try to stand. Don't allow them to advance. Push with the shield, thrust with the sword. I pierced one through the chest and pushed forward. The line of dozens of goblins was pushed back step by step.
"The sword isn't cutting!" Hanson yelled urgently.
"Zid, can you switch?"
"F-fine! I can fight!"
"Switch out. Hanson, fall back and check your sword!"
[14 : 35]
Hanson, retreating to the open area, vigorously wiped his blood-soaked blade with his sleeve. The truth was soon revealed. Hanson let out a deep groan.
The edge was completely dull. An expected outcome. It's better than the F-rank worn iron sword, but still, it was just an ordinary iron sword.
Same for me. Due to performance difference, I was safe until now, but I could feel the blade becoming sluggish.
"You can beat goblins even without an edge!"
I smashed a goblin with my shield. Its neck snapped, and it went limp.
Gaining a brief moment, I scanned the open area. Dozens of goblin corpses lay scattered. For now, it seemed no more were breaching it.
Aaron wasn't in good shape either. His barricade had long since collapsed. The line was gradually being pushed back. The speed of his spear thrusts had noticeably slowed compared to the beginning. The signs of fatigue were evident in his movements.
"Jena, switch with Aaron."
"Yes!"
"I'm still..."
"Move!"
Jena leaped in with nimble movements and slit a goblin's throat.
A fountain of blood erupted. Ignoring her drenched clothes, Jena began swinging her dagger.
"Rest when you can. Don't be pointlessly stubborn."
"Y-yes..."
Aaron collapsed against the wall of the open area, catching his breath. The longspear was stained with blood up to the handle.
[12 : 35]
"3 minutes left, just hold on for 3 more minutes!"
Was 30 minutes always this long?
Now, even I was gradually feeling fatigued. But I didn't have the luxury of switching out. I stabbed and stabbed again at the goblins pouring out.
"Aaron, switch with Jena!"
Aaron shot up, grabbed his spear, and ran to the right.
Aaron hadn't even rested for a minute. Because goblins started climbing the walls again. Jena had to fall back to deal with the goblins in the open area.
"Stop climbing already! It's annoying!" Jena yelled, drawing her bowstring.
The quiver was more than half empty. Though she retrieved them, many arrows broke or were damaged upon impact.
[11 : 22]
"Huk, heok, heok, heooooook!" Zid gasped for breath. His eyes were sunken and hollow.
"Hanson, switch!"
"Y-yes!"
Hanson's complexion wasn't good either as he ran, gripping his sword and shield.
"Jena, shoot arrows towards Hanson's side."
"Huh? But..." Jena glanced at the quiver on her back.
I know too. There aren't many left.
"We'll all die if that side is breached anyway. Throw rocks at the goblins if you have to!"
"Got it!"
Ping!
An arrow pierced a goblin's philtrum. The goblin flailed forward. A sword was held in its flailing hand.
That sword plunged into the lower abdomen of Zid, who was just turning to withdraw after switching with Hanson.
"...!"
Zid's pupils dilated.
An unintelligible groan escaped his parted lips.
Thump.
Zid collapsed sideways.
Dark red blood spread from his abdomen.
['Zid (★)' has fallen into a Near Death state. His life is in danger!]
I bit my lip.
It's absolutely impossible to administer first aid in this situation. If any one of us three falls back, the passage will be breached instantly.
Hanson swung his sword, unaware that Zid was dying behind him.
Zid's mouth moved soundlessly.
Bloody foam trickled out.
"Wait!"
Jena spun around and fired four arrows in quick succession. The arrows hit goblins climbing the wall from different directions.
With that, the quiver was empty.
[08 : 05]
Jena ran to Zid.
Zid's eyes were clouded. He probably couldn't even see what was in front of him anymore.
"Damn it!"
I brought my sword down, splitting a goblin's skull vertically.
"Ah, oo, uh, ah..."
Even if there were time for first aid, there's no way.
Pull out the sword stuck in his stomach? Blood would gush out like a fountain instantly.
Jena must know too that there's nothing she can do. She slowly lowered her head, then stood up again and grabbed her bow.
['Zid (★)' has returned to the Goddess's embrace! His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]
"Z-Zid, just switch for a sec. 30 seconds is enough... J-just a sec." Hanson stammered, panting.
The person who could listen was already gone.
A goblin thrust its spear. I caught the shaft with my flank and pulled. The long spear slid out easily. Been a while since I held a decent weapon. Gripping the spear with both hands, I thrust and pushed.
Pierced the first one, pierced the second one too, third, fourth, up to the sixth.
I tensed my entire body. The muscles in my ankles and calves pulsed.
Pushed forward. Strong resistance pushed back. Gritted my teeth. Tasted blood. The goblins in the passage began to give way.
Straining to my limit, I thrust the spear deep into a goblin's chest, burying it up to the handle.
"Kueeeeeek!"
Must have pierced at least ten of them.
The goblins' advance halted momentarily.
I immediately ran into the open area.
"Hanson, go to the left passage! I'll handle this!"
"Hyungnim? Zid is..."
"He's tired and resting. No backtalk, go."
"Y-yes!"
Hanson scrambled towards the left.
Seems he didn't notice Zid's body at his feet. Since I blocked the passage with the goblin kebab, he could rest for 30 seconds to a minute.
I gave my iron sword a twirl. Sticky blood and fat dripped off.
[Heroes awaken their spirit in dire situations!]
[Tada-ran!]
[Skill Awakening!]
['Han (★)'s 'Low-Grade Sword & Shield Arts' has increased to Lv.5!]
['Han (★)'s 'Pain Resistance' has increased to Lv.2!]
['Han (★)'s 'Composure' increased by two levels! Risen to Lv.3!]
[Tada-ran!]
[Skill Awakening!]
['Jena (★)'s 'Low-Grade Dagger Arts' has increased to Lv.3!]
['Jena (★)' has acquired the 'Quick Movement' skill!]
Awakening or whatever is useless if you die.
I charged right in.
The situation in this passage is critical. They just haven't broken through because they're jammed in the narrow alley, but the moment the balance breaks, dozens, hundreds of goblins will flood the open space.
Smash the head of the goblin in front. Kick its chest with all my might, but it doesn't budge. The goblins behind are acting as cushions. Then die there. Kicked several times, and it vomited blood and died standing.
[05 : 21]
Jena weaved through the open area with her dagger.
Arrows ran out long ago. The goblins tirelessly climbed over the wall taller than a person.
"Aaagh!"
['Hanson (★)' is Bleeding. Health decreases periodically.]
A scream from the left passage.
Hanson's right arm was covered in blood. Looks like it got hacked up by a sword.
Severe bleeding. Not even a clean cut.
'...Combat ineffective.'
"Gather in the open! Abandon the passages! Backs to the wall!"
Current goblin entry points: four directions.
Left, right, and bottom alleys. Lastly, the stone wall of the open area.
To block these requires at least four people.
Remaining combat-capable personnel: Me, Jena, and Aaron.
"Hyungnim, save me! Please save me!"
If I go to rescue him, I'll be in danger too.
I headed towards the open area.
Immediately, goblins started pouring out like a flood from the bottom passage.
"Where, where should we gather?" Aaron's appearance was disastrous.
His leather armor was unrecognizable, his entire body caked in blood. My appearance probably isn't much different.
"Jena, Aaron, stick to me."
['Hanson (★)' has returned to the Goddess's embrace! His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]
"Zid and Hanson..."
"Mourn them after you survive!"
The path was breached. Goblins swarmed into the open area like ants.
Me, Jena, and Aaron formed a defensive line with our backs to the north wall. Me in the center, Aaron on the right, Jena on the left.
"Are we... going to die here?"
"Cut the bullshit."