(A/N: Just one quick note before we begin, if you're interested in Yaou's "rematch" against Poh, I'm thinking of doing it all in one extra chapter, but since it would be in just one chapter it would be long and slightly tedious. If you want me to do it, leave a comment in this section while I still sort out some issues with Discord, okay?)
Connor's POV
With him coming straight from the front, I jumped to the side, nocking an arrow and activating the [plasma shot]. From that distance, I was sure of two things:
1. The Aether that this ability releases would definitely affect me.
2. The goblin leader wouldn't be able to dodge and would be forced to take the full blow.
But it seems I both underestimated his tenacity and overestimated this attack. When the arrow, which took less than a second to reach him, was about to hit him, he put his "sword" in front of him, and it acted as a shield protecting most of his body.
As expected, the shockwave from the blow pushed me back a few meters. But at least that gave me a few seconds to assess the situation.
Just like before, Max and Mav resumed fighting the goblin using two axes, with the added occasional attacks from the hooded goblin who also occasionally healed the goblin. But barely moving and always maintaining a strange pose, this didn't change the fact that his presence considerably increased the problem for them.
Cali and Anna also resumed fighting the mounted goblin, but somehow while we were distracted, 3 more "normal" mounted goblins appeared.
In short, things were basically like this:
Max and Mav vs. Double Axe Goblin and Hooded Goblin.
Cali and Anna vs. Larger Mounted Goblin, plus 3 normal goblins riders.
Me vs. The Goblin Leader.
I heard a loud bang and instinctively rolled to the left in time to escape a gash that appeared in the ground. Following this attack, the goblin leader sent another flying slash towards me. I got up and started running in a zigzag pattern towards the village entrance, in an area a little before where the bonfire was, distancing myself slightly from the others.
'With this distance, we'll be able to use our strongest attacks without much trouble.'
The question will be whether they'll be able to use those attacks without hurting themselves.
'Hmph, what am I thinking?. It's them after all. They can definitely do it.'
******************
Kaio's POV
'Uuuufffff, for some reason I feel like it's been a long time since I've said anything, besides a few comments here and there.'
[What do you mean by that?]
'I don't know, I just wanted to say that.'
I said it to Sys for no real reason, but seriously, it's been a long time since I talked to you guys, and there are still people reading this?! Impressive!! (A/N: thanks for the part that concerns me)
But anyway, I'm not showing up out of nostalgia, it's because I noticed something. I wasn't supposed to be the MC, but I'm barely appearing, so I thought I'd narrate some of the events from a third-person perspective. It'll still be third-person, but I'll be the one speaking, and Sys might say a thing or two.
[Serious, what are you talking about?!]
'Nothing, nothing, don't worry about it.'
That being said, let's get back to the main point.
Connor lured Grumpy to an area in front of where the bonfire that had been burning in the center of the goblin village, while the others faced their own adversaries.
Connor shot three arrows in quick succession at Grumpy, who defended them using his sword as a shield as he advanced. When he got close to Connor, he turned his sword into a thrusting position, trying to impale the young archer.
Quick as a hare, Connor dodged the path and, taking advantage of the brief opening, used one of his abilities to fire three arrows simultaneously towards the others' fights.
One of the arrows nearly impaled the goblin warrior's eye (double-axe), but it was defended by a small mana shield from the goblin sorcerer (hooded goblin). However, thanks to the brief scare, the goblin warrior left an opening that Mav exploited, delivering a large cut to his abdomen.
It would have been game over for him, if the goblin sorcerer hadn't placed another mana shield.
As for the other two arrows, one hit the head of one of the mounted goblins, who had arrived as reinforcements from the left (or was it from the right? Depending on my point of view, that changes). And the other, killed one of the wolves, which threw the rider to the ground, but without killing him.
This provided some relief for Cali and Anna, who managed to escape the trap they had been placed in.
'By the way, the hobgoblins' stats are like this:'
[Name: Lieutenant 1
Level: 12
Class: Warrior (Barbarian)
HP: 65/65
MP: 40/40
Strength: 42
Agility: 37
Defense: 28
Wisdom: 3
Skills: Warrior Instinct (General III), Double Strike (3 MP), Unbridled Attack (5 MP), Fury (Basic II), Quick Attacks (5 MP), Unstoppable Force (10 MP)]
[Name: Lieutenant 2
Level: 13
Class: Mage (Druid)
HP: 37/37
MP: 32/65
Strength: 24
Agility: 21
Defense: 20
Wisdom: 50
Skills: Mana Sense (Intermediate I), Fireball (3 MP), Lightning Bolt (5 MP), Mana Shield (5 MP), Recovery (3 MP), Recovery of Mana (Basic II), Beast Communication (General II)]
The goblin sorcerer is by far the most "intelligent," even considering humans. Even the disabled mages had a Wisdom greater than 20 (including those who came today; at most, there was one with 32). But as Sys and I discussed before, Wisdom in the table doesn't exactly mean Sapience, at least not as it used to.
It's kind of complicated, but when I got my second floor, the perception of stats changed a bit. After all this is over, maybe I'll explain it a little better.
Anyway, back to the fight.
As soon as Connor dodged and fired the arrows, Grumpy accidentally plunged his sword into the tent (spawner), but not wanting to lose momentum, he twisted the sword and opened a gash in it (reminder: give him a ear pull later). Bringing the sword back in a sideways cut, almost catching Connor off guard, causing Connor to roll forward again.
'It's incredible that even after so many rolls he didn't miss any of the arrows.'
[This is thanks to a small perk of the class; archers have a kind of protection that prevents them from accidentally missing arrows unless it's an attack aimed at the quiver.]
'Huh?! Is this the first time I've heard of that?!'
[You never asked.]
'Don't give me that!!! So the other classes, swordsman, mage, lancer, etc., also have these advantages?'
[Naturally. As long as maintenance is done, a sword doesn't lose its edge inside the dungeon, the same goes for spears and other bladed weapons. Shields don't break unless attacks capable of piercing defense are used. Etc.]
'Hmm, cool.'
Having rolled forward, Connor quickly turned, drawing his short sword (which looked more like a boning knife to me) along with his skinning knife, and charged at Grumpy (against any expectations about how an archer should fight).
Grumpy had raised his arms to use [earth splitting] (the same ability he had used to open that small gash in the ground), and didn't expect Connor to charge at him. Lowering his arms, Connor, who was advancing close to the ground, managed to squeeze into the small gap that Grumpy had opened, revealing a disadvantage of technically being a goblin at 1.50 meters tall.
From there, he used his short sword and knife to cut the ligaments that bound Grumpy's arms, but he couldn't make deep cuts. He took the opportunity to try and cut the hobgoblin's throat, but Grumpy was faster and headbutted the archer.
They ended up in a rather complicated position, with Connor crouching in the small gap that Grumpy had created by using the ability that had been canceled by Connor's attack.
The headbutt also made Connor drop his weapons, but using what little he had learned of unarmed combat from Cali, Connor managed to hit the cuts he had made on Grumpy's arms with a double shuto (knife hand), causing him to open the gap a little wider so he could escape. I don't doubt that he must have also dislocated, even if only slightly, the hobgoblin's arms.
Exiting to the right, Connor picked up his short sword and tried strike Grumpy's throat again, who responded with a kick that must have broken some of Connor's fingers. Retreating, sheathing his sword and picking up his bow again, the young man fired three more shots in quick succession at the goblin, who again used his sword as a shield.
However, one of the arrows still managed to graze one of his ears, and the last one luckily grazed Grumpy's shoulder. A completely superficial wound that would close in minutes, but still enough to irritate the already irritated hobgoblin.
Channeling mana into the sword, still serving as a shield with the "tip" embedded in the ground. Grumpy pushed, twisted, and pulled it with force and speed, raising a small cloud of dust, dirt, and rocks that obstructed Connor's vision.
Grumpy then jumped and activated the [Earth Split] ability again in mid-air.
Sending a shockwave charged with mana towards Connor, he naturally dodged, but the shockwave still caused a small explosion when it hit the ground, knocking him down. The ability activated again when it "touched the ground," sending a gash towards Max and Mav, completely oblivious to the danger.
'I feel like things are going to get pretty messy real quick... I wish I had a bucket of popcorn to go with the drama... Or arms... Or a mouth…'