WARNING——- this chapter is longer than normal…
[6/22]
...
This group was much different from the one before. It had sophistication, and form. It was made up of 3 standard Hobgoblins and 3 Inductees, all led by a towering High Warrior.
The standard units were at the back in a horizontal row. The Inductees were in the middle, in the form of a inverse triangle. The High Warrior led them all at the front, making sure to keep some distance between it and the group.
'Although I barely saw one in habitat, I do not properly recall how tall these monsters were. They are easily over 2 meters tall.'
I was already getting goosebumps the beast's appearance. It easily towered over its brethren and it's body was much more tempered as well. For a 'low-level' monster, it most definitely gives off a stronger presence.
'I hope that it only 'seems' strong, too.'
Making sure that I skulked as close to the ground as possible to avoid detection, I rendezvoused towards the back side of the group.
I still maintained a sufficient distance from the group, as I did not want them to pick up the sounds of my steps, even if I was moving as softly as possible.
My Throwing Buff skill [Daunting Throw] was off cooldown, so I activated it in preparation for my attack. I took out an axe perfect for throwing and settled my target in my sight.
I was going to take down an Inductee. The cannon-fodder basic Hobgoblin would be a waste as a target, as I could take one out almost immediately, whereas the High Warrior… That would be a much more strenuous task.
Raising my Axe over my head, I did the best to imbue my weapon with as much strength as possible.
And then I threw it
… Crshh!
[Critical!]
The promise of a critical attack from behind worked wonders.
[Level Up!]
'Wonders!'
Trying to capitalize on the chance I grabbed a sword from my inventory and threw it at another Standard Hobgoblin.
Ching!
… And yet my opportune moment was smacked to the ground by the spear of the High Warrior.
'Fast reflexes…' I was slightly dazed by the defensive maneuver of the High Warrior.
And with that lax in judgement,
I became the focus of a bombardment of attacks front the standard Hobgoblins. I was able to get my sword that was struck down back in time to defend thankfully. As our weapons clashed, I wished that I prepared myself better and took out a shield before-hand. But it was too late to look back at the past. I would try to grab a shield in between attacks , but I knew that it would not be fast enough.
I was too slow.
Shlik!
'Damn!'
I forgot about what was attacking me. Even if I could defend myself from a group of standard Hobgoblins easily enough, they were not the only enemies that I needed to protect myself from.
The Inductees made sure to attack me from every gap the standard Hobgoblins made, and eventually they landed a strike on me.
[You've lost 300 health.]
It was not too heavy of a hit, but it definitely woke me up from my predicament. I had to do use on every attack now, as well as predict as many sneak attacks as possible.
…
'…Wait… Why should I only defend? Was I not telling myself that I could easily kill any of these basic Hobgoblins?'
Slit!
[You've lost 100 health.]
…
'Focus.'
I could not just excite myself and trade hits with the opponent. I need to be patient and wait for an opportunity.
Clang!
Clang!
Kling!
Doing my best to defend and parry, the Hobgoblin party and I exchanged dozens of blows for over a minute. And I was not unscathed.
I was scratched and cut from the sneak attacks from the Inductees, while the Standard hobgoblins carried the role of keeping my attention. And I could not even see where the High Warrior was.
But for the most part, none of my injuries were severe, I still had 2/3 of my health left.
Ching!
Cling!
"Grrruk!" One of the Hobgoblins keeping me at bay groaned out of frustration. I could see the impatience in its lively eyes.
"Hrraak!" This time it attacked me out of turn. It tried to double team me with another of its brethren but failed to land a single strike.
The only reason I was being kept on the defensive in this battle was because I was wary of the strikes of the Inductees, as well as the High Warrior wandering around us.
Thankfully, the High Warrior was deterred(hopefully) from attacking me. Whereas the other Hobgoblins were not my opponent unless they attacked in formation.
'And now, they have broken that 'formation.''
By the time the third Hobgoblin attacked, the other ones were still retrieving their weapons.
"Chance!" I yelled out loud, capitalizing on the opportunity.
I sidestepped the attacking Hobgoblin's attacked and closed the distance between us instantly.
I was practically breathing down its neck with how close I was… meanwhile, my sword was already embedded in the monster's gut.
"Grraaah!" Screamed the other Hobgoblin's realizing their mistake. The the two Standard ones immediately charged, slobber and yells ringing out. They forewent from keeping their formation and attacked, as if forgetting that the only reason they could harm me was because they were holding me in position.
And, after all, they never caused me damage…
"[Warrior's Strike.]"
Shiiing!
…
[You have defeated an enemy.]
[You have defeated an enemy.]
The white light from my sword dulled as two round objects revealed themselves on the ground.
It was their heads.
'…hooooh…. Now comes the harder part.'
I could feel the enmity around me. The Inductees had a harsh look on their piggish faces, meanwhile the High Warrior finally started pacing. Although their anger was most likely through the roof, they kept enough calm and gathered together, circling around me.
An angry, but calm enemy, is the strongest type of enemy.
'I have already used one of my strongest skills. I am also at a disadvantage when it comes to numbers. And I still do not know anything about the High Warrior's strength.'
I am nervous,' I keep telling myself. And I thought it was true. My skin was prickly, filled with goosebumps, and I was also shaking.
'I am excited.'
Yet that was also the truth. Adrenaline was rushing through my veins. My eyes were as wide as possible, taking in every movement. The hyper awareness was honestly taking its toll, yet I kept it up.
All for this fight. And for the next one.
And the next one.
And what could possibly be after that.
[Your Persistence stat has increased by 1.]
______________________
The Hobgoblins stopped circling. There were only 3 of the original 7 count left. The air around them felt stuffy, but they acted as if they were able to reign themselves in.
""Grratt!"" A voluminous voice sounded from the High Warrior. In response, the Inductees distanced themselves from me.
'It seems that it has that same 'Command' skill that the first Hobgoblin Inductee that I met had.' I needed to do my best to analyze the High Warrior in its entirety.
It walked forward. I remember saying back in their Grounds that they seemed quite big, these High Warriors, but... only now have I noticed the discrepancy in our size.
I myself am 173 centimeters tall(5' 8"), which is above average in Canada.
But this monster... it was easily over 2 meters tall |It is 7 feet, exactly|. Its arms reached almost to its knees. Its torso was much longer than its legs, with black markings all over its body. Toned muscles ran up its orange figure.
As it walked near me, I had to look up at it. The weapon of choice that it carried-- a spear-- was also quite lengthy. It was not as torn and brittle as the weapons of the Standard Hobgoblin. He proceeded to hit the end of it on the ground.
It stopped some 10 feet in front of me. The distance seemed much too short.
My guess was that it wanted to fight head-on with no interference. I hoped so, anyways.
I grabbed my sword with both hands in front of me. The High Warrior lodged his two hands on his spear, as well.
Dead silence was the only sound in our area.
'...'
"..."
Step.
Cling!
I barely parried the stab with my sword. The distance between us was irrelevant due to its size. With its weapon as well, it could keep me at bay, I quickly noticed.
Cling!
Cling!
Cling!!!
Every strike pushed at me. It was obvious who was stronger between us. My individual skill that I had barely built up these past couple of weeks was what kept me alive.
And even that had its limits. It stabbed at me again with the stiff spear, and this time, I was pushed off balance. Immediately after, it twirled its spear and swung the butt of it at my head.
It seemed that it swung at the wrong moment though, as I was already stumbling back and down too fast for its swing to reach me. I took a quick spin to create some distance between us...
SHLIKK!
"...shit..."
The smell of iron swelled, and it was not from our weapons.