"The three are your spoils. We wouldn't have got them without you. Take your pick."
After a moment of deliberation, each of them picked a short sword. I picked the dagger I had knocked from the goblin earlier and took a closer look up close.
It seemed rather worn out and crude. The metal blade had early signs of rusting on it and its flat showed several scars of varying depth but nothing seemed to affect the integrity of the weapon itself.
I lightly brushed the pad of my thumb against the edge.
'Ultimately, it will kill.'
It wasn't over-the-top. Slightly disappointing to be specific but it would do.
Finally, I adjusted my grip on the leather-bound hilt and gave a small test swing before fastening it to my belt, cautiously trying a few movements to make sure it didn't hamper my fighting capability.
'Hopefully it comes with a sheath. If not, I'll probably end up hurting myself with it.'
I wasn't arrogant enough to think I was a master at it when I'd barely even swung a knife.
'Let's use this as more of a finisher weapon than a full on combat weapon. Factoring in the range and the reality that I suck at it, that would be a wise choice.'
Ben ended up with the club, which I thought fit him quite perfectly. Though he still stuck with his pole, reluctant to part with the range advantage in this kind of situation which was unsurprising.
We prepared for our next fight and the tension in the atmosphere rose once more.
"Padi, when it's incapacitated, I'll handle the final blow."
"Alright, be careful man. Let's do this."
After nodding to our trusty gatekeepers who with utmost caution, let in a goblin before slamming the door with much greater force having gone through the first experience.
Painful wails accompanied the slam but I could care less. This time Ben led the charge, whacking its legs and knocking it off balance with a single sweep. Swooping in as fast as I could, delivering a hard hit to its wrist with my stick, following up with a kick that knocked its weapon elsewhere.
Then came hits.
Weaker? Yes.
I clearly felt how much I struggled to deliver constant hits with Ben. But I knew I couldn't let up. Not now.
If I did, I could die...
The goblin seemed more unaccustomed to pain than the previous. Its screams more ear-splitting as it curled pitifully.
For a moment.. I wavered. Hearing those shrieks of agony, though unpleasant made my stomach twist.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHH!!"
Gritting my teeth, I yelled and and hit it again.
'I don't want to die.'
'I really...
DON'T WANT TO DIEEEEEE!!!'
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
With another deafening shout, I swung down with all my might, not targeting vital areas. Just trying to incapacitate it for Ben.
I staggered slightly after landing the blow but I managed to stay on my feet.
Ben was also also clearly exhausted, seemingly less so than me. Raising his foot, he crushes the throat of the creature.
As I look at him, I see his expression turn slightly startled then more excited and invigorated.
'Seems he got the free recovery.'
I sat on one of the desks used to create the barrier(if we could even call it that), panting as I tried to catch my stolen breath while waiting for him. As I sat, I checked out my own status window to find a pleasant surprise.
[Name: Padi Nene Kujo Batsa]
[Level: 1]
[Exp(5/50)]
'For contribution to the kill huh?'
I got down from my seat and reached for the dagger that I had once again kicked away, only to find another hand reaching for it.
I paused and tilting my head for a better look, gave the owner of the outstretched arm a perplexed look.
The boy, though clearly embarrassed at being caught in the act, didn't let up and still deliberately kept reaching for it.
"Ehh ehhmmm."
It was only when I distinctively cleared my throat that he froze and then reluctantly retreated.
I, on the other hand, was still quite stunned by the audacity of this fellow. Daring to reach for a knife when he clearly had no intention of fighting.
After a moment of thought I picked it up and stood up, walking back to Ben who was still in a daze checking his status window.
"Here. You have it."
Though he had a club, a dagger would be more handy and convenient in certain situations. Not to mention he might need something sharp.
Ben snapped out of his stupor and took the knife to examine it.
"Thanks."
"Anytime."
Charles and Thomas had already switched posts with two other athletes so they could fight the goblins. Ben and I of course stayed behind them, ready to provide support.
After the new guys opened the door, a goblin stumbled in. Following our example, they immediately launched into action with their short swords.
Charles, clearly the more aggressive one, charged forward recklessly with a loud cry managed to score a deep cut on the goblin's belly. The goblin tried to counterattack but its arm hung limp and twisted at a rather concerning angle and its weapon was out of sight.
That's when I realized.
'It must be one of those that had their arm inside when Charles slammed the door shut. How unfortunate'.
As it fell to the ground, Charles held it underfoot, gripping his short sword tighter to steady his quivering hands and slit its throat. It clutched its throat, choking on its own blood as it went still.
Thomas didn't really have a chance to intervene so he just stood there and watched while Charles made his first kill.
Later Thomas managed to level up as well. Both of them seemed a bit shaken. A sliver of fear creeping its way onto their expressions. Though overall they seemed to be doing alright.
I glanced at the cold corpse, a thought stirring in my mind.
'Perhaps its cause we still see them as 'monsters'. If it were one of our own kind, a human... '
I shrugged the unsettling thought aside and focused on the present.
"Everyone! Can I have your attention!"
The whispers and murmurs in the room quieted down as they listened, curious about what I had to say.
"Everyone is going to have to kill. Whether you like it or not."
The class erupted in that instant with varying reactions. Some seemingly thrilled at the prospect while others pale with fear and reluctance. Josh sat in his seat, arms and legs crossed and it looked like he was.. posing? Nevermind.
After the class quieted down a bit, I continued.
"There are a few reasons for this. First off, no matter what eventually we're going to get tired. We can't be the ones constantly fighting even if we want to. Second, I don't know if you've all played video games but for those who have, you can level up in real life and get stat points that you can distribute. Just like all those novels you've read. For those who don't get it, Charles will explain."
Charles took over and simplified the concept for those who had no idea of what was going on and soon enough, everyone was a bit calmer most even excited.
So then they began taking turns to kill the goblins. Most did alright. Michael took quite a bit of encouragement, but surprisingly he performed pretty well.
Maybe too well.
He hardly even flinched even when blood splashed on his face from the fight, which was disturbing to say the least. There were also some noteworthy people from the girls as well.
Marie, a petite French brunette and Natalie, tall American with black hair.
Oh there was also the eccentric science kid, Dexter. He was always bringing weird stuff to school.
After killing his goblin and levelling up, he pulled me aside and showed me two gallon of colorless liquid he pulled out of his bag.
"I was going to try a couple of nice experiments. Possibly even blow up the science lab but it seems you need it more. Haaa.... A shame really.."
Dexter sighed as he set the gallons on the floor right in front of me.
As bamboozled as I was, I questioned him.
"What's this?"
"Solvent-based detergent. Low flash point."
"Aaannd what am I supposed to do with this?"
"Commit arson of course."