Hours passed since I departed from Urna, and the weather had remained stagnant. The constant beating from the rain followed by a thunderclap made the desolate dirt road I was taking feel eerie.

“I guess we should stop soon,” I remarked as I rubbed his back. Onyx made a light snort as he started to pick up the pace. Looking around, there was no source of light in my view. The next town was about a week away, so I was planning on riding out as quickly as possible.

I let out a sigh of relief, looking over to my right, scouting the area for any possible campsites. Despite the sun being blocked out, I was certain nightfall was close.

As we kept going down the path, I noticed a small hill that seemed to have a cave. Quickly, I pulled the reigns to gesture to Onyx to head in the direction.

As we started to trot down the route, I heard a distant screech from something that felt unnatural.

“We should get in the cave and try to rest,” I muttered. I looked back behind me and began to hear a couple more cries; it was almost certain they were following our trail.

“Onyx!” I shouted, whipping the reign as the stallion started to dash forward. I unsheathed the blade from my back and readied it to my side.

My mana needs to replenish. I’ll have rely on my skill. I tightened my hold on the grip. Looking back, I could still barely see anything; the rain made the surroundings almost invisible. Even if I couldn’t see anything, I could almost feel the eyes of whatever the hell was out there staring at me.

Moments passed, and we finally reached a small cave underneath a hill. I sheathed my sword, quickly jumping off Onyx and bringing him inside.

“Stay here buddy, I don’t think we are alone,” I patted his head as I looked back to the view from outside the cave. Then, I took in a deep sigh and walked outside, keeping a close watch on my surroundings.

Another loud shriek in the distance causing me to jump and lose my footing.

“Whoa!” I stumbled down the hill. The muddy ground made it impossible to find footing as I slid down. I got back up on my feet as I reached the bottom, groaning after noticing the mud covering my pants and the bottom of my shirt.

“Stupid noises,” I grumbled, trying to wipe off some of the mud from my clothes. I placed the sword on the ground next to me as I continued to pat down my clothes.

While my guard was down, a beast lunged from the shadows, its blood-curling scream caused me to jerk my head around to see the beast.

I had only read stories of monsters, they often described them in detail, but nothing could compare to seeing one in person. Its long dirty claws were stretching out, the yellow beady eyes looked at me like I was prey, the dark green scales shimmered in the rain, and its mouth was open, revealing its sharp teeth as it drooled at the mere sight of my skin. It was the only way to describe a goblin.

I lunged for my sword, instantly trying to widen the gap between me and the goblin, its glowing eyes following my every move.

Shit shit shit shit, why now why. I felt my heart start to pound; despite training my grandfather to fight monsters, nothing compares to now when it isn’t an act, and it’s life or death. 

The goblin lunged at me, and I quickly dashed to the side, trying my best to keep track of the goblin’s movement.

My lack of mana and the fact I only recently heal will start to affect me if I’m not careful. The mere thoughts of my physical state made me shiver. One fatal mistake, and it's over Ace.

I repositioned myself into a more defensive position as I closely guarded my chest. The goblin took another lunge at me, but this time I leaned into my right foot and drove the sword right into its right arm. As it drove in, the goblin screamed in agony while its blood spewed everywhere.

I quickly pulled the sword out of its arm and went for another strike, but it lunged at me, attacking my leg.

“Son of a-!” I lost grip of my sword as the goblin drove its claws deeper into my thigh. The goblin pulled its claws out, drawing more blood than I could imagine. It took another lunge at my leg, but I kicked it in the face with my left leg, causing it to stumble backward.

While it lied on the ground, I grabbed my sword from the ground leaning on it to stand up.

“This day really can’t get any worse, can’t it,” I grumbled as I finally stood up. I looked down at my clothes; my right leg was incredibly blood, with my thigh almost completely exposed.

I limped over to the goblin and looked at its body, holding onto its arm in pain, “Go to hell,” I lifted the sword and drove it right into its chest, killing it instantly.

I dropped the sword and let out a sigh of relief, but then I heard multiple screams like the cries let out by the goblin.

“There’s no way,” I quickly grabbed my sword from the ground, trying my best to stand in a fight position despite my injured leg.

I looked up from the horizon of the hill and saw multiple goblins, there were at least twenty, and in my current state I was no match.

“Just my luck,” I remarked. Despite the rain, just like the sole goblin, the rest of its group had bright yellow eyes that spoke one idea.

Kill.

They started to rush towards me with those same eyes glaring at me as they all screamed as they rushed towards me, their prey. 

I aimed my sword towards the monsters racing towards me as I let out a grunt.

“Bring it on,” I tightened my grip and, with my last remaining energy, rushed towards the beasts. Regardless of how long this fight would last, it would be a bloodbath.