I leaned into the sword changing my footing almost every second, dodging the goblins strike while trying my best to ignore my left leg.

“You assholes are gonna get it,” I gritted my teeth rushing towards a goblin slicing off its arm. As it winced in pain, I quickly took another slice moving onto my next opponent.

I looked around the battlefield, I had only killed about five goblins and most of them were unscathed and energetic. I, on the other hand, was starting to feel worn down from the fight.

My stamina stat is really becoming clear here, I looked down at my blade it was covered in a bloodied red, but the constant downpour washed away most of the goblin’s blood.

My clothes were in a horrible condition, my pants had large rip on my left thigh, and my jacket was soaking wet.

I looked back at the goblin swarm, the remaining twenty had start to widen the distance between them and let out a chuckle.

“Are you guys really scared of some injured fifteen-year-old with a sword!” As I gripped the hilt, I gritted my teeth, “How pathetic.”

I readjusted my position to a more defensive stand while the goblins slowly crept forward.

Burn them out, place it safe, don’t move slow, don’t move too fast.

Thoughts were racing in my head as they started to all appear in my view. I looked to my right and noticed that the cave I placed Onyx in was unscathed which was a good sign they were all focused on me and me alone.

“I’m going to regret this,” I muttered under my breath as I changed my posture to hold the blade in one hand as I placed left hand on the ground.

I started to focus on produce mana into my hand in a desperate attempt while the goblins began to surround me, almost drooling at the sight of my bloodied body.

“You guys are in for a treat,” I smirked as I closed my eyes tightening my muscles in my fingertips. I learned two spells with my grandfather, push and one more that was more demanding and powerful. 

“Expand,” I muttered to the ground, a small wind spell that released a large burst of wind across the radius of the user. As I felt the wind build up under my palm, I released it instantly sending the goblins flying around me.

I pulled myself back up onto my feet and regained my original stance.

“I bet you mindless beasts didn’t expect that,” I remarked as I walked towards one that passed out on the ground near me.

It seemed like the little creature was overwhelmed by the force of the wind and blacked out. I quickly buried the blade into its chest killing it instantly.

“One down.”

I looked around and noticed that most of the goblins were still conscious and had become much more aggressive than before, their teeth more exposed and their backs more hunched in an offensive position.

As I remained focus on the goblins in front of me, I felt a claw dig into my back ripping my jacket in the process.

Shit, I my legs collapsed in agony, Careless mistake Ace. Keep watch idiot.

As the goblin pulled out its long claws from my back, I quickly turned around and thrusted the blade into the head of the goblin causing blood to spew onto my face.

Blinded by the blood I tried my best to increase the distance between me and the wiped the blood from my face.

“I probably look like a killer right now,” I chuckled under my breath. I let out a sigh of relief, the entire area was covered in blood and littered with the site of goblin courses.

There were still too many for me to possible keep going, if I were I’d probably kill two more before getting eaten alive.

“Well, it’s been fun,” I muttered right before running towards to cave.

“Onyx!” I cried out while dropping my sword to the ground, “Let’s go!”

Perhaps the option I picked didn’t scream the actions of a hero, but I was scared, my entire life was hanging onto a thread and the human instinct to survive kept me going.

As I cried out for my horse, I saw him come into view leaving the cave but even I could see the terror in his eyes as he caught a glimpse of the goblins behind me.

As I kept climbing up the hill, I misplaced my foot and slid down the hill desperately trying to avoid anymore injuries.

As I kept sliding, I felt the rocks hit my skin causing more cuts and even healed wounds to open. Finally, I reached the bottom I tried to pull myself up but it felt useless.

Lack of mana, a bloodied body, no sword. What a way to go, I looked up the hill and noticed the goblins starting to slide down.

“Get up Ace,” I used my last remaining energy to try and get out of their way, “Get up!”

I started to scream pulling myself onto my feet, given how weak I was it felt like I was dragging someone who was already dead.

“Come on!” I reached out for a branch pulling myself closer feeling the wood cut on my skin.

I gritted my teeth and leaned on the tree pulling of a branch for a makeshift sword.

“Bring it!” I pointed the branch at the goblins as the fell down the hill, “I’ll kill you all!”

They started to rush for me, and I tried my best to stand up straight slashing the air in a desperate attempt to scare them off.

I’m so sorry gramps.

As the goblins finally came clearly into my view. I collapsed onto my knees as fear consumed my soul.

“SHIELD!”

I quickly opened my eyes, and a strange, clear and green orb surrounded my body. As the goblins went to attack it the orb softly vibrated but it didn’t break.

“What the hell?” I muttered softly as I looked around, I was completely covered.

Just in the corner of my eye I saw a huge spear fly to the ground that impaled one of the goblins. It wasn’t anything fancy, it was merely a wooden staff wrapped with leather and a steel blade at the top.

 As the spear landed, I saw someone standing on the hill.

Just then lightning painted the sky white giving me a glance at the person who saved me.

In that instant, I could make out a boy, his tan skin boldly standing out in the white background, his brown wavy hair blowing in the wind, his dark brown eyes staring at the bottom of the hill, and a small smirk emerging from his face.

The boy quickly jumped from the hill and landed next to me, as he turned around to face me, he let out a chuckle.

“I’ll take it from here,” He remarked.