Chapter 150: Slaying Goblins (2/2)
”Who...” She started.
”No time for questions. We have to save you companions, first. Once that's done with, we can worry about introductions”
Feeling ashamed for having forgotten at all, she stood and followed the strange man as he took off down the corridor.
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Mike took another look at the newbie he'd rescued, trying to figure out why she looked familiar.
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Ruby
Age: 19
Race: Beastman (Dragon)
Class: Apprentice Elementalist
Title: Water Touched
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[I really need to do some research on beastmen. There seem to be a lot of varieties.]
Ruby was slender and bronze skinned. Shoulder length, wavy red hair was left untied. A matching set of robes, now dirtied from her flight, revealed little of her lithe form. She clutched a strange staff topped with a cracked crystal that was glowing with flickering light. Patches of red scales could be seen on her arms, neck and cheeks.
[I could swear I've seen this combination of traits somewhere. Well, with the exception of her facial expression.]
Perhaps as could be expected of an adventurer who had abandoned her companions in the heat of battle, her features were twisted with a sort of horrified guilt that spoke of a lasting psychological trauma. He hoped that her friends were still alive, although considering some of the literature on goblins maybe that wouldn't a good thing.
”Hey, quick question. Do goblins by any chance keep people alive for any reason?” Mike asked, wanting to prepare himself for what he was about to walk in to.
”W-what do you mean?” The beastman replied confusedly, a hint of terror in her voice.
Sighing internally, and regretting this topic of conversation, Mike continued. ”Like do the goblins use people for anything?”
”Um...food....sometimes.” She answered, suddenly looking a great deal more drawn and horrified than before.
[I'm a little relieved, but I feel like I shouldn't be.]
A woman's scream echoed down the corridor. She sounded like she was in pain.
”Ophelia! That was one of my party members!” Ruby exclaimed.
”I'm picking up the pace. Try to keep up.” Mike said quietly, speeding up his steps.
After a few moments, he heard Ruby's ragged breathing start to fall behind. He wasn't sure what he expected. One look told him that she was a classic mage-type, and therefore lacked in terms of physical fitness. He supposed he'd been spoiled by Tal's capabilities.
[Is this really a dragon beastman? I feel like they should be more athletically talented.]
He nevertheless pressed on, knowing that other lives were in the balance. Rounding a corner, he caught sight of an ongoing battle. Three figures were engaging in a ragged fighting retreat against a horde of skinny, green-skinned humanoid creatures the size of a human child.
The newbie adventurers were on the verge of being overrun, and each was covered in a host of wounds. It was surprising to see the spear wielding woman in front even moving, considering the dagger that had been planted in her ribs. Her wheezing, rattling breaths betrayed a collapsing lung, something that the surrounding goblins seemed to notice as well. They began to close in tighter, malicious grins on their faces.
Thinking about the situation for a moment, Mike concentrated his mana, sending it into the rock of the surrounding cavern. He needed to focus on this bit to avoid hitting the adventurers.
A gasping Ruby finally appeared in the room, and taking in the situation in front of them, managed to call out in horror. ”Ophelia! No!”
The three adventurers fighting for their lives spared a brief moment to look in their direction, and Mike didn't fail to notice the expressions of animosity on the faces of the two men. The woman Ophelia looked too injured to notice.
While anticipating the awkward situations to come, Mike finished his magic. He simply summoned a wide pillar of stone, and forced it to rise suddenly, crushing the crowd of goblins against the ceiling of the cavern and nearly wiping them out in an instant. A few stragglers that managed to evade the fate of their fellows were dispatched with a round of wind blades.
Feeling the stares of the adventurers, including Ruby, he forced the pillar to dissipate, leaving a series of gory smears on the stone ceiling,.
”So, it looks like we ended up taking the same Open Request. I hope you don't mind if I join in.” He announced cheerily, earning himself another round of blank stares.