Chapter 20 (2/2)

As he raced through the trees, the sounds of combat grew more loud. Deciding that timing was more important than stealth, Randidly burst out through a bush onto a mountain road. Immediately he saw that a truck had been forced to swerve to avoid a falling tree, and was now swarmed by goblins. Several hooded figures  huddled in the bed of the truck were the source of the screams, batting at the approaching goblins, while a man near the front of the pickup truck was swinging a wood cutting axe. A shotgun and empty casings lay at his feet, as well as several moaning bodies of wounded goblins.

Still, there were at least 4 dozen of the goblins still living, and only 4 or 5 turned to face Randidly as he arrived. His lip curled upward in derision.

He immediately activated the skill he had learned when he had maxed out the Phantom Thrust Path, Phantom Onslaught. Instantly his spear blurred, dozens of lightning quick stabs ripping forward, goring the goblins that noticed him to pieces, and plowing through several of the ones that weren’t paying close enough attention.

As they all slowly turned to him, Randidly raised his hand and poured mana into his palm, launching a large Arcane orb, which slid forward into the thickest concentration of goblins and exploded with a wave of concussive force.

Those nearest were torn to pieces, while the remainder fell back stunned.

And Randidly, wielding a spear like a god of death reaping lives, moved among them.

After he had dispatched most of them, Randidly noticed that the man wielding the axe, who Randidly now noticed had short grey hair and seemed about 50 years old, had taken the opportunity to kill several of the nearby goblins, his axe crushing their smaller bodies. But several more crept up behind him, stone weapons in hand.

“Grasping Roots.”

Instantly, huge roots sprung from the ground, slithering up the goblins and gripping their necks. Then they squeezed, shattering their spines.

Looking around at the mangled body and the few scared survivors, even Randidly was slightly surprised at his own strength. He supposed that these enemies really were designed for it to be possible to overcome by the average person, but still…

As the old man chased away the last goblin, he turned and met Randidly’s eyes. Both were silent for several seconds.

And then several more.

Randidly’s eyes flicked to the side, and he noticed that the figures in the bed of the pickup truck had pressed themselves down, out of sight. His eyes slid back to the old man, who had noticed the shift in Randidly’s attention, and had narrowed his own eyes.

As the old man opened his mouth to finally speak, Randidly threw something at him, and he reflexively raised his hand to catch it. When he looked at it, the old man was surprised to find a small bottle filled with red liquid.

“Health Potion.” Randidly said shortly. And then after a second of thought, added. “The world is like a game now. That will help you heal faster.”

“I’m uninjured.” The man growled.

Randidly looked at the truck bed, and the shrugged, tired of the conversation. Honestly, this was too much of a hassle. “...then in case of future injuries. I’m leaving.”

“Wait.”

Randidly paused, his back to the old man, his senses sharpening.

But the old man just sighed, and asked. “...where are you staying… The town…. Is there anywhere safe…? Did you get a class at one of those… Newbie Towns…? Is that why you are so strong?”

Randidly turned back around, his tongue feeling abruptly thick. What to say. “I’m staying in a cabin in a nearby valley. I have avoided the town, but I doubt it’s safe. I don’t have a class… I was just… lucky.”

It made Randidly want to laugh, calling what happened to him luck. 7 months of agony and strife. But he supposed it paid dividends. Then, seeing the old man’s thoughtful face, Randidly fled, returning to the cabin and his planted seeds.