1.13 – Ambush II

Rika smashed her sword’s pommel into the goblin’s face with a sick crunch. She kicked away another one, then tossed the goblin with the broken nose into its closest fellows. All three tumbled onto the blood-soaked trail in a heap.

They were down to six now. Two apiece of skirmishers, scouts, and foragers. All level three or four. Given what she’d just done to the closest two, a manageable amount. At least if she had been in peak condition.

Her pack still lay in the road a short distance from where she fought. She’d give anything to have her shield right about now. As easily as she could toss the goblins around, six on one were still poor odds.

Dark Strike I: 3 seconds

That gave her a small measure of reassurance. Most of the goblins looked about as bad as she felt. Their wounds oozed blood, and corpses littered the dirt road. The scene was carnage. Rika still felt strong, at least mostly. Her breathing had become labored, and she felt hot. She couldn’t tell if that was due to exertion or something worse. As exhilarating fighting with five Might and Resilience was, she still wore thick clothes and armor classed as medium weight.

The goblins were more hesitant in their attacks now, but none of them had broken and run. Hopefully that would hold true, as she’d rather not have to deal with a third ambush. Given how this one had gone so far, she wasn’t even sure she’d survive a third ambush.

Dark Strike ticked over, and she rushed the closest scout. A swirling, almost mist-like sheath of deep violet streamed down the length of her blade. It was beautiful, almost hauntingly so in the daylight. But that beauty held death. The moment she struck the goblin, the violet Dark aspected power erupted from her sword.

While her Magic stat was one of her lowest, only at four, it still added punch to her Dark Strike ability. And her attacks were primarily Might-driven, anyway. Whatever “high damage” from her Dark Strike actually meant, it was effective.

But likely most significant—at least for this near-disaster of an ambush—was her Balanced Defense ability. While she didn’t know exactly what her physical and magic defenses were, that half her Ward skill of five counted toward her physical defense had likely saved her life.

The more she fought, the more she struggled. The more she managed to keep her feet against these odds, the more grateful she became for her Rare class. If what Chryson had said about it was true, she was currently as weak as she’d ever be. The Dark Warrior would only grow in power the more she leveled. She could already see its potential.

One goblin charged at her, using that frenzied, wild flailing with its axe. This one was a forager, too. She made a mental note—the attack was likely a skill of some sort. She beat back the attack, leveraging everything her Finesse could bear as she parried the frenzied swings.

Dark Strike I: 1 second

Another goblin leaped at her. The instant Dark Strike ticked over, she thrust her sword at the leaping goblin, activating her class skill. Between the enhanced damage of her ability, her Might stat, and the goblin’s own momentum, she skewered it like a piece of raw meat. She wrenched her blade free from its fallen corpse and stared down the remaining four goblins.

Her chest heaved with each breath, her breathing becoming more labored by the moment. She definitely felt warm now. Blinking sweat from her eyes, she shook off the thickening fog as best she could. Four left. Almost done. This time when she rushed them, her movements felt sluggish. Almost like they had back before her class and stats.

The goblins seemed to sense the change in her. Then she noticed it. Unobtrusive as all the other notifications Chryson fed to her, but somehow she’d missed this one. Until now.

Infected Bite x9

No timer or countdown. She wasn’t sure what that meant, but it couldn’t be good. “Chryson?” she asked. Her throat felt dry, and her voice sounded a bit thin.

“Infected wounds, while classed as debilitations, must be treated by a healer. I would recommend seeking aid as soon as you’re able.”

She’d make sure to get right on that.

Pushing against what could only be the oncoming fever, she forced herself to raise her sword. She forced herself to let it fall, and with it, one more of her foes.

Goblin Skirmisher – Level 3

Goblin Skirmisher – Level 3

Goblin Forager – Level 3

She focused her attention on the forager. It was the same one she’d just forced back while it used that frenzy skill. It was in bad shape, worse than the other two, and its skill was probably just about ready again. Dark Strike still had a few seconds left, so she wrapped her right hand around her sword’s pommel and drove a thrust at the goblin’s chest.

It died gurgling on the end of her blade. She took two more hits from the remaining skirmishers’ spears. One hit her just below her armpit, scraping against her ribs. The other in the same fucking leg as earlier. Whatever the true effects of her Resilience were, she was likely at their end. The pain was almost too much to push through this time, and she could feel her strength and endurance creeping ever closer to their limits.

“Two left,” she said. Mostly to ground herself and to let her keep pushing. “Almost there.”

One skirmisher rushed her, while the other tried to get around behind her. The one charging in with its javelin held in both hands died to another activation of Dark Strike. Chest heaving and heart pounding, she turned to face the last of the ambush.

Hopefully, this would be enough to gain another level. Judging by the rush of power she’d felt along with her last level up, it might heal her. She couldn’t be certain, as she’d somehow escaped that last fight without so much as a scratch. Even if she didn’t get restored, she could sure use the extra Resilience.

As the last of the goblins finally pitched into the dirt, she followed it a moment later, dropping to one knee before catching herself. She spit a mouthful of blood, then raised her head toward where her pack lay a few yards off. With a groan, she hauled herself to her feet.

Enemies Defeated. Experience Earned!

All Enemies Defeated! Quest Cleared – Ambush! Experience Earned!

Congratulations! You have reached Level 3!

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Name: Rika

Class: Dark Warrior (Basic, Rare)

Level: 3 (Grade I)

• Stats Increased: Might +2, Finesse +2, Resilience +2, Magic +1, Control +1, Ward +2

• Primary Stats

• Might – 7

• Finesse – 7

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