Chapter 18: Chapter 18 First blood.
Chapter -18.
With the badly wounded retreating back to the village, Lucien and the group followed the trail of retreating goblins. The path of crushed underbrush and the faint, acrid scent of their hurried steps guided the group deeper into the dark woods. The trees closed in around them, the shadows playing tricks on the group's eyes as they moved swiftly.
The villagers, though slightly afraid, recalled the thrill of slaying goblins and the sight of their lifeless corpses falling from the trees like fruits. This memory fired them up, and they followed closely behind Lucien, now knowing that he was someone who could save them with his quick reflexes.
"Seems like this time we really will eradicate them from the black woods for good."
"That's right! With Lucien and Gilbert in our group, taking care of those pesky creatures is easier than we thought."
"But still, we have a few people injured in all that." The group continued their murmurs as they followed the trail left behind by the goblins. Gilbert and Lucien, who had taken the lead, exchanged knowing glances. They both understood that despite their strength, protecting everyone from even the slightest harm was not entirely possible.
Meanwhile, Gilbert had other thoughts occupying his mind. He had considered Lucien a good warrior, but now, from what he had seen, Lucien had exceeded his expectations. To tell the truth, he felt slightly jealous of him for some unknown reason.
Just as the group had crossed a few hundred meters, Lucien felt his senses tingle with alertness. He looked around in the shadows and realized that the goblins retreating in a frenzy were not panicking at all; it was a clever ploy to lure them in without second thoughts.
Crackle...
Hearing the crackling and the sound of rustling leaves, the group finally realized that something was wrong. They stopped in their tracks, looking around in panic and then toward the front, where Lucien and Gilbert stood, their hands resting on their weapons.
"Lucien, it seems like we'll have to see this through to the end this time," Gilbert said, drawing his axe with a swift motion and cracking a vicious smile.
"Looks like that is the case," Lucien nodded. Though he felt an underlying fear, the thrill of the upcoming battle sent adrenaline rushing through his body as he drew his bow.
Keekekee.. Kekekeke...
The horde of goblins, hiding in the shadows and waiting for the group to continue their march, realized that the group had sensed their presence. They leapt out from the trees and emerged from hidden burrows, the air filling with the stench of their filthy bodies and the foulness they carried.
The goblin archer, now standing at the back of the horde, attacked without warning, shooting a volley of arrows in Lucien and Gilbert's direction. Their cruel laughter filled the air as their deadly projectiles flew toward the group.
Lucien, alert as ever, drew his sword without wasting any time, blocking the incoming arrows with all his might. However, as he continued to defend himself, he began to feel the sting of pain in his arms. Upon closer inspection, he realized that many of the arrows had grazed his arms, causing them to bleed.
As the volley of arrows finally stopped, you managed to look behind and found that the group of villagers was finally utilizing the weapons they had brought with them. "Are you guys alright?" lucien asked, looking at the individuals hiding behind wooden shields and a few peeking out from behind the trees, looking somewhat idiotic.
"Seems like we didn't need to worry about them." Gilbert managed to mutter out with a smile on his face, his axe's handle now covered in his own blood, as he also tried to copy Lucien's arrow blocking style, but found it hard to follow his pattern.
"Haha... that's good then..." Lucien said, laughing menacingly; he felt anger surging inside him and felt that instead of holding himself back, it was time to utilize his training with sword and take his enemies head on, so he said, "Comrades, rush forward to fight if you can; or else stay there and protect yourself." his voice like roar, as he swung his sword, offering the droplets of the blood to the earth and then rushing forward like a menace.
The group of villagers hadn't expected such a response from Lucien but still hearing his words, their blood began to boil down and they too couldn't help but raise their weapons while shouting whatever that came into their mind.
the goblins who had menacing smile on their facade till now; seeing the change in those humans emotions felt something was wrong,; but sadly they didn't get much time to think about it, as just few seconds later the group of human began to rush toward them as if those humans were monsters not them.
"Slay them for the village."
"for our village, our kids and our women." With words of encouragement to themselves, the group brandished weapons and charged at the goblins.
Taking the lead, Lucien charged the goblins from the front. He struck his sword as hard as he could, blasting the club that the goblin had swung past him and severing his neck in the process.
Before Lucien could even enjoy the thrill of what it would be like to cut someone's head off, his eyes landed on a nearby goblin archer who was attempting to aim at the villager engaged in combat with another goblin. As a result, he was unable to savor the taste of first blood.
"No, you don't!" Lucien shouted, drawing his bow and shooting the arrow without hesitation. With a whooshing sound cutting through the air, the arrow pierced the goblin's chest. Although Lucien had aimed for the goblin's neck, it didn't matter; the end result was the same.
The battle turned fierce as the villagers, with all their might, began to fight against the snarling goblins amidst the cries of the injured. Meanwhile, Lucien and Gilbert continued to battle with a newfound ferocity they had never known they possessed. Each swing of their sword and axe was a declaration of their will to protect the villagers and the village.
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