Finally, they were all ready. The amount of time they took to gain their powers changed them in such a way that they put the first shock and the cool, clear focus in between. They were a team now. They all seemed to possess almost impossible skills. They all knew the bitter fact that only six of them would survive from the tremendous slaughter.
Their very first forest-in-Zone E where the monsters were weakest was going to shed them all light about how to kill. This would be their learning ground.
They trekked through the dark woods; Jin and Eric storming ahead. Their eyes looked into the deep shadows.
Talia moved like a shadow along their side, walking noiselessly over the wet grounds covered with moss.
Masha and Erica walked in the middle.
Rina has a healer so she was effectively in the heart of the pack.
Dante, Neil, and Juno formed the back as the group spelt thinkers.
'They are learning,' Dante thought. He observed how the officials moved in order. 'Fear teaches well.'
He said this in a low voice and raised his hand. "Stop."
Thus, the team halted at once.
The creature was about 50 yards in front: sitting bent over under a stream, skin to look sick green and splotchy, long pointed ears moving with every sound.
Its teeth were yellow and sharp, chewing at a root. Its black small eyes shone with a hungry, bad kind of intelligence.
One hand was attached to a rough club.
Goblin. It was that test.
"Edgar, check it," he said quietly.
Edgar's eyes lost focus for a second. "Goblin Scout. Rank E," he said softly. "Very low health and stamina. It has one skill, 'Vicious Strike'. No special ways to defend. It's weak."
"Juno?" Smirked Dante.
Juno squinted. He was the perfect giver of extra information. "It's hungry and afraid," he said in a low voice. "Its left leg is hurt. It's not putting much weight on it. That's the weak spot."
'Good. A hurt, worried target. The best first kill.'
"Okay," said Dante. "A clean kill. No errors. Jin, you go first. Hit the weak leg to stop it from moving."
He turned to Masha. "When he starts, freeze the ground around it. I want it to slip."
"Erica, wait with your fire unless it tries to run," he went on. "Talia, be ready to block it. Let's do it."
Jin nodded quick and ran from the trees. His sword was a silver line in the low light.
SCREEE!
That loud scream of the goblin was a high rough sound of full fear. It tried to run away in a hurry but it was not fast enough.
"Masha, now!"
Immediately, Masha put out her hand and a flat layer of slippery frost spread beneath.
The feet of goblins slid away from under it and carried him along a bad slide from its frightened run.
That was what Jin wanted. He got close; dramatic blade seared on a very correct target at the creature's injured leg.
The goblin gave a loud cry of pain and anger, swinging its club in a wild manner. The rough weapon seemed to shine with a soft, filthy luminescence from its `Vicious Strike` skill. But Jin easily brushed off the bad attack.
CLANG!
The terrible sound of wood against steel rang clear. The goblin could now see it was losing. It attempted to pull itself backward. Long claws scratched at the frozen ground.
"Erica," said Dante coolly.
A little ball of fire came from Erica's hands. It landed perfect and burning hot on the ground the goblin had planned to go. They were all sent flying all over it. The creature backed off, but flew right into Jin's waiting sword.
With one simple, frantic thrust, the sword was driven into the gorilla's chest. It made one last bubbling sound and dropped.
An almost imperceptible, faint little bit of energy came out of the corpse.
"Jin, take it in," Dante said.
The bit of energy went into him. His eyes got big. It's an odd, warm feeling that goes through his blood. It pushes away his tiredness.
"I feel it," he said drawing breath. "It's not a lot, but I feel stronger."
With dark happiness, the team tasted their first death. A perfect plan, a victory without flaws.
But the ultimatum cry of the goblin carried like an alarm bell among other goblins, who also heard it.
Out of the deep shadows came a group of much the same high, sharp wails. Leaves rustled even more, like a wave coming toward them. Numerous black, small eyes lit in the dark like coal at badness.
They billowed out from the trees. First ten, then twenty, then more. The loud company of green skin and rough weapons. Now this was not a hunt. It was an intense battle for survival.
"Get in position! Rina, stay in the middle! Eric, protect her!" Dante yelled. "Masha, make an ice wall, now!"
A shining wall of thick ice came up fast. It stopped the first group from running at them. They hit it with bad thuds. They scratched and hit at the frozen wall. More were already coming around the sides.
"Left flank - Talia! Right flank - Edgar! Front line - Jin!"
The entire universe brought violent commotion to life.
Erica becomes their master weapon. One firebomb after another into the bunch. Each caused goblins to fly away. Yet for all that Erica burned, three crowded over each of the burnt ones to take the place.
Jin was like a storm of metal at the breaking ice wall. But the big number pushed him back. "There are too many!" he said with effort.
"Don't let them get through!" Talia shouted. She moved like a fast fighter. Her foil was an exact tool for killing.
She redirected from the club-bound blow that would have broken her head. She hit back with a sharp thrust to a goblin's neck. But as soon as one fell, two more jumped to fill the place.
Eric was like a wall of strong body. He was a live shield for Rina.
CRUNCH.
A club hit his shoulder. He made a sound of pain but did not move. Behind him, Rina's hands had a soft green glow. She fixed the hurt muscle. Her face was white from the work.
Dante's mind went fast. A goblin with wild eyes got through the line and ran at him. Before he could do anything, a point of ice came up from the ground. It stuck the goblin.
Masha did not even look at him. "Think about leading, Dante!" she yelled. She sent a bunch of ice pieces into the coming group. "We will keep you safe!"
But they were getting worn out. Their mana was getting low. A club touched Erica's arm. Her next fireball went wrong. Jin got a small cut on his leg. His step slipped for a key moment.
They were getting hurt. They were wearing down. They were like an island getting washed away slow. They were all around, and the goblins kept coming.