UPDATE 8: Mobs
Anyone prepared can defeat a Goblin, but in packs or in hordes they are quite a force to be reckoned with.
Are you kidding me?! More Goblins? How did they...?
I turned back to the Goblin beneath me.
So it was you... Calling in the cavalry huh? Goblins are not as dumb as I thought, I guess I have to reevaluate my opinion about these mobs. Though it should have done it a lot earlier if it knew it couldn't win.
My sights focused on the newcomers.
4 Goblins, one with a bone axe, another one with a club and one with a spear. Though that wasn't the one I was focusing on, I was focusing on the Goblin in the middle.
It was much taller than the other, not exactly as tall as an adult human, but from the way it looked its height would measure up till the foot of my neck. It wore a helmet and a leather shoulder guard at the same time wielding a metal broadsword.
The one wearing the better equipment must be the Goblin Platoon leader.
Goblin Platoon Leader. Not any different from a regular Goblin in terms of appearance, but carries more or better equipment than its party members. Other than aesthetic features their stats are pretty much mediocre as well, that is when they are alone. In a group they used to buff up their party members with extra attack and speed. Though in this world that isn't so, I read that they are able to come up with strategies in battle. Basically they are supposed to be smarter than other Goblins.
"Now I'm interested. Lets test them out…" I said smiling
The Platoon leader scanned the area before his eyes finally came into contact with mine then looked down at his fallen party member. Its eyes glared and bared its jagged teeth in anger. It pointed at me and started giving commands to his fellow hunting party.
"GRAH GRARC RACG!"
The Goblins seemingly understood and began advancing towards my position while he stayed in the sidelines.
Guess I'll have to fight my way out of this. I was in a horrible situation, yet I could feel my lips forming a smile.
I gripped my sword at my side and initiated my attack. The one with the club got to me first and attacked by forming a downwards strike leaving its body open.
I want to end each opponent quickly so that I can go for the leader.
I quickly lunged forward and thrusted my sword aimed at its neck. My Flint sword reached and pierced its neck, blood slowly flowed from the opening and halted its movements and fell to the ground while trying to stop the blood flow.
Just behind him was the Goblin with the spear, I wasn't able to react fast enough and was hit on the shoulder.
"Tch!"
I then attempted to slash, but the Goblin had already backed away before it had reached.
The sound of running footsteps could be heard right behind me. I immediately looked back and it was the Goblin with the bone axe in the middle of its pounce. I made a reflexive roll beneath him dodging his axe swing.
I hastily got up to land a hit on the Goblin, but as soon as the Goblin landed it hopped back to create distance escaping the range of my sword.
"GRAAHH!"
From behind?! The one with the spear then charged at me again. I side stepped to the left, but the spear's thrust approached faster and cut my shoulder.
"Ouch!"
I made some distance and watched their positions. I turned back to the leader and he just continued to watch.
"GRORCA!"
The Goblin with the spear charged me and greedily aimed for my head. I avoided it and landed a slash on its chest and immediately hopped back after.
They attack fast consisting of only a few seconds to make an attack, there really isn't a change in speed or strength. What's peculiar though is that they keep attacking me when my back is faced towards them or when my attention is on another and would back away. In other words kiting...
Kiting, the strategy of hit and run. To be honest this strategy is no doubt effective against the right opponent or if an opponent is too strong to be taken down with one encounter. Simple and effective.
Interesting, so this does shows they do have an intelligence.
Other than that, they're not using their usual strategy by swarming in numbers, meaning that there's no one else but them here.
Strategic, but careless...
I made my ready stance again. The two Goblins began circling me, I kept my attention on both of them.
Suddenly the one with the axe advanced first. I turned towards it and blocked its strike, when I started hearing footsteps closing in on me I kicked the Goblin in front of me making it stagger and quickly sidestepped to avoid the other Goblins spear thrust. I turned around hastily to issue a slash aimed at its shin making it fall on one leg. It tried to regain balance, but my blade met its neck spraying blood over forest floor.
The Goblin behind me ran in my direction thinking I wasn't paying attention to it. I made a slight glance and it was attempting to make a horizontal swing with its axe.I dodged it and ran my sword through its stomach region, this time more of the sword got through. I pulled it out and made a swing in the air to take of the blood as the Goblin fell to its knees and perished. Windows started appearing
[+ 64 EXP ]
[+1 DEX +2 AGI]
Hm… not enough for me to get to level 5 yet I suppose, but I got a hefty number of stats from this which is good.
Back to the battle. The disadvantage of the Goblins was their weaponry, not in their design, but in the way they were used. Comparing it to the first Goblin I fought there is a gap in fighting experience and methodological, they only used simple and predictable attacks that could easily be dodged or avoided.
I was impressed that they knew about kiting, but they were using it wrong, the key to kiting is the unpredictability of where each person is going to attack, but when you have all the pieces it's easy to predict.
Surely they had more experience using their weapons than the first, although when compared to me that is nothing. I may not have the skills listed to prove it, but I have four years of experience to show.
I then turned to the leader already ready with its broad sword at its side. Its expression seems to have changed. Rather it was even angrier at me for decimating its party. It snarled at me in anger before finally running towards me with its sword.
I took my Flint sword and parried. I could see a chip of my sword fall of the blade. I knew it, this sword isn't going to last if it goes against metal, better make this quick. The Goblin didn't show exceptional experience in wielding the sword though I can tell that he was a cut above the rest, probably the reason he was made the leader.
I sidestepped to my right made a diagonal swing aimed at its shoulder. A deep cut was made and blood erupted from the wound. It then retaliated with a quick thrust to my chest. I didn't expect it to recover so quickly and failed to dodge on time.
Crap!
My body made a quick sidestep, but not before the blade's tip ripped through side.
"Tch!"
I immediately pounced backwards to make distance between us. In that moment I lost about 6 of my HP. I placed my hand over my wound resulting in a stinging pain.
This one. It's better than the others.
Through the pain all I could do was smile. I was excited rather than afraid, the same feeling I had when I started playing VR. Its this sort of thrill that made me love it, or maybe it's only me.
Other than that I can't underestimate this one, or I could lose my life. The Leader snarled at me with a smile from the recent wound.
It then chased after me to continue its attack.
I continued to parry and avoid every slash it made. I tried to avoid parrying since the durability of my flint sword would deteriorate in a matter of seconds if I pushed it. I would try my best to strike at any openings I would find and get a few lucky hits, the Leader did the same. Though I said that I have four years of skill to match my lack of attributes, it doesn't change the fact that I don't have any of it. I can't dodge as fast, hit as hard, or take as much as I used to. I had to adapt to the current situation accordingly to my limits.
After a while I had about 33 HP left. My torso was covered in cuts from the metal broadsword. Not too bad compared to my stamina, which has been cut over the halfway point. Though I was only was hit a couple of times, I shouldn't underestimate the strength of the Goblin coupled with the sword. I can feel the pain of my wounds slowly taking its toll on my endurance to fight on, however I would say I was in a better shape than my enemy, his body was covered in cuts and slashes, though not anywhere fatal yet, but the Goblin was struggling to keep its broadsword up.
We were circling around the clearing waiting for one of us to make an opening. Though in that time I had already begin analyzing and forming my strategy...
In our battle I had already measured and recorded its style of fighting. I had already taken note that Goblins are fast, though when it comes to strength it is not able to match a fully grown human, it may match a teenager or a man in his late teens. There attack speed doesn't fall behind their agility either, I've been measuring about 2-4 second attack intervals and 1.4 second slashes.
I know what matters more is the timing of the attack, but my measurements work to estimate how fast an attack can be so I can be ready to avoid it. Of course this method isn't as accurate since the timing of the attacks could change through the course of the battle, but it still helps to have some sort of estimation.
The Goblin's fighting style is a simple thrust and slash kind. It doesn't use any techniques or complicated moves or strategies, though it was able to make a strategy with its fellow party, by itself he's just like a regular Goblin swinging its weapon aimlessly.
I then took off my armor to lessen the weight on my body and gripped my sword ready for any attack. The Goblin's beady eyes watched me with anger and disgust then suddenly rushed forward towards me to take advantage of my loss of composure. As I expected, it just attacks, though I can tell this isn't out of instinct, it's hatred. I rushed forward towards it as well.
Our swords met and were locked. I made a kick towards the Goblins stomach region breaking our sword lock. I made a strong horizontal strike slash its weapon. The sword flew out of the Goblin's hands and wedged itself into the ground.
Let's finish this...
I then issued Cross Slash, once the X wound was issued it met my sword's thrust on its chest flailing it back. I rushed to it seizing my chance. Once I was in front of it I let all my strength loose on my last strike and did a full arc horizontal slash toppling it back even further. Blood came running out of the deep wounds that covered its chest, it staggered and took a few steps back before finally falling on to the ground.
I plunged my Flint sword into the ground as a support for me to recuperate myself with. The windows then came flowing out.
[+35 EXP]
[+1 STR + 1 FRT]
[LEVEL UP! LvL 4 5]
[3 Attribute points added]
[Unspent Attribute points 15]
[One-Handed Straight Sword LVL 2 3]
[New technique learned!]
[? will be added to Sword Techniques]
Yes! I leveled up! That makes it 15 points to spend now, I need to set a time to spend them.
A new technique? Well guess I might as well see it.
Skills are obtained the same way as every other skill by doing it. They are two qualifications for an action to be recorded as a skill. It has to be methodological, it must have a precise purpose as to what it is supposed to do as well as a clear idea how it is supposed to be performed. These were probably made to prevent just any random attack to be called a skill.
[?]
[A Full Arcing Swing]
Hm… Ah I remember this.
"Round Accel"
I almost forgot about this skill. This is supposed to be more of an AOE skill, but I guess I remembered this skill in the heat of the moment.
[Round Accel]
[A Full Arc Swing]
A new unique feature about skills is that there isn't any damage value or cost value. The reason why there isn't any Damage value or Cost value is because it's not exact. Take punching for instance, when you punch someone in the game it would equivalent to how much strength the player has and would in turn incorporate it as damage, however in real life no matter how much strength a person has they can't pull the full potential of it. Basically the damage will fluctuate along with the cost value depending on how the skill will be used it will probably be the same way for magic skills.
It then disappeared.
After a few minutes of resting after the battle I took up my Flint sword and looked at my surroundings. The forest's clearing was dyed with blood everywhere. My Hp was very slowly regenerating. It seems it's going to take a few hours before these wounds can heal completely.
Ah! It still hurts... Take it slow...
That was fun though...haha…
I open up my stat window excitedly
LVL: 5
HP: 42/52
MP: 20
SP: 35/68
STR: 7
FRT: 10
DEX: 14
AGI: 14
END: 0.03 SP/s
VIT: 0.005 HP/s
MS: 5
MC: 4
MR: 0.001 MP/s
Points: 15
STATUS: Wounded
Skills
Active
Straight Sword Arts
Cross Slash LVL 4
Lunge LVL 3
Round Accel LVL 1
Passive
Hand to Hand Combat Mastery LVL: 3
One-Handed Dagger Mastery LVL: 1
One-Handed Straight Sword Mastery LVL: 3
Support
Language Comprehension
-English LVL: MAX
Mathematics
-Simple Math LVL: MAX
Crafting
Recipes: ~
Skills: 11
Cooking
Recipes: ~
Skills: 1
Harvesting
Skills: 7
Special
Awakened LVL MAX
Magic Perception LVL 1
It's not a drastic improvement when you consider the numbers, but it's the fact that I am improving is what's valuable about it. My skills aren't doing so bad either.
I look down and grip my fist with a satisfied smile. Progress is one of the greatest joys in any game after all.
"It's about time, I call it a day."
I collected my loot and readily headed back to the Guild.
END OF UPDATE