"In formation, everyone!" William commanded, his voice sharp and steady despite the growing danger.
Without hesitation, we snapped into position. Surrounded on all sides, we formed a tight circle, backs to each other, weapons drawn. William faced the Elite goblin head-on, his stance solid and commanding. Evelyn stood to his right, already nocking an arrow, her eyes narrowed with focus. Maya took the left, gripping her ornate staff, her expression unreadable but deadly calm.
Bob brought up the rear, his stance slightly less elegant but no less serious. His crimson, magically-forged sword shimmered in his hand, already humming with power.
I stood in the center of the circle.
As agreed, I wasn't on the frontline. I had told them I wouldn't fight directly, only support. But as I looked around at the goblins surrounding us, teeth bared and shrieking, my hands started to shake again.
Could I really just watch?
The Elite goblin stepped forward, dragging its spiked club through the dirt, its eyes locked onto William like a predator sizing up its prey.
The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on.
"I'll attract the Elite's attention. You three handle the others. Alan, stay close to me," William ordered, his eyes never leaving the towering goblin leader.
The others nodded without hesitation.
The goblins crept closer, their snarling faces twisted with hunger and rage. Our circle tightened instinctively, weapons raised, breaths held.
Then, in a single heartbeat-
"Now!" William roared.
The battle erupted like thunder.
Evelyn launched herself high into the air, so fast and light it looked like she was flying. Her sudden movement caught the goblins' eyes, distracting them as they craned their heads upward in confusion.
"Hero Grace!" Bob shouted, activating his signature skill. A fiery red aura flared around him as he dashed forward with impossible speed. In the blink of an eye, he was beside one of the goblins, and with a swift slash of his sword, it crumpled, green blood splattering across the forest floor.
The goblins froze for a second, stunned by the sheer speed and brutality.
Bob didn't stop.
He moved like a blazing storm, cutting through the goblin ranks and breaking the encirclement. Goblins screamed and scattered as he carved a path, giving us a chance to breathe.
Maya's ornate staff began to glow with a fiery red-orange hue, casting dancing embers into the air around her. Her lips moved quickly, whispering an incantation with sharp focus.
"Firebolt!"
With a swift motion, she raised the staff and swung it toward the approaching goblins.
Fwoosh!
A blazing bolt of fire erupted from the tip, arcing through the air before slamming into a goblin's chest, exploding on impact with a loud boom. Flames engulfed the creature, sending it screaming to the ground.
Again, she swung.
Each wave of her staff unleashed another fiery missile.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The forest echoed with the sound of explosions and burning screams. Goblins were thrown back, some rolling on the ground trying to extinguish the flames, others already reduced to smoking husks.
The battlefield lit up with bursts of fire, and in that moment, Maya looked like a true battle mage, fierce, relentless, and untouchable.
I swallowed hard. That girl was dangerous. Watching her rain fire on the goblins like it was nothing sent a chill down my spine, right before the heat of the flames hit my face. I really need to tell Bob to stop teasing her. If we're not careful, we'll end up as grilled humans.
Evelyn was leaping from tree to tree with incredible agility. Every time she landed, one or two goblins would drop, arrows cleanly piercing their heads. She looked like she was actually enjoying the fight. Then, with a light flip, she landed on the ground beside Bob.
"Ten down! I'm leading the score!" she shouted with a grin.
"I'm already at fifteen, girl. Better step up your game," Bob sniffed, smirking.
Are these two seriously keeping score in this situation?
Boom! Boom! Explosions echoed through the forest.
Bob and Evelyn turned toward the sound. There stood Maya, casually waving her staff. With every sweep, three to four goblins were either set ablaze or blasted away. It was clear who was leading the score now.
"That's cheating, Maya," Evelyn called out.
"I'm not playing your stupid game," Maya replied flatly, continuing her fiery barrage without missing a beat.
So this is what it's like to be strong… Fighting like it's second nature, even in a life-or-death situation.
Meanwhile, I was behind William, facing the Elite goblin. Unlike the others, it didn't care that its kin were being slaughtered,it only had eyes for us.
"Alan," William whispered without breaking eye contact with the towering goblin, "once they finish off the small fry, stay close to them."
"O-okay," I stuttered. My legs were trembling.
The goblin roared and raised its massive spiked club, then brought it down with terrifying force.
I was certain we were about to be smashed into a bloody pancake...but we weren't.
William stood firm, both hands gripping his axe as he blocked the strike. The force sent vibrations through the ground, but William didn't budge. His stance was unshakable, like a wall.
Then, a green aura surged around him, wrapping his body like a shield.
"Defensive Stance!"
With a powerful yell, he shoved upward, forcing the goblin's arm back. The elite goblin staggered, nearly tripping over its own feet.
"Go now, Alan!" William barked.
Without hesitation, I sprinted toward the others. My heart pounded like a war drum. I was almost there when I heard the whistle of something cutting through the air.
The goblin, now furious, had hurled its spiked club straight at me.
"Alan!" William shouted in panic.
I turned my head, just in time to see the massive weapon flying toward me.
It was too fast.
"Huh?"