Kekeke!
The goblins started their advance the moment they spotted us.
I wasted no time to act.
[Arise]
Given their effectiveness previously, I erupted the ground beneath the monsters using telekinesis and caused the creatures to be scattered throughout the field.
I looked to Shanny and Trudy next.
"Each of you take one. I'll handle the rest."
They could not speak up to me due to how tense they were. But they managed to give me a subtle nod.
I turned to Jonah who stood in the back.
"Give them a hand if they seem in trouble."
"Alright!"
Had they immediately run away upon seeing the goblins, I would not ask Jonah to do so.
However, since they stood their ground, I was inclined to aid them.
After recomposing themselves, the goblins resumed their advance.
I waved my hand and used telekinesis to push the two goblins in the back farther from us.
I casted my offensive spell.
[Maha Agni]
A stream of flames burst forth from my hand and blasted through those two goblins.
Two remaining.
As the monsters approached, Shanny and Trudy readied their swords and ran forward.
Once they approached the goblins, they both swung their weapons as hard as their untrained arms could.
Unfortunately, both goblins saw the attacks coming and dodged the blades.
Trudy lost her balance after the miss and fell to the ground.
The goblin was about to pounce her when she kicked it back, allowing her time to regain herself.
Meanwhile Shanny kept her grip on her sword and redirected its sharp tip toward her monster.
She thrusted the blade forward and successfully impaled the goblin on the stomach.
However, despite the great wound, the goblin did not die.
The creature moved closer to Shanny, causing the blade to plunge even deeper.
It then swung its knife erratically, trying to slash the woman.
"Grrhh, just die you bastard!"
Shanny screamed at the goblin and used her sword to push it to the ground.
Unfortunately, Shanny got too close to the goblin in the process and got her calf stabbed.
"Ahhh!!!"
Jonah quickly ran toward her. But before he could muster any aid, Shanny pulled the sword out of the goblin's stomach and plunged it directly on the head, killing it instantly.
"Die! Die! Die!"
Shanny kept chanting those words as she repeatedly maimed the dead goblin with her blade.
"Kyaa!"
Trudy suddenly screamed.
I turned over and found her back on the ground. A stab wound could be found on her stomach.
She was struggling against the goblin who was trying to nail her head on the ground with its knife.
I intended to separate the goblin from her using telekinesis, but before I could do that, Trudy grabbed a rock to her side and smacked it on the goblin's head.
Trudy turned over, her hair had become undone, and pinned the goblin on the ground using her knees.
She repeatedly smashed the goblin's head with the rock on her hand.
Thud. Thwack. Thwack.
Trudy smacked the rock repeatedly till it soaked black with the goblin's blood. She continued even long after the goblin had died.
Once the goblin's head had turned into unrecognizable mush, the light began to engulf us once more, meaning the completion of the trial.
We soon found ourselves back to the mirrored chamber.
As expected from before, Shanny and Trudy's wounds immediately healed now that we had returned.
Even so, the two women were still gasping for air and spacing out with adrenaline from the battle.
"Calm down. You're safe now."
I told them.
"You guys fought well!"
Jonah complimented.
"How, how many more times do we have to do this?"
Shanny asked, still weary from the fighting but would not cower to fight another battle.
I supposed it was natural for her to ask. I previously also wondered how many more trials awaited us.
"Apparently the trial we were just in was only the first floor of the tower."
I answered.
"The tower?"
"Yes. We need to reach the top so we all could go home."
Shanny and Trudy lit up in excitement.
"Really?! We can go home?!"
"And just how many floors are there in this tower?"
I slyly smiled before answering.
"One hundred. We still got 99 more to climb."
"A hundred?!"
"And it doesn't necessarily mean there will only be 99 battles left. After all, we've been going to the first floor several times now."
I added.
"What?!"
"And I'm fairly certain the enemies will be stronger the higher we climb."
I added again.
"S-stronger?!"
I could see the horror in their faces as I told them about our circumstances.
The fact that our lives would now be filled with endless battles.
This was the reality we had to face after being summoned to this land.
If they could not accept it, they might as well surrender themselves to the goblins earlier or ask master to synthesize them.
Those options would be better than to suffer on the harsh trials ahead.
In the end, it all comes down to how much they wanted to live.
"Urgh, I knew I shouldn't trust that Orvis bastard!"
Shanny shouted in anger.
She clenched her sword and turned to Jonah.
"Hey, shepherd! I'm gonna train with you from now on! You don't mind, right?"
Trudy suddenly jumped up and went to Jonah.
"M-me too! I want to train as well!"
Jonah raised his eyebrows with interest upon the proposal.
"Sure! It'll be great to have someone to spar with."
Shanny nodded to him and made her way to the exit.
"Then let's stop wasting time and start training now!"
"Come! I'll show you guys the training ground."
"Wait for me!"
I suppose I did not need to wonder any longer.
Apparently they had the will to live after all.