34 - Carin City [6]

[Welcome to the Goblin Crypt]

[Objective: Acquire the crystal key to clear the Gate]

Those were the rows of text that had been visible to all of us at the point of entry into this Gate.

It was straightforward, and easy.

Clear the goblins in our way and get the crystal key or whatever and that was it.

There was no tedious thing in that.

However, the goblins swarm us in their numbers. So much that Wendy, and her protectors — Cecilia Allison and Jasper Kenway — also had to step fully into the battle.

There was only so much the other four of us could do without their help.

Wendy was pivotal in the clearing of the goblins.

Without her luminescent orbs, we would have been robbed of the privilege of seeing our enemies.

Her nature manipulating ability also came in handy in dealing with many of the goblins.

And most importantly, her [Greater Heal] skill.

At the moment, Bran was receiving the effect of that skill.

Being the one who gets closest to the goblin while fighting, he also exposed himself to the highest risk of getting injured.

Regardless, he didn’t mind. Bran was iron-willed.

His mind, body and soul were sturdy and unshakeable.

He was the type of man to die fighting a thousand men if it meant that his objective would be reached.

"Are you feeling better?" Wendy asked with a smile that did reasonably well at hiding her worries.

Bran smiled right back, held her hand and nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Wendy. I feel much better."

"Sorry. This is the most I can afford to heal you for now."

"I understand," Bran responded, managing to get on his feet with Wendy’s support.

He looked around, analysing our enemies just like we were.

It was clear to everybody now that for every stage we passed in this Gate, we received stronger goblins to fight.

"We need to end this as fast as possible."

He voiced out the exact thought on everybody’s mind.

"Crow Attack!" Cecilia shouted from where she was fighting.

With her command, the rune markings on her body glowed even brighter than I’d ever seen it.

With a small steam coming off from them, a murder of crows appeared and assaulted the goblins that attacked her.

She was a Summoner Class Awakener cadet, with the ability to call upon crows.

With the manifestation of the black birds, there was a voracious attack on the goblins.

Seizing this opportunity, Jasper who was yet to make any significant move, went into action.

Cecilia had proved the screen he needed to exhibit his act.

He brandished his daggers, crossing his forearms in front of him in an X pattern.

He muttered two words, coldly and calmly. "Shadow... Step."

In a heartbeat, Jasper flashed through the ranks of the goblins.

The difficulty in dealing with these green creatures had increased but their weaknesses still remained the same.

It only took more hits to kill them.

—Shing!

Jasper was fast. Perhaps, he was even faster than Eris.

Watching Jasper, it was as though he had entered a flow state.

His dagger went down and goblin blood spattered.

"That’s great, Jasper," Cecilia cheered him like a fan.

I wondered how she managed to be so engrossed with what Jasper was doing when we all had our hands full.

—Clank!

My sword slashed down across a goblin’s chest.

"Tch! Seven strikes..." I muttered with gross disappointment.

’If only the previous me had complete mastery of his sword style even.’

I looked around me. Everyone was fairly managing themselves.

We needed to end this fast and get into the room where the crystal key was.

It was torture moving through this army of goblins because we restrained ourselves, tuning down how much power we exert.

We didn’t know what was ahead and so we didn’t want to use trump cards early, only to be cornered afterwards.

Even Eris and I haven’t manifested a shard of ice since we entered the Gate.

It was arduous but we scaled through, reaching a large black door that we believed was the last room to enter.

We exchanged glances and nodded at intervals, agreeing to all enter the room.

—Creak!

Bran, with help from Jeremy and I, pushed the door open and inside, at a distance, was something that looked like an altar.

A podium, or a stage perhaps. Just something of sort.

On top of a vertical stone platform, a large crimson crystal sat, glistening under the soft moonlight that came down from above, squeezing through the hole in between the stone roof.

"That’s it," Jeremy announced with happiness.

"Do we simply walk there and take it?" Cecilia asked with doubt lacing her voice.

We all understood why that question came up.

What if there were booby traps?

What if other goblins suddenly appear? Or worse, a stronger monster.

"We won’t know if we don’t try," I said, stepping forward.

Someone had to do it, and none of them seemed willing to do it despite coming this far.

’We’ve slain too many goblins to be afraid of picking up our trophy.’

That was my thought process as I walked towards the stone platform.

"Be careful, Link!"

I turned slightly and looked at Wendy from over my shoulder and then smiled, nodding to reassure her.

She was agitated inside. It was obvious in those cheerful orange eyes of hers that she was deeply worried about me.

Like Wendy, my emotions were turbulent waters.

I swallowed as I made my way to the stone platform, doubting gradually creeping in.

’Nothing too ominous happened to them at this point of the novel...’ I thought, finding solace in the foreknowledge that I had about the novel.

But even that knowledge was threatened with Professor Kenivale’s arrival to our class and the event of this Gate.

I didn’t recall any of such happening this way.

I swallowed again.

This time I was close.

The crystal key was a crimson gemstone, and it was within half an arm’s reach as I stretched my hand to grab it.

I don’t know but I felt I could hear their faint voices urging me on, encouraging me to take it and run back to them.

Then...

I touched it.

Without thinking about it further, I grabbed it with a much firmer grip and yanked it off the stone platform.

’Tch! It’s hot...’

Just as I was readying my mind to endure the hotness, the familiar sound of the system chimed.

This time, it was not only for me.

We all heard and saw it.

—Ding!