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"Everyone, gladiators over here!" shouted the cloaked goblin, and all the slaves headed toward the spot.
"Damn it, couldn't they wait a little longer?" Hitaru complained as he started walking.
He felt Layla's worried gaze fixed on him.
She wondered whether he could really endure another fight.
And seeing him… it was impossible not to doubt it.
Hitaru's body was clearly battered.
The other slave-gladiators had already reached the edge of the fence. Hitaru, with a cold, unfriendly look, stepped close enough to see Mantown trying to guide the primary goblins toward the giant entrance of the village.
The small creatures passed by the gladiators, mocking them.
Some slaves clenched their teeth, others lowered their heads. Even though they wanted to say something, no one reacted. The fear of retaliation was too strong.
The cloaked goblin noticed the scene, laughed mockingly, and began to speak.
"Look here, damn dogs, today, thanks to the abundant boar meat you brought us—"
"AAAHHHH!!!"
A scream interrupted him.
Then another.
And another.
The screams began to be heard outside the walls.
The goblin guards ran toward the village entrance. The cloaked monster, his face tense and worried, began to shout orders.
"Everyone to the corners! Now!" he ordered, while running in the opposite direction from the guards.
The hooded goblin dodged others of his kind, shoved some aside, and knocked down those running against him. He didn't stop until he reached the door of the large hut.
"Boss! Boss! Boooooss!" he shouted in anguish, slamming on the door. "Damn it, boss, they're attacking the village!"
Arendt burst out of his hut like a bullet. He looked straight at the hooded goblin's face and then took the sword the cloaked goblin offered him, pulled from within his robes.
Without waiting any longer, Arendt ran as fast as he could toward the village entrance.
He did not expect to find a group of adventurers outside.
Several of them.
They were cutting down the primary goblins as if they were toys, and attacking the guards without mercy.
Arendt didn't hesitate.
He went straight for one of them, but another, carrying a large shield and what looked like a massive sword, stopped him.
"Damn bastards!" he shouted furiously, attacking with even greater ferocity.
Meanwhile, Hitaru was with Layla and Mantown.
The three of them were determined to escape.
Mantown helped the other slaves, shouting at them and pushing them so they would flee as well. Everyone ran like an avalanche toward an exit on the other side of the village.
After passing a block of improvised tents, the slaves reached an open square. To one side stood Arendt's hut.
Then one of the slaves pointed.
The cloaked goblin had noticed them.
Everyone sped up, resuming their escape as they saw the beast drawing closer and closer. The hooded goblin, with the help of a hidden dagger, began beheading the nearest slaves.
Seeing this, Hitaru grabbed Layla's hand and quickened his pace.
Mantown followed behind them.
They were at the front.
They wouldn't be caught so easily.
Suddenly they reached the forest and plunged into it. The chase continued among trees and roots, while screams could be heard from time to time.
Sometimes closer.
Sometimes farther away.
Mantown felt a chill run down his spine and stopped abruptly.
"What are you doing, Mantown?" Hitaru demanded, gesturing to him. "Hurry up, we have to get out of here now!"
"Go," Mantown ordered them.
There was immense worry on his face.
But more than worry…
Fear.
"What are you talking about? Let's go already!" Hitaru protested.
"Go now!" he ordered, turning around and heading back the way they had come.
Hitaru was torn.
He couldn't think clearly. He shook his head, looking toward where Mantown was going… and then back, toward the path that led to freedom. To the possible salvation from an early death.
He turned to look at Layla, still holding her hand.
She shook her head, a sad expression on her face. She didn't want to leave him.
But she understood.
That man, whom they barely knew, had protected her from the goblins in Hitaru's absence.
Hitaru understood it.
They couldn't stay.
Not after the way Mantown had asked them to leave.
He didn't want to do it…
but he turned back and ran with Layla, in the opposite direction from Mantown.
As he ran, a thought lodged itself deep in his chest.
"I don't know what you intend to do, Mantown… but thank you.
Thank you for defending me that night when I had nothing."
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Leave your collection and a comment so I know you liked it. That motivates me to write more chapters and with higher quality.
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