The watering in my mouth had become almost uncomfortable. Up close, her Mana Saturation was even more apparent—she glowed with the accumulated weight of years spent surviving against odds. This wasn't some pampered noble's daughter. This was someone who had lived rough and kept going.
The perfect target for an incubus, according to my system.
The goblin leader approached the cage, jangling a ring of keys it had taken from one of the guards. The woman tensed, pushing the boy fully behind her body.
Time to make a decision.
I could walk away. Nobody would blame me. Hell, nobody would even know.
Or I could try something incredibly stupid because I was stuck in a fantasy world with a hunger that wouldn't shut up and a woman who glowed like a beacon to my new senses.
"Third party incoming," I muttered, and stepped into the clearing.
The goblins didn't notice me at first. I picked up a stone about the size of my fist and weighed it in my hand.
Physics should still work the same here, right?
I put my shoulder into the throw. The stone hit the leader square in the temple with a crack that was wetter than I expected. The creature went down like a sack of rocks.
"Hey ugly!" I shouted. "Let's play a game. It's called 'how many goblins can I kill before you run away crying!'"
So much for clever plans.
All five goblins turned toward me, their bulbous yellow eyes widening in surprise, then narrowing with rage.
"KREEEEEE!" they screeched in unison.
The leader recovered quickly, pointing at me and barking orders. Three goblins immediately charged in my direction, crude weapons raised.
"Shit," I muttered, backing up. My brilliant plan had lasted approximately twelve seconds. Of course.
This was the part of the webnovel where the hero was supposed to reveal his hidden power, not scramble backward from a pack of ugly green things with knives.
The first goblin reached me, swinging a rusty knife at my midsection. I jumped backward, feeling the blade slice through the air inches from my stomach. The second goblin circled to my left, while the third went right.
They were trying to surround me. Smart little bastards.
I needed a weapon. My eyes landed on a thick branch that had fallen from one of the trees. Not ideal, but better than nothing.
I dove for it, rolling to avoid another knife thrust. My hand closed around the branch just as a goblin leaped onto my back, its weight surprisingly heavy for such a small creature.
Hot, foul breath hit my neck as the thing raised its blade, ready to plunge it into my spine.
Pure instinct took over. I twisted hard, throwing the goblin off balance, and swung the branch in a wild arc. It connected with a wet thud, sending the creature flying.
One down. Four to go.
The remaining goblins hesitated, reassessing me. The leader barked something, and they spread out, circling me warily.
"Come on," I said, grinning despite my terror. "Who's next?"
My heart hammered in my chest. This was insane. I'd never been in a real fight before, not like this. But something about this world, about this body, felt different. The movements came easier, more fluid than they should have.
Was this the Predator's Grace skill working? Maybe I wasn't completely useless after all.
Two goblins attacked simultaneously from different sides. I swung the branch in a wide arc, keeping them at bay, but the third darted in from behind, slashing at my leg.
Pain flared as the blade cut into my calf. Not deep, but it stung like hell.
"Fuck!" I shouted, whirling and bringing the branch down hard on the goblin's head. Its skull caved in with a sickening crunch.
Two down.
But I'd left myself open. The leader seized the opportunity, leaping forward and driving its spear toward my chest.
My feet felt nailed to the ground. There was no time to move, no space to dodge.
This is it, then. A stupid, pointless death.
Then something flashed through the air—a rock, thrown with surprising force. It hit the leader's arm, sending the spear off course. The blade sliced across my bicep instead of impaling my heart.
I glanced toward the cage. The woman stood there, arm still extended from the throw, eyes locked on mine.
She'd saved my life.
No time to thank her. The two remaining goblins were still coming at me, and the leader was recovering quickly.
I needed to end this fast.
The nearest goblin rushed me again. This time I was ready. I sidestepped its charge, brought my branch down on its back, then stomped hard on its head when it fell.
Three down.
The fourth goblin hesitated, looking to its leader for guidance. The leader screeched something that sounded an awful lot like "retreat," and both creatures turned to flee into the forest.
"Oh no you don't," I muttered.
I wasn't letting them go. They'd just come back with reinforcements.
I chased after the fourth goblin, the slower of the two. It glanced back, yellow eyes wide with fear as I closed the distance. The branch connected with its spine, sending it sprawling. One quick, brutal strike to the head finished it.
Four down.
The leader was faster, already disappearing into the trees. I looked down at my bleeding leg, considered my options, and decided to let it go. I'd done enough.
My body tingled all over, a strange, euphoric sensation washing through me. A translucent blue window appeared in my field of vision:
\[\* You have gained 40 XP \*\]
\[\* You are now Level 1 (40/100 XP) \*\]
So killing goblins gave experience points. Good to know.
I turned back to the cage where the woman and boy were watching me with a mixture of fear and hope. The leader's keys lay on the ground where it had dropped them.
I limped over, picking up the ring.
"Are you okay?" I asked, approaching the cage cautiously.
The woman studied me, her expression guarded. "We're alive," she said, her voice flat and steady. She studied me, her eyes lingering on the bloody branch in my hand. "That was a messy way to win a fight."
"Yeah, well," I glanced at the goblin corpses. "When life gives you lemons and all that."
Up close, her Mana Saturation was even more obvious. She practically radiated warmth, like standing next to a fireplace on a cold night. My mouth watered again, the strange hunger twisting inside me.
"I'm Damien," I said, trying to focus on something besides the glow.
She nodded slightly. "Solana. This is my son, Kael."
The boy peeked out from behind her, dark eyes wary but curious.
I held up the keys. "I'm guessing you'd rather not stay in that cage?"
"That would be preferable," Solana said.
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A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter! Support by adding to your library and giving a power stone or two. (∿°○°)∿ ︵ ︵ ︵ ︵ ︵ ǝʌol