A horde of goblins stare out at me. For a moment, we're just frozen, both goblins and human, neither entirely sure what to do.
No time. Absolutely no time whatsoever.
"Goblins!" I choose the single best word I can think of in this situation. My vocal cords strain and feel like they're going to rip from the force of shouting so loud. But the others look.
"N-No way!"
"What do we do?"
"Bust through we need to bust through!" Thankfully, Tepis as a solo Hunter has the experience to come to the same conclusion I have. "We can't stay here!"
Behind us is only a dead end and the fallen rocks blocking the exit to the 1st Floor. If we can get deep enough into the dungeon, we might be able to find one of the goblin's escape tunnels. It's our only chance. However, there's only one problem.
That...is a lot of freaking goblins.
Mutants left and right. There are so many Feral Goblins that they seem to blend together into a sea of green skin and yellow teeth. Their rusty weapons add little spots of color within the seething mass. But that's not the problem. The issue is all the mutants mixed into them.
Lvl. ?? Goblin Swordsman
Lvl. ?? Goblin Desperado
Lvl. ?? Goblin Shieldmaiden
"What the hell is in the water here!" Tepis groans as he holds up a Solar Gem and sees the horde of mutant variations. The entire dungeon is teeming with them. "Which way do we go?!"
Snapping my eyes around the main tunnel, I try to find a way out of this.
There!
Less mutants on that side!
"G-Go!" I manage to eke out while pointing towards the right. One of the side tunnels is thick enough that it might not lead to a dead end, but there are only Feral Goblins nearby.
"Hei's right! It's our only shot!" Tepis blurs into action instantly, his scimitar carving crescents as he bowls into the short Feral Goblins. However, the goblin's natural cowardice is nowhere to be seen today. Instead of giving way to his charge, they stand their ground, waving rusty daggers to create a thicket of knives to block his way.
"Help Tepis!" Sierra dives in as well, the blinding light of the Solar Gem swinging wildly in her hand as she drives her shield into a group of Feral Goblins. Rita gives me a backwards glance, the short girl is only a little bit taller than some of the taller goblins, but she doesn't hesitate when I nod. Go...it's now or never!
"HAHHHHH!"
Despite telling the others I wouldn't be fighting; this is life or death.
I won't go back to that place!
We won't!
Hidden bloodlust rises up inside me. I charge a smaller Feral Goblin with my cleaver, intending to murder it for levels, when one of the mutant variations dashes over and plucks its smaller brethren off the ground. Flinging it out of the way, my new enemy bares its teeth in a ferocious, demented, grin.
Lvl. ?? Goblin Shieldmaiden
It carries a huge shield and the tattered dress it sports is covered in grease and unrecognizable juices. If it wasn't for the System's description, I wouldn't even be able to tell that it's a female member of their race.
You are one ugly creature...
Ducking around it's shield, I try to slip my way past its guard and strike at its neck, but it follows me with unnatural speed. Even with Basic Combat's System assist, I'm simply outmatched in levels. This thing is in the 20's and I'm Lvl. 11. Additionally, it's an evolved mutant variant, so it's even faster. All around more goblins begin to surge in from every direction. Soon we'll be drowned.
