Brent Roth - The Dragon's Wrath: A Virtual Dream (28 page)

Standing up, the goblin was barely five-feet tall but with an overly-large hoplon and spear it looked like a deformed Spartan hoplite.

Well, now the real fight would begin.

The goblin's eyes burned with rage as it used a [Lunge] which was incredibly quick as I barely managed to deflect it from the center of my chest to my side.

Glancing at my health bar I had lost 18% of my health from that glancing blow. This creature could use abilities and skills. He wasn't a chump like the others that only feigned knowledge of such skills.

I immediately brought my axe to a mid-guard, intending to deflect the next blow while aiming for counter swings. The archers and rogue would have to whittle him down.

Not to be disappointed, the goblin followed up his [Lunge] with a [Heavy Thrust] that I was unable to properly deflect yet again. Running counter to the speed of the [Lunge], the extreme force of the [Heavy Thrust] made it nearly unstoppable.

Taking the hit into my left abdomen, 24% of my health vanished without a trace.

A golden light soon engulfed me and brought me back nearly to full health as the pain had dissipated as well. Without a moment to lose, I turned my focus back to the goblin in front of me.

The rogue had just snuck behind the goblin and unleashed a [Backstab] and then followed it with a [Flurry], rapidly stabbing the guard in the back with a swarm of quick thrusts. Watching as the goblin threw its shield back to break the rogue's onslaught, I noticed an arrow sneak through and land squarely in center mass.

That hoplon had deflected nearly every arrow… if we were to win this fight smoothly, I would need to break the goblin's guard.

Raising my axe to a high-guard with the intent to deflect the next blow, I was caught unaware as the Goblin Guard used a [Shield Bash] that sent me careening backwards. He followed it up with a [Heavy Thrust] while I was still staggered, landing the blow cleanly in the center of my chest.

Staring down at the spear that went completely through me, my vision started to blur as I was dazed. I had fallen to a critical level of 17% remaining health. That blow took almost 64% of my health in one hit.

My legs locked up and then started to buckle as I struggled to stay on my feet. Leaning my weight onto the spear, I grasped it lightly with both hands as I started to lose consciousness.

The goblin looked as if he was about to pull the spear out and I tried to grasp the spear as tightly as I could but without any real strength, it was futile.

And then I was engulfed in that glorious golden light that relieved my tension, cleared my vision, and restored strength to my body.

I gripped the spear tightly.

It yanked on the spear as hard as it could, but with only one hand compared to my two, I didn't budge. Instead, I ended up pulling the goblin closer. Without a weapon, this goblin was useless.

I had no intention of giving the spear up, and as we wrestled back and forth the goblin lowered its shield in desperation.

This was what I was waiting for.

Having already finagled my way to the side to give the archer's a clear path, I held steady as I watched the goblin take arrow after arrow to the arms, chest, and eventually the head.

The goblin was worked up into a stupor, frantically trying to pull the spear out of my chest. Fear had completely set in as the goblin's horizontal hourglass pupils had completely dilated. Without ever taking its eyes off the spear's shaft embedded in my chest, the Goblin Guard finally slumped backwards and onto the ground.

It was over.

Casually pulling the spear out of my chest, I inspected it to see what it was.

An [Old Dory]… I guess it was a Greek goblin after all.

Sitting down, I grabbed some rabbit jerky to appease my virtual body's hunger while contemplating my future affairs. We had cleared the first floor and there were a lot of options going forward.

But before I could continue I was alerted by a system message that I had completed the two quests, [Outing the Outcasts, Part 1] and [Bringing down the Guard]. Well, I could always get the second part and continue this another day I suppose.

There were five levels in total to this place after all.

Yeah, there was plenty of time anyways.

* * *

The overcast clouds had blocked the sun's rays as I sat by the riverbank enjoying the sounds nature had provided. The soothing sound of the river water flowing by and off the rocks was accompanied by the melody of the singing birds. Alone in nature except for the creatures that inhabited the forest, these were the things that I believed in… these scenes were what made the North beautiful.

"Ah."

Raindrops had started to fall on my shoulder, interrupting the daydream I had been having. Sitting in the drizzle along the riverbank, I had no intention of moving. A light rain wouldn't force me to seek shelter.

Looking at the time, she was running late again per usual. She was always running late with her nature of work, but I still had no intention of waiting for her in the crowded town. The peace and quiet of nature suited me better than the bustle and noise of civilization.

A familiar voice finally called out, "Sorry I'm late!"

With a faint smile and a nod, I softly replied, "Mm. Yeah."

She waved enthusiastically like she always did, while her male companion followed silently behind. I didn't understand the appeal to having your own personal NPC follower, but since she was an employee she was able to create one specifically to her tastes. We certainly had different tastes, but mine were still developing.

"Ready Val? That Outcast Goblin Dungeon isn't going to wait forever you know!"

Shaking my head while laughing at that typical eagerness she always showcased, I could only be infected by it.

"Mm. Yeah, let's go Em."

* * *

Afterword from the Author

Well, I can only hope that you found this an enjoyable read! When I originally set out to write this story, it was more a way to cure my boredom while confined to a bed. That lack of freedom led to essentially typing away for about fourteen hours a day for three weeks straight. By the end, I had typed up over two-hundred thousand words.

For comparison, this volume only contains roughly eighty-five thousand words… so there was quite a bit. It boiled down to roughly a month of typing, a month of proofreading and editing, and a month of refinement along with research to ensure accuracy for the topics covered.

Since I have already written the majority of the second volume, it's mostly a matter of time for editing and proofreading, and the refinement that will come with it once I've re-read the story in its entirety for the fifteenth time.

I do admit that this first volume had a lot of world building involved, so it was a bit slower paced than I would have liked. But I ultimately felt it was essential for setting the theme and the future progression of the story.

If you did enjoy the book, or even if you didn't, please feel free to leave a comment or some form of feedback! Any form of critique or compliment, whether it is positive or negative, is still a valuable asset.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and I hope you will continue to read my next work as well!

To be continued in Volume 2!