Chapter-5:Foul Death

The carriage rattled over uneven terrain, its wheels creaking under the weight of cargo. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Edwin sat across from Gavan, who looked pale and jittery. The older man's fingers trembled as he clutched a ring of keys.

Outside, guttural cackles echoed through the dense forest, accompanied by the rustle of leaves and snapping branches. The goblins were closing in, their malicious presence palpable even before they became visible.

Gavan's voice wavered as he whispered, "We're surrounded. Ten of them, at least. Maybe more."

Edwin's eyes flicked to the cracked window. Peering through the narrow gap, he counted the goblins emerging from the shadows. Most were small, scrappy creatures wielding crude weapons made from bones and rusted metal. Their pale green skin glistened with sweat under the dim light filtering through the trees.

Further back, larger goblins with scarred hides observed the scene, their eyes gleaming with cruel intelligence.

Edwin clenched his fists, his mind racing for a plan. Fighting off a horde of goblins alone was suicide, and Gavan looked ready to faint at any moment. Desperation gnawed at him.

His gaze landed on the chests stacked at the back of the carriage.

"Keys," Edwin demanded abruptly.

"What?" Gavan blinked in confusion.

"The keys to the chests. Now."

Gavan's face contorted with disbelief. "Are you insane? Those are valuab—"

"Keys. Now," Edwin repeated, his voice sharp.

Gavan hesitated, then reluctantly handed over the keys. "You're going to get us both killed," he muttered bitterly.

Ignoring the merchant's protests, Edwin unlocked one of the chests. The lid creaked open, revealing a long, flat box. He opened it carefully, and his breath caught.

A single-edged blade lay inside, its black steel gleaming like liquid night. The weapon was straight, with a faint curve near the tip. The craftsmanship was impeccable, the blade's edge razor-sharp.

"This doesn't look like something a simple merchant should have," Edwin remarked, lifting the sword.

Gavan's lips pressed into a thin line before he admitted, "It was forged by a renowned blacksmith. He asked me to transport it to his main workshop."

When Edwin held the sword, a strange familiarity washed over him. The weapon felt like an extension of his arm, its weight perfectly balanced.

"Apparently, it's not even one of his best works," Gavan added.

"Not his best?" Edwin's brow furrowed. "If this isn't good, I'd love to see what his finest looks like."

"This will do," Edwin muttered.

He stepped out of the carriage, ignoring Gavan's protests. The goblins immediately fixated on him, their yellow eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Edwin tightened his grip on the sword, his heart pounding. The system had marked ten goblins, and that seemed accurate.

Goblins were smart and cunning and usually the strongest and largest waited while the weaker ones attacked the enemy.

They would then gauge their strength and attack if they thought they could beat them easily.

This is why a goblin attacks are sometimes are hard to counter for beginner's.

The smallest of the group let out a shrill cry and charged, a bone club raised high.

Edwin waited until it was close, then sidestepped and slashed. The sword cut through the goblin's neck with shocking ease, severing its head cleanly. Blood sprayed in an arc as the creature's body crumpled to the ground.

Edwin marveled at the blade.

'This sword is insane,' Edwin thought, marveling at its sharpness.

The remaining goblins hesitated, eyes darting between Edwin and their fallen comrade. Goblins were naturally cowardly creatures, but their hesitation was short-lived.

Two more goblins charged, their weapons glinting in the faint light. One wielded a jagged dagger, while the other brandished a bone-studded club,they swung them with ferocity.

Edwin braced himself. The goblin with the dagger lunged at his thigh, the blade grazing his flesh. A sharp sting shot through his leg. The second goblin's club slammed into his shoulder, knocking him back a step.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Edwin retaliated. He slashed at the first goblin, severing its arm at the elbow. The creature shrieked, black blood gushing from the wound. Without hesitation, Edwin drove the blade through its chest, silencing it.

The second goblin froze, fear flickering across its face. Edwin didn't give it a chance to recover. He brought the sword down in a clean arc, splitting the goblin's skull.

The best way to counter goblins and other beings like them was fear.

The more fear you put into them the less likely they were to attack you.

That was why Edwin made sure to kill them brutally.

Panting, Edwin wiped sweat from his brow. His muscles ached, and blood trickled down his thigh, but he was still standing.

'Not bad,' he thought grimly.

Then the fourth goblin stepped forward.

It was larger than the others, its body covered in scars. A cruel grin spread across its face, revealing yellowed, jagged teeth. In its hand, it held a dagger that glowed with a faint red light.It resembled an Orc rather than a goblin.

Edwin's instincts screamed at him to be cautious.

The goblin moved faster than the others, lunging with terrifying speed. Edwin tried to sidestep, but the goblin anticipated the move. Its dagger slashed across his leg, nearly severing the muscle. Pain exploded through his body.

'What is that red light?' Edwin wondered, panic rising.

The goblin loomed over him, grinning triumphantly. It raised its dagger for the killing blow.

A system notification flickered before Edwin's eyes.

[You Have Died]

Edwin gasped as his eyes snapped open.

"You alright back there?" Gavan asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Yes, and thank you for saving me," Edwin replied in a monotone voice.

"Well, I was heading t—" Gavan began, but Edwin cut him off.

"You're heading to Lekri with some products for a blacksmith," Edwin said confidently.

"H-how did you know?" Gavan stammered, his eyes wide with shock.

"Don't worry about it," Edwin said coldly.

The carriage continued down the path until Gavan abruptly pulled the reins.

"G-goblins?!" Gavan said in shock, his face pale.

Edwin's eyes narrowed. "Give me the keys to the chest. Now."

He didn't wait for Gavan's response, snatching the keys from his trembling hands. Unlocking the box, he retrieved the sword and stepped off the carriage.

The goblins were waiting, their eyes gleaming with malice.

"Round two," Edwin muttered,

End of Chapter-5