Hold the LINE!!!

Wielding its gnarled staff, the goblin shaman carved through the air in a wide arc, violet energy crackling along the twisted wood. The air itself pulsed with an unseen force.

Then—slam.

The staff struck the ground. A deep, resonant boom rolled across the battlefield. A chilling echo followed—a sound like a thousand whispers crawling beneath the skin.

Noah's stomach twisted. That wasn't normal magic.

"Shit."

Even the instructor muttered under his breath, his usual smirk fading into a sharp glare. His gaze snapped toward the shaman, muscles tensing. He knew what was coming.

"Hold the line!" he barked, already stepping forward. "I'll deal with the Bloodhound—you survive till I get back. And if you don't—" his grin flickered back, sharp as a knife "—I'm making you run laps in Heaven."

Without another word, the instructor launched himself forward.

His sword cut through goblins like paper, his movements brutal, precise. With a single bound, he kicked off the wall, a thunderous impact shaking the platform beneath them. Then, with no hesitation, he plunged into the horde, dodging attacks with terrifying ease. He was a blur of steel and destruction, spreading chaos through the goblins' ranks as he pushed toward the shaman.

Noah barely had time to react.

The instructor was gone.

A gap had opened in the defenses, the absence of his presence immediately noticeable. But the carnage he left behind had carved out a temporary safe zone—one where no goblins dared to step.

Noah took advantage of the moment, repositioning himself behind Mark. His gaze darted across the battlefield, scanning the chaos.

Their section of the wall was a mess—scattered weapons, toppled bodies, and the remnants of a wooden barricade that had been smashed to splinters. He was also able to see how the other students were fairing.

Ava was locked in a one-on-one fight with a goblin. But she wasn't just dodging. She was beating the creature senseless, her fists striking hard, fast, relentless. A final punch sent the goblin reeling, blood dripping from its broken nose.

Then Noah's eyes caught another figure.

Devon.

Unlike the others, he wasn't brawling. He was hunting.

Moving like a shadow, he slipped between enemies with eerie grace. His dagger flashed in the dim light, each movement clean, efficient—deadly. Goblins fell silently in his wake, their deaths swift, unnoticed.

But while a handful of students were managing…

Most were not.

Noah saw it in their eyes.

Paralyzing fear.

Some clutched their weapons but failed to do anything meaningful. Others simply stood frozen, watching the chaos unfold with wide, unblinking stares.

Noah felt it too.

The fear. The overwhelming sense that one wrong move meant death.

But he couldn't afford to freeze.

Not if he wanted to survive.

He exhaled sharply, tightening his grip on his spear.

It was time to lock in.

Unless he wanted to die.

Falling into a rhythm, Noah took notice of those around him.

From his current position, Noah had a better vantage point, allowing him to assess the battlefield more clearly and make better decisions. Positioned safely behind the front line, he could act as a squad leader—even if it was just a two-man team.

"Mark, head over to Ricky! Help him out and take down that goblin," Noah ordered.

"Got it!" Mark responded, immediately moving toward Ricky.

Ricky, gripping a standard-length sword, struggled against a scrawny goblin wielding a crude wooden club. Bruises covered his arms and legs, evidence of a fight that wasn't going in his favor.

With a yell, Mark charged forward, slamming his shield into the goblin with a resounding thud.

"I got you, Ricky!" Mark shouted.

Noah followed close behind, thrusting his spear forward. The tip nicked the goblin's shoulder, drawing a sharp yelp of pain from the creature.

"Thanks... thanks, guys. I really needed that. You saved me," Ricky gasped, taking a moment to catch his breath.

Seizing the opportunity, Mark swung his sword at the distracted goblin, slicing deep into its collarbone.

Noah followed up immediately, driving his spear straight through the goblin's gut. The creature let out a strangled cry before collapsing—dead.

"No problem, Ricky. Just hold your own. Find someone with a shield you can stand behind," Noah instructed.

"There aren't enough shield bearers to fall back behind," Ricky admitted, still breathing heavily.

"All right, then stick close to us," Noah said, gripping his spear as he prepared for the next fight.

'Actually, it might be better to have Ricky with us instead anyway.'

With the three of them now together, they moved as a unit to fill the gap left by the instructor.

"Mark, take the front and draw their attention. Ricky and I will flank their sides," Noah instructed.

"Got it!" Mark shouted as he charged forward, letting out a raw battle cry.

Ricky followed up on Mark's right, swinging his sword like a baseball bat, wildly hacking at the goblins.

'Gods, did he learn nothing from our training?' Noah thought, watching Ricky's sloppy attacks. Even with just one arm, Noah was performing better, his strikes far more precise.

Stepping forward, he demonstrated proper technique—his spear slicing cleanly across a goblin's ribs, cutting deep.

As Noah engaged one of the goblins, another crept up behind him, slipping through the chaos unseen. Its jagged teeth bared, it raised a crude wooden club, ready to strike.

Noah barely caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye. 'Shit.'

He spun, swinging his spear in a wide arc in a desperate attempt to intercept—

But before his weapon could connect, an arrow whistled through the air.

Noah barely had time to register the arrow splitting through the goblin's skull before another whistle sliced the air. A second arrow embedded itself in a goblin mid-lunge, knocking it backward with a choked snarl.

His gaze snapped toward the source—Amanda, already moving.

She ran with measured urgency, her shortbow held steady in one hand, her other reaching for another arrow. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation—just practiced efficiency.

"Watch your flank," she said, voice even but firm.

Before Noah could react, a blur streaked past his vision—Ava. She was already moving, closing the gap in a heartbeat. The goblin barely had time to snarl before her fist smashed into its face.

She followed up instantly, her strikes a flurry of brutal precision—twelve rapid blows in succession. Bone crunched. The goblin's jaw shattered under the relentless assault, its body going limp before it even hit the ground.

Noah blinked. The goblin wasn't just dead—it looked like it had been through a meat grinder. He exhaled, lowering his spear. "Thanks for the help."

"Save the 'please' and 'thank you' for later," Ava muttered, stepping in behind Mark.

Amanda nocked another arrow, her sharp gaze scanning the battlefield. "We need to work together," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Fighting separately is going to get people killed."

Noah exhaled sharply, nodding. She was right. The battle wasn't just about surviving—it was about keeping as many of them alive as possible.

"We can't afford to lose anyone," he said, gripping his spear. "We need to pull the others into formation. The ones who can fight, we regroup and push forward. Anyone struggling, we move them to the back—out of the way but still useful."

Amanda loosed another arrow, striking a goblin mid-charge. "Then let's move before we lose the chance."

Noah turned to Mark and Ricky. "Stay close. We're gathering everyone we can."

Mark grinned, raising his shield. "Sounds like a plan."

Ricky, still catching his breath, hesitated. "But… what if they panic? Some of them aren't even moving."

"Then we move for them," Noah said, already stepping forward. "We make sure they don't die standing still."

Pushing forward, the squad moves out, making way to the other students.

Mark took the lead, shield raised high as he slammed into the chaos like a living battering ram. Ava was right beside him, moving with predatory focus, fists clenched, eyes locked onto the nearest threats.

Noah kept pace just behind them, his grip tight on his spear. His left arm was next to useless—wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth, the fabric clinging to his skin. The pain hadn't faded. If anything, it was getting worse. Each movement sent a sharp, pulsing ache up his arm, a constant reminder that he wasn't at full strength.

Amanda, ever observant, did notice. "Noah." Her voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. "Your arm—"

"I'm fine," Noah cut in, eyes fixed ahead.

She didn't look convinced. "That cloth is practically dripping."

He clenched his jaw. It doesn't matter. If he acknowledged it, it would slow him down. If he hesitated, even for a second, he'd lose focus.

"I said I'm fine." He tightened his grip on his spear, forcing the pain into the background. "Focus."

Amanda exhaled sharply but didn't argue. Instead, she let an arrow fly, striking down a goblin that had crept too close.

Just ahead, a student stood paralyzed, sword trembling in his grip. A goblin lunged—blade gleaming in the dim light, aiming straight for his throat.

Noah moved—but Mark was faster.

With a thunderous crash, Mark slammed his shield into the goblin, sending it staggering back. Before it could recover, Ava was already there. She drove her knee into its gut, then followed up with a brutal stomp to the head. The creature twitched once—then went still.

The rescued student gasped, eyes wide. "I—thank you. I—"

"Less talking, more moving," Noah cut in, stepping beside him. "Can you fight?"

The boy swallowed hard, nodding. "I… I think so."

'He doesn't sound sure.' Noah didn't have time to find the best position for the student so he just let him fill in.

"Then fall in behind us. Fighters up front, everyone else in the back." Noah's grip on his spear tightened. "If we lose formation, we're dead. No one fights alone."

Amanda glanced at him again, eyes flicking to his arm, but she didn't argue. Instead, she raised her bow.

"Then let's keep moving."

Noah rolled his shoulder, trying to shake the stiffness from his wounded arm.

No time for weakness. No time for pain.

His eyes flicked across the battlefield, locking onto the next group of students struggling to hold their ground.