Endless Evolution As A Skeleton In A Game-Like World
Chapter 7: [7] Ambush

Chapter 7: [7] Ambush

Their formation was a simple but effective one, a triangle formation.

The knight and spearman stood at their flanks, Isabella stood at the head of the formation, and the two casters, Ark and Olivia stood behind.

Soo-Jin was in a flexible position, meaning she would rush forward and destabilize the enemy, only retreating when the danger level was high.

Red eyes gleamed within the forest, followed by dark laughter.

[Threat detected! Goblins, Level 5 x 25]

’Level five and twenty five of them?’ Ark’s grip on his staff tightened. Level five meant that these goblins were far stronger than him, as well as the humans in their party.

They could not afford to be careless, or it could very well cost them their lives.

Soo-Jin’s eyes narrowed as the first green foot stepped out of the forest. "Mages, get ready—"

"You don’t have to tell me." Ark said with a smirk. He had waited a long time for this.

He moved his staff in his left hand and raised his right. Magic burst to life within his bony fingers, the heat kissing them as he lifted it up to the sky.

"[Fireball!]."

Swish!

The moment the goblins stepped out of the forest, brandishing their crude weapons, their eyes widened as the fire ball whistled through the air.

"Tabaka!"

Bang!

The fireball pounded into its gut, blowing the goblin into chunks of flesh that splattered all over his colleague. The smell of burning flesh waffled through the air, as what was left of its body fell down to a burning heap.

[You have slain a level 5 goblin! +10 exp]

’So it takes ten seconds to cast?’ The area effect of the spell was poor, and the cast time was terrible, especially in 1v1 situations.

But that was to be expected, the spell was still in its most basic form after all.

"Not bad, for a nobody." Olivia snickered from beside him. "What was that? An F-Rank spell? Allow me to show you true magic."

Yellow lightning sparkled in her green eyes, just before rushing out of her wings. Sparks drifted into the air, a buzz spreading around them as she pointed her finger forward.

The goblins charged with rage, screaming as they cut through the distance between them.

Olivia smirked. "[Chain lighting]"

Tzzzz!

A bolt of lightning whistled forward with a thunder clap, turning three goblins to mounds of steaming flesh.

The blue light in Ark’s eyes glistened. ’A C-rank skill? It looks like I have a lot to look forward to stealing today.’

"Ha! See that?" She placed her hands on her hips and smiled smugly.

"Yes, it was wonderful."

"Hmmph! Of course it was. Praise me more!"

Ark had already charged another spell and Olivia’s spell was seconds away from forming. He flung his fire ball towards another goblin, killing it on the spot, but the remainder of the goblins slammed into their formation with unholy fury.

Charles held his shield firm, fending off the goblins that tried to get to them, while hacking and slashing with all his might, blood staining his sword and shield.

A goblin rushed towards the left, but Nolan intercepted it, driving his spear into its gut.

Squelsh!

Blood and gore exploded out of its back, the goblin’s eyes turning bloodshot before it crumpled to the ground.

Isabella was taking out goblins in front of her with her bare hands. One of the goblins swung a crude mace at her skull, but she drove her fist into its gut, the blow so powerful that it froze, seconds before it vomited blood.

Another one leaped into the air, driving its dagger down, but she caught it by the neck, midair.

Then she grabbed its leg and pulled, snapping sounds were accompanied by the sound of gurgling blood, the goblin flailing around before she ripped out its throat, bathing herself with its blood.

She lifted its limb body up and turned its neck towards her mouth, taking a mouthful of its horrid blood before tossing it to the side like an empty husk.

’A vampire...’ Ark stared at her for a moment longer. ’That was freaking cool!’

It was nothing like the days he spent cooped up in his room, playing RPG games in VR mode. Right now, he was right in the middle of it, and he loved every single moment of it!

His eyes moved to where Soo-jin was and he let out a low chuckle.

So this is what a divine race is capable of?

While they had the formation to protect them, Soo-jin was confronting them head on. And yet, none of the goblins could do so much as lay a finger on her.

Each time her claws flashed, bloodstains added another layer to her clothing, and the air smelled of iron and heat.

Her claws were sharper than steel, and her movements so fast that she became a blur of white and red.

Two goblins raced at her, and with one swift motion, she sent them flying into the air.

Soo-jin waited, drawing her claws back, ready to rip them to shreds, when suddenly—

Vwooosh!

A ball of fire engulfed them both, charred flesh raining down. She glanced in Ark’s direction and he smiled, or at least tried to.

"Save some for us, hahaha!" He chuckled, just before sending another fireball flying.

"Are you trying to show me up?!" Olivia clicked her tongue.

Lightning raced alongside the fire, the two spells merging into an amalgamation of death, before obliterating a group of goblins.

In the space of a few seconds, they had thinned down the horde, and now only the toughest of the bunch remained.

But instead of fighting, to everyone’s surprise they turned around and fled.

"Abandon formation, don’t let a single one escape!" Soo-jin ordered as she gave chase.

Goblins hunted in large groups, so this was likely just a small hunting party. But if they allowed them to return to their base, they would come back with reinforcements, a group so large that even they would have trouble.

Following her command, the melee fighters rushed forward, chasing the goblins.

Ark on the other hand raised his hand once more. He could feel his mana supply beginning to dwindle, but if he allowed the goblins get into the forest, it could spell trouble.

He formed a fire ball and kept his gaze on a large tree ahead of them, and then he launched it.

Swish—BANG!

The fire tore through the tree, and then it came down, cursing two of them, while at the same time stunning the others, allowing his party to catch up.

But strangely, one of the goblins turned around and smirked, looking directly at Ark and Olivia, and then it laughed.

"Well that was even ickier than you..." Olivia hissed as its head was looped off its shoulders. The group made short work of the nine goblins, and then Soo-jin turned towards them.

But just as she did, her eyes widened, and then Charles screamed at the top of his voice.

"ABOVE YOU!"

Both Olivia and Ark immediately glanced up, but it was far too late.

"SKEKEKEKEKEKEKEKE!"

Up above them, goblins were descending like insects, far too close for them to muster any reasonable defence!

"Shit!"

A goblin suddenly latched onto his cloak, ripping it from top to bottom, and causing him to nearly trip, just as another one swung, its battle hammer coming down upon his head—

[Threat detected! Goblins, Level 5 x 50!]