Hundreds of goblins awaited us on the plain outside the gate.
"Kia, kiaaa!"
Beyond the flickering flames, they kept a slight distance, watching us. Their eyes glowed red, and they brandished their swords threateningly.
Creak... creak...
The gate behind us began to close. The recovered soldiers were turning the windlass.
The intended outcome. Our escape route was blocked. Only forward remained.
"Everyone, positions!"
"Yes!"
One fearless goblin burst through the flames. I lopped off its head with my sword, then took formation: the triangular formation centered around the magician. Me at the apex, Jenna right, Aaron left, Iolka center.
Thanks to the wide curtain of fire, the goblins couldn't easily approach, but likewise, we couldn't recklessly advance either. We had to clear a path.
"Iolka. Tier 1. Low firepower is fine. Scatter the flames as wide as possible."
"Got it." Iolka closed her eyes and began casting.
"Stop the goblins from getting close!"
The initial flames from her first spell were gradually weakening, thanks to the intensifying rain. Several goblins broke through the dangerously flickering fire.
Jenna's dagger drew an arc, piercing a goblin's neck. Blood spurted amidst the raindrops.
Aaron gripped his spear long and stabbed them down one by one. His skill level might be low, but he'd undergone extensive training. His thrusting form was flawless.
"Kyarrr!"
A crossbowman's eyes glinted. Bolts fired from three crossbows, all aimed at Iolka. I blocked two with my shield and deflected one with my sword. Simultaneously, I kicked a stone from the ground. The lead crossbowman reeled back, nose bleeding, and collapsed.
'20 seconds.'
Just as the heat radiating from behind me reached its peak...
"Rotate!"
We switched from a triangle to an inverted triangle. Me moving left, Jenna moving up-right, Aaron dropping back. This opened the front, giving Iolka a clear line of fire.
[Ignite!]
Fwooooosh!
Flames shot forward from the opened front, billowing outwards, scattering fire in all directions.
"Kiaaaaaah!"
The acrid smell of burning flesh mixed with thick smoke stung my nostrils.
"Break through!"
Instantly reverting to the triangle formation, we charged across the burning plain. Goblins floundered amidst the flames, causing chaos. Hot air pressed against my leather armor, but I could endure it to some extent. It wasn't for nothing that I'd shoved my hand into a burning brazier.
'Goblins are weak to fire.' They have an instinctual fear of it. Recruiting Iolka was a stroke of luck. If it had just been us, breaking the encirclement would have been much harder.
'But why did it have to rain.'
Before long, hundreds of goblins surrounded us again. Patches of flame remained, but the downpour quickly subdued their intensity. Iolka brushed her wet hair back and bit her lip.
"Just shoot again. One sip per shot. Drink sparingly," I instructed.
"I know!" Iolka took a swig of the mana potion and quickly swallowed. Then she began chanting again.
Goblins poured in from areas where the fire hadn't properly caught. It was Jenna's side.
"Aaron, support the right! I'll handle things here alone."
"Yes!"
The flames were relatively stronger on my left, yet goblins still burst through. Some charged at me screaming, even while engulfed in flames.
I knew their attack patterns inside out. I deflected a sword with my shield, then pierced the heart. Parried bolts, dodged spears. Smashed heads with the shield's edge, tore throats.
Another 20 seconds.
"Rotate!"
Fwooooosh!
The second volley launched. A temporary gap opened in the surrounding goblin horde. Using the flames as cover, we dashed forward. My body stung with burns, but there was no time to stop. A breached encirclement closes quickly. We had to cover as much distance as possible within that window.
"Kira, Kiruraroro!"
On a high rock to one side of the plain, a goblin waved a banner. It wore full iron armor and a red cloak. A commander-class goblin.
"Jenna!"
"Target acquired. Going!"
Instantly after piercing one goblin's forehead with her dagger, Jenna drew her bow and fired. The arrow accurately struck the commander between the eyes.
"Ki?"
"Kiki!"
Two goblins, apparently bodyguards, hesitated beside the fallen commander, unsure what to do. Jenna sent them to the afterlife as well.
Ping! Ping ping ping!
The crossbowmen concentrated their fire on Iolka.
"Don't break casting," I commanded. The moment a bolt left the crossbow, its trajectory, speed, and how to block it were calculated in my mind like a computer. The effect of Projectile Defense. My body followed the calculations precisely. Splintered bolt fragments flew everywhere.
Fwooooosh!
Third volley. This time, we advanced further. The goblins seemed confused for longer, likely due to losing their commander. Their primary objective was probably the North Gate, not us anyway.
Suddenly, a spear tip thrust out from the flames. I dodged slightly sideways, grabbed the spear shaft with my left hand, and pulled. The dragged goblin was engulfed in the flames and became thoroughly roasted.
My condition, needless to say, was terrible. The pouring rain made the leather armor heavy. The flames, refusing to yield easily to the rain, left burn marks all over my body. Rain and smoke obscured vision, and the muddy ground pulled at my feet.
'Hot then cold. This is maddening.'
I swung my sword down, splitting a goblin from the crown down.
Time for the fourth volley. I moved left, and immediately, the flame cannon swept the area in front.
Aaron gasped for breath as he broke through the wall of fire. "If we hadn't done as you said, Boss, we'd have been roasted long ago."
"So just do as you're told."
"Yes." Aaron swung his spear wide, striking two goblins. They began to cook headfirst as they touched the flames.
'About time?' They seemed okay, but neither Aaron nor Jenna could last much longer. Oxygen was scarce, flames were everywhere. Fire Resistance increases tolerance but doesn't grant immunity. Plus, the rain hampered movement.
"Tier 2 this time," I ordered Iolka.
She nodded, her face pale. The first mana potion was nearly empty.
Slashing off the arm of a sword-wielding goblin, I yelled, "Jenna, Aaron! When Iolka casts this time, we break straight through to the river! Don't stop, just run!"
"Yes!"
Having drained the mana potion completely, Iolka began casting. I snatched the empty glass vial and threw it into the face of a nearby goblin.
Crash!
"Wukyak!"
Grabbing the goblin screaming and clutching its face, I pulled it directly in front of Iolka.
Thwack thwack thwack thwack!
The goblin became an arrow cushion for the crossbow volley and collapsed.
'40 seconds.'
"Down!"
"Yes!"
[Ignite!]
The flames swirling around Iolka shot forward in a straight line.
I quickly dropped flat. A slimy sensation, and bitter mud filled my mouth.
[Incinerate!]
TU-KWAKWAKWANG!
Tens of thousands of raindrops scattered violently upwards. An impact like being punched slammed down on me from head to toe. The agonized screams of goblins caught in the explosion echoed horrifically.
Pushing myself up, I spat out the mud. Iolka swayed, spent.
Sheathing my sword and slinging my shield onto my back, I caught the collapsing Iolka with both hands and lifted her.
"This..." she started weakly.
"Don't talk," I cut her off.
Iolka slowly nodded and let her body go limp in my arms.
"Jenna, Aaron, beside me! Run for the river!"
"Yes!"
Joined by the two, we sprinted over goblin corpses. Carrying Iolka, I couldn't use my weapons. Jenna and Aaron ran flanking me, shooting arrows and thrusting spears.
The sound of the flowing river grew closer. The goblin horde fell further behind. They glared from a distance, baring teeth threateningly, but didn't pursue us all the way. They simply continued marching towards the northern wall.
"We broke through."
"Huaah, whew. Thought I was gonna die!" Jenna panted.
By the riverbank stood a large, leafy tree offering shelter from the rain. Jenna and Aaron collapsed under its shade. I roughly deposited Iolka there. She shot me a sharp glare.
"Couldn't you put me down a little more gently!"
"Circumstances didn't allow for it." I smirked and said, "Rest for a bit. Use the health potions now. Rub some on the burns and drink a sip. We only have one each, so don't use it all."
"Okay. Whoa, this stuff is really bitter!" Jenna grimaced, swallowed the potion, then sprinkled some on the brown skin exposed beneath her sleeves. Aaron did the same. I took a swig myself and applied some to my burns. A stinging sensation spread through my body.
I walked out from under the tree.
The northern part of the city. It was far away, but I could somehow make out the situation. Dozens of ladders were pressed against the wall, sending goblins climbing up. Countless arrows and bolts flew back and forth above and below the wall. Most goblins fell to their deaths almost immediately after reaching the top. The outer wall hadn't been breached yet. It seemed Edith's party was holding strong.
Next, the river, the reason we came here. It flowed violently, swollen by the downpour. Between the upper and lower reaches stood a large dam spanning its width. Made of stone, it didn't look particularly sturdy, but it seemed like it could hold for a while. Beyond the river, a forest stretched out.
When we first arrived here (on floor 7), the dam was broken. It didn't look like a natural collapse. There were signs of smashed bricks and dug-up earth, suggesting it was deliberately destroyed. That meant the goblins, anticipating reinforcements, must have broken it.
'Strange.'
Both the city on the 5th floor and the dam on the 7th floor were badly damaged. It seemed unlikely goblins possessed the strength or tools to destroy walls and buildings like that. The most they seemed capable of was building ladders to scale walls.
"Oppa, what are you doing out there? You'll get soaked. Come back in," Jenna called.
"...I see," I murmured.
"See what?"
"Everyone, get out from under there. Looks like we'll have visitors soon."
Footsteps echoed from somewhere.
"Wanted to rest a bit longer," Jenna grumbled, stepping out from the tree. Aaron followed. Iolka, who had been catching her breath, finished about a third of her mana potion and stood beside me.
"Hold out until the reinforcements arrive. They'll try to break the dam. Stop them at all costs," I ordered.
"Yes."
Through the curtain of rain, the enemy revealed itself. Unlike the goblin horde we'd broken through, this group's target was the river dam. I peered at them through the downpour.
[Goblin Lv.9 x 19]
Being a commando unit, they were well-equipped with iron armor and weapons. Some carried chisels and hammers, likely intending to find weak points and break them down.
And then.
Thump. Thump. Thump!
The sound of the ground shaking with each step.
Height: approximately 3.5 meters. The surrounding goblins looked like acorns next to it. It had pale green skin, rippling muscles barely contained, wore iron plates protecting vital areas, and dragged a colossal iron hammer in its right hand.
'Knew it would be this bastard.'
"KRAAAAAAAAH!" It roared.
[Ogre Lv.23]