A New World, an immersive game experience

Chapter 148: A formation, a line

"Let's go." Eldrian said to Sabrea, saying to Cephaphyr instead, 'Let's go. Slower. Slower, slower!'

After the third slower their speed was comparable to Sabrea, who was now sprinting at her fastest to keep up. Seeing her struggle to keep up Eldrian wanted to tell Cephaphyr to slow some more, but they had already past the 70-meter mark and the goblins were reacting, strangely...

Instead of charging crazily like before, they were all gathering up. Seeing this Eldrian got a bad feeling, which only worsened as he saw the goblins actually getting into a formation.

Fuck, did they get a shaman or something? But why, why would the rabble get a shaman? Eldrian could not understand why a shaman would come out and waste his time with the weakest. Certainly, they did not care about these goblins.

Yet here the goblins were, acting more like trained soldiers than monsters. Really, really bad soldiers. It took them far too long to form up, and even when they did, their formation was still a mess.

The front line consisted of goblins carrying large wooden shields, which clearly had only been made out of scrap wood. The shields looked so weak that one hit would tear them apart, but they would certainly eat up many arrows.

Behind these goblins were spear-carrying goblins, their spear almost reaching the length of pikes. Again the weapons were shabby, none of the spear made out of straight wood. But it would make it difficult to get in close enough to kill them, without being surrounded by the other formations or those few goblins who stood at the side. Ready to run past the formation when that time came.

There were even a few with bows, while it did not look like they would be able to shoot more than 20 meters. Things flying at them did not cause Eldrian to feel better.

You got to be kidding me.Eldrian complained as he felt all his plans ruined. After forming the goblins only walked forward a little, forming a V formation. All the smaller separate formations joining. The center squad seemingly made of those most competent.

At the same time, this formation meant there was no way Eldrian would be able to kite them without going for the center. Trying to go for the flanks would cause the center formation to collapse on them.

While Eldrian was trying to figure out what to do, Cephaphyr broke his concentration.'Should I charge?' Cephaphyr asked, causing Eldrian to almost have a heart attack.

'No! I told you, we can't be surrounded.'

'But we won't, let me show you.'

Before Eldrian could respond, he felt himself almost fall from Cephaphyr's back. His legs luckily being pinched tightly by the little Alicorn's wings. In seconds he found himself in front of the goblins, who like him, had no idea what was going on.

Believing that this was it, his second death, Eldrian hoped that Sabrea was not following them. Certain that if she did, she would die or be taken captive. Yet what happened next left him without words.

Cephaphyr did not stop as he neared the spears, nor did he try to avoid them. He spread his wings, making sure to cover the sides, and more importantly Eldrian. Then he charged straight through the shields, causing them to break into a thousand pieces.

Eldrian, on Cephaphyr, was amazed as he saw this all happen. More so when he felt that Cephaphyr did not even lose momentum, instead he simply kept running. Killing all the goblins his body touched.

One would think this only held for his hooves, but no. If a goblin brushed against the Alicorn's side, he would lose the skin that touched the Alicorn.If instead the feathers touched a goblin, they would cut right through him, as if there was no resistance.

Eldrian was still busy trying to comprehend what was happening when he found himself at the end of one of the V legs. Caves and the mountain blocking their way.

Eldrian started worrying that Cephaphyr would run into the caves, instead Cephaphyr flapped his wings. Once to get rid of all the blood and guts on them, then once more to take flight.

Eldrian was so shocked and speechless that he could not even comprehend that he was flying. Not until he was back before the forest and could see the clear line Cephaphyr had made when charging through the goblins.

[17.7K XP gained]

[You have leveled up!]

Wha-what... What the hell?Eldrian asked himself as he looked at Sabrea who was rushing back, the goblins all having retreated after Cephaphyr's display of might. None dared stay outside, all running into their caves to seek shelter from the bloody demon which was Eldrian and Cephaphyr.

It took a few minutes for Eldrian's mind to finally catch up and comprehend just what had happened. Only now, after this, did he believe that Alicorns were equal to dragons.

His ignorance is well-founded. Eldrian told himself as he remembered Cephaphyr wanting to simply rush in without even knowing how to fight. He did not need to know. He was simply too strong.

"What..." Sabrea failed to ask her question as she looked at Cephaphyr and Eldrian, both of whom were covered in blood.

Cephaphyr was so drenched in blood that it was dripping from him. Completely covering his coat and causing him to look red, only his wings still had some of their colors due to having most of the blood thrown off.

As Eldrian opened his mouth to speak, he finally realized how bad his state was as the blood entered the slit he had opened it by.

Feeling nauseous he immediately cast Nidia, time and time again. Only managing to clean himself after 10 minutes, having exhausted his mana more than once. Each spell not even managing to clean one area in the beginning.

...

The new shaman, responsible for the entrance, ran for his life to his lord. Fearing that the monstrous horse-like creature would follow him. He had never before seen such a thing, not even his most destructive spell as a Tier 5 shaman would kill close to so many goblins. Even if the goblins were all bunched, his spell would simply lose its power.

Once he reached the central cave where the Oni were enjoying themselves he dived onto his knees and prayed to them.

"Great lords. Please save us!"

Irritated that they had been interrupted, again. Most of the Oni wished to kill the shaman on the spot. They had instructed that they were only to be disturbed if the female had been found. Not for something ridiculous such as saving pathetic goblins.

One of the Oni who had been enjoying one of the fresher captives, one who was still struggling and fighting, was so angry that he started forming his spell to end the shaman.

"Wait!" Shouted their leader, standing up and moving towards the cowering shaman.

He was Clelb, the strongest of their group. He did not look strong, having a slim physique and almost no muscles visible, even when only wearing pants. But this did not indicate his strength, he was a Tier 6 assassin, a magical assassin.

One of the greatest, or rather this was what he thought of himself. Most Oni thought themselves the best, only believing those they had fought and lost to. To be better than them.

What can have a goblin fear so much? Clelb thought to himself, knowing that most of them did not know fear. Shamans were different, but to shiver like this. It meant that the goblin saw no hope in fighting.No, this smell of fear...Clelb realized as he smelled the terrible stench of fear.

This smell was a large reason why Kako races could work together. Not killing and eating each other. If this had been a human, even better if a female. Then this smell would have been heavenly for Clelb, but on a goblin. It stank like shit, no worse, far worse. And it meant that the goblin saw no way of even running or hiding.

"What happened?" Another Oni shouted in irritants, wanting to go back to his game with two women. Both of whom had long ago given up in resisting.

"M-my lord. There came a devil, a-a monster. It ran thr-through my ranks of goblins... Killing them al-all with-without stopping. Then, then... Then it took flight, if. If I had stood in its path." The shaman failed to say more as he started shaking in fear again.

"What!" The Oni who had asked the question shouted in rage, wishing to kill the shaman. But he was stopped by Clelb.

"Killing him will do no good. Return to your games, I will go look at what is going on." Saying this Clelb took the shaman with him and headed outside. Wanting to know just what they were facing. He had no intel of any strong creatures being here.

His superior had not thought he would leave the planned area that the army of Phallos was following. As such they did not tell him much of the land he was in, considering it a waste to explain what was not likely to be encountered.

Sure the goblins had spoken that the forest was cursed, but Clelb had thought it to be ramblings of the ignorant.

Now, now he was fearing it might be true... And they might have angered the forest.