16 Close Combat

I could see the goblin was still looking for me 12 meters away as I prowled in the trees. Close to it another goblin had it's back and two goblins wandered about 15 meters from them.

After that, there were 10 other goblins near the largest of them. If I am fast enough I can kill 4 and flee but after that ambushes won't work. I'll have to take them all on but 10 goblins are still better than 14.

I looked at my status and hovered over the basic telekinesis.

Telekinesis: You can move objects with your mind with 10 meters of yourself, objects cannot weigh more than you can carry; each use requires 1 magic power.

I remembered the saber intent of the Lightning Sword Code. What we pursue with our sword are accuracy and precision but all sword users get tunnel vision. They forget unpredictability and pursue a predictable path, but if you strike like lightning the opponent can't predict anything.

The opponent must be kept in fear of your next attack, unsure where you will strike next. The first layer of comprehension is speed. My eyes shined with runes as I pushed off the tree top to the goblin 12 meters away. In moments I was closing in on the goblin.

I raised my sword and infused it with my sword intent. The void sword howled in anticipation of blood as the light shined off it. I controlled my force and beheaded the goblin in one swift motion.

I didn't stop to move I used telekinesis on myself to change direction towards the next goblin to the guarding the back of the goblin I just killed.

My magic power went down to 9 with one down. I had alerted the goblin I was attacking, it roared with its club as I ran at it head-on.

It swung its club at my head as I infused my saber with void energy. I twisted my hips and threw my full weight into my strike while dodging low.

My sword cut through the goblin's torso with that move the other two goblins saw me. They moved to my position as I killed the goblin and the humanoid goblin was alerted.

I knew I had at most another moment I could at most kill one of them and flee. I attacked the one to my left with a downward slash to its arm. The goblin moved to the right to avoid my sword, but I used telekinesis to stop my saber and change directions towards its neck.

I killed the goblin but then near the humanoid goblin; the archers had readied their arrows and the other goblin near me was getting closer. I gritted my teeth and hunkered down to take the arrows out and then flee. I had a choice stop the three incoming arrows or take the hit from the goblin's club.

I guarded against the arrows by dodging and cutting away at the ones close to me. With my guard lowered the goblin took it's opportunity and swung its club. It had sharp ends that dug into my shoulder.

It hurt but compared to death it was nothing I gritted my teeth and kicked the goblin away from me as the archers readied the arrows and the humanoid goblin started to run to me. The goblin I kicked away to hit a tree and became disoriented

With immediate haste, I jumped into the treetops. As I pushed the trees with my step I would put my telekinetic force into each step. Increasing my speed to a much higher rate I looked back and noticed one of the goblins closest to the ones I killed was following me.

I could only smirk in happiness, I had barely killed 3 and a 4th was coming to die. The humanoid goblin seemed to stay to guard its kinsman.

'It seems this little goblin was an ambitious one. Well, ambition can get you killed' I thought as my eyes gave off bloodlust.

It was bloodlust from years of repression and years of abuse from those more powerful than me. Finally, I didn't have to suppress my emotions.

We moved away from the group about 50 meters before the goblin caught up to me. I had decided to hide and watch this goblin. It had last seen me 15 meters before when I disappeared I was right above it on a tree.

I held the void sword with my right hand as I watched the goblin. It moved forward a few meters before I jumped onto it from the treetops.

I hit its back as it fell down and lost balance, I held the void sword to its neck. But I didn't immediately attack instead I wanted to see if I could speak to it.

"Do you understand me?" I said with slowly enunciating each word.

I was met with bleak silence and a death stare, I almost had the conviction to just kill it.

'Lucas, goblins speak the Beast Script. Just repeat after me.' Drrak introjected

"Do you understand me," I said it with an atrocious accent in Beast Script as I mimicked Drrak's speaking in my mind.

The goblin looked at me almost dazed and surprised.

"You speak Beast Script?" Drrak translated for me

"Yes but only a little bit. Why did you surround me?" I asked still radiating killing intent.

"Because you are a human." the goblin said in a hate-filled voice.

"You humans forced us into this place when we were children, we are killed by you people then we come back to life for it to happen again."

"I don't care about your grievances, don't take them out on me. Who leads your little group?" I couldn't but sneer, this was the way of the wild. No morality just power and lack of power.

"That's our revered hobgoblin Chief Pektog. The only one of us to evolve." The goblin said pridefully, trying to intimidate me.

"Well tell him I have an offer, give me a one on one with him. Regardless of the result, I will give him what he wants."

'Fighting all of them would be impossible and any more ambushes will just get me killed. I need to just test myself against that hobgoblin.' I thought to myself, combat would be the best way to master my Combat Code.

"What could you give that Chief would want human? Why would we even trust you?" The goblin said in a distrustful tone.

"I will grant you freedom from this place. If you want a reason then you just aren't desperate, you must enjoy this place." I said with a smile of mockery

"No no no, we hate this place it has no excitement only torture." the goblin said indignantly

"You have nothing to lose by trusting, but the whole world to gain. Now scram and come back to this place with an answer. Do tell your Chief that if I am rejected I am fine with just killing all of you it will just take longer." I said with a persuasive and devilish tone.

I unsheathed my sword as it howled from my killing intent and then I speed off using the treetops. Leaving the goblin pale-faced and scared as it quickly ran back to its group.

I didn't go very far as I activated my magic eyes and kept a look on the designated meeting area. As I saw that goblin run away I could only chuckle, my little bluff worked better than I expected.

The cut on my shoulder had finally stopped bleeding, it's wasn't deep but it was annoying. It makes using my saber a little harder so I couldn't even last very long. I just need to cut down that hobgoblin and I'll be able to get a decent rank and income. I looked at my magic power which was currently at 5.

'I'll have 5 moves to beat him....'