Culling the Weak

"Great job guys!" Lovo gave a round of applause to his skeletons. "Amazing job Julki! Although next time I want to fight!"

Lovo turned back to the goblin. At this point that goblin left a wet puddle under it.

'Eww. Gross.'

It was shaking with fright. Lovo forgot how him and each skeleton has an ability to cause fear to the living. With a toothy grin Lovo smiled and extended his hand to the goblin.

"I apologize for the fright. I am Lord Lovo."

The goblin look at his hand then back at him.

"Huh hello? Thank you for saving us." He said while half whimpering. The goblin snapped out of its trance of fear and immediately bow down before Lovo.

"Please Lord! Help my tribe! More of those creatures attacked us! Please save my tribe!"

Lovo picked the goblin up and kneeled down to eye level.

"I'll save your tribe. Just show me the way."

The little goblin wiped its eyes with its arm and nodded. It pointed a direction and started to lead Lovo and company through the woods. The goblin was the way and talked about his tribe. Before he followed he ordered Julki to remember where this monster was to come back and collect it.

"We had a cave near by our camp that we used for growing mushrooms and hid ourselves there. We blocked the entrance with a boulder to stop the monsters from getting in."

Lovo could hear the fear and worry in his voice.

"How many were there" he asked the goblin?

"Im not sure. Maybe 5 or 7? It happened so fast!"

"Do you not have any fighters in your tribe?"

The goblin turned to face Lovo to speak but tripped on a log. Lovo helped him and followed along.

"Sorry. I'm part of the fighter group. My tribe has nearly 30 members and 10 of us were fighters. I was just starting to learn to fight. We went out hunting for animals when we were attacked. 4 of us fell instantly and the rest of us ran back to our tribe to warn them and hide. We were followed by the creatures. Our elder already has members in the cave and sealed it shut. He left some of stranded and fending for our selves. Me and a few other ran and ran into you."

'Hm that's a lot of holes. I thought these goblins were amazing in growing crops. Why would they need to hunt for food? Also why was the village elder already prepared? Ah whatever. I'll get some exp and figure it out after.'

"Okay. I'll do our best to save your tribe."

The group left the brush and entered a large clearing. There were some rudimentary huts broken, a couple of fences around what looked to be gardens broken as well and 4 of the Wolfaconda's crawling around the huts. Looking over he could see another 2 fighting in-front of a large boulder blocking a cave entrance.

"Shhh. Duck down." Lovo waved his hand and ordered his skeletons. The goblin even followed his orders.

"Strider. Do your best to hit one of those monsters with an arrow to drive it over. Bulwark you stay close to me. Atlas and Julki, you two hide and attack when it comes close. Make sure your attacks are close and see if we can kill it quickly. Facing all at once will be a problem."

Everyone got into position and waited for Strider. He notched and arrow, aimed and fired!

*Thwump*

The arrow was a hit! Granted it was only a grave but a hit! Lovo was proud Strider hit its target. The arrow left a large gash on the left side of the monster that was closest to them. It turned and immediately saw Strider and sprinted towards them. Unfortunately for the group one of the other monsters noticed and ran right behind it.

Strider ducked down and moved further in the forest. Julki and Atlas both were on other side of where Strider was ready to swing. Bulwark was on the right side with his shield up and Lovo on the other with the goblin. He was going to offer the goblin a weapon, but remember he doesn't have any and the goblin just grabbed a rock. It'll do.

The two Wolfaconda's charged towards where Strider was. Lovo ordered his skeletons to wait for the second monster to pass. He even held a hand out and whispered to the goblin to stay still. The two monsters passed and time seemed to slow. The first monster passed the skeletons, unaware of them, and tackled Strider. He seemed to have notched another arrow, but was tackled before it could hit. It sent the arrow straight into the air. The first monster grappled Strider clawing it and spreading its jaw in half trying to poison him, to no avail. As soon as the second one passed the group acted. Atlas and Julki swung their weapons downwards while Lovo and Bulwark swung their weapons upwards.

*Crunch* *Shwing* *Clang*

[45] [30] [40] [40] (Sneak Attack)

Bulwark broke is spine making it brittle for the the others. Atlas and Julki Cleanly sliced through its body, but their swords clashed with Lovo who was swung upwards. It wasn't an amalgamation of sound; the spine cracking, the swords slicing through only to clang as they met in the middle. The Wolfaconda was killed in an instant. The first monster saw this and started to howl.

The Wolfaconda let go of Strider and immediately moved and tackled Lovo to the ground. It wrapped around him and caused him to drop it sword!

'Oh fuck!'

"Julki take the rest and fend off the others, goblin stick with me! I'll take this one!" He yelled out before his minions could act.

Julki lead the rest of the skeletons to stave off the incoming monsters. It became a 4v4.

Lovo was pinned to the ground by this monster. He was stronger than it, but because of its length he couldn't get the right leverage. The monster unhinged it's lower jaw revealing it's fangs again and thrusted them into Lovo's torso.

-[20]

He started to panic. With that one attack he was down a third of his health.

'Fuck! These things are extremely dangerous!'

-[15] -[15]

He started to take even more damage as the beast clawed and constricting around him.

The goblin at this point tried to help. He took the rock in his hand and bashed the back of the beast.

[1] [1] [1] [1]

The goblin was giving it its all but to little affect.

"Fine you wana bite me! I'll bite you!"

[32]

Lovo noticed the damage and figured out he leveled up without knowing. He pushed it back and focused on the fight.

He held the monster down so it couldn't bite him again killing him. He used his Blood Drain skill in both hands. Blood from the beast started to flow out of its body and into the red energy mist in Lovo's hands.

+[10] +[10] +[10] +[10]

The Blood Drain skill not only satisfied his hunger being a vampire and drained health from the beast, but also healed him for the same amount.

"Ha! Take that bitch!"

He spoke too soon.

The beast managed to wiggle itself out of his grip to bite down again.

-[20]

It clawed him again.

-[15] -[15]

It became a battle of attrition. Thankfully Lovo could heal more then the damage he was taking. While he has mana still.

While the two fought the arrow Strider shot into the air landed. The goblin was the only one to notice. He walked up to it while dropping the rock and picked the arrow up. He summoned his courage and charged at the Wolfaconda.

"AHHHHHHH!"

The goblin leaped into the air. He landed on the back of the beast and with arrow in hand he shoved it into its eye.

[50]! (Sneak Attack)

The beast let go of Lovo and screeched out in pain. It never expected this little creature to harm it. It then started to shake itself trying to get the little goblin off it's back. Seeing opportunity Lovo smiled before opening his mouth, showing his vampiric teeth, and biting down on the neck of the beast.

[32]

Just enough damage to kill it!

*Thump*

The beast fell with a thump to the ground. The goblin had tears of joy on its face. Not only killing a strong beast, but also one that attacked his tribe.

Lovo smiled at him.

"Come on. Let's go. There's more to fight. You can use my sword."

"Thank you!"

The goblin was like a little kid. He could wield the sword, not as well as Lovo, but I took both hands to wield it.

"Let's go!"