Under Pressure

Chester hurriedly made his way towards the center of the village, his heart pounding with urgency. The presence of strangers caused whispers to ripple through the crowd, heightening the tension in the air. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he gathered his thoughts and pondered how to rally their support. The memory of a famous movie speech sparked an idea, "How can I make them fight for me? The only speech I remember is the one from Independence Day," he thought, and then he began to address the gathered crowd.

"People of this village," Chester's voice rang out, strong and resolute, commanding attention. "I come to you today with news that demands your immediate attention. A horde of goblins is on its way to invade our beloved home."

A murmur swept through the crowd, eyes widening with concern and fear. 'Here goes nothing.' Chester raised his hand, urging them to remain calm. "Please, listen to me. We face an enemy that is ruthless and relentless."

He paused, taking a moment to scan the faces before continuing, his voice filled with determination. "We cannot afford to be complacent or underestimate the danger that lies ahead. The goblins are cunning and vicious, and they will stop at nothing to pillage and destroy everything we hold dear."

Chester's words seemed to weigh heavily on the hearts of the villagers. He realized that inspiring them required a more direct approach.'I need to scare them into action.' He pressed on, his voice unwavering. "But we are not defenseless. We have a choice to make, here and now. We can cower in fear and let the goblins overrun us, or we can unite, stand strong, and fight for our homes, our families, and our way of life."

"Goblins? What's that? Who are you to command us?" A middle-aged man carrying a spear broke through the crowd and confronted Chester. "I've never heard of goblins before. Shut up and come with me. The lord will lynch you for disturbing the peace."

Chester could see a flicker of uncertainty in their eyes. He continued, his voice resonating with conviction. "I propose that we gather our forces, prepare our defenses, and strike back at the goblins with all our might. We may be outnumbered, but we have the advantage."

"Assemble your weapons, sharpen your skills, and fortify our defenses. We will rally together and protect ours. We must stand as one, shoulder to shoulder, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead."

Chester's impassioned speech stirred the villagers. They began to exchange glances, understanding that a threat loomed, even if they didn't fully grasp the concept of goblins. Fear transformed into determination as they realized their collective strength could overcome any adversary.

"Remember," Chester concluded, his voice resonating with unwavering determination, "we are not alone in this fight. Together, we can repel this horde of goblins and preserve our way of life."

The middle-aged man swung the butt of his spear at Chester, who managed to dodge just in time. "Old man, there's no time. I lost the scouting group on my way here. We have 20 minutes at most. You can send someone to check my words," he shouted with indignation.

"You shut up and come with me. The city lord will take care of you. One silver! I'll give one silver per person if you grab him," the man incited the crowd, rapidly turning them against Chester, who realized his only option was to flee to the boats, sacrificing the potential XP gain. Igniting the conserved mana, he activated his [Lightning Step] to dodge and weave around the rushing crowd.

The old man managed to strike Chester from his blind spot, but he swiftly rolled on the floor, narrowly avoiding the blow. Using [Mana Throw], Chester flicked a pebble at the old man, who instinctively blocked it with his spear. The pebble crumbled upon impact, but it was enough to momentarily stunning the old man.

Chester seized the opportunity to turn around and sprint towards the boat. However, before he could move another muscle, an overwhelming pressure forced him to the ground. The sensation of increased gravity sent shivers down his spine, recalling the terrifying sensation when he first noticed the boat. Cold sweat drenched his back as he realized the gravity of his situation. "Fuck."