Complications

I stand, breathing in and out. It had felt so real, the flesh crumbling in my fist. I could feel its fear and confusion, this was.. a step beyond what i had imagined. The popup had a 60 second timer to claim my loot, i mentally dismissed the prompt and a dagger appeared in my right hand. At least now i was armed.

"Uh, you okay?" Jessica called out to me, tentatively.

I snapped out of it and turned to face her "Yeah, sorry. Did any of them hear that?" For some reason I felt a little ashamed. She had disbatched her goblin with no issues. It's just a video game, they're attacking an innocent town, I have every reason to help out. Still, the goblin felt so real..

"No" She reponds, cautiously looking down the dirt path. She moved over to me and grabbed my arm. "C'mon, we have to go to the town square and help, I think we can use some of the houses for cover as we move up."

We started moving toward the rest, avoiding the worst of the fire where we could, reaching an overturned wagon just outside of the town center, peeking our heads around the side we see about a dozen villagers, in chains. Various overturned market stalls and produce littering the floor. A goblin rifling through their pockets, one by one. The other few were talking, maybe arguing? I take a quick count, seven of them in total, all with daggers.

"So what's the plan?" I ask

She shifts her club in her hand "Wel-"

An arrow sinks itself into a goblin, another followed suit from the other side of the village center missing its target. The goblins all whirled toward the offending direction and drew steel. One of them started barking what i could only assume are orders in a gutteral tongue, and they split into two even 3 goblin groups, advancing.

"New plan, you go left, i go right" Jessica hurridly whispered and immediately shot off, her long hair trailing behind her. A step behind i ran toward my group of three, dagger raised and stabbed the closest in the back of the neck.

Congratulations! You have unlocked the skill: Sneak!

Congratulations! You have unlocked the skill: Sneak Attack!

You snuck up and killed a goblin with these, what were you expecting to get?

In a panic, i go to yank out my rusty dagger. It's stuck. Fucking brilliant. I yank again, the dead goblin awkwardly lifting into the air, limp. Its two companions whirl on me, snarling, wasting no time and attack. Ah fuck it, i drop my dagger, the goblin thumping onto the dirt. It chose that moment to explode into light, the dagger clattering.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I say as i backstep away from the first snarling goblin's slash. The second steps past and manages to cut into my leg, deep, as i step back again. Pain exploded, my right leg pounding in agony. Surprised, I stumble on to my ass, this pain setting was no joke. A pop up flares in front of me, but i can't focus. A deep anger rises from within me and I scream "Fuck this." The second goblin tries to follow up with an overhead slash and I reach up, grabbing its arm.

It can't be this easy. I pull it forward, and as it stumbles i punch it with all my might, right in its very surprised face, i can feel its bones crunch as i connect. It was that easy. I looked up mentally preparing for the first goblin, only to find it exploding into light, an arrow in its back. To my right Jessica had just taken out her three. Man, if i had known how quickly they would go down I wouldn't have tried to keep my dagger so desperately. I struggle to my feet and have to favour my left leg. Looking down the cut was pouring blood, dizzy, I almost faint. Light-headedness in a video game? what the shit?

Jessica had crossed over to me and took my arm, putting it around her shoulder. "Woah, woah are you okay? That looks messy"

She helps me walk toward the chained villagers, who were looking at us stunned. Sitting me down near them, she looks at me and says "Hold on, i need to find something for this. Make sure our mysterious archer is on our side too." "Excuse me miss, we have a potion for your friend, if it hasn't been looted" one of the villagers spoke up saying. All them started nodding and one pointed at the largest building, opposite where we had come in. A town hall? A shop? "It's over there miss"

She nodded in thanks and hurried off, keeping a watchful eye for our ranged friend. My leg in agony, i finally brought the pop ups into focus

Congratulations! You have defeated a Goblin (x2)! You're a cut above! Reward: 13 copper, 20 exp, leg wound.

Congratulations! You have saved some random peasants! I'm sure their love and respect is all the reward you need.

Congratulations! You have gained skill: Unarmed attack. The fist is mightier than the sword! Well, actually, probably not.

I dismissed them all.

"Uh.. Mr, you wouldn't happen to have a key would you?"

I look over to the villagers, a kid in his teens had asked me. I opened my mouth to answer, vomited and fainted.