The victims, a village

The guard goblin was there, standing, with vicious intentions. It was stronger than the others goblin that we'd met so far. But again, we couldn't back off, this was our challenge and we had to clear it. Our coordination had greatly increased since the beginning of this challenge.

Junichi, who was in front of me, turned around and when our eyes met we both knew what to do. Ho moved from the way, going on the side of the goblin, leaving full space to me.

[Lover Sing has been activated]

Aaaaauaaaua

Now, it was completely focused on me. The goblin differently to the others we had met was equipped with weapons. Simplistic though they were, they still were weapons. Still my skill had increased its level and now it also had the effect to debug the enemy: the goblin became slower.

SlashSlashSlash

Junichi delt three blows to the monster from his side, one cut through its lungs and made the goblin spurt blood, the other were cutting where the intestine is located. The goblins didn't get distracted the hit it received and kept getting closer to me.

Since the boy cutting the monster had made sure that his dagger could pierce its skin, he aimed directly at his heart.

StaaabTump

The goblin fell onto the ground because it had no more forces and Junichi's weight overwhelmed it. He had successfully hit his heart with a precise blow through its ribs. We managed to easily kill a powerful opponent, we surely had growth. Finally, we headed to the victims we were supposed to save.

"Heeelp!! Pleaseee!!"

A child voice was heard, screaming for help. We hurried there, and then released them from the ropes that were holding them. It was a group of woman from every age, going from 5 to 60 or even 70, then you could find some boys, among which there were a few adolescents and a few adults, and some kids. We started talking with the adults, leaving the elderly taking care of the children.

"What happened to you all?"

I asked to them, we needed to get mor info about this.

"It all started when we got here, as you all have done we started to clear the challenges, then as for me and some others when we had the challenge of making a shelter we were caught by some goblins. They brought us here and it's where we found the others. We were all caught during the same challenge, I confirmed with the others, that's why we didn't die from failing the challenge."

"I see, so I can suppose that we all had the same starting challenge. But then they became different, we received the challenge of saving you. Now, let's head out of here before other monsters arrive."

ThudThudThud

Those were the steps of a gigantic monster which was approaching. We could feel a certain stench coming from him, and understood that was times bigger than the other goblins in here. It finally showed up in the cave where we found the victims. It was majestic, a king, wearing a crown of bones, perhaps taken from their victims. That may also be the source of the stench we smelled earlier.

It was a problem, we should have fought that monster while protecting them, this was difficult and we couldn't allow any of them to die, otherwise we would fail our challenge.

"Okay you all get in a corner away from here, we'll deal with this guy here!"

I used all my charisma to tell them what to do, and they obediently did what I asked of them. It was now time to fight.

[Lover Sing had been activated]

...

[Lover Sing didn't have any effect on the monster]

"Junichi, this goblin doesn't get affected by my singing, we'll have to fight it normally."

The guy nodded, and rushed towards the monster. He was aiming at its legs, to prevent it from moving.

[Lover Cheering had been activated]

That was the best I could do, my only possibility was to boost his capabilities. Junichi became faster, and he severed all its leg tendons. The king fell powerless to the ground, its opponent and prey was too fast for him, and couldn't keep up at all with his speed.

The monster was in despair, it swung its arms around to avoid getting hurt again. Yet, Junichi was more skilled, he want from its back, started to climb it and as soon as he arrived at the neck he stabbed it with all his might.

Craaa

He pierced through, cutting the veins present there and also broking his backbone at the neck level.

Ah...Ahah

This guy became so strong it was unbelievable, it was hardly credible that he was the same coworker he had before.

'He was so cool'

No, no, that's not what I really think, uh, my thoughts had just gone wild. I started blushing for the mischievous thought I had.

"Good job supporting me, Akari. Yet, this time I did the most... but I felt assured from your support."

He got closer, reaaaaaly close with his face, and I turned the other side. I didn't want him to see me like this.

Clap

"Gents and ladies, can I ask you to follow us outside this nest?"

Nobody answered, but their answer was clear from their faces, and their nodding. Perhaps, because they had witnessed our prowess.

We expected to find other monsters, but surprisingly there weren't any during our way out. Thanks to this we had no problems at all.

We rapidly got out of the nest and had our challenge cleared. It was a relatively simple challenge, or actually it was us who became too strong for the challenge. Junichi and I received the rewards and were going to the shelter, it was the only place where we could take some time.

FtzFtzFtz

A message popped up in front of us.

[Well, well, you have saved those poor guys which were about to become part of the goblins family. Good job. Now that you have gathered with more people it's time to start another phase of this "GAME". Firstly, you had to become stronger, now you'll have to create a village. Then, good luck to you all.]

Another message came in.

[Challenge: village

you're focus now will be creating a village with other people, in order to have a beginning of society. In order to do so, you'll have to sign a contract where you state your mutual cooperation. In an amount of time: 5 hours.

Clearance conditions: contract signed (0/1)

Failure: death

Rewards: great safe zone expansion]

Well, the "GAME" was progressing. Apparently it had a sort of plot that was being followed. Eventually, the shelter wasn't something useless, and actually we were fortunate that those people didn't complete their challenge since now it'll probably be changed and they will be able to settle down near us, making a village.

"I'd suggest going to our shelter, which isn't a long way from here, and we'll sign a contract there."

Everyone agreed with my suggestion, so we set off for our shelter. It was a bit unexpected to have to build villages, but it was useful. The more companions we had, the better it was to survive in this harsh world under the circumstances of the "GAME".

So far, from what I've heard from other people, everyone had the same challenges, the same initial one, but when they failed a challenge with an unknown penalty for failure, the "GAME" created a challenge just for us.

Eventually we all had to build a village. Taking all this into account, I could assume that the plot the "GAME" was following had some requirements that could also take a long time, but didn't really have fixed penalties.

Therefore, these challenges were a necessary part of the plot.

If I relied on this reasoning, I could say that this wasn't a necessary challenge, but it was very likely that the results that came with the village would be included in a necessary challenge. It wasn't useful to think too much using suppositions, so I decided to end it there and think about the contract.

Also this part wasn't simple, a contract is and agreement respected from all the parties that sign it.

In order to have one for us, we should have prepared a contract that's suitable for all of us, because otherwise it would be just mere chaos.

Hmm

"Can I please have all your attention? I was reflecting about the contract that we're going to sign to build a village. Theoretically, a contract implies some conditions to be respected by all of us. So we'll all need to think carefully about them, to come to a compromise and establish a sort of law in our village. Do I have your agreement?"

Everybody screamed yes, like they were fascinated and captivated by something I was unaware of. Yet, the first step was done, what was left to do was just organize a detailed set of rules.

Fortunately, we weren't savage monkeys, we had an intellect and we had been living in a civilized society since we were born.

Yet, nothing went as planned. Human civilization was something in which I was naively believing…