Necessary Villain

7 - Depravity

My heart races as I stare at the goblins making a mad dash for us.

We must attack the eight remaining goblins before they can group up and surround us. Zayn and I charge at the goblins.

I make contact with a goblin first. It wields a sword and swings it downward at me. Predicting this simple move, I'm already in the process of swinging my axe up to counter it. The second our weapons collide a metallic ring resounds in the air stunning the goblin momentarily and its weapon goes flying backward. Taking advantage, Zayn lunges forward and decapitates it.

"One of you get the sword if you can, but keep your distance. For now, I believe Zayn and I are enough. Support us if you can but try not to get in our way," I feel confident enough in our abilities to declare this.

No objections sound from behind me. Connor and Claire stare at the sword and wait for a chance to retrieve it. Ryon links up with them and seemingly decides to defend them while they retrieve the sword.

Zayn then runs past the first three goblins who momentarily try to strike him but soon draw their focus back to me who is closer.

The closest goblin lunges at me with both of its hands tightly gripping a dagger. Using my range advantage, I swing my axe down on its head before it can reach me, killing it in one blow. With its death, the dagger flies from its grip and I catch it with my free hand.

"Shit," I swung too hard and my axe is now lodged in its skull. I don't have time to free it as two more goblins bear down on me.

I scan the area with a fleeting glance.

I don't see other goblins, they're probably focused on Zayn.

I focus on the two goblins right in front of me growing ever closer. I use my lodged axe to pick up the goblin I'd just killed and toss it at one of the goblins, then I take the dagger and throw it, impaling the other one between the eyes. It doesn't die immediately but staggers around, clutching its head and trying to rid itself of the dagger.

The other goblin lies underneath the one I threw, trying to free itself. I rush forward and grab the handle of my axe, still lodged in the goblin's head. I use my foot to kick the dead goblin to free my weapon, then I mercilessly cleave at it. Green blood splatters everywhere.

I pause for a moment above the corpse of the goblin as its green blood drips down my face.

Why am I not bothered by any of this?

...

I guess there's no point in questioning it. My only answer right now would be the "past" me is used to this... not that it even makes any sense.

Mentally and physically exhausted I fall to one knee only to look back and see the goblin who was impaled with the dagger preparing to strike me. With little time to react, I hold up my left arm with the jacket still wrapped around it to defend myself.

I wince and grit my teeth waiting for the incoming strike only for it to never come. Ryon blocks the path of the goblin's sword with his own.

"Hya!" Claire, with a picked-up sword, then slices the goblin's ankle, tripping it.

From my crouched position, I fall back while kicking the goblin the opposite way it had been falling. Unable to withstand this torment, the goblin loses the clutch of its weapon and helplessly falls to the ground. Before it can get up Connor takes the axe from the second goblin I killed and uses his massive strength to strike the goblin dead.

With my goblin group taken care of, I hurriedly looked toward Zayn only to be surprised by him calmly searching the goblins' corpses.

...