In a strange world as a Doppelganger

Chapter 13 - The Goblin Champion

I have to take them out. That's the only thing I can think of; that or fleeing south. How do I take out 20 goblins on my own? Most likely they aren't all here, I have seen only two more. I should try to keep count from now on. There should also be a point where they realize that I too much for them, if I manage to take more of them out without dying myself.

I need more resources, any kind. Food, weapons, water or even just a safer place to sleep. Do I dare rest right now, in hopes of regaining more of my health? I don't even know where the limit is but I am pretty sure that I could do with another full rest. I try to, very carefully, push some earth up from inside the hole and towards the entrance. An attempt at making it harder for anything to see in. Once again I grab my knife and try to get in a comfortable but ready position.

Should I be worried that I got undisturbed rest? Why didn't they attack? No use thinking about that now, I have to get going. It's now or never. Out in the open of the clearing, in the bright morning sun, I fastened the belt and ready my weapons. A rustle in some nearby bushes! Sprinting toward the source, full of confidence, I swing the club sideways.
Something solid connects with my club, a goblin stumbles out to the side. Holding a hand to its head, it screams loudly and swings around a stone hammer. The goblin is clearly disoriented, its feeble attempt at hitting me back is almost sad. Two more hits with my club and it's down for the count.

No time to celebrate though, several more are tracing me, from afar, with their eyes. What are they waiting for? It's worrying me a lot. They keep their distance from me. I keep walking the perimeter of the clearing and whenever I get close they back away into the forest. They must be waiting for something. The answer comes some time around noon. Goblin whispers come through the trees and those whispers turn to chanting. Almost cheering now, all of the goblins step to the very edge of the treeline. A goblin, just as short as the others, walk out with its hands held high. It's wearing dirty and dented armor, a jagged blade that is just slightly longer than mine. It bangs its free hand against the armor and shouts something out loud to the other goblins. The clearing goes eerily quiet.

This must be their champion. Are we to settle this one on one then? Goblin level two. That's bad news to me, it's both armed and higher level. I know too little to calculate how much damage it can take. Considering its armor I have to aim for the head or legs. I am still level zero, how long does it even take to level up? They are treating a level two goblin as a god. Focus now, pay attention and do my best to use everything I can to my advantage. The goblin grips the blade with both hands and stares me down. I can't see anything in its belt or on its back, no tricks up its sleeve as far as I can tell. Here we go, all or nothing. 

The first step is taken by me, a half-step closer to my opponent. The goblin mimics my half-step and looks at me with a calm and collected focus. This one has obviously seen some combat in its days. I take off in a full sprint at my enemy, swinging the club down to launch an upward swing. The champion puts a hand on the back of the blade and angle it down. Just as I had hoped. With my left arm I swipe at its face. With reflexes I did not anticipate, the goblin steps back and I only nick it slightly on the cheek. Adjusting its grip, the goblin swings as it steps back further. It didn't hit me but it forced me to stay put. Combat experience and decent reflexes, as well as a small frame. Not ideal for me as I am right now. If I am superior to a level one goblin, then is it fair to assume that this champion and I should be equally matched? The thought makes me a little bit confident. Again I step in with the club low, this time I intend to use it. This time the goblins eyes darts between my hands and it places the blade in front of its body. The club shoots up, aiming for its body. Gritting its teeth, the goblin slams its blade down into the club. Had it been a sharp sword, the blade might have cut through my club. This is fortunately yet another rusted and poorly maintained weapon, though scarily serrated with big teeth. A game of tug-o-war ensues as the jagged blade gets stuck in the dense wood of the club. Neither one of us gains any ground for a moment. Equally matched in strength, except for one fact; I am holding it with one hand. My other hand, brandishing my sharpened knife, swings at its face again. The hesitation from the goblin allows me a good hit and leaves a gash across its forehead. Still not a perfect strikes but I am currently coming out on top in this. Dropping its blade, the goblin jumps at me and sinks its teeth into my right forearm. The pain and numbness makes me drop the club. When I go to stab it, the goblin jumps off and scuttles back with the lodged blade. It kicks the blade loose and gurgles blood triumphantly. The goblins all around cheer loudly and stamp their feet. Taking the same stance as it did in the beginning the goblin grins confidently. That's what I get for thinking that I had the upper hand. Hand though, it's hands and forearms are not armored. Worth a shot. Once again I stride toward my adversary with intent. I switch the knife to my right hand and lift up my left hand in a ready position. I duck low as I come in close and I manage to grab a hold of the goblins clenched hands with my own, holding its weapon in place as I stab at its left arm. It yells out in pain and yanks its weapon free. As it raises its weapon I see an opening in the pit of its arm. I thrust my knife in deep at the same time as the jagged blade sinks into my shoulder. Both the goblin and I stagger a few paces away. There are now a few clear puddles of blood in the clearing. From how I feel and the goblin is acting, I'd guess we're about the same on the scale of damage taken. One or two more hits on either of us will be enough. I want to level up so badly. I need to make sure that the next hit is mine. Well, would you look at that. The goblin is standing rather close to a certain boulder. I take a step to the side, the goblin mimics me. Perfect! I shriek loudly and run at it. The goblin raises its blade in preparation of a retaliation. In the last second I break and the blade impacts the ground just in front of me. I kick the goblin hard while its weapon is lowered. Stumbling backward the goblin steps right on the entrance of the burrow and tumbles to the ground. It doesn't even have time to look up when I plunge my blade into its neck.