I diagnose all of you with dead!

In the end, Diane chose to conserve her energy and not complain about Bruce's behavior. While he may be insufferable, Bruce was not a coward, and it was clear that they needed to team up with those who had the courage to fight, even if only temporarily.

"Let's move on," Bruce said. "There's nothing for us here."

Without wasting time, Bruce and the others continued walking. As they passed by the burning store, they couldn't determine the cause of the explosion. Given that a significant portion of the city still had electricity, it seemed unlikely that a malfunctioning machine triggered a chain reaction. Bruce briefly wondered if the monsters were responsible but decided against wasting time investigating. The store now lay in ruins, consumed by flames.

It didn't take long for Bruce, Diane, and Chris to reach the next crossroad. However, they made a mistake—they stopped and looked around for enemies in both the east and west directions. Although they took care not to expose themselves, the monsters sensed their presence. In the darkness of the night, the figures of the three humans hiding were not entirely visible, but it was clear that the monsters felt they were being watched.

"What should we do?" Chris asked. "They probably didn't see us, but they sensed something. If we don't act, they'll come to investigate."

Bruce's ultimate goal was to ensure his parents' safety, but he also had the desire to fight and kill all the monsters in his path. However, the current situation was more complicated than the previous encounter with ten monsters. Their MP was depleted, rendering the use of Fireball impossible. Bruce observed five monsters in the east and three in the west, making the battle just as challenging as before. The problem lay in the fact that the enemies would attack from two different directions. It was common sense not to allow themselves to be attacked by two forces simultaneously. To make matters worse, both groups of monsters would arrive at the same time. Bruce saw only two ways to solve this predicament—retreat or launch a preemptive attack.

"We may have lost the element of surprise, but there's a way to regain it," Bruce explained. "Let's charge towards one of the groups and defeat them before the other gets too close."

"What?" Chris asked, shocked.

Despite Chris considering the idea insane, Diane studied Bruce's face for a few moments. He was a peculiar man, but she couldn't detect any madness in his plan. It was risky, but it seemed to be the best option for them to grow stronger and make the most of their time.

"Let's attack the larger group first," Diane suggested. "That way, we'll face fewer enemies if we take too long."

Bruce had also considered that strategy but refrained from mentioning it, expecting Diane to object. To his surprise, she displayed aggression, seemingly unaffected by her near-death experience just an hour ago.

"Prepare yourselves," Bruce commanded. "Time is running out, and if we want to strike first, we have to do it now."

Diane and Chris nodded, though Chris wore a complicated expression. Bruce raised three fingers, then lowered them one by one. Since the monsters were close enough to hear their voices, they couldn't rely on verbal signals. When Bruce clenched his fists, the three of them sprinted towards the larger group of monsters.

The monsters raised their weapons as three humans suddenly appeared around the corner. It was a group of five goblins, a satisfying number for Bruce. Although Bruce was no more physically fit than Diane and Chris, he took the lead with a confident smile. As he closed in on his first target, he shielded half of his face with his buckler, revealing only his vicious eyes. The goblins remained unfazed as one tried to strike Bruce's exposed head. Bruce swiftly raised his shield with all his might, not only blocking the goblin's sword but also deflecting the attack entirely, leaving the creature vulnerable. Bruce took advantage of the opportunity and stabbed the goblin's neck with his sword. The creature didn't die instantly, but Bruce received a notification as it fell to the ground in agony.

You obtained 14 experience points.

You obtained 01 spiritual coin.

At the same time, Bruce heard a sound indicating something had fallen to the ground. He didn't waste time confirming what it was, as he could already imagine. Instead, he glanced to the side and witnessed Diane and Chris engaging with the other goblins. For some reason, only one goblin targeted Bruce, while the remaining four focused on surrounding Diane and Chris.

"It seems these fools underestimate me," Bruce said with a smile. "I couldn't ask for more. I diagnose all of you... with death!"

One goblin attempted to circle around Diane, planning to attack her from behind. Unbeknownst to the creature, it exposed its back to Bruce, resulting in its swift demise as Bruce's sword pierced through its skull.

You obtained 14 experience points.

You obtained 01 spiritual coin.

Next, Bruce observed Chris using his sword to block one goblin's attack and his shield to fend off another. Despite his valiant efforts, Chris was struggling because he fought with only one arm against each beast. However, the monsters seemed to be in a hurry. The second goblin kicked Chris's legs, causing him to fall to his knees. Helplessly, Chris watched as the first goblin prepared to split his head in two with its sword. In that crucial moment, Bruce's sword pierced the goblin's neck, showering Chris's face with blood. The surprise attack not only left Chris dumbfounded but also made the second goblin cower in fear.

You obtained 14 experience points.

You obtained 01 spiritual coin.

Chris swiftly recovered and retaliated, smashing his shield against the goblin's face before creating a gaping hole in its stomach. Taking a deep breath, Chris turned to Bruce.

"Thank-" Chris began, but Bruce interrupted.

"Don't relax just yet," Bruce declared. "We still have other enemies to kill."

Although the battle lasted only a few seconds, Bruce had exerted himself from the start, feeling his heavy breathing and limbs growing heavier. Despite his words, his body relaxed slightly. However, within a fraction of a second, Bruce noticed something unexpected on his status screen.

Status

HP: 06/10

MP: 05/09

SP: 06/10

Level 02 (75/200)

STRENGTH: 07

P. Attack: 8 + 3

VITALITY: 02

P. Defense: 3 + 3

AGILITY: 02

Movement Speed: 6 meters per second

INTELLIGENCE: 4

M. Attack: 5

DEXTERITY: 3

M. Defense: 5

LUCK: 5

Range: 6 meters

Free Points: 00

Spiritual Coins: 13

Social Status

Level 01 (90/100)

Karma: 00

Intimidation: 02

Charisma: 2

Persuasion: 02 I

nsight: 04

Perception: 04

Presence: 01

Allies: 02 Enemies: 01

Skill List

Magic: Fireball Lv 01,

Physical:

Passive:

Production: