Slaughtering Goblins
'I can't let her hoard all those stat points by herself!'
'Sharing is caring!'
"You two, let's move and follow her!"
"Okay!"
"Y-Yes, big brother!"
Eugene commanded them as they rushed towards the camp now in smithereens compared to what it was a while ago, stumbling upon countless corpses of goblins.
Flashes of light could be seen ahead as goblins were killed left and right as Marie rushed towards the camp, she killed them so easily it looked like she was on a stroll.
Soon she was able to see the strongest ones, the two goblin shamans who roared at her in anger, seeing the poor state of their fellow brothers and sisters.
"Jieee!"
One of the goblin shamans slammed its staff downwards to the ground, as the dead goblins near them suddenly rose back up to their feet.
Eugene motioned to them as they formed a formation with Selena at the rear, Eugene in the middle, and Mark at the frontline, Eugene then used his skill on the undead goblins.
'[Insight]!'
[Status]
[Undead Goblin]
-[Stats]-
[Strength: 3] [Common]
[Stamina: 3] [Common]
[Endurance: 4] [Common]
[Dexterity: 3] [Common]
[Intelligence: 2] [Fodder]
[Magic Power: 0] [Fodder]
-[Skills]-
[None]
-[Overall Rating]-
[...]
'So Undead Magic can only resurrect them with exactly just half of their original stats...'
"Don't be afraid, the goblins right now look weaker than how they usually are, there must be a decrease in their stats in exchange for being undead."
Hearing Eugene's analysis, Mark no longer hesitated and charged toward the undead with his full strength.
"[Taunt]!"
Mark easily killed the goblins in front of him with his brute strength, as the rest of the undead goblins ran towards him because of his provocation.
Eugene then stabbed one of the undead goblins with his spear as it went through its skull with ease and then killed it.
[You killed an Undead Goblin.]
'My spear stabbed it just like butter?!'
Eugene thought in glee as he proceeded to do the same with the rest of the undead goblins while Mark made them busy, making it an easy task for Eugene to dispatch them.
[You killed an Undead Goblin.]
...
[Your strength increased by 1.]
[Your dexterity increased by 1.]
While Marie was preoccupied with the horde of goblins, the other goblin shaman also slammed its staff, using its Undead Magic to resurrect more undead goblins, including hobgoblins this time.
A group of undead goblins started running towards them along with three undead hobgoblins, making it quite a force to reckon with, if their stats were on their normal state.
'[Insight]!'
[Status]
[Undead Hobgoblin]
-[Stats]-
[Strength: 6] [Rare]
[Stamina: 4] [Common]
[Endurance: 6] [Rare]
[Dexterity: 1] [Fodder]
[Intelligence: 4] [Common]
[Magic Power: 0] [Fodder]
-[Skills]-
[Tribal Call: Lv.1] [Rare]
-[Overall Rating]-
[...]
Although they were all weak, Eugene didn't let his arrogance creep into his mind, realizing this was a perfect time to develop one of his precious pawns.
It was time for Selena Schwartz to awaken.
"Selena, prepare a spell that can wipe them out while I distract them!"
"Eh! W-Wait!"
Her cries were unheard as she saw Eugene charge toward the group of undead goblins bravely, despite his evident 'struggle' against all of them.
'I need to do what big brother said to me, and quick!'
'But how do I even prepare a spell in the first place?!'
While Eugene 'struggled' against the undead goblins, he looked back at Selena in expectation only to be met with her confused and panicked state, clearly having no idea how to use her skill. which irked him quite a bit.
'Tsk, I shouldn't have expected more of someone like her.'
'I still need to develop her slowly, she still hasn't molded into the shape I want her to be in.'
Eugene thought and contemplated, he needed Selena to get out of her shell and hopefully change, just like how a butterfly comes out of its cocoon.
'I guess I need to spice up things a bit.'
Eugene then lowered his guard as he looked back at Selena, intentionally showing his vulnerability to the undead goblins.
"Selena! Make it quick- argh!"
"I-I'm tryi- !!!"
Selena replied to Eugene only to be met with the sight of his lower belly met with a shallow stab because of one of the undead goblins, which he quickly took care of as he backed off in retreat.
Seeing Eugene's wound as he suddenly coughs up blood, Selena's eyes blanked off as she stared at those who were responsible for his injury.
'T-Those disgusting vermin dared to injure big brother...?'
Selena felt her blood boil upon realizing that fact, if only she was able to prepare a spell in time just like Eugene said, then he wouldn't have been injured in the first place.
It was because of her that he got injured.
She was at fault yet again.
Selena gazed at the rapidly approaching undead goblins in fury, with her eyes glowing red as she visualized the goblins being set aflame and reduced to mere ashes.
"I will set you filthy bastards ablaze!"
[A strong desire to invoke magic has been detected.]
[Versatile Magic answers your desires.]
[Creating subskill...]
[Subskill created.]
[Blazing Arrow Lv.1] [Rare]
"[Blazing Arrow]!"
A blazing hot arrow manifested from Selena's staff as she pointed it toward the group of undead goblins.
"Die!"
The blazing arrow shot towards them at high speeds, as it then met one of the goblins in the middle and exploded, killing all the undead goblins and only leaving one hobgoblin alive.
Eugene looked at the damage the blazing arrow did in amazement and then complimented Selena for her actions.
"Hahaha! Goob job Selena!"
'But damn, biting your own tongue really is painful.'
Eugene only let the undead goblin stab him shallowly then bit his tongue to make blood, and then coughed it up, making it seem like he sustained a heavy injury when in reality he barely had any wounds.
He made all that effort in hopes of getting his desired outcome out of her.
And it all went according to his plan.
"!"
Hearing Eugene's praise cleared the rage out of her mind as her face turned red, and his words just echoed throughout her ears nonstop, savoring every moment of it until she was interrupted by his voice again.
"Can you prepare a spell that can bind that hobgoblin to the ground?"
"I'll try!"
Now fueled with more confidence and drive, Selena tried to invoke that feeling again as she gazed at the undead hobgoblin, visualizing chains bounding it to the ground as it tried to desperately escape its strong bind.
[A strong desire to invoke magic has been detected.]
[Versatile Magic answers your desires.]
[Creating subskill...]
[Subskill created.]
[Chains of Binding Lv.1] [Rare]
"[Chains of Binding]!"
A chain manifested around the undead hobgoblin as it bounded it the ground, immobilizing it as the hobgoblin desperately tried to get out of its tight bind.
"You're amazing Selena!"
Eugene then rushed towards the hobgoblin, leaving the flustered Selena behind who was surprised by his compliment and smiled giddily.
The undead hobgoblin could only watch as its demise approached it, a man with a spear who was grinning like a maniac.
*Stab*
[You killed an Undead Hobgoblin.]
[Your strength increased by 1.]
[Your stamina increased by 1.]
[Your endurance increased by 1.]
"Huff."
Eugene retracted his spear back from the dead hobgoblin, gazing at his status screen that was slowly improving, he was getting there surely.
But thinking of just how trash his talent is compared to someone with the likes of Marie and Selena, there might be a time in the future when he can't increase his stats any longer.
"B-Big brother, are you okay?"
"I'm fine!"
"Please hold still and stop moving for a moment!"
Selena sternly said to Eugene as she touched her wound, remembering that invoking feeling once again.
'Please heal my dearest big brother!'
[A strong desire to invoke magic has been detected.]
[Versatile Magic answers your desires.]
[Creating subskill...]
[Subskill created.]
[Heal Lv.1] [Basic]
"[Heal]!"
Eugene's body started glowing as the shallow wound on his lower belly slowly healed the wound finally closed off, and he also noticed the pain on his tongue faded away.
"T-Thank god-"
"Thank you, Selena!"
Eugene abruptly hugged Selena who was quickly flustered by his actions and could only blank out as she slowly melted into his warm embrace.
'[Insight].'
[Status]
[Name: Selena Schwartz]
[Class: None]
-[Stats]-
[Strength: 7] [Common]
[Stamina: 12] [Rare]
[Endurance: 9] [Common]
[Dexterity: 15] [Rare]
[Intelligence: 27] [Epic]
[Magic Power: 34] [Legendary]
-[Skills]-
[Versatile Magic Lv.1] [Legendary]
-[Versatile Magic Subskills]-
[Blazing Arrow Lv.1] [Rare]
[Chains of Binding Lv.1] [Rare]
[Heal Lv.1] [Common]
-[Overall Rating]-
[...]
"Selena, I have a question."
"Y-Yes big brother?"
"You have a skill right?"
"Yes, it's called [Versatile Magic]."
'Hm, she's telling me this much with no hesitation?'
"Can you explain to me how your skill works?"
"Umm, I think that what I desire and visualize in my thoughts, I could turn it into a magic spell, and it becomes one of the subskills of my [Versatile Magic]."
"Just now, I wanted to heal big brother, so I visualized your wound patching up and you feeling better, and then I was able to create [Heal], the same goes for [Blazing Arrow] and [Chains of Binding]."
"I see, you really became this strong in just a short amount of time."
"You did well, Selena."
Eugene let go of his hug which made Selena tremble slightly in disappointment only to burst into joy once again because of Eugene's hand patting her head who visualized her as a cat purring to his touch.
'With this, you are now mine, Selena Schwartz.'
'I'm sure you'll be extremely useful from now on.'
...
After their moment, Eugene and Selena met up with Mark as they continued deeper toward the camp, only to be met with the countless corpses of goblins, including the goblin shamans much to Eugene's disappointment, who started kneeling in despair.
'Noooo! My precious stat points!'
"Didn't I tell you to not follow me?"
A familiar melodious voice resounds to their ears as Marie approaches them while her head tilts in confusion, it would have been a cute sight if not for the blood stains on her face and clothes.
"Even if you are that strong, it's still dangerous those goblins all by yourself."
"Didn't you already witness me take on a group of goblins and even kill an orc far stronger than all of them?"
"Well yes... Wait, that's not the point at all!"
Eugene retorts to Marie who still looks at him with a blank stare as he sighs, while Mark and Selena listen to them, although they both secretly agree with Marie's statement.
Were they even needed if she alone could take down all of them?
"It's all about teamwork, you shouldn't try to carry all the burden by yourself, Marie."
"We are always by your side."
Three of them nodded in agreement, as Marie stared at the air blankly and seemingly spacing out before her gaze turned normal again.
"Fine."
"Then the next camp, you three will be the ones clearing it all alone."
"Of course, leave this to us!"
"Because of Big Brother's wisdom, taking down another camp like this wouldn't be too hard!"
"Hahaha, of course..."
Eugene only laughed while he stared daggers at Marie in frustration.
'I said teamwork, not slave work!'
'Hey Marie, we should be working together as a team, not leaving it to us three to handle, you stinky woman!'
'I didn't know you were this petty, fuck!'
Eugene could only follow her while holding a grudge at her secretly, Marie then takes the lead towards the other goblin camp as she starts reminiscing the past, triggered because of Eugene's words.
Come to think of it, it was strange, he was always spot on in things that he wasn't supposed to know, firstly the goblin shamans, and now something regarding her.
She shouldn't try to carry all the burden, Eugene said.
As much as she really wanted to, she couldn't do anything about it, she had to carry all the burden.
She regressed back in time solely because of that reason.
She had to prevent the end of the world, she had to stop the impending darkness that would slowly swallow the world whole.
Because even if she relies on others, they will soon leave her alone.
Everyone was taken away from her, she couldn't do anything about it.
In the end, she was the only one left in this world.
And it would remain the same even now.
...
"You shouldn't try to carry all the burden by yourself, Marie."
...
"We are always by your side."
...
Just thinking of his words and the way he uttered them to her tugged at the strings of her heart.
She disliked it.
...
"Hmph..."
"Idiot."