Chapter 40: Different circumstances
The Demon Goblin's presence was overwhelming.
He exerted so much of it with just steps alone that Alex and Remia felt like going down to bow before him.
In spite of this aura, Alex managed to lift his sword. His body powered up with adrenaline and genuine killing intent, making him cope well with the pressure.
But as Alex was doing fine, the same couldn't be said about Remia. She fell off a few times, and it was harder for her to get up with each fall.
The Demon Goblin also didn't wait for her to adjust. He kept coming closer; his presence was multiplying.
Alex glanced behind, "I didn't say those words for a show, Remia. I won't let you die today. Before he gets to you, he has to go over me! That's why, as long as you can see my back and feel my presence, don't think about him! Just focus on trapping all evil around us!"
"I… I will," Remia stuttered due to her fear.
She recalled an event from the past. On that day, the man with similar swordsmanship displayed his strength. His back was reassuring, even more than Alex's. But that man had so much more strength that it was not surprising.
But there was a clear difference between him and Alex.
Alex always looked out for her.
Every time she fell from fear, Alex would glance at her and confirm her state. He would show his care and encourage her to stand up. He would carefully support her, even with the monster before him!
'It's not just me looking at him and getting protected. We fight together…' Remia whispered inwardly, her heart warming up.
That was a clear difference.
It was not one-sided protection. Alex needed her as much as she needed him. Therefore, they would fight together and take down the monster to keep their lives intact!
"Alex! Don't you dare to die! I have yet to show you my tribe! The forest fairies are waiting to show you their forest!" Remia encouraged Alex back, her voice as decisive as his.
Looking back, Alex smiled widely, "Now that you have promised to personally show me the forest fairies, I can't die, can I?"
"You can't!" Remia faintly smiled.
And as she did, she unconsciously connected to the forest again. But this time, her connection was more profound. It was as if she turned the forest into her particular fairy forest, enhancing its properties tenfold.
She became one with the forest around her. For this short amount of time, Remia felt like a different person. It was a valuable and important feeling that would help her in her future endeavors.
However, she didn't pay much attention to it. In her eyes, the demon unfolded. She deeply focused all she had on him, utilizing her technique.
"Forest Cage!" Remia shouted.
Her voice echoed throughout the whole forest as if birds conveyed her wish to all trees and bushes around her.
Similarly to before, the roots rose. Their speed was much different than before, to say nothing of their sturdiness. But as Remia used her strongest skill, it was naturally not the end.
From above, countless branches snapped. Those branches extended toward the goblin from the sky, becoming a cage to trap him. Leaves gathered in abundance, dropping onto the wooden cage as if an avalanche.
As those leaves were enhanced by raw mana, they stuck tightly to the cage, barring the hungry demon's vision.
In the meantime, Alex rushed forth, "Well done, Remia!"
He was amazed by the whole forest movement that was straight as if from a fantasy movie. But as he knew that this skill was used to ensure their survival, Alex didn't let himself gaze at the forest's might.
He promptly charged at the hungry demon.
'This goblin looks down on me. He won't expect the strength behind my swordsmanship! I must seize the momentum and inflict as much damage as possible. Then, we will wear him down!' Alex thought.
Since the demon goblin had his stats hidden, his HP and MP must be outstanding. Alex didn't even think of killing him in just a few moves.
"Catman!" The Goblin Demon howled; his eyes were on Alex.
Now that Alex went through Remia's skill, the demon could land his eyes on him. Of course, the forest was Alex's greatest ally now. It wouldn't become an obstacle for him, and it would show him the way toward the monster.
In his cage, the hungry demon had been punching the wood endlessly. His demonic energy splashed around, trying its best to taint nature.
To no avail!
And as Alex appeared, the demon saw a gap in which he noticed his escape route. His only obstacle was some funny catman swordsman.
But as Alex looked funny, his strength was immense.
He thrust his weapon against the monster's falling punch!
[Critical Strike!]
[Critical Strike!]
[Critical Strike!]
His sword's tip sank into the demon's punch. And then, Alex quickly drew a few more slashes across the demon's arm and chest. He didn't care whether it was luck; Alex proudly sneered at those critical strikes.
Those heavy slashes drew out so much blood that the goblin demon became smaller.
"You little rat!" he howled while holding his arm!
Alex smiled and took a few steps back.
"I won't let you escape!" the demon goblin immediately used his other hand to catch Alex.
Alas, the forest stopped him from touching Alex. A few more branches fell like a waterfall, allowing Alex to return safely.
'My successor quest wants me to protect Remia. We can even let this goblin escape, and I will finish the quest successfully,' Alex thought on his way toward Remia.
After inflicting overwhelming slashes on the Demon Goblin, Alex's confidence rose. He cooled off his head and thought calmly.
It would be best to kill the demon as his death could drop useful items and even clues related to this peculiar race.
Now that Alex knew that everyone could become one of those hungry demons, he wanted to gather as much intel about them as possible.
He returned to Remia's side.
"We can see his HP and MP now… If we focus-" Alex returned with great news.
But on the other side, Remia looked worse than Alex had thought.
Her mana was dropping low at a significant pace. The connection also put a high toil on her mind, so her stamina and even health points went low.
She looked pale, sweaty, and quite miserable.
Alex hid his sword in his inventory, then took her into princess carry, "Let's escape."
"B-But he will chase after us! It's dangerous to stop now!" Remia said, her voice desperate and a little sad.
Alex shook his head, "It's fine. I've hurt his arm significantly. And he also used humans to boost his strength. This power shouldn't be a permanent boost. Besides, with so many wounds on his arm, his bleeding must also be lethal.
He has to take care of his wounds, or he will just die," Alex whispered.
Remia looked into his eyes, "The hungry demons… can respawn like players, right?"
Alex gulped down, "Yes. That's why we have to escape right now!"
He held her tightly and escaped from the forest.
Knowing that Remia was right, Alex didn't dare to stay in the same forest anymore. That goblin demon could be like players, meaning that he could use sacrifice tactics to chase them!
Alex also recalled Sara's words.
After killing the Wolfen Demon, she told him about her impression of him. If her words were right, the Wolfen Demon wanted to bring out her Ultimate Skill and see through her true strength.
'This goblin will be the same. But there's a difference now.' Alex smiled faintly.
There were just five individuals in Deathwill Castle's lands, including Alex. In the outer world, there were many players and NPCs around.
The Demon Goblin couldn't afford to chase them for too long.
That was why Alex felt reassured and confident about their survival chances.
He glanced behind, "Your skill stopped."
"Yes… I can't keep it up any further," Remia nodded in Alex's arms.
The forest returned to its initial state, letting out the demon. A powerful wave went after Alex and Remia as the Goblin Demon locked his killing intent on them.
Fortunately, the Goblin Demon stopped chasing them after a few minutes. No one knew what he had stumbled upon.
Alex and Remia sighed with relief.
Remia then glanced up, "Alex… Your hands feel… like human hands…"
As Remia was still in a princess carry, Alex's hands held her arm and legs tightly. She didn't feel soft paws. Even if Alex held her through her clothes, there should be some softness, right?
"Well…" Alex awkwardly smiled.
[You have completed your quest.]
[Battle Spirit(S) has been added to your skill set.]
"It's a long story," Alex said, knowing that he couldn't hide his true self from Remia anymore.
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