Chapter 19: An Assassin's Baby Steps
During my last three days of monster hunting, I adopted the fighting style used in the Devil May Cry series i.e. Mix matching different weapons to pull off an unpredictable chain of attacks, which would be impossible using a single weapon.
In my storage, I currently had a Karambit, Grade-1 Gladius, Corvo's Blade, the Cross-Bow handgun Lili bought me, and the DIY nades she made.
Each weapon brought an undeniable advantage to the table along with weakness.
But what made my fighting style particularly deadly was my little storage.
It turned out that I can keep a small part of my consciousness connected with the storage and equip any weapon in it, in any way I want.
For example, I can 'summon' my Corvo's Blade in a reverse grip if I want and jab a Goblin before putting it back in my storage while the blade is still in. Then take it out in a standard grip outside the Goblin's body.
Saving me the precious seconds it would've taken me to pull the blade out and then hold it in a standard grip.
I call it 'Weapon Flickering'.
So, with no weapons in my hands peeked into the dark chamber, and counted 17 pairs of eerie red eyes glowing in the dark.
The chamber was just a shade away from pitch black.
My mana was at 100%, allowing me to Blink every 2 seconds for the next 5 times.
And in my standard algorithm, analyzing the terrain comes after the headcount.
I could not judge the size of it because of the darkness but, the chamber appeared big enough for me to run around with 17 Goblins hot on my trail. So, a congested fight was of no concern.
A boulder, big enough to hide me behind it, was on my right, 10 meters away.
On my far left, about 20 meters away, was a ledge like deformity in the wall, 8 meters above the ground.
As for the Goblins, they were in groups.
There was a group of 6 by the potential end of the room.
Another group of 6 in the middle.
A group of 3 just below the 'ledge' I noticed.
And a pair of 2, in front of me around 10 meters away, with their backs turned to me.
Taking a moment to calm my pounding heart, I turned to Lili and mouthed, 'Get ready.'
To which she replied with an affirming nod while readying her Cross-Bow.
Activating Re-Directive Blink, I aimed the Exit Point behind the two Goblins before Blinking-Out.
-SLISH! TIRDCH!
'Flickering-Out' my two swords, I tore the Goblin's head off of their bodies, raining down a shower of blood from their fountain necks.
-BUFFF!
A second later, the sound of two monsters bursting into ashes alerted the entire crowd.
The winds in the darkness shifted as 15 sets of glowing red eyes locked onto me all at the same time, each dripping with bloodlust.
-KREEEECHH!
Screeching in maddened brutality, they all dashed at me.
Some hurled rocks from a distance while the other rushed forward with clubs in their hands.
Anyone of those attacks was enough to kill me.
And just as I had expected, Blink came back from the 2 second-cool-down just when the rocks were almost upon me.
My world came to a halt as I activated Re-Directive Blink after 'Flickering-In' the blades.
Aiming the Exit Point at the 'ledge' I noticed, I Blinked-Out.
My sudden disappearance caught the horde off guard as their feet came to halt.
Their crimson eyes darted around in their sockets, searching for me while I hung safely on the ledge.
9 club-wielding flocked my previous spot, while the other 6 at the back, 9 meters away from my current spot.
[Should I throw a nade?]
/That would be the safest course of action. /
[But, it costs 150 to make and the 9 Goblins are worth 270… That'd leave me with 120 if I got lucky and…]
/No, that will not happen. The shrapnel will destroy some cores. /
[Well, no nades then…]
Deciding 'no Booms', I waited for 5 seconds to get my mana back. The last Blink had already sapped away 20% for good.
The moment I got my mana back, I once again activated Re-Directive Blink and turned the Exit Point behind the band of 6 Goblins at the back.
During my five seconds of inactivity, they had re-equipped themselves with large rocks.
And the other pack of 9 Goblins had spread out, searching for me.
Blinking-Out behind the rock-wielding pack of Goblins, I 'Flickered-out' my Karambit and the Corvo's Blade before driving them into the back of their necks while I Spartan-kicked the back of another Goblin.
-SLIRDH! THUD!
-BUFFF!
The two Goblins almost immediately erupted into ashes, freeing my blades from their necks at the same alerting every monstrosity in this dark.
The next one to die was the Goblin on my left, pivoting towards it, I brought the short sword in a wide arc.
-SLRDTCH!
-KHAAAA!
An ear-piercing shriek resounded as my blade ripped its face in half.
But this move gave the other Goblin the time it needed to throw a rock at my face with a speed fast enough to wreck my skull.
Just when the rock was almost on my face, adrenalin kicked in like a God, and I managed to sidestep death at the very last moment.
And just as I was about to dash towards that Goblin, the one I kicked earlier leaped at me in reckless abandon.
Caught off guard, I jumped back while I swung my right leg for a kick.
-BAM!
And as luck would have it, my fluke connected, flinging it away.
This would've worked like a charm if I had a Falna.
But I didn't.
I lost my balance and crashed on my back while the other Goblin charged at me.
[This is awkward…]
Flickering the blades in, I 'Flickered-Out' the Cross-Bow handgun before taking aim with both hands.
-SWISH! CLITCH!
-KREEAAA!
The monster roared in unbridled agony as the bolt pierced through its eye before it fell on the floor, withering in pain.
Flickering the Cross-Bow in, I got up in a frenzy before turning towards Goblin I flung away.
And there it was, ready for another dive at me but, I was faster this time.
I leaped at it with the heavy Gladius 'Flickered-out' in a wide overhead arc.
-CLIRRDTH!
The slash ripped the Goblin's head apart and went further in before my blade got stuck between its ribs.
-SCREEEE!
Shivers ran down my spine the moment I spun around. The horde of 9 Goblins was almost upon me.
Three were in the front with the rest not far behind.
And damn 5 seconds were still not up!
I had already wasted 20% mana, and my mana pool wasn't big enough to Blink at my leisure.
-RRRHHHA!
The three Goblins dashed at me with their club raised high, ready to blast my skull open.
'Flickering' the Gladius in, I switched the Karambit with it as I strode towards the freak on my right.
-VHOOP! BAM!
Dogging its overhead bash with a 'semi-duck' I slashed my Karambit at its knee joint, shattering it.
-TLIRDTH! EIYAAA! SLITSH!
The Goblin lost its balance as it let out a harrowing scream in the dark, while I used the momentum for a 360-degree spin before ripping off its head using the Corvo's Blade.
Stopping the spin while facing another Goblin, I swapped the Karambit with the Gladius before dashing towards it for a stab.
-KRDTH! KHAAA!
Another torturous scream replaced the previous one, as I rammed the Gladius into the Goblin's ribs while pushing it onto the Goblin next to it, before 'Flickering-Out'.
-KHREEEE!
Even the adrenalin in my body froze as I turned around. The seven Goblins had surrounded me.
Each leaping at me with saliva flowing all over.
Their red eyes flared in horrifying brutality.
Their bloodthirsty clubs were now just a few inches away from me.
Then suddenly!
Mana returned to me. Five seconds were up and I was free to use Blink.
Time stopped just when the slams were about to connect.
Aiming the Exit Point behind the boulder I noted earlier, I initiated Blink.
-BAM! KHIYYAA!
The sound of something heavy hitting the floor resounded along with a deafening wail.
/You okay, Argus? /
[Fuckin fantastic! Why'd'you ask?] I replied, sucking in all the air I could.
/I… um, just making conversation! /
With my back against the boulder, hands shaking in adrenalin, I 'Flickered-Out' my Cross-Bow before loading a bolt in it.
I needed to act before the adrenalin calmed down.
So, while crouching, I peeked towards the remaining Goblins.
Their creepy glowing eyes darted in their sockets as they growled around a deformed yet alive Goblin.
[Their stupid slam must've hit one of their own… and damn these things are tenacious!] I wondered.
That's the reason I only even went for the head or the spinal cord, or I downright ripped them apart. As for the other times, I only meant my attacks to cripple them. And the heart was a big no-no for me, that's where the core is. Guild doesn't accept damaged cores.
Five seconds were up and I felt mana return to me.
"Round-2, bitches!"
My eyes focused on the Goblins.
There were two more Goblins on the verge of death, along with the deformed one. Their torturous wails drowned the darkroom in dread.
I counted 7 pairs of crimson eyes glowing in madness.
[Let's do this!] I thought as a grin broke on my face.
Even though it was too difficult to see but, fighting in the dark brought me a strange sense of elation.
Activating Re-Directive Blink, I aimed the Exit Point half a meter above a pair of Goblins standing close to each other, with my swords clutched in the reverse grip.
-TLIRDTH! TLIRDTH!
Blood and brains splattered all across as I Blinked-Out and used the fall's momentum to plunge the blades into their skulls.
-KLTRDH!
Flickering the blades in, I 'Flickered-Out' the Karambit while taking a stride forward and tearing open a Goblin's windpipe and Cervical Spine in an uppercut swing.
-BAM! BUFFF!
Taking advantage of my body's posture, weight, and momentum, I used the Karambit like a hook and dragged the limp Goblin to defend myself from a horizontal slam before Flickering the Karambit in. And almost immediately, its body exploded into ashes as the club slammed into its head.
In the middle of all that, my right hand didn't sit still.
'Flickering-Out' a sword, I cut off a Goblin's head.
But, just like the right hand, the Goblins didn't sit still either.
The hair on the back of neck stood on ends as a goblin leaped at me from behind, while two more did the same from the front and my right.
[Fuck me silly…]
-PHEWW! THLIRDTH! SLIRDH!
A long Cross-Bow bolt flew whistling like a hero here to save the day.
Ripping apart the Goblin in front of me, it then tore a hole into the chest of another.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lili landing on top of the boulder along with her Cross-Bow.
Not having the time to admire the thighs, I tore my gaze off of her and focused on keeping my head intact. There were still two Goblins in the middle of leaping at me with their huge clubs.
-BOOM!
I dived ahead, saving myself just by a few inches.
'Flickering-Out' Corvo's Blade, I readied a horizontal 'Katana slash' before dashing at the Goblin that came from my right.
-STIRDTH! BUFFF!
Its head spun in the air along with a lot of blood before it flared into ashes.
This action also gave the one that came from behind, enough time to rush at me for another slam of its club.
But the battle had long drained my stamina. My lungs were burning. Sweat was getting in my eyes.
-AHHHAAA!
With a war cry, I 'Flickered-In' the blades and swapped them with the Cross-Bow handgun before taking aim using both my hands.
-SWISH! CTIRDTH!
-KLAAAHH!
-TLIRDTH!
-ACK!
The bolt penetrated the Goblin's eye as it screeched on top of its lungs, while I switched the Cross-Bow with the Corvo's Blade and dashed at it.
Plunging my sword into its stomach, I crouched down and turned towards Lili.
My back facing the Goblin while the sword still stabbed in it.
Tightening my grip on the sword, I pulled it out in a wide arc, ripping the Goblin apart from its ribs before Flickering my sword in a reverse grip and stabbing it into the ground.
Blood showered out of the ripped Goblin behind me, bathing me red as I looked towards Lili and grinned.
"I'm the best!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
An_Imperfectionist
An_Imperfectionist That was the first big fight of the story... So, I’m rather excited to know, what you thought of it.
Tell me in the comment section... along with any suggestions you might have.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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