Chapter 18: Death road

At last, the carriage was finally fixed and with great relief, Alex and his companions bid farewell to the innkeeper and set out on their journey toward the Last City. Little did they know, however, that they had already fallen into a cunning trap set by the city lord himself. Unbeknownst to them, the lord had already bribed the driver of the carriage to take them down a treacherous path. The driver had agreed to their request to delay their arrival time but had failed to disclose the true nature of their journey, leaving them completely unaware of the peril that lay ahead. As they ventured deeper into the road, the driver suddenly took a sharp turn towards the notorious "death road", sending their carriage hurtling toward its impending doom.

Inside the cozy carriage, Linda was deeply engrossed in a steamy romance novel that brimmed with tantalizing eroticism. Maya, on the other hand, was laser-focused on honing her mana creation skills, her brow furrowed in intense concentration. Meanwhile, our protagonist lay snoozing in his seat, oblivious to the captivating world around him. Despite being in the company of a stunning woman, he appeared indifferent, much to the chagrin of the other passengers. Perhaps it would do him good to wake up and seize the moment, to make a meaningful connection with the alluring Linda.

Ignoring personal feelings, the world around Alex faded as he was entranced in a deep slumber. Abruptly, he snapped out of his dream, feeling an intense urge to kill. It wasn't just him, but Linda and Maya felt it too. Before anyone could alert the driver, a loud bang shook the carriage, causing them to be thrown out. The carriage was obliterated, and the driver was no more. As they all stumbled to their feet, they laid eyes on a strong, yet not bulky, figure with dirty black hair, blood-soaked green skin, piercing blue eyes, and voluptuous breasts. The being standing in front of them was a goblin woman, shouting "Die, you filthy human."

As I delve into Alex's thoughts, I sense a noticeable disparity in her mana levels when compared to Maya and Linda. However, her physical prowess seems to be formidable, surpassing that of the aforementioned duo. The question that arises in my mind is whether they can manage to withstand her sheer strength. Perhaps, it is the perfect moment to unleash my mana and delve deeper into the situation. Perplexity grips me as I try to decipher the underlying cause of this perplexing phenomenon. What could be happening?

As Alex surveyed the dire situation, Linda and Maya sprang into action, brandishing their gleaming swords and sprinting toward the towering goblin lady. The goblin's expression turned to one of utter shock as she abandoned her large, cumbersome sword and began swinging wildly. To everyone's amazement, both Linda and Maya were struck and thrown back, wounded but not defeated. The goblin cackled with delight, taunting the human warriors. "You humans think you're so mighty, always acting as if you can squash any other species underfoot. But now, what do you think? Accept your impending demise!"

Before the goblin could make another move, a powerful surge of mana filled the air, causing Linda and Maya to rise, their wounds healing miraculously. With a determined look in their eyes, they spoke in unison, "We didn't want to get serious, but if you insist, we will take you on with all our might." Linda's words were laced with steely determination, while Maya's calm demeanor suggested a powerful reserve of energy yet to be unleashed.

With synchronicity, they launch their offensive against the menacing goblin lady. Despite her attempts to block their moves, her attacks prove futile this time around. The duo's coordinated assault leaves her vulnerable and exposed, no match for their combined might. The clash of steel against steel echoes throughout the chamber as they press their advantage, their blades flashing in the dim light. The goblin lady staggers back, her once-confident demeanor replaced by fear and desperation. Victory is within reach for the two warriors as they continue to rain down blows upon their foe.

As the battle raged on, Alex began to realize that victory was possible even without his aid. He cast his gaze around and spotted a dark corner, where a cave lay hidden from view. As he drew closer, he noticed a grim sight at the entrance: several bodies lay motionless, their faces contorted in pain and terror. Though their wounds suggested a violent end, Alex couldn't help but notice that none of them appeared to have been devoured by their assailants. It was then that he noticed a commonality among the corpses. With a sense of growing unease, Alex made his way back to the battlefield to investigate further.

Amid a grueling battle, the goblin lady fought fiercely but was ultimately overpowered by Linda and Maya's combined might. She had already sustained numerous injuries and was on the brink of defeat. As Linda raised her weapon to deliver the final blow, Alex stepped forward and intervened, preventing the gruesome act from taking place. However, before any further action could be taken, the goblin lady suddenly collapsed, unconscious and defeated, crumpling to the ground.

-To be continued

(In the next story we will know about the goblin lady's backstory.)