(Contains slightly graphic themes.)
Solo Work Arc: Chapter 32.
The redcap goblins sniggered as they slowly encircled both Winter and Felt Mae Puppy. They were cautious of Winter, glaring at him with seething hatred.
However, the same could not be said for Felt. When the redcap goblins darted their eyes towards her, it was usually to ogle at her figure. Winter could practically sense them salivating at the sight of Felt's chest and lower region.
"All of you are really disgusting animals..." Winter said, brows furrowing in disgust.
One of the redcap goblins roared out a laugh. "Like, you're not thinking of doing it yourself! Her squirming and cries underneath you while you continuously defile her." All of the goblins cheered at the visual-mental image, apparently invigorated by that.
They repeatedly struck their weapons against their armored chests, producing loud clanging. The birds from the nearby trees panicked at the noise. Fleeing in droves.
Felt was uncomfortable, the anxiety and despair creeping up her spine. She nevertheless put on a brave face, determined to fight to the death. She gulped and lowered her posture, perfectly poised for a counterattack.
"Animals," Winter said, and brandished his dagger; the sunlight piercing from the trees caused it to glint lightly. "You are all a bunch of disgusting creatures."
Winter stretched his arms and legs. The redcap goblins smiled and also readied their postures, prioritizing dealing with him first. The forest let out a soft breeze, fluttering the wavy leaves, as the two parties waited for each other to attack first.
"Bricks, you said you can optimize and tweak my body, right?" Winter whispered.
◆ [ Correct. ] ◆
"Make sure that I won't suffer a lot from these techniques. I am activating it all."
◆ [ Understood, I'll try my best. ] ◆
"Enrage, Minor Strength, Minor Agility, Minor Speed, Fleet-foot, Small Boost, Towered Strength, Towered Agility, Greater Strength, Greater Speed, Greater Agility, Warded, Fortressed, Pseudo-Zone, Zone."
Winter activated all his techniques, one by one, slowly and deliberately, making sure that all the redcap goblins could hear each activation.
With the first three, the redcap goblins were confident, still assured of their victory. Then six, they furrowed their brows, confused and uneasy. Then, at twelve, their eyes bulged in shock as their forms faltered.
Then, at fifteen, Winter stopped and took one heavy breath. The redcap goblins stood in fearful silence. The space around Winter has rippled while his vibrating figure gave a faint white glow. His eyes were now focused while streaks of lightning sparked every few seconds.
Not only that, his whole body was now steaming. Felt sensed the emanating power and heat from him, causing her to step back instinctively.
Felt couldn't believe the number of techniques that Winter activated. (The most that I've seen was nine, and that was in a controlled scenario, not in battle. I've heard the King and some people were capable of this but to see it in actual person...)
"W-what are you guys still standing around for!? Attack!" The redcap goblin with two axes equipped in his hand nervously shouted. The rest of the redcap goblins were hesitant, unwilling to deal the first blow.
"I said att- " The redcap goblin leader stopped mid-sentence, his whole body scorched in flames almost in an instant. Winter was already behind him. The redcap goblin leader's form plopped to the ground, still scorching.
"Retreat!" Another redcap goblin said, as their chest instantly evaporated with a single straight kick. Winter then turned to the rest of the goblins and readied his scorch dagger, intent on not letting a single one leave.
(It's not a battle, it's going to be a one-man massacre!) Felt mused, dropping the two rocks from her hands. She observed as Winter made short work of the surprised and fearful redcap goblins, their confidence now shattered.
"Stop!" "Ack!" "Help!" "No!" "Guh!" "Mah!"
One of the redcap goblins was still alive; its whole body was burning, but it still found the energy to crawl away. Felt rose from the ground and picked up a dropped sword, then flipped over the redcap goblin, facing the sky.
"Please, help me. I'm sorry."
"I've said that so many times to your abusive kind yet none have listened," Felt said and then drove the sword straight to the redcap goblin's heart. It squirmed and let out a whispered, raspy screech before dying.
◆ [ You've reached level 20. ] ◆
◆ [ You've reached level 21. ] ◆
"Hey, you okay?" Winter added to the somber Felt. She turned and was shockingly surprised by the sight; the techniques were still active, and his figure continued to radiate heat and steam.
(His techniques are still active!? The more you activate, the more the effects should diminish. Anyways, He's going to need some emergency care after that.)
(His heart!)
"Ah, yes, I am okay, but what about you!?" Felt said, her eyes brimming with worry as she reached into the air again, there was a barely visible rune in the air. Her left arm disappeared as she speedily reached for something inside.
"Ah! I found it!" Felt said and pulled her arm out, producing a small vial with a pale reddish liquid sloshing inside. A weak healing potion, but still effective.
"No, thanks, I can handle myself." Winter denied the help and then gestured to the fallen redcap goblins. "You should grab what you can and give it to some of the women." He said as the techniques subsided, leaving him with a strange, heavy pressure on his chest and head.
He wobbled but remained standing.
"Are you okay? Please, drink this!"
"No, no! I am okay." Winter replied, placing his hand on his neck.
"Respite. Aid."
Winter cast two support spells. Respite restored some stamina and reduced a set amount of fatigue. The Aid spell provided a healing-restoration-over-time buff. These two are the first support spells that the support class has.
Felt jaw drop; she thought he was a fighter, not a healer. "Were you some holy knight or paladin before?" She asked, the former was the most likely to her, whereas the latter was not only uncommon but also unlikely.
(But, the way he acts, speaks, and carries himself. It's probably neither of the two. She mused and slowly patted his back.
"Let's go, we're losing daylight," Winter added, finally restored.
◆ [ My careful balancing eased the side-effects by around thirty percent. ] ◆
Winter gave a faint acknowledging nod and then helped Felt loot the redcap goblin's bodies.
...
...
...
"That's strange, I don't feel my fighter class getting an upgrade... Do you feel something, Bricks?" Winter added as he observed the women, led by Felt, dividing the scavenged weapons from the redcap goblins.
◆ [ Based on available data, class upgrades can only happen when certain requirements are met. Unfortunately, you don't meet any of the requirements. ] ◆
"Oh right..." Winter added, instantly remembering why he can't upgrade his basic class. First, he needed gold, the game's main currency. Second, he needed a trainer for the specific upgrade. Third, he needed to complete a quest.
"So am I going to be stuck as a basic fighter then? What a bummer."
◆ [ Opportunities may arrive in the future. ] ◆
"I get it, keep an open and positive mind." Winter then stood up from the seat and approached Matilda, tending to Anya Amogush's injuries. She was still beaten up and injured, but her skin was showing signs of health and life.
"I'll take it from here, Matilda. You can head to Felt now." Winter added and knelt as Matilda courtly bowed her head and approached Felt.
"Aid. Respite. Water's Blessings. Small Heal."
He cast four support spells, and the effects can already be seen; the impact was even more pronounced than Matilda's spells and care. All ten women stopped for a moment, observing Winter's spells.
All of them were injured and still hurting in some parts of their bodies. Winter then rose and turned to the three women. "Alright, who's the most injured?"
Winter cast his support spells at the women; they were all thankful to the point that even two of them had knelt and made promises to repay him when the time came. Winter could only shyly laugh at their thankful gestures.
He healed their bruises, their varying levels of injury, eased their persistent pain, and even ensured their bleeding lower regions healed.
Winter was surprised and uneasy. All of the women were in pain, yet he took his time leveling up, and they all persevered through all the pain to wait for him. He felt his heart ache because he didn't know their hurting was that horrible.
(Matilda's basic healing spells gave them some strength and some easing of their pain. So you don't have to feel that guilty...) Winter mused, trying to ease himself from the guilt.
"Now, it's time you gals to help me. Which way is the city?" Winter said to the women whose faces were now full of life and peace. Felt raised her hand.
"We're quite a distance away from the city, but there's a town near here," Felt said with a confident and fuller voice now. The pain and injuries were steadily subsiding due to Winter's supportive spells.
◆ [ Their general opinion of you has massively increased. ] ◆
"All right, lead the way."
...
...
...
The group had departed from the makeshift camp and was now walking in a path. Two combat-experienced women were leading the group.
Heyyes Tennie and Enn Saymada.
The two women were from a bronze-tier group, and they were now the only two survivors. They were tasked to collect herbs but were ambushed and enslaved by the goblins instead.
Heyyes and Enn were novice magic casters. They both had black hair and brown eyes. Nothing about them stood out aside from their now stern and almost blank expressions. They knew the way to the town and thus volunteered to lead.
Anya Amogush was placed in the fiber stretcher that the goblins left behind. Two women were carrying the stretcher, volunteering to handle her out of sheer gratitude for Winter's healing.
Winter followed the women from behind, along with Felt. He turned to her; she was looking straight ahead, deep in thought.
He was about to open his mouth, but nothing came out. The threat was gone, and she and the other women were now dealing with the trauma. There was nothing that he could say that could further help them.
"Do you have an official group?" Felt asked, sensing Winter's gaze.
"It's complicated, but I am alone. I do have a group, but I am the only member for now." He answered and noticed a small spark of life in Felt's eyes.
◆ [ Her opinion of you has increased, and she also wants to join your group. ] ◆
(Yeah, I can tell. The two women leading the group even confided to me earlier that they want to join my group after this whole thing.)
The two then continued walking, silently agreeing to talk further in the nearby town once their bearings were properly adjusted.
Winter gazed at the lazy blue sky and sported a small smile. The air was fresh, and the sun was warmly welcoming. There was a huge mountain in the distance, with snow and dark clouds at its peak. The scenery was oddly relaxing.
Winter tuned out the noise and focused on the world. (How can anyone be evil in such a beautiful world...)
Felt darted her eyes at Winter, who was fully immersed in the view. His white hair flowed along with the powerful gust. The perpetual frown on his face has disappeared, replaced with a relaxing blissful expression.
(To walk without a single care in the world. What a good life he must've led. No wonder he's a good person.)