Chapter 29: Spoils

The clash against the Goblins raged on for a few more intense minutes, the swordsmen finally joining the fray. It was a chaotic skirmish, limbs flailing, weapons clashing, and spells crackling through the air. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, the party demonstrated remarkable coordination, swiftly dismantling the Goblin threat without succumbing to any grave injuries.

In the heart of the battle, one figure stood out as a true cornerstone of their victory – Colin. The towering man moved with a surprising grace, skillfully manipulating the flow of combat. He acted as an impregnable bulwark, shielding his companions from harm and creating strategic openings for their counterattacks. In every sense, Colin embodied the role of a Guardian, as if he had been honing his combat prowess for years rather than mere days. 𝗈𝐯𝓵xt.𝒸𝑜𝗆

Jayce marveled at Colin’s prowess, momentarily questioning whether this was truly the man’s first taste of battle. Colin’s contribution had been so significant that Jayce found himself relegated to the role of a tactician, issuing orders and orchestrating the battle from the rear. The realization of Colin’s natural aptitude filled Jayce with both wonder and relief, allowing him to focus on guiding their efforts.

As the last Goblin fell beneath their combined onslaught, the group’s spirits soared. Colin, who had played a pivotal role in their triumph, now leaned on his massive kite shield, engaging in a lively conversation with his wife. The broad grin on his face and his animated gestures conveyed a sense of accomplishment, as if he had just achieved a monumental victory.

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Jayce shifted his attention to the Goblin carcasses strewn about. In this new world, the mechanics of item drops bore similarities to games, yet had a few differences. Slain monsters left behind tangible remains that could be harvested for raw materials, something not possible in games.

However, the same could not be said about weapons or accessories, which inexplicably disappeared upon death. Jayce hypothesized that these items were intricately bound to the monsters’ souls, dissolving with them upon death.

Beside raw materials, there was the tantalizing prospect of items and equipment drops. The Goblins, for instance, carried the possibility of dropping health potions and other useful supplies. Even after a decade of navigating the new world, Jayce remained uncertain of the exact variables that influenced drop rates.

The only thing that was agreed upon by the players in his past life, was that whenever a boss monster was slain for the first time, they would drop at least an epic ranked item. Which was why Factions would do their all to discover these monsters first.

Gathering around the Goblin remains, the party displayed a mixture of relief and elation. But Jayce swiftly put a stop to any complacency with his reminder, his words cutting through the air like a hot knife. “Stay vigilant, everyone. We are not safe until we arrive back at the shelter.”

Addressing the archers, Jayce issued his next order, his voice laden with authority. “Archers, maintain your watch for any signs of movement.”

With solemn nods, the two archers positioned themselves at opposite ends of the alleyway, their keen eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats.

Jayce’s gaze then swept over his comrades, his voice an unwavering command. “Check your statuses. Ensure your mana and health reserves are sufficient in case we face another confrontation. If you’ve gained a level, allocate your stat points according to our earlier discussions, aligning with the strengths of your respective classes.”

Their prior conversations had emphasized the importance of strategic stat distribution, a fundamental principle that Jayce sought to instill within the minds of his faction members. The prospect of a mage without Intelligence or a swordsman lacking in strength was unthinkable.

As for Jayce, he harbored intentions of enhancing his Luck attribute, capitalizing on the benefits of the VIP15 skill. The skill’s capacity to permanently amplify his own attributes and those of his faction members was an opportunity too invaluable to overlook.

Jayce wasn’t sure what main stats his Chef class used, but he had been planning on increasing his Luck attribute to take advantage of the VIP15 skill. Not only could he permanently boost his own stats, he could also bolster his own faction, which was too good not to invest in.

The only issue was that experience gain was not a static thing. Distribution was not even across all party members like in some games, which had its good and bad points.

The system handed out experience based on a few factors, some were known and some were unknown. What Jayce knew was that delivering the final blow to an enemy would grant bonus experience, while doing the most damage would also give a bonus. There were also less intuitive factors such as participation and tactical bonuses.

All in all, the system had its own judgment of experience distribution, and there was not much that he or anyone else could do to manipulate it. Unless they wanted to hunt solo and monopolize the experience for themselves.

From Jayce’s assessment of their first fight, Colin would have taken the lion’s share, followed by Jackie and the swordsmen.

Jayce bent down and collected the drops from the Goblins which happened to be a few health potions and consumables. His eyes twinkled as he saw the green consumable potion, which would give temporary stat boosts, similar to the meals he made.

However a distant memory suddenly surged into his mind, as if it had been purposefully buried for a long time. He looked down at the glass vial that held the green substance and shuddered, remembering the god-awful taste.

[Goblin’s Tonic +1 Strength for 1 hour]

Description: Home brewed strength potion, made by a Goblin Shaman. Despite its foul taste, it is not toxic. Recommended to consume on an empty stomach.

“Leader!” a tremulous cry echoed through the air, causing Jayce’s loot-laden hands to nearly falter their grasp.

Startled, he swiftly regained his composure and responded, “What is it?” His voice resonated with the calm of a seasoned veteran.

The archer’s voice quivered as he stammered out his words, “F-Five Goblins are advancing this way.”

The disquiet quickly rippled through the party like a silent tide, each member tensing in readiness as their eyes darted around the vicinity, seeking out the incoming threat.

Jayce’s gaze swept the surroundings, assessing their situation. Even without the advantage of ambush, they could still hold their ground and engage, provided it was just 5 Goblins. “Take your positions, mages behind me,” Jayce commanded, his voice resonating with certainty.

Orders rang out, the group falling into the familiar choreography of battle formations. Yet, in the midst of the tactical adjustments, an archer stationed at the rear called out. “Leader, another Goblin is headed our way.”

Jayce’s brows knitted in a deep frown, a heavy weight of unease settling upon him. Goblins were rarely solitary creatures, their predilection for pack behavior well-known in his last life. His previous engagement with a single Goblin had likely occurred due to the nascent stages of the game’s descent, perhaps temporarily separating the lone creature from its pack.

His voice edged with concern, he inquired, “What is the Goblin wearing?”

Confusion momentarily clouded the archer’s expression before he cast another glance at the approaching figure and reported, “It’s draped in a rough hessian robe, clutching a crude staff.”

Jayce’s face fell, looking grave. “Shit… A Goblin Shaman”