SS1 1.3 – Retreat

  With ease we reached the steep slope located about 50 meters to the right of machine gun lookout. As Mike had predicted, five goblins guarded the slope base. While lying down behind a tree, we observed them in silence.

  This was the first time I had a chance to observe goblin in detail. They were pretty similar to the goblin I saw in movie. As big as a kid, dark green skin, bat face with pointed chin and pointed ears, row of sharp teeth, and yellow eyes with thin black vertical slit.

  The only different was that they wore neat clothes made of gunny fabric. They also wore leather armor and leather helmet. Their main weapon was a club or small spear, with a small knife tucked in their waist.

  After a glance I could tell they were well disciplined, well organized, and followed strict hierarchy. If we let such opponent to circle and overwhelmed us with number, I believed nine out of ten we would be ended up as their food. Fight them from distance, outside their flanking radius was the best option we should take I guess.

  Then, Mike radioed Tim in whisper. “Gunner One, we will commence silent killing. Any update?”

  [Two goblins are still in the cave mouth, no movement from first slope, you are clear to go. Don’t let your target scream and we will be fine.]

  “Roger, keep us aware of movement in the area, Lead One over and out.]

  Then, Mike and Sanchez silently crawled down the slope with suppressed MCX Rattler in their back. They would use suppressed fire to kill the sentries, but they couldn’t do it from our current position. We were in high ground and under low light condition. Muzzle flash from our weapon would become a very loud announcement of our presence.

  And so, Mike and Sanchez made their approach. Before each crawl, they silently moved the dry leaves and twigs from the ground where their forearms and legs would land. It was easy to tell that each crawl took tremendous amount of effort and patient.

  However, Mike and Sanchez did it calmly without haste. Most of all, at first I could follow their movement as they tried to flank the goblin, but a moment after they split up they just disappeared from my sight.

  About thirty minutes later, flash after flash popped up from the darkness. One was from behind the goblins, while the second one was from their left. Throughout my military carrier, this was the first time I saw such beautiful pincer ambush.

  The goblins just dropped to the ground powerlessly. They didn’t even have the chance to shout out a warning. Everything took place just so fast, almost without disturbing the silence of the forest. It made a flock of birds flew to all direction, but other than that the forest stay eerie and quiet.

  Then, Mike came out from behind the darkness. After checking the surrounding area and made sure there was no unwanted spoiler, he turned to McKay and gave him a hand signal.

  After giving Mike a nod McKay turned his gaze to Ceres. “Hunter Ceres, we can go down now.”

  “Yeah,” Ceres replied nonchalantly before got up to her feet.

  Ceres and her team then walked down the slope while I and McKay guarded their back. After that Mike and Sanchez eliminated two goblins in the cave mouth with two silenced headshot and we managed to enter the cave undetected by sentry in the first slope.

  “We are halfway done,” Mike casually said after he taught me how to set up the magic barrier in the cave mouth. “Now, you guard the entry while we clean the nest. The barrier will prevent magic ripple or sound of commotion from leaving the cave, but it can’t prevent someone who wants to enter.”

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  “Copy,” I firmly replied.

  Mike then led everyone to enter the deeper part of the nest. This time, Ceres and her team walked with their long sword in their hand.

  ---

  As I kneeled next to the cave wall, I took my time to check my surrounding. The cave or the Minotaur nest was rather different from what I imagined. The entry was about five meters high and three meters wide. The tunnel was 300 meters long and led into the hall where the monsters took a nap.

  The floor was solid and flat, while glowing stone were scattered in the cave wall and ceiling made of smooth and black granite. The glowing stones were not as bright as light bulb, but it was more than enough to illuminate the cave. The air was also not damp or stale. In summary, the cave was livable even for human. With proper furnishings, it would become a good apartment.

  A moment later I saw repeated muzzle flashes at the end of the tunnel, followed by commotion. Then, the air suddenly became stuffy. Mike had warned me before. It was a sign that magic user was about to use their skill. A moment later, the commotion became more intense while collide of steel and angry roars echoed through the tunnel. And finally, I saw a blinding light bloomed perfectly.

  BO-BO-BO-BOOOOM!!

  I got a hunch the blinding light would be followed by thunderous explosions, but it still almost gave me a heart attack. The volume was far bigger than I anticipated even though it didn’t generate wind blast or shockwave.

  Then, I saw three 4x4 All-Terrain Vehicle’s silhouettes were approaching my position in full speed. I checked them using Acog TA02 on top of my MPX and found they were Mike and the rest. The panic on their face told me something was wrong. Then, I heard Mike radioed me.

  [Newcomer, pack the magic barrier and take out your ATV. We are retreating on the double. This place is not a nest of a small pack of Minotaur, but a huge one.]

  Wasting no time I pressed PTT button in my chest, “Roger.”

  After repacking the magic barrier and put it in my inventory, I took out the ATV that Matt lent me and went to took position next to the cave mouth. The goblins on the first slope must have heard the incoming ATV as soon as I packed barrier. They would definitely return to the cave or even tried to ambush Mike and the rest.

  Therefore, I took initiative to guard the cave mouth. But turned out, it was unnecessary. About 30 meters from the cave mouth I saw six dead goblins scattered on the ground. Fresh green blood was still spurting out from small hole in their head. It seemed Matt and Tim took them out using silenced DMR just a moment ago. Then, I received a radio call.

  [This is Gunner Two to Newcomer, do you copy?]

  I pressed PTT button as I turned my gaze to MG lookout, “Loud and clear.”

  [As soon as Lead One and the rest exit the nest, immediately follow them and try your best to not get left behind.]

  “Got it.”

  A moment later, Mike and the rest exited the cave and I immediately followed them.

  ---

  With ease the ATV convoy traversed the woods and exited Sherem Forest, but we didn’t stop to switch to car. We just increased our speed and tried to arrive at Karmen as soon as possible.

  From rearview mirror, I also found Matt vigilantly scanned our six. All the way, we also had no conversation and I could feel everyone was very tense. It was only when we were about 1 km from Karmen’s west gate Mike suddenly made a radio call.

  [Everyone, good job. We didn't clear the objective, but we manage to return safely, so let’s cheer up a bit.]

  And finally I couldn’t hold back my curiosity anymore and pressed PTT button. “May I know the detail why we have to retreat in hasty?”

  [The nest has 19 Minotaur. We killed eight, but Hunter Ceres and Hunter Verona were heavily wounded in the process so we retreat.]

  “What was the cause of blinding light and loud explosion just before we retreat?”

  [That’s Sanchez dropped his handmade heavy flashbang on our pursuer. It won’t kill anything, but it gives us enough windows to escape.]

  “I see.”

  [For now, just go back to House of Hunter with Matt and Tim. They will show you our personal quarter. Make sure you eat and get proper rest, and tonight Matt and Tim will take you to have some fun in House of Healer.]

  “Copy.”

  After entering Karmen’s west gate, the ATV convoy split into two. Mike, Sanchez, and McKay took Leg Breaker to mansion for C-rank hunter, while Matt and Tim took me to their living quarter.

  Other than managing the hunter and their activity, House of Hunter also provided living quarter for hunting team below C-rank. Each quarter had 12 rooms, along with one mission prep room, small kitchen and dining table, and a lounge. Since their arrival two years ago Pukin’ Dogs was staying in one of these quarters, and Matt offered me to use one of vacant room in their place.

  I had to admit the room was smaller than I expected, but it came with a small but good bed, small study table, and bathroom so I gladly accepted it. Not to mention, it was free, neat, and very clean.

  After taking a shower, I went straight to my new bed. With ease I fell asleep, and that’s concluded my adventure on the first day of my second life.

  *****