Mav responded to the attack with a diagonal slash that the goblin dodged, more as a natural reaction than a calculated move. Again using his claws, he opened three gashes in Mav's arm and punched him in the ribs.
I could see that the blow was effective and caused the dark-haired twin to stagger back slightly.
The goblin didn't give him time to recover, delivering a series of punches and scratches, resembling a furious Qvkrabu (Kaio: the wolf-like creature, blue, with tentacles coming out of its back). But Mav wasn't accepting the attacks passively; using only one arm, he responded with his own punches, defending as best he could with his sword guard, and trying to increase the distance so he could use his sword properly.
With each exchange of blows, they returned to their initial position, getting closer to me and Mac. When Mav saw his brother, it seemed as if something ignited within him, causing him to attack with a ferocity that rivals even the goblin's attacks.
No longer using his guard to defend against blows and scratches, he now incorporated the pommel and guard of his sword into his attacks.
Accepting a particularly hard blow to the stomach, Mav used the pommel of his sword to strike the goblin's head with enough force for the pommel to sink slightly into it. He then removed the pommel from the head and struck it in the neck.
Somehow (I don't know how) Mav managed to hook the guard onto the small depression in the goblin's skull and twisted it. Forcing the goblin to move away enough to be able to use, even if only slightly, the blade.
The goblin, just over 1.40 meters tall, with a distorted face, several missing teeth, one eye swollen to the point of being covered, a depression in its skull, and blood running from its head, nose, and mouth. But still maintaining a fierce, almost maniac look in its eyes, finally died when Mav decapitated it with a clean, precise sideways cut.
As soon as he saw the goblin fall and its body disappear, the energy that kept Mav standing seemed to vanish and he collapsed, only avoiding hitting the ground because he had braced himself with his sword. I picked up the last remaining red berry and went towards him.
The state he left the goblin in was terrible, but he wasn't much better off either. Cuts on his arms, face, and legs; even with his clothes on, it was easy to imagine that several of the places the goblin had punched had caused internal damage. His nose was broken and bleeding, one of his eyes was scratched, and I could see bite marks on one of his thighs.
'This must have happened before he threw the goblin for the first time.'
I thought, handing him the bunch of berries. With the hand he used to defend and strike, he took them tremulously and put them in his mouth.
–Wait a moment, I have to put your nose back in place or it will recover the wrong way.
Mav nodded silently, not because of his usual taciturn nature, simply because he was exhausted. Carefully, I grabbed his nose, making him squeal in pain. With a twist and a wet, *clongbff* sound, I managed to put it (at least I hoped so) back in place.
Mav chewed and swallowed the berries, and soon the more serious wounds stopped bleeding. Putting one arm over my shoulder, I carried him to Max and placed him next to his brother.
–It's almost over now, you can stay here and take care of your brother until we're finished.
Once again, due to exhaustion, he simply nodded and rested his head against the fallen cabin.
I got up and turned to see how things were.
Anna and Cali were almost finished off the goblin riding the white wolf, but while I was distracted by Max and Mav, things started to go badly for them.
The goblin chief, seeing that another subordinate was having difficulties, chose to go help him and leave the other to his own devices. Whether this was out of confidence in his abilities, or a cold decision about who had the best chance of surviving, I can't say, but it didn't matter.
The chief was fighting Cali, and Anna was doing what she could to dodge the bites and occasional kicks of the white wolf, while also dodging the spear blows of the mounted goblin. I didn't think twice before pulling the string and sending one of my best, still intact, arrows at the white wolf.
With the [sure shot] skill activated, the arrow flew faster than anyone could keep up with, and soon the staff appeared embedded in the wolf's eye, killing it instantly. This obviously sent the mounted goblin flying.
However, proving to be unlike the first mounted goblin we fought, the larger goblin spun in the air and attacked Anna with its spear in a swift, mid-air thrust. Taking advantage of her size, Anna managed to dodge by throwing her torso back and hurled her long knife at the goblin.
I believe she aimed for the heart, but ended up hitting the goblin's shoulder. This caused a grimace on the creature's already ugly face. It ripped the knife from its shoulder with its teeth and lunged at Anna.
She obviously didn't stand still and retreated, and of course, neither would I. While she dodged the goblin's attacks, I found the spear she had thrown earlier to save me. When I saw the goblin tensing its arms, activating what I imagine was one of its Aether abilities, I threw Anna's spear right in the path of the goblin's spear.
The spear landed a low shot, causing the goblin to miss the blow. But just enough for Anna to catch it and launch a counterattack. Which she executed with enviable skill.
Sliding to the goblin's left side, Anna performed a full-body spin with her spear, gathering more force than her arms alone could muster. Then she delivered a ferocious blow to the back of the goblin's knee, tearing off the entire leg below it.
With a scream that almost made me feel sorry for him, the goblin fell to the ground, but still attempted one more desperate attack, swinging the spear towards Anna with one hand. She dodged with a block, ducking to deflect but placing the back of the spear above to defend.
Thus, the force of the goblin's blow caused Anna's spear to be pulled to the left while she gripped the shaft by the right, near the tip.
Raising one hand slightly and fixing it near the point of impact, she relaxed her right hand a little, letting the force of the goblin's blow pull the spear to the left, making an arc above her body. This pushed the goblin's spear further out of its area of control and attack, while her own spear moved in.
With the momentum of the goblin's strike transferred to Anna's spear, she slid her spear over the goblin's spear and brought it down towards the goblin's neck on the ground.
(Kaio: Okay, would that be possible? Normally speaking?
Sys: [If Mana wasn't used to reinforce the body, this maneuver would likely have dislocated Anna's shoulder. But it would technically be possible, however, timing the counterattack correctly would be extremely difficult.])
Blood gushed out forcefully, but the goblin was still alive and tried to make one last stand.
Emphasis on tried. Already within the perfect attack area, Anna pressed the attack and with a final thrust impaled the goblin's neck.
[Elite monster, hobgoblin knight, eliminated.] [Joint experience acquired.]
Enduring the constant blows from the goblin—no, the hobgoblin knight—was certainly exhausting for Anna. She could barely stand after the last thrust, leaning on her spear and still trembling.
I ran and caught her when she almost fell.
–You were incredible, Anna. – I said with all the sincerity I could muster. I lifted her up and took her to Max and Mav.
–But I couldn't beat him on my own. I guess I should just stay home taking care of the finances. – she said, tired and sweating, still firmly gripping the spear.
I paused to think for a moment.
It was true that the way she was raised, taking care of her household finances, would be best, both in terms of profit from her abilities and security. But then why did she come here herself? Why did her parents let her?
I already knew a little about her family's situation with the baron, but I didn't want to say anything since she never did, so I let it go. But even considering that, there were still several things that didn't add up.
I looked again at the young woman in my arms, smaller than she should be for her age, but still strangely strong in both body and spirit. She possessed a mental capacity similar to that of an adult several decades older than her, yet still retained a certain innocence and enthusiasm that younger children would have.
Would she be good at doing accounts behind a desk, overseeing business and delegating tasks? Yes, definitely.
Would she be good at fighting on the front lines, acquiring exotic and strange products on her own and blazing trails she hadn't yet explored? Yes, definitely.
In the end...
–I believe it depends on what you want. You're suited to staying behind a desk, taking care of people from behind, as well as being on the front lines, fighting alongside them. What you want to do will be the determining factor in your case. – I said, remembering everything I've seen this girl do since we met.
From silly things like playing pranks on me, Max, and Mav (for obvious reasons, not on Cali), to serious discussions and bargaining with shop owners and other types of businesses to get equipment for the Trial.
With all this seen again, it's clear that this girl can literally do whatever she wants; the question will be what she wants.
Putting her next to Mav, who already seemed to have regained some energy, I asked, looking into her eyes:
–So, what do you want to do, Anna?