[Moments Earlier]
“Shit! They’re catching up to us!” One of the fleeing deserters cried, looking behind impatiently to see the injured Hobs approaching.
“How do we open this? The gate is too heavy!” Another bellowed.
“Does anyone here have a strength Gift?”
“Are you retarded? If I did, I would have fought back those Hobs!”
“Shit! We’re screwed. Are we really going to die here?”
As they grasped their head in a panic, one of the running Gifteds approached the panicking group, already out of breath.
“W-what’s… going… on? Why haven’t you opened the gate yet?!” He huffed, panting profusely.
One of the desperate people was kind enough to explain the situation to the newcomer, perhaps hoping that he could profer a solution to their problem before the incoming Demons reached them.
“H-old on… what did you say the gate is made of?” The panting man asked.
“Uh? I think it’s wood. Yeah… It’s wood!”.
The newcomer beamed instantly. To think the desperate situation they were in called for his ability specifically. At long last, he found something only he could do!
“My Gift is [Wood Crafter]. I can control wood and wooden structures!” He declared to the masses.
Immediately they heard this, everyone swarmed around him, even those who had ignored him seconds ago.
“Please help us! We’re counting on you!”
“You’re our only hope!”
“Thank the heavens! You can save us all!”
As was the basic nature of weak beings, they gathered around the only one who could rescue them from an inescapable situation. Selfishness and desperation radiated in their eyes as the fee deserters begged for the young man’s help.
“I-I’ll try my best! I have never moved wood this large before, though.” He replied, stepping forward.
Perhaps he didn’t notice the fact that everyone simply wanted to use him, or he was happy with their reliance on him. Either way, the young man was determined to try his hardest to save everyone and receive the recognition he was never able to as a mob character.
Perhaps he would become a treasured member among them once they escaped. He could rise to the ranks of leadership and have everyone eternally grateful for his actions.
Indulging in his fantasies, he closed his eyes and activated his Gift. Pouring all the energy he had, the young man focused on the wooden structure in front of him. His body trembled, his hands shook violently, but he was determined to save everyone.
“I… I will… save everyone!” He gritted his teeth.
Suddenly, the gates began shifting. To everyone’s surprise and his relief, he was actually moving the gate.
“You’re doing it!”
“You’re nearly there!”
“We’re counting on you!”
The people cheered as they waited in keen anticipation for their way of escape to be completely secured.
Fortunately, Jeremy, their capturer was not focused on them at the moment. Since he was looking in the direction of Larry and Lara who decided to fight against the Demons, they could have the free opportunity to run away.
Freedom was just a step away… or so they thought!
‘Rahhhhhhhh!!!’ The young man’s mind rang.
The gate opened, creaking as the bars shifted both left and right. Before everyone knew it, their way of escape had been completely opened.
“Haa… I… I did it…?” The savior said, huffing in exhaustion.
Everyone cheered for him, acting so close and friendly with him. This was what he wanted. Finally, a mob like him obtained the recognition of everyone. Finally, he-
Suddenly, the man’s eyes caught something beyond the gate. While everyone swarmed him and hailed him as a hero, his eyes went to the open gate and what lay beyond. For a moment, it seemed he caught something.
‘T-that is-?!’ The young man’s thoughts rang.
“Let’s hurry up and get out of here before those monsters catch up!” The people said.
They all began heading for the open gate, but the young man who saved them couldn’t banish the sight he saw from his mind. The unease he felt began eating at him, and somehow his heart told him not to take a single step forward.
“W-wait, everyone!” He yelled, trying to stop the fleeing Gifteds.
They completely ignored him, once again leaving him behind. Their survival meant the most, and if he couldn’t keep up with their escape, he was as good as forgotten.
After all, they didn’t need him anymore! Still, the young man was frightened for them. If what he saw beyond the gate was real, then…
>SPLURGEEE<
Blood splattered all across the wooden gate and fence as the first to escape was killed by an unseen force.
Since it was dark, none of them could entirely see what had happened. Feeling the warm sticky blood of a comrade fall on them, everyone was stunned beyond comprehension. What had just happened?
The head of the one whose blood was now on everyone else rolled on the ground, causing everyone’s eyes to dart to it.
Suddenly, a large leg appeared and stepped on the head, crushing it entirely.
“A-ah-?!”
Everyone’s faces were lifted as they caught the monstrous sight that emerged from the gate previously thought to bring them salvation.
From the darkness came forth Hobgoblins, surging in dozens.
They had big builds, taller than the Hobgoblin Tankers. Holding weapons in one of their hands and having sharp claws on the others, the green creatures marched forward.
“U-uarghhhh!!!” A loud cry filled the air as the Hobs began to massacre everyone in sight.
They spared no on. Sending their claws out like arrows, they pierced the targets that tried to keep their distance while pounding the ones close to them with their blunt weapons.
“Close the gate! Close the-“
>SQUISH!<
In no time, the only one left standing was the young man who thought he could be more than he was.
“Hehe… Hehehe… is this… how I die? I suppose… I shouldn’t have opened the ga-“
>SPLURGE<
A claw pierced his chest from behind. It belonged to the wounded Hons who had been chasing them. At the same time, a large weapon of one of the emerging Hobs descended, crushing him into grounded meat.
Splashing on his own blood, the crushed flesh and bones of the young man fell, dead beyond recovery.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter whether or not he opened the gate. The fate in store for him was only death!
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