Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game
Chapter 68: Ch66. In the middle of the night

Chapter 68: Ch66. In the middle of the night

The night air was cold against Diego’s skin as he stepped out of the Seers’ headquarters, the weight of Nadia’s words pressing on his chest like a vice. He had expected cryptic nonsense, half-answers, maybe even an ominous warning, but not this.

Not outright refusal. Not fear.

His hands curled into fists as he stormed down the empty streets, his mind racing. What have you allied yourself with, boy? The question replayed in his head like a curse, each repetition making his pulse quicken. Whatever she had seen, it had shaken her, and that alone told him more than she had intended.

But why?

’What is Miles becoming?’ Diego thought as he suddenly froze.

He looked around, and only then noticed what time it was, with the street lights that still worked casting eerie shadows that assumed a greenish hue, thanks to the holographic display atop of the two main buildings in the square. The words [Safe Zone] casting fear in the hearts of anyone outside of their walls.

It was time to hide, before anything nightly found him.

Something felt different, though.

Diego did not know if it were the rings [Skyborn Finch] he carried inside the box in his pocket or what, but it was almost as though he was able to perceive the movement of the shadows, the strange, yet faint smell of rotten flesh and burned skin that came from somewhere not too far away.

It was as if his instincts were telling him something, even though Diego could not put his finger on it.

Then, he felt it.

’Damn it!’ He crouched behind a pile of rubble even before he could hear the noise.

The faint, muffled tapping of wood on the cracked asphalt. He knew that sound, and it sent shivers down his spine.

’[Fallen Puppets]...’ He bit his lower lip, trying to not make the slightest sound.

One second, two, three, then a couple more seconds passed. With his heart beating so loud in his chest that Diego feared being heard by the monsters, he bit harder on his lower lip, feeling the metallic taste of blood permeate his tongue. A couple seconds later, though, the [Fallen Puppets] left, as if there was nothing there for them to feast upon, and Diego could finally leave his hiding spot, his hands shaking with the memories of his first encounter with them.

However, as soon as he stepped out from behind the rubble, he heard it – the crunching beneath soles, the screeching growls of small creatures.

’Damn it!’ the taste of blood in his tongue did not matter anymore. Only the crawling of his skin, and the reddish glow of countless eyes, watching from the dark corners and alleys, as if they had been waiting for him to show up, out in the open.

[Goblin Foot Soldier – Level 09]

Diego could see the names and levels all around him, and when he looked at a closer alley, drowned in darkness and filled with glowing eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

[Goblin Shaman – Level 28]

[Goblin Centurion – Level 32]

And just like the [Goblin Foot Soldiers], the Centurions and Shamans were not in small number.

Diego gritted his teeth and summoned his [Twin Daggers], the cool weight of the weapons grounding him despite the rising panic in his chest. His grip tightened around the hilts as he instinctively slid into a defensive stance. He had faced these creatures before. Weak, expendable, predictable.

If he could carve through them quickly, he might have a chance to slip away before the stronger ones intervened.

The first goblin lunged, its rusted blade flashing toward Diego’s ribs. He sidestepped smoothly, twisting his torso just enough for the blade to miss before driving his dagger into the creature’s exposed neck, just like he had seen Miles do and had tested himself, back in Wonderland. A sickening gurgle filled the air as he wrenched the blade free, sending the goblin collapsing to the ground in a heap.

[You have slain Goblin Foot Soldier – Level 09]

[You have received 100 EXP]

’It works!’ Diego celebrated inwardly. ’They do have a weak spot!’

Another goblin shrieked and charged, swinging wildly. Diego ducked beneath the reckless strike, pivoting sharply before slicing his second dagger clean across the creature’s throat.

[You have slain Goblin Foot Soldier – Level 09]

[You have received 100 EXP]

More of them came, their numbers thinning as Diego danced between them, his daggers glinting in the eerie moonlight. His movements were fluid, each kill clean and precise. He could do this. He could cut them all down and-

A sudden wave of suffocating heat surged from his left, and Diego barely had time to register the blazing energy before the explosion hit with a loud boom.

He crashed against the cracked asphalt, his vision momentarily spinning. The acrid scent of burnt fabric filled his nose as he rolled onto his side, gasping for air. His jacket was singed, the impact of the fireball leaving his skin raw and burning.

He barely had a moment to recover before another goblin was on him. A [Goblin Centurion], this time, far larger than its foot soldier counterparts, its rusted halberd gleaming with killing power.

Diego raised his daggers instinctively, crossing them just in time to catch the downward strike.

A sharp, splintering crack filled the air as the sheer force of the attack sent vibrations through his arms, nearly knocking the weapons from his grip.

[The durability of – Twin Daggers – is reduced by 10%]

Diego’s muscles screamed in protest as he forced the goblin back, breaking the deadlock just long enough to reposition himself. He sucked in a sharp breath, trying to ignore the tremble in his hands.

’No... I can’t die here. Not yet. Not before I give big bro his ring. Not before I prove that I can still be useful to him!’ Diego’s heart beat faster as he growled and pushed forward, ducking low beneath the Centurion’s follow-up strike. His daggers lashed out, carving deep into the goblin’s unprotected side, drawing thick, black blood.

The creature roared, stumbling backward. Diego pressed the advantage, weaving around its slower, cumbersome attacks, slicing through tendons and weak spots with relentless precision. Finally, with a final plunge of his blade into the Centurion’s exposed neck as it fell onto its knees, the goblin let out a strangled gasp and fell.

[You have slain Goblin Centurion – Level 32]

[You have received 1,800 EXP]

[You leveled up]

He barely had time to revel in his victory before an ear-piercing shriek echoed through the night. The [Goblin Shamans] had gathered at the edges of the battlefield, their gnarled staffs raised high as crackling arcs of electricity pulsed through the air.

Diego’s eyes widened.

’Shit-’ The attack hit before he could react.

His body convulsed violently as electricity surged through him, sending him crashing to the ground. His vision blurred, his limbs twitching uncontrollably as searing pain coursed through his nerves.

A shadow loomed over him.

Diego barely managed to lift his gaze before a heavy, clawed foot slammed into his chest, pinning him against the cold, unforgiving ground. A Centurion stood above him, its grotesque, twisted grin filled with malice. It raised its halberd high, the blade gleaming menacingly in the dim light.

’Move... I have to move-’ But his body wouldn’t listen. The pain was too much. His stamina too drained. His consciousness was slipping.

He closed his eyes shut, waiting for the final blow, and when it came, everything went black.