" Oh my God finally! I see the checkpoint, it's just ahead!" Dorian let out happily to his companions behind.

  " Good job guys, we're almost there. Looks like we should use this last hour to rest up and stop here for today. Are you guys playing tomorrow? We should add each other." Jack said as the group now leisurely pressed forward. With the torch light in hand in front of them, no more than a hundred yards down the path they could see the blue flame torches on the walls and the stone circle which signified a checkpoint. A small safe rest stop that would save their progress.

  " I can't believe we made it to the second checkpoint in our time window, the bats, the spiders and the slimes really aren't that difficult when we work together. Also Jack, your blade rush skill is so cool!" Sadura said, bumping his shoulder.

  "I'd be totally interested in partying up. Buff_D is my username." Dorian said, now blushing and inwardly scolding himself.

  Jack let out a simple chuckle. " Yeah, add me Captain Jack Pharaoh all one word.... The name I wanted was chosen alright!"

  Dorian and Sadura let out another boastful laugh. " SadJewel.. is mine.." Sadura said.

  The trio fell silent. " Well anyways it sucks we lost two of our party members but it seems like we're gonna be fine. When we re-queue tomorrow we can party up before hand and since they're dead we will get fills of others who made it to checkpoint two." Jack said, trying to cheer up the silent atmosphere.

  " I still can't believe there's even goblins on this floor, how did you know they would take a trade?" Dorian said.

  " Honestly I didn't, but they had clothes on which meant they were smart enough.. a mage with no magic seemed like a good deal no? It's the first level surely we had to understand the sacrifices would need to be made. I'm glad we all saw eye to eye" Jack said indifferently with a shrug.

  Sadura bit her lip and just looked behind her. Trying to forget the screams of Reilly as the goblins dragged her away after Jack pushed her in front of them and made a hand gesture deal for passage. The trio then reached the center of the checkpoint and the torches changed from a blue tint to red. The three of them then sat down and went over the spoils they had.

  .... An hour earlier elsewhere.....

  Lance had been running for some distance. Almost out of breath he finally came to another large cavernous section of the level. " Phew..."

  Out in the distance in front of him he saw torch light and in front of it he noticed the silhouette of Reilly stepping towards him, for a second he was about to call out to her but then noticed that behind her were three goblins, and she had her head down sobbing. Lance turned to leave on instinct then he paused. He could hear Reilly's muffled sobbing, his heart dropped to his stomach.

  He turned back. "Shit. I'm no hero..... But I'm not like them!"

  Lance eyed them in the distance. He had to think fast they were just a minute away from him. The issue he felt in his heart was that not more than the same distance behind him was the caved area where their vile nest was. Seeing that Reilly was alone he could only imagine that the others were dead creating a rather ominous level of strength the goblins could possess. Lance knew he had to fight to the death if he dared save her. He didn't want to think about if he failed. If anything he would take her out with him.

  " Quick think think.... What do I know... shit weapons, bad gear... clumsy..." Lance then had a brilliant thought. " Combat log!" He quickly went through his menu and checked on the previous few inserts.

  "Stone - CRITICAL HIT 999 damage. Goblin -989/10"

  His mouth fell open. " The fucking stone did what?? " Lance quickly looked above him, staring at the stones in fear, noticing there was hardly a square inch where death was not looming over him. He shuddered. " Ten health each.. I have to do thirty damage... Okay uhmm... what else... THE TORCH!" He screamed in his mind.. " They are blind in the darkness....Hehehe *cough* I've been molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a really bad chef. Now how do I put it out.... I guess I can smack it."

  Lance quickly wrote something in the dirt and then hid behind a speleothem just wide enough to hide himself. The benefit of his rather thin stature helped. He set his bag down and grabbed out the axe. In his right hand he held his pan and the other the axe. Ready to fight Lance took a few deep breaths awaiting the group to get near him. He could hear the footsteps approaching his heart beating ever faster. Soon they came to just the other side of him and stopped. His stomach fell into his ass and he gritted his teeth and twirled around the rock.

  Standing in front of him Reilly stood silent staring at the ground where in a scar of dirt the word "Stop" was scratched. Lance, glanced at the three goblins, his eyes pinned at the one holding the torch. In its other hand a small dagger, while the other two held spears. They all had a mixed amount of clothing. The two at the rear turned and looked at Lance as he stepped in front of them, the other his dagger near the backside of Reilly. In a matter of a second Reilly looked over at Lance meanwhile the two at the rear stepped forward to stab him with their spears. Lance had already lunged forward and with his momentum threw out a leg towards the torch wielding goblin. Kicking him over onto the ground. To his left Lance had barely dodged a spear but unfortunately the other stuck him right in the side.

  - 5 health

  Lance gritted his teeth and chopped down with the axe chopping the spear in half

  -2 health

  Lance almost broke into tears but continued on. With his next step forward he kicked with his other leg, kicking the torch into the distance. The sound of the air breaking as the torch flew off gave him a good sense of relief. The light rotated to a fro until it passed a wall of stalagtites, Lance’s smirk was the last thing Reilly saw before her vision went black.

  In the first few seconds Lance almost failed, he was at almost half health. Looking on at the goblins now blinking and looking aimlessly he smiled. "Perfect." The next moment he grimaced. The goblins closed their eyes and began to sniff, stabbing at the air in front of him. Lance looked over at the goblin who was now trying to stand up. With a quick chop into its skull it was dead, the sounds of its little squeal alerted its company to his position. Unfortunately the axe got lodged in the goblin's skull, forcing Lance to let it go or be speared again. The goblins began yelling at him in anger. Lance stood next to Reilly he stretched his arm back and walked her back a few steps and grabbed his knife from his pocket. A quick slice of the bindings he gently nudged her over to the side and whispered a shh at her to stay quiet, palming the dagger in her hand.

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  Lance was slowly getting approached by the goblins up the narrow pathway. The continued stabbings that seemed to follow him hurt his pride, he thought it would be quick to deal with them once the light was gone but they could smell him too well. "Why?" he wondered. Noticing that they had passed Reilly he understood. "The blood" Lance reached to his side and felt the cold section of his body. Now noticing the severity of it, the pain came back to him but taking a hand smear amount of blood he flicked his wrist at them splattering them just barely in the face. After noticing the footwork of the two become less coordinated he bit down his resolve. He took a page out of Jack's book and stepped to the side and jumped off a stalagmite and smashed the pan into the head of the goblin who had stabbed him. It tumbled to the floor, not dead but clearly dazed and unable to gain its balance. The other goblin lunged at him. Lance twisted and narrowly dodged the spear from hitting him square in the chest, however it hit him directly in the bicep of his left arm.

  -4 health.

  Lance winced but before the goblin could remove his spear he grabbed it with his left hand and smashed at the goblins hands. Removing its weapon the goblin clearly grew surprised. Lance's brow furrowed with the pain he felt spurring his anger.

  "Pan Sear!"

  Lances pan began to glow red hot, the goblin looked at it confused, and with as much strength as he could muster swung his pan hitting the goblin square in the side of its head. As the pan flashed its arc the skin it touched on the underside of the pan stuck ripping the face of the goblin off with a meaty, sizzle, ripping tear. The goblin stood there for a second and then screamed in terror, Lance brought the pan back knocking it out. He stepped over to the other goblin who was concussed. With a few smacks he caved in the top of its head.

  Lance's breath was ragged; he was now down to 5 health from the bleeding. He took the pan and pressed it to his side briefly cauterizing his stomach wound. He then pulled the spear from his arm and cauterized his arm wound.

  -2 health.

  Lance stepped forward to Reilly. Being in pain and close to death he simply asked her for one favor. " I need healing. Follow me. " He then reached forward with his barely usable left arm and grabbed her hand. The blood on it was running cold and when Reilly felt it her eyes welled with tears yet again.

  " L…Lance is that really you?..." her squeaking voice trembling as she followed him.

  Lance simply walked behind the stone formation and grabbed his bag. He put his pan down now, losing its heat. A weird crunchy sound was made as he placed it down " Ah the face" he thought. Lance looked at Reilly whom obviously couldn't see and threw in the remainder of his cooking materials. Cooking for both of them would required a bit more and he could tell she was blind as a bat. She couldn't see and the torchlight was a sure fire way to bring enemies.

  After tossing all the ingredients in and making a Cave Spider salad with Slime dressing. There was a large mound of food in his pan. Even though eating so recently he wouldn't feel hunger, he knew he'd need to stuff himself once again. The same Dishwasher tier was given but it didn't matter he wanted mana and to be full again, and as much as he didn't want to admit it the moss was much more filling when it wasn't cooked. Lance began to eat but then stopped and grabbed Reilly's hand. With a mouthful of food he said " Here's the pan, I made some Cave Salad. It will help you see in the darkness. Trust me it's not that bad."

  Whether or not Reilly was mentally okay was not really the biggest concern for Lance, She was in a shallow breathing pant and sniffle. The kind children get after a tiresome tantrum. He wondered the extent to which this would affect her but the only thing he could do now after saving her was to give her sight. She didn't say anything but followed his hand to the pan and grabbed into it. Bringing it to her mouth Lance noticed she smelled it and was going to put it back but he quickly pushed her hand into her mouth. At first she struggled with its texture but as the flavors hit her palette she seemed to enjoy it. Lance was happy the effects would only really take effect after she had eaten a good portion or he was sure to give her a fright. As they ate a few minutes passed and then Reilly broke the silence.

  " Eh.. huh what? Mana and Dark vision buff?" At this point she looked over at Lance. Bloodied arm and side aside, he looked completely different then she last remembered. The clothes looked different, sure but the solemn face he wore made him look more mature than she could recall. Lance was obviously still very hurt so Reilly quickly asked him " Where's my staff? I'll cast bliss. I'm so sorry thank you.." Lance cut her off mid sentence.

  " No, don't. I'll be fine, I just need some time. We need to gather their bodies and things and move on. How far away is the checkpoint?"

  " Uhh I I don't really know.. it was like right after we climbed up the wall where the slimes were. Like maybe ten minutes away from that?.. So… far.. But if we can see.. actually no I don't think we can make it. Are you really sure you don't need anything?" Reilly couldn't help but see him struggling, she had eaten her fill but Lance had made so much, he continued to gobble food down. " Also I really tried to get them to go back for you. I'm sorry.. they wouldn't listen.."

  " It's not your fault.. The fact that I let a spider scare me to almost death is my own. To be honest I thought to myself that I was done for. Also I totally hated you guys for ditching me but seeing since they got what they deserved and well… I’ll get past it, I'd say we're even. One thing being alone taught me is that none of us knew what we were doing from the moment we got here. Not fully anyway. I'm completely lost, but I think I found a direction through this madness."

  " Oh.. Uhm. Yeah okay that's definitely true.. But also. They didn't just leave you.. They also gave me to the goblin's."

  Lance looked over at her with a deep long stare. With a clenched jaw full of contempt. " They. What." Lance squeezed his fist to a white knuckle. "Explain."

  Reilly could feel the scorn in his gaze. She took a deep breath and recalled what happened with intermittent trembling in her voice. " We had continued down the path after the first check point. We found a crate of supplies at the checkpoint with stuff in it, more torches, water, bread. We continued our way by torch light after a quick rest. Anyways we fought a bunch of spiders and bats... like I don't maybe ten or so of them. The spiders were big and furry like tarantula's but dumb and afraid of the fire. After all those fights I could tell they weren't happy with me because well.. I didn't really help all that much. I have a staff, it's not really anything to harm them with. So I would use my bliss to heal them and then I ran out of mana. So we had to stop so I could meditate, and that happened a few times.. They weren't really all that happy with my pace and I knew that, but I was doing my best. Eventually we made it to this small pond so everyone took a break and drank some water but then out of nowhere those three goblins came up behind us and had Sadura and Dorian off guard with their weapons and bags down. Jack... Jack then grabbed me and made a deal with them to trade me for those two... I was just trying to meditate for mana.... and then they took me and we walked for a long time."

  Lance was going to stop her sooner but it seemed like she needed to get it off her chest. He could almost guess it halfway through. The worst bit of it was that he almost liked Jack. Even now it was hard to be mad at him, it almost made sense that the trade of Reilly for the others would improve chances of survival. But that was the only path a coward would see.. Perhaps even Lance before all of this. He knew why he got left to die, he was dead weight. And at that point in time for them he could see Reilly was as well. But to not fight.. Lance grimaced. Then he spoke. "They made their choices, and you could find a lot of people like them Reilly. You probably will. This may be a game, but it's so real.. it's so.. primal. You're gonna run into the hardest choices and the shittiest of situations. No one is going to carry around dead weight. We had to learn the hard way. But trust me they will have their turn. Let's walk and talk, we gotta move." Lance felt silly talking to her like a child, she was likely older than him.

  Lance got up and gathered his belongings. The few minutes had bought him a little health but time was wearing thin.

  Time remaining 1:54