Tower of Paradise

Chapter 30: Fear

The falling axe and my rising and spinning spear clashed violently in the air.

Metallic sound!

The deafening metallic screech bounced throughout the room.

The axe couldn't descend further and my spear couldn't deflect it. However, something had changed compared to before.

Kiik, Kiiiik...!

Sparks flew when the axe blade and bone handle clashed against each other. Soon a brief contest of strength broke out, where I suffered the worst part of the hobgoblin's attack.

The monster's great power, enhanced by its fall, dissipated quickly. However, my energy sprouted constantly like a bottomless spring and complemented my physical strength.

I successfully pushed back the axe and quickly took advantage of the opening that had been created; when a great attack failed to connect, the resulting exposed gap would be equally large.

The hobgoblin fell from the air after losing balance, and I quickly drove the spear toward one of its eyes. No, I only tried to do it.

At that moment... The hobgoblin's body shone with a strange crimson tone, my eyes trembled upon realizing: it was strengthening its body with stellar energy.

Suddenly, I felt "something" and from below, the hobgoblin's fist wrapped in a crimson tone painted an arc when it hit my abdomen.

The impact was followed by a sonic explosion when my vision shook. The air inside my body was forced out and when I still had to comprehend the situation, my body flew backward like a cannonball.

Based on the act of jumping backward immediately, the force that attacked me was reduced by half. It was impossible to want to completely cancel that blow. If I hadn't reacted in time, I would most likely have had a fist through my stomach.

In a state where I was about to burst into tears due to the incredible pain I felt, my back hit the room's wall.

The gaze emitted from the edge of my vision made my neck contract abruptly.

My teeth began to shake, my eyes began to tremble and slowly became wet.

I was afraid. Indeed, I was very scared. It was painful, it hurt, it was unbearable.

However, more than anything else, I was afraid. To the extent that I couldn't get up again.

I could clearly hear the sounds of him approaching. The hair on my body stood up to the maximum while the Hobgoblin approached calmly.

I felt like I was going crazy. I felt like I was about to collapse, perhaps ending like this would be easier.

At that moment, floating at the edge of nothingness, I realized I was about to die.

I had to fight against the fog that permeated my mind, slowing my thoughts and shutting off all emotions.

Everything except fear.

Although my body was shattered and my mind paralyzed, a stubborn part of me still refused to give up. I wasn't ready to die. At least not without giving everything to survive.

But... how was I supposed to survive? No matter how I looked at it, the situation seemed desperate.

The sound of my heartbeat began to race. The color of things within my field of vision was restored. The warm colors burned.

If I don't lift myself here...

If I don't overcome myself here...

When am I going to do it?