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Chapter 173: Winter Eternal (5)

"Kek!" The blue-black goblins grinned as they closed in on the distance between the group in a quick manner. 

"A-Ack... These guys are coming in fast," Raina uttered out in a rushed voice. "What do we do? With our movement speed heavily decreased and our stamina rapidly decreasing as well... This is..."

"Ahh! Are we supposed to fight them?!" Frey cried out. "We're supposed to fight these demon looking people?!"

"U-Ugh... I don't think we can hold it up against them..." Erith clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I reckon they're more levelled than even the ones we struggle against..."

"They're coming closer! Ahh! Is this the end?!" Yer shouted out as he attempted to run to his limits. However, after a few seconds of running, he had only ran about a short distance whilst the goblins closed in twice that amount.

"Kikii!" The goblins laughed in a sinister tone as they began swinging their swords over to the rushing group, quickly sending dark shadow-like arcs over to them.

"Kek..." Meanwhile, from behind the goblins, the cloaked mages chanted out a spell as they soon sent out countless amounts of string over to Shinto's groupIn turn, the strings latched onto the arms of the party members and restrained them.

"Hah... This is annoying," Ethaniel frowned at the sight of his struggling companions, noting that they were unable to dodge the simplistic attacks of the goblins. Thus, with his foot stepping forward, he swung his sword within his hand over towards the countless strings attached to their arms and released them from the goblin mages' grasp. "Bah... Whatever! Hey, you guys go on ahead whilst I distract these guys."

"D-Distract them?!" Yer's eyes shook upon hearing Ethaniel's statement. "You're at the same level as the rest of your party members! What can you do?!"

"Just go on ahead," Shinto calmly replied. "Since Ethaniel and I aren't affected by the movement speed curse from the mages, we'll distract them while you make a run for it."

"Y-You're immune to the whatchamacallit curse?" Frey raised her brow. "Wait... That's not important! Are you asking for a death wish?! Surely not, right?!"

"No, we're not asking for a death wish," Shinto stated. "Just go! I'll guarantee we'll make it out in one peace."

"U-Ugh... If it comes to that, then I'll join in on the fight!" Frey uttered out. "You can't go two against seven of those! You said it yourselves!"

"Frey, remember what I said about us having a few powerhouses on our side?" Shinto reaffirmed Frey. "Just trust us and go."

"You said it yourselves. We've got a few powerhouses on your side," Raina stated. "So all the more reason for us to help, right?"

"..." Shinto slightly thought to himself as he soon shook his head. "No. It's better if you leave now, since... I'm not even sure if this person can best out the goblins at his level. So, this is more of a temporary measure to avoid casualties than anything else."

With Kiara having returned to the Shadow Realm and Kon who was still on summon cooldown, the only one that Shinto could summon now was [ Black Bird's Darkness ].

However, with his estimations that Kiara was above the levels of the bats, but on equal terms with the goblins who she had secretly fought against in the fields Shinto had come to the conclusion that the blue-black goblins who were were above the levels of the regular enemies couldn't be soloed by Kiara. Even with the help of Shinto and Ethaniel, it wasn't enough to create a balance in terms of equal footing.

Thus, if Shinto were to call for the [ Black Bird's Darkness ] who he estimated to be around the same power level as Kiara, it wouldn't be enough to kill the goblins. So, in the end, it still came to running away.

"I see..." Raina nodded her head as she turned to Frey. "If you put it that way.... Then, let's go. We've got to hurry."

"Urk... But..." Frey muttered out, however, Raina had already held onto Frey's hand and began pulling her away from the group.

"You guys just hurry it up already and let us do our work!" Ethaniel clicked his tongue. "Any longer and no one survives!"

"Kikk..." The goblins who were in front of Ethaniel and Shinto smirked as they finally closed in on the distance between them. In the next moment, they leapt forward as they swung their swords over to Ethaniel.

"Ugh..." In reaction, Ethaniel hurriedly pitched his blade against the goblin's whilst activating his parry skill: [ Judgement Counter ]. "Hurry up you guys! Just start freaking running will you?!"

"Mmm..." Frey bit her lips as she helplessly turned away from the fight that was about to happen. Slowly but steadily, they began to make their way out into the distance.

"Hah..." Letting out a sigh of relief as they finally left the area, Shinto soon nodded his head as he turned towards his skill list. "Black Bird's Darkness... I hope this is enough of a stall."

At first, Shinto was reluctant to summon him as he wanted to save him for another situation. But, things took a turn for the worst as the curse affected his party members. Thus, with deep breathsShinto began to murmur out a chant and casted the skill [ Shadow Recreation ].

In the next moment, he began to receive a bombardment of notifications.

[ Shadow Recreation is shaking! ]

[ Shadow Recreation is shaking! ]

[ The spell 'Shadow Recreation' has been used! ]

[ You have called out to 'Black Bird's Darkness' ]

[ ... ]

[ They have heeded your call. ]

[ A condition for the quest "Return - Shadows of the Shadow Realm" has been fulfilled! ]

[ The skill 'Shadow Recreation' is starting to regain its potential. ]

[ You have gained 1 Shadow Point. ]

...

Upon the calling of the 'Black Bird's Darkness', the atmosphere around Shinto and Ethaniel began to dim as if the night had fallen.

"Hah..." Gritting his teeth as he continuously countered against the goblins who were recklessly swinging their weapons at Ethanielhis attention was soon caught by the sudden darkness around him. "...huh? What the?!"

His brows raised in confusion at the sight around him. It was as if he was within Shinto's [ Shadow Field ] skill. However, it was as if he wasn't at the same time.

"...I'm afraid this situation is far beyond what I can handle as well," a voice protruded out into the darkness. "I apologize in advance, master. But, I can only hope to stall them whilst your companions reach a far enough distance."

"It's fine," a familiar male's voice protruded out from the distance. "I wasn't counting on us being able to defeat these guys anyway, though... Do try whatever you can to help us."

"Of course."

"...?" His confusion grew upon hearing the voices from the shadow. But, as soon as the conversation had ended, Ethaniel heard a loud clear voice as the darkness around him dissipated.

"Kikk!" The goblins who had taken the opportunity upon themselves to strike at Ethaniel who had lost focus quickly swung their weapons with all their might against the human in front of them. However, before they could've done so, a figure of a shadow, reminiscence to that of a blackbird flew past the goblinsswiftly pushing them back.

"Ethaniel, don't get distracted. Although it's my duty to keep everyone alive, I do not want slackers," a voice came from the blackbird. "We'll fight for three before we make a run for it. You can do that, right?"

"...what?" Ethaniel's confusion grew as he noted that a blackbird was flying in front of him. Within his eyes, it seemed to be that or a crow or raven. But, he couldn't tell. "Is this the powerhouse you were talking about?" With the sudden darkness from earlier still being unsolved, he hurriedly pushed the thought aside as he gripped his sword once again.

"Yes, it is," Shinto nodded his head. "But... He isn't enough to defeat the goblins. So we'll stall for three minutes before we make a run for it. It should be doable, right?"

"Ahem... Three minutes is all that we need?" calming himself, Ethaniel took a deep breath as he focused his mind. "Then obviously we can survive for that long."

"Kikkk!" The goblins grinned at the sight of new prey in front of them. "Kek!" With their arms raised into the air, they began to protrude out a cloud of black smoke from their weapons.

[ The curse of weakness has prevailed within the area! ]

[ All those who enters the cursed field will have their strength and mind lowered by 20%! ]

[ You have resisted. ]

"Kikkk?!" The goblin's eyes widened upon the sight of the group, as well as the blackbird not showing any signs of weakening. "Kikk!"

"Curses... Well, that's the only thing that they are known for, however, lucky for me, I've come prepared," the blackbird uttered out as he swiftly flew out of the black smoke. In the next moment, he protruded out a fog of shadow around the cloaked mages.

"Kek?!" The goblins at the backlines slightly shook upon the impact of the fog around them. Without them noticing, it was as if their spells had dwindled in power.

"...hmm, Master. I might take back my words," the blackbird stated. "Maybe we can defeat them. However... It would take quite a long time with our damage."