NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: And then there were four
The two goblins, bound and struggling, were secured to a nearby tree by their wrists and ankles. Bell stood over them, a deep breath filling her chest as she steadied her hands on the speargun, her knuckles tight around the trigger. The weapon was an awkward thing, with a rubberised handle and a crude design — she still needed Kai or Zane to load it for her — but it was hers. And she was ready to use it.
The goblins hissed and snarled at her, their green faces twisted with rage. One of them made an attempt to lunge, but the restraints held it back. The other, eyes wide with terror, shifted its weight from side to side, doing its best to avoid the inevitable.
"C'mon then," Bell muttered, steadying herself. "You're not going anywhere."
Her heart raced. Her hands shook, but her resolve didn't waver. She had faced worse in her life than the hissing, spitting little monsters. Cancer. Pain. The fear of not being here. None of that had kept her from fighting. And now, these goblins — in all their pathetic squirming — weren't about to stop her, either.
With a swift motion, she raised the speargun, lining it up with the first goblin's chest. The tension in her muscles was unbearable. Her finger hovered over the trigger for a heartbeat—then she squeezed.
The spear shot out, the string humming through the air with deadly precision. The goblin let out a strangled, surprised shriek as the barbed end lodged deep in its chest. The impact slammed it back against the tree, the restraints holding it in place as it flailed.
Bell didn't hesitate. She handed the empty speargun to Zane, who pulled back the thick rubber and locked it in place, then loaded a second barbed spear. He passed it back. Bell hadn't taken her eyes off the remaining goblin.
She lined up the shot and pulled the trigger again. The second spear launched forward, slamming into the goblin's chest. Its body jolted violently against the ropes.
For a long moment, the clearing was silent except for the faint hum of the string and the rasping breaths of the dying creatures. Bell's eyes never left them.
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The first goblin made one last attempt to free itself, but the ropes and cable ties held tight. With a final gurgling scream, it collapsed forward.
Then silence again.
The goblins were dead — not dissolved. Not yet. But dead all the same.
Bell stood tall, staring down at their lifeless forms. She didn't smile. She didn't flinch. But something had shifted inside her. She had done it — not out of confusion or blind hope, but with a clear mind.
Her gaze shifted to the others. Zane, Tarni, and Kai stood just behind her. Kai was tense, crouched on the balls of his feet, a machete raised and ready to leap in if anything went wrong. Tarni was trying to light a smoke. Zane was watching her, waiting for something — an expression, a reaction.
Bell just gave them a small nod.
Ding!
Isabelle Rider
Level up!
Extra XP applied for Title
2nd to last . . . it's better than last, trust me
level 1.
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 8
Constitution: 2
Intelligence: 7
Wisdom: 7
Charisma: 9
You have 3 XP points. Please select stats to increase
"I levelled up!" Bell practically shouted.
In a calmer voice, she added, "I've got 3 XP to spend. I think I should put all of them into Constitution, right?"
All three men answered at once:
"Yes!"
"Bloody oath."
"That would be best."
With a grin, Bell reached up and tapped the little plus next to Constitution.
She felt it immediately — more solid, more alive.
And, surprisingly... a whole lot hungrier.
The goblins had dissolved, and Tarni had already recovered all the rope and cable ties. Zane pulled the spears from the tree, reloaded the speargun, and handed it back to Bell, who felt slightly unsafe without it either in her hands or within reach.
They made their way back to the house, all of them talking happily. They were together, and they were all healthy. Just one thing left to do — get Lily into the System.
Then everything would be fine.
Or so they thought.