ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 54 - Crimson Flash

"By the way Diana..."

"Hmm?"

Gush!

"Graagh! Ge...ge..."

"Last night I kinda dumped my whole load into you without thinking. I truly apologise if you become pregnant. Just know that I will take re–"

"P-P-Pregnant!?" She squealed in surprise and cut down two more goblins who tried sneaking up on her while she was distracted.

Slash! Gush!

"Graaaaa...." Their plan failed horrendously and they died in an instant.

"Wow. A 360° no look kill. Nice."

"T-There’s nothing to worry about Rosie! I won’t get p-p-pregnant... It was my s-safe day after all."

"Really? Thank goodness. I don’t want to place an extra burden on you."

"It’s not a burden... I wouldn’t have minded." She blushed as she twisted her blade into the dead goblin’s corpse.

"Hahaha. Maybe later in the future, but definitely not now." Kurt reassured her as he wiped a blood stain off of her hair and went to check the bushes from which the goblins jumped out.

’So he’s not opposed to the idea of it? Perfect~ I should ask Wendy to prepare a future room for when the time comes. I wonder how many he wants. Not that it matters since I’ll give him however many he desires hehe~’

"Psst! Diana!" He called quietly over to her. "Come check this out! I think I’ve found the source of all these green freaks!"

She quickly skipped over and kneeled down next to him as they both looked down at this discovery.

"This is..."

Crude wooden fences were built around what looked to be a goblin camp. At the four corners of this squared camp were goblin scouts positioned in little towers. There were two goblins defending the main gate and inside were around 100 of them. Some were training with their clubs and others were either eating raw meat from who knows where, playing stupid games with each other or simply sleeping without a care in the world.

"So? What do you think?" Kurt asked her.

"Unfortunately, this is their main camp, yes." Diana narrowed her eyes as she became serious.

"Why unfortunately?"

"Do you see that cave those two hobgoblins are guarding right at the back? That’s where hell is..."

"Hobgoblins? Oh, those two? Damn, they’re big boys."

"But I don’t understand... Yes, I thought it was strange for these goblins to be on this desolate island but now I’m seeing that they have a camp? Something is not adding up here. And I fear what’s happening in that cave."

"What do you mean?"

"Goblins," She began to explain, "Are usually settled deep in forests where there is a human settlement nearby. These goblins would then attack these settlements, mostly quiet villages, and pillage them. They would kill the men, steal any valuables and kidnap the women to do... despicable things to them."

"I think I’m picking up what you’re putting down. Since there are basically no settlements on this island you find it strange that there would be any goblins here at all. I can also guess as to what they do to these women."

"Exactly, Rosie. Hehe, I like that you can understand things so quickly. Now, it’s time to clear them all out and pray the worst has not come."

"But look at how many there are. Even if we’re far stronger than them, we are still heavily outnumbered. This could take a while."

"Hmph. Give me 10 seconds. I may not be able to travel far distances yet but short distances like this is definitely doable. Don’t blink now. I’ll show you why they call me Crimson Flash."

She then stood up and posed her sword into position.

’Just what am I about to witness?’

SHWOOSH

- 1st second -

Diana moved so swiftly that it looked like she appeared behind all four goblins that stood watch on their towers and lopped off their heads.

- 2nd second -

Next, she cut through the two goblins who were guarding the front gate. The sudden impact caused their bodies to ricochet and crash through the flimsy wooden gate which alerted the rest of them.

- 3rd second -

The two hobgoblins who were guarding the cave became confused as to what was happening. As they were panicking about what to do, Diana appeared in front of one of them and pierced her sword into its mouth, which also aligned with the other hobgoblin’s, killing them both.

SHWOOSH

- 4th/7th second -

The next few goblins to die could be considered the luckiest of the bunch seeing as they all died in their sleep by Diana’s quick and merciless slices.

- 7th/9th second -

Diana appeared in the air above the last remaining goblins who had all gathered by the broken gate. While slowly descending she closed her eyes and readied her blade. Once she was close enough, she quickly teleported and blitzed through each and every goblin in that one spot. The only thing that could be seen was a crimson flash that swallowed up any and all things.

- 10th second -

She reappeared and crouched back next to Kurt with the smuggest smile she could pull off.

"Wha– but– you–"

"Don’t look away~ You’ll miss the best part." She gently turned his head back to the goblins at the gate and snapped her fingers.

SNAP

GUSSSHHHH!

The goblins all fell and died simultaneously as their blood sprayed and rained down everywhere.

’Am I living in anime?!’ Kurt was left in awe as he stared at this scene with his mouth agape.

"So, what did you think?" She asked him when she turned his head back to her."

"I-I *gulp* I have no words other than that it was awesome... You’re like a one-man army."

"Hehehe that’s because I am. Now come," she stood up again and held her hand out, "let’s get down there and search the cave."

"Yeah." He pulled himself up with her help and together they teleported down.

SHWOOSH

"Argh, this place reeks of rotten flesh mixed with piss and shit." Kurt held his nose closed as they landed near the entrance of the cave.

Diana didn’t say anything back and made her way into the cave. Kurt noticed her look of worry and fear when she walked past him, so he decided to shut his mouth and pick up a few things lying around, namely a wooden club and stone dagger, then followed her in.

As they walked deeper inside, they would occasionally come across a few sleeping goblins to which Kurt would quickly end them since the path was too narrow for Diana to use her sword. Some would also try to sneak attack them but stood no chance for either of them.

"How are you doing that, Diana?" Kurt whispered.

"Doing what?"

"Your kicks. They seem monstrous. You’re practically crushing their bones as you drive your heels through them."

"Oh that? It’s just enhancement magic. But why are you so surprised? You’ve already done it before."

"I have?"

"Yes. During our last stand off when you channeled magic in yourself to dodge my attack. Although it’s a bit strange since I still would’ve gotten you even if you used that technique."

"Ahhh. So that’s enhancement magic. Dominik mentioned I used it the first time I met him, but I didn’t know what he was talking about back then. As for how I dodged you, I think it’s thanks to my skill."

"What skill? If you don’t mind me asking. I know most people like to keep it a secret."

"I don’t mind. It’s called Ada– Wait do you hear that?"

Diana stopped walking in order to listen carefully at what Kurt was talking about.

"... I don’t hear anything."

"It’s still a bit away but I can hear the sound of heavy grunting. We should pick up the pace."

"Dammit!" She slammed her fist on the wall and ran ahead.

"Diana," Kurt called while running behind her. "Why don’t you just teleport to the base and catch whoever’s there by surprise?"

"I can only teleport to places I can vividly picture. I don’t know what their base looks like, hence no teleport."

’I see. Emelie’s magic really screwed her. It left her exhausted and in an unknown place.’

The two were nearing the end of the cave when they saw the light of a fire casting a shadow on the wall of a hobgoblin moving and grunting erratically.

’Those movements... oh no...’ Kurt feared that the worst had indeed happened.

When the two of them peeked around the bend, they saw a gruesome sight that would make anyone wish they’d rather end their own life than witness this.

Five hobgoblins. Three were raping women who’d long since lost their voices and the other two were sitting around a bonfire drinking what looked to be alcohol from a wooden jug.

There were two cages sitting in the corner of the cave. One was filled with dead bodies and broken off limbs while the other was filled with pregnant and malnourished women who looked like they’d given up on life.

Diana, who stared in absolute disbelief and a tear running down her face was about to teleport in and swiftly kill all five of them. And this time she had the space to do it.

But before she could, she turned around and noticed that Kurt was missing from her side. When she realised he was nowhere to be seen she looked back at the hobgoblins and saw that he was standing right next to one of them.

’Rosie?’

"Hey." Kurt tapped the hobgoblin on his side.

"Groah?"

"You won’t be needing this, right?" He pointed his stone dagger towards its dick.

"GRAAAH!!" The hobgoblin dropped the woman on the ground with a sickening wet thud and reached for its wooden club, but it was too late.

Slash! Thud! Gusshhh!

Its dick had been brutally cut off. When hobgoblin fell to the floor, Kurt used this chance to end it and slit its throat.

When it died, he then turned and called to the rest of the hobgoblins with the empty look of death.

"Next."