Chapter 6: Choices

The orcs who were about to beat Desmond instantly froze for a split second when they saw their leader being held hostage. When Tristan saw they were about to charge towards him, he immediately pushed the sword in his hand closer to the goblin's neck, until it could feel something pricking its skin.

Feeling the sharp object, the white haired goblin leader frantically shouted at the orcs, using a strange language that Tristan did not understand. Hearing the goblin's panicked orders, the orcs hesitated for a split second, before finally stopping their attack.

When the situation seemed to be under Tristan's control, Desmond then slowly got up from the ground.

"Good work, Tristan." said Desmond with a slight pain in his voice.

Desmond walked out of the now barely visible black smoke, letting Tristan see the man clearly. However, he could see blood flowing from the man's shoulder. "Are you okay?" asked Tristan.

"It's alright." Desmond calmly replied. But Tristan could tell that the man's expression showed the exact opposite of what he was saying.

When he was trying to think of a way to ease Desmond's pain, Tristan felt the goblin leader's body he was holding onto violently shaking. To his surprise, Tristan could hear laughter escaping from the goblin's mouth.

"You foolish humans." said the goblin leader with a chuckle. "You two are captured and detained in this place. What do you think you can do here?"

It then turned its head slowly, looking Tristan out of the corner of its eye. "Let me go and I will forget what you just did."

Desmond limped over to them. "Don't listen to him, Tristan. That was a High tier Reunite Sword. I am sure that goblin knows he is in deep trouble right now. He's just trying to act tough." scoffed Desmond.

The goblin then replied with scorn "Huh! Even if you dared to kill me, the two of you won't be able to escape from this place."

Desmond walked over to the devices in the room, while casting his gaze around. "That's not exactly true," said Desmond, as he ran his finger across a piece of equipment. "I just need some time to figure the way out."

"Is that 'time' before or after you bleed to death from your wounds?" asked the goblin with a tone of mockery.

This time, Desmond didn't reply to its words and continued to inspect the equipment. Seeing that, the goblin continued to say.

"With the current rate of blood flowing out of your wounds, I can tell you only have an hour at most, before you lose consciousness."

Hearing this Tristan could not help but shoot a worried look at Desmond. Feeling Tristan's gaze on his back, Desmond turned his body around and saw Tristan's concerned gaze. "Don't worry about me, Tristan. I'll be fine." he said, smiling faintly.

The goblin laughed loudly "Ha ha ha! You both don't know what you're going to miss." the goblin said as he stared at a tube filled with blood with a body floating inside. He then shook his head while sighing. "It is truly a shame."

"After dozens of years of research, I have finally found the perfect vessel, the Blood Elf's body. Why do the two of you refuse a gift like that?" asked the goblin, a tone of ridicule in its voice.

The goblin then turned its head towards Tristan who was still keeping his sword near its neck.

"Hey, listen, young human. You look like a smart person, so you don't have to listen to what he says." said the goblin, trying to persuade Tristan. "Listen to me and you will not regret it."

Just when Tristan was about to chastise the goblin to stop it from talking, Desmond cursed loudly, "Damnit!"

Desmond quickly turned around and stared at the white haired goblin with a gaze filled with anger.

"You fucker! How were you able to transport us so far away? We are so far deep!"

"What does it mean?" asked Tristan, confused.

"It means… it would be very unlikely for anyone to find us. Therefore, we have to find a way to get out of this planet ourselves."

The goblins immediately laughed as if mocking the two humans' futile attempt to escape. "kekekeke! As I said, there is nothing you can do but submit to me." said the goblin smugly. "So, just drop your sword and submit! I promise you both that I will not kill you. After all, I need you for my experiment."

"Don't listen to him, Tristan. Keep him tight and let's get out of this hell hole. We will have a much better chance of survival outside." said Desmond.

The goblin looked at Desmond for a moment before starting to laugh again. "That man is so badly injured that he can't get out without your help. It looks like the decision is in your hands."

With the blade still on the goblin neck, Tristan remembered about the day he went to the prison. The time where making the wrong choice inside a high security prison with a violent inmate could easily lead to death.

He currently had a decision to make, helping Desmond escape or taking his chances with the goblin. It appeared to be an easy choice, but at the moment it wasn't his life he was worried about.

"I don't care about what will happen to me. But, what about my sister?" asked Tristan.

Desmond turned pale at Tristan's words.

Smiling widely, the goblin said. "Kekeke, your sister is in our captive? Of course I can help, I will naturally treat her well. I can even send her back to your world if you want. After all, you're the one that I need."

Desmond started to look panicked when he heard the goblin's words. "Don't listen to that creature, Tristan. That creature can't be trusted, and you have to believe me!"

Tristan looked at Desmond and said, "Why should I believe you?"

"Tristan! I am a human just like you!"