Chapter 2: Archer and Spearman

          As expected, some people also realized that it would be better to move ahead fast in order to escape the chaos and the confusion that others would feel and create. However, Andrew didn't think that they would find another group so soon in the maze, and he didn't know how to react. He had to consider his system, and a single mistake might start a fight, and his system was the type that would weaken him the more enemies he had.

The other two guys and one girl, they seemed a bit older than Andrew and Ann, so he assumed that they were college students. One of them was also armed with the goblins' knives and had a good physique. He had short dark hair and was wearing some sweatpants set, and while it looked like he would be a problem in a fight, he showed some uneasiness while looking at Andrew's hands, dirty with blood.

          The second guy was wearing glasses, and he quickly looked around in search of other people that might cause problems. Andrew felt that he was a bit like him and quickly to find people untrustworthy. He was wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and black pants. The third one was the light brown-haired girl who had very clear light brown eyes. Her long hair was tied up in a ponytail, and while she was wearing a pretty fresh summer t-shirt and a relatively short skirt, Andrew paid attention to the movements of her left hand… she was ready to use magic.

"... It seems that we can find some treasures across this maze, but we were too late here," The tall guys wearing sweatpants said while forcing a smile. "Go on, you guys arrived here first, so you can claim the prize."

"Thank you for being reasonable…" Andrew said while smiling and quickly opening the treasure box.

          Andrew wanted a decent weapon that would put him ahead of others, but he only found… a round wooden shield. It wasn't so bad, but defending would only make the battles longer. A spear would be a better option, and its long range and easy to pierce the enemy's flesh.

          When it comes to Spear training, even If you aren't strong enough and have to choose between a sword and a spear, use a spear. It takes far less training to be good enough to defend yourself in any fight with a spear than with a sword. Still, it was fun to imagine whirling the spear around, and it was stupid. The pointy end is towards the enemy, always aimed at the target's head or chest. That is the golden rule…

          Andrew raised the shield and equipped it on his left arm; it was a bit heavy, so he could use it to smash the goblin's heads. It was a bit better than their knives, so it was fine.

"Since you guys were gentle enough to let us get this, you can go ahead, and we will rest for a while," Andrew said still hiding his thoughts behind his smile.

          Letting them go ahead when there was only one path available would give them better chances to find more treasure. Still, Andrew couldn't risk fighting them when they were outnumbered and so soon. Things would have been different in a few hours once Fireball reached a higher level, but it couldn't be helped, and Andrew didn't want to risk Ann's safety. They could fight goblins, but fighting other humans to kill them would be a bit too much, so soon…

          Those three looked at each other, wondering what they should do. Ann was also preparing to use her magic if they did or said anything suspicious. It seemed too much to be that wary of other humans, but if they reached this far so soon, they must have realized that things were going to be different from Earth.

No one knew where they were, but they certainly weren't on Earth. Since humans were split, they couldn't hope to follow the same rules as before without the government enforcing them. Besides, they were nervous and had too many questions… Right now, people can only trust themselves and their systems, the system that could make them stronger and even able to use magic.

"You might find this idea a bit suspicious, but why don't we team up for a while?" The guy wearing sweatpants said. "There is strength in numbers, and you two also realized early on that moving as quickly as possible was the best option. I think we all would benefit from this."

"If you know that much, then don't say it, dumbass…" Andrew thought. "Getting more allies is always the best option, but things are too dangerous in this situation. We might be attacked from behind, and we might be used as hostages… there are many things that you guys might use against us."

            Most people wouldn't think that humans could go crazy in that situation so fast, but Andrew was most people. He had enough reasons to distrust others, and the only people that he trusted in that world were Ann and her parents.

"Sorry, but that isn't going to happen," Ann stepped forward and said with a serious expression. "While we all can benefit from this, and we would be in a bad position the whole time since you have more numbers. I hope you understand that."

"Of course, well, I guess it was worth a try…" the sweatpants guy said. "In any case, if you see those people, can you please tell them that we are waiting for them at the end of this floor?"

          Those three took out their cellphones and showed the pictures of a lot of people… friends, and family… they sure were naive in thinking that they could memorize those faces so fast.

"We will try, but there are a lot of people in those pictures…" Ann said.

"No problem, I wish you good luck," the sweatpants guy said, and then they used the exit of the room.

          Andrew silently approached the door and then heard their footsteps moving away. In the end, they were also looking for people, but both of them knew that it wasn't a good idea to spread around the image of Ann's parents to strangers.

"Good call, although I must say you surprised me there," Andrew said.

"You think that I am an idiot?" Ann asked while pinching Andrew's side. "Just because I don't stay quiet as much as you, it doesn't mean that I use my head less often than you."

"I will keep that in mind from now on," Andrew said while patting Ann's head.

"No head pats," Ann said while moving away Andrew's arm.

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(Your relationship with Ann improved, and it is now at level four.)

(The skill Fireball has leveled up, and its range increased by five meters.)

        Despite her words, it seemed that Ann liked that. Still, Andrew wondered why the range of the spell increased so much when the fighting areas were so small. He assumed that only the fights on the first floor would be like that… that floor was more convenient to those who fight at close range, but the next might not be the same.

"I don't think we should get too close to those guys, but just in case, we can't stay here for long and meet others," Andrew said. "We should always gain strength as fast as possible always to have the upper hand when talks are necessary."

"I guess strength will also be necessary for talks from now on," Ann said.

          They began to move again once they were certain that they wouldn't bump into the other guys any time soon. They only rested for five minutes, but the knowledge that they could find places like that room where they could rest certainly took a weight off their shoulders.

          Still, they soon began to walk on their feet again when they had the next encounter… maybe it was a coincidence. Still, Andrew found it hard to be the case… two other goblins appeared when the walls blocked their paths, and one of them was now armed with a spear.

"Ann…" Andrew said while assuming his fighting stance.

"You got it," Ann nodded.

          Ann used her magic to make the first goblin stop moving when they began their charge, but the spearman didn't stop at all. Andrew raised his shield when the creature started the thrust motion. He blocked the strike with ease, but his arm trembled due to the sheer weight of the attack. Still, he pushed himself forward and made the goblin stagger.

          Andrew stepped forward while the enemy was like that, and then he grabbed the creature's neck before using Fireball. An explosion happened that burned Andre's right hand a bit. Still, he endured the pain since it only made his hand red and destroyed part of the enemy's neck, killing it instantly.

          The other goblin attacked as if nothing had happened. It seemed that they couldn't feel fear or like they didn't care about their friends. In any case, the beast charged before Andrew could attack him, and he raised his shield to block it. The goblin leaped to attack, and while the strike pushed Andrew backward a bit, it only did that.

          Andrew kicked the legs of the creature when it landed, and then he e grabbed the spear of the first enemy and impaled the goblin's chest. The feeling of piercing flesh still bothered Andrew, but he shook his head and sighed in relief.

"We can use the spears against the ones with knives, but I suppose that using them against the spearmen is too risky since they are too vicious," Ann said while grabbing the knives on the ground.

"You got that right… I don't think that I can make that decision for you, but I think it would be better if you increase your magic power by increasing Wisdom," Andrew said. "I have longer reach with weapons, but you are the one who can get stronger faster and choose what parameter you can increase."

"Here we go again, and you are just bragging about your height," Ann said. "Still, you have a point… you are also a bit too reckless when you fight, so I will watch your back."

"I am not reckless, and it is called taking the initiative," Andrew said, and then he looked at the goblins.

            Andrew wondered if they were facing goblins now because they had weapons, and they could take them after winning. It seemed a pretty calculating way to make humans find the right tools for them. Aside from the system, nothing in that place looked actually game-like, but they sure operated in similar ways. The walls were erected for combat and spawning spots for monsters, and they were gaining gear and combat experience from a weaker species… like it was a tutorial. Still, the tutorial was too vicious for Andrew's taste.

          Now armed with a spear, Andrew was more confident, shield and spears were the usual equipment for paladins, and they were specialized defensive classes known for causing damage while taking too little in exchange.

            It didn't take long for them to fight another pair of goblins like before. They followed the same pattern as before, Ann delayed one, and Andrew used the time that she bought to kill the knife goblin with his extra range. When the spearman approached, Andrew assumed a defensive stance and then broke the enemy's stance with his solid defense, and when he staggered, Andrew went for the kill. Simple but effective.

            As they advanced, Andrew and Ann started to find some traces of battles around. Still, they didn't see signs of blood… if the goblins were killed, they should have left some blood behind. Andrew didn't want to think too much about it, but it was another problem that he had to consider in the future.

"I wonder if we are lucky to be fighting only two at a time or if they appear according to the number of people in an area…" Andrew thought while furrowing his eyebrows.

            After walking for a while, Andrew noticed that they had walked around the same distance they had before finding that resting point, and yet, they didn't see another… a break would be nice now since the tension was starting to wear them down. That was a problem, and soon another one emerged… alongside a goblin spearman, a goblin archer emerged from the floor…

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