A True Rhombic Comes in Time

34

Nope, I definitely didn't want that.

Fwoosh.

The mutilated gnome glowed and left a tiny red gem the size of my thumb. It wasn't much, but it was still something. And besides, the relief from knowing I was going to live to see another day continued to keep me content.

This was going to be a breezy one hour.

Fwoom!

A new gnome dropped from the sky. Its eyes darted side to side in confusion for a moment before locking on me.

Ding!

Fwoom!

Unexpectedly, I heard the invisible bell ring again before 10 more gnomes dropped in front of me.

"Huh?"

I didn't even get the time to process my confusion because 11 cat-sized gnomes sprinted toward me. Instinct kicked in, and I hastily formed a barrier around myself. It was a thin one, the kind Ryder would have shaken his head at to shame me, but it was going to be enough for now.

Hmm, 11 gnomes.

Well, that was a little unexpected, but this didn't make any difference. After all, they were just gnomes and nothing more. I wondered if this happened because I killed the first one. Perhaps it was best to just stand behind my shield and wait it out.

11 was fine, but I didn't want to get myself in unnecessary trouble.

I mean, what if 100 more appear if I kill them again?

"Gomi, I think we're just going to sit this one out just to be safe."

"What? But they are so tiny! We can take them out easily. Just do it!"

Gomi urged me, her sword form vibrating in excitement. I think she has been bored out of her mind because I have been focusing on my defense skills for so long.

"No, I think more might come if I kill them. What if killing one brings 10 more each time?"

I shuddered at the thought. Can you imagine having that many gnomes...

Ding!

Fwoom.

"..."

Another 10 identical gnomes fell from the sky and immediately charged toward me. 21 sharp-teethed monsters scratched at my invisible barrier like cats on a scratching pole laced with catnips.

I stared in confusion. What was going on?

I didn't even kill any of them yet, so why...?

"Gomi, do you know what's going on here...?"

"Hmm, I don't..."

Ding!

Fwoom.

I jolted when I heard the same sound again. This time, 10 more gnomes dropped on top of my shield, making it sound like rain hitting an umbrella. But instead of harmless water droplets, these were like piranhas that were dying to fillet me alive.

Wait, the bell rang from above my head, didn't it? And above me was that holographic timer.

I looked up slowly.

[00:59:15]

I had a bad feeling about this. I kept staring at it until...

[00:59:10]

Ding!

Fwoom.

Okay, 10 more. This couldn't be...

Just to be sure, I continued to watch the clock.

I murmured, "Four, three, two, one..."

[00:59:00]

Ding!

Fwoom.

Now, 61 gnomes surrounded my barrier, trying their very best to get to me.

Gomi seemed to have realized what was going on as well. She exclaimed, "Sweetie, I think I get it now. It's 10 gnomes every 10 seconds, so one gnome every..."

I yelled, "Yes, yes, I can do the math!"

Crack.

I felt my barrier crack a tiny bit in one corner where the majority of the gnomes were gathered and attacking. I hurriedly repaired it by pouring my mana into it, and I stared at them with growing concern.

In five minutes, there would be 301 gnomes.

In 10 minutes, I would be surrounded by 601.

In school, I wasn't the best at math, but even I knew that I was in trouble.