Apocalypse respawn

Rargnes held his trembling gun in his hand, targeting a goblin. 

He hid behind a wall, while the lone goblin - it had just separated from the others, surely to look for them (goblins were the preferred race, especially for espionage missions) - stood on the road, scanning his surroundings.

A gunshot rang out, passing a few steps from the goblin. The goblin rushed backward, zigzagging, and shouting at the top of his lungs: "Help! Help! Humans!"

Rargnes hurriedly fired another shot that missed its target. His hand was trembling too much, he wasn't experienced enough. Upon the failure of the second shot, he fled back to his apartment. He slammed the door shut and locked it, then took a moment to catch his breath. His heart was beating so fast! 

Suddenly, he felt inner energy rising within him. He sat cross-legged on the bed and concentrated, trying his best to slow down his heart rate with breathing exercises. His control over the energy bubbles didn't work. 

After a few seconds, they disappeared again. However, a portion seemed to have been absorbed by his body. 

"As long as we are in combat, we should be able to evoke the warrior sensation. But do we have to be exhausted and in combat afterward? Would a fake fight with a guy work?" He took a notebook and wrote: "Tired, heat, combat," then, placing his gun next to him, he jotted down some hypotheses in scribbles. 

Once finished, he loaded the gun with two additional bullets and peeked through the keyhole. No one. He sat in a corner, right next to his bed, covered himself with a blanket, and turned off the lights. He had already placed two bottles of water next to him - just in case he had to stay for a long time. 

He only emerged a few hours later, armed with his gun and knife. No bag. It would slow him down too much. There was enough food anyway. The goblins seemed to have disappeared. He stealthily toured the neighborhood and saw no one. 

Returning to his apartment, he grabbed a large bag full of food, his gun, his knives, as much medicine as he had stolen, and his spear. He found himself at the foot of the supermarket a few minutes later. 

He entered, apprehensively.

"Hey! What the hell you're doing here?!" A young man spoke to him. Rargnes looked at the supermarket's residents, who seemed to be fewer.

"I was here, I just came back," he said. "What happened here? There's no one here anymore." 

"Don't you see? There are people. But which group are you from?" 

"I was with those at the bar." 

"You're not welcome, get out." "Why?" 

"Get lost or I'll fuck you up!" He pulled out a knife. 

Rargnes looked at the man and felt the urge to draw his gun, which seemed to be calling to him from under his coat. Just a little shot. No. He shook his head in his mind. He retraced his steps as the man insulted him. 

Exiting through the doors, he inspected the surroundings as usual and saw no one. He cautiously walked along the road to return home, skirting the houses when he heard a noise coming from the house to his right. 

A sound of footsteps! 

Rargnes leaped backward, away from the window, unzipped his coat, and searched for his gun for a few seconds before gripping it, his hand hidden by the coat. 

"Who goes there?" he said. "I mean no harm!" 

He heard a whistling sound in the air and screamed in pain. His back! Oh fuck! His back! Something had pierced him! He fell, breaking his fall with his arms that landed on the ground, breathing heavily as he screamed in pain. 

Seconds passed, while he was on the ground, a survival instinct kicked in, and he looked beside him, seeing a figure approaching him. A goblin armed with a knife. 

He reached out his hand and fired off the shot with all his might. He shot once, hitting the goblin in the stomach, causing him to fall to the ground, followed by three more shots, two hitting the goblin before he collapsed in agony. 

Rargnes set aside his gun and pushed himself up with his arms but collapsed. 

This goblin didn't have a bow! There were still enemies, he had to get up! He exerted all his willpower to stand up, taking his gun in his left hand with great difficulty as he tried to run along the walls that supported him with his right hand. 

Not now. He couldn't die now.