The thralls returned and handed all of the materials to Zane. Zane got enough to make the additional 15 longer arrows from the arrowheads he had made previously. Then, he took the knife from the pack and started to shape the more extended branch after ensuring it was flexible. For now, it would work as a temporary bow. He attached the bowstring to the branch and drew it back several times to ensure it would last. The longbow that he created was about 5 feet long and was basic but would work for what he needed.

Zane looked down on the camp again and noticed a gap on the right side. That was where he would send in his party while he took out enemies from above. He decided he would meet them after he ran out of arrows. He looked at the sky and noticed that clouds were forming as well.

"I know what to do now," Zane said as the others grouped around him.

"I want you all to wait on the right side of the camp and enter after I kill the guard in the tower," he said, pointing at the tower with the lone goblin. "After I run out of arrows, I will join you in the camp. During this time, you will follow directions from Arin and Zoe. Be careful, and remember to be safe."

Everyone nodded and started down the hill. Once they were midway down the hill, Zane readied his bow, aiming at the guard on the tower. He pulled back the bow as far as possible, letting loose the arrow. When the arrow stuck the goblin, it went straight through his chest and impacted into a tree behind it. He smiled, thinking this would be easier than he thought, and wanted to try again. He found two goblins that were talking to each other. He fired another arrow that went through the throat of the first and the heart of the second, impacting about halfway into the second goblin. Zane saw Corvyn climb the tower closest to the entrance and jump over to the one closest to him; he slit the goblin's throat standing on the tower and threw a knife down at the next one further away from the second entrance. He then jumped off the tower and landed on the last one standing by the entrance, burying his knives into its throat. Zane saw a pair of goblins walking towards Corvyn and fired two arrows, striking each target. Corvyn looked up as Zane noticed a strange goblin with black horns coming out of its head, holding a staff and walking towards the cages in the back. He watched as it entered a tent in the back and fiddled with some device. Zane watched Arin cleave a goblin in half as they moved through the camp. Warden was taking point with the others behind him. They were getting closer to the strange goblin in the tent, so he fired an arrow that struck it in the head, instantly killing it.

Zane realized all the goblins at the entrance were dead and started down the hill. When he got about halfway down the hill, he heard a roar unlike anything he had ever heard. He started to run, worried about that Hobgoblin they had seen before. He made it to the entrance on the right side just in time to see Warden's shield get struck by the massive sword that the Hobgoblin held. Warden was flung backward and thrown into an empty cage behind him. Zoe ran to his side, healing him, while Arin stepped in, deflecting the Hobgoblin's sword. He attacked, putting all his weight into the swing, burying it into the Hobgoblin's thigh, but couldn't pull it out in time. The Hobgoblin swung with his free hand, knocking Arin aside. It roared at Zoe and Warden as it started hobbling towards them.

Zane wondered where Rein was as he fired an arrow into the Hobgoblin's chest, then another into its shoulder. Once it was focused on Zane, he moved away from the others, leading it toward the other entrance where he saw Corvyn. He had 8 more arrows and would need to use them wisely. It started to swing at him again as he released another arrow into the knee on the same leg as Arin's sword. It flinched as it put weight on its leg, causing its swing to miss him by only a few inches. Zane fired another arrow into the same leg and one into the shoulder of the arm holding the sword.

It stared at him with as much rage as it could muster and roared at the top of its lungs. It reached down, grabbed the sword in its thigh, and ripped it out before throwing it at Zane. Zane's eyes widened as he was barely quick enough to step sideways, the sword still tearing through his side. He looked at his health, realizing he was at less than half health. He became worried, not knowing what would happen if he died here. He thought about retreating when lightning struck the Hobgoblin from the storm overhead. Zane noticed Zoe now standing with her staff glowing. It started to rain, and as the drops hit Zane, his wounds started to heal. He smiled, thinking they would survive this. He saw Warden get up, but Arin still hadn't gotten up.

Zane readied his bow again before the stun wore off and released arrows two at a time. The first set hit the wound from where the sword was, the second set hit it in its right shoulder, and the last set struck it in its chest. After the last arrows hit their mark, the Hobgoblin started moving again. He ran at Zane even faster than before and kicked him in the chest, knocking him backward into one of the towers and shattering the ribs on his left side. Zane struggled to get up, couldn't breathe, and his health was below a quarter. Warden ran in and yelled towards the Hobgoblin, causing it to turn towards him. It roared back at him and started his way. It was limping yet still faster than before. Zoe ran to Zane and healed him again, mending his broken ribs and allowing him to get back up. Once up, he ran after the Hobgoblin and used the opportunity Warden provided by climbing the tower next to it and jumping onto its back. He readied his last two arrows and fired them into the back of the Hobgoblin's neck before releasing and watching as it spun back around towards it. He looked around after realizing he was out of arrows. He saw Arin's sword sitting there and had an idea.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Can you stun it again or keep it distracted? I have an idea!" Zane yelled before rushing towards the sword.

"I can't use that skill right now, but we might be able to give you a minute or so!" Zoe yelled back.

Warden nodded his head and rushed the Hobgoblin. He picked up a goblin weapon and sliced at its legs. He deflected each attack with his shield, constantly being healed by Zoe. During all this, Zane made it to the weapon and focused on blacksmithing. He wasn't sure this would work, but it had to, or they may all die. He notched the bottom of the handle, increased its length, and sharpened the blade, making it thinner as he did. He figured he was ready when the weapon looked more like a massive spear tip than a sword. He climbed to the highest spot possible in camp and readied his bow. He pulled it back as far as he could and aimed for the creature, the blade resting on his hand, cutting into his skin. Warden bashed into the monster's wounded leg, making it step back and flinch from the pain. It picked Warden up and threw him with all his strength, causing him to crash into the area above the cave entrance. This caused a cave in which sealed most of the entrance. Watching everything that happened, Zane was ready; he released the bowstring, causing the weapon he had created to speed toward the monster. His bow came apart, and his thumb was cut off due to the power behind the release. The blade sped towards its target, striking it in the middle of its shoulder blades, going straight through to the hilt. It turned and looked up at Zane before stumbling forward and falling.

"This isn't over." The monster bellowed as it fell.

(Achievements unlocked - Elite Slayer, Juggernaut).

Zoe screamed as he fell from the tower he was on. Zane felt the rush of the wind around him and saw a prompt for a notification but was too tired to try to care. He couldn't feel his arms, and he hurt everywhere.

Arin ran from where he was and used the corpse of the Hobgoblin to launch toward Zane as he fell. He caught and held Zane as they fell, using himself as a shield as they hit the ground. Arin laid Zane on the ground and sat next to him. Zoe rushed over and healed them both. Zane's thumb grew back, and fatigue started fading away. Zane looked up at Zoe and smiled.

"We did it!" yelled Zane as Arin chuckled.

"Well, you did most of it," Zoe said, looking down at Zane.

Arin walked over to the Hobgoblin and pulled the sword from its hand. He raised the blade and took a few swings. The sword was overly large compared to him, but he swung it like it weighed nothing. The handle was some kind of bone wrapped in dark leather, and the hilt was horns that curved towards the handle. The blade was wide at the bottom, curved inwards, and back out at the top. It was a magnificent blade and very sharp as well.

"Guess you got me that new sword after all," Arin said, smiling.

"It's not how I thought it would have been done, but I guess so," Zane said as he started to sit up.

As they talked, one of the gems that Zane had in his pack cracked and shattered, showing a dark gem underneath it. It looked like something was swirling underneath the surface. Zane analyzed it and was surprised at what he saw. (Perfect soul gem - Collects souls of beings killed by its wielder. Allows for a greater soul to be created and infused.) He looked at Warden and wondered if it could be used to allow his thralls to be themselves again. He put it in a pouch on his belt and looked around. He called for everyone to come around so they could figure out their next move.

"This was an excellent win, but we were unprepared. We must look at everything in this camp and determine what we can use. We also need to see if there are any survivors here and deal with them. Is there anything else you guys can think of?"

"We should go to the nearby town and turn in the quest. We can pick up supplies while we are there," Zoe said.

"That sounds like a great idea. We should leave some of us behind to clear the entrance to that cave as well," Zane replied.

"It isn't a cave," Rein responded while walking into camp. "It's a mine."

"Where did you run off to?" Zane said, looking over at him.

Rein responded by whistling. After he whistled, two giant wolves walked in behind him and sat on either side of him.

"I can't be much of a tamer without my friends who fight by my side. I would be little help without them." Rein said with a chuckle.

"While we are in town, I can add you and Arin to our party since we will be together for a while. What will you do, Zoe?" Rein asked.

"I haven't had a chance to think of what to do. I will decide what to do before we make it to the adventurers guild."

"If it makes any difference, we would have died back there if it wasn't for you, and we would love to have you along with us for whatever adventure comes along," Zane said.

"Thank you. I have a lot to think about." Zoe said, smiling.

"I think Rein, Zoe, and I should go to town to get supplies and turn in the quest, while Arin, Corvyn, and Warden should stay here to work on the camp and clear the mine entrance. If there are any survivors, keep them alive until we get back and ensure we have food so we can stay in the area for a while. Let's grab a quick bite and get going. Corvyn, start a campfire and prepare some food."

While Rein left to hunt with his wolves, Corvyn began by setting up wood where a fire had been previously. During this time, Zane and Zoe packed their bags and set one up for Rein. Arin and Warden started by closing and securing the gate they had entered, then worked on clearing some of the debris from the mine entrance.