Deeper into the dungeon, Kaelem and Selkor explored. The further down they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The air was now so thick that it was noticeably harder to breathe, the smell of damp and rot overpowering their senses. They moved cautiously through the narrow tunnels, Selkor leading them in silence, broken only by the ambient sounds of the dungeon. Each step Kaelem took felt heavier, as if the ground beneath them was warning of the dangers that lay ahead.

"We're getting close," Selkor finally whispered, his eyes continuously scanning the surroundings. "There's something up ahead, just beyond the next passage."

Kaelem nodded, pushing on through the lingering unease of their encounter with the familiar. He had been so wrapped up in his own progress that he hadn't stopped to consider how little he actually knew about this man or the world he lived in. But now wasn't the time to start doubting; he could worry about all of that once they had cleared the dungeon.

As they approached the passage, he felt a mixture of adrenaline and anticipation wash over him. From the sound of it, this would be the final test the dungeon had to offer. He was determined to prove himself; the burning blade spell was now familiar in his hands, and he felt confident for the dungeon's final trial.

Selkor came to an abrupt halt, raising his hand to his side to stop Kaelem from proceeding further. He leaned against the wall, concentrating as he listened ahead.

"I can hear them," he said gently. "A camp, voices… It sounds like the main force, and there's a hobgoblin leading them."

Kaelem's anxiety flitted at the mention of a hobgoblin. He had heard of goblins and even seen a dead one before his time with Selkor, but a hobgoblin? "What's a hobgoblin?" he asked, inadvertently speaking his thoughts.

"Stronger than a goblin and much more wicked," Selkor explained. "They possess a spoonful of intelligence, allowing them to lead goblins. We must be careful; they're not to be underestimated."

Kaelem nodded to himself, feeling the anxiety create a knot in his stomach. If he were to face a formidable foe, he would need to be smarter about his approach. He had been lax so far, taking advantage of the goblins' inability to focus on his magic. But if he was going to face a group and an opponent with more intelligence, he would need to be more present in the fight.

He peered over Selkor's shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of the camp. The flickering of flames danced on the floor ahead, casting faded shadows, but he was unable to see any further.

"We should plan our approach," Selkor advised. "We can't afford to be detected until you're ready, so I want you to stay close and examine the situation."

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Kaelem nodded, recalling his years of surviving in Ashbarrow. He had learned to be stealthy, to blend into the shadows and avoid detection. Though he'd never hidden from goblins before, he didn't think this would be much different.

They crept forward, inching closer to the edge of the passage as Kaelem focused and steeled himself for the fight ahead. Peering around the corner, Kaelem's breath caught in his throat at the sight of the camp.

The camp sprawled out in a small cavern, illuminated by a central fire that danced with life. Goblins were spread around the camp, hunched over and busying themselves with crude, mundane activities. A larger figure among them, adorned in mismatched armor, exuded a fearsome presence - the hobgoblin. He barked orders at the others in a disgusting language, rough grunts and gargles that carried a brutal harshness.

Kaelem could feel the tension in the air, the calm before the storm, as the goblins lived what appeared to be their daily lives. This was no simple raid; they were in the heart of the goblins' territory now. He looked over at Selkor, who was deep in thought.

"On my mark, we'll strike quickly and decisively," Selkor instructed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Aim for the chief first; if you can take him down, the others will scatter and become disorganized."

Kaelem nodded, adrenaline coursing through him. He felt the familiar hum of magic in his hands, the sensation almost comforting now. But as he mentally prepared himself, an idea came to him.

"Wait," Kaelem said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "What if I create a distraction first? Something to draw their attention away and throw them into chaos?"

Selkor's eyes narrowed as he considered their options. "A distraction could work, but you'll need to execute it perfectly. If they catch wind of us too soon, it'll backfire."

Kaelem nodded, feeling a rush of confidence. He had survived using his wits for years, avoiding danger and learning to navigate the shadows of Ashbarrow. Surely that experience could be applied here.

"Stay close," Selkor urged, stepping back to give Kaelem room. "And be ready to follow up once they're distracted."

Kaelem focused on a small pile of debris on the other side of the camp, gathering his magic and forming a small circle in front of him at the entrance of the cavern. Using the runes for fire and what he believed to be the runes that would create a small ball, he conjured a small fireball that shot forward toward the debris. It crackled as it flew into the camp, Kaelem purposefully overloading it with magic as it passed the goblins.

The ball of fire quickly became unstable as the flames began to spit out from it, becoming increasingly volatile before it exploded just short of hitting the debris, setting a group of goblins ablaze.

The surrounding goblins froze before screaming about the fire, creating a commotion as alarm flashed across their faces and they began to gather.

"Now!" Selkor commanded.

In his eagerness, Kaelem miscalculated his position as the hobgoblin scanned the surroundings. His eyes locked onto Kaelem, narrowing as he roared to his minions about the intruder.

Kaelem's heart sank as he realized his blunder. The goblins erupted into chaos as they scrambled to arm themselves.

"Well, that could have gone better!" Selkor quipped jovially, raising his hands to channel his own magic as the air around him crackled.

Kaelem steadied himself, drawing the circle for his burning blade and conjuring it from the air. He knew Selkor was by his side, but this was his trial, and he wanted to prove himself.

The nearest goblin charged forward, snarling as it swiped its makeshift axe in the air. Kaelem grasped the hilt of his blade tightly, pulling it close to his shoulder as he readied himself for the battle that was about to ensue.