I woke up, as usual, that morning... or I always believe it is the morning. It's hard to tell when you’re inside a dark damp cave. But that's what my guts tell me it is; a new day!
It's surprising how accurate your internal clock can be, as my stomach told me that it was time for breakfast. I rose stretching my body as my tar black armor clanked, readying myself for today's hunt. Double checking that [Slayer] was by my side.
At this moment, the door to the study opened and the little green goblin exited for the first time since he came here. He looked at me with frightened eyes, starting to uncontrollably shiver as soon as he saw me. I think he seemed to want to say something but kept quiet as he seemed to be too scared to utter anything.
How pathetic, I didn't have time for this!
I walked out from the area known as my “room”, as I said it is surprising how accurate your internal clock is. As I only at certain times am I allowed and capable of leaving.
I could hear the scuttling of the little goblins footsteps as he followed behind me, well shall we see how long he can keep up? I quickened my pace as I navigated through the now very familiar cave tunnels trying to lose my tail. To my surprise, it was very hard to shake him off as he always was a few steps behind me. I even tried to run away from him but to no avail and in the end, I just stopped trying and started to look for food instead.
I had come a long way in the cave tunnels, as I noticed that I entered an area which was unknown to me.
Looking around, to see if I could find any bugs or insects which usually are on my menu. But nothing, not even any traces of them. I continued onward still with the goblin following some steps behind me.
The tunnel here was exponentially larger than the previous tunnels; which was a mixture from small to cramped. Seventeen copies of myself could probably be standing side by side and still walk forward without a problem. The cavern tunnel was so large that I couldn't even see a hint of the ceiling above me as it was deluded in darkness.
I could hear a yelp behind me, as a slime had fallen from above, targeting the goblin behind me to devour him. Luckily for him, he had just jumped out of the way in time, he was seemingly very good at jumping away from danger.
Though I wondered why the slimes tried to attack him. They had never tried to attack me before, was it maybe for my armor? Was it too hard for them to digest? No, I have seen them eat things that are harder to digest.
The goblin now seemingly more scared of the cave than me closed our distance so close that I could feel his shivering breath tickling my tar black armor through the link. The goblin spoke for the first time in a halfwit way which I believe is common goblin-speak.
“Scared!” [Goblin]
The goblin said. I looked at him bemused as I walked.
“Then why did you follow me?” [Keeper]
“Master says, hunt food with dog!” [Goblin]
“Dog? what is that?” [Keeper]
“Smelly nasty beasts, biting goblins.” [Goblin]
I looked around and smelled the air, it was a muggy "closed in" smell which was common to me. Smelly but probably not the smell of these dogs.
“Well, there is no dog's here.” [Keeper]
The goblin looked questioningly at me with his big round eyes.
“You, dog!" [Goblin]
Should I have been offended? I don’t even know what this dog is. I have a small feeling that I should, but there is no memory of this beast in my mind.
“No, I'm not a dog. I'm Keeper that's my... name.” [Keeper]
It was hard saying the last part. This was a name bestowed on to me by my master, a man I hate and thus a name I hated. But it came so naturally to me now after I had lived with it so long. Still, not that I remembered my old name... did I even have one before?
“Name!?” [Goblin]
The little goblin asked dumbstruck by my words.
“Yes, a name, it is a word to distinguish you from others like yourself... I think at least.” [Keeper]
“Name, name, name....” [Goblin]
The little goblin pondered.
“Name! Trash.” [Trash]
“Trash? Why Trash?” [Keeper]
“That... master say?” [Trash]
He said as he tilted his head as if to ask; "have I gotten this name thingy wrong?"
“Ah! I see you have also been bestowed a name by him... well enough speaking.” [Keeper]
I needed to find food before I had to return. Even though this goblin had the same fate and master like me. I did not care much for him, if I did not kill him I don't think my master himself would bother either.
I continued down the huge cave tunnels as the goblin followed closely behind, looking above at the ceiling as if he could see the top without any problems. Freezing from time to time as he believed that he saw something. Then hurriedly followed me, which did not stop for a second.
We encountered some more slimes seemingly interested in the goblin but didn't seem to dare get close to me. Those who dared I just kicked out of the way as they were blocking my path, not fast enough to follow us from behind. I guess Trash was lucky that I was here!
I pondered some more on why the slimes did not attack me, a meal they probably would be overjoyed to have. I came up with a theory, maybe I did not get attacked because I was a scary guardian, I mused to myself. Yes, I was a big scary guardian which no one dared to touch and if any monster ever got close I would tear them down with [Slayer] as he drinks their blood.
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It had been a while since he had gotten his fill of blood and I could almost feel as my partner hungered for it... no, wait! that's my own stomach.
At this moment, Trash yelped again jumping away from me, the safest spot he could have been at. Screaming; “Danger!”
As I looked up I saw a shadow fall from above in the darkness. Another slime? 'Pish!' How dare it attack me!
But as it impacted on me harder than a blob of goo should, knocking me down onto the floor in the prosses.
With a feel, which definitely was not the gooey feeling of slime. Instead, I could feel a hard-hairy body, with small needle-like pointed hair strands. As two hard tentacles like things grabbed me by my sides, turning me around in the air as I was sprayed with something sticky.
I could not move, this hard-sticky substance was impossible to get out off, feeling like steal threads wrapping my body.
In an embarrassed and humiliating state by this blunder and my own stupidity. Spinning around and around, getting stickier and stickier.
Soon enough only my head was visible as I was covered in a cocoon of this sticky substance. I was dragged through the ground and then up the wall. When I finally got my senses back of what had happened, I was staring up at the ground below where the lightly glowing mushrooms just barely made me able to see the ground as I was now dangling upside down way up high from the roof. Maybe fifty feet up or so.
As I was now up on the roof of the cave and could somewhat clearly see I looked around. There were several cocoons like me, most of them opened and empathy. There were also several nets of this white thread here and there in the sealing.
On one, in particular, sat a beast, with eight legs tucked under its big fat belly. Staring at me with six black eyes, as poisonous green saliva was dripping down its fangs. I had seen these creatures before, but much, much smaller only in a hundredth the size of this one. It was a giant spider, probably the thing that had caught me. And put me up on its menu.
I started to look around for Trash against all my pride to ask for help, but he was nowhere to be seen. The little scaredy-cat goblin had left me to my own demise, he had left me! Saving his own tale, when I had been so merciful to protect him from the slimes. I trashed and pulled and tried to get loose but to no avail. Some hours went by as I felt my body calling me home trying to take me there by force but both I and my body was stuck here.
I was mad, really mad. As I had worked myself up in the hours that had past trying to free myself only to be denied freedom and getting more and more frustrated. For some reason, boiling anger which I had never felt before started to ravage inside of me. I had started to rage so hard as I screamed out curses with no censure at my predicament and the traitor goblin who left me. I was so mad that I felt my body burn, no wait I was burning!
To my surprise, a flaming hot fire had started to kindle on top of the spider silk which shackled me, as it and my whole body started to go up in flame. Soon enough the silk thread connecting to the roof could bear it no more and *snap*. Leaving me to helpless fall to the ground. It hurt somewhat as it was indeed a high fall, but I managed thanks to the magick armor soaking up the fall!
Laying still entwined in the silk thread I flipped around on the floor to face the roof. I could hear the giant spider screeching in anger above as it skittles down the wall to capture me... or just finish me off.
I still had trouble breaking free. But just as the giant spider was right above my shackled form, ready to strike with its toxic fangs. At this moment, my body which desperately wanted to return to my “room” had reached [Slayer] in the now somewhat movable shackles of the burning thread. I swung it upwards tearing through the burning silk and into the skin of the fat belly of the beast.
It screeched in pain as some of the green mucus of its spit sprayed down on me. I was free but I was not safe yet. I had a great dilemma, in front of me a lightly wounded giant spider hovered over me, as anger filled it's deep black eye's. I had to finish this monster quickly because at the same time my body was tugging me to return home. Putting all my willpower, as to not let my body control me. Something I did not know I was capable of since this was a sin towards my master which bestowed this rule upon me.
The spider struck, but only hit rocks as I rolled away cutting at one of its front legs with [Slayer] which was covered in a blue flame. I had stopped burning at this time without any noticeable burns, but my fateful partner had not.
This was indeed very curious as steal usually can't catch on fire as it is not burnable like wood or other things. But [Slayer] burnt brightly blue as it cut through the hard exoskeleton of the spider’s leg making a clean cut.
There where unfortunately no blood for [Slayer] to consume as the heat from the cut instantly burned the small leg area making it charcoal black.
The spider screeched ones more in pain as it swung one of its pointed legs my way hitting me in the side, that hurt. This monster was indeed strong, but not as strong as me and my partner as I charged at the raging monster.
In this moment [Slayer]’s flames had suddenly blown out. But I couldn’t bother to figure out why!
I swung my blade at its face hoping to get a quick end but instead only got one of its fangs. In a careless moment I lost concentration, my body tried to move on its own and one of the spiders pointed legs drew blood.
What! What the hell! What a worthless armor, as it couldn't even protect me from this creature. It soon started to magickly mend the area which had been struck. Unfortunately, it did not heal me in the prosses.
This truly was a dilemma... Try to imagine yourself at a crossroad wanting to go both ways always hesitating on which way to go because; you rea~lly, want to go both ways. That's how my body acted now dulling my every move as it hesitated on doing the one or the other. Almost resulting in me doing nothing at all.
The sheer willpower to do a strike was a feat on its own and don't even get me started on how it was to move in a direction which was not towards where the study laid. I was indeed a great being, as I was able to hold on for so long, shit! I got hit again!
We fought a fierce battle as we each drew blood, as the battle prolonged I could start to feel that sensation of joy again. As if an instinct telling me to fight.
At this moment, I got a hit in the back by something unseen wincing in the pain it caused as the armor mended. I turned around mad as a bull, just in time as I was able to block the second attack from the assailant with [Slayer].
[Slayer], which in response had busted into flames again as I blocked the attack, just to seconds later go out again. But it didn't matter as it had given me just enough light to see my enemy.
A second giant spider had emerged, now caring for its burnt leg hissing at me. Giving me enough time to evade the very first spider's attack. Which I will refer to as One-fang after my great feat of de-fanging it.
But this was impossible, even for me. Not even I, the great and fabulous. Could do anything against these two-giant spiders at the same time.
The first spider: Big, scarred and one fang short, in front. And the other smaller, but for some reason much more dangerous looking with thin spikes instead of hair strands.
I was sandwiched in between the two with no escape. I fought for my life but as I defended myself from one the other got its attack in and my black armor now covered in a tint of red repaired itself. This repeated until I was almost out of energy, was this how I would meet my end?
But as I was fighting the smaller spider, -just recently gotten One-fang out of my hair for a moment.- It seemed as if the smaller spider got hit by something from behind and got distracted. I took this golden opportunity and plunged [Slayer]'s broad blade deep into its skull.
As my partner lit up again and the spider burst into flames, lighting up the cavern tunnel in bright light. I could hear one-fang screech in anger behind me and then run away as it seemed to have decided that it has had enough.
Except for my great strength and charm, it seems like I had had some great luck as well. Pulling out my sword the second spider now burnt in several places feel down dead onto the ground. It seems like my breakfast has been served!
I quickly grabbed one of its eight legs before my body took over to guide me back to my “room” and master.
On my way, just as I had started to walk back I encountered a now almost white goblin in the tunnels. It was Thrash now a fitting name for this traitor. He had not left me completely, but I was still raging furiously at him for leaving me behind. Knowing that I could do nothing to hurt this goblin however much I wanted to.
This didn’t stop me from trying though as in my rage, I tried to no avail as my body just continued onward as I stared daggers at him.
Shakingly the little goblin said with a weak voice.
“Sorry~, help, bad!” [Trash]
I did not bother to answer. Lucky for me the spider was just small enough to fit between the walls of the small cave tunnels towards the study only needing a few thugs here and there along the way.
As we soon enough entered my “room” again with the door to the study at the opposite end of the cramped tunnel with a bucket out front, I was starving.
I quickly broke off one of its legs trying to eat it. But no, it was too hard.
Then I cut out its fat belly with [Slayer] and ate it, it was a savory taste of victory... Well, it tasted like rotten meat with a hint of burnt coal, even though it was not rotten, but indeed burnt. Though I did not care, I was too hungry to care.
The little goblin looked at me with expectant eyes as his tummy grumbled. I didn't want to... but~ since Maleck had sent him with me I guess this was the purpose for it, to feed him.
And as I did not want my master's anger towards me I threw the most inedible meat piece with the foulest odor I could find to the goblin.
To my surprise, he ate it without any problem screaming out “DELICIOUS!” ... That was not a good thing as the door to the study slammed opened and in the entrance stood Maleck, with wrinkles on his wrinkles on his wrinkly forehead.
Oh! He was mad.
But as he noticed the burnt spider laying on the floor, I could swear I saw one layer of wrinkles disappear.
He screamed! With his crooking voice
“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN KEEPING MY SLAVE FROM HIS DUTIES!?” [Maleck]
“I... I—.” [Keeper]
“SILENCE!!!” [Maleck]
And thus, I could do nothing but be silent.
“I SHOULD BE OFF WITH YOU FOR YOU FAILURE AS A GUARD, ONLY IF IT WERE NOT FOR THAT YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN USEFUL FOR ONES!!!” [Maleck]
He screamed as saliva was sprinkling in his long untidily beard. 'I? Been useful? I have? I mean, I'm always useful.' I pout within my mind as I could say nothing.
“You! Trash of a goblin get me those legs of that spider and extract its poisonous gland” [Maleck]
Trash fearing for his life quickly did what he was told.
Oh! hell no this was my prey, which I had hunted. I would not let him have any of it. As I placed myself firmly between the dead spider and Trash. Staring with determent eyes at Maleck. First, he had a face of shock, but then he looked at me with an almost serene look which could only bode bad things.
“You dare disobey me? ME!? I could just as well give you a command to step down. So? What will it be!?” [Maleck]
He said with a sneer, he was right. But this was MY pray and as if sparks interacted between our eyes...
“Step, down!” [Maleck]
I reluctantly had to step down as my body moved. But before Trash had had a chance to start, the small goblin let out a yelp.
We had a surprise visitor slowly moving its way toward him and the carcass of the spider. It was a slime but not any slime, it was a slime I knew. Surprisingly since slime is hard to differentiate from each other, but I knew this slime.
I knew it in my soul that this was my rival which I usually lured with my feces and battled day out and day in. Thinking about it this was just the exact time I usually fought him, it seems like he just like me had gotten a habit out of it. He slowly creeps towards his target, most probably not Trash but the dead carcass.
And then he was no more. Like a balloon, he popped spreading blue slime in every direction. Maleck... Maleck had killed him! My eyes turning a deep red. I drew [Slayer] as my partner turned ablaze together with my anger, I lunged myself at Maleck.
*Bam!* *Chatter!*