Chapter 23
Eight hours later, they collapsed into the entrance of an expansive cave as Antony rammed his dagger into the neck of the final goblin. Stalagmites hung from the hundred-foot-tall ceiling like teeth in an awaiting maw. They were all bloody from various cuts and covered in thick black goblin blood that reeked worse than death. Xavi had to constantly use his healing magic to keep them all going through the hours of fighting. They had to take brief rests on top of Yuki’s shell while being healed on the move to maintain their pace.
“The glyph trail ends here,” Silas said as he gulped in the air while lying prone on the ground. “Is it over?”
“That wasn’t that bad, all things considered,” Kara said with a wince as she rested her arm on Xavi’s head while he healed a stab wound on her side. “At least they were consistent. Though, when the ice-casters came, I was worried for a moment, but Xavi’s stealth made quick work of them. The entrance to the next area is at the other end of this cavern, so hopefully, we passed your test.”
Xavi spit to the side, “But they tasted terrible. And we are not through just yet. We simply beat the timer for the final wave. Master, push more mana into the final glyph marker, and you will see.”
Antony laughed at the ominous remarks, “Saying ‘You will see’ sounds an awful lot like something worse is about to happen.”
Xavi nodded casually without taking his eyes off Kara’s wound, “Oh, much worse indeed, but he is not activating it; it has already begun. Show them, master.”
Silas groaned as he hefted himself off the floor. He reached down to the last glyph on the wall and circulated his mana into it. Another thin, finger-width green line grew from the side and trailed onto the ground. It carved a path across the cavern floor, looping and swirling until it created another giant glyph that spanned the entire cave floor. As its size settled, it began to strobe faster and faster. When it became almost blinding, the mark stabilized again, revealing a hovering clock in the center, its large hands ticking down.
“Three hours and twenty-four minutes remain. So how long until the next wave?” He asked.
“Fourteen minutes, master.”
It was Kara’s turn to groan, “Barely enough time to rest. What can we expect with the final three hours and ten minutes? More of the same?”
Xavi laughed, “Oh no, lady Kara. It will be much worse. It will be much less but much worse. If I had to guess, it would be the elder goblin or goblin king, as some like to call it, and his strongest evolved guards. It will not be a true king, but it has gained the name for a reason. They would all have the same abilities as those we have already faced, for the most part, just more powerful and resilient. Standard stuff, really.”
They spent the last of their time talking amongst each other while resting and planning for the next assault. The ground began to rumble when the timer reached the final ten seconds. They all got to their feet and began casting their shields and skills in preparation for what was to come. A bright blue portal opened in the cavern's center with a flash. Six goblins dressed in dented armor appeared before it the next second.
They bore a plethora of weapons utterly different from the lesser goblins they had been fighting. One had a broad double-headed axe, another a sword and shield. Two shook large, crooked swords above their heads while another flexed a short bow in its hands. The final goblin held a long staff with poise as he scanned the cave. The six goblins moved to the side as a seventh, ten-foot-tall behemoth walked out of the portal before it closed in its wake. It swept its six-foot-long cleaver over the heads of the evolved creatures, giving commands its guttural tung.
Silas’s eyes widened at the sight, “Don’t let them form up! Kara, take down that bowman, now. Antony, kill the axe weirder as quickly as you can. And Xavi stealth around and rip out that caster’s throat. Go!”
They all split up as Silas charged forward at the shield-baring goblin. He swept his sword in a large arc to bait the goblin into raising a shield, and as soon it did, he ignited the runes. His sword passed directly through the shield and embedded itself deep into its neck in a spray of blood. It let out a gurgling growl and swung its sword hand towards his stomach. Silas planted a foot on its thigh and yanked his sword free, coving himself in a warm mist, just as the first of the two great sword wielders jumped at him with a heavy, downward chop.
“Oh shit,” he yelped, deflecting the chop into the shield goblin’s chest and then releasing a point-blank fireball to its face. Skin sizzled as the lower portion of its face slumped away. It dropped to its knees and screamed through his bloody fingers. Silas grabbed its shoulder and pushed his sword tip under its chin and out through the back of its skull.
“Behind you!”
Pain exploded from his ribs as he was sent careening fifteen feet across the cavern by a massive, booted foot. He skidded across the ground straight into a thick stalagmite, taking the air from his lungs. He gasped for air as he rolled to his knees, searching for his attacker.
His eyes landed on the Elder Goblin, who met his gaze with a snarling, fang-filled smile and pointed his giant cleaver straight at him.
The second great sword wielder roared in rage as it activated a skill. Dark red lines swirled over its body, causing its muscles to flex and grow. It leaped from ten feet away directly at him, gripping the worn great sword in both hands over its ugly, noseless head. Halfway through the jump, its large green eyes turned dark red and began foaming through its fanged teeth. Silas screamed back and raised his hand, unleashing a concentrated Shadowflame into its torso. The goblin ignored the burning grey flames and continued his swing.
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Silas raised his sword to block and called another shield. The instant the great sword met the magical shield, it exploded outward, stumbling the raging goblin. He tried to stand, but it was faster than he could recover. It pummeled him from every angle so fast Silas was barely able to keep his weapon up. Faster and faster, it swung mercilessly. His arms burned from the strikes. As his strength began to wane, the goblin kicked out a foot, catching his sword against a stalagmite. It screamed and chopped down diagonally at his unprotected chest.
Thump
Thump, thump
Three arrows knocked the swing off course, diverting it just past Silas’ head. Without hesitation, he sprung to his feet and filled his fist with as much mana as his channels would allow.
“Flaming Fist of the Mountain”
Mana and stamina essence erupted from his fist directly into its hip. The goblin’s pelvis was blasted away in a gushing fountain of viscera. Intestines and organs painted the ground over the darkened cave.
Antony stretched out a hand to help Silas to his feet, “If you’re done playing around, it’s time for the real work to be done,” he smiled. “My sister just finished the bowman, and Xavi…” he nodded to the side where Xavi was taking small bites out of the goblin mage as he zipped around, avoiding ice spears sent by the now one-armed goblin, “Well, he’s playing with his food again.”
He sighed and reached out through their connection, “End the mage. It’s time for the big one.”
“Yes, master,” he responded, then turned invisible. The goblin mage searched around in a panic, and then, without a word, Xavi appeared behind it, clawed fingers outstretched and ripped out its throat.
Kara walked up next to him and motioned to the side, “That was a tricky little shit, but it wasn’t fast enough. I took two arrows before I got close enough to damage it. It wasn’t happy when I rammed my sword in its arse, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do,” she laughed.
Silas and Antony looked at each other wide-eyed, shrugged, and then began searching for the Elder Goblin.
“Where is it?” Antony asked.
Silas shook his head and stretched out his senses, “I don’t know. It feels like it’s everywhere and nowhere, all at the same time. It must be a skill, and it has to hide itself. Where’s Yuki?”
Antony looked at him sheepishly, “Ah, well, about that. The axe wielder took a liking to her, so I had to ask Xavi to store her until I could finish it off.”
Silas raised a single eyebrow at him but decided to let it be. Now was not the time.
“Master,” Xavi said as he flew over, “I lost track of the Elder, but it’s close. I think you need to move to the center for it to attack.”
He nodded, “Heal them as much as you can in the next sixty seconds, and then we attack.”
Xavi cast four healing spells, healing their most dire wounds, and then they walked toward the center of the giant glyph.
“Wait, master.”
They paused and turned to him.
“This is a test. I believe you need to fight this one alone to pass. You must use everything you have learned and all that you haven’t to prove you are worthy of ascension. You need to do this yourself.”
“Works for me,” Antony said as he stepped backward.
Kara shook her head, “Not happening. I will not stand idly by as you take on that monstrosity alone. I will fight with you, and you cannot stop me.” Looking directly at Xavi.
“It’s fine, Kara. I’ll be fine. Trust me,” grasping her hand.
She rolled her eyes and turned away, “Boys.”
But Silas didn’t release her hand. He spun her around, pulled her close, and kissed her. After they let go, he turned sheepishly to Antony, who only laughed.
“I figured it out a while ago. I was just waiting to see how long it took you two to tell me. For the record, I appreciate your caring for my sister, but if you hurt her, don’t worry, I won’t kill you. I will bleed you slowly until you wish you were dead, then I will go slower. Give ‘em hell, champ,” then he popped him in the arm and walked away to the edge of the cave.
“Be careful,” she said with a worried smile, walking away to join her brother.
“Kill it quick, master,” he said, then flew to the others.
Silas took a deep, tired breath and walked toward the center of the glyph. Every movement pained him after the hours of fighting, but he pushed forward with conviction and confidence in his new abilities.
In the weeks since he arrived in Holmberg, so much had changed. He had claimed great power for himself and grew not only in strength but also as a person. He met friends, found adventure, and gained a new purpose in life. No more would dreams haunt his sleep. He smiled as he moved forward and made a promise to himself, “From now on,” he yelled, “I will be the one to haunt the dreams of my enemies. I will be the one to strike fear into all that oppose me, those who would hope to harm those I hold dear. I am a warlock! You will not deny me my ascension!”
As he stepped into the center, the giant goblin let out a piercing roar, dropping from above. Silas rolled to the side and jumped to avoid the rolling wave of earth as it landed ten feet away. He drew his sword and pushed mana into it on a whim. The sword burst into flames and began hovering next to him. He smiled at the sight and looked to the snarling Elder. The Elder Goblin screamed in rage as dark red lines covered its body and cleaver.
They charged at the same time. Silas slid low, sending the elder flying over him, sparks from metal on rock clouding his vision. His sword shot off to the side after he recovered, and he created two condensed green fireballs in his hands. He sent streams of rapid-fire balls into its chest, causing the elder to block with its enormous weapon. Shadowfire was next as he tried to keep some distance between him and the giant goblin. Ignoring its burning flesh, it swung its mighty cleaver in a spinning whirlwind that kicked up a hurricane of dirt and rock. Just as it was about to strike, Silas had another idea.
“Stop”
The blade came to a halt on his cheek, drawing a single, thin line of blood. Fear erupted in its huge eyes as it hung frozen mid-attack. His channels burned like an inferno, but he gritted his teeth and raised his hands as if gripping an imaginary sword. His arms moved like the conductor of a symphony as he hacked and slashed at the frozen, horrified beast. He ignited the blade's runes and removed its arms with a spinning swing. Black blood fell to the ground like a waterfall in a monsoon.
With both arms held out, Silas drew an arm back like an archer preparing to fire an arrow. Then, as his vision blurred, he released, sending the flaming sword directly into Elder Goblin’s sternum. The elder coughed out a mouthful of blood over the ground, and then Silas turned his hands outward, placing the backs of his fingers in front of himself as if holding open a closing door. He ripped. The Elder Goblin split in two, showering Silas in a wave of hot black rain.
He let go of the word and collapsed to the ground, allowing the darkness to consume him.