- Um, what? - bewilderedly asked Klein. Lia, taken aback, even stopped crying, and, frowning, said offendedly: - That's why I never use high-level magic!

However, there was no time to discuss and marvel at the situation, as the goblins, literally with doubled strength, pounced on the adventurers. A hobgoblin with a club struck Glen, and although he blocked it with his giant hammer, the hob easily sent the dwarf flying. Instantly assessing the situation, Robert yelled:

- Run to the wall! Everyone! Stand closer!

In panic, barely defending themselves from the incredibly dangerous attacks of the goblins, the heroes gathered in a heap by the wall, almost pressing against each other, preparing for the final battle. A wave of green rage approached the squad. A multitude of blades, teeth, and disgusting triumphant faces of monsters were getting closer and closer. Glen tightened his grip on his weapon, with a resolutely malicious smile preparing for battle. Klein raised his shield higher, offering a prayer to his god, asking for a bit of luck. Anya had already disappeared into stealth, but the paladin felt she was nearby. Isabella, now in the form of a mastiff, stood next to the gnome, snarling fiercely at the enemies. Vasily nocked an arrow on his bow, already pleased that he didn't have to run, taking a fairly simple approach to the situation. Overall, he didn't understand why everyone was so tense, didn't they just say that Lia was some ultra-super-cool? Can't she handle it alone? The archer was curious, but he was a simple guy: they said to gather by the wall, he came, everyone was preparing for battle - so was he. Especially considering Lia and Robert's calmness. The horde had almost reached the adventurers when a clap in the hands sounded, and the calm voice of the earth mage behind Klein said:

- [Wall], [Wall], and [Wall].

Before the paladin's eyes, two walls emerged from the ground at an angle, separating the people from the green-skinned creatures, forming a triangle with the natural cave wall behind them. The third flat stone surface appeared above their heads, closing the resulting shelter from all sides. The squad was completely isolated from the horde of monsters. And judging by the sounds, they didn't like it at all. The screams of rage, disappointment, and even more rage sounded from the other side of the mage-raised walls. Multiple blows were heard, and even spells trying to break through the stone. Klein asked worriedly:

- How long will your walls hold up under such pressure?

- And how long do you say their condition will last? - Robert replied, sitting down on the floor. - Ten minutes? Then they will hold for ten minutes. Later, I will dispel them, and we will finish the job. Maybe I don't have much wisdom, so I can't throw spells like Lia does, but my intelligence is more than enough to reckon with the power of my magic. Sit down, rest, gather strength. In ten minutes, we'll fight again. The enemies won't go anywhere, we'll have to fight them again. Although now they'll be without their leader, so it'll be much easier.

- Oh, that means... - Lia perked up joyfully.

- No. - The paladin interrupted her instantly. - It doesn't mean that. You still have to use a sixth-level spell. Stop dumping all the work on us!

- But... - the elf turned disappointedly to the squad leader, seeking support from him. He looked at her cute face and, turning away, muttered:

- Well... Klein is kinda right, of course... So you still have to use powerful magic... You understand, we shouldn't waste time here - not a very good idea... - The sorceress pressed against the man, looking at him with pleading eyes, and he, blushing, added: - But you can use only one such spell, it's really hard, don't overdo it, haha!

- Hey! Unfair! Unfair! She's here resting while we suffer and toil! I even used up all my mana just to give us a chance!

- Resting? - Robert looked seriously at the lad. - Are you serious? Need I remind you how much damage she inflicted with her magic? Yes, they're low-level spells, but there are dozens, if not hundreds of them. Yes, she's not going all out, but I can't call that resting.

- But, uh... - Klein turned around, seeking support from his comrades, only to see the swearing Glen trying to pry Isabella's teeth off his arm, clenched around it. The druid in dog form growled and foamed at the mouth, her eyes burning with animal rage, showing no hint of the usual shy girl or any hint of reason. Seeing this, Robert raised his voice to overpower the cacophony coming from outside:

- Isabella! Calm down!

Recognition flashed in the dog's eyes, and a soothing aura appeared around her. Klein felt the girl using her [Calm] spell on herself. A few seconds later, the dog disappeared, and in her place stood the graceful and attractive girl with two braids, kneeling and holding Glen's muscular hand in her mouth. Watching this scene, Klein even envied the dwarf.

- Oh! I'm sorry, I apologize! I completely lost control... It happens... But rarely! Rarely! Please forgive me! - Isabella got up from the ground only to collapse again in the lowest bow, begging for forgiveness and trembling with fear. Meanwhile, the lad, with some disappointment, noticed that the girl's clothes, apparently enchanted, returned when the druid became human again.

- It's okay. But don't do it again. Or I might rip your head off. - Glen reassured the girl, but she, whimpering, only bowed even deeper, hiding her tears. Klein sighed and approached the dwarf:

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- Show me your hand, it needs bandaging and treatment. I'm out of mana, but I'll help as best I can.

- Ah, no, thanks, but it's not necessary. I'm not injured. The teeth didn't break the skin. I'm not some kind of cattle to get injured by some animal's teeth. Or am I? You're implying that, you damn little shit!?

- Hey... How many hit points do you have in vitality?

- Huh? Forty-one. Think it's too little, huh?! Think you need more on a combined ninety-second level?! Is that what you're implying?! You wanna scram, huh?! You wanna bet who'll kick the bucket first?!

"Oh. He's ninety-second level," thought Klein as Glen heated up more and more, finding new meanings in the man's words. "Class. Another monster. A ninety-second level gnome, an elf with a seventh circle of spells and one and a half hundred wisdom, a genius assassin, a druid who, by some devilry, can cast spells in animal form, Robert, who managed to gather these people and command them. Am I the only normal one here!?" The lad's gaze filled with life and joy as he remembered: "Oh! There's another one!" The lad looked eagerly at his fellow unfortunate, and saw Vasily gently and tenderly bandaging Anya's knee, where she scraped the skin when she fell during the escape. And Anya... She happily swung her legs and enjoyed it, chatting amiably with the man. The same Anya who seems to hate all living things and who found something to blame Klein for when he was healing her.

- Well yeah. He's a monster too. Cool.

- What!? You calling me a monster, you little shit!? - Saying this out loud, Klein inadvertently gave Glen new energy for insults. He just kept going and going, wearing Klein out more and more. - You know, what I'll do with you and with your mother?!

- I don't have a mother, I was raised in a temple, I'm an orphan, - the lad mechanically replied.

- Oh. Sorry. - Glen suddenly answered seriously.

- What? - Klein looked bewilderedly at the angry dwarf.

- I said, i'm sorry. I didn't know it. Didn't mean to touch on a sensitive topic.

- Oh... It's okay, I guess... I never knew my parents. I was raised by the headmaster, and I'm not complaining! Everything's fine, thank you.

- It doesn't matter if you remember them or not. You know they're not there, and they could have been, if not for the circumstances. Losing loved ones in one way or another is always a terrible tragedy, and I sympathize with you. I understand and share your pain. If you ever want to talk about it, come by.

With these words, Glen walked away to a side where he sat on a rock and pulled out a flask of beer, leaving Klein in a completely bewildered state.

- What the hell was that?

----------------------------------------

The goblins were still fiercely pounding on the walls of the adventurers' shelter, although with much less force and malice. Since the appearance of this cursed stone coffin, eleven minutes had already passed, and the monsters had lost both their strength and their last bit of energy. Suddenly the walls shook, and small stones began to fall from them. And a second later, the entire structure collapsed, turning into sand that disappeared even before touching the cave floor. Numerous angry eyes turned to the emerging adventurers, and in particular, to the beautiful elf standing in the center of their construction, finishing casting the spell:

- ... Father of the Earth's Depths, open your mouth, and accept this sacrifice! [Earth's Jaws]!

The green-skinned creatures felt the shaking beneath their feet, and in the next moment, the earth opened up like a titanic maw, full of hundreds of razor-sharp teeth. Goblins began to fall by the dozens into the abyss, emitting heart-rending screams. Those smarter and faster managed to jump, avoiding falling down, but the earth itself rose up as a huge column, closing the maw and swallowing most of the goblins. Only a few more fortunate small creatures remained alive, having climbed onto the wall, along with a couple of goblin archers and a goblin wizard, standing too far away. They stood in stunned horror at the scene before them. However, the adventurers reacted in the same way. Except for Lia and Glen.

- Oh, those two are mine! [Leap]!

Flying across the room with the help of activating his rune, the gnome knocked the archer off his feet with his body and impressed the wizard into the ground with a powerful blow, then smashed the head of the archer under his foot.

- Oh yes! I'm damn cool, hehe!

Finally, everyone came to their senses: the goblins, with screams of horror, ran away, but they were instantly caught up by Anya, impaling each of them from behind. One blow, one corpse, just as she likes it.

- Why didn't you shoot them? Afraid of missing, boy? - Lia turned to Vasily, watching Anya adorably ripping the goblins' fangs. They were used for weak potions as a catalyst for other ingredients.

- You see, ma'am. I'm a simple, country man. And... Arrows are expensive. I don't have money.

- Oh, so you're poor, haha! - The elf laughed joyfully, finding another reason for jokes.

- Truly so, ma'am. - Vasily humbly accepted the label. - That's why I'm here. The sorceress wanted to continue joking and teasing the simple Vasya, but Klein unexpectedly grabbed her shoulder tightly, turned her towards him, and authoritatively declared:

- Next time, we'll START with this spell, NOT LEAVE IT UNTIL THE VERY END OR NOT USE IT AT ALL!

- What? No-o-o! - the elf whined. - I don't want to! I won't! You saw what it led to! It was a disaster!

- Yes. I saw. You killed all the enemies, saved us time, and saved our lives.

- No, that's not it! High-level spells exact a terrible, unbearable price for their striking power... - Lia ominously paused. - They rob the process of any fun. If I solve everything with powerful magic, then adventures will turn into work, and I'll have nothing to tell!

Klein looked at the cute childish face of this beautiful elf, imagining how good a broken nose would look on it. The paladin felt his hands itching, and the vein on his forehead pulsating. But, unfortunately, before he could bring his beautiful vision to life, Robert's sobering voice sounded:

- Enough, pull yourselves together already. The main goal is not achieved - we haven't killed the boss. She couldn't have gone far; we need to find and get rid of her. Isabella, we'll need your help. Can you turn back into a dog and track her by scent?

- I-I don't know... It's been more than ten minutes already, and the magic here has completely overturned the earth and scents... And you guys, by the way, also smell quite strongly... - Here the girl looked at Glen, who was already boiling with anger, and in his eyes was a question "What did you just say about my manly scent, weakling!?" and the druid, squealing, continued: - I can! I can! I can do it all! I'm already transforming!

- Good girl, - praised her the dwarf, patting her thigh, because he couldn't reach her head, making the girl blush abundantly and transform as soon as possible.

- Excellent, - Robert summed up. - Let's go and kill the creature that brought all these creatures here.