“-and you don’t have her number either.” Mark sighed, the man shrugging apologetically. “Guess that’s it then. This is already dangerously close to stalking, no need to make it reality. Thanks anyway.”
Greg waved as he left, shutting the door and flicking the light off. It left Mark standing in the dark, hoping for a taxi while knowing there wouldn’t be one. ‘Get a grip. You tried, failed, whatever. Home.’
The man had been a friend of Sara, or so he’d been told, but apparently she didn’t carry a phone. Or if she did she changed it enough no one knew her number, which amounted to the same thing.
By the time he’d gotten home it was approaching midnight, groaning when he looked at the fridge. The calendar there had an x for the twenty sixth, which so happened to be tomorrow. “And it’s an extra early shift. That means a whopping four hours of sleep, hooray.”
“Hope you had fun, Cloe, because I sure haven’t.” He patted her as she screamed for food, putting her claws in his pants to stop him from leaving. Mark moved anyway, the stuff he was wearing made for sharper things than her murder mittens, and Cloe was hanging from his back when he got to the couch. “Either hop off or get squished.”
She chose to hop off, curling on his lap when no food seemed imminent.
“That’s what I thought.”
----------------------------------------
“How’s the nap been?” Lust asked as Greed stirred, the man throwing her a glare. “Don’t be mean, we put a bedroll under you.”
“Th.” A coughing fit overtook him, waving his hand when Sloth moved to help. “That was Sloth.”
Mark moved to sit as she made a same-thing gesture, seeing no one failed to notice how close she sat next to him, and made the difficult choice not to sigh. “Let’s talk about the boss.”
“Nine guards, two pyromancers.” Pride summarised. “And the king, but he didn’t account for much last time.”
Lust cleared her throat loudly. The man took it in strides. “Yes, we should be on the lookout for changes. They all carry different weapons, swords and hammers and such, but they also have backups. They're pretty good in hand to hand combat, although that’s from limited experience. The pyromancers are protected by translucent shields, magic ones if I had to guess, and we lacked the range option to deal with them. Sloth, that will be your job. It seems likely they drain the casters mana when under duress, so empty your magic pool if you have to.”
The woman nodded, suppressing a yawn. “I’ll keep a third in reserve, for healing.”
Pride agreed with a wave. “That leaves nine to the six of us. Me, Wrath and Gluttony can take two each, Lust, Envy and Greed take one. No offence.”
Lust did seem offended, punching the floor. Wood groaned, Pride’s eyes widening slightly. He coughed. “And when you are done, we would appreciate your help in finishing off the rest.”
That seemed to satisfy her, settling back down. Mark spoke, tapping his armoured knee. “No plan survives contact with the enemy. We need firsthand information.”
Envy stood before Pride could answer, disappearing down the stairs and closing the door behind her. “I guess she’ll get it?”
“So another break?” Sloth seemed hopeful, eyeing her bedroll. “We can’t be too well rested.”
Mark snorted. “No. Pack up, we leave when Envy returns.”
They worked in silence, packing up the small camp and disappearing the bags into Pride’s pocket dimension. By the time they were done Envy had returned, whispering to the man as he took care of the last bag. “Everything seems the same as last time.”
“It will have to do.” Mark agreed.
Before long they were standing before the throne room, wide doors blocking their way. Wrath raised her axe, but Lust slid in front of the door. “I have lockpicks, you barbarian.”
Some fiddling and the doors swung open as she pushed, having to jump back as a fireball detonated at her feet. She laughed, the sound forced. “Totally saw that coming.”
Mark didn’t answer, pulling up his buffs as he swallowed.
Buffs:
Fighting Spirit (Hollow Suit): 2:30
A Soldier's Life (Goblin Soldier): 15:00
Moderate Fire Resistance Boost (Goblin Pyromancer): 10:00
His body seemed to come alive, twisting around Lust and charging into the throneroom. Wrath and Pride joined him, forming a vague wedge formation that broke the second the royal guards moved. Mark blinked as he came closer. ‘Big.’
He ducked under a swing, the greatsword coming within inches of his head, and pushed forwards. He caught the knight in the stomach, an elbow crashing against his helmet, but his weight dragged it down. Its greatsword fell, useless, as it tried to draw a knife. Mark kicked it away, landing a heavy blow on its face.
The thing slowed, just for a second, and he got another blow off before he had to roll. The other guard, wielding a morningstar, covered its fellow as it stood, roughly shaking its head and gripping its sword again.
“Come then.” Mark grinned, beckoning. “God, no wonder Wrath likes fighting. She gets this high every time?”
They advanced as he backpedalled, opening his mouth wide. Fire washed over the two guards, chasing after it before it died down. Instinct told him to step, the morningstar missing, and he kicked the greatsword wielder in the knee. It crashed to the ground, three quick punches to its head dropping it completely.
A pathetic puff of fire distracted its friend long enough he could roll away, the thing managing to not hit its fellow. Mark fought the urge to jump, knowing that even with stronger legs he was too heavy, and his cestus rang clear as it impacted steel.
He gambled, hitting the wrist holding the morningstar, and it paid off. It dropped, Mark managing to grab it before the knight could.
In the time the thing grabbed its axe he had raised the weapon high, putting his full weight behind it as it fell.
The greatsword wielding guard was getting up as it hit, caving in plate and putting it down for good. A fireball washed over them both, finishing off the dying guard, but Mark barely even felt it.
He did feel the axe as it dug into his back, twisting and throwing a wild punch. It was deflected with ease, his opponent leaving the weapon where it was to retrieve the morningstar. He threw himself back before it could hit him with it, harshly colliding with something solid.
For a brief second he thought he’d crashed into Pride, the man’s sword inches from his face, but as it withdrew he saw the colour was wrong. The man had put his sword through the things neck when it had crashed to the ground, nodding at him in passing.
Mark twisted, rolling out of the way as the morningstar broke stone, and footwork helped him to his feet. A blast of wind unbalanced it, Mark taking the opportunity to close the distance and grapple it to the ground. No one interrupted as his cestus crashed against steel, the helmet denting as the things' struggles grew weak. It almost buckled him as he took a split second to gather momentum, but his weight and some quick adjustments bought him enough time.
He stood as it went boneless, picking the weapon from its limp hands, and it cracked the skull a second later. Taking a moment to breathe was punished with another fireball. Mark sighed, tilting his head to let some sweat escape. ‘Thank fuck for that helmet. I’d be as bald as Envy, without being able to grow five inches of hair a day.’
Stolen story; please report.
Taking a moment to survey the battlefield saw Wrath and Pride doing as well as he was, Sloth keeping the pyromancers busy enough they could only afford to throw fire occasionally. Greed and Lust were taking a sword and shield knight apart, Envy keeping another one busy but not seeming to get anywhere. He joined her, having to dodge Greed’s club as it nearly bashed into his leg, and kicked it from behind.
Envy lashed out with her arm, extending to correct for the knight’s desperate scramble, and her dagger pierced through its visor. Mark steadied himself, throwing it to the ground as Envy retracted her knife, and picked up its shield.
A metal edge ran along its underside, ending in a vague point, and he raised it high. Envy stepped back as gore exploded around Mark’s feet, dropping the shield and rolling sideways.
It turned out to be unnecessary, Greed having knocked the knight aside before it could finish its charge. Lust stabbed it as it lay prone, and Wrath finished off her second opponent at the same time. Only the pyromancers and the king remained, both parties silent.
“Shields low, mana holding at fifty.” Sloth murmured, loud enough only they could hear. Lust whipped her knife at the right pyromancer, the shield cracking audibly but holding. “Not that low.”
Wrath threw her axe, and this time it shattered. The robed goblin threw itself back, but the bolt was already on the way. It slumped against the wall as Wrath collected her axe, Lust’s knife remaining out of reach. She held her hand out at Greed, mumbling. “A new one, please. And two dozen throwing knives, should have bargained for those before. That kill was mine alone.”
The man nodded amicably, his eyes roving around as he took in the rich decorations and fallen enemies. Mark spoke at the same time Pride did, voices overlapping.
“We’re not done until we get the reward.”
“Don’t relax until we're outside.”
Lust looked between them, snorting as she strapped her new belt of knives to her armour. “The other pyromancer fled, in case any of you missed it, and the king seems unlikely to pick up his sword. I’d say we’re about done.”
Mark sighed loudly, a door crashing open somewhere behind the throne. He sent Lust a glare. “Didn't play much games, did you?”
She raised her hands placatingly as another knight stepped past the king, its sword flicking out and beheading the old man. Its corpse slumped on the throne, the head rolling down with wet thumps. “The entire kingsguard. Knew they weren’t the best, didn’t think they be that bad. Should have taken power months ago, whip that horde in the courtyard into a proper army.”
“You can talk?” Envy blurted, looking between the king's corpse and the knight. “Since when?”
“Age one, give or take.” It replied, sounding more bored than insulted. “I suppose thanks are in order. Killing the princess saved me some ugly work, even if she was so deluded with fantasy she believed me her gallant saviour. The assassin’s too, those were annoyingly loyal to the royals.”
Pride didn’t seem to know what to say, Mark taking a half step forwards. “You’re welcome. Why did none of your soldiers or knights attempt to communicate?”
“You invaded.” It replied, tone condescending. “Why should they have wasted their breath on words when it could be used to cut you down?”
Lust laughed, rich and melodious. The knight stiffened, its fist tightening around its sword. “A good point, brave knight. We came here to kill the king, but knew of no power struggle within the court. With the king’s death we need nothing but our reward, and we will be on our way.”
Its tone was strained, anger bleeding through the words. “Damned seduction mages, should be confined to the brothels. Crossbows!”
Mark rolled to the wall, seeing everyone else scrambling to do the same, and he bit down on his last hollow knight buff. ‘Two and a half minutes, better make it count.’
“Wrath, Gluttony, on the knight. Lust, Envy, see if there’s a way upstairs. Sloth, take care of those bolts!” Pride bellowed. A strong wind pushed the coming volley off course, but another was already on the way. Mark risked a look, seeing what must be two dozen goblins standing on the viewing platform.
A platform that ringed the entire throne room, crossbows peaking over its guardrail and disappearing after having unloaded. He could see Envy scale one of the low walls as he charged the knight, Pride and Wrath at his side. Greed had transformed his club into a greatshield, standing close to Sloth as she did her best to protect them from the bolts.
“Come then, little ants.” The knight said, anger replaced with anticipation. “Come and test me.”
Wrath screamed inarticulately, striking a blow so telegraphed it would have been easy to dodge. The knight didn’t, raising its shield and taking the blow with no apparent effort. Pride’s sword dug into its shoulder, where the armour was thinnest, but it ignored the wound. Mark slid behind it, landing two blows on the knee.
His cestus should have reverberated through the armour, shaking bone and bursting blood vessels. It didn’t, the metal seeming to absorb and distribute before the wave could penetrate. He switched gears, leaning back and kicking.
The knight stepped aside, turning a solid blow into a glance, and its sword sent Pride stumbling back. Wrath managed to dig her axe into thigh, the thing backhanding her as if it barely felt a thing. Mark smiled as it ignored him, judging him the lesser threat.
Pushing off from the floor sent him flying forwards, ramming his armoured shoulder into the knight’s leg. His hands came up to snake around it, locking around the things’ middle, and he transferred his momentum downwards with a tug. It had to take a step to center itself, Wrath axe coming down on it’s shoulder with devastating force.
The knight fell to one knee, Mark’s fingers digging under its helmet. He found a strap, his other hand having drawn a knife, and before the thing shook him away it had found leather. He rolled with the shove, coming to stand next to Pride and Wrath as they took a moment to breathe.
He dropped the helmet, metal clattering against stone, and smiled at the thing. It smiled back. “Not bad. Strong classes, good instincts. My turn.”
“Stall until everyone is here.” Mark whispered, throwing himself aside a split second later. The knight had gone from standstill to full sprint in an instant, crossing the distance in the time it had taken him to speak. Fighting spirit had all but screamed at him to dodge, his body obeying before his mind could fully parse the feeling. Wrath had followed suit, but Pride had been a heartbeat too slow.
He went flying, impacting the wall and sliding down with surprisingly little sound. He didn’t get up, Mark scrambling back as he shot a look at Wrath.
By some miracle she seemed to understand, going high as he slipped behind the knight again. Trying to tackle the thing had predictable results, an elbow crashing against his back, and he let himself fall. He landed between the thing’s legs, a dangerous place to be, but before the sword could skewer him he opened his mouth.
Fire engulfed them both, the itching and pressure in his throat subsiding as heat and flame spilled forth. The thing shielded its eyes, Mark sticking his dagger into the back of its knee before pushing off. For a long second he thought he’d been too slow, that he’d be stuck to the ground with a sword through his chest, but when he rolled to a stand he saw Wrath tearing into it with fury.
Three strong blows landed on its chest, armour denting under the assault, before the knight raised its shield to defend. That seemed the wrong move, her axe digging deep. She heaved, the thing having to step forward to maintain its balance, and Mark impacted it at speed.
They both went down, his cestus finding flesh, but for every blow he landed two seemed to impact his armour. He kicked away when a fist drove the air from his lungs, Wrath buying him enough time to get clear and on his feet.
A swing forced Wrath back, bone breaking audibly as it landed on her head, and Mark hoped that was just her jaw. The knight didn’t speak, this time, its face looking worse for the three punches he landed, and grabbed at its belt.
He figured it out too late, a bottle coming into view where it had been invisible before. Runes were etched into the glass, fading as the knight brought it to its lips, and Mark wanted to scream.
The knife took them both by surprise, shattering the glass before the knight could take more than a sip. Much of the liquid splashed on the ground, covering the things feet and legs. “No healing.”
Lust’s scolding had a playful edge to it, the knight's face going blank. “What’s wrong, don’t like me anymore? Or never did, I suppose. Either way, have fun dealing with my little contribution. Glut here fights well enough even under full exposure, so surely it won't be a problem for such a big strong knight.”
Pride joined them, his armour dented and blood visible on his helmet, but seeming no worse for wear. Sloth stayed behind Greed as the man held the shield in front of them both, seeming content to stay where Pride had fallen. “Mana at ten.”
Envy very nearly sank her knife into the knight's neck, the thing twisting a split second before she could. Steel scraped along armour, Lust throwing three of her own in quick succession.
It bought little more than time, the knives not penetrating metal, but the knight had to twist to ensure none landed in its face. Wrath and Pride had closed the distance, faster and stronger than he’d ever seen them. Mark nodded at Lust as she slunk away, no doubt looking for a moment to ambush it, and pushed off.
He still couldn't jump, though by his count fighting spirit wouldn't last much longer, but his adapted legs still gave him speed. Not enough to catch up, but enough to land a blow against its temple as it was busy fending off Wrath. A second later Pride’s sword pierced its foot, a grunt escaping from its sealed lips, and the lack of mobility was punished immediately.
Wrath tore at its back, penetrating deep even as her axe chipped, and Pride was stabbing recklessly with a long knife. Mark kicked at its one free leg, enhanced legs doing damage where his cestus hadn’t. Something snapped, the thing collapsing as its knee gave out, and then Wrath’s axe split its head in two.
It was over before Mark could stop himself, his leg already on the way, and the axe went deeper still. Blood and gore ran thick as the axe dug into pauldrons, Mark stepping back to avoid falling. Fighting spirit left him not five seconds later, amidst heavy breathing and pained shuffling.
Seven chests had appeared on the dias, silently and without fanfare. Each was stamped with their names, Envy immediately trying to open one. Mark snapped his head to the viewing platform as metal clattered against stone, seeing little more than slumped corpses and blood. ‘Jesus.’
“That.” Lust said dangerously, appearing behind Envy as she filled with the lock. “Is mine. And protected from thieving hands by the gracious system, as it happens. Yours is at the right.”
Envy slunk off, sending Lust a disgruntled look, and Mark approached his own.
Symbol of the Glutton. This ring can be attuned to one class skill, enhancing its effect. This cannot be undone. Losing this ring will revert the class skill. Unequipping this ring will revert the class skill.
Awarded to Mark Dallton for clearing the Realm of the Goblin King with a party of seven.