Adam and Lancer ventured deeper into the forest, the foliage growing denser with every step. Suddenly, Lancer stopped Adam with a hand before he began to gesture with his hands, moving them in a series of intricate patterns.

Adam furrowed his brow, attempting to decipher Lancer's silent message. He observed each movement carefully, trying to piece together the meaning behind the gestures. 'Alright, let's see... Lancer is pointing to the path on the right and then making a sweeping motion with his arm. Could he be suggesting we take a different route?' Adam pondered.

As he continued to watch Lancer's gestures, Adam noticed the determination in Lancer's eyes. 'He must have a good reason for wanting to change paths, actually it might not be a bad idea to change our route with all the goblins patrolling lately.' he concluded.

Deciding to trust Lancer's instincts, Adam gave a nod and encouraged Lancer to take the lead. "Alright, Lancer, let's try your way. Lead the way," he said, his voice filled with confidence in his companion.

As they walked, Adam couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of pride in Lancer's growing emotional range and increasing willingness to offer suggestions. He eagerly anticipated witnessing Lancer's growth and the potential transformation upon awakening.

As they continued along the new path, Adam became acutely aware of an unsettling feeling that washed over him when they entered a clearing. He couldn't pinpoint the source of his unease, but something felt amiss. The forest seemed eerily quiet, and an inexplicable tension hung in the air.

Unable to shake the feeling, Adam called for Lancer to stop. "Hold on a moment, Lancer," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Something doesn't feel right—"

Before he could finish the unsettling quiet of the forest clearing was suddenly shattered by a cacophony of goblin war cries. A dozen goblins, the very same ones from their earlier encounter, charged into the clearing, their vicious grins bared in anticipation of the coming fight.

“Get ‘em!” A goblin ran out of a bush waving his knife excitedly.

"Hehehe, tall one be ours now!" another goblin cackled, aiming his spear at Lancer, his voice high-pitched and gravelly.

"Yummy meat for gobbo feast!" another goblin chimed in, licking its lips and eyeing Adam.

Adam and Lancer had no time to react to the sudden ambush before they found themselves surrounded, fighting for their lives. Adam swatted back some of the more bloodthirsty goblins to give himself and Lancer breathing space. With no other choice, he unleashed his [Battle Cry], causing some of the goblins to hesitate. They were vastly outnumbered, making it difficult to damage the enemy's morale. He seized the momentary respite to strike, injuring several goblins but failing to finish any off. Adam used [Cleave] on a goblin, successfully dispatching it, but suffered a nasty cut in the process. He retaliated with [Stab], but the skill missed, leaving him vulnerable and desperate for a way to turn the tide of the battle.

Lancer did his best to tank the goblins, taking more hits than usual due to his [Defensive Stance] skill reducing his movement speed. The height difference between him and the goblins made it awkward for him to land his strikes effectively.

Lancer spammed his [Endure Pain] to prolong his tanking, reducing the pain he felt, but the skill couldn't negate the steady loss of health he experienced. To buy Adam more time, Lancer used [Taunt] as often and on as many goblins as he could.

At the edge of the clearing, Skab Rathide, the goblin chieftain, observed the battle atop his boar mount, Steelhoof, his cold, calculating eyes taking in every detail.

The skirmish was fierce, filled with the cacophony of clashing steel and guttural snarls. Despite their best efforts, Adam and Lancer struggled to gain the upper hand, the ambush having cost them precious moments. Adam's heart raced as he thrust his spear at the oncoming goblins, his breathing labored and sweat pouring down his brow.

Arrows whizzed through the air, fired by goblins with poor aim, more likely to hit their comrades than Adam or Lancer.

'How did they find us?' Adam thought, panic rising. 'We can't keep this up for long.'

He knew it was not the time for conserving resources, so he rapidly exhausted his stamina, attempting to create some breathing room using his skills.

As Adam desperately scanned the clearing for an escape route, he found none. They were completely surrounded. Lancer fought valiantly with his sword and shield, fending off as many goblins as he could, but even his stalwart defense began to wane.

As Adam parried another goblin's spear, he realized with a sinking feeling that the situation was becoming increasingly dire. His heart pounded, his chest tightened, and his breaths came in shallow gasps. Desperately, he tried to push away the nagging voice in his head, whispering that they might not make it out alive. But even as he fought, fear gnawed at him, and the haunting thought that Lancer might not survive this battle refused to dissipate.

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Determination surged through him as he steeled his resolve. 'No! Lancer has to survive, no matter what. I'll hold them off so he can escape,' Adam promised himself.

"Listen, Lancer," Adam yelled above the din of battle, desperation in his voice. "Focus on conserving your energy so you can escape. I'll hold them off. I'm immortal – I can come back. Just make sure you get out of here alive!"

Lancer's eyes filled with determination as he shook his head in refusal.

"This is not the time to play hero, Lancer! You need to go when I say so. I command you as your prince!" Adam ordered.

Meanwhile, Skab Rathide continued watching the fight unfold, Steelhoof shifting restlessly beneath him, ready to charge.

Adam gritted his teeth and fought with renewed vigor, desperately trying to create an opening in the goblin ranks for Lancer to escape. After dispatching a goblin with a swift spear thrust, he spotted his chance.

"Now, Lancer! Go!" he shouted, his heart pounding in his chest.

The goblin chieftain's eyes narrowed as he noticed the attempted escape. With a guttural command, Skab ordered Steelhoof to charge, the boar's deadly tusks aimed directly at Adam, poised to skewer him.

Caught off guard by the charge, Adam had forgotten about the chieftain and the boar in the heat of the fight. 'This is it, I guess. I hope Lancer survives.' Resigned to his fate, Adam ceased his struggle, accepting his death and hoping that Lancer would take the escape route he had created.

In the split second before the boar reached them, Lancer activated his [Taunt] skill, redirecting the boar's charge away from Adam. With a sickening crunch, the boar's tusks impaled Lancer, lifting him off the ground.

Lancer looked at Adam and chittered his first and final words, "Prince…Live."

Skab Rathide raised his weapon and, with a cruel laugh, decapitated Lancer in a single swift motion. Steelhoof flung Lancer's headless corpse off its tusk like discarded meat as Skab held Lancer's head in his hands.

"Ha! Ya see that, ya sniv'lin whelps? That's how it's done! Skab Rathide always finishes what he starts, and any grot who crosses our path'll end up like this sorry git!" Skab crowed, triumphantly hoisting Lancer's severed head high above the cheering goblin horde.

The fight paused as the goblins celebrated their victory, jeering and chanting their chieftain's name.

"Skab! Skab! Skab!"

"Skab is da best goblin chieftain, I tell ya!"

"Bastard," Adam whispered in disbelief, struggling to accept Lancer's death.

"What did ye say, human boy? Do ye fancy me new trophy?" Skab sneered at Adam, twirling Lancer's head by its hair like a grisly trophy.

Witnessing Lancer's brutal death and the chieftain's callous display, something within Adam snapped.

"You bastard! I'll kill you!" His vision blurred, consumed by a white-hot rage.

Adam's vision blurred as he charged headlong into the goblin horde, his heart pounding with fury. His muscles screamed in agony as he summoned every ounce of strength he possessed to unleash his [Whirlwind] skill. Like a tempest, Adam tore through the goblins, his spear dancing in a whirlwind of death and destruction, the air filled with the cries of his enemies.

"Stop da human!" a goblin shrieked, its voice rising in panic.

"Kill 'im before he gets to Skab!" another goblin yelled, desperately attempting to halt Adam's rampage.

But nothing could stop the burning rage that fueled him. The memory of Lancer's lifeless eyes haunted him, driving him to exact vengeance on the goblin chieftain. As he fought, the faces of the goblins he cut down began to blur, each one starting to resemble Skab, who had so ruthlessly ended Lancer's life.

"Skab!" Adam roared, his voice hoarse with anger and exhaustion. "Face me, you coward!"

The goblin chieftain sneered from his position atop Steelhoof, watching the chaos unfold below him. "Pathetic human," he spat. "Ye think ya can challenge Skab Rathide? I'll tear ya limb from limb, just like I did yer friend!"

Adam's fury reached a boiling point, and with a primal scream, he charged through the last of the goblin horde that stood between him and Skab. But as he closed in on the chieftain, his body finally succumbed to the exhaustion and the injuries he had sustained. His legs buckled, and he crashed to his knees, his spear slipping from his grasp.

Seeing Adam's weakened state, the goblin chieftain dismounted Steelhoof and approached him, his malicious grin widening.

"Ya fought well, human," Skab sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "But now, yer time has come."

"Ya slowed down our hunt for the awakened beast," the chieftain continued, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Now, me and me boys will finally be able to hunt it down."

Skab’s glee now was obvious, “That beast is me chance to get a better class for me awakening, and ye have stopped me from killing it for long enough.”

As Adam's vision began to fade, he fought to keep his focus on Skab, his mind racing for a way to strike back. Though his body was broken and beaten, his spirit remained unyielding. With the last of his strength, Adam mustered a final act of defiance.

"You... won't get away... with this," he gasped, defiance burning in his mismatched eyes. "I swear... on Lancer's memory... I will avenge him."

Skab Rathide laughed, his voice echoing through the clearing, a cruel and mocking sound. "Bold words from a boy about to die," he sneered, raising his weapon to deliver the final blow.

And as he did, the world went black for Adam.

*You have died*

*Trait: Immortal activated*

*Your soul sustains damage Instead of being destroyed*

*Entry to the Dreamverse is restricted until your soul recovers*