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Mana Gate
Chapter 14: The Shaman's Wrath

Chapter 14: The Shaman's Wrath

The quiet of the forest was shattered by the distant, eerie chant of the new goblin shaman. The dense foliage rustled as the shaman, cloaked in dark, ceremonial garb, performed a spell of far-reaching consequence. The ritual was intricate and foreboding, an arcane incantation designed to pinpoint the location of an elusive enemy. Jack’s recent actions had not only disrupted the goblins’ plans but also painted a target on his back.

Jack, currently nestled within the dense cover of the forest, was resting after a grueling night of sabotage and evasion. His ghillie suit was a blend of leaves and vines, making him nearly invisible in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy. He had managed to steal and destroy a significant portion of the goblins’ food supplies, but his respite was short-lived. The shaman's spell had begun to weave its dark magic, and its effects were soon to become alarmingly apparent.

The air grew colder, a palpable tension enveloping the forest as the shaman's chant reached its crescendo. A faint, pulsating glow began to emanate from Jack’s body, a spectral light that seemed to pierce through the natural camouflage of his suit. Unaware of the exact nature of the spell, Jack initially dismissed the sensation as a figment of his imagination. However, as the glow intensified, he realized the grim reality.

In the heart of the goblin camp, the shaman’s eyes glowed with a sinister light as he completed the incantation. He raised his arms toward the sky, and the glow that enveloped Jack became visible to the goblins. The shaman’s spell had created an ethereal beacon, a shimmering trail that would lead the goblins directly to Jack’s location.

The shaman, with a satisfied grimace, addressed his warriors. “The intruder who has dared to defy us is marked. Find him, and bring him to me! Spare no mercy!”

Eight of the ten red goblin warriors, their muscles rippling under their crimson skin, were immediately dispatched to hunt Jack. They were the strongest and most relentless of the goblin troops, known for their brutality and prowess in combat. The remaining two were tasked with guarding the shaman, ensuring that he remained safe while his spell worked its malevolent magic.

The forest was suddenly alive with frantic activity. Jack, who had been caught in the midst of his own thoughts, felt a chill run down his spine as the realization hit him. His skin glowed with an unnatural luminescence, and the unmistakable sound of goblin voices and heavy footsteps grew nearer. Panic surged through him, a primal fear that propelled him into action.

He darted from his position, leaving behind the brief comfort of the undergrowth. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he navigated through the forest, his mind racing to devise a plan. The glow that marked him was a beacon to the goblins, an unrelenting signal of his location. The red goblin warriors would be relentless, and Jack had little time to devise a strategy.

Jack’s escape route was fraught with obstacles. The forest, once a sanctuary, now seemed like a maze of twisted branches and treacherous underbrush. He sprinted through the trees, his senses heightened by the fear that gripped him. The glow that radiated from his skin was impossible to suppress; it illuminated his path with an otherworldly light, making him an easy target.

He heard the distant, guttural shouts of the red goblin warriors, their voices growing louder as they closed in on him. Jack’s heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the urgency of his situation. He pushed himself harder, his agility and speed crucial to his survival. The forest was dense, but he knew that hiding would not be enough. He needed to find a way to outsmart his pursuers, to use the terrain to his advantage.

In a desperate attempt to buy himself time, Jack set a series of traps as he moved. He had prepared several snare traps and pitfalls, hoping to slow down the goblins and create a delay. Each trap was meticulously placed, designed to ensnare or incapacitate his pursuers. As he continued to run, he triggered each trap in turn, hoping that the obstacles would buy him the precious moments he needed.

Despite his efforts, the goblin warriors were determined. Their relentless pursuit was a testament to their skill and training. They navigated the traps with a grim determination, their eyes scanning the forest for any sign of their quarry. Jack’s heart sank as he realized that his traps would only delay them, not stop them.

As the minutes passed, the glow on Jack’s skin began to wane, a faint reminder of the spell's lingering effects. He was no longer just running from goblins; he was fleeing from a magical beacon that led them straight to him. His only hope was to find a way to break free from the shaman’s spell, to somehow neutralize the glow that marked him as a target.

Jack’s mind raced with possibilities. He recalled the shaman’s earlier incantations and the complex rituals he had witnessed. If he could somehow reverse the effects of the spell or create a counter-signal, he might be able to evade the goblins. But the complexity of such a task was daunting, and time was not on his side.

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He reached a small clearing, his lungs burning from the exertion. He took a moment to catch his breath, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential hiding spots. The clearing was surrounded by dense foliage, and Jack quickly began to form a plan. He would use the natural terrain to create a temporary refuge, hoping to buy himself enough time to think of a solution.

As he settled into position, he noticed a small stream running through the clearing. The water was cool and clear, a potential asset in his escape. He crouched beside the stream, carefully concealing himself among the rocks and foliage. The glow from his skin was still visible, but he hoped that the natural cover would provide some degree of concealment.

Jack’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and strategies. He considered using his Space Storage skill to hide himself or to create a diversion. He also thought about the possibility of finding a way to break the shaman’s spell, though he had little information on how to achieve that. The stakes were high, and he needed to act quickly.

The sound of goblins growing closer filled the air, a constant reminder of the impending danger. Jack’s senses were on high alert as he prepared for the next phase of his plan. He knew that the goblins would be thorough in their search, and he needed to be ready for any eventuality.

Suddenly, a glimmer of hope appeared. As Jack scanned the clearing, he noticed a series of rock formations that seemed to form a natural pathway. The rocks were large and jagged, creating a labyrinthine structure that could potentially provide additional cover. Jack decided to make his way toward the rock formations, hoping that the natural terrain would offer him some protection from the goblins’ pursuit.

With careful precision, Jack moved through the clearing, making his way toward the rocks. He used his Stealth skill to remain hidden, moving silently and avoiding any unnecessary noise. As he approached the rock formations, he felt a renewed sense of determination. This was his chance to turn the tide, to use the terrain to his advantage and outwit his pursuers.

As he reached the rocks, Jack carefully concealed himself among the crags and crevices. He had managed to evade the immediate pursuit, but he knew that the goblins would not give up easily. The glow from his skin was still visible, though it was less pronounced within the shadowed refuge of the rocks.

Jack took a moment to catch his breath, his mind racing with potential strategies. He considered using his Space Storage skill to create a temporary refuge or to retrieve additional supplies. He also thought about the possibility of setting up more traps, hoping to further delay the goblins and create additional confusion.

As he contemplated his options, Jack heard the distant sounds of the goblins’ voices. The red goblin warriors were methodically searching the forest, their guttural voices a constant reminder of the danger that lurked nearby. Jack’s senses were on high alert as he prepared for the next phase of his plan.

The minutes ticked by slowly as Jack waited in the rocky refuge. He remained vigilant, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. The forest was quiet, but the tension was palpable. Jack’s mind raced as he considered his next move, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps drew closer, and Jack’s heart raced. The goblin warriors were drawing near, their search becoming more intense. Jack’s mind raced with potential strategies, his thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities. He needed to act quickly, to use the terrain and his skills to his advantage.

As the goblins approached, Jack carefully set up additional traps and diversions. He used his Stealth skill to move silently, avoiding detection as he prepared for the impending confrontation. His traps were designed to slow down the goblins and create confusion, buying him precious moments in the face of the relentless pursuit.

The goblins were thorough in their search, their movements methodical and relentless. Jack’s traps created a series of obstacles, but the goblins were determined. They navigated the terrain with grim determination, their eyes scanning the area for any sign of their quarry.

Jack’s heart pounded as he watched the goblins move through the rocky refuge. The tension was palpable, each moment a reminder of the danger that lurked nearby. Jack’s mind raced with strategies, his thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities. He needed to find a way to break free from the shaman’s spell and escape the relentless pursuit.

As the minutes passed, Jack’s sense of urgency grew. The goblins were closing in, their search becoming more intense. Jack’s traps had created a temporary delay, but he knew that he needed to act quickly to evade capture.

With a renewed sense of determination, Jack prepared for the next phase of his plan. He knew that the goblins would not give up easily, and he needed to use every resource at his disposal to outwit his pursuers. The stakes were high, and Jack was determined to survive.

The forest was quiet, the sounds of the goblins’ search a constant reminder of the danger that lurked nearby. Jack’s mind raced as he considered his next move, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. He needed to find a way to escape, to break free from the shaman’s spell and evade the relentless pursuit.

As the goblins continued their search, Jack remained hidden among the rocks, his senses on high alert. The tension was palpable, each moment a reminder of the danger that lurked nearby. Jack’s heart raced as he prepared for the next phase of his plan, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities.

The minutes ticked by slowly as Jack waited, his thoughts a whirlwind of strategies and contingencies. He needed to act quickly, to use the terrain and his skills to his advantage. The stakes were high, and Jack was determined to survive.

As the goblins drew closer, Jack’s sense of urgency grew. The search was becoming more intense, and he needed to find a way to break free from the shaman’s spell. With a renewed sense of determination, Jack prepared for the next phase of his plan, his mind racing with possibilities.

The forest was quiet, the sounds of the goblins’ search a constant reminder of the danger that lurked nearby. Jack’s heart raced as he prepared for the impending confrontation, his thoughts a whirlwind of strategies and contingencies. The stakes were high, and Jack was determined to survive