The Spiders had been integrated as one of their underlings. The direct access to thread had cut costs needed for their robes and had the added benefit of making them stronger. With the extra gold flow, it was a win win win.
Gi floated in the lake around the Encampment as he looked over the list of clans that were under his control. He'd added an additional four to their control which helped their income quite a bit, but they'd need to do something more drastic if Gi wanted to progress their needs.
Throughout the monsoon season, Galvina had been pressuring him to make moves against against other clans, saying they didn't have time. She didn't explain what her deadline was for, of course, but she had procured him the enchanted robe and promised it if he could take out a ground clan.
With the rains above and the surrounding kelp, it was very dark as he swam and he couldn't make out anything from the surface, but it was peaceful. It was peace that he wouldn't have for long.
They needed to make their next big move soon. If he had his way, he'd take out the Illusor Clan, but the knowledge that they'd been able to gather was that his clan might not even be able to fight against their illusions. They weren't known for having an intense combat power, but without the ability to fight back, it would be only him against them since his Heart should protect him.
That meant the Brain Goblins were on the chopping block. With their faith to Noctua Dominus, Krayli would be happy and with them taking another Encampment, Galvina would be happy. That meant Gi could keep their resources while not taking a risk with the Illusor Clan yet.
He took a look at his notes for the Brain Goblins also.
Small clan
Primarily used as secretaries and servants for other clans
Rumored combat power is limited
The last note stuck with Gi. He didn't have much information. Their group hadn't fought at the battle which made the rumor of their combat prowess probably accurate. However, some clans like the Angelic Mice had other means of progression than combat which meant they might not be as weak as they appeared.
In the end, it didn't matter. They couldn't control all variables so they'd just have to put their faith in Danna.
Feeling better after having gotten some space for himself, Gi swam back into the Encampment and into the flurry of preparation for the night's raid. As one of the last days of the Monsoon season, this would be one of the few times in the near future where [Concealing Light] would have any use at night.
The Templar and Healers were already organized into their squads, four for the former and three for the latter. The Inquisitors and Hunters weren't all there yet, but Kumo and the twins had always led with a loose hand.
Samba lounged nearby his Squad along with his mate who led another Squad. Tala, his mate, was the only other Templar to successfully upgrade their Constitution and become a Classer. Something about the incoming battle must have had Tala worked up as she was giving Samba bedroom eyes as the two talked. It was like they planned to create a population boom with just the two of them.
Tiria walked up, head down in her notebook so Gi headed over. "Tiria."
Her head popped up. "Boss! Are you all ready for tonight?"
"I am. I see that the Templar and Healers are all set up. Can you remind me how many Squads we can bring for the other Halls?"
Tiria looked around and frowned at noticing they weren't here yet before turning back to her notebook. "By my count, six Inquisitor Squads and eight Hunters not including the Inquisitors in either of our Squads. That's eighty-one of the clan."
Gi nodded. "We expect their numbers to be around five hundred, correct?"
"Yes, sir. Poe might seem childish at times, but I trust his estimates."
He and his Elites had taken out hundreds of jobbies at a time in Myshk prior to the Monsoon season. Assuming the Brain Goblins were close to what they thought, it should be doable without too many casualties. His biggest concerns were their own Classers. Gi had only six and they were estimated to have twelve. If he couldn't handle them, things could get spicy.
"Great," Gi said, "I have faith that we'll do well. Do you think you could get Kumo and the twins to hurry along? I'm impatient to start."
"Of course, Boss," Tiria bowed, giving the sign of the Mother before heading off to find his other Elites.
Over the course of the next hour, the Inquisitors and the Hunters had made it here and everyone was grouped into their individual Squads. Everyone looked to Gi expectantly. He looked out over his gathered clan.
"Listen up. I'm not Captain Mesano. This isn't a glorious battle against a strong foe. This is work. The Brain Goblins are standing in the way of our goals and we're going to exterminate them. That's it."
His eyes drifted to each of his Elites, but none of them flinched at his words, each of their eyes were hard and ready for the killing that would come. When his eyes landed on Tiria, she stared back at him, almost expectantly. Before he could figure it out, she stepped in front of him.
"You heard our Progenitor. Let's march... for Danna!"
The otters cheered at her words and Gi was proud of her devotion to Danna. She already had plans for building a statue down here. One of the Coastal Goblins was named Statue or something and supposedly, they had a decent hand for it.
Each of the otters had already received Wind Fern leaves to make sure they could make the ascent to above safely, but they were to save it unless necessary. Their gold situation wasn't free enough for that.
When they arrived on the surface, Gi and his four Inquisitors activated [Concealing Light] and moved ahead of the group. It was difficult to see the glittering light with all of the rain, but if someone did catch it, they'd be able to follow it pretty easily.
Late at night during the monsoon season, they marched their small army all the way up to the Commons and any monsters that were out immediately ducked back into their home or found an alley to hide in when they saw their group out in force.
It didn't take long and they arrived at the Brain Goblins' base. Where Ferra's estate had a building built around the Encampment Crystal, there's was apparently deep in the mountain. A huge cave stood before them where at least six of the squads could walk shoulder to shoulder.
Gi continued forward into the cave and without the rain beating on their heads, the light from his [Concealing Light] ability was now very obvious, but he left it running so they had some means to see. His Squad was arrayed behind him while Samba and Tala led the main group.
With the rain and tight quarters, they'd left Poe at the Encampment, but Gi wished he had a good scout right now. They'd continued another hundred feet into the cave, but there was still no sign of the Brain Goblins.
"Is it a trap?" One of his Inquisitors asked, fear plain on their face. Gi peered back into the deep gloom of the cave.
"If it is, let's go spring it."
Their group continued on and it wasn't long before something changed. Vines hung from the ceiling of the cave, each with bright pink flowers on them. With how low the ceiling was, Gi examined one of their petals. The back of it was a mottled green.
"Keep an eye on these plants," Gi said and one of his Squad went back to inform the rest of the group. They looked like ordinary plants to him, but there was no light in the cave and while the floor had a thin layer of water from the rain outside, the dry season would be hell on a plant like this. They were cultivated somehow.
Gi continued forward. More and more of those vines with pink flowers appeared until it was impossible to see the cave ceiling above other than the occasional stalactite that stuck out.
A dim blue glow stopped Gi and he held his fist up so the Squads stopped as well. He let his [Concealing Light] wink out as he crept further in. Mushrooms had started to appear among the vines and were casting that blue glow onto the ground. The cave turned just after that point and Gi peaked his head around.
Almost immediately after the bend, the cavern opened up into a huge cavern. The ceiling still wasn't high, but it was almost double what it was in the tunnel. Those same vines grew everywhere around the cave and the blue mushrooms lit up almost the entire cave.
On one side of the cave, a wall of magma fell from above and into a hole below without spilling out. The space around it was mostly clear of the vines. On the other side of the chamber, an underwater spring ran through it and on this side, forming a small pond. The vines practically swarmed all over each other around it.
What drew Gi's gaze though was the group of over a hundred Brain Goblins in the center of the cavern. Like all the Brain Goblins he'd seen before, they had the same green coloration as a normal goblin with a head that was nearly twice the size.
What concerned Gi is that they seemed to be waiting for them. All of them stood facing the cavern Gi was in and they were all deadly silent. He stepped back around the bend and found his Elites waiting for him.
"Whats's up?," Samba asked. Gi looked back over his shoulder.
"There's a huge cavern ahead. Around a hundred of them waiting for us."
"Waiting.... for us?" The twins asked.
Gi nodded and Tiria spoke up. "So what's the plan?"
"Same as before. We kill them. I'll go spring the trap and you guys run in after my initial salvo."
"Sir," Tala said. She wore a set of chainmail that had been found in a hidden Armory beneath the Command. Samba wore what Gi would effectively call half plate. Various strips of metal were strapped to his body across his chest, thighs, and forearms, but they didn't have enough metal to completely cover him. Tala seemed hesitant to speak.
"Go on."
Samba put a hand on her back and the Classer spoke. "I don't think we should risk having you go in first. Let the Templar secure a perimeter and then you can launch your attacks."
Kumo scoffed. "A leader fights from the front."
Gi held a hand up to Kumo to prevent them from getting into a spat. Tala was staring daggers at the Elite and Gi had heard there was some bad blood between Samba and Kumo on their different opinions on raising the clan up.
"Your concern is noted, but if they can take me out then the clan would be worse off. You're the only two with a stronger Vitality than me. Focus on keeping the clan safe."
Tala gave the sign of the Mother and slapped Samba until he gave the same. A glance at the other Elites told him that nobody else had anything to add.
"Keep an eye out for their Classers. If any appear, I want you to target them directly. If the Progenitor comes, they're mine." His Squad also waited nearby and he turned to them next. "Help me with the initial salvo and then activate [Concealing Light]. Try to ambush any groups that you can. If you try to follow me directly, you may die."
"Yes, Boss." They said in unison.
Gi activated [Archbishop] and between his Squad and his summoned otters they filled the width of the cavern. With his upgraded Heart, he wasn't nervous, but he still took a deep breath as he charged [Divine Ire]. As the charging Aether started to become painful, his group stepped around the bend.
Now in full view, the Brain Goblins spotted them. Rage flicked across their faces before their heads opened up, revealing a pink inside filled with rows and rows of sharp teeth. They roared from the open maws on top of their heads. Gi had never heard of this capability, but he didn't care.
He loosed his [Divine Ire] mirrored six times.
Seven globes of light flew across the cavern, only a little slower than his previous [Divine Bolt]. They made up for it by each globe being the size of a boulder. The globes had a weight to them as well and they cut through the air with a low thrum.
Recognizing the danger, the Brain Goblins scattered trying to avoid the globes, but that was a fool's hope. Each of the globe's exploded and light shrapnel shot out in all directions. Brain Goblins fell limp as they ran as light burst through their chest or head whereas others fell screaming to the ground as a limb was ripped off. The cavern didn't fare any better with light cutting through the vines and embedding into the cavern itself.
A flurry of notifications popped up, but ignoring them in combat was a simple matter. Still, Gi caught the first one that came through.
Possession Flower defeated!
1 Soul Orb received. Current Soul Orbs: 64.
And that's when he realized what was wrong. The Brain Goblins weren't the only ones screaming. The flowers on the vines that coated the entire wall screamed as well. The Brain Goblins didn't exist at all.
"ATTACK THE FLOWERS!" Gi yelled out.
As he yelled, a vine fell directly on his back and he felt the flower spread wide and stab long teeth directly into its back. Before he could even reach back and rip it off, another notification popped up.
Soul Orb lost to Possession Flower's [Brain Drain]. Current Soul Orbs: 137
Without any hesitation, Gi ripped the flower off of his back and blood dribbled from the teeth marks. More vines fell from the sky and as they landed on his summons, they immediately winked out. His summons had no defense against the Flower's attack. Using the bolt form of [Divine Ire], Gi fired into the now charging goblins and stomped on some of the squirming vines that tried to latch onto him.
He ripped off a vine from one of his Squadmates. "[Concealing Light]. Make sure the Elites know the flowers are the enemy and that they can drain Soul Orbs."
Two of them immediately followed his order, but the other froze as a vine fell on her. Gi ripped that vine off as well and crushed the flower in his paw. "GO!"
More vines were crawling across the ceiling towards him and more goblins started to pour out of side passages from the main cavern. Gi didn't have time to worry about their numbers quickly ballooning past their estimates and instead had to turn and fight the oncoming goblins.
First, he used [Celerity] to zip back into the tunnel and then launched another [Divine Ire] in globe form. It ripped apart the goblins structured charge and then he used another charge of [Celerity] to appear right in the aftermath.
One of the goblins jumped at him, gaping head-maw first. Up close, Gi could see that their head wasn't a true mouth and was just a more advanced version of the pink flower that sat on the vines above. Did they take over the goblins? Or did they eventually grow to this shape?
He didn't have time to finish that thought as he ducked the diving goblin and brought one of his summons into being with a mace who smashed it into the goblin's head. Two more summons reappeared beside him and each of them had a mace in hand as they waded into the attacking goblins.
Without shields, they could still fire [Divine Ire] into the approaching horde though they didn't have room for the globe form. Another three of his summons were still at the entrance to the cavern where they'd started. Two of them kept the vines off of them while the last was firing globes of light into the enemies that were pouring out of the side passages.
Gi pivoted another attack, sending the flying goblin crashing into the ground behind him. Without looking, he stepped back and smashed its chest with one of his feet. More and more continued to dive at him even through the wedge that his summons had created. Bolts of light or a palm strike ended most of them, but when a vine fell on his leftmost summon, it disappeared and one of the goblins took advantage latching onto his left side.
Soul Orb lost to Possession Flower's [Entropy Drain]. Current Soul Orbs: 189
He ripped it off and regenerated the lost summon, but he'd lost the momentum. Two of them dove towards his feet, arms outstretched to hinder his movements. He jumped, wanting to save his last [Celerity] charge, but that left him open for the other to dive through the air at him. He blasted one apart with a burst of light, but two more latched onto him on his left side, absorbing more of his orbs.
I'll have to retreat... he thought as he ripped off one of the flowers, but before he could take the other out, a mace made out of mist scraped it off. A glance behind him showed Kumo had raced ahead. As she ran, more weapons of mist appeared stemming the onslaught.
"How's the clan?," Gi shouted over the clamor of screaming goblins as he blasted three more out of the air.
"Took some losses, but we've cleared out the cave. They're coming-"
The giant Samba and his wife crashed directly through Gi's summons, dispersing them to Aether. The two slammed their now-forged two handed maces into the attacking horde. For Samba, his blows swung more like a golfer than a baseball player with his size. With their line suddenly pushed back, Gi took a quick breather.
"My [Archbishop]s docost some Aether to reform, you know.."
Samba just gave him a cheeky grin before doing another big sweeping attack with his mace. Gi brought all of his summons back to him and started blasting through the crowd. Freed up to think, he frowned as seven bursts of light cut a path through the Possession Flowers. He'd killed over a hundred by himself and that didn't include the monsters back in the cave.
With the continued waves of monsters pouring into this cavern, he knew their information was wrong. Way wrong. There were well over five hundred monsters here.
"For Danna!" The battlecry echoed through the cavern as the rest of the clan came in with Tiria at its head. A watery mace appeared in one hand from her Domain [Waterborn Weapon] and she raised it high as the clan returned the shout. "FOR DANNA!"
"For the clan!" She stepped forward flinging her [Waterborn Weapon] forward and it crashed into monsters that were trying to form along the the left flank. The twins wove around each other, staggering their own bursts of [Divine Bolt] to keep an almost continous stream of fire holding down the right flank. Behind them the Templar strode forward with their two handed maces held high. "FOR THE CLAN!"
Once the clan had set up a perimeter, the mob of goblins broke themselves against their lines. The Hunters darted out around the flanks using hit and run tactics to disrupt their attempts at breaking inside. The Templars, of course, plugged most of the space with their bodies and long maces. The Inquisitors ensured that the Templars line didn't break from smaller monsters coming through using a torrent of [Divine Bolt] between each Templar. At the center and each flank, one of the Squads of Healers roamed, grabbing anyone that was injured, using [Cure] and getting them back in the fight.
This was the first time that he'd fought with his entire clan, but it made Gi smile. With their superior traits and the diversity that he'd gotten from his success in the Infant Stage, they were unstoppable. It didn't matter how many Possession Flowers there were. This was easy.
...too easy.
That thought struck just a moment before the real trap was sprung. A weight settled over the entire cavern. His body moved sluggishly as he slammed a fist into one of the goblins. It killed it, but not to the same level he'd been decimating them at before. His Strength felt as though it was a whole rank lower. Then the notification hit.
Soul Orb lost to Possession Flower's [Entropy Field]. Current Soul Orbs: 206
All around, members of the clan started to drop, screaming to the ground as their Soul Orbs went into the negative. Gi's summons blasted space around him, but the goblins seemed completely unaffected by either the [Entropy Field]'s Soul Orb drain or whatever it was doing to limit his stats. Metal pounding against flesh mixed with the screams of his otters and the yelling goblins. The twins shouted over all of it.
"Their Classers are in the side tunnels! There are dozens of them!"