He fired the empowered arrow. It struck through the air, but his aim was slightly off. Instead of his intended target–the heart–it bore through the monster's stomach.

However, despite the missed shot, the power of its impact pushed the monster out of the tree. It wasn’t what Noah wanted. He frowned as a startled screech left its mouth. It wasn’t anything too loud, but it didn’t bode well for him.

Noah bolted toward where the kobold was falling. Krall tensed the dense muscles in his legs, then leapt up high.

Spear at the ready, Noah [Thrusted] it straight through the kobold. Unlike his archery aim, his spear was true. It shot through its heart and its pained murmurs were instantly halted.

Despite Krall’s weight, as they, and the kobold fell, the noise they made was similar. With a thud, they landed on the forest floor.

You defeated a - Level 25 Kobold Hunter

| Experience is reduced for defeating an enemy lower than your Level.

Noah remained still. Even his breath was halted as he listened out for any signs of movement in the distance. His sneak attack had failed, and it had the possibility for dire consequences.

Please, don’t let the others hear it. Noah chanted within his thoughts, however, the next sounds he heard caused his heart to drop.

A loud siren-horn sound spread to the far reaches of the forest. One after the other. The kobolds were signalling to the others. It was obvious who they were telling.

From the far fort in the far distance, one torch after the other flickered against the tall walls. It took only a few seconds for the entire building to be lit up in a menacing orange hue. Then, a booming horn followed. It was far louder than the rest.

Noah flinched at the following kobold screams, screeches, and hisses. He had only entered for a few minutes, but he had already been found out.

Cursing his rotten luck, Noah retreated with Krall to an area thick with dense trees. However, he wasn’t entirely panicking. Thanks to the dungeon being within a cave–it was dimly lit. The only light emanating was from the moon looming high above. That made the dense wood an abyss that was hidden from any light.

And even if there was no light, the added dark vision from his new Class upgrade provided him the ability to see within the shadows. The darkness was his domain, and he planned on using it to the fullest extent.

Soon, the flickering orange of torches entered the forest–alongside the enthusiastic hissing of kobolds. They had arrived. Adrenaline kicked in within his body as he prepared himself for the encroaching fight.

He didn’t know if the kobolds knew where he was, but they were surrounding him. They must have a tracker. Noah spat. But it was clear they didn’t know his exact location. If they did, they would be heading straight for him, and not in such a roundabout manner.

Noah looked around. It wasn’t difficult to figure out where the majority of their forces lay. In front of him, the light was at its brightest. Knowing that’s where the brunt of their force was located, Noah headed in the other direction.

He approached a small cluster of flickering lights. Using [Shrouded Presence], they were both entirely surrounded in thick shadows with the help of the thick trees.

The kobolds turned around at the sudden steps. They expected to see something their size, but their eyes widened when the hulking size of Krall bolted toward them like a raging tyrant.

Caught unprepared for such an opponent, Noah’s spear shot forward like a storm. Repeated stabs riddled their bodies with seeping wounds. Then, they sprinted back behind a tree.

Their party leader roared. It was a kobold that would put the old Krall to shame. Muscles like bundled steel wire, and long spiralling horns made it clear of his lineage. Something about his bloodline was pure, and it seemed to only incense Krall’s beastly wrath.

Krall leapt out from behind one of the trees and crashed into the beast. Its body was sent tumbling, but he managed to stabilise his body from the strike.

It was then that a twig broke behind his back. Turning its head, it was met with Noah’s spear. The tip penetrated its eye, and travelled straight through to the other side.

During their flank around the trees, Noah had dismounted his companion. The result filled Noah with glee. Of course, the leader's attention was focused solely on the enormous Krall. The smaller Noah was forgotten about–to its detriment.

Noah used Krall as a diversion as he snuck behind the monster. However, he had no time to revel in his crafty mind as the sound of kobolds approached his position. It was time to move.

He skulked further into the shadows–towards another small cluster of flickering lights.

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***

“Great Azug!” Kerabor scampered into the great hall. His hasty words met a towering monster. Two sharp tusks stuck out from its mouth. He had two budding horns from his forehead, and his entire body was built with bulky muscle that seemed to be hand grafted by the gods. The great Azug sat perched on a large, dusty throne. However, his majestic appearance was ruined by a deep impatience.

“There is an intruder! It is slaughtering our troops!” Kerabor’s feet slapped on the cold, cracked fort floors until he was ten metres from Azug. He bowed.

“Someone, or something, has entered our realm. Are they trying to steal my word of power?” Azug’s sharp claws rapped against the arms of his throne. His head turned to the wall, as if recalling something. His voice trailed into a mumble. “How many days have passed since we were brought here? Festering in this place. Two, no, three days? It’s hard to tell.”

“Great Azug!” Kerabor’s voice quivered. He was scared. A few days ago they had won a hard fought battle to take over the Morkal fort. Then the ground trembled, as if a terrible cataclysm threatened to swallow the world whole.

Kerabor thought it was the end, but when he awakened, they were back in the fort. They searched the new cave top-to-bottom. From one side to the other–but it was of no use. There was no way out. Only a small cave entrance blocked their passage. But it was unpassable. They had tried everything.

No weapon, not even Azug could break through that darkness.

They were now hungry, thirsty–and afraid. The unknown was the worst.

“I heard you!” Azug spat, his head snapped onto the quaking Kerabor. “An invader.” His eyes widened. “Yes, that means that it entered here. It knows a way in. It knows the way out.” Azug’s voice turned into a snarl.

“Kerabor!” Azug slammed his fist against the arm of the chair. It rumbled at his might. “We need to catch it before it leaves. I need to get my hands on it. If it refuses to talk, I shall strip its flesh morsel-by-morsel. Tooth-by-tooth. Unleash Yorg.”

“Yorg the tainted?” Kerabor gulped.

“Do not make me repeat myself.” Azug’s eyes flashed a fluorescent red within the dark.

“Your wish is my command, Great Azug.” Kerabor’s shoulder trembled. He bowed further before dashing back through the stalwart doors of the great hall.

He didn’t hesitate for a second as he rushed through the keep.

Intruder. Freedome. Food. Kerabor chanted within his mind as he bypassed the mountain horde. They were stupid things, but they listened to commands, and fought well. It was thanks to them that Azug was able to conquer the fort.

As he passed, they all shot him looks of disgust. Kerabor snarled back at them. He couldn’t show a sign of weakness. It was how the others were eaten.

Not that they dared touch him anyway. None of them were smarter than him. Azug liked smart things. Most of the time.

Prison. Kerabor halted as he gazed at a large, dark wooden door that had a barred window in the middle of it. It led down into the dungeons. It was where Yorg was kept. He didn’t want to go in, but he was given an order. If he refused it, death was the only thing that awaited him.

No, he didn’t want to be horde food.

Using the dangling keys at his waist–he unlocked the door. He hesitated for a moment before taking a large, deep breath. Kerabor scampered down the stairs. His bones trembled at every step that neared him toward Yorg.

He sparked to life a torch that hung to the wall and brought it down with him. The moment his foot struck the bottom step of the dungeon, a group of booming shouts scratched at his eardrums.

Prisoners. They had lost, so this was their fate. Stinky humans were now a food source for the horde.

Kerabor skulked past the prisoners and made his way to the end where the dungeon dipped down even further beyond the earth. It was as dark as the abyss. No amount of light touched the area he had set foot in.

Yorg. Kerabor grimaced. He was a kobold, like them, but he was touched by the corruption. He underwent a change. Like himself, everyone was scared of him. It wasn’t just from his strength, but it was his nature that led to terror.

The only one Yorg had submitted to was none other than the Great Azug. The Scaled Usurper. None was stronger than he.

The emergence of a strong breathing caused Kerabor’s heart to palpitate. It was Yorg. But it was too dark. Kerabor lifted the flickering torch. He ignored the heat coming from the trickling flame as it dripped against his scales. His heart was thumping.

Emerging from the darkness was a kobold face barely recognizable. Black as dark as the void covered his scales like a brand, disorderly scales that were half broken–revealing a dark armour underneath. His corrupted eyes were mottled with black spots; intertwined were the vivid grey of his eyes long passed.

He was Yorg the corrupted. Kerabor’s heart froze.

“Meal time?” Yorg’s voice sounded forced. As if trying to blow through a blocked straw. “Those of the mountain tribe are a little–grizzly. Have you not got anything better?”

His mottled eyes settled on Kerabor’s body. “You are a little different.”

Kerabor took a step back and cleared his throat. “The Great Azug has a mission for you, Yorg.”

“A mission?” Yorg stood up. Kerabor was forced to crane his neck until it would go back no further.

“Yes.” Kerabor bobbed his head up and down. “There is an intruder. You must find him, capture him, then bring him back to Azug.”

“I get to go out to play?” Yorg said with a hint of excitement.

“Yes–” Kerabor’s voice was cut off as Yorg’s hand snapped forward, and clenched around his throat. Kerabor was lifted off his feet. He kicked his dangling legs, thrashing them around, but it was of no use. Yorg was too powerful.

“Then I shall go play.” Yorg let go of the thrashing kobold and sauntered forward.

Just as he was about to disappear. The black tattoos around his body squirmed, then glistened against the flickering of Kerabors torch. They were like an unseen armour. It was the rumoured armour that even Azug had trouble getting through.