Asher blinked, disoriented, and realized with a sinking feeling that he was back in the same forest for the third time in a row. But this time, things were different. Instead of the sunny breeze he'd experienced before, he found himself in a heavy rainstorm. Rain dripped from the twisted branches above, pattering onto the damp ground. Dark clouds covered the sky, making it feel like night was coming, even though it was still daytime. Distant thunder rumbled through the woods, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
"Again... I should've seen it coming, I guess. Seems like these trials stick to certain themes, and I'll be dealing with this one across a bunch of levels until it's no longer relevant. But how long is that gonna be?"
Asher had a growing sense of familiarity with the forest and its trials, but he couldn't help but wonder how long this cycle of trials would continue. It seemed that each trial was based on a specific environment, and he had already encountered challenges related to survival and combat with goblins. The consistent presence of the Savage Woodland Bear in this forest suggested that it might play a crucial role in the final trial regarding this specific zone/area, a boss battle of sorts.
As he looked around, he noticed something else that surprised him. The trees that had been lush and green in his previous trials were now shedding their leaves in a multitude of colors. It was as if the forest had transitioned from summer to fall overnight. The ground was carpeted with leaves in various shades of red, orange, and yellow. The change in the season added to the unsettling feeling that something was amiss, leaving Asher even more perplexed.
Trial's Objective: Destroy the Goblins settlement 0/1
Duration: 10:00:00
Failure from completing the trial - Closure to further floors
Reward for completing the trial - Random Equipment
"More goblins? An entire settlement? How many of them are in there?"
Eliminating goblins had initially been a breeze for him back at the 2nd stage, but this time, the odds were stacked against him. It felt as though the tower was determined to prevent him from succeeding the same way he had done in the second trial. While the forest had been set ablaze in his previous attempt, this time he found himself in the same place, facing off against the enemy in the pouring rain with their numbers far surpassing the previous one. A full-fledged settlement of goblins, and the challenge ahead seemed much more daunting.
Fortunately, there seemed to be no imminent threat concealed behind the bushes, judging by his guardian's behavior. It appeared that the goblins had decided to stay in doors as soon as the rain began pouring. Despite the rain putting him at a disadvantage, it offered several advantages. Asher could move through the forest without alerting them to his presence due to the masking of his footsteps' sounds and the reduced likelihood of them scouting the area in such a heavy downpour.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
With determination, Asher chose to press forward, intent on locating the settlement. Drawing from his past experiences, he had learned that whenever the trial transported him to a new location, the trial's objective tended to be nearby rather than distant. As he had anticipated, it only took a few minutes of wandering before he stumbled upon the settlement.
The goblin settlement was nestled within the heart of the forest, concealed by thick foliage and strategically hidden from prying eyes. The surroundings were a tangled mess of towering trees. The settlement itself was a network of crudely constructed structures, seemingly haphazardly assembled from scavenged materials.
The main focal point of the settlement was a central hut, noticeably larger than the others, with a crooked thatched roof that sloped at odd angles. Its walls were a patchwork of various wooden planks, bark, and woven vines. Surrounding the central hut were several smaller hovels, each equally makeshift in appearance, housing the goblin inhabitants. These huts were scattered irregularly, giving the settlement an organic, chaotic feel.
The atmosphere carried the unmistakable fragrance of moist earth as Asher approached the settlement's entrance, carefully hiding himself behind a large bush. Positioned at the gateway were two guards, clad in tattered armor that bore the marks of wear and tear. They clutched spears in hand, their makeshift weapons, ready to ward off any potential intruders who dared to approach.
https://i.imgur.com/BNFt617.png [https://i.imgur.com/BNFt617.png]
"They all seem pretty similar, with the only things setting them apart being their clothes and weapons based on their roles. Like, for example, the goblin hunter had a bow and arrow and wasn't wearing much armor."
"Now... How should I approach this..."
The task at hand was quite complicated, leaving Asher with limited options. He had initially considered ambushing them one by one, but lacking the necessary gear for assassination attempts made him abandon that idea. Next, he thought about setting traps, but with no prior experience in doing so, he doubted his ability to set one up effectively.
As he contemplated his strategy, a sudden figure emerged from the large central hut within the settlement. Its massive, corpulent body wobbled as it took a step outside, catching Asher completely off guard. He hadn't expected to encounter such creatures here. This being resembled the goblins, but one could say it was an evolved version of a goblin, like a Pichu evolving into a Pikachu.
As it emerged from the hut, it began to wobble around in anger towards a nearby goblin, seemingly pleading for mercy. The goblin knelt down, pressing his face against the creature's feet, kissing and licking them in submission. However, the creature showed no mercy. With a sudden and swift motion, it withdrew its feet from the goblin's embrace and, in one stomp, reduced the goblin's head to a pulpy mess of remains.
https://i.imgur.com/HSroGhq.png [https://i.imgur.com/HSroGhq.png]
"How on earth am I supposed to take down this place? I mean, look at that fatso! He could eat me up in one bite, and I've also got to deal with the other goblins hanging around... How am I gonna do this?"
As he continued to observe the settlement, the situation grew increasingly perilous. His available options dwindled, making it incredibly challenging to devise a viable strategy. Setting the place on fire was out of the question due to the ongoing rain. Assassination was ineffective because he lacked the necessary gear to eliminate all the goblins inside. Setting traps was also a fruitless endeavor, as Asher lacked the expertise to set them up effectively.
"What else can i do...wait!"
Then, a sudden realization dawned upon him. Within the context of this trial, his objective wasn't to "kill" the monster within the settlement, but rather to "destroy" the settlement itself. One thing he could count on was the presence of the imposing figure in this place.
"...I suppose that's my only option. This time, I'll put you to use, the least you can do after nearly getting me killed twice in a row, right, big guy?"
https://i.imgur.com/WZ6IFno.png [https://i.imgur.com/WZ6IFno.png]