Looking at the lake, a sudden sense of nervousness washed over me. Calming myself down, I dismounted Charcoal and threw the fox corpse on the ground. Afterward, I retracted my gaze from the lake and turned my attention to the steed.
Seeing that Charcoal was also fearfully looking at the lake while shivering, I couldn't help but feel a bit sympathetic for the horse, especially when I conveyed my next instructions to him.
"Charcoal, grab the fox corpse and put it at the edge of the lake before returning to me."
Suddenly turning stiff, the horse's eyes grew wide as he stared at me, a sense of betrayal, fear, and anguish accompanied its gaze.
Charcoal stood still for a little while, as if trying to disobey my order. However, with the contract somehow working its wonders, after a little while, he gave in and bit the fox corpse before slowly making its way over to the lake.
Incredibly scared of the monster it had encountered here last time, Charcoal moved at a snail's pace while inching closer to the lake. Thinking it was taking too long, I mentally ordered the horse, "Faster."
Flinching, the horse now began moving at a walking pace. Although its movements were still robotic, as if resisting going forward, I was satisfied. I watched how Charcoal reached the edge of the lake and lowered the fox corpse, making the lower half submerged while the upper part was still on the bank.
Having placed the corpse, Charcoal, as if its life depended on it, raced to my side. Feeling tense, I quickly mounted the trembling horse and stared intently at the corpse.
1 second.
2 seconds.
5 seconds.
As the ten-second mark passed, and I was about to get Charcoal to splash the water a bit, a colossal shadow appeared, and not long after, a massive splash unveiled the body of the salamander.
As ripples spread through the lake, the creature pounced on the fox corpse and without the need to chew swallowed its prey.
Like last time, the salamander began scanning its surroundings.
"Well, it's now or never."
Knowing I had to act now before the salamander could attack me, I quickly activated my fireball spell and shot it at the salamander's face. Just as the salamander turned in my direction, my attack reached its head and made impact causing a small explosion to occur.
And… nothing happened. After the explosion occurred, the salamander didn't even flinch. Looking at its snout, there wasn't any damage either. It was almost as if a gentle breeze had struck it.
The only thing that did happen was that the salamander's undivided attention was now directed at me. Its eyes narrowed, and a prehistoric screech escaped its mouth.
As the sonic screech reverberated throughout my body, I thought my eardrums were going to burst as blood started leaking out of my ears. Even though I was suffering from the attack, I kept my gaze fixated on the salamander that was getting out of the lake. While my attack didn't do any damage, that was never my plan anyway, as it was simply to lure it.
Looking at Charcoal, I could see the roar had also affected him. Luckily, though, I could transmit my orders mentally and told him to immediately run down the mountain as I hurled another fireball in the salamander's direction.
This effectively incensed the already enraged monster, which started climbing out of the lake to chase after us.
As the wind zipped past me traveling down the slope, I looked behind. The image of the salamander was still hidden, as it would first need to cross the flat land next to the lake, but after a few seconds, its figure was revealed as it was sprinting after us.
Looking at it, my eyes grew wide as its entire body was revealed for the first time, and its size was truly monstrous. While I had already seen that it was 4 meters tall, its sleek and smooth orange body was at least 15 meters long.
Running after us in a lizard-like manner, bending from side to side as it retracted its legs to run, it gave off a truly prehistoric and domineering aura, especially when it opened its humongous mouth.
"Ohh shit, Charcoal, move to the left!"
Just as I gave the command, a massive fireball flew past us and exploded against a boulder, partly exploding it as a sea of fire followed. Feeling a cold sweat start to form on my back, at the narrow escape, I looked to the dead forest below as I could see the two opposing goblin tribes were close by and would only take two minutes or so to reach.
"That is if I survive the way down."
Looking behind me, I quickly led Charcoal to escape another fireball. Although we weren't getting directly hit, the heat was still blistering my skin, and even Charcoal's fur was getting singed.
The only thing in this constant battle against life and death that was going my way was that Charcoal didn't lose out in speed against the Salamander, and we were able to keep some distance between us.
And with me directing Charcoal away from the searing ball of flames while he sprinted down, we continued to escape the salamander and eventually reached the black forest.
From then on, it became easier to evade the salamander's attacks, and we eventually reached the goblins.
....
[Point of View - Goblins]
As both goblin tribes ascended to the top to escape the raging fire below, they gradually came closer together, following the path to the top. Accompanying them was a surging tide of beasts who recklessly strode forth, even trampling some unlucky tribe mates.
Eventually, both groups were able to spot each other but decided not to engage as they were still escaping from the fire; the stampede of beasts they would need to go through also dissuaded such actions. Traveling along the path, both groups reached the dead forest, and as the tide of monsters sizzled out into the surroundings, both groups approached each other.
The green goblin chief, on his horse, went to the front of his camp and angrily roared, "Gilek, why you burnt forest!".
Gilek was the name of the red goblin chief who, surrounded by a squad of magicians, went to the front and also angrily responded, "You imbecile! Why would we do this? The entire forest is gone now. Why do you think we were always careful when casting out spells? We even live in a cave!"
Gilek then further responded, "It must have been one of you idiots, probably torching some trees for fun or something."
The green goblin chief was offended. Although he didn't exactly understand everything Gilek said, he knew Gilek was calling him stupid. Enraged, the green goblin chief pulled out both his swords, "First you kill son, now you burn forest, then call me stupid!"
The chief, overcome with rage, then pointed one of his swords to the opposing camp and yelled, "Attack! Kill all red bastards!" prompting the green goblins to charge at the other tribe.
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Gilek, seeing this, clicked his tongue and quickly went to the back of his camp as he ordered the regular goblins to go to the front while the mages would attack from behind. By now, Gilek was convinced that the green goblins had started the fire, although he didn't know exactly why, but comprehending their idiocy was beneath him.
Just as the mages were readying their spells and both tribes were about to collide, a shocking roar reverberated across the area, coming from atop the mountain. Causing both groups to temporarily freeze. The roar, although distant, had awakened an unknown fear in them, as if they heard a higher existence.
This peace on the battlefield lasted only for a second, though, as a green goblin warrior, seeing that its opponent had frozen up, swung down his sword, decapitating the enemy and causing both tribes to again focus on the battle as magic casters quickly hurled their already prepared spells, killing a goblin with every fireball.
While the red goblins had the magician, the green goblins' cavalry reached the red goblins and began decimating their ranks. As blood and burnt corpses littered the battlefield, the distant sound of constant explosions was drowned, except to the two chiefs who, after hearing the roar, were both terrified stiff and hadn't moved from their positions yet.
Looking at each other from across the battlefield, both saw the terror in each other's eyes, and Gilek yelled, "Cease attacking!" while the green goblin chief yelled, "Stop!," causing the battlefield to once again become quiet as both groups looked with confusion at their chief until the sound of falling trees reached their ears, and they all turned to that direction.
After being like this for a second, they eventually saw a Black Forest horse escape from the forest accompanied by a strange creature they had never seen before. Although it slightly resembled a goblin, it was neither green nor red; it was also covered in burn marks. This creature ran straight through the middle of the battlefield. The goblins would have attacked it but froze as they saw the beast that was chasing it.
Upon entering the battlefield the humongous beast stopped briefly, scanning its surroundings. Every time it looked at a goblin, fear gripped their heart. Eventually, it raised its paw; the green goblin nearest to it had a bad premonition, but before it could run away, it had already descended.
*Splat*
As the salamander raised its paw againt, the broken body of the goblin was found. It threw the goblin in its mouth like it was popcorn before licking its lips while looking ravenously at the others, and began attacking its new prey.
....
[Point of View - Aeron]
Running past the stunned goblins, I smirked as the salamander had finally attacked. Maneuvering between them, none of the goblins were focused on me as they all stared at the monstrosity causing carnage behind.
Quickly going out of range from the battlefield, I circled around and, on higher ground, spectated the salamander devastating the goblins' ranks.
By now, both goblin leaders had realized that they were in deep shit and that the only way to survive was by fighting; otherwise, on this small stretch of land, they would be picked off one by one.
"I guess everything is going according to plan. Now, how much time is left?"
______________
[Trial panel]
Duration: 35:29
______________
"About thirty minutes. It should be enough, I hope."
"Oh, it seems they have come up with a strategy."
Looking at the battlefield, it seemed both tribes has set away their diferences for now and decided to focus on the salamander having rearranged themselves, with the common goblins now facing the salamander.
Although unable to inflict any real damage with their daggers, they proved to be a good distraction for the warrior goblins and cavalry that would swoop in and use their swords to cut into the salamander. While still not doing a lot of damage, whenever the green goblin chief would swing his swords, I could see a clean cut being formed.
The goblin mages, on the other hand, were continuously targeting the salamander's head with their fireballs, stopping it from casting its own. Whenever the red goblin chief would shoot his spell, I could even see some damage being done.
With all the attacks being thrown, it looked like the Salamander was in a tough position. But that was only if you didn't factor in that all the damage that had been done to it until now was just superficial, and every time it powerfully swung its tail or struck out with its body, a few goblins would be crushed or sent hurling into the distance.
Like this, the battle continued for 15 minutes until a major development occurred: the red goblin chief had stopped casting for a while and was instead focusing on a new spell that took him about a minute to prepare.
This unique spell deviated from the conventional ball form, stretching into a meter-long object resembling a spear. The relentless assault of the other goblin mages on the salamander prevented it from noticing the impending danger.
As the goblin chief hurled the elongated spell at the creature, it could only manage to close its eyelids in a futile attempt to shield itself. Despite this defensive reflex, the spell unleashed a powerful explosion, forcing the creature's head to jerk upward, accompanied by a roar of agony.
Examining its countenance, one of its eyelids had vanished, revealing a white and burned eye underneath.
Incensed, the salamander activated another one of its skills, causing a 5-meter ring of fire to form around it, burning the 40 or so regular goblins, 10 goblin warriors, and two horse riders in its vicinity to death.
From the initial 330 goblins, less than 150 now remained. Although, for the most part, the elite of both groups were still alive, the situation was beginning to look grim.
The salamander, turning its full attention to the red goblin chief, quickly dashed in his direction.
As the other magicians quickly ran away from the approaching ring of death, the chief drained from the previous spell, couldn't escape, and the last thing it did was conjure a small fireball as it staggered in fear and felt itself burning before being swallowed by the creature.
As his tragic fate came to an end, the ring of fire surrounding the salamander stopped, it probably burnt through allot of mana, and the battle continued.
"Wait a second. Fireballs, and that ring of fire. Did the red goblin's learn their spells from the salamander? Or is it just a skill common to beings who use fire magic? Although the goblin chief did make that fire spear, and the salamander hasn't used that skill, so maybe the second option."
"Anyway, I'm pretty sure the goblins are going to lose."
Looking at the fight, the salamander was moving more sluggish than before, probably resulting from all the cuts and bruises that were piling up. Even though the salamander wasn't in an ideal state, neither were the goblins; many were tired, and some of the mages were no longer casting their spells, having run out of mana.
I could also see some red goblins deserting the battlefield. Having lost their chief, there wasn't much point for them anymore. The green goblin chief had also noticed this and was now ordering the remaining red common goblins to mount a frontal assault (suicide attack) against the salamander.
As the red goblins attacked and distracted the beast, a few goblin warriors, having abandoned their swords, sneaked behind the lizard and, using knives, quickly scaled up its body from where they proceeded to continuously harass and stab the beast as it was unable to reach them on its back.
This lasted for about two minutes before another ring of fire expanded from the salamander and burnt all the insects from its back and red goblins attacking it.
When the ring of fire ended, the creature looked considerably more drained than before. Seeing it as his chance, the goblin chief called for an all-out attack, and with the remaining 70 goblins a gruesome ensured.
Ten minutes later, all the goblins except for the chief had either died or fled. The chief looked in dismay as half its body was burned, the burned corpse of his son and his entire tribe was smouldering around him. They had been tricked by the creature.
During the battle, the salamander had taken a beating from the goblins. Even I believed they stood a chance after they managed to chop off its tail.
However, just as they thought they were going to win this battle, the salamander suddenly activated another ring of death, killing all the remaining goblins except for the chief, who because of his strength managed to survive.
The reason they were tricked was that the lizard had acted as if it was unable to use mana anymore, as it even stopped shooting fireballs, but it had all been a feint, and when all the remaining goblins were in range, it activated its ability.
As the salamander, now stained red with its own blood, staggered toward the goblin chief, the leader stood motionless, his expression blank as he faced the approaching horror. The creature lowered its gaping maw, chomping down on the chief before tossing his lifeless form into the air and swallowing it whole.
Looking at the scene, I couldn't help but sigh as a determined glint crossed my eyes. "Guess I'll have to finish this, Charcoal, let's go!"
Now I would never attempt to kill the salamander if it was still in good health, but currently, it walked with a limp, had lost a ton of blood, an eye, and its tail, making it basically at death's door, so I had to take the chance.
As Charcoal unwillingly galloped toward the lizard, its attention began focusing on us. Truly out of mana now, the creature could only approach the enemy with physical force as we raced approached each other.
As we neared, I talked to Charcoal, "It seems our adventure has come to an end. Now, jump!"
The salamander, perceiving the horse and its rider jumping toward it, eagerly opened its maw as it was seemingly presented with a free snack. However, from the corner of its eye, in mid-flight it caught sight of the rider leaping from the horse. The mysterious newcomer landed on its head, swiftly drawing a sword and aimed for the remaining good eye.
As I jumped off Charcoal's back and soared through the air, I took out my sword and stabbed it halfway into the beast's remaining good eye before it became stuck.
A loud roar followed, but seeing it was still alive and about to swat me with its paw, using all the power I had, I bulged my muscles and pushed, making the sword sink lower and become fully lodged inside, causing the salamander to stiffen up and fall over with a resounding thud.
A second later, and a sweet message graced my ears.
[You have slain Lvl....]