26
Dungeon Ruler, Goblin King
----------------------------------------
Nine people inched closer to the end of the dark passage. The suppressed light of the luminescent roots guided their path. Finally, near the end of this darkness was an exit of light. Luminescent roots intertwined to form another gate.
Without hesitation the nine people pushed forward, to once more be swallowed by light and finally escape the darkness that surrounded them.
And there they witnessed, in the hazy light stood the last surviving goblin they had chased all the way here. It was standing next to a corpse with jaws dripping with blood.
“It’s eating!” Edward yelled.
Their assumption was correct, their preparations were solid. Three gunshots immediately sounded out. The noise that pierced their ears sounded like the most comforting sound.
But their nervousness didn’t allow them to realize. What stood in front of them wasn’t the goblin archer they were chasing.
“Krhkarhkararkhrakh,” a clicking voice sounded. Relishing at the arrival of its invaders.
The archer they had been looking for was split into two. And between its torso and legs stood it, an unfamiliar creature. A pure white figure, blood dripping down its claws and teeth basking in the light cascading down from a thick canopy of intertwining luminescent roots.
Underneath a coat of thick-white fur, peeked a bony body. Ash gray. Thin as a willowy tree. Yet fierce eyes stared back at these invaders from in front of a dilapidated marble throne. Two eyes, shining as bright as the stars in a night sky looked down with pure glee.
“What?” Confusion spread out.
Three shots, all on target, and they finally saw it.
Not a single one had reached. Each bullet was held back by a pitch-black patch of darkness hovering in the air, the bullets stopped right in front of their target.
Their preparation was solid. But they couldn’t have planned for an unknown variable, not in a world that had changed as much as this one, not to this extent.
And finally, the final miscalculation stood there waiting for them.
A clicking noise once more spoke to its visitors. A language they were all too familiar with but none could understand.
“You’re finally here.”
All except for Alduin.
“Relo-“ Edward, Lucas, and Alfred had already reloaded, but their target suddenly vanished, completely fading away in the darkness.
"Get lost!“ A voice suddenly erupted but was immediately silenced.
The silence was deafening. A creature stood dead still in the middle of their formation. In its hand the head of one of the shield bearers. Which was disinterestedly tossed to the side the moment his body fell down.
“Khrarhakrhakrahkh,” the clicking voice said.
“What?” Alduin stared wide-eyed at the creature in front of him.
“Do not pretend you don’t understand what this one is saying.” The white goblin stepped forward. “This one senses it… You have connected with the... network of life… The progenitor of all living things in existence…”
Another step carried it further
“-the great cosmic tree”
Until finally it stood in front of Alduin, with a bony hand reaching forward.
“Yggdrasil”
A heavy clicking voice jolted the frozen observers awake. A bony finger, with a nail as sharp as a dagger, pointed to Alduin’s forehead. Blood of the shieldbearer dripped down, its hands had already slaughtered someone just now. And jaws smiled with a long bloody slit as the traces of blood and flesh remained. Its devouring of the goblin captain’s core was still visible.
Almost at the same time as the goblin stepped in front of Alduin, a pike, a sword and a shield bash assaulted the monster.
But once more it was to no avail. Two thick black patches of darkness once again completely absorbed the force behind the two weapons, as they hit a wall in the middle of the air. And the shield which tried pushing the goblin away was held in place with a bony hand.
“GET OU-“
Its starlight eyes never left its target. With a fierce push, the shieldbearer disappeared from the formation.
“UGGUGH-“
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Immediately followed by a groan and something collapsing to the ground against a distant cave wall. The shield bearer had been catapulted with a single hand. A bloody mark slid down to where the corpse of a courageous survivor now lay.
"Killer of my kin. Murderer of my champion. Devourer of his spirit. Tell this one.” Its eyes turned into slits of joy. “Where did you manage to acquire that attribute?~”
The clicking noise had repeated its question. Thrill. Exhilaration. Indulgence. This ash-white creature stared at Alduin as if he was the greatest treasure it had seen.
“A-“ Alduin swallowed. “-attribute?”
And then three more shots rang out. The slow approach had halted. Three more shadows held the bullets back. But this time annoyance and anger washed over its face. Its hunt had been interrupted.
“KHRARAKRHAKKARHKR!” A voice of rage rang out.
And then with movements as fluid as a shadow, the King moved forward. Sharp claws reached forward. The target was a gunman this time.
“DODGE!” Leon yelled out, the moment he saw the slightest movement from the goblin King, Leon charged forward. His shield in front, and his legs pushing with their utmost strength. If it was impossible to move the goblin to the side when it stood in a stationary position, then he could only wait until it moved.
The shield pushed forward. Their charges collided. A rough hit rang out, but still, this wasn’t enough. The claws only narrowly missed their mark, but for the goblin, this was more than enough.
“FUCK!” Edward erupted in pain.
A split rifle fell to the ground.
A charge collided. A bang rang out. A rifle was split in half and Edward yelled out in pain.
Blood poured out as the rifle in Edward’s hands fell to the ground. Four fingers on his left hand were all cut off by a single move from the Goblin King.
The creature in question had been pushed to the side slightly, but it was its leap that removed it from the center of the formation.
“Right, right, right,” the clicking resumed, “It has been too long. It has been too long since it wasn’t against “them”… I forgot how entertaining the struggles… of a lowly being were. There’s no need for questions, an attribute has once more arrived in front of this one…”
The clicking sound stopped as the tension mounted. Finally, they had a clear vision of their surroundings as the survivors hunched together.
“Get a hold of yourself, Alduin!” Edward clutched his left hand. Blood still poured down. But even he felt lost.
“G-“ Alduin stuttered, “Gramps.” The blood in his vision jolted him awake. The stupor had swallowed him. The creature in front of them completely overwhelmed them with its presence alone.
Dead wolves lay in their surroundings, massive creatures larger than the average human. Split goblins, the ones a size between the goblin captain and the weakest ones, littered around the throne.
“What-“ Only now did Alduin realize the creature that pointed its nail at his forehead had already reached Edward.
“Focus.” Edward hit his grandson. “I’m fine.”
A piece of cloth had rapidly bandaged the four stumps on his hand, but his groans occasionally escaped. Their locked eyes once more conveyed their intent. Right. The final enemy stood in front of them.
And just like how the Goblin King never removed its sight from him, Alduin once more locked his eyes tightly on this creature.
Alduin finally understood. No, he understood it the moment they stepped inside the passage.
His blood coursed with electrifying intent. His heart beat faster than he could comprehend, and the pounding echoed in his ears.
‘What is that energy?’ The darkness that blocked the luminescent roots in the tunnel. ‘It feels so-‘
The moment he had been surrounded by darkness he felt something staring at him. And now he knew, vibrational energy wanted to erupt from his body. Even more so than the connection he felt with the core of the goblin captain. Right now, every time the black spots protected the Goblin King, his heart beat faster.
“Right.” Alduin finally understood. “I have established a connection.”
KAHAKHAAKHAKHA
A roaring laughter rang out. The Goblin King shouted with ecstasy.
“Of course, of course.” its nails were painted with a black shadow. “The mystery still stands. That attribute, such a delicacy.” Its mind wanted to wander in joy. "The time is almost near. To finally reach that next realm."
BANG
Two gunshots once more shot out. The delicate balance was crossed by those in a weaker position. Edward had jolted Alduin out of his stupor. But only 7 people were left standing. One shield bearer, two spearmen, one swordsman, and three hunters. No, Edward was down for the count.
Six men versus a single monster.
“Let’s g-“
The creature arrived with a fluid motion.
KHRAKHRAKHRA Laughter erupted as it dodged to the side.
A spear caught its arrival.
BANG
Two pairs of eyes locked onto each other. Darkness once again holding back the bullets that were shot out.
KHRAKHRAKHAR Their attempts were met with mockery.
“Follow my lead.” Alduin nudged Leon and Bob, the last shield bearer. “Hold him back, we’ll protect you from the back.”
Leon and an old man stood in front, one large thick oak shield with a metal cover. And Leon with a new round shield and a sword in hand.
“Dad, Alfred,” Alduin said, “We’re counting on you.”
Black darkness surrounded the Goblin King once more as it toyed with them. But Alduin had realized it, this creature had betrayed itself twice already. Bullets and his spear, two things it actively evaded.
Alduin’s heart pumped. The current of energy that flowed through his veins wanted to erupt, yet no exit was available through which it could escape. Only each thrust of the metallic spear became sharper and sharper.
KHRAKHRAKHRA Laughter reached ever higher as this dungeon of death finally erupted in a fight.
Black claws left their marks on shields but the spear tip accurately held back its advance. Every retreat was marked with the shot of a rifle. Yet not all were accurate. Some missed their mark completely, the most experienced hunters were no longer with them. Lucas had even less experience than Alfred.
“Load the gun, I’ll shoot.” Edward’s voice was heard from behind Alduin.
Two spears, two shields, and two guns. A combination of modern and medieval warfare allowed them to hold on to their final lifeline.
And like this, each encroaching advance of this creature left more and more marks as it continued playing with them. But Alduin and the two hunters kept up. Edward was slightly slower than Alfred, but still, their survival wasn’t yet forfeit.
“For someone who wiped out my kingdom, you sure are careless.” Then their pace was interrupted. “The same thing that gave you victory can also spell your demi-“
BANG
A single bullet should have been fired.
“MY FACE!” Alfred’s voice rang out.
Leon turned towards his father.
A misfire.
KHRRAKHRAKHRAHKAR Maddening laughter as everyone lost focus.
The scales had tilted, and the shadow had reached the hunters.
Nobody was ready.
Claws finally pierced through another body.
BANG
A shriek rang out.
A claw had pierced someone’s stomach, but this time the bullet had reached. A gun had successfully hit its target.