A flash of sunlight hit Stephen in the face as he looked to his left. He could see the faint shine of a sword reflecting light in his direction. This must be her signal, he thought. Elizabeth was in position. From his spot in the grass, Stephen scanned the area, searching for a distraction other than charging into the camp. As he peered out, he caught a glimpse of a barrel with red paint on it. You've got to be kidding me—a red barrel? He shook his head in disbelief. It can't be, could it? In video games, red barrels always explode. He figured if this world operated on video game logic, then one could conclude that this tired video game trope would work the same way. He wiggled one of his axes, causing it to flash sunlight back toward Elizabeth, informing her to get ready. Then he turned back toward the camp center, scanning for a route toward the red barrel and noting the paths the goblins were taking around it before making his move.
Skill Activated - Shadow Stalk
"Now I just need to get to it." He quickly began his move, creeping through the shadows slowly and methodically. His body became transparent, almost ethereal, like the shimmer of heat on a hot day. If one wasn’t looking directly at him, he would seem invisible.
As he approached the red barrel of disgusting brownish-green muck, he nearly gagged at the repulsive smell. He looked around to make certain no one was nearby before he kicked the barrel with all his might toward a fire pit. The barrel flew forward, and he was surprised to see how easily it moved. As the muck spilled out, the scene seemed to unfold in slow motion. He watched as the goblin cook's eyes went wide, its hands reaching up to cover its mouth. The barrel flipped end over end, leaving a trail of muck on the ground with a splash. Flames licked at the contents of the barrel, and then there was ignition. A flash of heat and a loud boom nearly knocked Stephen off his feet, even though he was a good twenty feet away. He covered his face from the blast, and when he looked again, all that remained was a flaming crater and two stubby legs where the goblin chef had stood. The world returned to normal, with the sounds of screams and the flickering of flames as the goblins scrambled haphazardly.
Skill Deactivated - Shadow Stalk
The message snapped Stephen out of his daze, and he moved forward. The goblins, now realizing the cause of the explosion, rushed toward his location. With a wide swing, Stephen lashed out at the closest goblins. The goblins brought their daggers up but were too slow. One of his axes sank into the side of one of the green creatures, only to keep going into the next. A goblin jumped back and tossed its dagger at Stephen. The dagger flew, only to hit Stephen with the pommel and fall to the ground with a thud. Both Stephen and the goblin froze, watching as the blade hit the ground in a state of awe. Then, almost in unison, they slowly looked up at each other. The goblin nervously chuckled and almost seemed to shrug, as if saying, my bad, before Stephen closed the gap. With a kick, he sent the goblin careening backward into a group of approaching goblins. The group of five would-be attackers all fell to the ground with groans.
At the entrance of the camp, Elizabeth’s eyes went wide as she watched a small mushroom cloud form from the center of camp after the loud explosion. She rushed in, striking a goblin with her sword. Spinning, she slammed her shield into a second, feeling the skull cave in with her swing. Her movements were fluid, every strike and step bringing her closer to Stephen’s location. Her hot breath hit her face as she huffed inside her helmet. An arrow clanged against her helmet, knocking her sideways. Turning to face the shooter, she saw a line of goblins all drawing back on bows. They released in unison; she barely had time to bring her shield up. She could hear the ting of arrows striking her shield. Red-hot pain shot through her leg, and she glanced down to see an arrow had found a weak point in her armor. There was a pause, then another volley of tings against her shield. She kneeled down to avoid getting hit again. Instinctually, she glanced at her shield’s reflection to see a goblin charging from behind.
Frantically, her eyes scanned the surroundings as she tried to think of a way out of this situation. If she moved her shield, she would be open to the arrows; if she stayed where she was, that goblin would be upon her. Another wave of metallic tings and thuds struck her shield. She had to do something; she was going to be dead, or worse, if she didn’t react. The goblin behind her leapt into the air, its dagger held high, ready to puncture her spine.
Thud, squawk, splat. That’s what she heard next, as the goblin that had been airborne slid next to her with an axe sticking from its chest. Stephen had intercepted it mid-air with a well-timed throw. She glanced over, and in a daze from the battle, she could see him yelling something to her as six goblins descended on him. He whipped his remaining axe, catching some in the jaw with the flat portion. They were jumping on him, pulling him down to his knees. Elizabeth gave a silent prayer to herself, mustering her courage.
"Yvlis, guide my hand, and steady my heart. Give me the strength to strike down my foes, and protect what is mine—what I have built with my heart and hands." Shimmering light radiated from Elizabeth as if the deity herself were blessing her. She rose to her feet, rushing forward toward the group of archers. Her body stung as arrows hit her shield, and some found their mark. Soon, she was among them. Each swing crackled with radiant energy. Squawks and silence were all she heard as she rained down divine punishment upon the frail green goblins.
Stephen was being clawed and pulled to the ground. One goblin even managed to get a rope around his neck and was yanking him down. He felt battered and bruised. His Adrenaline skill worked overtime to reduce the damage. As he continued to fight, he remembered the necklace around his neck. Thinking quickly, he tried to activate the skill it granted him.
Skill Activated - Sticky Defense
Stephen's body quickly became enveloped in a slimy substance. The attacks from the goblins now did little more than impede his movement. With newfound invigoration, he lashed out, grabbing the rope and yanking the goblin toward him. He brought his foot up and stomped, crushing the goblin’s face underfoot with a crunch. He gripped his axe tighter, swinging up to catch another goblin under the chin and splitting its face in two. Blood spurted like rain, then stopped as the goblin went stiff and fell backward against the ground. He was outnumbered, but for some reason, he felt relaxed. He looked over at Elizabeth, who was in the midst of her own small ambush.
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This seems fruitless. How many of these goblins are there? he thought quickly to himself. It looked like they needed to even the odds, but there were only two of them—against what seemed like an endless horde. And where was this Hob Goblin? The one that Elizabeth seemed worried about? Is this like those video games where you have to kill a certain number of minions before the big one shows up? He couldn’t think about that now. Right now, he needed to focus on getting out of this goblin pile and getting to Elizabeth. If they were together, they could fight together.
Elizabeth slammed her shield into another goblin as she charged toward Stephen. Her rush slowed as goblins jumped on her, pulling her back. She began to swing in wide arcs, twisting and knocking herself free from their clutches. She struck a goblin in the neck, then with a twist of her arm and flick of her wrist, flourished the blow into a second strike against another goblin in her way. She dashed forward in a break in the horde, only to flinch when a silver axe stopped inches from her face. The axe withdrew and slammed into a goblin. She had made it; she reached Stephen, but now was not the time to breathe.
Stephen whipped around, striking at any shadow that moved within range. As he did, he caught a glimpse of the silver helmet and blue eyes of Elizabeth. Pulling his strike, he redirected it down into a goblin that had gotten too close. Now that they were together, they could better have each other’s backs.
There was a break in the wave of goblins. Both panted and looked toward the large tent as a group of goblins charged forward. These particular goblins wore helmets, their ears flopping out to the sides, and crude armor on their chests. As the fight continued, the two adventurers soon realized these ones were different, almost like well-trained soldiers compared to the others. These goblins blocked and parried. As his steel clashed against the crude weapons wielded by these new goblins, sparks flew. Over his shoulder, Elizabeth managed to deflect a blow and snap her sword into the side of an armored goblin. Blackened blood gushed. Another goblin slammed a club into Elizabeth's helmet, causing her to stumble.
"This is not looking good," Elizabeth shouted as she recovered from the blow and barely managed to step back, avoiding another strike. Her armor, once shining, was now dirty, scratched, and covered in red and black blood. Her shield, once resplendent, was now tarnished and scuffed from the fighting. Stephen panted, his own body a mess of cuts and gashes. He was running low on stamina himself. Blood dripped down his arm and streaked down his axe. He was starting to regret throwing the other axe earlier, and he could really use it again. If only they had another party member or something that could retrieve it. His eyes went wide as realization set in. He would have to curse himself later for being too stupid—for now, he needed to act.
"Cover me!" Stephen shouted as he swiped with his axe. The goblin he was fighting leapt back, avoiding the blow. Stephen then faded backward, disengaging. As if coordinated, Elizabeth slid in front, shield up, blocking a multitude of blows.
"Whatever you're planning, make it quick!" Elizabeth shouted over her shoulder. The glimmer of radiance erupted from her again as she finished another short prayer. With renewed energy, she engaged the group of armored goblins. Stephen’s gaze locked onto his axe, still lodged in the goblin’s skull thirty feet away. His fingers twitched, itching to reclaim the weapon.
Skill Activated - King's Command
As if from the ground itself, three Froglins appeared and croaked. They looked at Stephen, and two lashed out with their sticky tongues. The third hopped toward the downed goblin with the axe embedded in its skull. It shot its tongue out, attached it to the axe, and yanked it back in a wide, whipping motion. Stephen watched as it then threw the axe in a fluid motion toward him. The other two Froglins yanked back on two goblins they managed to catch with their tongues. Elizabeth used this opportunity to lunge forward, striking out at the goblins as they were unexpectedly pulled backward. She managed to sever one goblin’s arm, while the second goblin found itself pierced by tusks as it was slowly pulled into the waiting maw of a Froglin.
Stephen darted around Elizabeth and rushed toward the axe as it spiraled through the air. Hurling himself in the air at a slight angle, he spun. His hand reached out, and as his fingertips brushed the wood grain of the haft, he clutched it tightly. Deftly grabbing the axe, he continued his spin and brought it down in a wide arc onto an armored goblin’s helm. The weight of Stephen and the torque of his spin caused his axe to cleave straight through.
Freed from the immediate threat, Elizabeth pressed forward, her sword cutting a relentless path through the goblins. No longer on the defensive, she fought with fierce determination, each strike fueled by resolve. Step after step, she found herself moving forward toward the large tent. With a slash and a slam of her shield, her holy radiance was a beacon of hope amidst the carnage. The Froglins, for their part, were busy tying up the few goblins the duo missed. The number of goblins seemed to be decreasing. Just as the two began to make their way up toward the large tent, three arrows burst forth, fired in rapid succession from somewhere within the structure. The arrows found their marks, bursting through the Froglins with sickening pops, their slimy bodies splattering as they deflated like overripe fruit.
The camp fell silent, all except for the rhythmic chants of the surviving goblins. They seemed to be repeating a name, again and again.
"Ul'thrak, Ul'thrak, Ul'thrak, Ul'thrak..." As they chanted, no goblin approached the duo. Suddenly, the flap at the entrance of the tent fluttered open. Out stepped a goblin standing at about the size of a normal adult male. Its skin was brown, not green like its smaller counterparts. Its nose was human-sized, flared with various piercings in the nostrils. The eyes of this newcomer were black, all except for the yellow irises. In its hand, it clutched a bow; slung across its back was a quiver of arrows. It wore what appeared to be a steel breastplate and leather leggings. Stephen’s breath caught in his throat. This was it—the moment he had feared. Every instinct screamed at him that the true battle had just begun, and the unease in Elizabeth’s eyes confirmed it. Although not impressive in stature, something about this being sent both Elizabeth and Stephen on edge. Stephen's heart pounded in his chest, a single gulp barely masking the rising fear as the message blinked into his vision.
New Quest - Slay the Hob Goblin Ul'thrak