Adam saw nothing but darkness for a moment and then suddenly he was in a tunnel. It was a long tunnel of smooth rock that looked like they had been scooped out with a giant’s hand. It was as wide as a two lane highway and tall enough that Adam would have to jump to touch the top. The tunnel was long enough that Adam couldn’t see the end, but the faint glow of light let him see a good distance ahead. He looked around and saw where the light was coming from. On either side of the cavern wall, about halfway up, large glowing rocks were set into the smooth stone. They were about the size of a golf ball and each gave off the glow of a warm lightbulb. The stones were lining the wall at intervals allowing the tunnel to be full lit.

The rest of Adam’s group were looking around as well. The teleportation was sudden, but it seemed like it hadn’t affected them in any way. Skyeyes was looking around with familiarity.

“Yes, this is home. Home, but not home.” His voice came as fast as ever, but he was nodding.

“Any idea what’s waiting for us?” asked Adam. He was hoping to get some sort of information on the dungeon.

“No, this is home but not home. Same, but not the same. I am sorry.”

“It’s okay, we’ll just have to figure it out as we go.” Adam turned around to see two identical doors from which they had entered. The doors looked a bit shorter, but the goblin-head door knockers were still there. He assumed that would be their exit if they needed it.

“I will take the front position,” said Mina. She stepped past everyone and Skyeyes moved quickly out of her way. She started down the tunnel with her boots echoing slightly against the stone floor and her sword and buckler at the ready. Drox was still mounted on Snowball and shrugged as the wolf started to follow Mina. Skyeyes riding Pork Chop and Jerky were right on their heels.

“Guess we’re following her,” said Josh. He pulled his great sword from his back and swung it around. He started following the others with Adam right behind.

The tunnel stretched far and it was as straight as an arrow. After 15 minutes of walking the tunnel opened up into a massive cavern. It widened into a massive dome of a room. Adam looked up and saw a ceiling that was at least 20 meters high. It was adorned with the same glowing stones lighting up the massive cave. It was empty of any living being, but there was much in the cave.

Straight ahead was a single unassuming iron door. It had a wrought iron knob. Even from this distance though Adam could see that in the middle of the door there were four massive keyholes. He looked around and saw four tunnels splitting off. Two on either side of the door.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” asked Josh as he nudged Adam. It was much lighter this time and Adam didn’t yelp in pain.

“Yep, four keys and four tunnels. You think it’s that simple?”

“It’s gotta be. This is a low level dungeon.”

“What are you two goat headed fools whispering about?” Drox’s voice echoed off the walls with a rumble.

“Shhh,” everyone said at once. The wolves had all crouched down with their hackles up at the booming comment. Drox slid off of Snowball in a heap on the ground at the sudden movement.

“Oi! Stupid beast, don’t do that!” He proceeded to smack Snowball with his paw as his voice echoed off the walls. The wolf didn’t even register the hit from the small fluffy paw as its eyes darted around looking for danger. “Hey yo–” Drox’s screams of protest were suddenly cut off as Josh pulled him with his hand firmly over the bear’s mouth.

“Quiet you little monster,” whispered Josh. Drox was struggling in Josh’s grasp as his feet and hands flailed around in the air. “You’re going to wake the whole dungeon.”

Drox stopped struggling and his button eyes moved around finally looking at the empty cavern. Josh slowly let him down and the bear brushed himself off with his paws.

“Which way should we go?” asked Mina. Her voice was a whisper and it still threatened to echo off the walls.

“It shouldn’t matter,” said Adam. “If I’m right we’ll have to go down each of these tunnels no matter what.”

“Then let us be on with it.” Mina started walking down the leftmost tunnel. The rest of the group followed without a word.

The tunnel was identical to the other with smooth stone and boulders of light placed at intervals. The group moved as quietly as they could with both Skyeyes and Drox on top of a wolf. The wolves padded silently on the stone floor. Josh, Adam, and Mina weren’t so lucky. Their boots clacked slightly against the hard floor. With weapons drawn they crept more than walked down the dim tunnel. It did little good.

It wasn’t long before the tunnel opened up again. This cave was much smaller from what Adam could see from the back but it was still a ways away. Mina had stopped the group and turned around crouching. The rest of them mirrored her posture.

“Five goblins ahead. They do not move. They stand and nothing else. Each has weapons, but they do not even talk.”

“Not goblins. Dark ones. Waiting. See, will attack.” Skyeyes was absently patting the head of Pork Chop which he rode on. The wolf’s mouth was pulled back and the viciously sharp teeth were gleaming even in the dim yellow light of the stones.

“What’s the plan?” asked Josh. Drox was beside him on Snowball with his massive book out and ready.

“I will draw their attention. You two,” Mina pointed at Josh and Adam, “will flank them on the left. Drox, the goblin, and wolves will take the right.” She turned to Drox. “Do not cast Fire Bolt in here please. You would probably kill one of us.”

“You got it las. I’ve been itching to try my new spell.” Drox had a wicked grin on his face that made Josh and Adam look at each other. They wouldn’t know it, but they were both thinking the same thing at that moment. They really didn’t want to get set on fire.

Mina charged out of the tunnel with her sword and shield raised. She shouted as she ran. It was a battle cry that made Adam pause as he saw vibrations of sound in the air reach out from her like a cone. Every one of the goblins snapped their heads toward her and ran to meet her in an instant.

Adam and Josh were on her heels as they split off to the left, but the goblins only had eyes for Mina. It was like they could only see her. As they got closer Drox muttered a spell with his paw outstretched. A flaming shield appeared mirroring Mina’s buckler. It floated in the air inches from her actual shield and moved with every small motion Mina made. Then the wolves bounded off behind her headed to the goblins on the right. Drox was thrown off of Snowball instantly as the wolf leapt into the battle.

She took full advantage of the sudden flame that didn’t seem to burn her. She pulled her shield closer and crouched as much as she could behind it as she charged into the group of corrupted goblins. They were coming at her in a spread out line hoping to encircle her and attack her back and flank.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Mina did not stop. As she approached the heat from the flame shield blackened and burned the goblin in her way before it even touched him. When she made contact his body burst into flames before he could even raise his weapon. Mina kept running as the goblin fell beneath her feet. The other four swung at her with swords or daggers, but her group was hot on her heels.

“Power Slash,” yelled Josh as he swung his sword down on a goblin that had turned its back focusing fully on Mina. His great sword cut through the thin leather into the goblins shoulder and most of the way through its chest. Josh saw the monster’s HP bar flash and then vanish as it fell to the ground dead.

At the same time Adam caved in the skull of the other goblin. Its back was also turned trying to attack Mina and Adam had simply punched it as hard as he could in the back of the skull. The goblin’s skull collapsed in on itself and Adam’s gloved hand came back wet with blood and brains.

When Mina stopped herself and turned back she saw the wolves tearing apart the other two goblins. Drox was getting up off the ground brushing himself off again. A moment later the goblins burst into blue crystals. Luckily for Adam the brains and blood also faded away into small crystals.

You have gained 200 experience points for defeating enemies

You have received 4x goblin teeth, 1x small soul crystal

Your hand-to-hand skill has increased to level 10

“That was easy enough,” said Josh as he struggled to put his great sword away.

“They were all level 1,” said Mina. “Let’s keep moving.”

The group continued past the small empty cave quickly as they crept along after Mina. The tunnel wasn’t nearly as large anymore and the group were only able to walk three wide. It was less than a minute later that the next room came into view. It was identical to the last, but this time there were 10 of the corrupted goblins waiting. Adam saw them standing as still as statues as he focused on one in the front.

Corrupted Goblin Warrior - Level 2

He examined a few more and saw they were all the same. Each was carrying a sword or dagger, but none seemed to have any ranged weapons. They were about 50 feet away from the pack, but in the dim light it was enough for them to stay out of sight.

“Hey Drox,” whispered Adam, “how far can you cast the Fire Bolt?”

“Don’t know,” he said, shrugging.

“Give it a shot for us. Mina and Josh get ready to take Drox’s place.”

Drox nodded and everyone backed up a little to be behind the bear. He had decided to dismount Snowball after realizing that he couldn’t really hold on to her with his fingerless paws. He stood with his book out in front of him in one paw and his other paw outstretched.

“Fire Bolt.” The baseball sized ball of fire shot out like a major league fastball. It flew through the air without waving in the slightest as it slammed into the first goblin’s chest. The goblin burst into flames and its dying screams echoed through the tunnels. The nine other goblins moved instantly toward where the fireball came from. Their weapon’s raised and screams of outrage on their lips.

Drox moved back with his paw smoking a little. Mina, Adam, and Josh stepped forward toward the rushing goblins. Chaos reigned for the next moments as swords flashed and fists punched out. The narrow corridors allowed the three to fight one on one against the goblins while the other six were stuck in the back waiting.

Mina blocked a clumsy overhead slash from the goblin in front of her and stabbed out with her sword. Her sword sinked into the goblin’s stomach all the way to the hilt. She pulled it down. Black blood and guts spilled out. The goblin’s HP bar flashed and dropped to zero in an instant.

Adam wasn’t so lucky though. The goblin he faced had a short sword and a dagger in either hand. It slashed at him with the sword and he blocked it with his metal-plated forearm. He swung out with a jab and caught the goblin in the chin, but not before the goblin’s dagger came up and sunk into his side.

Fire burned through Adam’s side. The dagger came out and Adam felt wetness start to cover his shabby tunic. He saw his HP drop from 100 to 80 in an instant. It didn’t stop there though. He noticed it slowly started to drop down point by point almost every second as the wetness in his side increased.

His hand instinctively went to his side. He felt the blood pouring out near his waist as he stumbled back. Two black wolves instantly took his place snapping and biting at oncoming goblins. Adam felt for the magic in his stomach as he leaned against the tunnel wall. It rushed up through his chest and down his arm until the fingertips of his hand glowed green with magic. He pushed the magic out and felt his body knit itself together. It was all together the most alien feeling of his life.

Adam’s HP jumped back up to 100 as the magic ran through him. The bleeding had stopped and the wound was completely gone. He looked down and saw the hole in his shirt but felt no wound. He couldn’t see anything though because the area was stained red with blood.

He watched and waited for his moment to step back into the battle. In the back of his mind he heard a small voice telling him that he had just been stabbed and that was traumatic. It was miniscule. Almost unnoticeable, but he knew if he let himself it would grow and take him over. Instead he focused on the knowledge of his training. Training that he had never actually done, but seemed as real as any other memory. He knew he was better than that. He squashed the small voice into dust and waited to back up his team.

“Flame Shield,” roared Drox.

A shield of fire sprung up in front of Mina’s shield and she instantly shouted. The sound waves washed through the goblins making the three in the front and the remaining ones in the back snap their heads toward her. She slammed her shield into the first and it screamed as its body burned. The two closest goblins flinched back at the heat.

Josh didn’t hesitate as he screamed, “Power Slash!”

His sword flashed blue as it came crashing down. It bisected the goblin that’s focus was still solely on Mina. The wolves’ maws flashed and bone snapped like twigs as the other goblin fell. The two wolves dragged their dead goblin back and Adam stepped in line with Mina and Josh.

The three remaining goblins had no fear in their eyes. They didn’t even notice their comrades die. Their black eyes were soulless and void of all emotion. They only moved up to attack, but the group of adventurers were ready.

Adam didn't wait. He moved forward and struck out with a left haymaker. The goblin tried to raise his sword up in time to block, but he was far too slow. The punch landed with a crunch against the goblin’s jaw, but Adam wasn’t done yet. He stepped forward and uppercutted with his right hand sending the goblin off the ground slightly. It crumpled to the ground dead.

Mina blocked the oncoming dagger with her buckler. The hardened wood made the crude dagger bounce off, not even chipping the shield. She pushed with her shield making the goblin’s arm arc high in the air and buried her sword deep into its stomach. There was a scream, but it was becoming apparent that it wasn’t one of pain. Instead, it was a death howl. A last breath for the corrupted souls.

Josh blocked a slash with his great sword. The two beings sat for a moment with their weapons locked. Then, a fist caved in the side of the goblin’s head. Josh looked over to see Adam grinning like a madman.

Adam, Josh, and Mina were huffing and puffing as they all leaned against the walls of the tunnel. The burst of blue crystals was welcome as the blood and pieces of goblins disintegrated. Adam looked around and saw the glittering power flow into him and his party. The notifications piled into his view, but he pushed him aside with his mind for a moment.

Left behind from the burst of crystals was something he hadn’t seen before. Where there should be empty space was instead a black leather jerkin that glowed with a faint light in the dimly lit tunnel.