I'm about to release Sil from prison when I think better about it. Gene is rummaging through the devices scattered throughout the floor, making as much ruckus as possible. A few things she pockets. Most she throws against the wall or bats away with Bo. If it isn't taken, it's broken.

"Gara, you wait here. We will get you out after we punch a few more bears."

"Release me and let me fight. I want to tear these barbarians apart and soak my hands in their blood." Her passion almost convinces me to let her loose. The assassin could also use knockout therapy, but I don't think this session is as intensive as she needs it to be.

"I love the passion and like the aggression. Gene, on the other hand, thinks it is best if you sit this one out. Also, I don't trust you enough to not stab me in the back. Figuratively speaking… and literally. I promise we'll get you all out before this is over."

"This level is a letdown. You think there will be more on the higher floors?" Gene asks. Her words are answered by the stomping of four heavily armored feet headed down the steps. I turn to the noise to see two of the biggest bugbears by far. The dark squire is clad in black armor, while the light squire is covered in white. Besides the color, the thick-plated armor on both is a perfect match in decorations and design.

Both squires have the class of battle wizards and are holding tower shields and staffs. They take their time coming down the steps acting with no fear. I can feel the weight of their eyes locking on me. The intensity of their stares is almost tangible. Every breath I take, every shift of my body, seems to be amplified by their unwavering attention. Mana crackles as the white and black energy forms on the staff.

I'm tired of waiting for their fight entrance to end, so I pick up the litter on the floor and start throwing shit. Even though it is ineffective against the shields, I keep throwing all the junk. When Day and Night, the newly named lancers, feel like fighting the second floor becomes a spectacle.

The room is covered in darkness for only a moment. Then bright lights start flashing like the sun is having a seizure. Between the dark and the light, bolts of mana are being launched from the staffs in a similar fashion to how I used to throw my spear.

The room goes dark. I dodge the left to avoid the light spear.

The light shines bright. I hold back a sneeze dodging another light spear, and quickly roll out of the way of another night ball. Blackness. Then light. Then blackness. All the while, I can feel the dark energy closing around me.

The lights flicker intensely. Even though my eyes are shut, I still get disorientated. Then it all goes black. I'm surrounded by numerous dark summons. The black shapes blend in with the darkness of the room. Only the dense energy around them gives away their positioning. The faceless dark humanoids have sharp claws on their hands and feet. The only part of their face is a circular mouth lined with nasty pointy teeth.

I'm about to start swinging the table leg I've clutched in my hand when I hear a gruesome thud followed by a loud collapse. The dark is replaced again with light just in time for me to see an arrow hit Day in the neck.

The arrow doesn't puncture. Instead, it reflects off Day and shoots back in the direction it was fired. The reversal happens so fast it catches Gene in the middle of her dodge. The arrow slams through her shoulder, piercing her to the wall.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Before Gene can cry out, multiple light arrows are fired at her. I throw the remainder of the table in her direction, barely intercepting three of the four arrows. The third one narrowly slips past the table and slams into her gut.

I can't lose Gene right now. I need her in this fight with me. Who knows how long it will take her to reform, if she even gets to reform. Using the table leg still in my hand, I throw it at Day and follow it up with my body. I step to my right, dodging my repulsed leg, then finish my lunge.

I feel the impact of my body reverberate off Day and hit my body. The blow would've knocked me over if I wasn't already holding onto the bugbear. My arms are locked tight against the brute, pinning his shield and staff between us. The bugbear is three feet taller than me and two hundred pounds heavier.

As I grapple with the big bear, I mess with his perception sending him all the random images I can conjure. Sheep are boxing goats. Goats are rowing boats. Boats are sailing on rainbows. Basically, he is witnessing last night's dream or nightmare. Some of the images still haunt me.

I time my next move for one of the jump scares. An army of aphid clowns converges on my resting spot. They crawl up my bed and make their way toward my body. Just they creep into all of my orifices, and I can no longer contain my scream. I push the big bear into a cell.

The counterforce of his barrier pushes us forward, and I use the momentum for a suplex. My body arches like a beautiful rainbow as Day's head crashes into the floor like a boulder. With nowhere else to go, energy slams into the crater and explodes back into the bear's face.

I wince at the gross details that follow, then pull my body out from under the dead squire. Kittens, the last twist of my perception show, are no longer being projected. I rush to Gene's side and rest her unconscious body on the floor. I want to be able to take her outside and heal her, but I am afraid we will not be able to make it back in again due to the castle's rune security.

"Strange goblin, free us; we can help your friend." The voice comes from a kobold priestess in the cell opposite Sil. The kobold is in light robes that's caked in weeks of dirt. Her frail state looks more tattered than Gene's.

I'd forgotten I still have my goblin mask on. No wonder why Sil acted like she didn't recognize me. Yikes. To think I almost blew my cover. Embarrassing. Left with little choice, I free the prisoners in hopes that they can help Gene.

I probably could ascend the castle alone, but I don't want to. Gene and I are the Crushing Castles. There is no way I will leave her out of the final fight. That just isn't right. The priestess scavenges all the items scattered around the laboratory prison room. She enlists the aid of those that are able and quickly begins working on some engineering thing.

I keep my senses on high alert. I track those on the second level. The only living here are me, Gene, and the freed prisoners. On the bottom floor, nothing is stirring. All the bodies below are broken or bruised and in a deep sleep of recovery. Above us, I sense no life. On the fourth floor, one intense aura of pale gray energy exists.

The sleeping death knight casually wakes up. The spell sword stretches and pulls himself from his bed. When he stands, his bare body is covered in green crystal armor. Narrow slits for his yellow eyes are the only thing that shows through his armor. His gauntleted hands reach for the massive ruby red great sword racked next to his bed.

As he holds his sword, his arm lifts. Pale gray energy pulses violently around him. The castle feels like it is shaking. The knight is covered in a thick cloud of energy. When it drops, two figures are by his side.

A fire harpy in tight leathers with wicked wings and a scorpion tail stands on the knights left. She's holding two short swords glowing like fire embers.

On his right side is a Brown minotaur clad in golden armor. The bull-man stands a foot taller than the knight. Its icy horns curve forward with nasty sharp edges. In his hand is a large bow.

"Fire and Ice, we have visitors. Let's go greet them," the spell-sword says. His voice is monotone and empty. If it's an act, this castle boss is nailing it — from his casual way of getting out of bed, sweet armor and sword, and demon summons. He even has a chilly commanding voice.

One thing is for sure. The fight with this death knight will not be disappointing.