The Ashenwood, here it was again, with its falling ash. Once a haven of life and nature, the entire forest was enveloped in a sinister atmosphere with its twisted trees standing like guardians under an ash-white sky. It was day, and Marshmallow and the Goat Horse had returned to the Ashenwood through Queen Luminara's portal, now proceeding cautiously, aware that every step brought them closer to their objective: the death of the Grimgoat.

"This place is creepy," the Goat Horse commented, eyeing the trees apprehensively. “It's been a lifetime since I've been here, yet, every single time, it feels like I could be attacked."

Marshmallow gripped the Titan Hammer firmly. Its heaviness made it difficult to carry, but it was a weight he was willing to bear. It was an amazing weapon that had enabled him to defeat a tough enemy like Queen Luminara.

"Stay focused," he replied with a steady voice. "You feel that way because you CAN be attacked at any moment. The Grimgoat could be anywhere. And the zombie goats are just as dangerous."

Marshmallow tried to stay focused, but his mind constantly returned to his first ally in the Survivor Game: SonicEcho. Soon they would face the one who had slaughtered him, and Marshmallow was eager for vengeance.

I’ll make him pay.

Marshmallow then continued: "We need to avoid ending up like SonicEcho. That guy was brave but also reckless."

“Sonic… what?” the Goat Horse responded with a goatish grimace.

“My first companion,” Marshmallow said sharply, trying to refocus on their goal. SonicEcho’s story was a bitter reminder, the only testament to the lethality of the Grimgoat. As they advanced through the woods, the Goat Horse nodded, and the silence seemed deafening, almost a warning that something dark and unimaginable was watching them, hidden in the shadows.

"Let's keep moving," Marshmallow concluded, trying to hide his own unease. "We need to find the Grimgoat and face it head-on."

With a nod of understanding, the Goat Horse followed Marshmallow, moving through the dark forest. The tension in the air was palpable as if each step led them deeper into a realm where reality intertwined with a nightmare. The forest seemed to breathe around Marshmallow and the Goat Horse, every breath of wind a whisper, every crackle a signal. They moved with caution. Every sense was alert and every muscle tensed.

“There's no sign of the Grimgoat... yet,” the Goat Horse whispered, peering into the shadows between the trees.

Marshmallow nodded, his eyes scanning for any sign indicating the creature's passage. "We need to be ready for anything. This beast is cunning and won't easily reveal itself."

The silence was so dense it felt like it could be cut with a knife. Every step they took seemed amplified, every leaf they stepped on a potential alarm for the Grimgoat.

Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed through the woods. "What the hell was that noise?" the Goat Horse hissed apprehensively.

Marshmallow stopped, listening intently. The sound was deep, almost like a muffled growl, coming from afar, but unmistakable. "It's here," Marshmallow said in a low but tense voice. He would recognize those guttural sounds among thousands, and he had no doubt: the Grimgoat was nearby.

Without wasting time, the two headed towards the source of the sound. The ground beneath them was uneven, with protruding roots and broken branches making the path difficult. As they got closer, the rumble became clearer and more defined. It was like the breath of a giant, heavy and menacing.

The Goat Horse stopped for a moment, pointing at something between the trees. "There, look!" A glimmer of movement, something large and dark was moving.

"It's him," Marshmallow said with a voice a mix of determination and apprehension. "The Grimgoat."

In the ash-laden mist stood a dark figure, and Marshmallow's heart pounded against his chest. There it was, the Grimgoat. Before their eyes, a massive and dark figure, with horns twisting skyward like dry branches. Its presence was imposing, almost oppressive. Its eyes, two bottomless abysses, stared at Marshmallow and the Goat Horse with a mix of anger and madness.

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The Goat Horse braced himself. "Be careful, Marshmallow," the Goat Horse warned, "this beast is unlike any we've encountered before."

Marshmallow gripped the Titan Hammer, feeling its weight and power. "I know. I'm ready," he replied, staring at the Grimgoat. "For SonicEcho, for the forest, and for us. Today, we end this nightmare."

The Grimgoat, once spotted, began to move with unexpected speed, disappearing among the trees. Marshmallow and the Goat Horse were momentarily perplexed.

"Is it running away?" Marshmallow asked doubtfully. "I thought the Grimgoat attacked on sight, yet now it's retreated?"

"Marshmallow, it must be your hammer. Even though he's no longer King Aelondir, he must have recognized it in some way and instinctively fled from it," the Goat Horse responded convincingly. What he said made sense to Marshmallow. Then, in agreement, the two had only one thing to do. Without hesitation, they pursued it, pushing deeper into the Ashenwood.

As they advanced, they finally appeared. One, two, three, and then a dozen. A group of zombie goats, the same abominable creatures that had previously attacked both Marshmallow and then the Grimgoat, were also advancing as if attracted to something.

"Look at those zombie goats," the Goat Horse said, nodding towards them. "They're following the same path as the Grimgoat."

Marshmallow observed the group carefully. "You're right. There's something drawing them towards him. We need to figure out what."

They cautiously approached the zombie goats, trying not to draw their attention. Marshmallow noticed that, despite their ferocious nature, they seemed driven by an unusual urgency, as if compelled by an imperative need.

"It might be the key to understanding how to take down the Grimgoat," the Goat Horse suggested. "Maybe there's a connection we can exploit."

Marshmallow nodded thoughtfully. "We need to observe them closely without being noticed. If we can figure out why they're following the Grimgoat, we might find an advantage."

They moved deftly among the trees, keeping a safe distance from the zombie goats. Occasionally, they stopped to observe the creatures' behavior. They noticed that, despite their chaotic nature, they seemed to have a common goal.

"Look at how they move," Marshmallow whispered. "They don’t just seem attracted to the Grimgoat, it's like they're seeking something from him, maybe protection or something else."

The Goat Horse scratched his head, puzzled. "But what could it be? Is the Grimgoat emitting something that draws them?"

As they pondered, one of the zombie goats came too close to them, sniffing the air. Marshmallow and the Goat Horse held their breath, hoping not to be discovered.

The zombie goat turned towards them, its lifeless eyes staring at Marshmallow for a moment. Then, as if it heard the Grimgoat's call, it turned and quickly moved away.

"These goats... they seem tormented, almost as if they are in conflict," Marshmallow whispered. "Like they're both attracted and repelled at the same time."

The Goat Horse nodded. "Maybe the Grimgoat has an influence on them, but it’s not total control."

They decided to follow the group closely, maintaining a safe distance. There had to be a reason why the zombie goats were so obsessed with the Grimgoat, and Marshmallow was determined to find out. He felt it was key.

The Goat Horse, reflecting on the observation, replied: "It might be something related to his transformation. Remember Luminara’s story? The Grimgoat was once Aelondir, the king of Satyrs. Maybe there's still something of him that remains, something the goats can sense."

This theory gave Marshmallow an insight. "If so, then there might be a part of Aelondir trying to fight the corruption of the Grimgoat. And these zombie goats, even though corrupted, can still sense that part of him, that internal struggle."

They decided to test this theory. Marshmallow took a position where he could be seen and began to strike the ground with the Titan Hammer, creating a shockwave that echoed through the forest. The goats' reaction was immediate; they approached, drawn by the sound and perhaps by the power of the hammer, which somehow reminded them of Aelondir.

"It's working," the Goat Horse said, surprised. "The goats are confused but attracted by your hammer. It's like they sense Aelondir’s presence."

Marshmallow realized they had found a way to manipulate the goats to their advantage. "If the Grimgoat still has a part of Aelondir in him, then we might use it to our advantage. We can disorient the Grimgoat by using his own creatures against him."

As Marshmallow struck the ground, generating shockwaves that attracted the zombie goats, a deep and menacing rumble suddenly interrupted their plan. The growl, different from anything they had heard before, seemed to come directly from the Grimgoat but this time it was different, more powerful and chilling.

The Goat Horse, with an expression of growing concern, turned to Marshmallow. "What... what’s happening?" he exclaimed, looking in the direction of the sound.

At that moment, the zombie goats, which until then seemed disoriented and attracted by the hammer, suddenly stopped as if struck by an invisible force of command. Then, in an even more surprising and frightening manner, they began to change form, taking on an even more horrific and menacing appearance.

The sudden and unexpected transformation of the zombie goats caused Marshmallow and the Goat Horse’s plan to waver. The new form of the creatures seemed not only fiercer but also less susceptible to the influence of the hammer.

"Marshmallow, something’s wrong," the Goat Horse said, preparing for what seemed to be an inevitable confrontation. "The Grimgoat is doing something to these creatures... transforming them!"