"This is no longer a copper rank quest," Xolvion said, giving the others a serious look.
"What do you mean, they only took us off guard for a moment, we can take a few more goblins!" Gwen shouted, refusing to give up yet.
Xolvion frowned, seeing that he wasn't going to get through to her.
"I guess it's too late now anyhow." He then said, closing his eyes as he sighed.
Suddenly he raised his hand with incredible speed, catching an arrow that was meant for his face, opening his eyes slowly as he looked at the one who had shot it at him.
"Master!" Crystal shouted, seeing the arrow in his hand.
Gwen and Owen were also shocked, having had no idea that anyway was even aiming a shot at them, never mind how Xolvion had been able to catch it like that.
"We are surrounded," Xolvion said, dropping the arrow and taking a look around him.
"Oh, crap... What do we do!" Gwen said, looking around to see all of the goblin archers getting ready to fire at them.
"I hate to say it, but our best bet is to go into the cave," Xolvion said, seeing the surprised look on their faces.
"Alright, let's move!" Owen decided, quickly running towards the entrance of the cave as the rain of arrows started to hit around them.
"Quickly into the cave!" Xolvion said, putting up a barrier so that the arrows couldn't make it to them regardless before they ran into the cave.
"Not the outcome I was expecting, but still... This could be fun." Xolvion said as he followed the others into the darkness, watching as the light from the cave entrance was getting dimmer and dimmer.
The group had run so far into the cave now that the light had vanished, unable to stretch so far down into the earth.
"I can't see a thing!" Owen said, trying to route through his bag to find his flint so he could light a torch.
"Here," Xolvion said, igniting fire into the palm of his hand before he lit four torches, one for each of them.
"I didn't know you could use fire magic?" Gwen said, giving him a puzzled look.
"Master can do anything." Crystal said, quickly being silenced by Xolvion.
"Make sure to be on your guard, goblins can see in the dark and could attack us from anywhere." He said, making them think about their decision to run into a dark cave.
"Come on, let's make a move before they catch up to us," Owen said, deciding to take charge and press on, walking off as Gwen turned to Xolvion and Crystal and then followed after him.
Crystal looked at Xolvion, not being able to help but feel that he was planning something.
"Master, what are you doing?" She asked as the others walked off.
Xolvion smiled knowing that Crystal was on to him.
"Be on your guard Crystal, there are a lot of enemies down here." He said, walking off without saying anything else.
Crystal sighed and quickly followed after him, knowing the only reason he was doing this was for his own gain.
The group slowly made their way through the cave, trying their best to navigate through the tight and twisting tunnels before coming to a three-way opening, giving them options of which way to go.
"Shit... I don't know which way we should go." Owen said to himself, feeling the others looking at him to make a decision.
"Which way?" Gwen said, looking at the others, waiting to see if anyone had any ideas.
"This way." Owen suddenly said, taking the path on the left.
Gwen looked at him about to question his decision, but stopped herself and followed, not having a better idea.
"Ekkrrr!" The sudden scream of a goblin roared, coming from in front of them, causing Owen to reach for his sword in panic.
"Shit, dead ahead!" He shouted as he drew his sword.
Gwen hadn't been able to see a thing, only hearing the cry of the goblin before he charged at them with its spear raised.
"Get it, Owen!" Gwen shouted, watching as he drew his sword and took a defensive position.
"Take this!" Owen shouted, raising his sword to attack as he dodged the spear thrust by stepping to the side at the last second.
"ARGHH!" He roared, swinging his sword with all of his might, aiming for the back of its neck.
"Crash!"
"Oh no!" Owen said to himself as his sword hit the roof of the cave, having not judged the small area he was in before he swung his sword, causing it to ricochet off of the cave wall and force him back and lose his balance.
The Goblin watched what happened and smiled, regaining its position and turning so it could thrust its spear right into Owens's stomach.
"Owen look out!" Gwen shouted, seeing that he was about to be killed.
"Water bullet," Xolvion said, firing a small water projectile at high speed, hitting the Goblin in the head, killing it in an instead and knocking it to the ground, causing its spear to miss Owen by an inch.
Owen looked at the dead goblin, bringing his sword back down as he tried to calm down feeling that his heart was beating intensely from almost being killed.
"Good shot master!" Crystal said, giving him a large smile.
Gwen ran over to Owen and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him before she hugged him tightly.
"You idiot! You almost got skewed!"
"I-I'm fine..." He said softly, knowing that it was a close call.
"If not for Xolvion you would be dead!" She said, releasing him as she looked into his eyes.
"I know Gwen! It won't happen again." He said, trying not to get angry.
Gwen let go of his shoulders slowly, taking a step back seeing the look on his face.
"Fine. Thank you Xolvion." She said as she turned to him, nodding her head.
"Don't mention it." He said, keeping his hands by his side.
"However, you should be ready for a fight, we have company." He said, causing both of them to flinch.
"W-What!" Owen said, suddenly hearing the screech of more goblins.
"T-There are so many..." Gwen said, listening to what sounded like an army of goblins charging toward them.
"Master..." Crystal said, also seeming a little worried.
"I know Crystal." He said, walking forwards so the others were behind him.
"Leave this to me!" He said, raising his hand to the roof of the cave.
Suddenly his hand started to glow and the roof of the cave started to collapse, causing it to crumble and cave in around them, blocking the path that the goblins were taking to get to them.
"That should hold them for a bit, we should get out of here while we can," Xolvion said as he turned around to the others.
Gwen and Owen looked at him in amazement, seeing that he could use water, fire and earth magic.
"R-Right!" Owen suddenly said as he snapped out of it, quickly grabbing Gwen's hand as he started to run.
"We need to get out of here!" He said as Gwen looked at him surprised he had forced her to run with him.
"Come on this way!" He shouted, leading the way again.
"GArkk!!!"
"Shit, they are behind us too!" Owen shouted as more goblins could he seen running towards them from their exit.
"They must have followed our scent," Xolvion said, knowing goblins had an impressive sense of smell.
"What do we do?" Gwen asked as she held her staff with both hands, shaking in fear where she stood.
Owen could see she was terrified and shaking, knowing he had to do something.
"Don't worry Gwen, I'll protect you. Even if it costs me my life."
Gwen listen to his words, making her feel a little more at ease as he smiled at her, making her believe what he was saying was true.
"Crystal, you're up," Xolvion said, getting a small nod from her as she took a step forwards.
"Yes master, I will do my best." She said as she took her position, holding her staff tightly in her right hand.
"I will show you, my power master!"