Over the following weeks, Amukelo honed his skills and strategies in the harsh mountain terrain, adapting to the increased goblin activity with a mixture of caution and cunning. Each skirmish sharpened his reflexes and deepened his understanding of guerrilla warfare. The goblin patrols had grown in frequency and number, often accompanied by the menacing presence of trolls that made direct confrontation riskier than ever. Despite these challenges, Amukelo's ability to remain undetected and strike swiftly allowed him to continue his campaign against the smaller groups.
One crisp morning, after observing a particular patrol route, Amukelo identified a group of eight goblins with no trolls, but still a formidable number. He watched them from a shadowed copse, his body low to the ground, muscles tensed for the imminent attack. As the goblins passed his hidden vantage point, he exploded into action with a lethal precision that had become second nature.
Darting from his cover, Amukelo swiftly took out the first three goblins before they could react. Their bodies fell to the ground with soft thuds, barely audible over the rustling leaves. The remaining goblins, taken aback by the sudden assault, hesitated—this moment of confusion was all Amukelo needed. However, as he engaged the next trio, two of the goblins recovered from their shock and turned to flee in opposite directions, aiming to alert the rest of their tribe.
Focusing on the immediate threats first, Amukelo dispatched the three blockers with rapid, clean strikes. Each goblin fell with a gurgle, their crude weapons clattering against the stony ground. His heart racing, Amukelo then turned his attention to the escapees. He threw his dagger at the nearest runner with a practiced throw, trying to take one down, knowing that he had no other option, but in the heat of the moment and the uneven terrain, his aim faltered, and the blade missed its mark, embedding itself in a tree.
Cursing under his breath, Amukelo dashed after the fleeing goblin, retrieving his dagger en route. His strides were long and swift, powered by adrenaline and the urgent need to prevent any alarm. It didn't take long for him to catch up to the goblin, whose panic had slowed its escape. Amukelo ended its life with a decisive blow, ensuring it would not warn the others.
However, the second goblin had gained too much ground, disappearing into the dense foliage. Amukelo spent a tense hour searching the area, hoping to find the lone survivor before it could reach its kin. Despite his best efforts and acute senses, the goblin eluded him. Frustrated and concerned about the potential repercussions of his failed containment, Amukelo realized he needed to retreat and prepare for any retaliatory strikes from the goblins.
With the sun beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the mountain, Amukelo made his way back to his cave. His mind was a whirl of scenarios, planning countermeasures and defenses. He moved silently, blending into the environment as only a seasoned woodsman could.
But as he neared his temporary home, the distinct chatter of the goblin language cut through the evening calm, snapping his focus back to the immediate danger. He froze, listening intently to gauge the number and distance of the voices. It was clear they were close, possibly already upon his cave. Amukelo spied on them for a while following wherever they were going, but it was clear that sooner or later they would discover his temporary home.
Amukelo's breath was ragged as he crouched behind a thick brush, his eyes fixed on the entrance of his cave where the goblins and trolls had gathered. The invasion of his sanctuary was a palpable blow, each moment of destruction that passed fueling a growing tempest of anger and desperation within him. The trolls, massive and lumbering, easily tore apart the makeshift door he had labored over, their large hands and sheer strength turning his efforts to rubble in moments.
As the marauders rifled through his belongings, tossing aside his carefully gathered supplies and breaking what little he owned, Amukelo's grip on his sword tightened. His survival instincts screamed at him to flee, to preserve his life and fight another day, but the sight of his home being pillaged ignited a fierce resolve. He couldn't allow this violation without retaliation.
The trolls were particularly destructive, their size allowing them to wreak havoc effortlessly. One of them stood partially inside the cave's entrance, its back turned to Amukelo. It seemed preoccupied, roaring instructions to the goblins that echoed ominously through the crisp mountain air. Seizing this opportunity, Amukelo knew it was a now-or-never moment.
Silently, he edged closer, his movements careful to avoid any loose stones or twigs that might betray his approach. Each step was measured, his entire being focused on the massive figure before him. When he was merely a few feet away, he paused, gathering his strength and resolve. With a deep breath, he sprang from his cover, his sword raised high and aimed at the base of the troll's thick neck, where he hoped to find a fatal vulnerability.
Amukelo's attack was swift, powered by a blend of fear and adrenaline. His blade sliced through the air with a sharp hiss, aimed precisely where he intended. However, the troll's hide was remarkably thick, tougher than he had anticipated. The sword cut deep but not deep enough to sever the neck. Instead, it lodged itself halfway, causing the troll to bellow in pain and rage.
The impact of the strike jolted Amukelo, and he quickly rolled away as the troll reached back, its massive hand swiping the air where he had been a fraction of a second earlier. Landing agilely on his feet, Amukelo yanked his sword free, but the troll had already turned, its eyes blazing with fury and pain.
The troll towered over him, its breath heavy and foul as it prepared to retaliate. Amukelo readied himself, his body tense and his mind racing for any advantage he could exploit. He knew that a frontal attack against such a beast, especially with the rest of the goblin band likely alerted by the commotion, was suicidal. But now, struggling to decide whether to take the risk and try to finish this monster or flee, Amukelo had little time to make the best choice.