After what felt like forever, June and Tanya finally settled on a plan. It wasn't perfect—honestly, it was barely decent—but it was better than nothing. Fifteen minutes later, they were ready to move. They'd considered everything they could: the hobgoblin's new spot, potential goblin ambushes, the risk of dying, and Tanya's injury. It wasn't foolproof, but they couldn't wait around anymore. It was time to fight.
While they were figuring things out, Dave had been busy dragging together bodies and weapons for the new skeletons. June couldn't help but give him a few head pats like he was a good dog, even if he probably had some shady history—like, "I've-murdered-people-before" shady. Whatever. That was a problem for later. She burned the mana (honestly, she'd lost track of how much she even used at this point), and boom—new skeletons, ready to go.
After a final rundown of the plan with Tanya, they were off.
Dave was supposed to lead the skeletons, acting like they were regular old mobs while scoping out the hobgoblin. As they fought their way down the hall, June started noticing something... different. Her link with Dave was stronger, more connected. Back when she first started summoning, she could only give basic commands, like "stand here" or "hit that thing." But now, it was like Dave had levelled up or something. Like when he had signalled her about the elite goblin behind the door earlier—it wasn't just her orders he was following. He was aware, evolving. She could feel his thoughts... or something close to it.
Eventually, after what felt like ages, Dave sent her a signal—he found the hobgoblin. June's heart pounded in her chest. Honestly? She wasn't made for this. If someone broke into her house at 2 a.m., she'd probably just sit on the couch and wave them toward the TV like, "Take whatever you want." Fighting a hobgoblin? Yeah, she was way out of her depth. Her "training" was limited to watching kung fu flicks with way too many exaggerated grunts and waving around a broomstick like it was a sword.
But now? Now she had to fight for real.
She crept toward the area Dave had marked. There was a half wall with some scattered chairs, and just beyond that, the hobgoblin—chomping on some poor sap's remains. The smell hit her first, a mix of rotting flesh and death, making her stomach turn. Each step closer felt heavier, the crunch of bones under the creature's teeth getting louder. Her grip tightened around the axe. No time to second-guess now.
In one smooth motion, June hopped over the chairs, landing behind the hobgoblin. The skeletons moved in silently, ready to flank. Dave had already gone back to Tanya, keeping watch over her but staying close enough to jump in if needed.
Adrenaline shot through June's veins as she closed the gap between herself and the hobgoblin. She could hear its deep, ragged breaths as it feasted. Then, with a sharp inhale, she swung the axe hard at its back. The blade sank deep into its thick hide. The hobgoblin snarled, tossing its meal aside as it turned to face her, yellow eyes blazing with rage.
The skeletons were already on it, surrounding the creature like a pack of wolves. But June struggled to yank the axe free. Her pulse raced as she managed to rip it out just in time to dodge a wild swing. It was close—too close. Five seconds, tops, until the skeletons closed in. In that small window, she almost bit it twice. The hobgoblin followed up its missed swing with a clawed jab straight at her gut. She blocked it, barely, with the axe, but the force knocked her off balance and sent her crashing to the ground.
Scrambling to her feet, she saw the hobgoblin closing in fast—but the skeletons got there first, throwing themselves into the fight. They were way better at this than she was, and it gave her a few precious seconds to catch her breath.
Shaking off the panic, June focused and swung her axe again, this time aiming for the back of the hobgoblin's knee. It hit deep, cracking through bone. The beast let out a blood-curdling roar that made her cringe. It was focused on her now, which... was a terrible idea.
While the hobgoblin's attention was locked on June, Dave went in for the kill. With perfect timing, he drove his sword straight into the creature's eye. The thing howled in pain, thrashing around blindly. June had already mentally called for him, knowing getting her axe back was going to be a nightmare.
As the hobgoblin flailed, Dave looped a rope around its thick neck and pulled. Even with its massive muscles, the noose started cutting off its air. The hobgoblin panicked, trying to claw at the rope, its breathing becoming ragged and desperate.
June wasn't about to waste the opening. She reached into her pocket and pulled out one of the knives she'd pocketed earlier. With a loud yell, she charged. Jumping onto the hobgoblin's back, she grabbed its shoulder and jammed the knife deep into its neck.
It roared again, wild and furious, trying to shake her off. In a last-ditch effort, it barrelled forward, slamming into the wall. The impact knocked both June and Dave to the floor, but not before the knife ripped through its throat, leaving a jagged, bloody gash from its neck to its collarbone.