Chapter 10: Infiltration of the Goblin King's Lair
As the day in the dense forest dungeon progressed, Von and Ren could feel the passage of time. The sun's dappled rays began to wane, casting longer shadows through the forest. Birds nestled in the trees, and the forest creatures started to stir as night approached.
Von glanced at Ren and said, "We've made good progress on our quest, but it's getting late. We should consider setting up camp and securing the area."
Ren nodded in agreement, recognizing the importance of safety during the night. "You're right. Let's find a suitable spot to make camp. We don't want to be caught off guard by any nighttime threats."
They ventured deeper into the forest, searching for an ideal location. After a short walk, they discovered a clearing with soft, mossy ground underfoot. The area was relatively free of underbrush and provided a clear line of sight. It seemed like a perfect spot for their camp.
Ren began gathering dry branches and twigs for a fire, while Von used his senses to identify edible plants and sources of freshwater nearby. Together, they efficiently set up their campsite, creating a fire pit, arranging rocks for a makeshift perimeter, and crafting rudimentary tools for defense.
Once the camp was ready, they sat by the crackling fire, their weapons within easy reach. Ren started cooking a simple meal using the forest resources they had foraged, while Von kept an eye on their surroundings, alert for any signs of danger.
As they shared their meal, Von couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. "It's amazing how quickly we've adapted to this world. We're becoming real awakeners."
Ren chuckled and replied, "Yeah, I remember when we were just standing at the tower entrance, feeling so out of place. Now, we're out here in the wild, fighting goblins and surviving in a forest dungeon."
With the firelight casting flickering shadows on their faces, they continued to talk, sharing stories and experiences from their time in the game world. The sounds of the forest provided a soothing backdrop, and the night sky began to twinkle with stars.
Von, sitting by the campfire, suddenly recalled the item he had received from the gold box. With a sense of curiosity, he took out the delicate feather-shaped earring from his inventory and decided to appraise it to uncover its properties and potential.
System:
Name: Raven's Feather Earring
Type: Unknown
Rarity: Unknown
Enchantment: Darkness's Embrace
Attributes:
Enchantment: Darkness's Embrace
Description: Raven's Feather is an earring that emanates an aura of darkness and mystery. Its origins are shrouded in secrecy, and its purpose remains a mystery. This earring resembles a raven's feather, with a dark, iridescent hue that seems to absorb light.
Effects:
Grants the wearer enhanced vision in low-light conditions.
Increases mana regeneration during the night.
Provides a minor resistance to darkness-based attacks.
Von's eyes widened in astonishment as he read the attributes of the earring. It was not just a simple accessory; its effects held immense value. Carefully placing the earring back in his inventory, Von realized the great potential it held. He understood that this unique accessory could play a significant role in their future adventures, but he needed to become stronger to harness its full power, as his current dark magic proficiency limited its use. With determination, he knew he would strive to unlock its mysteries and unlock its full potential.
Von and Ren settled in for the night, ready to continue their exploration of the forest dungeon in the morning.
As the morning sun rose, Von and Ren prepared themselves for another day of hunting goblins. They checked their equipment, sharpened their weapons, and made sure they had enough provisions for the day. The forest dungeon was teeming with goblins, and they were ready to continue their quest to eliminate them.
"Ren, I just remembered, even after we finish our quest, we should keep hunting down goblins until we find their base. It might trigger a hidden quest and give us a chance to slay the Goblin King." Von said, emphasizing the importance of their continued exploration.
Ren nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of thoroughly exploring the forest dungeon. "You're right, Von. Finding their base and taking down the Goblin King could lead to valuable rewards and uncovering more of the dungeon's secrets. Let's keep our eyes peeled for any clues that might lead us there as we continue our goblin hunt."
With a shared sense of purpose, they ventured deeper into the forest, determined to not only complete their quest but to uncover the hidden mysteries that awaited them.
As Von and Ren continued their relentless goblin hunt, they noticed a change in the goblins' behavior. The creatures seemed to be growing increasingly fearful of the two awakeners. The duo's reputation as formidable goblin slayers spread among the remaining goblins, and their continued presence in the forest was enough to send the creatures fleeing or hiding. Despite completing their initial quest, Von and Ren were determined to press on, believing that their pursuit might lead them to the hidden quest and the Goblin King.
"Ren, since the goblins have become scared of us, how about we follow them? They might lead us to their home." Von suggested.
Ren agreed with Von's idea. "That sounds like a plan. Let's keep a safe distance and see if they'll lead us to their base."
The two awakeners began shadowing the retreating goblins, maintaining a careful distance to avoid detection. They moved quietly through the forest, their senses heightened and their weapons ready, prepared for whatever awaited them at the goblins' potential hideout.
Von and Ren stealthily approached the goblin hideout, taking care to remain hidden from view. From their vantage point, they could see the entrance to the cave where the goblins had taken refuge.
The hideout appeared to be a natural cave within the forest, with crude wooden barricades and makeshift shelters scattered around. The goblins seemed to have constructed a camp of sorts, complete with campfires and various stolen supplies.
As Von and Ren continued to observe, they estimated there were at least thirty goblins present, and they could hear the guttural language of the creatures echoing within the cave. It was clear that this was a substantial goblin force, and the goblin king they sought might be among them.
They discovered the goblin hideout, and a hidden quest was triggered.
Hidden Quest: The Goblin King's Lair
Description: Infiltrate the goblin hideout and eliminate their king.
Objective: Defeat the Goblin King
Reward: Valuable Loot, Recognition as a Dungeon Conqueror
Von and Ren exchanged glances, realizing that this was the hidden quest they had hoped for. Their determination to confront the goblin king and bring an end to the goblin threat intensified.
With the quest now active, they prepared to infiltrate the goblin hideout and face the Goblin King, ready for the challenges and battles that lay ahead.
Von and Ren whispered quietly at the entrance of the goblin hideout. From their vantage point, they could see several goblins guarding the entrance.
Von whispered, "Alright, here's the plan. We need to take out the guards silently to avoid raising an alarm. I'll use my Ebon Chain to silence and immobilize the goblin on the left, allowing you to approach. Then, I'll utilize Shadow Step to get behind the goblin on the right. Once we're in position, we'll take them out simultaneously."
Von nodded in agreement. "Agreed. After we eliminate these guards, we should move quickly into the hideout. If we're lucky, we might catch them off guard and find an advantage."
They both were able to kill the goblins guarding the entrance. Now they started to do what they planned on how to infiltrate their hideout.
The first step in their strategy was to maintain their element of surprise. Once they are inside the hideout without anyone noticing them. They knew that a direct assault might lead to overwhelming numbers of goblins converging on them.
They decided to split up temporarily. Ren, who had excellent skills, would be responsible for creating distractions on one side of the hideout. His objective was to lure goblins away from the central area, preventing them from gathering in one place.
While Ren distracted the goblins, Von would stealthily make his way to the central area where they suspected the Goblin King might be. His goal was to locate and eliminate the Goblin King while Ren kept the rest of the goblins occupied.
Their communication was vital. They used a special set of hand signals and gestures to convey information without making any noise. With a final nod to each other, they executed their plan.
Ren began his mission by moving to the outskirts of the hideout, catching the attention of a small group of goblins. He made noise, showing himself briefly before retreating deeper into the forest. The goblins, attracted by the intruder, eagerly pursued him.
Meanwhile, Von used the diversion to slip into the central area. The goblins guarding the heart of the hideout remained oblivious to his presence, thanks to Von's clever distraction.
Their coordinated effort was now in motion, with the fate of their mission hanging in the balance.