Chapter 12
Ren and Akio stood in front of the large wooden board where the poster hung, catching the morning light. The crisp edges of the parchment fluttered slightly in the breeze, but the bold letters in the center of the page were unmistakable:
"Adventurers Wanted!
Two-Year Service Contract with the Kingdom of Valor.
Payment Based on Skill and Rank."
Both of them looked at each other and agree to go
The road to the kingdom was long and winding, stretching across valleys and through dense forests. Ren and Akio moved with purpose, their minds set on the contract that promised not only wealth but also an opportunity to prove their strength. The day was bright, but the skies above were streaked with dark clouds, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.
As they walked, the air around them seemed to grow thicker, a sense of unease creeping into their steps. The tranquility of the open road was suddenly shattered by a piercing scream. Ren and Akio froze, exchanging a look before breaking into a sprint toward the sound. As they rounded a bend, the sight that greeted them was one of destruction. Buildings, once standing tall and proud, now lay in ruins, and villagers ran in every direction, screaming for help.
"What the hell happened here?" Ren muttered under his breath.
Before they could ask anyone, a loud crash echoed through the air, and a massive figure lumbered into view. A towering hobgoblin, easily three times the size of any goblin they'd ever encountered, was wreaking havoc. Its greenish skin glistened with sweat, and in its hand, it clutched a massive club made from a twisted tree trunk. The hobgoblin's red eyes glowed with a dangerous intensity, and its guttural growl sent a chill down Ren's spine.
"That thing is huge," Akio whispered, his hand instinctively reaching for his blade.
"We've got no choice," Ren said, already charging his sword with lightning. "Let's take it down."
Without another word, Ren and Akio charged at the hobgoblin. Ren struck first, his sword crackling with electricity as he slashed at the beast's legs. The hobgoblin roared in pain, staggering but not falling. It swung its massive club toward Akio, who dodged just in time, the force of the swing sending a gust of wind that nearly knocked him off his feet.
"Careful!" Akio yelled as he launched a flame bullet at the creature's chest. The hobgoblin grunted as the fire singed its flesh, but it only seemed to make the monster angrier. It roared, swinging its club wildly, forcing both Ren and Akio to stay on the move.
"Why is this thing so strong?!" Ren growled, dodging another powerful swing. "It's tougher than anything we've faced."
The hobgoblin was relentless, its attacks coming with brutal force and surprising speed for its size. Every strike was a near miss, and it became clear that neither Ren's lightning nor Akio's flames were enough to bring it down quickly.
"We need to hit it harder," Akio said between breaths, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Got it," Ren nodded, his eyes narrowing as he charged up more power into his sword. He moved in quickly, slashing at the hobgoblin's arm. The beast roared in pain, its grip on the club loosening. Taking advantage of the opening, Akio dashed forward, his hand blade igniting with bright fire. He aimed for the hobgoblin's side, landing a deep, fiery slash that sent the creature staggering backward.
For a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand.
But then, from the corner of his eye, Ren saw movement—a shadowy figure emerging from the alley. It was smaller, quicker, and its movements were eerily familiar. A goblin—but this one was different. Its skin was dark, and in its hands, it held a staff crackling with dark magic. Ren's heart sank as he recognized the runes glowing on the staff. It was a goblin mage.
"Akio, watch out!" Ren shouted, but it was too late.
The goblin mage raised its staff and sent a bolt of dark magic flying toward Akio. He barely had time to react before the spell hit him square in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a pained grunt. Ren's eyes widened in horror as Akio struggled to move, his body paralyzed by the spell.
The hobgoblin, seeing its chance, raised its club, ready to crush Akio where he lay.
"NO!" Ren screamed, surging forward with all his strength. His sword sparked violently as he aimed for the hobgoblin's neck, determined to end the fight in one blow. Time seemed to slow as he swung his sword with everything he had.
Just as the blade was about to cleave through the hobgoblin's neck, a wave of darkness washed over him. Ren's vision blurred, his muscles stiffened, and his sword fell from his grasp. He dropped to his knees, his body refusing to move as he stared at the goblin mage, who had cast the same spell on him.
"No... not now..." Ren muttered, his vision fading as the world around him spun. He struggled to keep his eyes open, watching helplessly as the hobgoblin loomed over Akio, ready to deliver the final blow.
But before the darkness consumed him completely, Ren saw something strange—the hobgoblin hesitated. Its club was raised, but it didn't swing. The goblin mage turned its head, as if listening to something, before nodding once.
Then everything went black.
When Ren opened his eyes, the cold, damp air of a dungeon cell greeted him. The stone walls were rough and moss-covered,
and a faint drip of water echoed through the dimly lit space. He winced as he sat up, feeling the ache in his muscles and the throbbing pain in his head. His sword and gear were nowhere to be found he tried to use his power but he was to weak and too hungry. Across from him, lying on the hard floor, was Akio, still unconscious. Ren crawled over to his friend, shaking him gently until Akio stirred, groaning in discomfort. As Akio slowly sat up, the two exchanged confused glances, the realization that they had been captured settling over them like a heavy fog.
"Where the hell are we?" Akio muttered, rubbing his temples. Ren stood up and walked to the cell door, gripping the rusted iron bars. Outside, he could see the faint flicker of torchlight and hear distant voices, though they were too far away to make out any words. "I don't know," Ren replied quietly, his eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of an escape. "But it looks like whoever took us didn't just leave us for dead." As the eerie silence of the dungeon enveloped them, Ren's mind raced, trying to piece together what had happened after the battle with the hobgoblin. One thing was clear—whoever had spared them had plans for them, and they weren't going to be good.