The battle raged on, but Koy could only see the leader, a dark figure in his mind. He swung his dagger with all his might, but the scarred goblin was quick, dodging and countering with ruthless precision.
"You think you can defeat me?" the leader taunted, his eyes glinting with malice. "You're just a pathetic level one!"
Koy gritted his teeth, forcing himself to think of his friends—Miri, Garok, everyone who had believed in him. He had to push through the pain and fear. He could not let them down.
With a sudden surge of adrenaline, Koy feigned a strike to the left and quickly pivoted, slashing toward the leader's throat. The blade grazed the goblin's skin, drawing a thin line of crimson.
"Not bad," the leader sneered, wiping the blood away with a twisted smile. "But you'll need more than that to beat me."
Koy's breath came in ragged gasps as he realized he was outmatched. Panic began to settle in when he heard Miri's voice yelling from behind him. "Koy, behind you!"
He turned just in time to see one of the Red Fang goblins charging at him with a raised club. Instinctively, Koy ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Fight back!" Miri shouted, her voice filled with urgency. She was holding her own against a group of attackers, but Koy could see the weariness in her eyes.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Koy pushed himself back to his feet, adrenaline coursing through him. "We can't let them win! Fight for your home!"
But just as he rallied his comrades, the leader of the Red Fangs moved with blinding speed, striking at Koy. He felt a sharp pain in his side, stumbling back as the world spun around him.
"Looks like you're all out of luck," the scarred goblin sneered, raising his weapon for the final blow.
"No!" Miri cried, her voice piercing through the chaos. But Koy felt himself growing weaker, darkness creeping in at the edges of his vision.
Just then, a loud roar erupted from the shadows of the trees, sending a wave of dread through the clearing. The ground trembled as something massive broke through the foliage—a huge, snarling creature, unlike anything Koy had ever seen.
It was a dire wolf, larger than a horse, with matted fur and piercing yellow eyes. It lunged into the fray, scattering the Red Fang goblins like leaves in a storm.
"What in the world—?" Koy gasped, staring in awe as the wolf tore through their attackers, a fierce protector in the chaos.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Koy forced himself back to his feet, staggering forward to join Miri and Garok. "We need to regroup!" he shouted, determination igniting within him.
The wolf fought alongside them, its ferocity unmatched. Koy could feel a shift in the battle; they had a chance now. With renewed energy, he led Miri and Garok into the fray, taking down Red Fang goblins left and right.
"Stay close to the wolf!" Koy yelled, and they followed his lead, their spirits lifting as they fought back against the attackers.
As the last of the Red Fangs fell, the leader retreated, cursing under his breath. "This isn't over, little goblins! You'll regret this!"
Koy watched him disappear into the shadows, breathless and exhilarated. "We did it!" he shouted, turning to his friends. "We actually did it!"
Miri beamed, exhaustion evident on her face. "That was amazing, Koy! You led us!"
Garok grinned despite the blood seeping from his side. "Yeah, but we need to tend to these wounds. We can't let our guard down just yet."
Koy looked around, realizing how close they had come to losing everything. The thrill of victory was overshadowed by the darker reality of their existence. The forest was no longer a safe haven; they would need to prepare for what lay ahead.
"Let's bandage you up, Garok," Koy said, his voice firm. "And we need to figure out how to deal with the Red Fangs. They won't stop until they take us down."