Deep within the forest, the goblins' nest was a hive of activity, with the creatures scurrying about, preparing for their next assault on the town.
The air was thick with the smell of damp earth, decaying leaves, and the acrid tang of smoke from the cooking fires.
Inside the largest wooden shelter, a sense of foreboding hung in the air, like a dark and malevolent presence.
The shelter was dimly lit, the only light coming from a few flickering torches that cast eerie shadows on the walls.
At the center of the shelter, two goblins stood out from the rest.
One was a hobgoblin, its tall, humanoid frame towering over the others. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence, a calculating glint that seemed almost human.
Next to it stood a shaman, a goblin of normal stature, but with eyes that burned with an inner fire, a fierce intelligence that seemed to pierce through the darkness.
Both the hobgoblin and the shaman were on one knee, their heads bowed in deference to a figure seated on a wooden throne.
The figure was shrouded in shadows, its features indistinct, but its presence was palpable, a crushing weight that seemed to press down on the two goblins.
The air was heavy with tension as the figure spoke, its deep, hoarse voice like a rusty gate scraping against concrete. "How goes the invasion?" it asked, its tone imperious, demanding.
The shaman trembled slightly as it replied, its voice quavering. "It's going steady, your eminence. Soon their walls will fall, and we will have free rein of the town."
The figure nodded its head, its presence seeming to grow even more oppressive. "Hmmm," it muttered, its tone firm, commanding. "Very well. Make sure it goes well."
As the hobgoblin and shaman prepared to leave, the figure released a burst of aura, a dark, malevolent energy that seemed to wash over them like a wave.
"Remember," it growled, its voice dripping with menace. "Failure will not be tolerated."
The hobgoblin and shaman nodded hastily, their eyes wide with fear, as they scurried out of the shelter, leaving the figure to its dark, brooding thoughts.
***********
I stood outside, the cool night air a welcome respite from the sweltering heat of the day.
The stars twinkled above, casting a silver glow over the sleeping town.
But I couldn't sleep, my mind racing with thoughts of the mission tomorrow.
And not just the mission - I also had to find a way to sneak into the forest and head to the dungeon where the Truthseeker Fruit was said to be.
Haaa. A dungeon, huh? I thought to myself, my eyes gazing out into the darkness.
Dungeons were a legacy of the Calamity, artificially formed habitats created to trap the monsters that had been spawned by the sudden influx of mana into the world.
Over time, however, dungeons had begun to form naturally, a sort of antibody created by the earth through the artificial dungeons.
The dungeon where the Truthseeker Fruit was said to be was a D-rank dungeon, relatively low-level but still fraught with danger.
I pushed the thought aside, my stomach rumbling loudly in protest. Haaa. I turned to my left, my eyes scanning the darkened street until they landed on a fruit stand, its colorful wares illuminated by a soft lantern.
I walked over to the stand, the vendor looking up at me with a warm smile.
She was a middle-aged woman, her brown hair streaked with threads of silver, her black eyes sparkling with kindness.
She had average looks, but there was something about her that put me at ease.
"How much for an apple?" I asked her, my voice low and smooth.
"Ten bronze," she replied, her voice husky.
I paid her and took the apple, biting into its crisp flesh with a satisfying crunch. Chewing slowly, I walked around the city for a bit, enjoying the peacefulness of the night.
BOOM!
The ground shook beneath my feet, the sound of drums and bells filling the air. "Enemy attack!" a voice shouted, the words echoing off the buildings. "The goblins are here! All civilians, head to the shelter!"
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. Damn it. Why were they attacking now? According to the Mayor, they attacked once every two days, and they had attacked yesterday. So, according to that analysis, they shouldn't be attacking until tomorrow.
I quickly finished my apple, the sweet flavor turning sour in my mouth. I rushed towards the Mayor's mansion, my heart pounding in my chest.
It was time to meet up with the rest of the party and defend the town against the goblin horde.