The goblins swarmed, their shrill war cries echoing through the cavern as they brandished rusty swords and makeshift clubs, charging in a chaotic wave toward the group.
Ren grinned, drawing his sword with a flourish. "Alright, Skorn—time to make some goblin confetti."
Skorn cracked his knuckles and summoned jagged spikes of stone from the ground. "Let's give 'em a proper welcome, shall we?" His stone armor thickened, his fingers digging into the earth as he braced himself for the impact of the oncoming horde.
Olivia took a steadying breath, her hands glowing with a soft, blue light as she prepared her healing magic. "I'll be here if you need me," she said, her voice calm but resolute. "Don't take any unnecessary risks."
Standing beside her, Talos stretched out his wings and flexed his talons, eyes sharp as he summoned a gust of wind to hover around him. "I'll keep them off balance," he said, a small, fierce grin crossing his beak. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a powerful burst of air sweeping across the goblins' front lines, knocking several off their feet.
Ren and Skorn launched forward, meeting the goblins head-on. Ren darted between enemies with swift, precise movements, his sword crackling with lightning as he struck down any goblin within reach. Every slash sent electric shocks rippling through his foes, their shrieks filling the air as they fell back in a daze.
Skorn, on the other hand, was a solid, unmovable wall of defense, swinging his stone-covered fists and hammering goblins into the ground. His rock spikes rose around him in a jagged ring, blocking any attacks that came too close.
"Gonna have to try harder than that!" he taunted as he smashed through another line.
Talos, staying just behind them, swept his hands through the air, guiding currents of wind to throw goblins off balance and keep the path clear for Ren and Skorn.
"Keep moving!" he called, launching another gust that sent several goblins tumbling backward. He launched small, sharpened wind blades that sliced through the air, striking down the goblins trying to flank their friends.
Meanwhile, Olivia stood steady, her eyes never leaving her teammates. Every time one of them took a hit, she extended her magic, healing their wounds with a wave of calming energy.
"You're doing great—stay focused!" she encouraged, sending another surge of healing toward Ren as he took a minor slash to his arm.
As the goblins began to fall back in disarray, Ren took a breath, shooting a glance over his shoulder at the others.
"This actually feels… kinda organized. Look at us, real team players."
Skorn laughed, smashing down another goblin. "Yeah, don't get too used to it, hero. This is a one-time thing."
The last of the goblins fled in a panic, the path ahead finally clear. They regrouped, catching their breath.
Talos folded his wings, looking over them all with a nod. "I think that's all of them. We're ready to keep moving if everyone's good."
Ren sheathed his sword, giving Olivia and Talos a nod. "Couldn't have done it without the extra support back there."
Olivia smiled. "It's what I'm here for. Let's keep going.
The team moved cautiously as they ventured deeper into the cave, the stony path twisting and turning with no end in sight. Wave after wave of goblins had tested their strength, each one pushing them further until, at last, they reached the center.
The air felt heavier here, thick with the stench of sweat and damp stone. Their eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing a vast, open chamber. The ceiling arched high above, giving the space an eerie, cavernous echo that amplified the goblins' snarls and chatter.
It was a goblin stronghold. Hundreds of goblins, clustered together in groups, feasting and brawling as if in celebration. Crude tents and tables littered the space, and goblins clashed mugs together, hollering in their guttural language. In the middle of it all, towering above the crowd on a throne of bones, sat a massive goblin.
He was twice the size of the others, his muscled arms crossed, a heavy, rusted crown perched crookedly on his brow.
The Goblin King. His red eyes glowed with a sinister light as he surveyed his unruly subjects. He hadn't noticed the intruders yet, but his gaze roamed the room as if searching for something—or someone—to unleash his wrath upon.
Ren, Skorn, Olivia, and Talos huddled just out of sight, taking in the sight before them.
"Well," Ren muttered under his breath, "looks like we found the party. All we're missing are the party favors."
Skorn's eyes gleamed with a fierce excitement. "That big one on the throne? He's mine."
Talos, his expression serious, sized up the crowd. "I can thin their numbers with wind magic, but there are a lot of them."
Olivia touched his arm, her eyes steely. "Then we work together. Skorn, you focus on the Goblin King. Talos and I will keep the smaller ones from overwhelming us, and Ren…" She looked at him with a small smirk. "Give them a shock they'll never forget."
Ren grinned, crackling lightning dancing between his fingertips. "I'll make it a night to remember."
With a silent nod, they sprang into action.
Skorn charged forward, drawing the attention of several goblins as he summoned massive stone walls to block the exits, trapping the goblins inside. He stomped his foot, and spikes erupted from the ground, creating a path straight toward the Goblin King. "Alright, big guy, let's see what you're made of!"
The Goblin King rose, baring his jagged teeth in a twisted grin. With a roar, he grabbed his enormous club and leaped down from his throne, landing with a crash that sent cracks spiderwebbing across the ground. He charged at Skorn, swinging his club in a wide arc.
Meanwhile, Talos lifted his hands, summoning fierce gusts of wind that whirled around the goblins, scattering them like leaves. Goblins were lifted off their feet, tumbling back as Talos created a barrier of wind around himself and Olivia.
Olivia focused, her hands glowing as she cast a steady stream of healing magic toward Skorn and Ren whenever they took a hit. She moved with precision, a sense of calm amidst the chaos as she tended to her friends.
Ren darted through the crowd, unleashing bolts of lightning left and right, frying goblins in his path. Each strike was precise, aimed to cut through the mob.
"What's the matter?" he taunted as goblins flinched away from him. "Didn't think you'd get the full VIP experience?"
The Goblin King and Skorn collided, Skorn's stone-clad fists meeting the King's brutal swings. The ground shook with each blow. Skorn managed to dodge a heavy swing, retaliating by punching the ground and sending jagged rock spikes straight into the King's legs. The Goblin King bellowed in pain, but swung his club, knocking Skorn back a few feet.
"Stay with it, Skorn!" Talos called, using a gust of wind to knock several goblins away from his team member. "He's big, but slow."
Ren took advantage of the chaos, gathering a massive surge of lightning. He channeled it into a single, blinding bolt aimed directly at the Goblin King. The lightning struck, electrocuting the creature and causing him to roar in pain, but he still didn't go down.
With a snarl, the Goblin King broke free of Skorn's rock spikes and charged, his focus now on Ren. But before he could close the distance, Olivia extended her hands, summoning a swirling torrent of water. She aimed it at the Goblin King's feet, creating a slick, muddy surface that slowed his advance.
Skorn seized the opportunity, summoning a massive stone hammer and charging at the Goblin King. "This ends now!" With a mighty swing, he brought the hammer crashing down on the Goblin King's head, sending a sickening crack through the cavern.
The Goblin King staggered, his crown slipping from his head as he fell to his knees. With a final, guttural growl, he collapsed, defeated.
The remaining goblins, seeing their leader fall, scattered in panic, fleeing deeper into the cave.
Breathing heavily, Ren looked at his friends, a wide grin on his face. "Well, I'd say that went pretty well. Who's up for some treasure hunting?"