Kael followed closely behind Marra as the group made their way deeper into the forest. The air felt heavier with each step, the stench of decay and damp earth growing stronger. Every few minutes, a goblin totem would appear in their path, each one more grotesque than the last. Bones, rotting flesh, and crude symbols adorned the makeshift markers, filling Kael with unease.
"How do they even make these?" Kael asked, his voice low as he gestured to one of the totems.
"Goblins are scavengers," Marra replied, her tone sharp but quiet. "They use whatever they can find—animals, sometimes even humans. They don't care what they have to do to survive."
Kael grimaced, gripping his spear tightly. The more he learned about goblins, the more dangerous they seemed. He glanced at Thane, who was clutching his staff with both hands, his face pale but resolute. Corin, walking slightly ahead, had his dagger drawn, his movements as silent as a shadow.
"We're close," Marra said suddenly, holding up a hand to halt the group. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the forest ahead.
Kael strained his ears, hearing faint, guttural voices carried on the wind. The sound of clattering metal and low, rhythmic chanting made his skin crawl.
"Is that… singing?" Kael whispered.
"Chanting," Thane corrected, his voice shaky. "It's a goblin ritual. They're probably preparing for a raid—or worse."
Marra motioned for the group to move into the underbrush. They crouched low, creeping forward until the forest opened into a wide clearing. Kael's breath caught as he took in the scene.
The goblin nest sprawled before them, a chaotic mess of crude huts and dug-out burrows surrounding a massive bonfire. Dozens of goblins moved about the camp, their distorted forms illuminated by the flickering flames. At the center of the clearing stood a towering figure—a goblin chieftain, its hulking frame covered in patchwork armor. It carried a massive, jagged axe, its yellow eyes glowing with malice.
Goblin Chieftain - Level 7
HP: 120/120
"By the gods," Kael muttered. "How are we supposed to fight that?"
"Carefully," Marra replied, her voice cold and steady. "We can't take them all head-on. We need to be smart about this."
Kael scanned the camp, his heart pounding. He could see at least twenty goblins, including the chieftain. Many of them were smaller scouts, armed with crude weapons, but there were also larger warriors patrolling the perimeter. A few goblin shamans stood near the bonfire, their staffs glowing faintly.
"We'll need a distraction," Marra said, her eyes darting across the camp. "Corin, can you take out the sentries without being seen?"
Corin smirked, twirling his dagger. "You don't need to ask twice."
"Good," Marra said. "Thane, you'll focus on disrupting the shamans. Keep their magic from getting out of hand. Kael, you're with me. We'll draw the chieftain's attention."
Kael swallowed hard. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"No," Marra admitted. "But it's the only one we've got."
***
Corin slipped into the shadows, his movements almost invisible as he circled the camp. Kael watched in awe as the man crept up behind one of the goblin sentries, his dagger flashing in the firelight. The goblin let out a faint gurgle before collapsing, its body dragged into the bushes without a sound.
"One down," Marra murmured, her bow already drawn. She loosed an arrow, the projectile striking a goblin scout near the edge of the camp. The creature crumpled to the ground, its death unnoticed by the others.
Kael took a deep breath, gripping his spear tightly. He could feel the tension building as the group moved into position. Thane stood slightly behind him, the runes on his staff glowing faintly as he prepared to cast.
"We'll hit the chieftain first," Marra whispered. "If we can take it out, the rest might scatter."
"And if they don't?" Kael asked.
"Then we fight," Marra said simply.
Kael nodded, his heart pounding as they stepped into the clearing. The moment they emerged from the underbrush, chaos erupted.
Marra's arrow struck the chieftain's shoulder, the force of the impact staggering the massive goblin. It let out a deafening roar, raising its axe as it turned to face them. The surrounding goblins shrieked in alarm, scrambling to grab their weapons.
Kael charged toward the chieftain, his spear aimed at its chest. The massive goblin swung its axe in a wide arc, forcing him to dive to the side. He rolled to his feet, spinning his spear to deliver a quick thrust to the chieftain's side. The weapon struck true, drawing a spray of dark blood, but the creature barely flinched.
Goblin Chieftain
HP: 110/120
"This thing's a monster!" Kael shouted, narrowly dodging another swing of the chieftain's axe.
"Focus!" Marra called, loosing another arrow. The projectile struck the chieftain's leg, causing it to stumble slightly. "Keep it off balance!"
Kael gritted his teeth, darting in to strike again. The chieftain roared, swinging its axe with terrifying speed. Kael barely managed to block the attack with his spear, the force of the blow sending him skidding backward.
Meanwhile, Thane raised his staff, chanting rapidly as a wave of energy burst forth. The magic struck one of the shamans near the bonfire, interrupting its spell and sending it reeling. The other shamans turned their attention to Thane, their staffs glowing with angry green light.
"I've got their attention!" Thane shouted, his voice strained. "But I can't hold them off for long!"
"Corin, now!" Marra yelled.
From the shadows, Corin emerged, his daggers flashing as he struck down two unsuspecting goblins. The creatures fell silently, their deaths unnoticed in the chaos. He moved like a ghost, eliminating goblins one by one as the fight raged on.
Kael ducked under another swing from the chieftain's axe, his mind racing. He couldn't keep dodging forever. His MP was still partially restored, and he knew he had one chance to turn the tide.
Skill Replication Activated
Skill Replicated: Heavy Strike (Basic)
-10 MP
Kael felt a surge of energy as the skill activated, his muscles tensing with newfound power. The chieftain raised its axe for another attack, but Kael lunged forward, driving his spear into the creature's chest with all his strength. The force of the strike sent the chieftain stumbling backward, its HP dropping significantly.
Goblin Chieftain
HP: 80/120
The massive goblin roared in fury, its glowing eyes locking onto Kael. It charged toward him, its axe raised high. Kael braced himself, his mind racing as he tried to anticipate the next attack.
Before the chieftain could strike, Marra loosed another arrow, this one striking the creature in the neck. The goblin staggered, blood pouring from the wound as it let out a choking roar.
"Now, Kael!" Marra shouted.
Kael didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his spear aimed at the chieftain's heart. The massive goblin swung its axe in a desperate attempt to block the attack, but Kael sidestepped, driving his spear into the creature's chest with all his strength.
Victory!
You have defeated Goblin Chieftain (Level 7)
+50 XP
The chieftain let out a final roar before collapsing, its massive frame hitting the ground with a thud. The remaining goblins froze, their eyes wide with fear as they stared at their fallen leader. A moment later, they scattered, fleeing into the forest.
Kael pulled his spear free, breathing heavily as he surveyed the carnage. The bonfire still burned brightly, casting flickering shadows across the clearing. Marra approached, her expression grim but satisfied.
"You did good," she said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But this isn't over. The nest is still out there, and we need to finish what we started."
Kael nodded, his grip tightening on his spear. The fight had been intense, but it was far from the end. As the group regrouped and prepared to move deeper into the forest, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.