The forest was still and heavy with tension as Kael and the group followed the trail of the goblins. The tracks were unmistakable—deep prints in the soft earth, claw marks on the trees, and occasional scraps of crude armor left behind. Every few steps, Kael glanced over his shoulder, the weight of unseen eyes pressing against his senses.
Leena walked close beside Thane, her gaze darting nervously around the forest. Though she clutched a knife Marra had given her, it was clear she wasn't ready for combat. The trauma of what she'd endured still clung to her like a second skin.
"Stay alert," Marra said quietly, her bow drawn as her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. "We're getting closer."
"How can you tell?" Kael asked, his voice low.
Marra pointed to the ground. "The tracks are fresher. They're not far ahead."
Kael nodded, adjusting his grip on his spear. His heart pounded with anticipation, his muscles tense as he prepared for whatever lay ahead. The thought of facing more goblins—or worse, whoever this 'Master' was—made his stomach churn.
"Do you really think we'll find him?" Thane asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"If the tracks lead to him, then yes," Marra replied. "But don't focus on him yet. Stay focused on what's in front of us."
***
The group moved cautiously through the forest, the silence broken only by the rustle of leaves and the faint crunch of footsteps. After an hour, they came upon a small clearing where the tracks ended abruptly. Kael frowned, crouching to examine the ground.
"They just stop here," he said, running his fingers over the disturbed earth. "It doesn't make sense."
"They didn't stop," Marra said, her tone grim. "They scattered."
Kael looked up, following her gaze. The tracks branched off in multiple directions, some heading deeper into the forest, others veering sharply toward rocky terrain to the east.
"Great," Corin muttered, crossing his arms. "Now what? Split up and get picked off one by one?"
"No," Marra said firmly. "We stick together. If we follow the strongest trail, it'll lead us to the main group—and likely the leader."
Kael nodded, rising to his feet. "Which one is it?"
Marra pointed to the eastern trail. "That one. The goblins are trying to hide it, but there's too much activity for it to be anything else."
Kael followed her lead as they moved toward the rocks, the air growing colder with each step. The terrain grew rougher, forcing them to climb over jagged stones and weave through narrow gaps. The further they went, the more the forest seemed to change. The trees became gnarled and twisted, their branches forming unnatural shapes that loomed overhead like skeletal hands.
"This place is cursed," Leena muttered, her voice barely audible.
Kael couldn't argue. The oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe, and the stench of decay hung thick in the air. Every shadow seemed to move, and every sound felt like a threat.
"Hold," Marra said suddenly, raising a hand.
The group froze, their weapons at the ready. Kael strained his ears, hearing a faint rustling ahead. It was subtle but unmistakable—the sound of movement.
"Goblins?" Kael whispered.
"Likely," Marra replied. "But something feels… off."
Kael's grip on his spear tightened as they crept forward, the tension growing with each step. As they rounded a bend in the rocky path, the source of the sound came into view—a small group of goblins huddled around a fire, their crude weapons resting nearby.
At first glance, they seemed normal, but as Kael looked closer, he noticed something strange. Their eyes glowed faintly, and their movements were jerky, almost puppet-like.
"What's wrong with them?" Thane asked, his voice shaking.
"They're controlled," Marra said, her tone grim. "I've seen this before. Dark magic. Whoever this Master is, they're using the goblins as tools."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. The idea of fighting goblins was bad enough, but facing ones that were controlled by some unknown force made the situation far more dangerous.
"What's the plan?" he asked, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him.
Marra's eyes narrowed as she studied the goblins. "We take them out quietly. Corin, you're up."
Corin smirked, slipping into the shadows. The group watched as he moved silently toward the goblins, his daggers glinting in the firelight. In a flash, he struck, his blades finding their marks with deadly precision. Two goblins fell silently, their bodies slumping to the ground.
The remaining goblins let out guttural cries, scrambling for their weapons. Before they could react, Marra fired an arrow, striking one in the chest. Kael charged forward, his spear aimed at another. The creature snarled, its glowing eyes locking onto him as it swung its crude blade. Kael dodged, spinning his spear and driving it into the goblin's side.
Victory!
You have defeated Controlled Goblin (Level 3)
+15 XP
The last goblin fell to Thane's spell, its body collapsing as a burst of energy struck it in the chest. The clearing fell silent, the flickering fire the only sign of life.
Kael wiped sweat from his brow, his breathing heavy. "That wasn't too bad."
"Don't get comfortable," Marra said, her gaze scanning the area. "This was just a patrol. The main group will be much worse."
***
After extinguishing the fire to cover their tracks, the group continued east. The rocky terrain gave way to a steep incline, forcing them to climb carefully to avoid losing their footing. The air grew colder, and the forest thinned, revealing a desolate landscape of jagged rocks and sparse vegetation.
As they reached the top of the incline, Kael froze, his eyes widening at the sight before him. Below, nestled in a narrow valley, was a massive encampment. Goblins swarmed the area, their numbers far greater than Kael had expected. Crude tents and makeshift fortifications filled the valley, and at the center stood a towering structure—a stone altar similar to the one they had seen before, but far larger and more elaborate.
"That's it," Marra said quietly. "The heart of their operation."
Kael's stomach twisted as he took in the scene. There were hundreds of goblins, all moving with the same jerky, unnatural motions as the ones they had fought earlier. The glowing eyes and the eerie silence of the camp only added to the sense of dread.
"How do we even get close to that?" Thane asked, his voice trembling.
"We don't," Corin said firmly. "There's no way we can take on all of them."
Marra frowned, her eyes narrowing. "We're not here to fight the entire camp. We need to find the Master. If we take him out, the rest will fall apart."
Kael nodded, though the thought of facing such a powerful foe filled him with anxiety. "How do we find him?"
"The altar," Marra said. "He'll be there. It's the center of their power."
Kael took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his spear. The path ahead was clear, but it was far from easy. As the group prepared to descend into the valley, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap.
***
The descent was slow and nerve-wracking, every step carefully measured to avoid detection. The group moved from shadow to shadow, their movements silent as they navigated the rocky terrain. Kael's heart pounded with each step, the oppressive atmosphere of the valley pressing down on him.
When they finally reached the edge of the camp, Marra held up a hand, signaling them to stop. The goblins moved methodically, their patrols eerily synchronized. Marra's eyes narrowed as she studied the patterns, her mind working quickly.
"There's a gap in their patrols near the altar," she whispered. "If we time it right, we can slip through."
Kael nodded, his muscles tensing as he prepared to move. The group waited in silence, their breaths shallow as they watched the goblins. When the moment came, Marra signaled, and they moved swiftly, darting between tents and hiding behind debris.
Kael's heart raced as they neared the altar, the structure towering over them like a monument to despair. The carvings were intricate and horrifying, depicting scenes of violence and chaos. At the base of the altar, a figure stood—a cloaked man whose presence radiated power and malice.
The Master
Level: ???
HP: ???
Kael's blood ran cold as the figure turned, its glowing red eyes locking onto them. The air seemed to freeze, and a cruel smile spread across the Master's face.
"You've come far," the Master said, his voice like a whisper that echoed in Kael's mind. "But this is where your journey ends."