The swarm of goblins charged with guttural roars that reverberated through the dungeon. Haruki gripped his dagger tightly, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
"Here they come!" he shouted, dashing forward.
As Haruki lunged, he struck at the nearest goblin, aiming for its neck. But the creature was quicker than he expected, sidestepping and countering with a sharp jab from its club. The blow landed hard against Haruki's stomach, forcing him back. He coughed, clutching his side.
"These things are faster than they look," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Aiko stood to his left, her hands glowing with fiery energy. "Blazing Torrent!" she shouted, unleashing a torrent of fire toward the oncoming goblins. The flames roared forward, but the goblins scattered, their agility making them difficult targets. Before Aiko could ready another spell, one of the goblins leapt at her, its jagged blade aimed for her chest.
"Gah!" she cried, narrowly raising her sword to block. Sparks flew as the goblin's blade clashed against hers. But its skin was tough, and her counterattacks barely left a scratch. Another goblin blindsided her, its club striking her ribs and sending her skidding across the dungeon floor.
"Aiko!" Haruki shouted, but he was quickly forced back into his own fight.
Dante, meanwhile, faced the goblins head-on, his broad sword flashing as he deflected their attacks. His movements were fluid, each strike precise, but the sheer number of goblins began to overwhelm him. "Damn pests," he growled. "They're relentless."
Haruki gritted his teeth. His mind raced as he dodged another swing from a goblin's weapon. Then, an idea sparked.
"Lunar Blade Style… Moon Jab!" he yelled, shifting into his assassin stance. He darted forward with incredible speed, his dagger plunging into a goblin's stomach. Blood spurted as the goblin howled in pain, doubling over. Haruki grinned wickedly, pulling his dagger free and slashing upward to sever its neck.
As the goblin fell, Haruki disappeared into the shadows, his Assassin's Cloak skill activating.
"Where'd he go?" Aiko muttered, glancing around.
"One of his skills," Dante said, sidestepping an attack. "Let him do his thing. We've got our own problems."
Haruki reappeared behind another goblin, his blade slicing cleanly through its torso. "You can't track me," he said, his voice cold and mocking. "Not even your senses can keep up with my speed."
But just as he turned to strike another, a goblin sniffed the air, its feral instincts guiding it. With a guttural roar, it swung its massive bat, catching Haruki mid-dash. The blow sent him flying, slamming into the dungeon wall.
"Argh!" Haruki cried out, blood dripping from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.
"Haruki!" Aiko shouted, raising her sword. Her eyes glowed with determination as she summoned a storm of ice. "Frost Barrage!" Shards of ice rained down, piercing the goblins closest to her. She followed up with an earth spell, the ground beneath them erupting into jagged spikes.
"Stay down!" she yelled, dashing forward. Her blade glinted as she thrust it into a goblin's chest, the force of her attack driving the creature backward. Another goblin came at her, but she spun, her sword slicing through its arm.
Meanwhile, Dante roared as he leapt into the air. "Angel Assault!" he shouted, his blade glowing with wind and water magic. He came down with a flurry of strikes, cutting through the advancing goblins. With a quick chant, he healed his wounds, then conjured several fireballs, hurling them into the horde. Explosions rocked the cavern, but the goblins kept coming.
Just as they began to regain the upper hand, the dungeon floor trembled.
A towering goblin emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing crimson. It wielded a massive spiked bat, its muscles rippling with unnatural strength.
"Finally," Dante muttered, gripping his sword tighter.
The goblin charged, swinging its bat with incredible speed. Haruki, still recovering, tried to dodge, but the bat caught him square in the chest.
"Urgh!" Haruki gasped, blood spraying from his mouth as he fell.
"You cannot beat me," the goblin growled, its deep voice echoing through the chamber. It raised its bat, ready to strike Haruki again.
"Not today!" Dante shouted, intercepting the blow with his sword. The impact sent him sliding backward, but he held firm. "Haruki, get up! You're not done yet!"
Aiko joined in, her hands glowing as she unleashed a combination of water, earth, and wind attacks. The elements converged, trapping the goblin in a cyclone of magic. "Now's your chance!" she yelled.
Haruki staggered to his feet, his eyes blazing with resolve. "Let's finish this," he said, dashing forward.
With the goblin restrained, Dante launched himself into the air, his sword crackling with elemental energy. "Heaven's Wrath!" he shouted, bringing his blade down in a devastating strike.
The goblin roared in pain as Haruki appeared at its side, his dagger plunging into its heart. "This is for knocking me down," he said coldly, twisting the blade.
The massive goblin collapsed, its body crashing to the ground with a final, echoing thud.
The three of them stood over the fallen creature, their breaths heavy.
"Well," Dante said, clutching his ribs, "that was a good warm-up."
Haruki smirked, wiping the blood from his face. "Let's hope the next one isn't as tough."
The chapter ends.