Drake and Elara slumped against the damp cave wall, gasping for breath. Their bodies ached, their clothes were torn, and they were both nursing several wounds. The chaotic battle within the goblin tunnel had taken its toll.
"We… we need to… get out of here," Elara gasped, clutching her side.
Drake nodded weakly, his vision still slightly blurred from the blow he had taken. He looked back at the tunnel entrance, where the goblins were beginning to regroup. They were still enraged, but they seemed hesitant to pursue them into the main cavern.
"We're not going anywhere without the Sunstone," Drake said, his voice firm despite his exhaustion. He looked at Elara. "Can you still move?"
Elara nodded, though her face was pale and drawn. "I… I think so."
"Good," Drake said. "Then let's finish this."
They slowly and cautiously made their way back towards the tunnel entrance. The goblins, seeing them return, renewed their shrieks and began to advance. But this time, Drake had a plan.
He looked at Elara. "When I give the signal," he whispered, "I want you to create a distraction. Something big. Something that will draw their attention away from me."
Elara nodded, understanding his plan.
Drake took a deep breath, focusing his mind. He needed to reach the altar, grab the Sunstone, and get out of there as quickly as possible. He knew he couldn't take on all those goblins in his current condition. He needed to rely on his speed, his agility, and a little bit of… chaos.
He waited for the goblins to get closer, then gave Elara the signal. She nodded and unleashed another burst of magical energy, this time focusing it on a large pile of rocks near the tunnel entrance. The rocks tumbled down, creating a loud crash and blocking the tunnel, temporarily halting the goblins' advance.
While the goblins were distracted by the rockslide, Drake sprinted towards the altar. He moved with a speed and agility that surprised even himself, fueled by adrenaline and a desperate need to escape.
He reached the altar and grabbed the Sunstone. As his fingers closed around the smooth, warm orb, a surge of energy pulsed through him. He felt a strange connection to the stone, as if it was resonating with something deep within him.
*Notification: "Unique Item Acquired: The Sunstone."*
*Notification: "Hidden Element Unlocked: Darkness."*
A wave of darkness washed over Drake, not a physical darkness, but a darkness of the mind, a sense of deep, profound power. He felt a connection to the shadows, a mastery over the night.
He looked at his hands, and they were surrounded by a faint, dark aura. He felt stronger, faster, more powerful than ever before.
The goblins, having cleared the rockslide, were now charging towards him, their weapons raised. But Drake was no longer the same as he was just moments before. The Sunstone had awakened something within him, something dark and powerful.
He raised his hand, and a wave of darkness erupted from him, engulfing the approaching goblins. They cried out in fear and confusion as they were plunged into absolute darkness.
*Notification: "Skill Learned: Shadow Cloak (Level 1). Cost: 0 Codex Points. Requires: Darkness Element."*
Drake, now cloaked in shadows, moved with incredible speed and precision, dispatching the disoriented goblins with swift strikes from his short sword. He moved like a phantom, a creature of the night, his attacks shrouded in darkness.
Elara, witnessing Drake's transformation, stared in awe. She had never seen anything like it before.
Within moments, the cavern was silent once more. The goblins lay scattered on the ground, unconscious or fleeing in terror. Drake stood in the center of the cavern, the Sunstone clutched in his hand, the dark aura still swirling around him.
He looked at Elara, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Well," he said, his voice now deeper, more resonant. "That was… enlightening."