We carefully followed the path, and each step felt heavier than the last. When we got closer to the area, the air became more tense. I felt suffocated, like the dungeon itself was watching us. At the end of the trail, there was a wide field with grass moving slowly, as if it was making fun of the silence.
And there it was.
The goblins were spread out across the field at first, moving slowly and quietly. Although, as we got closer, the area was packed with monsters. The strange light made their sharp eyes sparkle as they ran through the grass and rocks. Their moves were well thought out and organized. It wasn't just random.
And when we looked closely, we saw him.
Their leader stood in the middle. He was much taller than the other goblins, and his thick body was covered in deep wounds that looked like war trophies. Instead of green like theirs, his skin was a dark, blood-stained red that almost made him look gross. He had a big, rough, bark-covered club in his hand. He looked at the field with sharp, intelligent eyes and gave orders that made the swarm move with deadly accuracy.
With weak gasps, we knelt down behind the rock. Nobody in our group was brave enough to move. When the goblin king was around, it felt like a storm was about to start.
Nolan spoke first, and his voice was low but sure. "All right, here is the plan. Two Athena strategists, one Zeus descendant, one Poseidon descendant, three Ares frontliners, and three Apollo descendants. We will charge ahead and try to eliminate them while you five assist from the back."
As usual, he was full of confidence, as if he had already won the fight in his head. Lucas, who was smiling and stood next to him. "Easy. We'll be done in no time."
I was not able to shake the uneasy feeling that was twisting through my gut, despite every part of my body telling me that something was wrong. The goblin king wasn't just a brute with a big club—there was something more dangerous about him, something much worse. The smaller goblins' movements, which looked like they were controlled by him, also seemed wrong. Too well put together.
Even though I looked over the field again in search of warmth, my anxiety grew. The field seemed too good to be true; it was the kind of spot that makes you want to let down your guard. It was like walking into a trap that you couldn't see but could feel. And then it dawned on me: why was Nolan acting like he was the tactician when we had a daughter of Athena here?
After a moment of thought, I raised my hand. Nolan looked right through me with his angry, sharp eyes. "What?" he asked, outraged. I forced a hard swallow and ignored how tight my chest felt. "Don't you think that the Athena kids should come up with the idea? They were born to do that."
Athena's daughter, Clara, jumped when I spoke. Her head hung low, as if I had just thrust her into the spotlight while she was desperately trying to escape. Another Athena kid didn't look any better; his face was pale and nervous. Nolan clenched his teeth and spoke in a crude manner. "It's fine. We will be okay. You have us."
I became more and more angry as I listened to him. It made my voice come out more aggressive than I wanted it to be. "You're welcome to die if you want to, but I'm not going to put my brothers' and sisters' lives at risk because of your cockiness. You should pay attention to those who know their stuff, or we will end up in a terrible situation that we can't come back from."
The air moved, and Nolan's eyes narrowed. The clouds got a little darker, as if they were reflecting how he felt. Lucas, his ever-faithful shadow, called up a small wind that blew dust all around us.
Now, I don't like acting this way, but this feeling is not making it easy. But I can't afford to lose anyone here.
The pressure built up, making it feel like the dungeon itself was holding its breath. Before things got worse, Damon Reyes, who is descended from Ares, stepped in. Though you could see him stressed, his voice was calm and firm. "I agree with Ethan. There are weaker people among us; we are not as strong as you two. We can't just jump in without thinking because our lives are in danger."
It was clear that Nolan's pride hurt, so he let out a sharp breath and took a step back. He said, "Fine."
Damon is smarter than I thought he was. I thought he was just a musclehead, but I guess he is not. Playing into Nolan's ego was just too good.
His eyes went to Clara. "You are the strategist. How do you plan to do it?"
For a moment, Clara stood still, her hands moving quickly and twitching. Something changed when my eyes met hers. She stopped hesitating and became more determined. She leaned back on the rock, and her voice was calm but steady. "We have a descendant of Zeus and a descendant of Poseidon," she said to start. "If Lucas can make the field flood with water, Nolan can make it electric. With the water, the lightning will kill most of the goblins at once. Therefore, we don't need to leave this rock."
It was so simple that it was amazing, and I couldn't help but smile. "That is so smart!" I shouted. I could be wrong, but I think she blushed.
"Wait… what about the goblin king after we kill the little ones?" I whispered. "What are we going to do about him?"
"We have no other option," Clara said in a quiet voice that belied the tension in the air. "We'll have to fight straight on. We will charge as soon as the goblins are hit. We don't know what the goblin king does or how strong he is."
Part of me hated to admit it, but she was right. We had no idea what this boss could do.
Lucas grinned slightly and nodded to Clara. "This is fine; let's do it." Lucas moved forward, his hands sparking blue with energy. The plan was now in motion. By raising them, he called up a huge wave that smashed across the field. The little goblins screamed in pain as the water rushed over them and made them thrash around. Nolan didn't think twice. His sword lit up with electricity, and as he focused his power, it got brighter. He stuck the blade into the flooded field with one motion. Lightning shot out into the air, making the water crackle and electrifying every monster it touched. The weaker ones fell down right away, jerking before they stopped moving.
As the water went away, the smell of burned meat filled the air. The goblins' bodies were all over the field, and all of them were gone. Still, the goblin king was there. In the middle of all the death, its red eyes were shining brighter than ever. It looked like the energy in its scars was pulsing, and its huge body radiated anger. It roared so loudly and raised its club high to rally the goblins that were still around it. Nolan said with a smug tone, "That took care of most of them. Although now we have a real fight to have."