The deeper we ventured into the Black Labyrinth Dungeon, the heavier the air became. The scent of damp earth mixed with something fouler—the distinct, pungent odor of rotting meat and filth. It clung to my nose, thick and repulsive, making my stomach churn.
The rocky cavern walls stretched high above us, the jagged ceiling disappearing into shadows. Massive stalactites hung like the fangs of some ancient beast, and the uneven ground beneath our boots was littered with bones, rusted weapons, and scraps of fabric from those who had fallen before us.
Then we saw it—a narrow opening between two boulders, flickering torchlight dancing from within.
Elise raised a hand, signaling me to stop. "A camp," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant echoes of dripping water.
I peered through the small gap. Beyond, a wider cavern stretched out, illuminated by crude, makeshift torches stuck into the rocky ground. The glow cast long, eerie shadows, making the goblins within seem even more monstrous.
This wasn't just any camp—it was an elite goblin outpost.
Roughly twenty goblins milled about, larger and more muscular than the scouts we'd fought earlier. Their dark green skin was covered in crude war paint, their eyes burning with savage intelligence. Some sat around a large bonfire, roasting some unidentifiable carcass, its sickly sweet, charred scent mixing with the overwhelming stench of decay.
Several makeshift tents made from stitched-together hides were positioned near the cavern walls, while piles of stolen loot—weapons, armor, and trinkets from unlucky divers—lay scattered across the rocky ground.
At the far end of the camp, near the bonfire, a hulking figure sat upon a stone slab—a Goblin Elite Captain. His armor, unlike the rusted scraps his underlings wore, was forged from scavenged metal, pieced together into a jagged yet functional set. His massive, curved blade rested across his knees, and his yellow eyes glowed with a predatory gleam.
I exhaled slowly, gripping the handle of my twin axes. "This is bad."
Elise frowned. "If we fight them head-on, we'll get surrounded and torn apart."
She was right. Even with our improved skills and new weapons, charging straight into that many enemies was suicide.
I scanned the camp again, eyes narrowing. "We'll use the terrain. See that overhanging ledge near the entrance? I'll climb up and attack from above. You stay low, use your shield to draw them in. Once they focus on you, I'll thin them out from behind."
Elise hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But don't get yourself killed up there."
I smirked. "No promises."
We moved swiftly. While Elise crouched behind a large rock formation, I climbed up onto the natural stone ledge above the camp, using the rough surface for grip. The rock was cool and damp beneath my fingers, dust and loose pebbles slipping under my touch.
Once in position, I tightened my grip on my axes, heart pounding as I waited for Elise's signal.
She stepped out into the torchlight, her buckler shield raised, and slammed the mace against the metal rim.
"Come and get me, you little shits!" Her voice echoed through the cavern.
The reaction was instantaneous.
The goblins jerked their heads up, snarling in surprise. A moment of confusion passed before a dozen of them grabbed their weapons—crudely made hatchets, chipped swords, and iron-tipped spears—and charged.
The moment they moved, I struck.
I leapt from the ledge, coming down like a falling boulder. My axe cleaved through the first goblin's skull, the impact splitting his head like rotten fruit. Before his body even hit the ground, I twisted, bringing my second axe down into the collarbone of another.
Blood sprayed across the rocky ground, the goblin shrieking as his body crumpled.
Panic spread through the ranks as the goblins realized they were being attacked from two sides.
Elise's Defense
Elise held her ground, meeting the first attacker with a thunderous bash of her shield. The force sent the goblin reeling backward, giving her just enough room to swing her mace in a brutal side strike. The flanged head caved in the goblin's ribs, a sickening crack echoing through the chamber as the creature collapsed.
Another goblin lunged with a spear, but Elise angled her shield, deflecting the blow to the side before countering with a quick, skull-shattering overhead smash.
More enemies swarmed her, but she was a moving fortress—every attack was either blocked or deflected, her counters swift and precise.
From the far end of the camp, the Goblin Elite Captain rose from his makeshift throne.
His yellow eyes locked onto me, and he let out a deep, guttural growl before gripping his massive curved blade.
The surrounding goblins backed away, giving their leader space as he approached.
My breath came fast, adrenaline coursing through me. This was going to be tough.
He raised his weapon with both hands, muscles tensing beneath scarred green skin, and charged.
I barely had time to raise my axes before the first strike came.
His blade crashed against my crossed weapons, the sheer force behind the blow nearly knocking me off balance. The impact rattled through my arms, my boots skidding against the rough stone floor.
The captain was strong—far stronger than the goblins we'd fought before.
He pressed forward, forcing me back with relentless, heavy swings. I dodged left, barely avoiding a downward slash that sent sparks flying as it struck the ground.
I needed to change the pace.
As he recovered from his missed swing, I stepped in close, slamming the blunt side of my axe into his ribs. The captain snarled, but before I could follow up, he lashed out with a brutal kick to my stomach.
Pain exploded in my gut as I stumbled backward, gasping for air.
But then—
CRACK!
A mace slammed into the captain's back, sending him staggering forward. Elise had broken through her opponents and joined the fight.
The goblin turned, eyes flashing with pure rage, and swung wildly. Elise ducked under the blade, using her shield to bash his exposed side before rolling away.
I took the opening.
With a grunt of effort, I swung both axes simultaneously—one burying deep into his shoulder, the other cleaving into his side.
The captain let out a gurgled roar, stumbling back, blood pouring down his chest.
Elise finished it.
With a final, crushing blow, her mace caved in the goblin's skull, the force splitting his head apart.
His body toppled like a felled tree, a dull thud echoing through the cavern.
We stood there, panting, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of our enemies. The once-rowdy camp was silent, save for the flickering of torches and the crackling of the bonfire.
Elise wiped sweat from her brow, exhaling. "That… was intense."
I gave a breathless chuckle, rolling my sore shoulders. "Yeah. But we did it."
We looted the camp, gathering crystals, weapons, and supplies, then made our way back toward the dungeon's entrance.
This battle had been a trial—one we had survived.
We had barely caught our breath.
The cave was eerily silent, save for the distant crackling of the dying bonfire. The stench of blood mixed with the damp, musky scent of the rocky cavern, and the metallic tang of sweat coated my tongue. My arms ached from swinging my axes, and Elise was panting heavily, her shield slightly lowered as she wiped the sweat from her brow.
Then I heard it.
At first, it was just the faint crunch of boots on gravel, distant but growing closer. Then, the unmistakable low growls and guttural snarls of goblins filled the cavern air.
I turned toward the tunnel leading deeper into the dungeon. Flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the jagged rock walls, and then, emerging from the darkness, came a goblin war party—sixteen strong.
A Bigger Threat.