Goblin Hunt

The knives flew from Azraea's hand in one swift motion. They darted straight at the goblin riders, and I watched them drop off their wolves within seconds. On that signal, I charged forward with blade in hand.

It took me a full minute to run over to where the goblins were positioned. They quickly smelt me, and looked over preparing to defend. I pointed my sword forward as I ran, and pierced straight through one of the goblins. With a swift twist, the blade swung out of the goblin's body and it cleaved through the one next to it. Before I could strike again, I heard a growl and I could see a wolf about to pounce on me.

I had to act fast, so I held my sword out at it. The wolf was unable to stop itself from being skewered on the blade. Azraea quickly moved in and finished the second wolf using a shortsword. She swung once, and decapitated it in a spray of red.

Having finished off the last enemy, Azraea pulled the wolf off of my blade. I could hear it sliding through gore as the wolf just slid off the scarlet coated blade. Just how strong was she? There was no time to rest however, as a roar came from the cave mouth.

"Time to advance." Azraea ordered, "Watch out for danger."

We went through the entrance, it stank of blood and gore. I wondered if the goblins would be able to pick us out over this overpowering stench. My suspicion was proven right as more appeared before us. I wouldn't be able to use my sword in this cavern, it's too long. I think it's time to attempt some magic.

I reached for my Grimoire, which I had hidden in my shirt pocket. It was small enough. When I opened it, I quickly scanned through the three spells listed. I had to choose fast, the goblins were closing in.

I raised my hand and from it, a small ball of white energy was built up. It glowed dimly. The goblins got closer. But I saw a plan, they had no way of stepping to the side with where they were. I could get them in a single strike if I do this right.

"Fireball." I chanted.

The ball of energy in my hand turned to a scarlet red. It threw out a bright flame that consumed the goblins stuck in the natural bottleneck of the cavern. There was no escape for them, it almost made me pity them.

I watched the flames die down as all that remained was about four blackened corpses. They weren't moving at all. I think I might enjoy using this magic.

I kept going down the cave with Azraea, until we met with another band of goblins. I was going to test another spell. I raised my hand again. The ball of white energy appeared.

"Chain Lightning." I chanted.

The ball changed to an electric blue colour. Out of my hand fired a single bolt of lightning that soon shot out of the one goblin and into the rest of them one by one. They had violent spasms before falling motionless to the ground. This was very effective.

Soon, we came across yet another band. Yet this band was larger, and there were some big goblins amongst them. Nonetheless, I unleashed another fireball at them and burned the lesser goblins to cinders. I heard a crackle in my Grimoire as the spell 'Fireball' changed into 'Dark Flame'. Now that sounded interesting.

As the larger goblins began to move, I raised my hand and a bigger ball of white energy appeared.

"Dark Flame." I chanted with a grin on my face.

The ball changed into a blue one, like a gas flame. From my hand came a gout of azure fire that entirely ate up the big goblins. It was far stronger than the fireball, and it even ate away at the flesh, leaving just burnt skeletons. I chuckled.

"You're enjoying this way too much." Azraea commented, "But whatever gets you motivated…"

She stopped after seemingly detecting something. A huge, monstrous roar that came from just ahead. It echoed through the whole cave, making it shake a little.

CRASH

I looked behind me, the ceiling had collapsed behind us. There was no way through that.

"That…isn't good." I commented, "I hope you have a way out of here after this."

"I do." Azraea replied, "But I'd rather find out what that roar was at the moment."

I agreed. We continued to move forward into this large hall-like part of the cave. Sitting at the centre was a very large, green monster. It had a single horn that sprouted from its forehead, and bulging muscles. It was chewing on a rather large bone, and it held a giant blade in its right hand.

At the moment, it didn't seem to be able to notice us. In fact, my own sense of smell was clouded by the stench of burning flesh. I wonder if my magic can beat it? I carefully made my way toward it.

Upon looking closer, I could see that it had a bag on it's belt. Quite a large bag, probably full of treasure. It was time that I made my presence known.

"Over here!" I called out to the monster. It looked up from the bone it was chewing on and dropped it. I guess that it noticed me.

"What are you doing?" Azraea questioned, "Do you really think you can take an ogre on your own?"

"With this magic, yes." I replied, "I just have to incinerate it."

I raised my hand. A ball of energy formed in my hand, but it began to crackle. The ogre readied its blade, I was in striking distance.

"Dark Flame." I chanted again.

The ball in my hand started to change colour, then it completely vanished into thin air.

"Oh." I said, "Well shi-"

In the next instant, the flat of the ogre's massive sword smacked into me. I flew straight into the wall of the cave with bone-breaking force. A small crater formed on impact, and I felt like I just fell from a building. Several bones were definitely broken. If this were my old world, that impact might have killed me.

I couldn't get up as the ogre was drawing closer. I should have thought about how many times I can use a spell before I started going free-fire with those goblins. Suddenly, I was picked up by the leg by the ogre and thrown again. I hit the ground with a crash.

Blood was starting to fill my eyesight. I couldn't see much, except Azraea. She was trembling, I wouldn't blame her if she was too terrified to fight after watching what just happened to me.

I was unable to stop myself from falling unconscious. The world around me turned black within seconds.

*****

I looked on at the ogre before me. It was unleashing a cry of victory after its ruthless assault. Keita wasn't moving. If I left him for too long, he might bleed out and die. But I can't fight that thing, not without my magic. My knives and sword can only go so far in a fight like that.

All of a sudden, I could hear her...she crept up from behind me. A ghost in my ear.

"You know what you have to do." she whispered, "If you don't, your poor friend will die. I'd bet that he'd be angry if you just let him die, especially when you have the power to save him. Do it. Let me in."

No, no. I can't let myself falter at a time like this. But...I don't want him to die. I don't want to let her in, but I have to if I want him to survive.

"Hurry and choose..." she ordered softly, "Clock's ticking...tick...tick...tick..."

"Argh!" I cried out, "Fine, fine! I'll do it!"

"Good girl..." she whispered back, "Now just let me handle this, Sister."

All of a sudden, a pitch black aura surrounded me. It spouted lightning and caused the cave to start rumbling again. I don't care about the cave though, I'm going to save him. Without a second thought, I tore off my eyepatch and revealed to the ogre my curse. A scarlet red eye, opposite to my golden one. It was this eye that started all my problems, and with it I shall end my problems.

I raised one arm and pointed at the ogre. It saw me, and it felt my power.

"You're in my way." I told it, "You've hurt something precious to me, and I am going to make you pay for it. I don't care if you're a strong monster, you'll never be stronger than me. Now die."

Just wait Keita, we'll be out of this mess soon.