The Turning Tide      

"Chi, are you alright?!"

Rain felt like there was mud churning in his stomach when he didn't hear any reply.

"Chi?!" Rain looked up at the ceiling and found that Chi was no longer in her position. Panic surged through him as he prepared to climb up when he heard her faint chirp.

Rain felt his knees give way with relief. "Chi, are you okay?"

Chi responded with an affirmative chirp. She had narrowly avoided the giant shield that would have otherwise crushed her in half. It chipped some of the giant rocks, but otherwise, their shelter held firm.

Chi was hanging on the steep side of the rocks before climbing to a safer position when some of the Hobgoblins began throwing rocks and shooting arrows at her.

"Be careful, Chi! They could target you from up there!"

~Chi!~

As much as he was worrying for Chi, who was alone up there, Rain couldn't do much. The Hobgoblins were only a few meters from them right now.

"Ready, everyone!" Rain signaled, his voice steady but urgent.

Chi, having found a more secure spot, steadied herself, her eyes scanning the battlefield below. She nocked another arrow, ready to cover Rain and the others.

Rain took a deep breath, his mind racing as he assessed their situation. They had lost most of their traps, and the Hobgoblins were closing in fast. But they still have their ace.

Rain glanced at his companions, their faces set with resolve.

"Hold your positions!" Rain commanded, his voice carrying a steely edge. "We will not let them break through!"

The Hobgoblins, emboldened by their numbers and the destruction of the traps, charged forward with renewed aggression. The ground trembled under their heavy footsteps, their guttural battle cries filling the night air.

Rain tightened his grip on his weapon, his eyes locked on the advancing horde. This was it — the moment they had been preparing for.

The clash was inevitable, but they would stand their ground. They had to.

"Steady!" Rain called out, his voice a beacon of calm amidst the chaos. "Remember, we still have our advantage."

With that, the battle was joined, the defenders bracing themselves for the onslaught. The air was thick with tension and the promise of violence, but Rain and his team were ready. They would hold the line, no matter the cost.

The Hobgoblins were only a few meters from the entrance when Rain signaled for the others to push the boulders on either side, closing the entrances with just enough space for their weapons to pierce through their encroaching enemies.

The boulders shook and trembled from the force of the Hobgoblins' assault. The anchors holding the boulders in place were beginning to shake loose.

"NOW! Release the deathfall trap!" Rain ordered.

Chin and Chick swiftly cut the ropes holding the giant boulders suspended above the entrances.

As the ropes were cut, the giant boulders suspended above the entrances came crashing down with a thunderous roar. The Hobgoblins, caught in mid-charge, had no time to react. The sheer weight and speed of the boulders ensured instant destruction.

The first few Hobgoblins were directly beneath the falling rocks, their eyes widening in shock as the shadows enveloped them. The boulders hit with devastating force, crushing bones and armor alike. The impact was so powerful that it caused the ground to tremble, sending a shockwave that knocked over those nearby.

The Hobgoblins not directly hit by the boulders were thrown into disarray. Some were knocked off their feet, others were pushed into the sharpened spikes protruding from the ground. The air was filled with the sounds of cracking bones, pained howls, and the sickening crunch of metal and flesh being crushed together.

Blood pooled around the base of the boulders, mingling with the dirt to form a gruesome mud. The once confident and aggressive horde was now reduced to a scene of chaos and carnage, with many of their number either dead or severely injured.

Those who survived the initial impact stumbled back, eyes wide with fear and confusion. The once formidable force was now a scattered and broken mess, their numbers severely diminished by the deadly effectiveness of the trap.

Rain had no time to puke at the gruesome scene. He signaled to Chi, his voice thunderous and urgent.

"Chi! Now's our chance! Light up the fire!"

Chi, who had been picking off Hobgoblins one by one, including those trying to climb up to get her, immediately grabbed the special arrow she had reserved for this occasion. She ignited the arrowhead quickly, setting it ablaze.

The flaming arrow soared through the air, its fiery trail illuminating the night. It struck the oil-coated rope with perfect precision, instantly igniting it. The fire raced along the rope, a hissing serpent of flame, reaching the series of containers that Rain had strategically placed.

In a heartbeat, the first container exploded with a deafening roar, sending a shockwave through the air. The blast was followed by a chain reaction as each subsequent container erupted in a spectacular display of fire and force. The night was torn apart by the cacophony of explosions, and the sky lit up with flashes of orange and red.

The Hobgoblins caught in the vicinity were thrown into utter chaos. The explosions sent debris flying, shrapnel tearing through their ranks. Many were instantly obliterated, their bodies consumed by the flames or shattered by the blasts. Those who survived the initial explosions were disoriented, their ears ringing, eyes blinded by the sudden bursts of light.

Fire spread rapidly, engulfing anything flammable in its path. The intense heat and light further disoriented the Hobgoblins, who now faced not only the defenders but also the wrath of the inferno that had been unleashed upon them.

Rain and his team used the chaos to their advantage. With the Hobgoblins in disarray, they launched a counterattack. From their fortified positions, they struck with their weapons, picking off the remaining enemies with arrows and pointed edge of their swords through the narrow gaps in the boulders.

The battlefield, once dominated by the menacing presence of the Hobgoblin horde, was now a scene of utter devastation.

Fire crackled and roared, casting long shadows and filling the air with the acrid smell of smoke and burning flesh. The few Hobgoblins still standing were either fleeing in terror or stumbling around in confusion, easy targets for Rain and the others.

Rain took a moment to catch his breath, his heart pounding from the adrenaline. The deadly trap and subsequent explosions had turned the tide of the battle in their favor.

They had managed to hold their ground and decimate the enemy, proving that strategy and bravery could triumph over sheer numbers and brute force.

~CrRaAaSh!~

A tremor knocked Rain off his feet, and the next thing he knew, Chi and the others were dragging him and Hana out of the shelter and into the open wasteland.

Blood trickled from his head, and it seemed he had lost consciousness for a moment. As his vision cleared, he saw the giant Hobgoblin smashing their shelter into pieces with its enormous axe.

It looked like the battle was far from over.