Goblin Threat - Part 3

The air in the deeper tunnels was thick with the stench of goblins and the dampness of the earth. Every step we took echoed in the oppressive silence, sharpening our focus. The light from our torches flickered against the rough stone walls, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move on their own, making my heart race with every subtle shift.

I led the way, my eyes constantly scanning the darkness ahead for any sign of movement. My senses were on high alert, every sound, every flicker of movement catching my attention. The adrenaline from the earlier battle still coursed through my veins, keeping me on edge, my muscles tense and ready.

Above, Zephyr flew with barely a sound, his sharp eyes scanning the path ahead unless the tunnels or caverns were too small - he would land and walk next to me then. He was like a silent guardian, his presence comforting yet always alert for any sign of danger. Behind me, Lorelin moved with graceful precision, her golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light, a beacon of calm in the tense atmosphere. Orsus brought up the rear, his bulk a formidable shield against any potential ambushes. Orish, stayed close to my side, his sharp mind always working two steps ahead, analyzing every corner and possibility.

The deeper we ventured, the more signs we found of the goblins' presence—scattered bones, discarded weapons, and the occasional crude drawing scratched into the walls. It was clear now—this wasn't just a small group of goblins. This was a nest, and we were heading straight into its heart.

As we rounded a corner, the tunnel opened into a vast chamber. The sight that greeted us made my blood run cold. The chamber was filled with goblins—dozens of them, maybe more—all gathered around a massive fire pit in the centre. They were armed to the teeth, their weapons gleaming in the firelight, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent.

At the far end of the chamber, seated on a crude throne made of bones and stone, was the goblin leader. He was a towering figure, larger and more imposing than the others, his skin a sickly shade of green. His eyes were cold and calculating, and his mouth twisted into a cruel grin as he watched his underlings prepare for battle.

A chill ran down my spine. This was no ordinary goblin. The leader exuded a dark power, a malevolent aura that made the fur on the back of my neck stand on end. I could feel the threat he posed—this was going to be a tough fight.

"Stay sharp," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the crackling of the fire. "This is going to be a tough fight."

Zephyr stood silently beside me, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. "We need to take out the leader first. Without him, the rest will fall apart."

I nodded in agreement, my mind already formulating a plan. "Orish, Lorelin, I need you two to create a diversion. Draw as many of them away as you can. Orsus, you and I will focus on the leader. Zephyr, take to the air and provide support from above. We need to be quick and precise—no mistakes."

We exchanged determined glances, each of us understanding the gravity of the situation. We couldn't afford to underestimate our enemies, not with so much at stake.

Orish was the first to move, darting forward with the agility and stealth that only he possessed. He stayed low to the ground, slipping between shadows as he made his way toward the far side of the chamber. Lorelin followed close behind, her presence soothing and calm despite the tension in the air.

When they were in position, Orish let out a sharp, piercing howl that echoed through the chamber, drawing the attention of the goblins. In an instant, chaos erupted. The goblins turned their attention to the source of the sound, their shrill cries filling the air as they charged toward Orish and Lorelin.

The diversion worked. A large portion of the goblins broke away from the main group, chasing after Orish and Lorelin as they darted between the pillars of stone that lined the chamber. With the goblins distracted, I signalled to Orsus, and the two of us moved swiftly toward the goblin leader.

The leader had risen from his throne, his eyes locked on me as I approached. There was a cold intelligence in those eyes, a cruel cunning that sent a shiver down my spine. This was not going to be an easy fight.

Orsus wasted no time, charging forward with all the strength and power he could muster. His roar echoed through the chamber as he barreled toward the leader, his massive form a force to be reckoned with. The goblin leader didn't flinch, raising his jagged sword to meet Orsus's attack.

The loud bang noise rang out as they collided, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the chamber. Orsus growled, pushing against the leader with all his might, but the goblin was strong—stronger than any goblin we had faced before. Although he looked surprised that he couldn't cut Orsus' fur. It was all thanks to the Body of Steel that could make his body as tough... well... as steel.

I circled around, looking for an opening. I knew I had to strike quickly and decisively. If we could take down the leader, the rest of the goblins would lose their ability to fight well.

"Now, Orphe!" Zephyr's voice echoed from above as he swooped down, his talons slashing at the goblin leader's face. The leader snarled in anger, swatting at Zephyr with his free hand, but the griffin was too quick.

Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward, my claws aimed at the leader's exposed side. I struck with all my strength, my claws raking across the leader's flesh. The goblin let out a howl of pain, but he didn't go down. Instead, he turned on me with a speed that caught me off guard, his sword slashing through the air toward my head.

I barely managed to dodge the blow, the blade grazing my shoulder as I leapt back. Pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to let it slow me down. Good it wasn't poisoned. Seems he was so sure of himself that he didn't bother with putting poison on his blade.

Orsus roared again, slamming into the goblin leader with renewed fury. This time, he managed to knock the leader off balance, sending him crashing to the ground. But even then, the goblin didn't give up. He rolled to his feet, his eyes blazing with rage, and charged at me once more.

I met the charge head-on, my claws and fangs clashing with the leader's sword. We were locked in a deadly dance, each trying to outmanoeuvre the other. The goblin was fast, but I was faster, my enhanced senses allowing me to anticipate the leader's moves.

But the goblin leader was cunning. He feigned a strike, then suddenly shifted his weight, bringing his sword down in a powerful arc. I was caught off guard, the blade cutting deep into my side. I let out a roar of pain, stumbling back as blood flowed from the wound.

"Orphe!" Zephyr shouted, diving down to shield me from the goblin's follow-up attack. The griffin's claws slashed across the leader's arm, forcing him to retreat as Zephyr's wings blew wind into the monster's face.

I gritted my teeth, the pain in my side making it difficult to move. But I couldn't stop now—not when we were so close.

"Orsus, now!" I shouted, my voice filled with determination.

Orsus didn't hesitate. With a final, earth-shaking roar, he charged at the goblin leader with all the strength he had left. The leader, already weakened from the battle, couldn't withstand the force of Orsus's attack. The goblin was knocked off his feet, his sword clattering to the ground as he fell.

I didn't waste a second. I pounced on the fallen leader, my claws sinking into the goblin's chest. The leader let out one last gasp of pain before his body went limp, the life draining from his eyes.

The chamber fell silent, the only sound was the heavy breathing of our group as we caught our breath. The remaining goblins, seeing their leader defeated, began to retreat, their courage faltering without the one who had led them.

"We did it," I panted, my voice hoarse from exertion.

Zephyr landed beside me, his eyes scanning the chamber for any remaining threats. "It's over. The goblins are fleeing."

Orsus, still panting from the effort, gave a nod of satisfaction. "They won't be coming back here anytime soon."

But I knew we couldn't let our guard down just yet. We had to ensure that the goblins wouldn't regroup and return stronger than before. And to do that, we needed to root out the remaining pockets of resistance within the caves.

"Let's finish this," I said, determination burning in my eyes. "We need to clear out the rest of the caves. No goblin can be left behind."

With the last Goblin Leader defeated, we knew we had the upper hand. But we also knew that the fight wasn't over yet. There were still goblins lurking in the shadows, and they had to be dealt with before the forest could be safe once more. Maybe they weren't an organised party now, but could still be deadly if we didn't pay attention.