Chapter 16

Aella was the first to sense something watching her on the battlefield. Amidst the chaos and carnage, she felt a lingering presence, a pair of unseen eyes fixated on her every move. As she dispatched goblins around her with swift precision, she seized a moment to survey her surroundings, her senses heightened. Galahad fought valiantly, battling five to six goblin warriors simultaneously, his skill unmatched. Edward, a formidable ally, was nearby, swiftly dispatching the shamans. Yet, the enigmatic enemy eluded her gaze, shrouded in the shadows of trepidation.

A chill ran down Aella's spine as a foreboding sensation enveloped her. She knew all too well that the impending attack would strike with ruthless swiftness. Time was of the essence; she needed to alert her comrades, their lives hinged on her warning. With a surge of confidence coursing through her veins, she signaled Galahad and Edward, gesturing for them to converge.

"Something lurks in the darkness, a sinister force fixated on us," Aella declared, her voice filled with conviction. "Prepare yourselves, for we are about to face an imminent and formidable adversary."

Galahad and Edward heard Aella's desperate call and swiftly turned their gaze in her direction. With confidence and determination, they moved towards her, ready to protect their companion. But in a chilling moment, like a specter emerging from the shadows, a gray goblin materialized next to Aella. Both Galahad and Edward caught sight of the ghastly creature, but their attempts to cover the distance proved futile within the fleeting seconds.

"Watch out, Aella!" Galahad's voice echoed through the air, tinged with a mix of horror and urgency.

"Aella, on your left! Avoid it!" Edward's voice rang out simultaneously, laced with fierce determination.

Before their very eyes, a colossal force struck Aella's left side with a bone-crushing impact. She was sent hurtling through the air, blood spraying ominously against the backdrop. The scene unfolded with a harrowing sense of inevitability, leaving Galahad and Edward gripped by a chilling mix of horror and resolve.

Galahad and Edward felt their blood run cold as they locked eyes with the new goblin. The eerie stillness in the air amplified the sense of foreboding that gripped them. The flickering red glow emanating from the diamond-shaped mark on the creature's forehead sent waves of unease through their bodies.

Both men exchanged a glance, silently communicating their shared alarm. Something was unnerving about the creature's unsettling smile, a twisted amusement that sent chills down their spines. It was as if this grey goblin relished the fear it instilled in others, reveling in the terror it invoked.

The silence lingered, broken only by the sound of their pounding hearts. Galahad's mind raced, desperately searching for a plan to overcome this sinister adversary. But as they stared into the creature's cold, calculating eyes, it became clear that they were facing something far more formidable than any goblin they had encountered before.

The grey goblin finally broke its gaze, turning its attention towards Aella, who lay on the ground, wounded and defenseless. Its smile widened into a malicious grin as it stepped closer, its movements unnaturally graceful and deliberate. Galahad and Edward felt a surge of urgency, a desperate need to protect their comrade.

Galahad use all his strength and threw his silver tower shield towards the goblin hoping to stop what it is trying to do. Edward had cast an incantation to increase his speed. As the goblin effortlessly knocked away Galahad's silver tower shield, a chilling silence fell upon the battlefield. The air grew thick with a sense of impending doom as if the very atmosphere itself held its breath.

Their hearts pounded in their chests as they realized the gravity of the situation. The goblin, its eyes burning with malevolence, let out a bone-chilling laugh that echoed through the night. It was no ordinary goblin; its twisted features and sinister aura hinted at something far more sinister lurking within.

With a flick of its clawed hand, the goblin summoned dark energy, crackling with otherworldly power. The ground beneath them trembled as if the very earth was recoiling in fear. Galahad and Edward exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of determination and dread. They knew they had to act quickly.

Edward, his voice trembling but resolute, shouted, "We can't let it unleash that power! Galahad, distract it!" With newfound determination, Galahad charged at the goblin, his sword glinting menacingly. He swung with all his might, his movements are fluid and precise, but the goblin's agility was supernatural. It dodged and parried with unnatural grace, seemingly unaffected by Galahad's relentless assault. Edward on the other hand race across and reach the Aella while Galahad is battling the goblin.

Aella's body lay motionless on the ground, her twisted armor a testament to the brutal attack she had endured. Edward's hands shook as he poured the healing potion over her battered form, praying for its restorative powers to work their magic. The silence in the air was suffocating, broken only by the distant crackling of flames and the labored breaths of the wounded.

The grey goblin gave a kick to Galahad's sword knocking it away and in the moment Galahad lost his balance the goblin launch a fireball in his face. Edward's eyes darted between Aella's injured form and the unfolding chaos. He knew he had to act swiftly. As he tended to Aella, a sense of urgency mingled with growing dread. The surrounding goblins, their beady eyes fixated on the grey goblin, seemed to anticipate something more sinister.

Meanwhile, Galahad struggled to regain his composure, blood streaming from his singed face. His beloved sword lay abandoned, a symbol of his vulnerability in the face of this terrifying adversary. It was because of his high defense that the fireball did not do lethal damage to him, but still, there was damage done. The fireball had not only scorched his skin but had also ignited a spark of terror within him.

Aella's breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled to regain her senses. The pain subsided slightly, her gaze locked with Edward's, and she could see the worry etched on his face. His voice was urgent, his words laced with an underlying tension. "Are you able to move Aella, we need to help Galahad.. he will not be able to hold the monster much longer. Aella could sense that they were in grave danger, and time was running out. She pushed herself up, leaning on Edward for support.

Suddenly, the goblin halted its relentless attack on Galahad, beckoning to all three of them as it spoke, "This is no fun, fighting you one at a time. Since the red one has recovered, why don't the three of you come at me at once?" Galahad seized the opportunity to fall back and regroup with the duo. "He is a monstrous creature, far more powerful than Zarku. If he had truly meant to harm us, I would have met my demise by now," Galahad muttered, his hand trembling as he clutched his sword. Aella and Edward exchanged wary glances, realizing the gravity of the situation.

Edward gazed intently at the goblin, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and caution. "Before we proceed any further, tell us your name, and are you truly the new goblin king?" he questioned. The goblin's grin widened, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth, as it confidently responded, "I am Zarku, the infamous goblin king you have heard tales of..."

"You are much smaller than the one we heard of, and there is no crown on your head," Aella said, her voice still trembling from the pain at her side.

Zarku chuckled and replied, "Because I am no longer a king. I now serve the true king. Your kingdom shall bow to him, and as a gift for my lord, I will bring all of your heads to him."

Edward was taken aback. The goblin king he had heard of was a selfish bastard who bows to no one. Yet now, it seemed he was serving a higher, more sinister entity. A chilling realization crept over the three knights as they understood the gravity of their situation. They needed to relay this information to the general immediately.

"Ready or not, here I come," Zarku whispered with a sinister grin. In an instant, he unleashed a surge of supernatural speed, closing the seemingly insurmountable gap between himself and the three knights. Galahad and Aella instinctively raised their weapons, ready to strike at their foe.

Galahad swiftly executed a slashing attack, aiming for the goblin's face. His sword cut through the air with precision, but as it met its target, it sliced through nothing but space. The goblin had effortlessly evaded the blow, leaving Galahad bewildered and vulnerable.

Meanwhile, Aella gripped her mighty two-handed sword, preparing to strike a devastating blow. With a powerful twist of her arms, she sent the blade sweeping in a fierce, circular motion, aiming to cleave the goblin in two. Yet, to her horror, the only thing her blade connected with was the unforgiving earth beneath her feet. Zarku's agility had deceived her, leaving her swinging at a mere afterimage.

"Fall back!" shouted Edward as a sword materialized in front of Aella, blocking Zarku's deadly claw. Edward, who had been observing the battle from behind, jumped in just in time to parry the attack. Galahad, sensing an opportunity, launched a series of quick slashes toward Zarku. However, the goblin king swiftly flicked his left wrist, conjuring a barrage of fireballs that intercepted Galahad's assault. Undeterred, Galahad pierced through the smoke and fire, only to be met with a powerful punch from Zarku's right arm. The blow landed squarely on Galahad's chest, sending him tumbling backward. Reacting swiftly, Aella swung her sword once more, preventing Zarku from following up with another attack on Galahad.