The tension was building at that moment. The two goblins looked at each other, then turned their attention back at Stoss, before charging at him. Quickly, Stoss fired his rifle from the hip. Hitting one of the goblins charging him. The goblin flew back, clutching its stomach as it yelled in pain. The second goblin, however, ignored this and jumped at Stoss as he began to pull the rifle's lever. Reacting to this, Stoss smacked the goblin in the jaw with the butt of his rifle. He walked over and thrust his bayonet into the goblin's belly. After a quick twist, the goblin's body stopped twitching and fell to its side, blood pouring out.
Stoss wiped some of the blood that had splattered onto his tunic. So far, so gut. Stoss thought as he returned to a defensive stance, rifle pointing in the direction the deceased goblins had come from.
It didn't take long before several goblins started to appear from the darkness in front of Stoss. Looking into their eyes...he knew that look. The look of hate and fury blazed. Stoss at this point began to rule out the option of surrendering, as he entered another bullet into his rifle before cocking it.
Outnumbering their intruders, one of the goblins in the small horde, began to lash out at Stoss with a dagger. "FireBolt!" Wizard shouted, roasting the goblin alive from her projectile spell. Angered, three more goblins rushed out of the darkness, charing on Stoss' left flank, determined to reach their new target: Wizard.
Aiming again from the hip, Stoss fired at the attackers. Witnessing another goblin caught his bullet with and smack the floor hard, smoke streaming from its body. Then, as if on cue, another firebolt shot at the goblins, engulfing both of them in flames.
"Ha ha! Nice shot!" Stoss exclaimed, "Keep the barrage going!" He smiled, before returning his attention to the pressing matter at hand.
Unfortunately for him, he didn't witness Wizard slightly reddening from his notice. Don't die you, idiot, she thought. Seeing more goblins emerge from the dark. She grinned before pushing up her glasses, arranging for another spell.
"We're here! Don't worry guys!" Warrior shouted, rushing forward and dropping his torch by Priestess and Wizard. Getting out of the way, with Fighter trailing behind.
Stoss noticed, just as he smacked another goblin with his rifle to the ground. Warrior then ran past him and drew his sword, something too long to fight in a cave. Nevertheless, he charged the goblins almost immediately. Swinging his sword, Warrior swatted one goblin as it flew to the side of the caves' wall.
"Quit Swinging that thing around! I can't get close enough!" Fighter said, shouting at Warrior.
"Don't worry about me! Just protect the others!" Warrior directed, swinging his sword at the goblins, jumping back to avoid his sword.
Fighter, frustrated at her friend's being belligerent. Tried to wait for a gap to exploit.
Stoss, gripped his rifle, irritated Warrior was attacking the enemy blindly. "Damn it! We're not going to last long if-"
"Stoss! Look!" Priestess yelled, pointing behind them. Grabbing his attention, Stoss look as well, still not seeing anything, but hearing a series of footsteps in the distance. The sound getting more and louder, making small vibrations to the ground.
"Fighter! Try to punch a hole in their lines with Warrior!" Stoss ordered. "Me, Wizard and Priestess will watch your rear!." He finished, running over and setting up defenses, Wizard and Priestess behind him.
Good luck my friend! Fighter thought, quickly nodding before returning her attention to the goblins on Warrior's left, kicking and sending it flying.
Stoss began to work his rifle's lever, firing shots into the dark. Creating sounds of the wind being cut and what sounded like bodies hitting the floor. Halfway to reloading his rifle, the lever gets jammed.
No...no, no, no, No! Stoss, panicking, began to aggressively pull on the lever in an effort to unjam it. Soon four goblins, only several feet away, started to rush him. Quickly, Stoss bayoneted the leading goblin just as he leaped towards Stoss' face. Wizard fire another Firebolt at another goblin who was trying to rush Stoss' right flank. However, the other two goblins ran past Stoss, their attention at Wizard.
"Wizard! Priestess! Look out!" Stoss shouted, trying to pull his bayonet, stuck in the goblin's ribs.
Wizard began to conjure up another spell in time, but one of the goblins grabbed her leg, while the other one tackled her to the ground. The impact caused Wizard to lose her hat and drop her glasses. Looking up, a goblin stared at her, near face level. Quickly, she raised her staff, holding it with both hands in an effort to push the goblin off of her. The second goblin then emerged to Wizard's side view, attempting to use its spear to take jabs at Priestess, terrified and using her staff as a blunt object.
I-I can't hold...any longer! Wizard thought, using all her strength to throw the goblin off. The goblin began to chuckle. Unfortunately for the goblin, half his face was soon blown off. "What the-?" Wizard said, hearing another shot ring out, this time smacking the goblin attacking Priestess before it collided with the floor. Throwing the goblin off her, she saw Stoss, pistol in hand, as smoke emerged from its muzzle.
"Gott, that was close-" Stoss started, before sensing a sharp pain in his left thigh. Clamping his teeth in anguish, he turned his head and saw a goblin who had just speared him in the leg, smiling. Stoss, now glaring, clutched the spear, cocked his pistol, then faced it towards the goblin's head. Pulling the trigger and making a large hole in the goblin's skull. Stoss grunted before removing the spear from his leg and began to grip his wound in pain.
"Stoss!" Priestess and Wizard yelled, running over to their injured comrade.
The two spellcasters then grabbed the trooper and began to pull him back. However, they suddenly stopped when they heard an arrow from deep in the dark whistle by over their heads. Ducking. Their heads picked up as they heard what sounded like a stampede of feet coming towards them again. Stoss began to fire blindly into the dark, as another arrow was fire, bouncing off the caves' walls.
Damn it! We can't defend this position any longer! Stoss turned his head to face Priestess, who was trembling in terror. His eyes widened a bit, ...wait a minute.
"Priestess!" Stoss said, grabbing her attention. "Is there anything else you know, besides Heal?"
Priestess covered her mouth, thinking. "O-oh! Yea, I do!" Priestess shouted. "I can use a spell called Holy Light! I still have my three spells left!"
Stoss nodded. Getting up, he began reloading his pistol. "Alright, first we-"
"Ahhhh!" a loud scream, followed by something hitting the ceiling was heard. The trio turned and saw Warrior's body flop to the ground like a ragdoll. Dropping his sword as it made a metallic sound. There stood a moderately large goblin hunched over, slowly moving over to Warrior.
"Warrior!" Fighter yelled as she was almost done finishing off the last of the goblin force. Enraged, she quickly raced over to her fallen friend and attempted a high-kick to the large goblin's back. Her eyes widen when the goblin caught her leg in mid-air. Drool coming down from its mouth, looking down at her, as it started to increase its hold on Fighter's leg. "Ehhh, ..ow...ow.." She whimpered, before being swung and slammed into the wall behind the goblin, then once more on the opposite side. Like Warrior, the goblin let go of its grasp before Fighter dropped to the ground.
"Scheiße!" Stoss said panicking. "Screw this! Priestess quick!" He shouted, getting into position and telling the spellcasters one more order.
…..ow..my head…, Fighter's vision was getting blurred and unclear. She attempted to get up, but a sharp pain in her ankle prevented any movement. Trying to know her current situation, her eye darted all over the place. She couldn't see the Hobgoblin anymore, so she concluded that she must be facing the opposite way. Moving her head up, she looked into the darkness with complete dread. Three goblins emerged, daggers drawn and having the face of malicious intent. Tears began to form in her eyes, feeling like a sitting duck. Oh my god!... Again, she tried to get up. But her body forced her back down. Tears now streaming down her face, realizing she's completely defenseless. I-I'm so sorry Father!. She closed her eyes, knowing the goblins were only inches away...and assumed the worst.
"Holy Light!", Fighter eyes' shot up, only to be closed slightly as she heard the spell causing this bright light.
Fighter, barely able to see, saw that the goblins who were approaching her, wavering back, covering their eyes in pain. Relieved. She then heard something running in her direction. Followed by a quick slash, and a loud screech. A moment later, the screech went silent after another slash was heard, along with something large dropping to the floor. The light began to slowly fade, giving Fighter a chance to open her eyes a little more. Soon, three shots rang out, and the three goblins around her dropped and crumbled to the ground.
"Alright! Get Warrior, I'll get Fighter!" A familiar voice ranged out. Fighter's vision wasn't 100%, yet. However, she still made out the two spellcasters caring Warrior as they passed her. A couple of seconds later, she saw a figure come into view unsheathing their sword and began to fire two rounds into the darkness behind them. Lighting up the cave for every shot fired. The bullets ricocheting. The figure began to reload, but soon a sharp whistle was heard cutting through the wind and struck the figure in the hand.
"Der Scheiß…" The figure said, clutching his hand before dropping the pistol. The figure then quickly crouched down to her, before pulling her up, one arm under her legs and the other supporting her back, before running to the direction of the others.
Fighter's vision finally came to and her eyes widen to see that the figure was her comrade, Stosstruppen. Stoss.
The Greenhorn team quickly ran through the caves, exhausted and fatigue. As sweat poured down their faces, the sound of the horde of goblins behind them, kept their adrenaline pumping and them, moving.
Wizard grunted as she and Priestess carried the unconscious body of Warrior. Squinting, she saw two entrances, but her vision was blurry without her glasses. Crap! Which way!? Wizard thought, eyes darting from which of the directions, is the right one out of this hell hole. Wizard shook her head. "This way!" She shouted over to Stoss, still carrying Fighter and trying to keep up.
The group quickly entered the entrance and continued to run forward, their bodies begging for them to stop.
Stoss was starting to feel his dizziness fade a little as he trudged forward. Looking up a few feet ahead of him, he quickly stopped when he saw his comrades halt their advance. He was about to ask what happened, but then looked a little ahead and realized why. It was a dead end.
The group soon dropped to the ground, exhausted and in disbelief.
At first, it didn't make much sense. The cave, like Wizard, had stated before, seemed like it only had one pathway. However, that's when the thought occurred to Stoss. They simply could have missed a blind spot. After all, he had gotten into an argument with Warrior and Wizard, too annoyed to take a thorough look at his surroundings. He cursed under his breath.
Stoss and the spellcasters then began to set down their immobile comrades against the wall, their arms sore from carrying them.
Damn it! Wizard thought in dismay. H-how could I make the wrong decision? She had always thought highly of herself and of being the Best. After graduation, this mindset had become apart of deciding how she handles certain situations like these. It hit home hard. ...My comrades. They must think I'm an idiot! I-If only...
"Guys! Get down!" Stoss shouted, getting in front of Priestess and Wizard. They both bolted their eyes to Stoss before an arrow in the distance glimmered, and struck him in the shoulder. Falling to the floor, he cursed in pain as he began to clutch onto his new wound. They both ducked as another arrow flew over their heads. Looking ahead of them, they saw four, small silhouettes approaching. It didn't take long before they figured out they were goblins. The green devils smirked as they slowly approached the mostly immobile group.
"Oh, N-no! He's not..!" Priestess said, panicking. One of the goblins, carrying a bow and arrow, noticed her and Wizard. The goblin smiled and took aim, its arrow pointing at Wizard. Her eyes widen as the goblin let go of the arrow. Before she had a chance to react, she was quickly pushed out of the way, landing on her side. Wizard grunted in pain before she looked up to see Priestess. She was on the floor, gripping onto her thigh, an arrow lugged in it. W-why did she..-? Wizard's thoughts were cut short as the goblins began to laugh. Seeing the effort as delaying the inevitable. Returning their sights on her.
Priestess began to get up, racing over to Wizard. "..please!.Don't hurt us!" She pleaded, hugging Wizard as tears began to pour down her face. Wizard was completely taken off guard. Why would someone she clearly showed she didn't like, suddenly go and risk their life for her mistakes? She always thought healers as too sensitive and skittish, seeing Priestess as no different. It took her a second or two to realize tears were dripping down her face as well. She began gripping Priestess tight, as one of the goblins with a club came forward and raised it. I'm sorry guys... She looked over to Stoss' body. I-I'm so sorry Stoss! She closed her eyes.
Silence, nothing but it. Oddly enough, no sound of the club swinging forward or any other noise. This lasted for a few more moments before a thud was heard. Wizard's eye shot open. There was the goblin, wielding the club. Only now face down, with a goblin spear dug into its back.
The other goblins stagger backward, quickly looking behind them.
Due to the complete darkness, it was hard to notice at first, but only after a torch was relit in the distance, did a figure in what looked like knights' armor came into view. The figure began to slowly move forward. The goblins gasped as the two goblins who had approached the Spellcasters, charged forward. The goblin with the bow and arrow stayed behind, taking pot shots at the figure.
The figure smacked the arrows in midair as if knowing where exactly they would hit. The goblin duo charging the figure was hard to point out. Priestess, and especially Wizard, couldn't see far enough to know what was happening. All they heard was the goblins shrieking and something being slashed. After a moment, a sizzling noise follows by a gurgle was heard. Then, almost quickly, a large smack with something hitting the ground hard was heard.
The bow goblin gasped in horror. Trembling. It began to grab another arrow. But stopped when it saw a black glove cover most of its view and felt a blade pierce its body. Thrashing for a few seconds, the goblin soon began to go limp, before dropping to the ground.
"Stoss!" Priestess yelled, hurrying over to StossTruppen. Who began pulling out his arrow with another one of his brilliant curse words. Wiping the blood off his cleaver.
"I-I thought you were dead!" Priestess exclaimed, now completely relieved. She buried her face into Stoss' chest and began to sob.
Wizard stared blankly at them, tears still pouring down her face as well. After a little pause, she went over and joined the group embrace. "D-don't ever do that again!"
Stoss smiled, trying to hold back his pain. "I had to wait a few seconds before the effects kicked in," Stoss explained, scratching the back of his head. He was about to take out something from his pocket pouch. But the figure showed up in front of them. Their assumption on what the figure was wearing correct. It resembled a knight, a torch and a small shield in one hand. And a short sword in the other.
Stoss looked up the figure. "Vielen Dank! Thank you so much!" He thanked as he began to get up. "But...who are you?" asking, curiously in his voice.
The figure slowly looks at Stoss, the torch's light reflecting off the figure's helmet.
"...Goblin Slayer.."
Note: Well, that only took four days… I tried to put, more or less, detail into the fight scene to give some excitement. Anyways, updates will become more frequent after this Friday. I really thank you for reading my story, I appreciate it very much! Please follow/favorite, leave a review, and always have a good one guys, later!