"Goblins" - Person Talking
"Goblins" - Person Thinking
"Goblins" – Large Being/Creature Talking
"Goblins" - Large Being/Creature Thinking
"Holy Light!"- Spells/Skills
And here is a sudden new chapter. Let's a go.
Mulligan - Chapter 8
"E-Excuse me!" Came the ever polite and timid voice of Young Monk, drawing the attention of Guild Girl as the honey blonde turned and beamed a smile at the younger lady.
"Hello! How can I help you today?" She asked as she readied a small stack of documents, the plum haired young lady smiling a bit more eased as she looked around while a tinge of pink colored her cheeks.
"U-Umm... H-Have you seen M-Mr. Goblin Slayer today?" Young Monk inquired with a growing shade of pink on her face, Guild Girl having a tiny twinge of jealousy cross her heart before sliding it to the back.
"Unfortunately no, I believe he accepted a quest yesterday and departed for it early this morning." Answered the honey blonde in a slightly sullen tone, Young Monk sharing her sentiments as she thanked and offered a polite bow towards the older woman.
A soft and disappointed sigh leaving her mouth, Young Monk trudged towards the table where Rhea Ranger and Elf Wizard were sitting, their expectant and hopeful gazes tarnished when they caught sight of their listless monk. The young lady sitting down, a sullen look marred her face as did the two others at the table when they stared down at the request that they had hoped their armored friend could aide them with. Seeing as Noble Knight was currently back at her hometown, spending time with her family, they were lacking another front line fighter for their party. Rhea Ranger taking the quest notice, she was about to return it to the board when Female Fighter could be seen chatting with Priestess, the two bearing downtrodden expressions of their own. The duo's spirits damped after browsing through the quest board, they turned and paused when they saw Rhea Ranger staring at them.
Offering the orange haired young lady a pair of small but warm smiles, they made their way over as the three at the table made room for the pair. The two sitting down, they saw the request in the hand of the rhea before the eyes of the five flashed with hope, the women turning and sharing looks before they nodded and smiled a bit brighter then they were earlier. Rhea Ranger and Female Fighter making their way towards the counter to apply for the quest, the others started chatting a bit, being joined by the two others shortly after.
"Hee, so you're down a party member too, huh?" Asked Rhea Ranger as she nibbled on a piece of honeyed bread, getting nods from the two as they helped themselves to the snacks that Elf Wizard had prepared.
"Mhmm, Female Wizard is back at her hometown. Apparently her parents are trying to arrange a marriage partner for her." Explained Female Fighter in a slightly off put tone, the others sharing her sentiments as the thought of being wed to a man they held no love for drove a stake of disgust in their hearts.
"Ha, I'm glad my folks aren't pushing me to marry anytime soon, all they care about is that I eventually do get them a grandkid." Rhea Ranger pitched in with an offhand tone, though the tiny tinge of pink on her cheeks exposed her inner worries.
"M-My parents are always pushing me to r-retire and settle down, they're more worried about me getting hurt." Young Monk added in a tired but fond tone, the memory of her parents pleading with her to simply find a man and rest still a fresh one in her mind.
"Well, we are currently free, best to enjoy it. Life is fickle, tomorrow we may not be so lucky." Elf Wizard quipped in a light tone of voice, though there was a hint of something lurking in the depths of her blue orbs.
Spending the next half hour together, eventually the question that had been nipping at the back of Priestess' mind forced itself from her lips, the blonde grabbing the attention of the others present before she spoke.
"U-Umm, I was wondering... H-Have any of you taken any goblin related quests? U-Umm, a-after..." Asked the young blonde in an anxious tone, drawing looks filled with equal amounts of anxiety.
"No, we haven't... Or at least, n-not without Goblin Slayer..." Rhea Ranger admitted as the thought of tackling the devils without his aid still drew a chill down her spine, her sentiments shared with her party members as a hollow glint crossed their eyes.
"I see... Haha, we're all the same then. We haven't taken a goblin related quest without Mr. Goblin Slayer either, so we know how you all feel." Added Female Fighter as a small smile graced her face, the three women of the other party returning it as they fell into a comfortable air of conversation.
Spending the next half hour simply chatting and enjoying the company of each other, eventually came the time to depart for their quest, the group having eased smiles on their faces as they vacated the Guild. Elsewhere, Noble Knight and Female Wizard were waging battles of their own, the two usually level headed women dressed and ready for a war of words as they rose to meet their soon-to-be turned down suitors. And for our intrepid armored hero, he was currently residing within a horse drawn carriage with Female Martial Artist, Female Knight and Witch in tow; the three currently discussing their strengths, weaknesses and skill sets with the man. Before long, two days had passed, the four finally arriving at the ever imposing city that was Water Town.
Water Town was an old city, about two day's time east of the frontier across the pains with a carriage, which was once a fortress built during the Age of the Gods. A main defining feature of the city being its white walled fortress-like appearance, Water Town earning its name as it rested at the confluence of many rivers where boats of all shapes and sizes could be seen sailing through its canals. Built as a city that served as both a foothold and trading ground, it was visited by numerous merchants and travelers of all kind, most hoping to sell their goods or secure a place in such a wondrous and renown city.
(Scene Change - Water Town: Main Western Gate)
"Hrmm! That was a bit of a rough ride." Female Martial Artist quipped as she stretched her slightly taut body, idly taking note of how sore her rear was with all the jostling that the carriage imparted.
"Ugh... I should've packed a pillow..." Female Knight groaned as she rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes, grumbling irritably when she felt a rather stubborn knot in the middle of her shoulder blades.
"Shall we... Look around now...?" Witch asked in a smiling tone as she turned to look at their sole male companion, Goblin Slayer turning to look at her before shaking his head.
"If you'd like. I need to meet the quest giver." The armored man answered in his usual tone, the amethyst haired woman offering him a small smile as she moved to follow after him.
Seeing the pair moving on ahead, Female Martial Artist headed after them while Female Knight furrowed her brow as she tried to knead the knot in her back. Spending a second, unsuccessfully, trying to remove that knot; she sighed before following after her party members, quickly catching up as the women of the group started to draw the attention of some of people lining the streets. With the sun shining brightly overhead and without a cloud in sight, the appearance of the three stunning women only added to the day's beauty.
All around the four, there were shops and vendors busily supplying travelers and adventurers alike, the sights and sounds of food and drink being carried on the air only adding to the energy and excitement that the city had. The smell of roasting meat and crackling fat, the ever tantalizing smell of sweet baked goods, the sight and smell of strange and exotic foods added to the melting pot of culture that made up the streets of Water Town. The vendors and store owners were the same; a dwarf merchant shouting while brandishing a shield that he had crafted, an elven man singing a folk song to draw in customers, a rhea woman quickly darting to and fro as she sold fruits as fast as she could, a lizardman was standing tall as he was preaching a sermon of his native faith, and even someone who seemed to look like a dark elf could be seen happily polishing a glass in a store that he owned.
"So, where's this quest giver at?" Asked Female Martial Artist in a curious tone, Goblin Slayer glancing around before pointing towards the large building off in the distance as the brunette followed his finger.
"Guessing we're going to be meeting them at the temple of the Supreme God." Added Female Knight as she peeked over the shoulder of the brunette, nodding her head as she grew a tad nervous about visiting the temple of a god who hadn't granted her a miracle in quite some time.
"Follow me..." Witch said in her usual amiable tone, leading the three at a leisurely pace as they scanned the city streets.
"So, have any of you been here before?"
"Yeah, Heavy Warrior, the rookies and I came her about four months ago."
"Yes... Spearman and I... Have..."
"Once."
The streets of the city were made of closely laid together stone, easily traveled upon by carriage and foot alike, the canals that rested within the city carrying the ferries that offered patrons travel atop the water. Even the buildings, stores, inns and homes were made of that same closely laid stone, most if not all decorated with emblems of the Supreme God standing out prominently among the carvings on their walls. If the city itself was not beautiful, then its citizens were easily able to remedy that, many of them wearing the latest fashion of the capital, made with the finest of silk and cloth, a stark contrast to the clothing of the four currently walking along the path.
"Goblin Slayer, you really think goblins are here in a place like this? Last time I was here, there weren't even any rat or roach related quests." Female Knight asked in a doubtful manner as she furrowed her brows, unable to believe that such a beautiful town could even house such vile and disgusting creatures.
"I presume so." Came the blunt reply of the man, drawing curious looks from the three as they turned to look around once more before focusing on the man.
"What makes you say that?"
"This place, the atmosphere feels like that of a village that's been attacked by goblins."
"Atmosphere...?"
"I don't get it."
"Me neither, sure he can see through that helmet?"
"Hmm... They wouldn't show... In town... Yes?"
"We can't be sure. I remember it happening once."
The man's words, while they had no inflection or difference of octave, drew a strange shiver from the three women. There was something in his tone, something about his voice, that seemed to instinctively carry disdain and hatred despite being as cold and stoic as ever. The trio exchanging glances, confusion and a hint of anxiety and tinge of fear colored their eyes, never having even seen the armored man irritated let alone angered. Swallowing their questions and comments, they proceeded in silence, the liveliness of the city seemingly dimming as they let their senses as adventurers take hold.
"So far, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Only smell of blood is coming from the butcher shop and it's animal blood." Female Martial Artist reported as she focused her inner energy to her senses of smell and hearing, detecting nothing out of the ordinary as she let her eyes scan the surrounding area once more.
"There is... No change in... Mana..." Witch added as she took a drag of her pipe, her usually content and somewhat sleepy expression replaced with a cool and focused look as she let out a lungful of smoke.
"Same, there's nothing that I can perceive that's any different from when I was here, except some of the vendors." Threw in Female Knight as the four saw the stairway towards the temple of the Supreme God come into view, another grimace crossing her face while a sigh fell from her mouth.
For Goblin Slayer, the man remained silent as he let his own senses flow, taking note of each and every object or person on interest as they passed them. Even without having drawn his blade, his steps and body language were the same as they were inside of a nest, tense like a spring and ready to act at a moment's notice. Even with his stride being nearly silent, the looks he attracted were due to the grimy and foul smelling armor that he had equipped, murmurs leaving those who caught the sight of him walking with such an attractive array of ladies. But none of those comments or questions mattered to the man, Goblin Slayer heading straight up the stairway towards the temple as Female Knight seemed a bit gobsmacked that he wasn't the least bit concerned about entering such a holy place while looking like an undead.
"Anyway, who is the quest giver? A priest of the Supreme God?" Asked Female Knight in a slightly nervous as the other women blinked when they realized that they hadn't heard who had requested the aide of the man, Goblin Slayer continuing on ahead as they kept pace with him.
"No. It's the archbishop." He answered in a nonchalant manner, as if the name and title meant nothing to him.
"What." Female Knight said as her complexion turned pale, feeling her legs become a bit jelly-like as the crushing realization struck her.
Never in her life did the paladin-in-training ever expect to meet the person who was responsible for most if not all of the law across the western frontier. But even more then that, she was what the blonde was aspiring to be like, a Gold ranked adventurer known to all as 'Sword Maiden.' Lost in her stupor, Female Knight was left alone as her three companions carried on ahead of her, only snapping from her daze when she saw that they were nearly at the doors to the temple. A startled and confused yelp leaving her, she picked up her pace and hustled towards her companions, calling out to them to not enter until she arrived and composed herself.
In the deepest part of the worship hall where a golden silence was held, standing in a ray of sunlight shining through a pane of stained glass a figure could be seen kneeling before an altar. Beautiful couldn't even begin to describe the woman as she rose when footsteps reached her in the formerly silent hall, turning to greet the four as the three women stood a bit awestruck by her beauty. A white robe was covering her robust and voluptuous figure, her golden blonde hair even seeming to make the sunlight shining on her seem dull in comparison. If asked by a person without prior knowledge, she could have passed as a physical incarnation of the Supreme God if they were a woman. Though the most striking thing about the woman was the blindfold that covered her eyes, however they did not blemish the beauty of the woman, only adding to the air of mystery and intrigue that she held.
"Who have we here?" Asked the woman as the forms of the four adventurers came into view, the three woman a tad anxious while Goblin Slayer strode towards her.
"We've come to slay the goblins." He stated as she seemed a bit taken aback by the blunt statement, Female Knight instantly bowing slightly as she struck the man against the back of his helmet.
"P-Pardon my companion's rudeness, archbishop! W-We've come to serve! C-Could you be any less dignified, Goblin Slayer!?" The blonde apologized to Sword Maiden in a distressed tone before hissing at the man, the older blonde having a tiny smile grace her face as Goblin Slayer shook his head.
"This is urgent. We've already been granted entry, why go slow?"
"Ha... Goblin Slayer sure does have a one track mind."
"Ufufu... He is dedicated..."
Sword Maiden could only smile at the attitude of the armored man, he seemed insolent but there wasn't a hint or arrogance in his tone. A tone that only adventurers who held no loyalties but to finish the quests they had taken themselves, a tone that some found to be utterly dishonest while others found to be truly trustworthy.
"Honored warrior, dear knight, valiant fighter and insightful sorceress, welcome to the Temple of Law. I am honored to receive you all." She spoke as Female Knight and Female Marital Artist blushed a bit at the smile directed towards them by the beautiful blonde, dipping their heads along with Witch while Goblin Slayer merely nodded his own.
"My, you have quite the party. I welcome you four with all my heart." Sword Maiden stated as she made a gesture of embracing the four, her tiny smile gaining an edge of loneliness and a hint of longing that seemed a tad out of place on such a lovely looking woman.
"Enough banter. What are the details of the quest." Goblin Slayer finally cut in as the three beside him gained mortified looks, Female Knight and Female Martial Artist looking like they were going to faint while Witch's eyes widened a bit at his tactlessness.
"What did I just tell you about dignity?! You're being extremely rude!"
"Goblin Slayer, h-have a bit more tact! She's the one who gave us this quest!"
"Patience... Goblin Slayer..."
"It's quite all right. It seems that a hardy adventurer has come to my aid, and for that I am most grateful."
"Is that so."
"If I may, could I ask you something out of curiosity? If you... If you had learned that your own kin were aiding the forces of chaos, would you be able to kill them?"
"...No, I have no living relatives. Now, where are the goblins?"
Watching the exchange between the two with each word nearly causing her heart to stop, Female Knight was sweating as she desperately prayed to her patron deity that her armored companion wouldn't do anything that would bring about divine judgement upon them once they set foot out of the temple. Female Martial Artist was openly gaping at the Goblin Slayer as the man's bluntness to such a renown figure was simply idiotic, the brunette inching a bit away from him in the event that he was suddenly struck down by lightning or holy light. As for Witch, she had a surprised look on her face as the bluntness of the man wasn't a foreign scene to the amethyst haired woman but the complete lack of respect for even a Gold ranked adventurer hailed as a hero was mind boggling. For Sword Maiden, the blonde didn't seem bothered by how direct Goblin Slayer was, offering him a small smile and nod.
"It began about a month ago. An acolyte girl that I had dispatched from the temple as a messenger failed to return, and her body was found the next day in the sewers. According to the reports... She had been carved... While she was still alive..." Sword Maiden reported softly as a grimace crossed the faces of Female Knight and Female Martial Artist, Witch having a flash of sorrow cross her eyes at the woman's death.
"Had the body been moved? Were any parts of her eaten? Or was she only killed?" Goblin Slayer asked in quick succession, his callous questions drawing the eyes of his companions as Female Martial Artist rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Goblin Slayer. Let her finish, please." The brunette asked in a soft tone as she took in Sword Maiden's clouded expression, her eyes filled with sympathy for the blonde as the man quieted in turn.
"...It was a truly awful event. Were bandits or thugs the cause? Agents of chaos? Acolytes of evil sects? Even when the town guard were searching for the perpetrators, others suffered and others died. Women, mutilated, murdered and kidnapped." Sword Maiden continued as the others stayed silent through her report, though Goblin Slayer was instantly on edge as something failed to add up in the mind of the man.
"No trails were found, so we tried stopping these crimes from occurring. We issued a quest, for adventurers to patrol the streets at night in the hopes that someone would find a hint of anything, and finally someone found something. One of them spotted a small, humanoid figure assaulting a woman, and when they cut down the criminal, they discovered that it was a goblin." Finished Sword Maiden as Goblin Slayer faced her directly, the three beside him a bit surprised to learn that goblins were indeed residing somewhere within the city.
"Do you have a map of the sewers?" Asked Goblin Slayer as the women turned to look at him in curiosity, Sword Maiden breaking from her light daze as she nodded her head.
"What are you thinking, Goblin Slayer?" Female Knight asked as she lost her previous anxiety, the only thought on her mind being the avenge and prevent any more innocents lost to the vile demons lurking in the city.
"Do you know where... They are...?" Added Witch as she took another drag of her pipe, letting out a lungful of irritated smoke as her eyes shone with a sharp glint.
"Where there's one goblin, there's three more. If I were a goblin, the sewers would be where I would built a nest." Stated the man as the eyes of the three narrowed in contempt, Sword Maiden staring at Goblin Slayer in a bit of a daze once more before offering him a slightly larger smile.
"Surely it was the Supreme God himself who led an adventurer such as yourself to answer my call." Sword Maiden said in a tone that held nothing but relief and a glimmer of hope, a faint smile filled with equal parts as she faced the man.
"I reached the same conclusion myself, that they were underground."
"A month ago?"
"Yes. At the beginning, I had offered a quest to the adventurers of this town."
"Did they find anything?"
The silence of Sword Maiden was almost deafening for the four, the way the blonde seemed to clutch her staff a tiny bit tighter only cemented what had happened to those who had accepted the quest. They had failed to return once they descended down the sewers. Overconfidence was a slow and insidious killer, those who had underestimated the creatures lurking in the darkness below no doubt having met their ends at their hands. Those in the room knew all too well, some vastly more then others, of how dangerous goblins were in the right circumstances.
"But it was then that I heard a ballad, a song and tale of a hero of the frontier, of Goblin Slayer." Stated Sword Maiden in a tone that held a bit of reverence to it, the others blinking as they turned to look at the man in disbelief.
"A ballad? Of him?"
"You're that famous, Goblin Slayer?"
"A ballad... It suits... You..."
"Please. I beg you to save our town." Pleaded Sword Maiden as she bowed her head towards the man, lightly biting her lip as she hoped the man was as righteous and valiant as the tales and songs had painted him.
"I can't promise to save anything. But I will kill all the goblins." Stated the man in his usual tone, though there was a tempering to the latter part of his statement.
"W-Watch how you talk, Goblin Slayer! I don't want your disrespect bringing divine judgement down on us!"
"The sewers, huh. Might be a bit cramped for magic, hmm?"
"There is no need... For worry..."
"I do gotta ask, though. Why not just tell the town guard or army to take care of em? Sounds like it's more of their job then it is ours."
At Female Martial Artist's question, the small smile that was on the face of the blindfolded blonde faded to a thin line. The sight of her lowering her head drawing a worried gaze from the ladies in the room, Goblin Slayer watched on in silence as he already knew the answer she was given. Their gazes flickering towards Sword Maiden, Goblin Slayer and themselves, Female Knight was about to speak only for the words of the archbishop to speak first.
"...They..."
"They said that they couldn't be bothered with the likes of goblins. Did they not?"
Tightening her grip on her staff at the spot on rebuttal that she was given from those who she had asked for aid, she rose her head and had a small but bitter smile on her face. After all, that was why the adventurers before the four in front of her had gone in, to leave the town guard and army uninvolved with such trivial matters. The town guard was funded to train and protect not to hunt monsters that may or may not be dwelling below, and their families who lived in town only added to their desire to stay safe. If they were injured or killed, a pension would have to be paid to their relatives for their loss. However, adventurers weren't the same as they took responsibility for everything themselves.
The town guards' worries were justified, but the army's reason was just as worrisome. While they were defeated, the defeat of resurrection of the Demon Lord was still fresh on the minds of the people. Taking care of the demons running in the capital was a much more pressing issue then dealing with goblins that adventurers should be taking care of, after all, that's what they were there for.
"I am ashamed to say that you are correct. The world is full of tragedies, and there are so few saviors."
"As I said before, I don't care. How do we access the sewers?"
"Oh yes, excuse me."
Moving towards the armored man, she reached into her robe and pulled a faded, folded piece of parchment. Handing it to him, she offered him a smile as he opened the folded sheet and scanned it, his party members crowding around him as they studied the map. It was worn and discolored, already having a few parts seemingly chewed away by insects, but it spoke of the sheer size of the sewers.
"It's quite... Large..." Witch quipped as she memorized all of the most important locations of the map, the exits, before letting a soft breath leave when she counted nearly a dozen different exits and entrances.
"Yes, I suggest it would be best for you to enter the sewers via the well in the back garden of the temple. And during your investigations, I offer you this temple as lodging." Sword Maiden stated as a pair of surprised noises left Female Knight and Female Martial Artist, but the two quickly grew a bit excited to stay in such a renown place.
"Mm."
A soft sound left Goblin Slayer as Witch, Female Martial Artist and Female Knight moved to exit the temple, the armored man following behind the trio as he placed the map into his pouch. Seeing the three waiting for him at the stairway, Goblin Slayer nodding as he accepted the unspoken and given role as their scout and navigator. Watching them leave, Sword Maiden had a soft smile on her face as she followed the back of the man who had answered her call, the blonde letting her head dip slightly as she offered a prayer for the four.
(Time Skip - Half An Hour Later)
(Scene Change - Water Town: Sewer Canals)
"That's nine." Came the ever cold voice of Goblin Slayer, the man grabbing the arrow shaft lodged in the head of the goblin it was embedded in before twisting and snapping its neck.
Ripping the arrow out, he inspected it before nodding when he deemed it salvageable, wiping it with the clothing that covered the goblin it came from before returning it to a third quiver painted red with scavenged arrows. Alongside him, Female Martial Artist was bashing in the face of another goblin, the crunch of bone and splatter of blood doing nothing to halt the execution of the creature as she rose after shattering its spine. Moving on ahead, the pair stopped when they saw a fallen adventurer laying on the ground. Behind the two, Female Knight was covering the rear as Witch walked in front of her, the eyes of the two sharp and paying careful attention to their surroundings. A quiver in the darkness drawing the attention of the blonde, Female Knight rushed forward before driving her blade into the chest of a goblin nocking an arrow.
"That's the last of them." Female Knight reported as she hacked the top of the goblin archer's head clean off, the corpse falling to the ground twitching as blood pooled out of its exposed cranium.
"Good... Work..."
"Phew. That was a nice little warm up."
"To think there were so many goblins below the town."
"Ambushed. Single blow to the head, wasn't even able to draw his weapon. Good." Muttered Goblin Slayer as he secured the fallen adventurer's blade, pulling it out of its sheathe to examine it as the others seemed a bit perturbed by his action.
Placing the pilfered sword on his hip, Goblin Slayer moved about the area, scanning the grounds for any signs of trails or paths. Watching him do so, the trio of women took a moment to catch their breaths only for a set of startled squeaks to leave them when a sudden downpour of rain struck the party. Moving quickly, the group found themselves a small room that was sustaining a bit less rain then the main sewer system, the four taking refuge as they took the moment to eat and drink.
"Quite lucky... The rain isn't as... Hard here..." Witch said as she moved to take a drag of her pipe, blinking and pouting slightly when she saw how soaked the tobacco residing in it was.
"How could it even be raining in here? I thought we were underground?" Asked Female Martial Artist as she took a bite of jerky, pondering over the phenomenon as Female Knight snapped her fingers.
"It's raining above us, so this is rain water falling from the drains!" Reported the armored woman as Female Marital Artist made a face at her lack of insight, the two falling into a bit of light discussion while Witch turned to their silent scout.
"Goblin Slayer... Why not... Use a lantern...?" Asked the amethyst haired woman, getting the attention of the other two as they realized that he was the only one without a light source.
"A torch can double as a weapon. And if a lantern breaks, it becomes useless." Explained the man as the trio gained slightly wry faces, Female Knight sighing as she took a sip of water.
"So, how do you think this whole expedition is going to go? With the rain, I can't think we'll be out here for long." Female Martial Artist asked as she handed Witch a piece of jerky, getting a thankful smile from the woman as she nibbled on the dried treat.
"Hopefully... Not too... Long..." Witch said with a soft tone, her eyes equally as soft as Female Knight shared the sentiments of the woman.
"Don't worry, we're all Silver, aren't we? We'll be back home in no time." Added Female Knight in a sure tone, drawing a larger smile from the two ladies as Goblin Slayer suddenly stood.
"Something's coming." Goblin Slayer said in haste as he stood up, the others following his action as they pinned themselves to the entrance of the small chamber they were residing in.
Seconds ticking by, the tension in the bodies of the four were at an all time high, though when seconds turned to minutes, the three were a bit skeptical about the armored man's claims. Their gazes flickering back and forth, from him to the dark corridor, Goblin Slayer turned to Witch as he pointed towards the lantern back at their makeshift camp before pointing towards the darkness. Blinking, she followed his finger before realization struck her, the woman nodding as she knelt down to pick up a rock.
"Lumen... Levis... Lux... Light..." Witch whispered as she closed her eyes, focusing her magic on the rock held in her hand as a brilliant glow suddenly surged from its core.
Handing the illuminated rock to the armored man, Goblin Slayer tossed it towards the bridge hanging across the main waterway, the party watching with eyes slowly widening when a shoddy looking ship slowly drifted into view. Words unable to leave the mouths of the three women, they were completely gobsmacked that creatures like goblins could even construct something as intricate as a boat.
"Can you sink it?" Asked the voice of Goblin Slayer, breaking the three from their stupor as Witch's eyes gained a strange glint to them.
"Allow me... To show you... Crispo... Fluctus... Fons... Tidal Wave..." Spoke Witch as she waved her hand towards the waterway, an unnatural ripple dancing across the flowing waterway.
Then, in an instant, that ripple quickly expanded around the boat as the goblins aboard the vessel managed to moor the raggedy ship close to the walkway bridging across the main channel. The captain of the ship making its way over towards the shiny and glowing rock, it bent down to pick it up before excitedly hurrying to show off its newest bounty towards its grumbling lackeys as it basked in their envy and ire. In the midst of their squabbling to hold the glowing rock, the goblin crew failed to perceive the growing wave of water that was now nearly ten feet tall.
In a fit of anger, a goblin that had managed to yank the glowing rock from the captain's grasp threw it overboard to the horror of the others on board. The goblin in question cackling at the devastated look on the face of the captain, it turned to return to its post only to freeze when it finally caught sight of the imposing wave resting behind the ship. About to scream, its voice never made it out as the wave of water crashed against the ship, the sound of wood splintering and shattering resounding through the sewer way.
Practically breaking in half, the ship instantly capsized as the goblins who were lucky were slammed against the stone walkway as the wave carried them upwards, breaking their bones as they laid groaning and crying in slowly expanding pools of blood. Those who were unlucky were crushed between the stone walkway and the boat itself, instantly killing them as blood spewed from their noses and mouths, the wave dragging them to the depths of the waterway before they were swept away by the current. A few more seconds passing without a hint of advanced movement, Witch lowered her hand as Goblin Slayer made his way towards the walkway where the pitiful forms of the goblins who were barely clinging onto life laid, drawing his blade before driving it into their skulls without a hint of trepidation.
"Good work." Said Goblin Slayer as he saw the others make their way over, stomping on the skull of the captain of the ship before tearing his blade free from the side of its head.
"Ufufu... Thank you... For the praise..." Witch replied with a smile on her face, Female Martial Artist and Female Knight sporting grins as they patted the woman lightly on the back.
"Not bad yourself, Goblin Slayer. How'd you know they'd stop for that glowing rock?" Asked Female Marital Artist as she knelt down to examine the corpses, taking extra care to ensure that they were indeed dead.
"They tend to favor shiny things like gems and gold, though they do get tired of them after a while. I worked under the assumption they hadn't seen a glowing rock before." Stated the man as the others laughed a bit wryly at his answer, the party regrouping as they planned their next avenue of attack while the man seemed a bit distracted.
"Well, where to now? I don't think we're gonna get a clue from these thi-" Female Knight asked with furrowed brows, though she was cut off when a goblin suddenly surfaced with blood dripping from it nose and mouth.
Tension filling their bodies, Goblin Slayer quickly pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow, leveling his gaze on the goblin. But before he could loose that arrow, a sudden and unnatural ripple of the water's surface stilled his hand, the armored man watching with rapt attention as an enormous, white alligator burst from the water's depths, launching the goblin into the air before its jaw tore it in half. A heavy splash resounding as it submerged itself once more, the party of four quickly vacated the area as the armored man pulled the map from his pouch.
"I think something's in front of us too!" Cried Female Knight as the group paused, pressing themselves against the wall of the canal as a the faint shadows of goblin occupied vessels drifted towards them.
"There's another tunnel ahead. We'll be relying on you again." Goblin Slayer said as he turned to look at Witch, the woman offering him a somewhat wry smile as the two beside her patted her lightly on the shoulder.
Huddled in an offshoot tunnel, the party of four watched as an illuminated orb danced on the water's surface, drawing the attention of the goblin occupied vessels as they paddled closer to examine the light. Within arms reach, confusion crossed their faces when they saw the glow seemingly coming from a pale, stick-like tentacle, a few curious goblins moving closer only for the same alligator from earlier to emerge from the water, destroying the shoddy boats and tearing through their crew. Watching the entire scene from the safety of the passage, the group praised Witch for her efforts once more as the woman let loose a somewhat tired sigh as she turned to look at Goblin Slayer.
"Quite the... Slavedriver... No...?" She asked in jest as Goblin Slayer apologized in turn, the woman laughing softly as the man seemed a bit distracted despite their victory.
"Something the matter, Goblin Slayer?" Asked Female Knight as she took a swig of water, handing the canteen to a thankful Witch as she followed suit.
"They've learned that adventurers use lights when they move." Answered the man in a somewhat cold tone, drawing looks of confusion from his party members as they figured that it was a given in their current situation.
"Well, maybe they're used to seeing them?"
"Is it... Curious...?"
"Seems like you think it's something to be worried about."
"I don't like it. They live by theft. They don't make things of their own. They may be stupid, but they aren't fools. They learn how to use tools quickly. If someone taught them to, they could also build boats themselves."
Almost instantly, a sudden chill that wasn't from the rain danced down the spines of the ladies beside him. Goblins were stupid, but they weren't fools? If that was truly the case, then given what they had bore witness to, there was only one explanation that could fit with what they were dealing with. The facts lined up when the group thought about it; they were using boats, but they acted like they had seen the alligator from earlier for the first time. If they were truly aware of it in the first place, they wouldn't be using such a mode of transport. The way they were equipped was also a telltale sign, something that Goblin Slayer had taken notice of with the captain of the first ship. In other words, it wasn't something they could achieve though natural theft, no matter how long they were beneath Water Town.
"What you're trying to say is..."
"Don't tell me..."
"It would seem... So..."
"Yes. Someone brought these goblins here."
(Time Skip - The Next Day)
(Scene Change - Water Town: Temple of The Supreme God)
In innermost sanctum that was the Temple of the Supreme God, a lone figure could be seen bathing in the large, open bath that the priests and priestesses of the temple used to cleanse both their bodies and spirits. Letting loose a breath as she brushed the branches of a white birch against her body, Sword Maiden stilled her movements as she took in the horrid reminders of her most horrid and dark days. A frigid and empty chill invading her body, even the hot water of the springs failed to warm her body as a sudden shiver wracked her body.
Dropping the branch, the blonde wrapped her arms around her body as the day terrors that had become more and more frequent with the appearance of first goblin struck her once more. Brushing her hands across the scars that lined her body, she unconsciously recalled the torture that she had endured in her youth, a folly of her own lack of awareness. Unable to do anything but silently endure, as she had in the past when no one could or would listen or understand her, Sword Maiden simply held herself as the terror came and slowly left. A shaky breath leaving her lips, she submerged herself once more as she was able to finally feel the water's warmth again.
"That man... Goblin Slayer, was it? He seems quite dependable." She said to herself as she brushed her hands against her scarred eyes, a somewhat hollow smile crossing her face as she let herself indulge in a tiny but hopeless fantasy that she had dreamed of time and time again.
"I'm pleased that their search is going smoothly. But... One day, like all things... He will surely disappear, won't he..." Whispered the blonde as she sank a bit deeper into the bath, reluctantly letting her eyes close as the cackles that haunted her every time darkness struck surfaced once more to torment her.
(Scene Change - Water Town: Adventurer's Guild)
"You guys hear the rumors?"
"You talkin' bout the one's about the king visiting?"
"No, about the group heading back into the sewers."
"That it? They'll either quit or get lost down there. We don't have rats or roaches, let alone goblins down there!"
"Speakin' of that group... Woah... Check out that piece of work..."
"Damn, never seen one that fine before."
Entering the Adventurer's Guild, Witch glanced around for her armored companion, completely ignorant and uncaring of the words and gazes being sent her way. Spending a few seconds scanning the grounds, she locked onto the familiar and reliable form of Goblin Slayer as she started to saunter her way over towards him. Her usual aloof and small smile crossing her face, she couldn't help but laugh to herself that he was sitting in nearly the exact same seat despite being in a different town.
"Geh, get a load of that guy."
"Ha, see the junk he's wearing? My nephew has better gear then him, and he's barely ten."
"Where'd he even wash in from? He one of the ones looking for imaginary goblins?"
"Hope he gets lost soon. Water Town has a reputation to hold up..."
Her smile thinning to a small line, Witch let a soft sigh leave her as the man seemed to be discriminated against no matter where he went. While she couldn't fault them given his, peculiar, habits pertaining to the maintenance of his equipment, to judge based on appearance alone is what lead most to their deaths or demise when out in the field. Shaking her head slightly, Witch continued towards her seated companion as the usual gazes and catcalls that followed her no matter where she was began to grow in frequency.
"Hey miss! First time in to-"
"You single, ma'am? I'll be glad to sh-"
Walking past two of the more bold adventurers who had hoped she would spare them the time of day, she took a seat beside Goblin Slayer as the eyes and mouths of those watching widened and dropped. Pulling out her pipe, she ignited it and took a much needed drag before softly letting a lungful of smoke from her lungs.
"Were you... Waiting long... Goblin Slayer...?" She asked as she turned to offer him a smile, the man shaking his head in the negative as she beamed a bit at his nonchalant attitude.
"I just finished sending a letter, had an adventurer escorting a merchant who was going by that town to take it as a quest." Replied the man as Witch grew a tad curious about the contents of said letter, knowing of the numerous flowers he had on his hands only added to the curiosity of whom he had written to.
"Oh...? Who did... You write to...?" Asked the amethyst haired woman in her best nonchalant tone, though the way she was eagerly leaning in spoke volumes of how she felt inside.
"To a friend, I suppose." Answered the armored man as she blinked a bit in surprise, though that surprise melted to warmth as it was the first time she had heard the man refer to someone as a friend of his.
"I see..."
"Yes."
Settling into a comfortable silence, the two simply basked in the company of the other, the gazes directed at the pair being completely ignored. Before long, the eyes on the two widened even more when the forms of Female Knight and Female Martial Artist appeared, moving to join the two with smiles on their faces. The two quickly chatting up their less vocal party members, they quickly vacated the premises to procure supplies for the next descent down into the sewers. Half an hour passing in a blur, the four regrouped with the eyes of the three falling onto Goblin Slayer as he had a curious, chirping companion resting in a cage on his hip.
"What's the canary for?" Asked Female Knight as she stilled herself from gushing from the cute creature, her eyes sparkling slightly as she took in its golden feathers.
"Canaries are sensitive to trace amounts of poison. The goblins here are educated, I wouldn't be surprised if they've set traps down here. Best to be safe." Answered the man in a tone a tad more serious then normal, the tension in the bodies of the three heightening as they mentally and physically slapped themselves to focus on the current objective.
"You're right. If they can build boats, setting a trap or two would be child's play." Female Martial Artist added as she stretched her arms, slipping on her spiked knuckles as they entered the sewers once more.
"Yes... We best... Be on... Our toes..." Said Witch as her eyes set on the shadows dancing at the end of their lantern's light, the four followed the map held by the armored man as the light of the streets above faded to darkness.
The minutes ticking away, the party of four had encountered a few small patrols of goblins, groups of less then three being dispatched and dumped into the sewers. When a larger group of goblins, numbering around six, hobbled away from a dock-like area, the group shared looks before nodding as they cut off the ropes mooring the boats to the walkway. The current carrying the boats away, they hustled and headed deeper into the area, finding a strange door in a temple-like section of the sewer which was not marked on the map.
"Looks like we found the entrance to the nest." Whispered Female Knight as she adjusted her shield, narrowing her eyes as she turned to look at their party's leader.
"Yeah, but why've you been letting some groups of them go?" Asked Female Marital Artist as she readjusted her knuckles, grimacing a bit whens he removed a few bits of flesh from the small openings.
"We need to cut off the head first, slaughtering the rest of them comes afterwards." Answered the man as he double checked the condition of his blade, sheathing it before pulling out one of the pilfered blades he had swiped from earlier.
"I see... Then let us... Proceed..." Added Witch as they continued through the doorway, finding that it was a completely different area altogether.
Delving deeper into the structure, the four soon came to the conclusion that it was a ruin of sorts. Faded scorch mark from torches lit years prior, murals depicting adventurers heading off to parts unknown which Witch estimated to have been made half a millennia ago. It was then that Female Knight deduced that they were in a mausoleum or sorts, based on the interior decor and the strange air that the structure held. Though, none of that mattered as it was nothing more then a goblin nest, the four finding that the creatures were indeed skulking through its halls as they ventured deeper inside. After venturing for nearly forty minutes, they found themselves in front of an ornate set of door, with any traps nearby as Goblin Slayer had concluded.
Sharing glances, they nodded as the man kicked open the door, the group heading within as the sight inside chilled the three women to the bone. Shackled to the far wall of the room was a woman, her head hanging low and her body limp. Without thinking, Female Knight and Female Martial Artist were about to rush to help her only to feel a set of hands latch onto their wrists. Following the man's intuition, Witch narrowed her eyes as she felt something nip at the back of her mind about the captive. Whipping around, they stared at Goblin Slayer as if the man were insane, words of contempt and confusion nearly leaving their mouths only to freeze when the man shook his head.
"Something isn't right. I don't hear any breathing from her." He said in a serious tone, the eyes of the two widening before narrowing as Witch took a few tentative steps forward with Goblin Slayer shielding her.
Sharpening their senses, Female Knight quickly took up the rear with Female Martial Artist covering her as she let her own senses of hearing and smell flow, grimacing when she indeed failed to detect even the echo of a heartbeat or breath from the opposite wall. Flicking her gaze to Female Knight, the blonde nodded as they huddled a bit closer to the back of Goblin Slayer and Witch, the four stopping about halfway through the room as the sorceress raised her hand towards the woman across from them. A second later, an ethereal hand made of pale blue energy left Witch's own, snaking its way to the woman before cupping her face. An instant later, Witch's eyes widened as she tried to shout for the four to leave only for the door behind to slam shut.
"I'm sorry..." Witch spat out in a self loathing tone, never cursing her inability to speak without invoking magic more so in her life then she did now.
"Shit! They're barricading the door!" Shouted Female Marital Artist in a heated tone, Female Knight and herself slamming into the door with a heavy amount of force as the sound of wood creaking met their ears.
"They were waiting for us the entire time!?" Yelled Female Knight as she took a step back from the door with her partner, the two having a sheen of sweat on them as the situation began to take a turn for the worst.
"Damn it! Crafty bastards!"
"What now... Goblin Slayer...?"
"What do we do now!?"
"Calm down. We're still alive."
The voice of their resident goblin expert helped quell the heated rush of anger and panic that was surging through the bodies of the three, the trio turning to look at him as Goblin Slayer nodded at them in a reassuring manner. It was completely strange for the three, the way that he carried himself without a hint of fear, anxiety or panic was simply astounding. They remembered his success when defending his home from the Lord all those weeks ago, the same confidence and calm he had portrayed then being shown now, it shone a ray of hope that brought them back from the falling to the side of despair. It was then that he proved to them, mostly Female Knight in particular, that he was indeed a Silver ranked adventurer. Though that panic and fear returned when his canary began to chirp loudly, the bird's innate sensitivity to poison drawing a grimace across the faces of the three.
"Now it's poison... What now, Goblin Slayer?" Asked Female Knight as she tried to ease her breathing, knowing that panicking now would only allow the poison to seep deeper into her body.
"Take these and wrap it in a cloth, then place it over your mouth and nose." Said the man as he passed the three a few pieces of charcoal and pressed herbs, the three following his orders as they covered their faces in the somewhat pungent smelling cloth.
"Mix this together and block the holes. You lead the way and you help. Can you control the air in the room? If so, for how long?" He ordered Female Martial Artist as she took the bag that was held towards her, opening it and seeing that it was a simple mix for basic concrete.
"Right! Come'on, I can hear where they're blowing in the poison!" Called out the brunette as she sped towards the nearest wall, Female Knight nodding as she hurriedly mixed the ingredients in the bag.
"Yes... For up to... An hour... How do... You want me... To...?" Asked Witch in a determined tone, Goblin Slayer directing her to expel the gas the same way that it was coming in, by forcing the air on the edge of the room out through any openings that were in the wall.
"You two, forget about the concrete and help barricade the door." The man called out towards the two as they tried their best to plaster the holes, wincing as the nodded and dropped their current task to help move the nearest stone coffin to block the door.
"Temperantia... Aer... Concido... Control Winds..." Chanted Witch as the air in the room took a strange shift in nature, seemingly stilling completely as the trio regrouped to shield and cover their spellcaster.
Then, an 'eye' of sorts formed with Witch at its center, all wind within five feet of her stilling and remaining breathable as she constantly moved the wind of the room out of that 'eye'. While Female Knight and Female Martial Artist were able to plug a few of the holes, many more were left exposed which Witch took full advantage of. Controlling the wind to circle the perimeter of the room, she was able to stop any more of the gas from invading their breathing space by leaking it back through the holes they had come from originally. The trio working on barring the door moving in and out of that circle of safety, they took deep breaths before hustling to move another stone casket.
"Give me a sec!" Called out Female Martial Artist as she reached into her pouch before pulling out a bracelet and ring, slipping them on as her muscles seemed to bulge almost immediately.
"Strength boosting items?" Asked Female Knight as she helped the brunette and their armored companion attempt to lift the coffin onto the other, taking in the somewhat uncanny appearance of such an attractive face on an overly muscular body.
"Y-Yeah! Don't like wearing them that much cause they make me look like this and makes me hell of a lot slower." Replied the brunette somewhat self consciously as she grunted before roaring as she managed to lift her side of the coffin onto the top of the other, snarling as she slammed her shoulder into the side of the coffin to help the two beside her with their ends.
With the added leverage, Goblin Slayer and Female Knight managed to lift their own side of the coffin up, the three taking a moment to catch their breaths as they raced back to Witch. Taking deep breaths, the two women felt their bodies freeze when Goblin Slayer suddenly perked his head up, turning slightly to the walls as the eyes of the two followed him. About to speak, they had their questions answered when a sudden banging sounded from the opposite side of the door.
"Sending that poison gas back through must've caused a few of them to suffocate. They know." Answered Goblin Slayer as he readied his bow, taking the position of vanguard as Female Knight brought up her shield to cover Witch while Female Martial Artist returned her strength boosting equipment to her pouch.
Witch taking a moment to calm the wind, she slowly opened her eyes as she channeled her mana once more, the group readying themselves as more and more bangs and thuds sounded against the door. Before long, the goblins had hacked through a good portion of the door, though all that met them was the stacked stone coffins impeding any and all entry into the room. Smirking at the sight, the four took their confusion and irritation as a chance to retaliate as Goblin Slayer nocked and loosed arrows towards the ones who began to climb over the stacked coffins. While he was keeping the creatures at bay, Witch racked her mind for a spell that wouldn't cause too much widespread damage or allow their enemies to flood them.
"Looks like it was good choice to stack those two." Muttered Female Martial Artist as she took out a potion before taking a swig of it, gritting her teeth as she felt like fire was burning through her veins.
"Get ready, I can feel something coming. Something big." Female Knight said with a small bead of sweat dripping from her head, Goblin Slayer pausing as he nocked another arrow as he turned to glance Witch as a smirk crossed her face.
"I think... I have a... Plan..." Said the amethyst haired woman as the others grew curious, Witch ushering them closer as she relayed her plan to them.
Quickly telling them of her plan, grins spread across the faces of Female Martial Artist and Female Knight, the two nodding as Goblin Slayer mimicked the action. The three covering Witch as she readied her spell, they watched as the door and the makeshift barricade were blown away and smashed by a heavy impact. The dust and debris clearing, the four in the room looked on with grimaces on their faces at the appearance of the towering form of a goblin champion, much larger then the ones they had faced during the siege of the farm.
"A champion, I see."
"Guh, a load of ugly more like."
"Quite the... Unpleasant foe..."
"Right, more goblins... Great..."
A roar leaving the maw of the champion, the goblins rallying behind it rushed forward with untold amounts of glee and lust when they caught the sight of the women in the room. The champion taking a single step that caught up with the goblin leading the charge, they cackled and cried with glee as the tension in the bodies of the four shot up immediately. Whispering under her breath, Witch pointed to the area in front of the champion as a sudden sheen covered the floor. Instantly, bodies slipped and fell as the champion let out a shout of surprise as it crushed a number of its underlings, a growl of pain sounding as spears and blades alike suddenly buried themselves into the back of the giant. Those in the front whipping around in surprise and fright, they were taken down as Female Martial Artist slugged them with deathly force, shattering and rending bone and flesh alike.
"Tardus... Lentitudo... Adhuc... Slow..."
Following up behind her, Witch let loose another spell focused on the writhing champion, the creature letting a noise of confusion leave it as stiffness and sluggishness consumed its being. The armored man taking advantage of its current slowed state, he threw one of his irritant filled eggs at it, the egg impacting and letting loose its contents with immediately caused the champion and the goblins near it to cry and scream in agony. With the major threat incapacitated at the moment, Goblin Slayer and Female Martial Artist moved to clear out the goblins that they could, Female Knight covering Witch as she cut down the few number of goblins that slipped around the two slaughtering their forces and the trap laid out by her amethyst haired companion.
Letting a silent prayer to her goddess, Female Knight could only count it as a blessing that there weren't any archers within the horde they were facing. Blocking an axe strike, a shrill screech of metal on metal ringing through her ears, Female Knight narrowed her eyes as she knocked away the offending blade before cleaving through the throat of the goblin it belonged to. A choking gurgle croaking from its mouth, she rushed forwards before goring the goblin behind it through the eye. Kicking away the body, she spun and hacked through the neck of another that was trying to charge down Witch. While it wasn't too difficult, with the number of the creatures, it was a bit of a task to keep up with all of them even with her two party members thinning out the herd. A few superficial cuts here and there, the most the blonde had been injured was a cut to her cheek that was freely flowing with blood.
Back to back, Goblin Slayer and Female Martial Artist were dodging and weaving through the slow and sloppy strikes sent their way with relative ease. Crouching low, the brunette lashed out and shattered the knees of three goblins with a single sweep of her legs, screams and cries leaving their mouths at the sudden and excruciating pain coursing through their bodies. They were silenced when she struck them all in quick succession, three swift and brutal blows to their temples causing their eyes to shoot from their sockets with blood oozing from the now empty orifices. Rising, she delivered a heavy uppercut that ripped off the bottom jaw of a goblin lunging at her from overhead, spinning and driving her heel into the face of another that splintered its skull. Lashing out, she grabbed another before ramming her knee to its face, the brunette completely indifferent of the bone and teeth embedded on her knee pads. Leaning her head back as a club struck empty air, she hissed a bit when a blade grazed her once more, the cuts that she had sustained in the encounter growing as more and more of the goblins poured in.
With the armored man, Goblin Slayer was tearing his way through the horde in order to reach the champion at the center of it, the man taking note that Witch's Grease spell was fading away and of the wounds that both Female Knight and Female Martial artist were beginning to accumulate. Working quickly, he called out to the woman beside him to regroup with Female Knight to better protect Witch as a few goblins had managed to get within arm's reach of her, the brunette grimacing but opting to shelve her concerns when she saw him parry six different goblins before ripping out their throats with the hooked hammer and rusted axe he pilfered from his most recent victims. Rushing back to the side of the blonde, Female Martial Artist drove her elbow into the spine of goblin attempting to take the paladin-in-training's back, the brunette grabbing it by the neck before driving it head first into the ground. Getting a thankful smile in turn, the two turned and smashed another goblin between an armored boot and a heavy shield, reducing its head to a pulpy mess as they stared at the advancing form of Goblin Slayer.
Tightening his grip on the chipped bladed axe in hand, he rushed down the champion before hacking through the posterior cruciate ligament on the back of the champion's knee, leaving the axe buried in the leg of the champion before driving his own blade into the back of the knee of the other. The sight causing the goblins in the room to begin to panic, they hurriedly moved away from the women in favor of aiding their leader, the three panicking themselves when they saw Goblin Slayer start to move out of the swarm. A garbled cry leaving the champion as it slowly turned towards the man with club in hand, Goblin Slayer moved back to regroup with his party as the sluggish arm crawling at suddenly jumped in speed as the champion suddenly slugged him with an inhuman amount of force. The armored man being flung across the room, he impacted and bounced from the ceiling and a pillar, only stopping when he struck and shattered a stone coffin with a crimson coloring his shattered armor. The eyes of his companions widening, they rushed over towards him as Witch's eyes were wide with confusion, horror and shock.
"There was still nine seconds of Slow left, how did it manage to have the wisdom to save itself?!" The amethyst haired woman shouted in her mind as she tried to move and Goblin Slayer to a sitting position, the man coughing up more blood as he weakly shook his head and shakily gestured towards the goblins who were beginning to face them once more with the orders of their leader.
Grunting as he tried to force himself to stand, Goblin Slayer only let out another mouthful of blood as crimson dripped freely from his helmet. Female Martial Artist and Female Knight taking the helm, they were easily holding off the few goblins that were brave enough to approach the three women, more and more growing bolder as their leader roared at them to either kill or capture the humans they had cornered. A cry leaving the mouth of Female Martial Artist, she channeled ki to her leg before spinning and crushing the skulls of four goblins who came within range of her with a swift and brutal kick, wincing a bit when she struck a small protrusion of twisted iron on the shoulder of one of the goblins as it dug into her calf.
Quickly covering the brunette as she reeled back, Female Knight blocked a pair of daggers from sinking into the body of the woman, a defiant cry leaving the mouth of the blonde as she pushed back the two goblins bearing down on her shield. Taking a breath, she weaved to the side before bringing her blade across their faces, cutting deep into their skulls before a sudden groan sounded from her blade. Her eyes widening, the blonde saw her blade snap partially as it embedded itself in the skull of the second goblin, Female Knight cursing as she kicked the body of the prone creature away before looking down and grimacing at her ruined blade.
Witch narrowed her eyes as she moved between her companions, holding her staff out as the wood of the staff began to warp and shift. Soon enough, a rapier appeared from the shifting mass of wood as she moved to draw a sigil in the air. A sudden glow emanating from the amethyst haired woman, she grimaced a bit but held back both her fear and disgust as she met a few of the creatures head on. While her movements were not anything special, they were practical and practiced as she quickly lunged and skewered those who came within her reach with relative ease. It was when an sudden goblin jumped at her from the side and struck her across the head with a cudgel that cries left the two women beside her, though the woman simply whipped around and drove her rapier into the skull of the creature before shoving it away.
"Don't worry... I casted... Blade Ward on... Myself..." Reported Witch with a tired smile on her face, an ugly bruise on the side of her head with a small river of crimson running down her face.
With Female Knight's blade ruined, Female Martial Artist having injured her leg and Witch forced on the frontlines to help compensate for their lost party member, the situation seemed bleak as the stamina of the sorceress was being drained at an exceptional rate. Having taken down roughly a dozen goblins, Witch was already panting with beads of sweat running down her face, grimacing at her lack of physical training in favor of the arcane arts. The champion watching the three get worn down and cornered, it found itself grinning as it managed to prop itself to a sitting position, yelling at its underlings to ensure that they weren't too damaged to use. In the midst of their preemptive celebrations, they never noticed the man that had been flung behind them rising akin to an undead or possessed suit of armor.
Goblin Slayer having been sent crashing into the skeletal remains of the trap, he forced himself to stand as the defiant cries and shouts of his party members made it to his ears. How could he be simply laying there when they were fighting for their lives? Hadn't he vowed to never let the demons in the room do onto others what they had to him and his most beloved person? There wasn't an excuse that he could come up with that could justify just laying there and waiting for death, his masters would no doubt step from the shadows and execute him themselves if they witnessed such a pitiful display. So, with his bone creaking and cracking, his joints and ligaments screaming and crying, his muscles ripping and tearing; he forced himself to stand, grabbing the hair that was in a heap beside him before stealthing to the shadows.
The three women panting heavily as their defenses were practically nothing; Witch had long dropped to her knees as she had exceeded her physical capacity, Female Martial Artist was hobbling on her sole good leg as another spurt of blood left the slowly clotting wound on her calf and Female Knight had pilfered a worn axe from one of the goblins from earlier to strike back. But disaster stuck when a few goblins grabbed onto her shield, the blonde's eyes widening as she tried to shake them off, cursing loudly when she decided to abandon the symbol of her class. Taking advantage of her pulling back, the creatures jumped at the trio as screams resounded from their throats, the devils taking sadistic glee in their cries as they began to try and tear at their clothing.
Shrieks and screams leaving the mouths of the three, they tried to removed the creatures latched onto them only for more to replace them. Gritting their teeth as tears began to well up in their eyes, they struggled with all of their might as the creatures vigor seemed to spike with their leader shouting at them to bring them to it stripped bare, their lust and desire shining through as the women snapped their eyes shut and prayed for anyone to save them. Their prayer was answered when a sudden choked sound left the mouth of the champion, all eyes snapping to the form of Goblin Slayer latched onto the back of the creature as the makeshift garrote made of hair dug into its neck. The champion rolling on the ground as it tried to shake off Goblin Slayer, its damaged legs completely useless as it tried slamming the man into the ground.
"U... Use the... Scroll... L... Leave quickly...!" The man wheezed as the eyes of the women widened as he managed to pull the scroll from his pouch, tossing it towards them as the champion rolled at them in the midst of its struggle to remove the man.
A grunt of pain leaving the mouth of the man as the champion reared back and slammed into the ground, he only tightened the garrote in response, blood beginning to spray from both the neck of the champion and the hands using used to tighten the noose. With its trashing, more and more of its underlings were being crushed by its erratic movement, those who were trying to help their leader being killed while others either stood frozen or ran for their lives. Watching with tear filled and wide eyes, the three women bit back their fear and trepidation as they rose once more and lashed out at their attackers. Female Knight having grabbed a heavy mace before bludgeoning those around her without a hint of remorse, Female Martial Artist was currently driving the skull of her most recent attacker into the ground with blood and gore flying into the air. It was at the sight of Goblin Slayer telling them to leave him that Witch finally had enough as she let her mana flow freely and uncontrolled, each breath she took seemingly shaking the very air around her as she narrowed her eyes on the goblins before her.
"What is this thing?! Get off of me! Die! Die, die die! Why won't it let go!? What is this thing!? Hurry and die!"
"I don't feel any pain... What is this...?" Goblin Slayer thought to himself as he was slammed into the ground once more, what was once searing and crippling pain being nothing more then a dull throb.
"Pain is the proof that you're alive, you fool."
"Even if it hurts, the fact that you can feel pain means that you are still living."
"Forward unto death! Be the final nail in your coffin!"
"Only death can finish the fight, everything else only interrupts the fighting."
"Yes. Right now, a lack of pain is just what I need." Though the man as the words of his masters resounded through his head, Goblin Slayer yanking back the garrote as the champion choked once more with foam beginning to form at the edges of its mouth.
"Hey, take a good look, goblin." Goblin Slayer stated in a tone colder then death, the champion managing to turn its bloodshot and wide eyes towards the man as the hand of the iron demon on its back raced towards its face.
A pained roar leaving the maw of the champion, everyone in the room watched as Goblin Slayer ruthlessly drove his hand into the eye socket of the champion. Blood gushing from the horrid wound, the champion raged as it thrashed about even more wildly as it tried even harder to tear the man from its back. Soon enough, their counterattack seemed to be turning the tide of the encounter, though that fervor faltered when Goblin Slayer was thrown from the back of the champion when it managed to grab the man's arm. Impacting with the ground with a heavy thud, he remained motionless for a brief moment before rising like a man possessed, Goblin Slayer standing slightly hunched as he turned to face the goblins in the room with nothing but death emanating from his form.
"Now, which of you is next? Is it you?" Asked the man as a shiver danced down the spine of everyone in the room, Goblin Slayer hurling the pilfered eye of the champion towards a random goblin as it fell down from the terrifying action.
"Or you?" Asked the man as Witch clenched her fists in determination, seeing the mixed expressions of the creatures as Goblin Slayer's intimidation seemed to be affecting more then three quarters of them.
"Get behind me." Witch whispered to her companions in a tone of barely controlled rage, her eyes gaining a ethereal yellow glow as the two women beside her gulped a bit as the hurriedly nodded and moved to flank her.
"Metuo, timor, formidilosus; let creeping shadows and stalking terrors consume your psyche and ruin your minds... Fear!" Spat out the woman as her eyes shone bright yellow, each word shaking the air as the goblins in her line of sight stiffened instantly as they appeared as if they had seen the most horrifying and dreadful creature of their nightmares come to life.
Right before their eyes with a single, burning eye of crimson shining through his helmet, the armored demon seemed to grow in size before it rivaled the height of their leader, a blood red miasma leaving the helmet of the demon as death, decay and blood was all that the goblin smelt from the ironclad monster. Then, it took a single step forward before letting loose a hellish and deafening bellow that caused a few of the creatures to soil themselves as they screamed and bolted from the room. The champion wasn't faring any better itself as a cold sweat covered its body, the beast hurriedly dragging itself out of the room as it roared for its underlings to aid it to safety. Before long, the room was completely empty as the thunderous sound of goblins retreating faded to silence.
Having bore witness to the unbelievable scene before them, Female Martial Artist and Female Knight gulped as they stiffly turned to look at their resident spellcaster, never fearing her more in their lives then they did currently. They only realized that they were holding their breaths when Witch turned to face them, her usual aloof expression calming their hearts somewhat though her pained eyes spoke volumes of how she felt inside. Quickly, the three ladies rushed and helped Goblin Slayer as he fell to his knees, his head dropping forward as the adrenaline and rage fueling his body began to leave him. Helping him down another healing potion, the man coughed up another lungful of blood as panic soon set in once more. Glancing around, fear and trepidation were present on their faces, the three debating the best course of action given their current situation they found their answer when Female Martial Artist stiffened a bit before looking at the coffin the man impacted against.
"It's empty! There's stairs inside of this one!" Reported the brunette as she hurriedly moved the rubble that was the stone coffin, Female Knight aiding her as they shoved the remnants of the debris of the coffin away.
Right before them, they saw that it wasn't a coffin at all, but a hidden stairway. Exchanging glances, they nodded as they helped the man to a standing position, cursing slightly when they heard his breath hitch as more blood flowed from his mouth. Grimacing, they were out of options as they slipped his scroll back into his pouch and grabbed the canary tweeting somewhat somberly, the three hoping and praying that the man would be able to last until they found him a healer. Descending down the stairs, Female Martial Artist took point as she sharpened her senses of hearing and smell, pulling out the map they had been given as the four ventured into the darkness once more.
And that's a wrap. Thanks for reading, stay awesome.
