Goblin Slayer: Maiden's Quest
Chapter 2
Idiotic. Self-centered. Ego-centric. Selfish. Banal.
He had many titles that would fit the vast majority of the Gods He had appointed and replaced over the eons. The War against the Titans, the ever eternal battle against the abominations from Beyond, and so many other conflicts had come and gone and yet the vast majority were still very much like children. The struggle of balance and the dictations to preserve it had truly gone over the heads of all but His most trusted and staunch friends and collaborators.
But then there were the others. By His own ruling, He couldn't intervene. The 'Chaos' Gods as they were called, those insufferable idiots that thought they could plunge creation itself into a spiral of death, destruction, and limitless power and treat it as their plaything. Futile. He knew better. If they were to actually succeed, they would instantly turn on one another for supreme control until only one remained.
And even then, he wouldn't interfere. Pompous buffoons, He had punished them once in the past except for the three Gods that knew that balance had to be maintained, those that saw the bigger picture, and who did not squabble in their own filth and delusions of grandeur.
"Perhaps another lesson is needed?" He muttered as He watched how His idiotic fellow Gods played with the lives of mortals and their creations like a child would play with a toy. Dices rolled and lives were lost. Stories were forged and heroes died, tyrants rose and fell to rebellions, all because the Gods were focused on playing their damnable ploys. Even the few that held nothing but disdain for the game had to play, for if they didn't then Chaos would advance, leaving them weakened.
Oh, how He hated them all. With a mere thought and just the slightest of intent, He could render the very essence of any God. Change the fate of all. Push the restart button on everything and try again. It wouldn't be hard, He had done so before. But this time things had gone according to His desires and what He needed in order to fight the real battles. So, He hoped and He waited. He would not interfere.
But even as He locked upon the events unfolding, He couldn't help but crack a smile. The one that was meant to be His Champion, the Grand Hero to drive away the Aberrations, to fight against the Chaos and destroy their delusions, he advanced. Unflinching, uncaring, uncontested.
It was almost enough to drive Him into a fit of anger and rage as He remembered how goblins, vile spawns of Chaos dealing with Aberrations, foiled His plans and the future of His Champion.
Oh, how He hated them. Goblins were not the only creatures that did not belong to the world and His creation. Orcs, nasty invaders from other fallen worlds driven by the imbecile God of Orcs. Undead, filthy abominations anathema to all life, and yet, some of them could find redemption and even fight for what was right and noble. A fact that made even the Undead God coil in repugnance.
Amusing.
Gazers, Shadow Fiends, Vampires, Beholders… too many to count, too many alive. His Champion would've destroyed them all, starting with the filthy Goblins. Overlooked, disdained, mistreated, abominable, and cruel. Few understood their danger, few cared. But His Champion understood even as his true destiny had been robbed and denied. All because He didn't interfere to save him.
He wouldn't interfere.
He could hear the Chaos Gods laughing at Him, HIM! They knew they had foiled His plans, broken yet another cog of the balance that was needed and that they seemed so eager to disturbed; the Gods of Harmony were no better, although their actions simply ignored balance rather than actively seek to destroy it. But they all cried once the Hero of the Supreme God arose, all due to the actions of his fallen Champion. And it was His turn to laugh in private.
And yet, He laughed some more when His unbreakable blessing was bestowed upon him. Oh, He laughed! The confusion on all the Gods was evident. No matter how much they tried, their pathetic little dices couldn't, wouldn't, and would NEVER dictate his destiny. Only His Champion had the right to decide his destiny outside the will of the Gods… even His.
His Champion would never achieve the Destiny that had been foretold after his Fall at the hands of damnable Goblins. The favored plaything of the Chaos Gods. And now… one of them had risen to a position of power that could very well spell doom for Balance if left undisputed.
"It can't be allowed to happen," He said, but he knew that he couldn't interfere. But this time, He could bring aid through other means, other ways. He would not tolerate seeing the one that would have become the greatest Champion of Balance die at the hands of the threat he had encroached upon.
As He peered over to the action of that man and the impossible task he faced, He smiled. "Your destiny was robbed, but you can still achieve great things. Show me your resolve."
Suddenly, He felt it. The one He was waiting for was praying, channeling her voice to the Gods. He could ask the Supreme God to deliver a message for Him… but that wouldn't be enough.
A lesson had to be taught yet he couldn't interfere and teach it directly. It would be up to his Champion and his companions to deliver it and for the Gods watching and playing in their struggle to see and learn it.
Reaching out, He bypassed the authority of the Supreme God. A gesture that His friend didn't mind, for he was one of the three who understood his plans and motives.
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"Supreme God, I pray unto thee not for my selfish safety, not for salvation, and not for guidance. I pray unto thee, Supreme God, to hear my prayer and grant my beloved, the man I love and cherish, the strength, wisdom, and stamina he'll need to succeed in his mission and come back alive. I pray unto thee to safeguard his companions, to see them return alive and as heroes. I pray unto thee to protect my sister, so foolishly volunteering her safety and life in the most honorable of tasks. Please, Supreme God, as your Sword Maiden, answer my prayer and extend your hand to them, bless them with a fraction of your benevolence and let them return safe and alive."
Sword Maiden prayed harder than she had ever prayed in her life before the altar of the Gods. As always, she was kneeling before the statue to her God, the Supreme God, the most powerful God, and the leader of the Pantheon of Light. She was shaking, her hands were trembling, and her veil was discarded. She would not disrespect her God by hiding behind it, not today.
"He will not answer you."
A thundering voice that was simultaneously calamitous and soothing echoed around her. Sword Maiden opened her eyes to see that she was no longer in the altar, but rather she was now in a nebulous space. She quickly found out that she could see perfectly again and the first thing she saw was a gigantic figure, similar to that of a sphere or some sort of dragon, she didn't know what it was, but she could feel it staring right at her. Through her. All around her.
It was staring into her soul with a cold, calculating gaze.
"You… who are you? You're not the Supreme God," She whispered, terrified and awestruck in equal measure.
"Child, can you not sense my power?" It asked in an amused tone.
Of course she could feel it. Even a person without perception or intelligence would be able to feel the power of the being in front of her. It was a kind of power that easily surpassed that of her patron. "How can this be?" She muttered, shocked.
"Sword Maiden, I have come to tell you that Goblin Slayer will die in this mission," the voice said, uncaring about her feelings.
Her fear, even if just for a moment, turned to anger as she rose to her feet. "You lie! Goblin Slayer, my beloved, he won't die!"
"What do you know of the cosmos, eternity, the will of Gods, destiny, and the endless branches that the future holds?" It asked not unkindly.
"I don't know who you are or how you can be more powerful than the Supreme God, but Goblin Slayer won't lose and he will return. And not just him, his companions, and my sister shall return, too!" She declared without hesitation nor doubt in her heart.
"Well, that will depend on you, child. I have heard your pure prayers and know that I, the Absolute God, the Ultimate God, the God of Gods, and the God of All, have come in person to answer them. Goblin Slayer will die and so will his companions, your sister, the kingdom, everything will come to ruin and Chaos will reign and spread," He warned. "I cannot interject directly nor interfere by my own laws, but you can. I grant not my blessing nor I grant you a legendary weapon, Sword Maiden. I grant you something far more powerful than that. I grant you the freedom of the fear gripping your heart."
Sword Maiden, stunned as she was, managed to mumble a response. "Freedom?"
Suddenly, without further words and instantly, she was back at the altar of Gods, still kneeling and in her praying position. Confusion, terror, and shock threatened to break her mind for an instant, but it passed and she managed to regain control of herself. The presence she felt was unlike anything she had contacted in her whole life. The Demon Lord's power was but a joke compared to it and even when she was face to face with the Supreme God for a split second, his power was like a glass of water when put next to the boundless ocean that was that strange God's power.
Then, she remembered the words of that so-called God of Gods, although she didn't for a second doubt it was true. "Freedom for the fear gripping my heart, it said… what could that possibly be?" Without thinking twice about it, she cast an Analisis Spell on herself and found absolutely nothing. No blessings, no curses (thankfully), and she felt completely normal, if a bit shook due to the encounter, but nothing else.
She was about to stand up when her movement moved something metallic next to her. Looking down, she was barely able to make out some sort of rounded equipment that absolutely wasn't there when she arrived. A cold shiver ran through her body and she shakily reached out to it. It was cold, made of metal, and felt rather common but of good quality. The more the touched it, the clearer the image became.
"A helmet?" She muttered in disbelief while inspecting the object in more detail. A few seconds later, she gasped. She brought it closer to her face so she could see as much as she was able to and found a helmet that was similar to that of her beloved Goblin Slayer.
She stood up and hurried back to her room as quickly as she could manage without tripping. She ignored the gasps of confusion and the murmurs of other acolytes, castle staff, knights, and regular visitors until she reached her room several minutes later. She tossed her door aside, leaving it wide open and rushed to the mirror that adorned the dressing table there.
Without thinking twice about it, she put the helmet on, finding it to be a perfect and comfortable fit for her. A blinding flash of light made her close her eyes for a few moments, but when she slowly began to open them again, she could see.
"I… I can see!" Sword Maiden cried out, tears falling from her eyes freely.
Sure, she couldn't see her face, but she could see everything else. Especially the reflection on the mirror. Looking at the woman in the mirror was undoubtedly her, not many women could ever achieve her figure, if she was being modest about it. Her entire head was covered by a helmet that could easily be mistaken by that of her precious Goblin Slayer, but there were a few key differences that she could notice.
First, it had no horns or stumps, the plume on the top, scarlet red on her beloved's helmet was instead two-toned of white and blue, while also ever so slightly longer but thinner, simulating a ponytail, and the general features of the helmet were somewhat more refined, just enough to make it easier to guess that a woman was the one wearing it. But everything else was still there. The lids, the mouthpiece, and the seemingly impossible darkness that didn't allow anyone to peer inside it.
"Sword Maiden?"
Sword Maiden turned to see three of her acolytes standing at the edge of her door. For the first time in her life ever since her eyesight was stolen from her, she could see all the brightness of the sun creeping into her room, the colors of the walls and stone and their clothes, she could admire their figures, be moved by their expressions, and enjoy their feelings reflected on their faces.
"I can see!" She announced loudly and happily. She removed her helmet and found, to her surprise, that her vision returned to the dull, white, shapeless thing it was. She put her helmet back on and with it, her eyesight returned. "Even if it just whilst wearing it, I can see… I will be able to see his face," she said, lovestruck, while her acolytes, confused and surprised in equal measure, cried happy tears for their superior.
Sword Maiden's happiness didn't last, however, as she remembered the warning and the words of the God of Gods. "Where is the King?" She asked, grabbing her staff and regaining her imposing aura. She smiled when her voice echoed just like her beloved's. "I must speak with him. The danger of the Goblin King is even greater than we feared."
She didn't wait for her acolytes to reply as she began to walk. If she was to aid her man, then she would need to measure up her forces in full for whatever was to come.
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Death. They were watching death, carnage, destruction… chaos. The result of the spoils of war and conquest. Dozens of drow, hundreds of orcs, thousands of goblins, but that was just the start of the horror. Undead were also amongst them, all the way from the lowliest Skeleton, going through Zombies, Ghouls led by Ghasts, animal zombies, Vampires, Ghosts, Specters, Flesh Golems, and even a full-fledged Death Knight.
A few demons were crawling around the place, too, including a few Succubi delighting themselves with what was most assuredly prisoners and other survivors. There were also Minotaurs lurking about, Trolls, Corrupted Harpies, Gargoyles, tamed beasts, an Ogre was spotted, too, and all of them came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Also present were hundreds of humans… Necromancers, destitute Alchemists, Outlaws, Rogues, Anti-Paladings, Corrupted Humans, and too many to count. Dwarves sharing the same fate or aspirations as the present humans, Gnomes, Pixies, Rheas.
The list went on and on until all five onlookers retreated from the ledge they were using to see exactly what they were dealing with, their hearts too shaken to continue watching such a disheartening scenario. All of them remained silent even as they reached their companion and prisoner.
"We are fucked," Dwarf Berserk muttered only after processing everything he saw. "T-That bastard wasn't kidding… there must be at least two thousand enemies on the part of the city we were able to see! Who knows how many more there must be in total," he said, slumping to the ground.
"Are you suggesting we run away like cowards even after witnessing the enemy horde?" Human Priestess asked in a stern yet firm voice, though that didn't stop the shaking of her legs one bit.
"We have our mission and what we must do. M-Maybe we have enough information to return to the King? I'm sure that even with what we saw just now will it be enough for him to rally every single Bannermen and conscript fighting and able men and women to fight against that monstrosity?" Halfling Mage proposed with a shaky voice.
Lady Knight pondered her response for a moment. "We would be sloppy with the information we have now… but I have to agree that the possibility of leaving now is compelling. Maybe we could spy for more useful information. We still have not confirmed what the Goblin King is or if there is a Goblin King or if it is some different creature calling itself with that title."
"If you want to leave, then do it. I will see what they're doing and kill as many goblins as I can," said Goblin Slayer, cutting off everyone before they could begin to argue between themselves.
"Are you bloody insane, lad!?" The dwarf croaked out. "You may have the balls to take on an army, but you're not just facing goblins down there! There are undead, demons, and too many other beasties for me to care or count. You'll be dead before you get to do anything!"
"I must agree with my companion, captain. We are way out of our league on this one," the halfling added. "Not to mention that their outpost was wiped out. How long do you think it'll take before they notice it's gone? I say we run for it and let the King decide how to deal with this horde. Aaaaargggh, and I thought I would never see a horde worthy of a Demon Lord again in my lifetime!"
"I believe it may be far worse than that, my friend, given the details of what you saw on the remains of Mountain Valley. How could a mere goblin achieve to lead such a force?" Half-Drow Paladin asked while keeping a tight grip on her prisoner who was laughing through his gag madly.
"I do not know. I do not care. It will die like the rest… but I am not a fool. I cannot hope to fight and survive. Our mission is clear and so is mine. We must do all we can to gather information and delay the movements of the Goblin King. If we don't, many innocents will suffer at the hands of filthy goblins," Goblin Slayer stated.
"Goblin Slayer… I think… I think I have an idea," Human Priestess said. "What if we disguise ourselves and enter their encampment?"
Dwarf Berserk scoffed. "Have you forgotten that you're a Priestess of the Supreme God? You'll get butchered the second a demon or undead spots you."
"And I can't follow that plan either because I'm a halfling, though I may be able to pass as a rhea?" Halfling Mage offered.
Goblin Slayer remained silent for a moment that seemed to stretch onto forever as his companions waited for his response. "It can work. My party and I infiltrated the fortress of a Goblin Paladin a few months ago. They can be fooled. However, there are more than Goblins down there."
"I'm willing to bet there are Half-Drow there, too," Half-Drow Paladin said, squinting her eyes. "I could easily pass for one of their own."
"And I could make myself pass up as a Rogue or a Fell Knight," Lady Knight offered.
"I see," Goblin Slayer nodded. "In that case, we'll go and see what else can we do and find."
"What about us and this fucking bastard, captain?" The dwarf asked, pointing at their bound, gagged, but obviously smug captive.
"What else? Interrogate that piece of shit and get everything you know out of him," the paladin replied, her eyes the same as piercing daggers set on the neck of their prisoner.
"In that case," Lady Knight took off her cape, all of her regalia identifying her as a member of both the church of the Supreme God and as a knight of the Kingdom, handing it over to the priestess.
"Your armor is too shiny. Dull it. Does anyone know the symbols of the Chaos Gods?" Goblin Slayer both ordered and asked.
"I can replicate them easily," the mage replied with disgust. "'To defeat your enemy you must know your enemy', right? I took a long and expensive course on symbol marking and runeology."
Goblin Slayer nodded. "Do her first. Then do us. We must blend in."
The next hour was spent hiding in a thicket of bushes while the mage worked on darkening the armors of the three that were going to descend into the jaws of what could be as close to hell without being dead. When he was done, all three of them sported a mixture of dark and blood-red color schemes with rags and painted skulls all over their armor. Goblin Slayer also sported the symbols of two Chaos Gods, Lady Knight had one of another, and Half-Drow Paladin, having refused to wear the mark of the Spider Goddess, wore the symbol of the Betrayer God.
"Now, they are just for appearances, those marks have no power, thank the Gods, and your disguises will not last forever. They'll last two days at most, but I urge you to come back within hours, please. I… I don't want to lose any of you. Especially you, boss," he said whilst staring at the paladin.
"I would give you a blessing, but that would only serve to mark you for death," Human Priestess said, apologizing, while Dwarf Berserk kept their prisoner still.
She smiled back at her companions and nodded. "Shall we go?"
"Indeed," Goblin Slayer replied.
Lady Knight said nothing but nodded nonetheless.
Moving carefully, the trio found a slope leading down to town. They managed to go down it without much issue and quickly resumed their way into the devastated city. They were about to reach the borders when a small patrol made out of a few skeletons, two wargs, three drow, a hobgoblin, and what appeared to be six humans.
"Valashan, bughen," one of the drow said, motioning to the paladin.
"Sivilistre korsharanda," Half-Drow Paladin replied, signaling to her companions. "They don't speak either our language or dark speech. Useless pet slaves, but at least they serve their role to protect me, viishi."
"Haha! Meat-slaves are always like that," the drow replied. "So, half-blood, why are you here at this hour?"
Goblin Slayer and Lady Knight remained still, stoic, and had moved a bit behind the paladin to play their roles as slaves… and to offer support if everything went to shit. Fortunately for them, Half-Drow Paladin was a quick and smooth talker.
"Have you forgotten your place, viishi? I may be half-blood, but I'm still a woman, and thus superior to you. What I do with my slaves is not of your concern. Now, continue on your patrols, I lost too much time today as it is," she replied, scowling.
The three drow, now looking a bit nervous, took a step back. Behind them, the humans snickered and the hobgoblin kept on staring at the trio with a cold, dumb look in his eyes.
"Of course… forgive us, sister. Please, carry on. I just urge you that you don't think of yourself as high when compared to our blessed Matriarch. It seems that the Goblin King is going to give a speech to us all, I encourage you to not be late and make your way to the plaza."
"Finally!" One of the humans shouted. "I can't wait to continue our glorious Crusade against the false King and the false Gods!"
Half-Drow Paladin snickered. "That is why I can't waste any more time today, much less spend it talking with future meat-slaves," she said while staring daggers at the humans. "Now, scatter, vermin!"
Obeying her command, the patrol continued their way, all while the hobgoblin stared at them for long moments, but even he eventually turned away from them.
Free to enter the city plagued with their enemy, the trio continued, avoiding bumping into another patrol and ignoring every dark, foul creature they encountered. But the one thing they couldn't escape was the smell of ruin, ashes, death, and other worse things just hanging in the air like a putrid miasma that threatened to choke them with every breath they took.
Suddenly, Goblin Slayer tapped on their shoulders and pointed at the remains of a house that had seen better days. Unlike most houses, though, it was still standing and offered a good spot for seclusion, if only for a moment. The three of them entered the house and after a quick inspection, they found that it was entirely abandoned. Finding a studio with a still-intact desk, they stood around it.
"Had I not known your reputation better, I would've been convinced you were genuine back there," Lady Knight said, commending her half-drow companion.
"To fight your enemy you must understand your enemy," the half-drow replied, smiling at the woman.
"Indeed so," Goblin Slayer agreed before pulling a scroll out of his belt bags. "We will be lost if we don't know where we are going. I'll use my Mapping Scroll," he said, although he didn't break the seal right away. He spared a moment to glance at each of his companions, waiting to see if they would protest. However, they nodded, although he noticed that Lady Knight's eyes were wide and impressed by his revelation.
Breaking the seal and placing a hand over it, the scroll began to glow and, after a few moments, revealed a map with their current location at the center of it and at least a hundred and fifty meters around them in precise detail. While it didn't show anything regarding troops or movements, it was incredibly detailed and easy to understand and even had names for important landmarks.
One of them was the 'Town Square'.
"We should head there next. I believe I saw a stage all the way from the ledge. It is also bound to be crowded, so we'll blend in without an issue," Lady Knight proposed.
"I agree with Lady Knight, captain. Do you have another plan in mind?" The paladin asked.
Goblin Slayer shook his head. "I have not. I can prepare for goblins. Anticipate them. Know them. We are not facing just goblins. This situation is… strange to me," he confessed before rolling up the map and handing it over to the half-drow, confusing her. "I've memorized the best routes for attack, escape, and movement. Keep it safe and use it as you will."
Half-Drow Paladin nodded, impressed. "Where did you manage to get such a scroll? Mapping Scrolls aren't exactly easy to obtain if you don't mind me asking."
"It was given to me by a… special person," he answered before taking a step back. "We have work to do to stop the Goblin King."
"Wait a moment, Goblin Slayer," Lady Knight said. The young man stopped and silently turned to face her. "You're not going to start assaulting every goblin that you see, right?"
"I would be a fool," he replied starkly. "Even if I kill ten goblins, we would die and be done for. I will kill the goblins and their King, but I am no fool. I know goblins. We must be goblins to survive and fulfill our mission. We've wasted enough time," he said before turning around.
The two women shared a look before following their leader. Before exiting the building, the paladin took point again and resumed their ventures through the ruined city.
As they approached the center plaza, they came face to face with the first horror show they were bound to encounter. Small mounds of decapitated heads were piled around wooden posts. Up above them, mutilated corpses of what were once adventurers and guards of the city, judging by what little remained of their armor and clothes, hung from the posts, crucified. Spears, axes, knives, and arrows were impaled over their bodies; their flesh was ruined and marked with sigils and carvings of the dark Gods.
Lady Knight gasped as the sudden encounter shook her. A vampire followed by his retinue of thralls noticed her reaction but before he could say anything, the paladin smacked her across the face hard enough to leave a red mark on her cheek.
"Who gave you permission to speak, meat slave?" Half-Drow Paladin hissed in anger.
Lady Knight, recovering from her shock, bowed her head and remained silent. The vampire watching them laughed before carrying on his way.
Sighing in relief after his departure, the trio entered the plaza in proper and found that it was filled to the brim with goblins, trolls, a couple of ogres, vampires, succubus, undead, humans, rheas, fallen dwarves, fallen lizardmen, a few insectoids, and many, many more races and species. All of them were seemingly preparing for the arrival of their unifying leader.
"Never speak ill of the Goblin King. Don't make any comments. Mimic the actions of the goblins," Goblin Slayer said in a lower tone so that only his companions could hear.
The two women gulped while they accommodate themselves in a good position at the back. Far away enough to never be noticed but close enough to see those on stage clearly and without issue.
Their wait wasn't long as an exceptionally winged and horned woman wearing scantly clothes walked up the stage, smiling with a stunningly beautiful face and equally alluring curvaceous figure. Her breasts were ample and free-hanging, her legs were long and covered by thigh-high leathery boots that acted more like a second skin. A whip and a sword rested at each side of her hips and her long nails, scarlet red just as her long, flowing her, gleamed with malice. As she approached the center of the stage, the crowd went silent allowing the 'plik-plok' noises her large heels made with each step to echo around the plaza.
Goblin Slayer was the first to notice a few other little details, like the large, thin tail swaying behind her ending in a triangular tip, how instead of feet and toes she had hooves, and that her ears were even larger than his elven party member. But there was something else about her that he really, really didn't like. "What is that creature? It reminds me of a goblin," He asked softly.
"It's a Succubus… no… not a mere succubus… I think she's a High Succubus," Half-Drow Paladin replied.
"Succubus? Hmmm, I see. What do they do? Are they dangerous?" Goblin Slayer asked.
The paladin wanted to ask if her leader was serious, but then she remember his field of expertise and his claims that he held little to no context about other creatures. Sighing, she answered. "Incredibly so. They can Charm, Seduce, Shapeshift, and create illusions to confuse people. The worst part is their lust and need to drain the lifeforce of others by kissing or having sex with them… they aren't great fighters… but if the Goblin Lord actually can command a High Succubus and who knows how many others, then infiltrating towns and lowering their defenses before an attack makes frightening sense…," she explained, herself understanding the consequences of the presence of such fiends.
"Indeed so?" Goblin Slayer muttered before focusing his attention on the stage. Next to him, Lady Knight maintained her stoic, emotionless expression but a glance down revealed her tightly clenched fists.
"Minions of the Chaos Gods, rejoice!" The High Succubus announced, her sweet, captivating voice amplified by some spell. She was speaking in the common tongue, just so that everyone present (with a few exceptions) could understand her. "Long have we bickered and waited for a new Demon Lord to raise, but now we have not a Demon Lord guiding us, but a truly blessed Champion of the Chaos Gods!" Stepping aside, a small portal appeared at the center of the stage.
Goblin Slayer, Half-Drow Paladin, and Lady Knight could only stare in cold, dreadful awe as a goblin unlike any they had ever seen stepped through the portal.
For once, it was big, though not as big as a hobgoblin, much less so a champion. But he was well past six feet tall. He was also lean but evidently strong and, unlike his other brethren or other Goblin Lords, his legs were akin to that of most humanoid species. And yet what truly caught their attention was his armor.
What in the name of the Gods is that thing wearing? Lady Knight thought as a shiver ran up and down her spine repeatedly.
The Goblin King was wearing a mix between light, heavy, and studded armor that looked cobbled together, but she knew better. The details were there, the craftsmanship was impeccable, and while it could never compare to the armor the late Demon Lord wore, it was leagues above even that due to a certain addition to it. The entirety of it was covered from head to toe in magical carvings, runes, and enchantments that shone with power.
She could identify the markings of all the Chaos Gods and even a good portion of the neutral Gods' symbols were also proudly displayed on his armor, showing their favor, either genuine or for mere amusement.
But the helmet was by far what threw her off the loop. It was nearly identical to the helmet Goblin Slayer wore, except that the ugly, disgusting face of the Goblin Lord could be seen in the absence of a grill protector. Though it made sense given the size of his nose.
The crowds cheered at his appearance and cried even harder when five more individuals walked through the portal to stand at his side.
A monumental Orc Warlord clad in heavy armor. A deranged-looking Human Scientist. A noble and handsome Trueborn Vampire. A powerful Arch-Lich. And finally, a Drow High Matron. All of them were wearing top-tier gear of their respective races or of their own making, each of them a powerhouse that could tumble small nations or create untold amounts of suffering on their very own were together in a single spot.
All of them backing the Goblin King… oh… oh, Supreme God, they must be its Generals or Commanders! Lady Knight thought as fear threatened to take a grip over her heart.
Even then, with nasty surprise after nasty surprise already discovered, the Goblin King still managed to instill further despair and hopelessness into their hearts.
"MY ARMY!" The Goblin King shouted in perfect, fluent common speech. "This town has fallen under my command! Drow, you had fresh slaves to take! Orcs, the plunder was yours! Undead, your legions increase with each life taken! Vampires, may your thirst be satiated! Succubus, your desires have been fulfilled! And you mortal followers of the true Gods, you have feasted and whored and taken your reward! Mountain Valley has been the start of the great Dark Crusade of the Chaos Gods!"
Cheers, cruel laughter, cries of pain, demands for blood… all that and more filled the air, the trio forced to join in the cheering.
"Everyone has claimed a prize, be it gold, flesh, souls, or simple bloodletting. I am no Demon Lord, for he was flawed and easily defeated by that so-called Hero! I am more than a mere Demon Lord. I AM THE CHAMPION OF THE GODS!"
The goblins in the audience easily drawn the cheers of all others present, something that disgusted Goblin Slayer beyond all measure. The Goblin King raised a hand and silence followed soon after.
"The captured breeder sows are now as we speak birthing new goblins for my army. Those taken by the orcs shall breed new powerful warriors as we advance. The undead swell their ranks with the bones and corpses of the fallen that didn't fill our bellies! Rest, train, and enjoy your spoils, for we will move soon and at my orders. We shall spill out of Mountain Valley like an unstoppable avalanche and sweep through the Kingdom. It will fall under my genius command and once we've reaped, raped, pillaged, and destroy the foundations of the False Gods, made their subjects die in agony, and achieved our victory, then we shall move onto the next Kingdom! VICTORY SHALL BE OURS!"
As the crowd began to cheer once more, the High Succubus snapped her fingers. A moment after, chained women walked onto the stage, all of them smiling dumbly while their eyes were glazed and unresponsive. Their ages varied, but there were, fortunately, no children among them. The curtains rose to reveal several dozens of women, hundreds of them, lined behind the stage.
"Everyone," the High Succubus said in a sweet, passionate tone. "Please, enjoy these sluts as you wish. They will lay with anyone, do anything, and obey every command. You may feast on their flesh or do as you please, they have run past their usefulness to our purposes."
Then, the Goblin King turned around and the Arch-Lich created another portal. He stopped to exchange a few words with the High Succubus which ended with him pointing a finger to his right. The High Succubus bowed her head and then, the Goblin King followed by his generals left the stage.
The moment the portal closed, the crowd jumped on the captured woman. Half-Drow Paladin and Lady Knight had to look away to avoid witnessing the ultimate defilement and carnage of so many innocent women. Despite the rage burning inside them, despite the need to do anything to help the women now screaming in pain, pleasure, and agony… they couldn't. They knew it. Sad and regrettable as it was, their lives couldn't compare to the untold millions that they needed to protect. There was nothing they could do to save them when there were thousands of enemies surrounding them.
"Look," Goblin Slayer said, pointing at the High Succubus walking off the stage at an even pace, smiling from ear to ear at the depravity and carnage happening all around her.
Without saying a word, the trio began to follow the High Succubus before they could lose her in the midst of all the monsters and the bloodletting and the depravity the plaza had transformed into. Only the undead left, as they had no such cravings except after the women died.
Once they were sufficiently away from the plaza and the High Succubus still on sight though having to keep a reasonable distance as to not make it seem like they were following her, Goblin Slayer talked. "We're killing that… thing."
Neither woman complained though the paladin had to ask. "How?"
"I have an idea," he replied dryly, coldly.
After following her for a few minutes, they watched her enter a still intact large house. There were a few lesser succubus, a few incubi, hellhounds, imps, and other lesser fiends and demons keeping guard, though there were also considerable numbers of goblins, a drow patrol, and human, elf, and rhea thralls charmed by the succubi and incubi faithfully serving their masters.
"Hmmm," Goblin Slayer grumbled as he guided his companions to an empty house nearby.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
-Kingdom Capital, Throne Room-
"You must certainly be joking, Sword Maiden," the King said with a bemused expression. The throne room was largely empty with the only ones present being a few of the King's advisers, the Knight Captain, a few staff members, and the closest nobles working with the King staring at the figure standing in front of him. The incredulous tone of the King alone was proof of how unbelievable the entire situation was.
"Have you known me as a joker without merit, your Highness? No, what I tell you is the truth and nothing but the truth," Sword Maiden replied without an ounce of hesitation or doubt in her voice.
The King sighed. "Do you expect me to believe that the Supreme God, despite him being your patron deity, sent you a vision in which the Goblin King sweeps through our Kingdom, decimates it, and can genuinely take over the world in the name of the Chaos Gods?" He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but that is too much to believe, even if it is coming from you, my friend."
"I can see your face, King," Sword Maiden replied, handing over her staff to one of her attendants. Stepping closer to her friend without the aid of her staff and without fear made everyone in the room murmur and gasp.
"Sword Maiden… you… you can see!?" The King jumped to his feet. All protocol and royal decorum were thrown out the window at the prospect of having his friend, whom he had met already nearly fully blinded, could see his face for the first time. "By the Gods, how?"
Sword Maiden bit her tongue and turned her gaze down for a moment, thankfully masked by her helmet. She felt no joy in lying to his friend, the King, but there was no way anyone would believe her that a deity infinitely stronger than the Supreme God had contacted, gave her a gift, and armed her with a dire warning. She feared for the life of her sister and that of her beloved, but there was no way she would allow hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions to suffer the depravity that only goblins could inflict.
Offering a silent prayer to her God for using his name as a cover-up, she took a step closer and touched her helmet. "I received this enchanted helmet from the Supreme God as a weapon. Now I can see again as long as I wear it, however, the vision He showed me is what concerns me the most. If the vision is accurate, then even the threat of the Demon Lord would pale in comparison."
"Hhhmmmm," the King rubbed his chin while his advisors murmured words of wisdom, caution, and action to his ears. "Say this is true… we don't have the means to respond adequately to such a threat."
"And doing nothing will doom us all," Sword Maiden rebuked. Of course, she knew the King could do very little without actual proof. Mobilizing troops was costly and it took time, not to mention thinking about the supply convoys, the routes, the equipment, and so many other things that needed to be taken into consideration.
"Why don't we send the Hero and her party? That brat could surely learn some damn manners when addressing her betters," a noble proposed offhandedly.
"Sure, let's throw the Kingdom's greatest weapon at every enemy that comes across! And have you forgotten that Hero-sama herself has said that she will help everyone that is in need of her aid? Imagine how weak we'd look if we have to rely on her strength every time a mere goblin threatens the safety of a few villages!" Another one cried out, outraged.
"Why would the Supreme God see a filthy goblin as a threat? I'm sure that an army of goblins would serve as little more than sparring dummies and target practice to the local garrisons!" A third yelled.
Sword Maiden considered the possibility of smiting the fools that went on and on disregarding her warning and making the fatal mistake of seeing the goblins as nothing more than a nuisance despite all the damage the Goblin King had so clearly struck so far. Maybe it was a political move or a measure to save face, but she hated them as much as she despised the goblins themselves.
"Enough blabbering, keep quiet!" The King demanded, silencing everyone present in the court. "Sword Maiden… I trust you with my life, you know this. However, I have already dispatched Goblin Slayer, Lady Knight, your sister, and a group of Gold Rank adventurers to measure the level of the threat we face. We will act accordingly with the information they provide first. We must determine the extent of the danger to its fullest."
Sword Maiden nodded and turned around before the King could have a chance to dismiss her. "In that case, I shall prepare to face that threat on my own if need be," she said, stunning everyone for a moment before the nobles, advisers, and present petitioners began arguing amongst themselves.
Wait for me, my love. Wait for me, my dear sister. Wait for me, brave adventurers, she prayed before exiting the throne room.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
-High Succubus Den-
Half-Drow Paladin and Lady Knight were not sure if Goblin Slayer's plan would work, but they had to admit it was the best they got and decidedly deceptive, if nothing else. As they approached the entrance of the den, a pair of Succubi, both of them naked in order to expose their curvaceous assets, blocked their way while a few imps and hellhounds stood at the ready.
"State your purpose, beautiful," one of the Succubi said.
Pulling out a scroll from one of her belt pouches, Half-Drow Paladin stood firmly in front of the fiend. "I have a message from High Drow Matron. I was ordered to deliver it to High Succubus, fiend," she said before tucking the scroll safely back into her pouch. "Move aside, fleshless vermin, for I do not wish to waste my time with the likes of you and make my Matron wait."
The two beautiful fiends laughed as they stepped aside, their voices laced with tainted honey. "So feeeeeisty. It is truly a shame you are out of our menu… for now, darlings. Go ahead. You scrumptious messengers should know the way already," she sighed, idly touching herself in front of them. "Ohhhhh, how I desire for that cunt to come here in person~."
The paladin sneered as she pushed past the two Succubi, Lady Knight and Goblin Slayer following her closely. "I'll have your tongue by the time our conquests are over, insolent worm," she threatened with empty words, but it seemed to please the Succubus for some reason.
Now inside the large house, now serving as the den of the High Succubus, they could hear and smell the product of sex, debauchery, and untold pleasure. Lady Knight nearly covered her nose as the stench of lust proved to be almost overpowering. Half-Drow Paladin was doing better, though it was hard keeping her composure as they walked. Only Goblin Slayer seemed to be largely unaffected, though his companions didn't know for sure thanks to his helmet and stoicism.
Upon reaching the main room where the High Succubus was, they stopped as a pair of Imps guarded the entrance. Without saying anything, Goblin Slayer and Lady Knight quickly and silently killed the two fiends. Stabbing them through the heart and clutching their mouths shut until they died proved easy enough. Once they were disposed of, they were cleverly hidden by putting a carpet on top of their slumped bodies.
Meanwhile, the paladin was chanting a miracle in a hushed tone. "Prayers be, prayers hear. May all those around not find distress and allow me the quiet of owls," she nodded and her two companions opened the door. Entering the room, they saw the High Succubus all alone sitting on a chair as she tested several pairs of different knee and thigh-high boots of varying styles, colors, and materials.
"Ah, you must be the messengers from that horrid so-" the High Succubus began, her tone uninterested, but was suddenly cut off as Goblin Slayer and Lady Knight closed the doors and locked them. Then, before she could do anything, the paladin put her hand on the doors and exclaimed.
"Area Silence!" She exclaimed and suddenly, all noise ceased inside the room.
"...!" High Succubus jumped to her feet, shouting angrily but her voice didn't come out.
I can't believe this is actually working, thought Lady Knight as she quickly remembered how they got there in the first place.
"We'll pretend to carry something important to gain access to the house. Then, if there are guards outside, we kill them quickly and ambush the... thing. We will need to move quickly. How strong are those things?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"Succubi aren't really strong, they can't put up a fight. But they are crafty and dangerous because they can play with your head, put you under illusions, drain you, and charm you with a touch, kiss, or even by looking at you. That's where their danger comes from. A High Succubus is all that, too, but ten times worse. Our only shot would be to take her down before she can shout out for help, telepathically call for reinforcements, or use a spell to charm us under her will," she replied while Half-Drow Paladin put her idea forth.
"I can cast Area Silence with the use of my enchanted collar. I can only do it once a day, but that would give us a moment to kill the High Succubus before she tries to escape or tries to control us. We would need to kill her in the span of mere seconds," the paladin offered.
Goblin Slayer nodded. "We'll trap and kill that Succu...thing. I don't know why those other monsters are serving the Goblin King, but they are strong tools. No Goblin should know how to command other races," he said with poison in his voice. "We go in, kill the thing, and head out."
Drawing her sword, Lady Knight ran with all the speed and strength her legs could give her. Next to her, Goblin Slayer was doing the same, charging without so much as hesitating against the High Succubus. She could see the fiend's expression turn to one of pure panic and dread. She knew she had been disarmed and had no choice but to fight.
The fiend reached out for her whip, but a throwing dagger cut three of her fingers. Crying out in silence, she looked up to the Half-Drow Paladin who had thrown the weapon, but she was dutifully avoiding her gaze. Turning to the other female in the group, she felt fear when she saw her looking down at her feet, not her face.
Then, she turned to the male member of the group and rejoiced when she felt his gaze on her. Ignoring the darkness of his helmet, she could see his eyes staring directly at her own. She smiled and conjured her Charm spell through her eyes, as the Silence barrier would offer them no protection against her enhanced Charm.
Goblin Slayer came to a halt as a wave of previously unknown sensations filled his mind. 'Obey meeee~' a voice sang in his mind. 'I love you, I will always love only you. Obey me, my love, and I shall grant you all the carnal pleasure that you-'. The voice stopped as he focused his will on fulfilling the mission. 'Hmphm' he groaned internally before resuming his charge, if a bit uneased by the strange assault against his mind.
The High Succubus fell to her knees, clutching her heart in pain as the backlash of being rejected and her Charm spell resisted and nullified by a will unlike she had ever encountered proved to be too much for her to handle. Losing her concentration as the nerve-racking pain broke her link with her thralls and her cohort, she looked at Lady Knight and smiled. Her assault against the wretched man failed, but that had caused a distraction on the charging. It was only a moment, less than a second that their gazes met, but it was long enough for her to attempt her Charm against her.
Goblin Slayer noticed the same aura forming in the eyes of the High Succubus as when she had looked at him, but now was looking at Lady Knight and she, in turn, was staring back at her in surprise and rage. Without even thinking twice, he lifted his left arm and focused on the ring Sword Maiden had given him.
The burst of magical disruption messed with the Charm spell the High Succubus was about to complete, but the Dispel spell hit her first, further submerging her into a sea of pain. That pain only multiplied when a bone-breaking strike with a shield struck her face followed by a series of quick strikes that pierced her abdomen, aiming for her vital organs.
"...-ggaaahhh!" She sputtered a cough of blood before Goblin Slayer stepped on her throat, breaking it and her neck in a swift motion. But The High Succubus, bested but still not dead, not understanding why sound had so abruptly returned, could only do one last action before death claimed her and her essence returned to the Infernal Realms. "Lust… Mist…" she managed to mumble before a purple vapor exuded from her body.
The room was covered in it within seconds and it would've certainly spread out more were it not for Goblin Slayer cutting off the head of High Succubus, ending the spell but sadly, not its influence.
"Gah!" Half-Drow Paladin bit her tongue as an incredible lust took over her body, but she quickly managed to suppress it, at least for a moment. "W-We need to leave, now!"
Lady Knight, who was in the same conditions as her paladin companion, nodded and moved to leave. Goblin Slayer shook his head trying to shake off the carnal desires sparking within him. He was not a man of lust or mere wanton carnal desires, but his body was reacting on its own, stirring his emotions and twisting his desires. He was about to move to leave when something caught his attention.
Moving quickly before he could really think about his actions, he lunged forth, grabbed what he had in mind, and then left alongside his companions.
Exiting the room without notice, they walked with as most composure as they could until they walked out of the Succubus Den through the entrance without uttering a word.
An Incubus sniffed the air and chortled. "Looks like even the mighty Drow fall under the temptations of the flesh, ehhhh?" The imps and other fiends laughed alongside him, feasting on the lingering, restrained lust the trio carried behind them.
They didn't reply for they had not the strength to do so, fearing that if they did anything but walk away they would succumb to the spell and ensure their demise. Step by step they moved away from the Den, losing themselves between the twisting maze of the ruined streets of Mountain Valley. Goblin Slayer, being the least affected by the spell, guided them all the way to the first house they had used to create the map.
Without saying anything, once deep inside the bowels of the house where no one would find them easily, Lady Knight and Half-Drow Paladin locked their lips in a tight, wet union. Their tongues lashed in search of something to kiss, suck on, and play with while at the same time their hands caressed each other. The two women had finally succumbed to the last spell of the High Succubus and were now shakily throwing away the parts of their armor that got in their way.
Next to them, Goblin Slayer was in no better shape as he found himself in all fours staring at the quick bounty he had claimed from the High Succubus chambers. Taking off his helmet, he watched over his treasure with the hint of a smile spreading across his lips. His breathing was labored, he felt his heart pumping faster, and the itching pain in his groin was growing exponentially irritating to endure.
With his gloved hands, he caressed his delightful prize, a hidden desire of his that he couldn't deny, not when it was just right in front of him, tempting him with their beauty. His fingers traced over the fine, tight leather, the laces, the heels, the spike in the pair that had them. He gulped loudly as he admired the mesmerizing beauty of three pairs of thigh-high boots he had stolen.
One was red like blood while the other two were black. Judging by the scratched-out symbols and other attachments he deduced the boots had been stolen first by the High Succubus, most likely some of her many prizes for her part in the fall of Mountain Valley. Feeling the pressure against his crotch, he moved to remove his belt and most of his armor post haste, leaving himself standing with only his leg and arms protected and his torso simply covered by his shirt while his crotch was obstructed by his pants.
Loosing the knot, he allowed his painfully hard phallus to spring forth. Without a second thought, he began to masturbate while admiring the boots.
A little more than a meter to his right, Lady Knight and Half-Drow Paladin had removed most of their armor with the exception of their graves and leather boots. Both women were nicely built with figures dedicated more to fighting than purely feminine beauty, much like the figures of the Succubi were. But the scars adorning their skin and the fine and defined muscles were more than enough to entice anyone looking at them.
They were strong yet feminine at the same time; their bodies carrying the proof of their battles and training while their curves accentuated their lingering femininity. Their hands touched and explored each other's bodies, searching to quell the fire that the fiend had awakened within them. They kissed, shared their saliva, and stimulated their erect, soft nipples whilst trying to claim dominance over the other.
Goblin Slayer couldn't think straight. His mind was too clouded by wanton lust and the simple need to fulfill his desires that, for a moment, his eternal burning hatred towards goblins lessened just enough to allow himself a moment of pleasure. He closed his eyes and imagined Sword Maiden before him, wearing her robes but with her legs exposed, uncovered by her silk and velvet dress. Rather, her legs were adorned with the prize he had claimed.
Do you like what you see, Goblin Slayer? My followers and the church would be surprised to see me wearing such things. But for you, I'll wear them, just for you, my love, the imaginary Sword Maiden said, making him beat his cock faster and harder; his need to cum threatening to overpower him.
"Aaaahh~"
"You like that, don't you~?"
The voices of his two companions caught his attention and his heart skipped a beat. While simple compared to his bounty, he couldn't get his eyes away from the simple yet functional pieces of armor protecting the beautiful, slender legs of his two companions. Combined with their alluring bodies and the effects of the spells enhancing his sense of smell, he didn't think twice about crawling to the pair of women busy touching and exploring their bodies.
When he reached them, they welcomed him with open arms. His lips locked against those of the paladin, their tongues coiling around each other as they drank in their lust and wanton need to satiate the fire burning inside them. The knight kissed his neck, suckling on it while a hand made its way down to his cock. Half-Drow Paladin followed in her footsteps and also took a firm hold of his cock. The two began to pump and fondle it while he reached out to their breasts.
Lady Knight's breasts are smaller, but they are soft and warm. I can feel her heartbeat through her flesh and skin. It is… a familiar and enjoyable feeling. She also smells familiar, somehow, Goblin Slayer thought before ending the tongue lashing with the paladin to kiss the knight on his other side. As the paladin licked his neck all the way up to his ear, he groped her tits, exploring her. Her breasts are nearly as big as Sword Maiden's, but they are firmer… they are… enticing. Her skin wasn't quite like that of other drow he'd seen so far, it was lighter but still grey, almost purple, but she was also incredibly hot to touch.
He flinched when their other free hands landed on him, one firm, strong, but delicate at the same time thanks to her elven heritage; the other far more poise, elegant, but still possessing a balanced strength to it. Their fingers danced around his muscles, touching his skin, caressing his many, many scars.
His mouth changed to lock with the paladin's once more while the knight kissed his chin and his throat.
"D-Dear sister… f-forgive me…," Lady Knight mumbled before pulling back for a moment, but just for a moment. In the blink of an eye, she was kneeling on all fours presenting her backside to Goblin Slayer. "I-I cannot take it anymore! Fuck me, Goblin Slayer! I-I might go insane if you don't!"
Goblin Slayer heard her but her words were lost to him as the mirage of the beautiful woman, her legs clad in thigh-high armor boots enticed him to no end. Her red eyes, her brown hair, and the needy, labored breath she was gasping shattered whatever inhibitions he had left in him. Aligning his cock with the entrance of her pussy, he pushed in, finding himself hilted after the first thrust.
"AAAAaaahhhhyyyyyyeeeeeeesssssssss!" Lady Knight cried out, wincing in pain.
Goblin Slayer watched as a small trickle of blood came out from Lady Knight's cunt, but he was far too horny to really care about the implication outside of knowing he had claimed her virginity. Spurred forth by the gnawing lust burning inside him, he began to rock his hips, his eyes focused on both her backside and the smooth leather and strong armor protecting her legs in the form of the boots he found so fascinating.
"Tight," he mumbled before the paladin kissed him again, a hand fondling his balls while the other had moved to finger her pussy in preparation for her turn with him.
There was no romance, finesse, or anything even remotely close to what he had experienced with Sword Maiden. He was having sex not because he wanted to, but because he was being forced to do it; his emotions torn asunder while his lust took control of his desires and decisions. Even as Lady Knight moaned and demanded him to do it faster, to fuck her deeper, and cum inside her womb, he grew angry at what he was doing but found himself unable to do anything about it.
"J-Just let it go," Half-Drow Paladin said in a weak, defeated tone. "I-I've dealt with this before… don't think about it, just… just do what you need to do," she said in a moment of clarity before her lust overcame her again.
Grunting in dissatisfaction, an achievement considering the mind-breaking pleasure he was feeling, Goblin Slayer complied with her advice. Breaking into a hard, relentless pounding devoid of care, he only sought to cum and be done with it. Lady Knight screamed harder, but also begged him to continue, seemingly arriving at the same conclusion as he.
It didn't take long for him to reach his climax thanks to how tight Lady Knight's pussy was and the enhanced stimulation the spell worked on them. Spurt after spurt of cum painted Lady Knight's pussy white until Goblin Slayer was spent, but not done still. The stench of sex and the fire inside him, while diminished, was still strong enough to demand more of him.
The half-drow woman looked at him with her blood-red eyes before pushing him back. Before he could say anything, she mounted him and impaled herself with his cock.
Goblin Slayer groaned in pleasure as the equally tight and wet cunt of the paladin wrapped around his member, squeezing it tightly as she moved her hips back and forth, up and down wildly and rapidly without any sense of rhythm or tandem. He placed his hands on her boot-clad legs and felt a surge of excitement fill his entire being. He began moving his hips, meeting her movements with his own in a desperate attempt to rid themselves of the spell's effects.
Thanks to the overstimulation of having just cum moments prior and the paladin fingering herself before mounting her momentary mate, their climax came only after two minutes of hard, hot fucking.
Goblin Slayer was spent after that, the effects of the spell still lingering on him but now had deformed into nothing more than an annoying whisper at the back of his mind that became weaker by the moment. However, the same couldn't be said about his companions. With their pussies still leaking his seed, Half-Drow Paladin mounted Lady Knight, the latter welcoming her partner as they began to rub their crotches together.
The ranger looked on as his companions rubbed their pussies together while his cum mixed together as they moved in search for a climax that would end their unwanted lust. He continued to watch until his erection died out and his lust was all but consumed. Returning to normal, he stood up and began to recover his clothes and armor.
"Aaaahhh~!"
"Nnnnghhh~!"
The two women cried out at the same time from a joint climax that rocked their bodies. The two laid next to the other, breathing heavily to regain control of themselves while the spell of lust quickly died within them. While they waited, they watched their leader put on his armor and helmet back on, making doubly sure it was on correctly.
The room had gone silent now that the moans and the slapping of flesh had ended, but Goblin Slayer didn't care for it. He glanced at where the boots he had stolen were still piled and stopped for a moment. Walking over to them, he picked one of the black pairs, the one without spikes on it. Looking over them, he noticed they were rather simple compared to the others. The heels were rounded and short, the leather was fine and shining to portray their excellent quality, it didn't have any laces on the back or sides, rather it had a belt at the top end of it to secure itself to whoever was wearing them.
Folding them slowly, he tucked them into the inner piece of his chest armor, safeguarding them. Hearing a rustling behind him, he turned to see both women silently putting on their clothes and armor. Turning his gaze away, he waited patiently without uttering a single word until they were done. "We must leave before the goblins find out what happened."
"I agree," Half-Drow Paladin said. "Let's move out and return to the others."
Lady Knight nodded, blushing and trying to not look at Goblin Slayer as the trio departed after making sure they left nothing belonging to them behind, except for the two remaining stolen boots.
The trip back proved to be quite difficult as they had to evade every patrol on their way out. Finally, after several minutes of twists and turns, they managed to return to the slope they had used for their descent and made the quiet but quick trip back up to the rest of their group. Upon their return, Dwarf Berserk, Human Priestess, and Halfling Mage welcomed them back amidst pondering on what they had discovered.
Lady Knight and Half-Drow Paladin proceeded to tell their companions what they had discovered, seen, heard, witnessed, and done whilst cleverly leaving out what they had done at the abandoned house. Their companions didn't question them, though, respecting whatever little honor they had left.
"What about their numbers?" Halfling Mage asked with fear in his voice.
"I don't know… we only saw a small fraction of the city. I don't want to imagine their total numbers…," Lady Knight confessed, shuddering.
"There are undead among them… every dead body they don't burn or devour turns into another soldier. Even if they are only skeletons, they are still useful… oh Gods… oh by the Gods, they could number well above ten thousand or maybe even more. There is a Drow Matron with them, an Orc Warlord, a Trueborn Vampire, an Arch-Lich, a human… I don't know what he was, and the High Succubus. Even without her leading other Succubi and fiends, the demons must number in the hundreds, at least."
Dwarf Berserk groaned. "They are going to be a tide strong enough to destroy many cities once they leave. Our little bird died after he told us everything he knew, though it wasn't much… other than there are over a thousand Drow in the army and even a few Driders."
"Fuck me sideways, just imagine the number of slaves and meatshields at their disposal! What the hell are we going to do!?" Halfling Mage said in a panic. "We can't fight against that! I don't even know how in the name of the Gods were you able to take out a High Succubus like that!"
"The orcs alone would be considered a maximum-level threat… Oh, Earth Mother, show us what we must do," Human Priestess said, her staff shaking as much as her hands.
The group remained silent for several moments until a groan caught their attention. All eyes turned to Goblin Slayer who was taking out another scroll from one of his trusty bags. "You are naive," he stated coldly. "Orcs? Undead? Drow? I don't know about them. But I know goblins… the Goblin King is the real danger. They are the lowliest of the low, no other race would willingly submit to one, and yet we saw it happen. And that filthy goblin was speaking in the common tongue… who taught him that? How can he keep command of such a large army?"
He lifted his head a little making his armor rustle. "How many goblins are in the army?" The group stared at him silently. "A healthy human woman can give birth to three or four goblins each week. The goblins are capable of fighting in two weeks. They are considered adults in a month," he paused, unknowingly giving the rest of his companions time to let dread form in their stomachs. "How many goblins are in that army?"
"...They are the bulk of it," Human Priestess replied, the first to find her voice again. "B-But how can that be!? How can they gestate so quickly and in such numbers!? The experience would surely be traumatizing for any captured woman!"
Goblin Slayer nodded. "They don't last more than a month, if that," he groaned. "Typically the goblins are too impatient to not torture their victims. But if a Goblin King can command others to follow him, what about the goblins under his command?"
Suddenly, Lady Knight keeled over to the side and vomited. "F-Farming!" She said in utter disgust. "They're farming an army of goblins to be their fodder!"
The implications were far too terrible for them to consider and yet it was inescapable. Dwarf Berserk stood up, clearly agitated.
"There ain't no way we can do anything more! We have to leave, now, captain! Everything you saw is more than enough proof that an army must be raised!"
"We don't need to leave to inform them," Goblin Slayer said as he opened the Message Scroll. As it unfurled, it shone briefly before the light died out. Grabbing a piece of carbon from one of his bags, he gave it the scroll and carbon to Lady Knight. "I'm… not good at writing details. Write what we saw, what we know. Sword Maiden will receive the message."
"How in the world do you have a Message Scroll connected to Sword Maiden herself?" Halfling mage asked before shaking his head. "Nevermind, I forgot she was the one that recommended you…"
Lady Knight accepted the scroll and carbon and began writing.
While she wrote the message, the rest of the group, minus Goblin Slayer, began to argue as to what their next action would be. Dwarf Berserk and Halfling Mage wanted to leave, Human Priestess wanted to do more, but against the odds they were facing, she wasn't sure if whatever little they could do would work to buy more than a few days. Or in the worst-case scenario, their actions could end up accelerating the plans of the Goblin King.
Half-Drow Paladin wanted to stay simply because she couldn't allow herself to let a High Drow Matron live if she could help it.
"Done," Lady Knight replied. "She knows now… It seems Sword Maiden was reading whilst I wrote… she's already replying… she," her eyes widened. "She says she'll speak with the King immediately," she said before turning to Goblin Slayer. "Goblin Slayer… what should we do?"
"If you want to leave. Leave. I'm staying," he said flatly.
"Y-You can't be serious, laddy," the dwarf exclaimed in disbelief.
"Are you sure you're not suicidal?" The halfling asked, sharing his friend's emotions.
"Does it matter?" Goblin Slayer rebuked. "There are goblins down there. I'm going to kill them and their King. And if I can't, then I will die killing as many as I can. But I don't plan on dying. I'll kill the goblins and those that work with them. I will kill them all. Every. Single. One," he said with absolute resolve and not an ounce of fear in his voice.
Human Priestess gripped her staff tighter. "H-How?" She asked as she stared at the damned city.
"By being a goblin," he replied nonchalantly. "Goblins aren't smart but they aren't complete fools. They are, however, cruel, prideful, and evil," pulling out a vial from one of his bags, he presented it to the rest of the group. "They never think that someone can be as cruel as them."
"...Laddie… you'll die if you stay," the dwarf said before turning to his captain. "And you too, pointy-eared bastard. I hate the fucking drow as much as you do, but why throw your life away just to get one kill?"
"...I hate the drow. A Matron is a monster. Thousands of lives had been ruined, sacrificed, and tormented by her direct orders. Even if I die, I will take her down with me. What is the life of a single paladin compared to rid the world of such evil?" She replied.
Just then, bells could be heard coming from the city.
"They know," Lady Knight said, glaring at the city. "They'll send scouts to the fort we destroyed. What will we do?"
"Ambush them, kill them, buy time… and then wait for the King's orders. Though I think you won't be returning even if he orders it, huh?" Halfling Mage huffed. Goblin Slayer and Half-Drow Paladin said nothing. "Alright. Fuck it. I'll stay too, then. This better score me points with the God of Magic, because we are sooooo fucking dead."
The dwarf shook his head. "I don't know why I have a soft spot for maniacs trying to kill themselves all the damn time!" He barked a laugh. "Fine! I'll stay. Not sure how much help I'll be, but eh, better than nothing."
"For a Berserk you always seemed to dislike fighting," Human Priestess said. "I'm staying too."
"Then I'll stay as well," Lady Knight added. "I wouldn't forgive myself if I just walked out of here."
The paladin hugged her friends and party members, thanking them for their sacrifice while Lady Knight and Goblin Slayer watched them. "I'm sure your party would do the same if they were here," Lady Knight said.
"...Indeed so," he took a deep breath. "Indeed so."
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-Mountain Valley, Goblin King's headquarters-
As if something had cut a string, he could feel his mental connection with High Succubus come to a close. Before him was a map of the detestable Kingdom he was going to plunder, raze, and burn to the ground before moving to the next one in a glorious crusade dedicated to the Gods that had chosen him as their greatest champion. Flags, locations, and battle tactics were sprayed about, but all of that became irrelevant once the death of High Succubus, less than an hour after his glorious speech had ended, was made aware to him.
"No matter," he snarled. With a snap of his fingers, a group of goblins armed with scythes and wearing some sort of red hood on their heads appeared behind him. "Go forth and find out who killed High Succubus."
"Should we sound the alarm, Mighty One?" One of them asked.
"Let them handle that themselves. Spread out and find who killed my Lieutenant," the Goblin King ordered again. The goblins began to laugh and wave their scythes around maniacally before running off. Touching his temple, he contacted Orc Warlord through their telepathic link. "Orc Warlord, send out a scout part to the Fort."
"So early? We got a report from them two days ago," Orc Warlord replied.
"Do as I order, maggot," the Goblin King snarled angrily and broke the contact before the orc could say anything else. "Hmmmm," humming deeply, he smiled inside the dark confines of his room and returned to his planning.
Chapter 2 End.