I do not own Goblin Slayer
(All of this belongs to the one and only: Kumo Kagyu)
Chapter 5: A Showcase of Skill
The Promised Adventure
([Quick A/N] - I felt it necessary to say this again, since this chapter will be delving into some very dark topics, some that may be a bit too much for the unprepared. So you've been warned, this chapter is incredibly heavy. Now that these matters have been addressed, please, enjoy the chapter!)
The Place Beyond the Void…
"Oh, a visitor! What a serendipitous encounter! Please, please, make yourself at home!" An astute voice spoke out, seemingly to you.
It dragged you to a modest living space, one that held a plethora of bookshelves. And in each one, a myriad of books teemed off from them. Just a few feet away, an easy chair sat, and next to it, a glass of juice glistened on a counter. Rugs of varying colors were scattered neatly around the space, and the faint smell of apple pie was in the air. Something was extremely off, and it made you feel a tad bit uncomfortable. The voice seemed to smile to itself, wearing a smug expression somehow. Strangely enough, it sounded familiar.
"Oh don't look at me like that! You know full well what's been happening, correct?" The voice asked you expectantly. You could only give them with a questioning look, just as clueless as you were a moment ago.
"Oh, I see… You're just here to watch. A mere observer…" The voice said somberly, looking at you with understanding eyes.
By now, you're wondering what the hell was happening. So much so, you start to question out loud to the voice, who only answered with a quaint laugh.
"Hehehe, I reacted the same way when I ended up here, but you'll get used to it eventually." The voice said, now dragging you again to what looked like a glass window.
It would then point at it, prompting you to look through it…
Above the Board…
All around was but a white void, full of nothing. It seemed to span for eternity, but no one could really discern its true distance. But out there, somewhere in that random patch of void, was a big lounge area, laid out plainly for all to see. It was a homey space, outfitted with a large table, and plenty of comfortable chairs. Three large couches could be seen a few feet away from the table, and a container full of food was placed right next to it. There was a smaller table full of refreshments placed by the couches, and a stack of paper and pens were placed on the large table.
On that table was a massive board, its layout being sectioned into five distinct planes of existence. It was one of many boards in an endless collection of them. But this one in particular was the entire world that Goblin Slayer resided in. There were only three people seated at the table at this time, everyone else seemingly out on break.
"Hmm, an interesting turn of events…" An elderly looking man commented softly, his voice sounding ancient and cryptic.
The man wore a very long, and light gray robe that obscured his eyes from view. It was so long in fact, it had spilled itself onto the ground below. He also had a very long, and unkempt beard that went all the way to his feet. It was sickly gray in color, with streaks of black and white randomly strewn about it. The robes he wore felt dreary, as it contained intricate designs of very detailed tentacles writhing in place. What made it more dreary was the fact that the tentacle's design moved on its own, as if it were alive. Whatever skin that could be seen from that elderly man was pale gray, much like ash itself. And his skin was riddled with countless wrinkles, and liver spots. To be near his person was a test of patience, since he seemed to emanate a sort of stench that was unpleasant to the nose.
The elderly man was about to speak again, before getting interrupted by another man at the table.
"If I could be so bold, friend. You really must wash those garments. You've had them on your person since the last two campaigns…" A dapper looking man said dryly, his voice sounding deep, and proper.
The dapper man exuded class, the attire he wore being proof of it. He sported a monocle, which connected neatly off his suit's breast pocket. His hair was blacker than any moonless night, neatly styled in a simple comb over. His skin was fair, peach-like in hue and complexion. His face held a strange calmness to it, and his movements were composed and elegant. He wore a very groomed mustache and goatee, styled in the way of an anchor beard. The suit he wore spoke of his character, a gentleman to the highest degree. It was a deep shade of red, with accents of black accompanying its design. On his person wasa black cane with silver accents, full of filigree that was impossibly complex. It hummed with power, glowing dimly with a dark, ominous maroon hue. His shoes were a deep shade of black, prim and polished. They shined brightly, as if to challenge the white void that surrounded them.
The dapper man was about to make another comment, but he was cut off abruptly when another voice spoke up. Having prided himself to have never felt contempt for others, he did feel a bit of annoyance flare up from that act. Looking towards the man who spoke up, he merely scoffed.
"No need to put him down, Chaos. All are welcomed to the table. If he wants to wear such clothes, I say let him do so." A man wearing a military dress uniform said firmly, his voice calm and directed.
The finely dressed man had countless medals on his uniform, all signifying his pedigree. He had dark brown hair, styled in a simple crew cut. He also had a fully grown beard, thick and groomed to a tee. His skin was a deep shade of tan, and the many scars that riddled his face meant he knew combat. His hands also held many scars, made rough with countless calluses. He was big in size too, looming over the other men at the table by almost two feet, even when they were all seated. His actions were similar to that of ant's, uniformed and without any wasted movement. He then looked over towards the elderly man, his voice solid and firm.
"Knowledge, feel free to wear what you please. But Chaos does have a point, you're starting to give off an unpleasant scent again. Maybe give them a quick rinse now since we're on break." The man said with an apologetic smile, making the elderly man, now Knowledge, grunt loudly.
"Hmph, I suppose I can wash up if it's really becoming a bother to others…" Knowledge said quietly to the air, getting up from where he was seated. He then made his way out from the table, his steps hurried with purpose. He would then fade from the white void, not a trace of him left behind.
Now there were only the two men left at the table, made to stare at each with knowing glances.
"Always so direct, aren't you, Order? You made Knowledge move in earnest, and for that, I must applaud you. His stench was starting to become a nuisance for everyone again." The dapper man, now Chaos, said with a mischievous grin, offering up a playful clap to the other man, now Order.
"Mmm, I admit that it was also starting to get to me. How an individual like him can go through an entire encounter, let alone an entire campaign, with that scent is beyond me." Order said with a slight shake to his head, just relieved Knowledge had finally left the table.
"Oh you know him, always going on about the Inevitable or the End. Truly, he needs to change his viewpoint if he wants more companions at his side." Chaos said with closed eyes, reaching for his elegant cup of tea. This only made Order raise an eyebrow to him.
"Really now? Coming from you, that statement holds little water for it to be meaningful." Order slightly teased Chaos, to which he only coughed lightly.
"Oh come now, Order. If we can sit here and be cordial with one another, surely Knowledge can do the same. He just needs to keep up with his basic hygiene." Chaos rebutted, his eyes danced with a playful fire within them.
"I suppose you're right, Chaos. He really does need to wash up, at least on the breaks we schedule." Order agreed with him, making Chaos smile smugly.
Looking back to the board, Order took in all the information that had happened so far. From encounters that happened in different parts of the boards, to events that transpired just in front of them. All the information fascinated him, his mind rife with ideas. This board truly was the most interesting among the others, as it held a number of pieces that wouldn't sway to their influences'. Taking a peek at Order's contemplative face, Chaos spoke up.
"He was right, you know? An interesting turn of events has presented itself, Order. How will we respond?" Chaos asked, his attention now directed at the board. He was met with a genuine smile, one that made Chaos feel a great deal of excitement.
"With a roll of the dice of course. Let's see if today will finally be that piece's last encounter, or will it defy the dice yet again. Whatever the outcome, I look forward to the results." Order said with a smirk, looking fondly at the piece carved in Goblin Slayer's image.
"Ah yes, the piece of interest. The one that couldn't be bothered with our antics. The one known as Goblin Slayer…" Chaos spoke in a whimsical tone, now looking at the piece with interest as well.
What situation will the piece known as Goblin Slayer put them through this time, Chaos wondered. Ever since that piece's introduction to the game, the board has become a very amusing pastime. So many unforeseeable encounters, and as a result from said encounters, countless unattended consequences; And all of them stemmed from that piece alone. Although there were a number of other pieces that weren't swayed by their influence, and others more that were far stronger than their counterparts, very few of them had the effect that Goblin Slayer had. None of them knew why it was so, but none of them cared in the end. If he made the game more fun because of his ambiguity, why question it?
That being said, Chaos sighed loudly, impatiently tapping his foot on the floor. Fidgeting with his cane, Chaos waited for the break to come to end. He was keenly invested in the outcome that was Goblin Slayer. Order only nodded his head, in agreement with Chaos. With a set of dice already loaded up to roll, the two patiently waited for their companions to return, eager to start the game back up.
"Want to bet on the outcome this time, Brother?" Order asked the ever so curious Chaos.
"Oh you, tempting me like it's the easiest thing to do, brother. You know I will, hem hem." Chaos chuckled softly, getting up from his seat to shake his brother's hand.
"Then it's settled, let's see what Goblin Slayer will do this time." Order said with content, both him and his brother eyeing Goblin Slayer's piece with much attention.
In the Breeding Chamber…
Fear.
It was one of the primal emotions that all things experience. From animals that are moments away from dying, to people that are faced against insurmountable odds. Even the gods themselves can experience this primal emotion, the thought of being forgotten being one the causes.
All things will eventually taste fear in time, and for these goblins, that time was now. Watching as their bogeyman appeared from thin air, the goblins found themselves shitting their britches from where they stood. His eyes blazed with a hatred that shook them to their core, half of them ready to run right then and there. The Boogeyman aimed a bloody knife at them, blood and brain matter dripping off from it. He let out only one word, his voice colder than the dead.
"One…"
In a flash, Goblin Slayer lunged forward, appearing before a group of goblins in an instant. Not even a scream was uttered, as Goblin Slayer rammed the knife through one of the goblins' heads. He rammed it with so much force, the knife, along with his fist, savagely went through the first goblin, and into the second. The third goblin was caught in the attack, being carried along with the dead ones. Goblin Slayer then slammed all three into the ground, immediately stomping on the head of the goblin that was still alive, its brains splattering all over the floor, and under his boot.
"Two… Three… Four…"
The Boogeyman's voice rang out, with him now facing towards another group of goblins. Looking down in his hand, he saw an empty hilt, the blade broken off in one of the goblins' skulls. Tilting his head at the barren hilt, he then spotted an idle goblin, gripped with fear. Without a second thought, he whipped the hilt at the goblin with great force, the hilt deeply embedding itself in the goblin's skull a moment later, killing it instantly. Watching the goblin fall to ground, Goblin Slayer moved with purpose, his gaze zeroing in on the group of goblins before him.
"Five…"
Looting a crude club from one of the goblin corpses, Goblin Slayer then lunged at the next set of goblins. With a wide swing, he crashed the club into the goblins, proceeding to cave in their heads in one fell swoop. Though the club splintered in a million pieces under such force, it did kill the goblins with a satisfying crunch. Four new bodies fell to the floor, their blood mixing with one another's, the metallic smell of iron and copper now forming in the air.
"Six… Seven… Eight… Nine…"
Tilting his head, he spotted another group of goblins by the human stables. All of them were still hard and connected to the women, too afraid to release themselves from them. Looting a handheld pickaxe, and crude knife from the newly made goblin corpses, he sprinted towards the goblins, his arms down to his sides. Seeing the Boogeyman run so fast at them finally jolted the goblins to action, causing them to wrench their penises out from the women with a sickening, fleshy pop. But it was too late, as Goblin Slayer had already appeared before them.
Within a blink, he plunged the pickaxe into one goblin's skull, while deeply slitting the throats of the other two. Once he killed those three, he jumped towards the last one of the group, punching all of the air out of it. Said goblin fell to the floor instantly, and received a heinous boot to the head a moment later, his brains now staining at the floor. The women were caught in the crossfire, spurts of goblin blood splashing on them and their bare genitals. A horrid sensation to be certain, but at least, the worst was past them now.
"Ten… Eleven… Twelve… Thirteen…"
The Boogeyman bellowed his count, the remaining goblins finally ready to act. Some of them found their nerve, picking up their arms to retaliate. They charged the Boogeyman, hoping their numbers were enough to overtake him. Others however, were far too scared, seeing a dozen of their kind die in mere seconds. With self preservation in mind, they were all too ready to escape from the chambers. Noticing a detachment of goblins preparing to flee, Goblin Slayer looked up towards where Hero and her party were at, all them in trance from watching him in action.
The whole time he was fighting, Hero and her companions couldn't look away. Though they never had a thing for violence, Goblin Slayer's use of it was definitely a sight to behold. Watching such an imposing man move with such efficiency, along with the righteous cruelty he dished out, made the women want to keep watching him. It was like Goblin Slayer was a dancer of some sort, brutality being his ballad. In fact, they were so enamored with his fighting, they failed to see a large group of goblins heading their way. It just so happens that the entrance they came through was also the only exit in the chambers.
"Move!" Was all Goblin Slayer said, yelling loudly enough to call the three adventurers back to their senses.
Finally aware of the situation, the women found themselves against a small horde of goblins, all clamoring for the exit. From the looks of it, they were still a few meters away from them, giving them time to act. Made up of about 30 goblins, the goblin horde ran at full speed, not keen on fighting the Boogeyman any time soon. Gritting her teeth, Sword Saint was the first to move, placing herself in the way of the goblin horde.
"Such cowardly creatures… The world has no need for the likes of you, scum!" Sword Saint shouted, her rage fueling her words. Looking up from their panic, the goblin horde finally noticed the three women's presence.
Snarling with all manner of ill intentions, the goblin horde barreled down towards her. Thoughts of rape ran through minds, since the Boogeyman had interrupted their only time for leisure. Taking up arms, they were just a foot away from the woman. But the moment they saw her face, it made their blood run cold. The rest of her companions stepped forth, ensuring Sword Saint was protected. Planting her sword before her, Sword Saint began to chant a spell, her eyes alight with rage.
"Hear me, O God of Order, Maker of the First Laws. I stand before you now, proclaiming your will. As your faithful, I call upon your vestige to pass judgment onto these heathens! Grant me your power, O God of Order!" Sword Saint chanted, her hair, and companions' starting to levitate lightly from her spell. The goblins found themselves at standstill, as they felt air around them became strangely statically charged.
"Strike down these rule breakers! May your judgment be swift and severe! Grand Lightning!" Sword Saint yelled passionately.
At first, nothing happened, but within a moment's notice, the area around the goblin horde began to glow a subtle white. The goblins looked on in curiosity, the ground they walked on being illuminated by an unknown force. But with a thundering boom, the goblin horde was then bombarded with seven massive bolts of golden lightning. As if the sky had fallen down on them specifically, the weight of the lightning threatened to break open on the floor below them. With no mercy, the goblins were shown retribution, as waves of lightning ripped them to pieces, and vaporized their remains. After the spell was over, there was nothing left of the horde, except a massive blackened burnt spot, the cracks left in the ground showing the sheer power of the spell. Looking at the results of her rage, Sword Saint merely scoffed, spitting towards the burnt spot in disgust.
"*Phfet!* A fitting end for you cretins. My only regret is that I can only kill you once." Sword Saint said coldly, wiping away the spit from her mouth.
"Heya, nice attack, you! You turned all those dumb goblins into ash!" Hero said with a happy voice, running up to Sword Saint for a pat on the back.
"Indeed, a fine strike, like always, hehe." Sage said with a light laugh, now beside Sword Saint.
"I only gave these creatures what they deserved. I only hope those children can rest a little easier now…" Sword Saint said somberly, looking at the huge burnt spot again. She then felt a comforting hand on her shoulder, Hero right beside her.
"Still, you kicked their asses pretty good! Maybe now they'll learn not to mess with us, ha ha!" Hero laughed with her peppy voice, making Sword Saint smile despite the situation.
"*Sigh* What am I going to do with you, heh…" Sword Saint with a light chuckle, shaking her head softly as she looked over towards Hero.
The three adventurers then stood there, enjoying the destruction of the vile creatures. Though they would soon be called to action once more, as they heard Goblin Slayer yell out to them.
"Our task isn't done here! All of you, secure the women that are still alive! And dispose of any goblins that remain!" Goblin Slayer ordered with a stern voice, ripping out an ax he had buried deep within the back of a goblin's head, adding another one to his count.
"Twenty-seven…"
Goblin Slayer could be found next to a mound of goblin corpses, the result of any goblin stupid enough to fight him head on. The ones left after the suicide charge realized the futility of fighting the Boogeyman, opting to run away just like the others. Though they were goblins, they weren't fools, and they wouldn't roll the dice anymore than they had to.
Nodding to his order, all the women proceeded to drop down further into the chambers, making their way to the human stables. A few stray goblins saw the three adventurers, lust driving their next actions. Full of foul thoughts for the three adventurers, they went for it, charging towards them with reckless abandon.
They however, didn't anticipate Hero running at them. Having caught their presence earlier, Hero broke off from the others to take care of business. With wide eyes, the goblins saw her sword was already drawn, and pointed squarely at them.
She then cleaved two of them the moment she was striking range, killing them instantly. The last two goblins wouldn't go down without a fight however, so they jumped at Hero, dagger in hand, hoping they would at least bring her down with them. But they too, were then cleaved, roughly chopped into 8 meaty chunks. Resting her sword on her shoulder after her handiwork, she then turned towards her companions, who could be seen releasing and tending to the women at the stables.
"Heya guys, did you see what I did to these stupid gob-" Was all Hero got out, before she was knocked down to the ground. Cursing to air, she saw that a couple of goblin corpses were thrown at her, two bodies now beside her.
"You damn cheat—" Hero was about to shout her anger, but was cut short when she got hit in the head.
All it took was a solid bash from a goblin club, and Hero was left stunned. In her stupor, she made out a few shadowy figures, all them moving around her. She then felt something pin her arms down, along with her legs. Shaking her head, she finally regained her focus, all to her horror.
She soon realized that five goblins surrounded her. They had used the bodies of their dead brethren to pin her down to the ground, her legs and arms further secured by other goblins holding them in place. Gritting her teeth, Hero struggled against the goblins, only to be met with another bash from the club that hit her prior. Now stunned once more, the goblins gave into their lust, beginning to strip her down at an alarming rate. Shaking herself into consciousness once again, she found herself down to her under garments, her armor and sword thrown haphazardly to the side of her.
An immense wave of dread filled her person, as she saw a free goblin's penis grow erect in front of her. It leaked its profane fluid all over her, disgustingly dripping it onto her bare body. The free goblin could be seen panting heavily, anticipating a fresh round of rape. The dread within her grew tenfold, her efforts to break free tripled in response. It was immediately met with futility, as the other goblins secured her even harder, going as far as sitting on the dead bodies to ensure Hero was secured.
Feeling an entirely new, sickening sensation fill her, she desperately struggled against the goblins that bound her again, only to be met with another bash from the club. Now with a bloody nose, Hero looked on in pure terror as the free goblin ruthlessly ripped off her bra, then her panties, leaving her completely naked. The other goblins cackled with delight, fully enjoying the despair on Hero's face. The free goblin then positioned itself in front of Hero, bending down towards her, and placing its penis against her bare vagina.
"N-NO! G-Get away from me! H-Help! Somebody help! Anybody! Please save me! P-Please! Somebody save me!" Hero screamed at the top of her lungs, the goblins fully enjoying themselves. The free goblin was about to penetrate her, with Hero's despair about to reach her threshold.
It was at that moment that an ax cut through the air, burying itself deeply into the free goblin's face, instantly killing it. Blood spilled all over Hero, though she didn't notice. She held her eyes closed in anticipation of being raped. The other goblins that held Hero down were in a state of confusion, before one of them found themselves being killed by a thrown spear to the face. One of the goblins tried to run away, but was then hit by two throwing knives, both of them landing in the back of his head. The two remaining goblins were gripped with fear, wondering what was killing them so fast. It was then they realized the cause, as the Boogeyman appeared right behind them.
Before they could even scream, Goblin Slayer drove a knife he looted from the ground, downwards from the top of one of their heads, hilt and all. The knife was pushed down so hard, it made its way towards the goblin's stomach, spraying gastric bile everywhere. The other goblin was caught by his throat, helplessly clawing at the hand that held him. Goblin Slayer then brought the goblin up to his face, his eyes burning with a bottomless rage. He bore his gaze into that goblin's mind, searing his image onto its tiny brain. The goblin then shat itself, seeing the image of death flash before his eyes. Goblin Slayer then slammed the goblin to the ground, stomping out its penis, and then its head. Its brains spewed forth from his boot, the goblin's body twitching pathetically beneath him.
"Twenty-eight… Twenty-nine… Thirty… Thirty-one… Thirty-two…"
Finally done with dispatching all the goblins left in the chamber, Goblin Slayer then moved to Hero's side. Hero refused to open her eyes, still anticipating the rape to happen, even though she was no longer bound. Unconsciously, she covered her eyes with her hands, refusing to look. Shivering violently where she laid, she jolted when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Although her mind was terrified, she decided to finally open her eyes. What she saw was a blood drenched Goblin Slayer, offering a small blanket to her. Helping her up to a sitting position, Goblin Slayer just stood there, waiting for Hero's response.
Blinking softly, she looked around her, seeing the mangled corpses of goblins lying dead around them. She then turned back to Goblin Slayer, still offering the blanket to her. In that moment, tears welled up in her eyes, the awful wave of dread now slowly leaving her. Seeing her so small and afraid compelled Goblin Slayer to move. Slowly coming close to her, he then wrapped her gently in the blanket. He then knelt down, and hugged her firmly, putting a hand on the back of her head.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner…" Was all Goblin Slayer could say, before Hero wailed loudly into him, the fear still gripping her heart. She hugged him for dear life, her mind still plagued with those awful sensations.
"I-It was s-so scary G-Goblin Slayer! T-They we're so m-many of them, and t-they were r-really going to r-rape me! T-Thank you so m-much for s-saving me!" Hero shouted frantically, crying loudly. Goblin Slayer just knelt beside her, rubbing the back of her head softly, trying his best to calm her down.
"It seems I couldn't stop you from crying either. I'm sorry for my inability to help you any further." Goblin Slayer said softly, only making Hero cry even harder into him.
Entire moments of pained wailing passed, her party members finally making their way to them. Upon reaching their position, they found all of Hero's armor on the ground, her sword thrown a few feet away, and a bunch of dead goblins all around them. Once they got close, their eyes widened when they saw Hero bare naked, a small blanket the only thing covering her. They also saw Goblin Slayer trying his best to comfort her, staying silent the whole time the poor girl cried.
For Hero, this was by far the scariest encounter she's ever experienced. If it wasn't for Goblin Slayer's timely intervention, she would've been raped several times over. She would then be forcibly impregnated with goblin spawn, and ultimately made to give birth to it in the end. She never knew that goblins could be this scary, but now, she would never say anything to dispute that ever again. Just the feeling of that vile creature's genitalia on her bare body made Hero shiver badly, Goblin Slayer quick to hug the despair away. Hero in turn hugged Goblin Slayer tighter, hoping he would never leave her side ever again. The thought of him not being there scared her even worse than the goblins, and she refused to get up until she felt safe and secure once more.
Sword Saint was the first to ask what happened, prompting Hero to bury her head as deep as she could into Goblin Slayer's chest. Goblin Slayer merely grunted, looking over to Sword Saint and quietly told her what had happened.
"She was ambushed by a group of goblins. I managed to hold back their assault, but I fear I was too late to stop them from the act…" Goblin Slayer with a heavy tone, a wave guilt washing over him. He hung his head as he gave the news, Sword Saint and Sage tearing up from the tragic event.
"By the Gods, what have they done to you… Oh, my dear friend…" Sword Saint said quietly, before bursting into tears, running up to Hero, and hugging her from behind.
"M-My friend, the pain you must feel…" Sage said with teary eyes, her tears also running freely from her face. She also walked over to Hero, hugging her softly from the side.
Finding himself in between three women now, Goblin Slayer decided it best to let them have some time alone. He was about to end his embrace, but was stopped immediately by Hero, who only shook her head in his chest.
"P-Please, don't leave me…" Hero said softly, feeling incredibly small. She felt that if Goblin Slayer were to let her go, the goblins would come back to finish the job.
"Please Sir Goblin Slayer, let us comfort her…" Sword Saint spoke softly, rubbing her face on Hero's back.
"Please, if only for a few more moments, Slayer-san…" Sage pleaded, her head also rubbing the top Hero's gently. Goblin Slayer could only nod, strengthening his embrace on her.
"Understood. Again, I am sorry that I couldn't protect you when I could…" Goblin Slayer said somberly, his guilt feeling heavy on his shoulders. This only made Hero flare up, lightly bopping him on the head.
"Y-You dummy! You're the only one that has ever saved me from anything before, and yet you're still saying you didn't! Are you a dummy or something?! You managed to stop the goblins from actually raping me, so please! Just shut up, and hug me tighter already!" Hero reprimanded, making Goblin Slayer shut up.
He then glanced back down at her, the fire slowly returning in her eyes. Nodding his head, Goblin Slayer did what he was told, hugging Hero even tighter than before. The woman then sighed deeply, fully welcoming the warmth that Goblin Slayer provided. It was completely different from when the goblins held her, and she wanted to remember this feeling as best she could.
Upon hearing the news that she wasn't defiled by the goblins, Sword Saint and Sage couldn't help but cry harder. Their appreciation for Goblin Slayer grew tenfold, knowing they could never truly repay his act of heroism. They were soon directing their hugs to Goblin Slayer, moving to both his back and side. He found himself confused in this situation, trying to understand what was happening.
"I believe it is the girl that needs this sort of attention right now, not me." Goblin Slayer spoke with a curt tone, sounding unbelievably cute to all three women at that moment. He was answered by a playful punch to the back of head, and a round of light laughter.
"You really are an idiot, Sir Goblin Slayer. Just stay quiet and accept our thanks already." Sword Saint said playfully, truly relieved her friend was saved from such a depraved act.
"I must say, you're just as oblivious as our leader at times Slayer-san. Try to quiet yourself now, and let us enjoy this moment together." Sage said with a cute smile, hugging Goblin Slayer even harder than before. She too was relieved, happy her friend didn't have to experience something so vile.
"And don't say anything else that'll make me mad! If I said you saved me, that's it. Don't go beating yourself up when I'm the one that was attacked so savagely, dummy!" Hero pouted, bopping Goblin Slayer's chest cutely.
Silent as always, Goblin Slayer just nodded his head, and continued to embrace Hero. As a few more moments passed, the despair plaguing her slowly, but surely, left her person. And after one solid shake of her head, and a resounding yell, Hero was finally back to her old self.
To any normal adventurer, their mind would've broken from just a quarter of what Hero experienced, how much more if they were to experience the whole ordeal? But she was always known for her unyielding spirit, and indomitable will. It would take a lot more than a goblin ambush to break her spirit. She wouldn't lie however, as the idea of being raped had shook her foundation. But with gritted teeth, and a hard smile, it only strengthened her resolve. Filled with ambition, and a newfound respect for Goblin Slayer, Hero broke the hug, and stood proudly, while still being naked.
"Ok… I'm back in action! Let's kick these goblins' butts and save the settlement!" Hero said with a triumphant yell, posing as heroically as possible. Though the effect was lost, considering she was stark naked.
Although she was as naked as a young babe, while also covered in cave dirt and viscera, her companions still clapped proudly. They were in awe at how strong her fortitude was. She was almost raped by goblins literally moments ago, and yet, here she was, already back to her normal self. Goblin Slayer could only let out a contented grunt, his helmet hiding the small smile he was making. He was content she was still her, and was also impressed by her fortitude. Goblins weren't something to underestimate, and most adventurers would have been rendered broken after the ordeal she went through. By all accounts, she had a remarkable trait, one that would come in handy when fighting goblins.
But before they could continue their quest, Goblin Slayer stood up, and wrapped the small blanket around Hero.
"We shall kill all the goblins. But before that, fortify yourself. You are still without clothes." Goblin Slayer said easily. He then patted Hero's head gently, making the woman sigh in content.
Hero then tilted her head, and looked down towards her body. Remembering she was naked, she only laughed, and patted Goblin Slayer's shoulder heartily. Sword Saint and Sage blushed up a storm the moment they realized she was still naked, running up to her to shield her image from Goblin Slayer.
"H-Hey! What's with all the shoving?!" Hero said annoyingly, getting two of her companions covering her person as best they can.
"You idiot! You do realize you're stark naked, and in front of Sir Goblin Slayer, right?!" Sword Saint said frantically.
"So? You really think he'd be embarrassed being in front of a naked woman? He literally just saved me from one of the worst things imaginable that could happen to a woman!" Hero said with a tilted head, wondering why her companions were so adamant in covering her up.
"Though that may be the case, he's still a man! It isn't proper to show yourself in such a state before him!" Sage said with a frantic tone, also doing her best to cover up Hero's naked body.
Grunting loudly with annoyance, Hero then pushed past the two of them, and stood next to Goblin Slayer, who was holding articles of clothing and armor. In their time of arguing, Goblin Slayer went about the area to scrounge up Hero's discarded armor and undergarments. Though in their banter, they didn't notice him holding such items. Hero then cutely leaned her head on him, trying her best to look serious. Though, it was hardly effective, considering she was wearing a cute pout as she was leaning on Goblin Slayer.
"Let me make this clear for you two. I trust Goblin Slayer with my life. He went above and beyond to save me from peril, and I see he's a man worthy of our company. I'm proud to say he's my companion." Hero said proudly, wrapping herself up in Goblin Slayer's arm as she spoke.
"And because of my trust in him, I feel safe and secure being around him, even if I'm naked. So why don't you two relax, and put some faith in him as well. He's clearly the type of person that wouldn't even think of doing anything to us, so why be so reserved, right Goblin Slayer?" Hero said with a smile, nuzzling up to Goblin Slayer.
Shaking his head at her carelessness, he only grunted. He then got her attention again, motioning his head towards the clothing in his hands. Hero followed his gaze, and looked surprised to see her clothes. Smiling brightly, she quickly scooped up the clothes, and changed herself in a second. Now back in her original attire, she was once again ready to take on the goblins.
Nodding his head, Goblin Slayer then looked over to Sword Saint and Sage, a question already spoken the moment his gaze crossed them.
"Are there any survivors?" Goblin Slayer spoke seriously, his tone firm. He was met with a grim expression, as both women held a downcast look.
"From our findings, we were only able to secure two survivors, both of them passed out from extreme exhaustion, and severe starvation. We've already tended to their injuries, and any life threatening ailments as best we could. They are stable for now, but we need to secure the area before continuing onwards." Sword Saint spoke first, her teeth gritted as she spoke.
"Understood, all the goblins in this area have already been dealt with. We will need to carry the survivors with us as we push further into the nest. We can't leave this cave until all the goblins have been dealt with. Otherwise, they will quickly regain their numbers. Although almost all the women in the area have been taken already, goblins can still achieve gestation among other species. Though, their quality would vary heavily from a normal goblin." Goblin Slayer said seriously, making all three women pale at his words.
"Y-You mean these c-creatures can impregnate other animals..?" Sword Saint with horror in her voice.
"Yes. If goblins can't find any humanoid females within their vicinity, they will simply start capturing anything that falls in the female category, so long it is big enough for them to penetrate. Though a rare occurrence, I have seen it number of times before. Goblins are extremely virile by nature, and they tend to get sexually charged as a result, meaning they need expel such urges on a regular basis. Being so virulent also allows them to get almost anything pregnant, should it be capable of giving birth. I've already seen goblin-cows, goblin-horses, goblin-bears, and more so." Goblin Slayer explained, Hero and the others on the verge of throwing up.
Shaking the shock off, Sage was the next one to speak.
"The information you share is both very informative, and incredibly macabre. I would've never guessed goblins could be so… Dangerous…" Sage spoke somberly, her thoughts back on her friend who was assaulted moments ago.
"No one ever does. Goblins aren't taken seriously by anyone… Except for me… I will kill all the goblins." Goblin Slayer spoke solemnly, all the women looking at him with admiration. Sword Saint then spoke up, facing towards Goblin Slayer
"Well put, Sir Goblin Slayer, we will clear out this cave soon enough. But before that, I have to inform you about the casualties here." Sword Saint said, getting a head nod from Goblin Slayer.
"The rest of the women that were fastened to the stables have passed away. Most of them have been dead for days, while a few others had died only moments ago. For the ones that passed on recently, it seems they've died from relief, each of them wearing a worn out smile. It was from you, no doubt. My hunch is that their bodies gave out the moment you killed the goblins, their spirit determined to at least see you kill them before they were content to die." Sword Saint said quietly, a single tear of remorse fell from her.
Goblin Slayer could only stand there silently. His thoughts were on the verge of becoming disorganized, but he wasn't going to lose sight of what needed to be done. With a grunt, and an internal reminder of what his only life goal was, Goblin Slayer refocused his mind.
"Let us make sure these lives weren't in vain. That they aren't meant to be forgotten to time." Goblin Slayer said sternly. He then looked around the area, making a head a count for all the women that were left in the breeding chamber.
In the distance, a slight trembling was seen from a deceased woman's body. Already on the move, Goblin Slayer was already next to the body, his hand just above his sword. Hero and her companions were close behind, ready to kill anything that looked green on sight.
From the looks of the body, it must've been dead for at least three days. It was heavily swollen all over, a small pool of decayed juices and rancid stink formed around the body. Chunks of flesh were bitten off from the arms, and both her breasts were ripped off crudely, seemingly by hand. Her entire face was caved in, the result of a strong strike from a club. But the most prominent sight on the body was the size of the belly.
It distended beyond normal standards, an obvious sign she had been impregnated, and with more than two goblin babies. Worse yet, it was there that the trembling was emanating from. Already knowing what was about to happen, Goblin Slayer only focused his attention, ready for the outcome. The others didn't know why the dead woman's belly was trembling so much, but they would soon get their answer.
With an unnerving ripping sound, the body's vagina tore open, a wave of dark red, almost black, decaying blood flowing as a result. From the tearing, five goblin newborns flowed from the body, all of them covered in the decaying blood. The smell alone made Sage throw up immediately, while the sight made Sword Saint and Hero throw up a second later. Goblin Slayer merely scoffed. Seeing these goblin children survive their organic coffin irritated him. If there was anything worth saying about a goblin, it's that they are relentless, these newly born goblin children a grim reminder of that fact. Recovering from their disgust, the women watched in horror as the goblin infants began to cry.
Already in position, Goblin Slayer stood above them, his boot already raised above their bodies. He was about to stomp the life out of them, before he was stopped by Hero, a terribly concerning look in her eyes.
"What?" Was all Goblin Slayer could say, his focus on the goblin children beneath his boot.
"Y-You're going to kill them?!" Hero asked exasperatedly, not believing what was happening.
"Yes." The only acceptable answer in this situation.
"T-They we're just born for gods' sake!" Hero said with wide eyes.
"All the more reason to kill them now." There was nothing else to say.
"B-But they're just babies!" Hero said with tears in her eyes.
"So we're the children that had died in the goblin raids. If I recall from what you reported, among those bodies, there was a child no more than three moons old." The frigid air that followed his voice chilled Hero to her core.
"B-B-But—" Hero couldn't argue with him. She knew he was right, and she knew the losses that were had. But it just didn't feel right to kill anything so young.
"Goblin children develop quickly, and aren't afraid to kill. In just two weeks time, these goblin newborns will be able to rape themselves." Goblin Slayer said with fire in his voice.
"I understand your need to kill all goblins, but do you have to kill them as children too?" Hero asked, a stream of tears already falling from her face.
"If I don't, these goblin children will inflict the same torment other goblins have done to you. I repeat, if I don't kill them now, I will allow a chance for someone else to be raped and killed." Goblin Slayer said coldly, his voice immediately shutting up the goblin children.
Hero looked back to her companions, who only looked at her with heavy eyes. Goblin Slayer's logic was sound, but it didn't take away the fact that it was still a difficult situation. But knowing that those goblin children could rape and kill others in just two weeks… It defied conventional thinking, but after witnessing everything that has happened tonight, they decided to leave it up to Goblin Slayer.
"Ju— Just be quick with it. Even if they are goblins, nothing deserves to be killed so soon in life…" Was all Hero said, walking away from Goblin Slayer. The others followed her, not bearing to watch was about to happen.
"If only you knew just a fraction of what these creatures were capable of…" Goblin Slayer said silently. With a grunt, Goblin Slayer then raised his boot once more, aiming directly above the goblin children.
With swift motions, and with enough strength to crack the stony floor beneath, five merciless thuds echoed through the cave. Each thud was immediately followed up by sickening, meaty pop. With anything pertaining to goblins, Goblin Slayer had no mercy for any of them, and by one way or another, he will kill them all in time.
"So easy a death a goblin receives..." Goblin Slayer muttered under his breath, quiet enough to not be heard.
"Thirty-three… Thirty-four… Thirty-five… Thirty-six… Thirty-seven…"
The deed was done, and from it, a freshly made pile of dead goblin children was created. Clumps of brain matter clung to the underside of Goblin Slayer's boot, but he didn't mind. After all, goblin brains are all the same in the end.
With a deep breath, Goblin Slayer walked back to the others, his attention now on them.
At first, he was met with heavy silence. They couldn't talk to him after what they heard. It didn't bother him however. If killing goblins would upset them this badly, he'd be sure not to bring them again. But after a few moments of pained silence, it was Hero that addressed him first.
"You're unfair, you know that?" Hero said quietly, making Goblin Slayer tilt his head at her.
"How so?" Goblin Slayer questioned.
"Even though you did such a heinous thing just now, I can't bring myself to dislike you, much less hate you." Hero admitted, now facing Goblin Slayer.
"I only do what is necessary. If you feel offended by my actions, know that I will continue to do so. It is to ensure no one else is assaulted by them." Goblin Slayer said with a solid tone, making Hero and the others look at him with a straight gaze.
"It's also that straightforward attitude that only makes me like you more… You really are unfair, Goblin Slayer…" Hero said softly, before walking up to him. She then hugged him, finally accepting the situation.
Goblin Slayer could only stand there, silent and motionless. He knew not what to do in these types of situations, and his only response was to stand still. He was then answered with a cute bop to his chest, as Hero spoke up.
"Dummy, hug me tightly so I can forget all this awfulness." Hero said softly, to which Goblin Slayer complied wordlessly.
A moment was shared between the two, as they felt themselves growing closer to one another. Whether it was from a moment of weakness, or a period of comfort, both didn't know how it came to be. They could never understand why that was the case, it just was. And if there being honest, all of this felt almost nostalgic for the both of them somehow. But that was another thing altogether. As for Sage and Sword Saint, they looked at them with a tender smile. They were relieved that both of them were able to reconcile after everything that's happened.
Patting Heros' head softly, it gave Goblin Slayer the chance to look around him, to finally take in the scene before him. He was in a cave, with dead bodies all around, scattered here and there. All of them being both goblin and human alike. The taste of blood was prominent in the air, and the rancid smell of death and decay loomed over them. A typical goblin cave, just a bit bigger than others. He then looked around for each of the human bodies, making a head count in his mind.
"Mmm… over 40 women lie here, all of them alive at some point, surely. But now, they're all dead, scattered all around… I will kill these goblins, and maybe then, you'll find your way to the land beyond this one…" Goblin Slayer thought to himself, his mind talking far more than it has ever done before. But now was not the time for words.
He then broke away from Hero's hug, much to the displeasure of the woman before him. She truly felt safe in his embrace, though she didn't know why. But they had a quest to finish, and people that still needed to be avenged. So with a deep breath, she walked back to her companions, pulling Goblin Slayer along with her. Once together, Goblin Slayer spoke up, getting all of their attention.
"Come, let us kill all the goblins." Goblin Slayer said with a burning gaze, the air around him vibrating slightly from the rage that boiled within him. He was then met with an answer that made his core alight with anticipation.
"Yes, let's do it!" They all said, ready to finally put this quest to bed.
In the Infantry Chamber: 20 Minutes Later:
The Infantry Chamber was outfitted with cooking stations, makeshift beds, armor depots, and piles of weapons haphazardly thrown about. It was to serve as an area to quickly arm a goblin for battle, feed them when necessary, or to rest them after strenuous activity. It was also a very tell-tell sign that a goblin of higher thinking was present among them. And on average, an Infantry Chamber meant high activity, with many goblins moving about simultaneously. But luckily enough, it wasn't going to be a problem for Goblin Slayer and others once they walked in it.
Bodies.
It was the only thing that came to mind as Goblin Slayer, and company walked into the chamber. There had to be at least 50 bodies that lay dead, all of them with either slit throats, arrows in their heads, or massive dents in the back of their skulls. And among those bodies, almost all of the specialized classes were a part of it. Four hobs and three shamans, all of which had three arrows at the back of their heads. When they were alive, they would have made a quality reserve of troops, by goblin standards.
Just a few feet away from them was the rest of the party, sitting down on the ground. Priestess and HEA could be seen panting comically on their knees, while Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest shared jokes with each other to pass the time. Around them lay many goblin bodies, their throats slit, and heads bludgeoned. Upon seeing Goblin Slayer, the party perked up, and raced over towards him. Once they met up, they greeted each other with shoulder pat, fist bump, and a head nod.
"I count many goblin bodies with minimal resistance. Well done, all of you." Goblin Slayer complimented, making them feel a sense of pride wash over them.
"Hmph, damn things didn't know what hit them! Nothing like a Sleep and Stupor spell to make things easy!" Dwarf Shaman said with a hearty laugh.
"Indeed. Our silent siege on the green devils wasn't a problem in the slightest." Lizard Priest said with a proud smirk, resting a hand on Dwarf Shaman.
"Honestly, the hardest thing out of all this was cutting up all those damn goblins! Do you know just how many of these things were in here?!" HEA said frantically, comically rubbing her sore hand from all the throats she had to slit.
"Easy for you to say. My knife broke after just 10 goblins, and I had to use my staff for the rest of them!" Priestess said with comical tears, her arms also sore from bashing so many goblins head in.
Looking at the others with wide eyes, Hero and her companions had many questions for them. Listing them off in rapid succession, they were given short and sweet answers.
"H-How did you guys manage to kill all of these goblins?!" Sword Saint questioned frantically, her mind in awe by the amount of goblins that were in this part of the cave.
"Oh this? This is nothing compared to what Beardcutter can do if you give him the reins. As for your question, it was a cakewalk really. We simply snuck behind these bastards, gave'em the old song and dance, knocked them out, and took them out in their daze." Dwarf Shaman said easily, stretching his arms from all the cutting and bashing he had to do.
"W-Wow! Just how many goblins did you kill in this room alone?!" Sage asked aloud, entirely impressed by the cunning Slayer-san's companions demonstrated.
"Hmm, I would say about 60 to 70, give or take a couple strays here or there. Honestly, numbers start to lose their meaning the longer you go about hunting these things." HEA said with a sigh, shrugging her shoulders as she spoke.
"Even so, to kill this many in under half an hour's time is very impressive! You've successfully culled more than half of our opposition, well done!" Sage complimented, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"Just like what the dwarf said, this is nothing compared to what Orcbolg does on a daily basis. Though since his methods can get, let's say, OVERBOARD, I've put a ban on him." HEA said with another sigh, remembering all the shenanigans Orcbolg has put all them through.
"Really? You put a ban on Goblin Slayer? Why? Are his plans and methods bad?" Hero asked with a tilted, sitting down on a rock formation as she looked over towards Goblin Slayer.
"Quite the opposite actually, his plans ensure high casualties against enemy forces. They work on goblins, and frankly many types of enemies we've faced against. But most surprisingly, they're almost guaranteed to work." HEA admitted, her gaze now resting on Orcbolg, watching him make a headcount of all the goblin bodies in the chamber.
"Huh. So why even ban his plans if they're so effective?" Hero questioned innocently, a tiled head accompanying her question.
"It's because they're beyond reckless! At least half of them almost resulted in him dying!" HEA yelled loudly, now burning holes at the back of Orcbolg's head as she spoke.
"Hmm? They worked in the end, didn't they?" Was all Goblin Slayer said, making HEA jump up from where she was seated, and to land squarely next to Orcbolg.
"You idiot! What would we do if you happen to die, huh?!" HEA shouted angrily, her chibi form cutely smacking the side of Goblin Slayer's head as he spoke.
"Go about your lives? I'm not worth much anyways. If my death can ensure the deaths of multiple goblins, I would say it's a death worth having." Goblin Slayer said easily, almost done with his headcount.
Though he said his answer easily, he didn't catch the looks given from everyone else in the room. Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest frowned heavily at the idea of the leader, and friend dying at the hands of goblins. HEA and Priestess looked visibly saddened at the idea of Goblin Slayer no longer being with them. Sage and Sword Saint were dumbfounded by how lowly Goblin Slayer thought of himself, while Hero wasn't going to stand there and let Goblin Slayer talk down about himself.
With a mighty leap, Hero took to the air, surprising everyone in the chamber other than Goblin Slayer, who was busy counting bodies. She then landed right next to him, and kicked the ever living hell out of him. The force of such a kick knocked him to the ground, HEA stepping away from him in the meantime. Everyone was left confused from what they've seen, but since it was Hero doing this, it didn't surprise anyone.
Goblin Slayer found himself questioning why Hero was attacking him all sudden, but was left quiet when he saw Hero look over him. She wore a visibly angry expression, one that reminded him of when his friend on the farm was angry with him about something. Feeling a similar feeling, Goblin Slayer was rendered silent, waiting for Hero's response.
"Let's get one thing straight here, Goblin Slayer. I will not stand idle whenever I hear one of my companions being belittled, even if it comes from themselves. I, for one, would be very sad if you died. And I'm sure everyone else around us feels the same way. So stop saying you aren't worth anything, when you clearly are." Hero said with a strong voice, everyone around them smiling hard, sharing her sentiments.
Goblin Slayer could only tilt his head, looking at Hero with hard eyes.
"…But I really am not worth much—" Was all Goblin Slayer could say, before he was met with a strong slap to the head.
"He really is a dummy at times, huh?" Hero asked towards Goblin Slayer's companions, who only shook their heads in agreement.
"Understand this Goblin Slayer, as long as I'm here with you, I'm going to keep knocking some sense into you until you realize your own worth. You are easily ten times any man I've ever encountered on all of my journeys thus far, so please; Shut up and listen to me." Hero said with a loving smile, her intentions to make Goblin Slayer see his worth as nothing but honest and pure.
"…Is that so..?" Goblin Slayer said softly, making Hero gush at his adorable demeanor.
"How you can be so serious at times, and yet so disarmingly cute at others leaves me speechless. Nevertheless, it is so dummy! Now let's finish this quest already!" Hero said excitedly, with everyone else joining her eagerness.
Goblin Slayer was then left to his own thoughts, wondering to himself if he truly was worth anything. But again, he reminded himself that this was not a time for idle thoughts or words. Action must be done, to do or not do, and on his will and determination, Goblin Slayer opted to do action.
"Mmm, let's press on to the main chamber then. We will rid this cave of any remaining goblins, and dispatch the leader." Goblin Slayer said easily, finishing up with his headcount of the chamber.
Goblin Slayer would then move towards the final chamber of the goblin cave, his eyes alight with burning rage. Joining him were the rest of his companions, they too more than ready to kill some goblins. With renewed vigor, and the prospect of finally leaving this horrid cave, everyone followed Goblin Slayer's trek, eager to finally end this quest.
In the Head Chamber…
Goblin Slayer and company found themselves in the Head Chamber after a short walk. The smell of burning sulfur and fecal matter was strong in this chamber, making the party grimace the moment they entered the area. Though not as horrible as the Breeding Chamber, the Head Chamber was still full of death and decay.
The chamber itself was the biggest one out of the three, with almost enough space to fit half of the settlement outside within it. The party of adventurers were greeted to a space full of ritualistic decorations, shoddily fashioned by goblin shamans in an attempt to mimic human decor. It also doubled in functionality, to facilitate easier spellcraft for them. In the middle of the chamber was a large, makeshift throne, composed of tree branches, human bones, and a lot of hardened mud. From it, a crudely made black carpet ran the length from the throne, all the way to where Goblin Slayer and his party currently resided. The rest of the chamber was strewn about with half eaten corpses, a large number of idle groups of goblins that were on break, and the stench of death and stink permeated throughout the chamber.
And in the far reaches of the chamber was the goblin's leader; a fat, flat nosed goblin who wore nothing but a tight loincloth, and a filthy crown that was far too small for it. The crown was undoubtedly ornate, full of gems and rhinestones, and the intricate gold inlaid patterns were evidence to skilled craftsmanship. It looked like it was made for a princess of some nameless kingdom, but was pilfered by this goblin some time ago. And in the state that it was in now, it could hardly be passed off to an amateur merchant, let alone any semblance of royalty.
The leader of these goblins was nothing impressive, no bigger than a hobgoblin. The only notable thing on him was a body long scar that started from its right shoulder, then went all the way down to its genitals. The goblin leader was currently indulging itself in the body of woman, raping her heartily, the poor woman weakly grunting to its thrusts. Next to them was a small child, who was cowering weakly in fear. The goblin leader took sick pleasure from the young child shaken with fear, and from it, quickened its thrust into the poor woman.
The sight no doubt enraged everyone watching from afar, but Goblin Slayer merely held up his hand, signaling now was not the time to act. Biting hard on their instincts to help, the rest of the party staved off their rage for now, and waited for Goblin Slayer's signal.
With crouched steps, the party of adventurers then snuck their way deeper into the area, being incredibly mindful of the advantage they hold. The goblins within the chamber, along with their leader, have yet to realize two thirds of their entire cave system had been eliminated, let alone that a band of adventurers had managed to make their way into the cave space. A moment of preparation passed, with Goblin Slayer giving a rundown with the attack formation they would implement. Everyone was onboard immediately, and with it, a grunt of finality was uttered among all of them. With direct orders from Goblin Slayer himself, each of them took positions.
HEA took a sniper's position from above, feeling lucky that a lone stone outcropping was jutting out far enough to serve well as an overwatch point. Sage and Priestess took their positions in the back line, ready to support the vanguard in any way possible. The frontlines involved Lizard Priest, Dwarf Shaman, and Sword Saint, each other their hands itching for action. And in the center of all of it was Goblin Slayer and Hero, ready to rain down some much needed justice.
After a few moments of getting into position, everyone waited for the signal, and with a strong whistle, everyone's eyes were alight with action.
The nearest goblin group immediately picked up on the whistling, but were quickly taken care of by a mighty swing from Sword Saint. Two more goblin groups saw the fighting, but were quickly silenced by Lizard Priest's timely intervention, the naga cleaving swaths of the green devils with ease. Dwarf Shaman supported the two of them by slinging rock after rock with deadly precision, nailing goblin after goblin. Goblins with bows began to take position in the back, but were dealt with almost immediately, with HEA raining arrows from above.
The commotion of fighting incited the rest of the goblins into a fervent panic, almost all of them picking up any weapon they could to brace for battle. Most of the goblins didn't even know what was happening, so they started wailing at anything that moved, hoping that would take care of the commotion. The leader of the goblins was wondering what the hell was happening, so he took himself out of the female before him, and picked up a crudely built warhammer, ready for any instance of infighting that had taken place.
During this time of commotion, Goblin Slayer signaled to the casters of the party, clearing them for high impact spells. Whistling loudly again, the vanguard of the party reacted accordingly, finding higher ground to stand on. At the same time, Sage and Priestess focused their efforts, ready to lay siege onto the goblin. With determined eyes, Sage and Priestess began their assault.
"Verum… Inberm... Meteroum..!" Sage beckoned, her eyes alight with passion. Her voice echoed throughout the entirety of the head chamber,
The goblins in their stupor looked up to see where that voice was coming from, but once their eyes fell onto Sage, they saw her staff glow an ominous red. With her staff pointed towards the ceiling of the chamber, Sage's staff shimmered in crimson light. Within a second, volleys of molten rock spewed forth from Sage's staff, first launching towards the ceiling, then raining back down onto the goblins before her.
Seeing the very ceiling above them turn to hellfire scared the rest of the goblins, many of them opting to abandon the fight altogether. But as they were making a break for it, three massive, translucent barriers of holy light emerged from three sides, effectively boxing the majority of the goblins into Sage's strike zone.
"O Earth Mother, abounding in everlasting mercy, by your heavenly grace, and the power of these noble lands, we beseech thee to grant safety to we who are truly in need… Over Protection!" Priestess shouted, her body radiating a holy aura.
Watching in amazement, Sage bore witness to the scene before her. She watched as her spell bounced off of Priestess's miracle, and landed back towards the goblins below. Vast numbers of goblins were swallowed up by molten rock, killing them instantly. The vanguard below found higher ground, ensuring their safety as the spell progressed.
"What power you wield… you're truly amazing Sage-san!" Priestess praised, watching something akin to a volcano spew forth from Sage's staff.
"I should say the same, Priestess! To think your miracles could deflect spells of this caliber! And to use them in this way, I would have never thought of it! I gawk at your creativity, and your devotion to the Earth Mother!" Sage praised back, Priestess blushing up a storm from Sage's praise.
However, both Sage and Priestess failed to notice a small band of goblins creeping up behind them. In their time of casting, the band of goblins figured out their location. But just as they were about to get the drop on them, they were met by a heavy fist, and a swift downwards cut. Two goblins from the band were instantly killed, one's face caved in, while another was cut in half. Looking at the attackers, the band of goblins immediately turned white. The Boogeyman stood before them, indomitable, undaunted. And next to him was a woman with ribbons in her hair, along with a golden, fiery aura that emanated from her.
"Thirty-eight…"
The Boogeyman's count never ceases, and tonight will not be an exception to that fact.
Goblin Slayer and Hero made quick work of the band of goblins, clearing them out in brief flashes of steel. The moment they dispatched the band, the two of them looked at each other for a few moments. With a knowing look, both adventurers nodded to one another, never once saying anything, as if understanding each other's thoughts and intentions. They then sprinted off towards the far end of the chamber, the goblin leader their final target.
In the distance, the goblin leader shook in fear, watching as a wave of fire and lava erupted seemingly from thin air. Hastily barking orders to any goblins left to hear them, he ordered them to charge the attackers, saying that using such a high maintenance spell would leave the caster out of stamina. Of course, it was talking out of its ass, but the dumber goblins were none the wiser.
But, as they were about to charge, the remaining goblins were shot swiftly in the head, in quick succession. And in less than a minute, what was once a decent horde of goblins were now reduced to only a handful. Fully demoralized, and keen on surviving the night, the last of surviving goblins made a break for it. But nothing ever came from it, as the runaways were swiftly dealt with by arrows to the back of the head.
Now alone, the goblin leader was left with one of two choices. Fight and die, or flee and survive. It chose the latter, discarding its weapon, and beelined it out of the chamber. For its size, it was surprisingly nimble, considering it made it halfway towards the exit. But it wouldn't be, as it was shot in the leg from HEA, not keen on letting it go any further. Falling down to ground, the goblin leader clutched its injured leg, bellowing its frustrations to the air.
Cursing loudly and defiantly, it kept yelling to air, until he saw the Boogeyman in the distance. Walking slowly towards him, Goblin Slayer was followed by Hero, who was expressionless during this time. Seeing how stacked the odds were, the goblin leader began clambering away frantically, hoping a lucky dice roll would save him. He was answered by a thrown dagger embedding itself deeply into its left shoulder. The goblin leader howled in pain, now clutching the dagger in his shoulder. Looking back up, he saw the Boogeyman now standing above him, its red eye blazing with an endless rage at him.
"To think a goblin this complacent could be so cocky as to lead such numbers. Learn your place, goblin." Goblin Slayer said with complete mirth, his voice sounding otherworldly.
In that moment, the goblin leader felt the wind of death blow through it, making it cower in fear. But before it could respond, it was met with a dull sword being buried deep into the back of its neck. And a moment later, its head was hacked off roughly, Goblin Slayer letting it fall off its body with a pathetic thud. With a grunt, Goblin Slayer sheathed his sword back on his hip, finally done with the ordeal.
"Forty-six…"
It was finally over. The goblins' leader was slain, and all remaining goblins have been dealt with. With a deep breath, Goblin Slayer shouted to the air, asking all party members to regroup. With no wasted movement, everyone reconvened a moment later, their faces all holding a sense of relief.
"We've dealt with the leader, and all remaining forces have been taken care of. I commend your efforts everyone, good job." Goblin Slayer said calmly, everyone in that moment feeling pride wash over them.
"Hmph, compared to what happened in the Emerald Forest, this was a cake walk." Dwarf Shaman said with a cheeky smile.
"I'll say, we killed their leader in less than an hour this time. That's gotta be a new record for us." HEA said with a sigh, stretching lightly where she stood.
"I wish all goblin hunts were this easy." Priestess said with a tired expression, ready to go home.
"It was all because of our new companions I say. They made the fighting so much more manageable. We are honored by their presence." Lizard Priest said with a hearty smile, making Hero and her party blush softly.
"Mmm, their inclusion was much appreciated. I thank you for your help." Goblin Slayer said, bowing softly towards Hero, and her companions.
"S-Stop that dummy! You all were also pretty awesome!" Hero said with fire in her face, hiding behind Goblin Slayer in an effort to hide her embarrassment.
Although this action would've made the ladies irritated, they decided to let it slide this time, since Hero and the rest of her party really were a great help in dealing with this quest. But just as everyone was about to fall into light banter, Goblin Slayer's voice rang out.
"Though we may have cleared this cave, we must secure any survivors." Goblin Slayer said easily, making his way over towards the far end of the chamber.
He was then followed by Hero, while the rest of the party went about the chamber to see if there was anyone, or anything left to save. Making swift movements, Goblin Slayer combed the entirety of the chamber, finding nothing by dead women, and a handful of half eaten children. Luckily, they were able to find a lone child, next to the corpse of a recently deceased woman.
They were shivering, eyes shut to the world, hoping that the end would come for them at last. But, fate would seem to have other plans for the child, as the hand of a man with dirty armor came to reach out to them, followed by a sturdy voice.
"I've killed all the goblins, they will not hurt you anymore." Goblin slayer reassured, his hand resting on the body of the shivering child, who jolted violently once his hand rested upon them.
"S-Sister..?" Was all the child could say, before falling silent again, afraid of being struck down for speaking.
Goblin Slayer was then left motionless, as he eyed a female body only a few feet away from where they were at. A light blue, flowery bracelet could be seen on their wrist, their body riddled with stab wounds and dried out secretions.
Goblin Slayer only gritted his teeth, and picked up the child gently, ready to set forth on the next course of action.
Author's Notes:
Hello people, been awhile since the last chapter. Really hope it met expectations, and I apologize for such a long wait. Sorry, real life happens, and it makes my upload schedule inconsistent to shit. Even so, I hope you'll put up with me. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter, and Ill see you in the next one!