As Kael stepped into the goblin's base, the oppressive darkness enveloped him like a shroud, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and the unmistakable odor of sweat and fear.
Jagged rocks lined the walls, and low ceilings created a claustrophobic atmosphere that heightened his senses. The faint glow of flickering torches illuminated the rough-hewn passages, casting elongated shadows that danced ominously with every movement. Kael’s heart raced as he tread softly, his footsteps muffled by the soft earth beneath him. He could hear the distant murmur of goblin voices, their guttural language mingling with the clinks of metal, hinting at the chaos that lay ahead.
As he moved deeper into the winding passages of the goblin den, the musty air was thick with the scent of damp stone and decay. He paused, sensing he was not alone. Pressing himself against the cool wall, he focused intently on the sounds echoing ahead.
Laughter bubbled up from two goblins just around the corner, their voices high and gleeful. “Did you see? Last guy… fell in trap!” one goblin cackled, barely able to contain his delight.
“Ha! Yes, yes! He no see it! Stupid human!” the other replied, his words tumbling over each other. “Next one… we make worse! Lots of spikes!”
Kael’s grip tightened around the hilt of his dagger, his pulse quickening at the thought of being ensnared in their traps. The goblins were so confident, so arrogant in their laughter, that they failed to realize how close danger was to them now.
“Put more surprises… near entrance,” the first goblin suggested, grinning broadly. “Boss happy! We get gold!”
“Gold! Yes, lots of gold!” the second echoed, his eyes shining with greed.
Kael stifled a smirk, aware that their ignorance worked in his favor. He watched as they scampered away, leaving the traps unattended for the moment. With each broken laugh echoing through the tunnels, he felt a surge of determination. If he was going to confront the head goblin and retrieve the necklace, he would need to be both cunning and stealthy.
Taking a deep breath, Kael slipped further into the shadows, prepared to navigate the treacherous lair. The goblins’ laughter faded, replaced by the ominous feeling of danger lurking just out of sight.
He peered around the corner and spotted a small group of elder goblins huddled over a crude table, assembling traps with a mix of crude materials. Their claws fumbled, but their laughter was genuine as they reveled in their perceived cleverness.
"Rope, rope! We catch big human! Lots of gold!" One elder shouted, it's beady eyes glinting with malice.
Kael stepped into the dim light, his presence suddenly shrouded in a cloak of danger. "Not if I catch you first."
The goblins froze, their laughter dying instantly. "Intruder! Me tell head boss!"
"No, you won't," Kael declared, swiftly moved as he sliced the goblin's body, green blood spraying on the cold uneven stone floor.
The goblins surrounded Kael, holding their spears, aiming at him. Kael smirked, holding his dagger, confidently striking each goblin as he moved like a lightning.
Coming from a nearby passage, a straggling goblin arrived, stopping dead in its tracks as the gruesome scene unfolded before it.
"Eeeek! Bad human! Bad human! Me telling boss!" the shrill voice echoed through the narrow passages. Kael hissed in frustration, "Quiet!" as his eyes locked onto the fleeing goblin.
As the goblin's shrill voice echoed down the narrow passages, it tripped over its own feet in desperation, hoping other goblins would notice. Kael's expression darkened.
He sprint towards the creature, closing the distance between them without making a sound from his boots. As he sprint near the goblin, he lunged after the fleeing creature. The goblin’s frantic breaths and clumsy steps gave it away, but with a swift grab, he yanked the goblin back by the neck. Before it could let out another shout, his dagger sliced cleanly through its nape, cutting off its voice for good.
He let the body dropped, breathing deeply as he surveyed the stillness around him. The element of surprise was fading, and he knew the rest of the goblins would soon be alerted to his presence.
As Kael wiped his blade clean on the hem of a fallen goblin, he heard the sound of metal clinking behind him. His eyes darted toward the source. Beyond the heavy iron bars of one of the cells, a group of captives huddled together, their faces drawn and desperate. They had been watching him, every one of them frozen in a mix of confusion and hope etched into their eyes.
A man with hollow cheeks and a thin, unkempt beard stepped forward, his hands gripping the iron bars tightly. “Wait—don’t leave us here. We can help you,” he rasped, his voice shaking but determined.
Kael didn’t stop cleaning his blade, his cold gaze flicking to the man but showing no interest. “I’m not here for you.”
The man’s face contorted with frustration, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the bars tighter. “We know this place. The tunnels, the traps! You won’t make it far without someone who knows the layout.”
A woman from the back of the cell, her hair matted and eyes wide with desperation, called out, “Please… if you leave us here, we’re dead! The head goblin—he’s got more guards, more traps set deeper inside.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed, but he still showed no sign of stopping or opening the gates. “I’m not wasting time on anyone I don’t need.”
The man stepped closer, his tone growing more urgent. “Then you’ll need me,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I know where the head boss is. It’s a maze down there, and you won’t reach him without triggering alarms or worse. Let me out, and I’ll guide you. Just let me go when we get there.”
Kael paused, studying him. The captive’s eyes were sharp, filled with both fear and resolve. Kael knew the goblins wouldn’t make it easy for him to find the boss, especially with the traps they had mentioned earlier. A guide might prove useful.
After a long silence, Kael stepped closer to the iron bars. “Just you.” His tone was cold, and his gaze cut through the group like a blade.
The man swallowed hard, glancing back at the others who remained silent, their hope quickly fading. “Fine. Just me.”
Kael reached for the gate’s rusted lock and with a swift flick of his dagger, it clattered open. “Don’t slow me down,” Kael warned, stepping aside as the man emerged from the cell, trembling slightly but holding his head high.
“I won’t,” the man promised, rubbing his wrists where the iron had chafed him raw. He glanced back one last time at the other captives, but his survival instinct was stronger than any loyalty he had to them.
As they moved deeper into the labyrinth of tunnels, Kael’s eyes never left his new companion’s back. "What's your name?" Kael asked, voice low.
"Adrian," the man said, though there was no gratitude in his tone. Just a shared understanding of necessity.
"Lead the way," Kael ordered, his grip tightening around his dagger.
As they descended deeper into the winding tunnels, the walls began to narrow, and the once-straight path forked into several twisting passageways. The air grew heavier, staler, and Kael’s patience was wearing thin. Adrian walked ahead, his eyes darting around the shadows, sweat beading on his brow.
“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Kael’s voice was low, but it carried a dangerous edge.
Adrian hesitated, his pace slowing as he looked back at Kael nervously. “It’s just up ahead, I’m sure of it. The tunnels… they all look the same down here, but the head boss’s chamber is close. Just—just a little farther.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed, his footsteps slowing. “You better not be leading me in circles,” he growled, his grip tightening on his dagger.
Adrian flinched but kept moving, his breathing uneven. He glanced around the maze of stone and dirt walls, his uncertainty growing. The passages twisted and coiled like a labyrinth designed to confuse even those who had spent time within its depths.
“We’re close, I swear,” Adrian muttered under his breath, but his steps faltered, betraying his doubt.
Kael suddenly grabbed Adrian by the collar, slamming him against the jagged stone wall with enough force to make the man grunt in pain. “Close isn’t good enough,” Kael hissed, his icy stare drilling into Adrian’s.
“I—I’m trying,” Adrian stammered, his voice trembling. “These goblins—they keep shifting the paths, setting new traps. It’s not easy.”
“I don’t care about your excuses. If you can’t find the way, you’re no use to me,” Kael warned, his dagger pressing dangerously close to Adrian’s throat.
Adrian swallowed hard, panic flashing in his eyes. “Wait, just wait! I know—there’s a marker, something they use to find their way to the head boss. I remember seeing it. It’s… it’s got to be here somewhere.”
Kael let go of him with a shove, his temper barely contained. “Then find it,” he ordered, his voice like ice.
Adrian stumbled forward, rubbing his neck as he frantically scanned the walls. After a few tense moments, his eyes landed on a crude symbol etched into the stone—a crude drawing of a goblin’s face, marked with deep cuts.
“There! That’s it,” Adrian said, relief washing over him. “This way leads to the head boss’s chamber.”
Without waiting for Kael’s approval, he started down the path, moving faster now that he had found the marker. Kael followed, his eyes sharp, scanning every shadow for movement. The tunnel twisted once more before finally opening into a larger chamber.
The air in this part of the lair was thicker, heavier, and a low, ominous hum filled the space. At the far end of the room sat a hulking goblin, much larger than the others Kael had encountered. It sat on a crude throne made of bones and jagged metal, its yellow eyes gleaming in the dim light. Surrounding it were a few other goblins, smaller in size but armed to the teeth with spears and blades.
Adrian stopped dead in his tracks, fear gripping him. “That’s him. The head boss.”
Kael’s expression darkened as he took in the scene. This was what he had come for—the head goblin, the one who controlled this chaotic, filthy den. And with him, somewhere, was the necklace Kael sought.
“Stay quiet,” Kael ordered, his voice barely above a whisper. His dagger was already in his hand, and his muscles tensed, ready to spring into action.
Adrian nodded, backing away slowly as Kael stepped forward, his eyes locked on the massive goblin who now turned its head, sniffing the air.
The head goblin let out a low growl, its voice rumbling through the chamber. “Human… I smell you. You come for what is mine?”
Kael stepped into the dim light, unbothered by the intimidation. “I’m here for the necklace. Hand it over, or I’ll carve it from your corpse.”
The head boss bared its sharp, yellow teeth in a twisted grin. “Come then, human. Take it… if you dare.”
Kael’s grip tightened on his weapon as he prepared to face the goblin boss, the final challenge standing between him and his goal.