Aiden cast one last glance toward the chamber of the dead. Even after leaving its threshold, he could still feel a faint sense of unease. The system had finally returned a few minutes earlier.
"Why did you disappear?"
No response.
The group resumed their journey. The tunnels stretching ahead were very different from the ones before. The ceiling gradually grew lower. The columns had disappeared. The walls looked rougher, less carefully crafted. In some places, they had to duck just to keep moving. The air was growing warmer as well. The smell of damp earth and smoke lingered throughout the passageways.
Mira quietly sniffed the air.
"They're close."
"The goblins?"
She nodded.
"They've been living in this part of the ruins for a long time."
She pointed to the ground.
"Look."
There were tracks everywhere. Dozens of footprints. Some were very small. Others were much larger.
"There are so many..."
"Yeah."
Mira crouched down and gently ran her fingers over one of the prints.
"They're fresh."
"Do you think they've noticed us?"
"I don't know."
She stood back up.
"But I'd rather assume they have."
Bone was still walking behind them. Ever since they had left the chamber of the dead, he seemed to have returned to his usual behavior. He constantly watched their rear. Even so, Aiden could still sense a lingering tension through their soul bond. The fear was gone. But not entirely. A faint wariness remained.
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Area Updated.
Unknown Underground Network.
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"An underground network..."
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing."
They continued on for several more minutes. The corridor kept growing narrower. In some places, there was barely enough room for two people to walk side by side.
The walls were covered in long claw marks. Deep gouges. As if hundreds of blades had carved into the stone.
Mira slowed to a stop.
"Wait."
She stepped toward the wall on the right. Her fingers traced several symbols carved into the stone.
"These aren't claw marks..." she murmured.
Aiden walked over.
"What are they?"
"Markers."
She brushed the dust from the rock.Several lines appeared. Circles. Arrows.
"I've seen these before."
"Where...?"
"No..."
"What?"
Mira spun around in a single motion.
"Run!"
Aiden didn't even have time to ask why.A tremendous roar thundered behind them.
BOOOOM!
The entire tunnel shook. The ceiling trembled. Dozens of small stones rained down around them. Aiden spun around. A massive boulder had crashed down across the passage. The entrance to the corridor had completely vanished beneath tons of rock. A cloud of dust immediately filled the tunnel.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"A cave-in!" Aiden shouted.
Mira shook her head.
"It wasn't an accident!"
She pointed at the symbols carved into the wall.
"It was a trap!"
Aiden's heart began to race. Someone... or something... had triggered the collapse. A high-pitched laugh echoed through the darkness.
"Kri..."
Then another.
"Kriiik..."
Then a third.
Very quickly... dozens of voices seemed to answer. The sounds came from every direction. Tunnels. Cracks. Openings carved into the walls. Goblins poured out of the side passages like insects swarming from a nest. Their yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness. Their weapons were crude. Clubs. Spears. Stone knives. But their movements were perfectly coordinated. They didn't charge. They spread out. Forming a circle around them.
"They're surrounding us..." Aiden whispered.
Mira tightened her grip on her daggers.
"Back to back!"
Bone reacted before Aiden could even give an order. The skeleton moved behind his master. Mira took position on their right. The three of them formed a defensive triangle. The goblins kept advancing. Slowly.
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Hostile Units Detected.
Enemy Count: 10
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They were completely surrounded.
There wasn't a single path left open.
No way to retreat.
The goblins exchanged several sharp cries. Then one of them stepped forward. Larger than the others. He raised his spear.
And let out a shrill scream.
"KRRRIIIK!"
The other nine answered in unison.
The next instant...
They all charged at once, shrieking as they rushed forward. Aiden's heart began to race. There were too many of them. And worse... they were attacking together. This was no longer a handful of disorganized monsters. It was a true ambush.
"Listen to me! Aiden, stay behind me!"
Mira's voice cut through the chaos.
"Got it!"
"Bone, cover the left flank!"
The skeleton obeyed immediately.
Mira took a deep breath. Her eyes swept across the circle of goblins. She chose her first targets.
"The spearmen first."
She sprang forward. The first goblin didn't even have time to raise its spear before her dagger pierced its throat. The monster collapsed with a wet gurgle.
Without slowing down, Mira spun gracefully. Her second blade swept through the air. The second goblin took the strike square in the chest. It stumbled back several steps before collapsing as well.
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Goblin Eliminated.
Goblin Eliminated.
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"Incredible..." Aiden breathed.
Two enemies down in just a few seconds. Yet the remaining eight showed no sign of fear. If anything, they tightened their circle.
"They're organized..." Mira murmured.
A sudden cry rang out behind them. Bone had just blocked a goblin's club with his forearm.
CRACK!
A new fracture spread across the bone. The skeleton immediately shoved his attacker back with a kick. Then he hurled his arm.
Thud!
The projectile slammed into a second goblin's face. The creature staggered back with a scream. Bone retrieved his arm.
"Nice one!" Aiden shouted.
But already... two more enemies were closing in. The skeleton pivoted. Then again. Then a third time. He was trying to protect every side at once. Bone rushed from one opponent to another, unable to hold a single position.
"Watch out!" Mira shouted.
Aiden looked up. A shadow lunged at him. A goblin was swinging an axe. He barely managed to parry it with his dagger. The impact made him wince.
The goblin tried to take advantage of his loss of balance. But Bone stepped between them. His fist slammed into the creature's jaw. The goblin tumbled across the ground. No sooner had the skeleton finished that movement... than another shout rang out.
This time, from the right. Three goblins had surrounded her. She dodged with remarkable agility. Her daggers struck without pause. Even so... she was beginning to give ground.
"They're splitting us up!" she shouted.
"Bone! Right side!"
The skeleton rushed toward Mira. The moment he left... two more goblins burst out behind Aiden.
"No!"
Aiden raised his dagger.
Too late.
A club came crashing down.
BAM!
The blow slammed into his shoulder. Pain shot through his entire arm. He collapsed to one knee.
"Aiden!"
Bone immediately turned back, abandoning Mira. He rushed to protect his master. The goblins exchanged quick, shrill cries. Every time Bone changed direction... they attacked the position he had just left.
Bone struck without pause. He protected Aiden. Then Mira. Then rushed back to Aiden. Then turned toward Mira again. His movements were becoming more and more frantic. For the first time, Aiden saw him hesitate. He no longer knew who to protect. A new crack spread across his rib cage. Then another. A goblin drove its spear into his shoulder. Even so, Bone forced the attack back. But he was slowly losing ground.
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Servant Status
Damaged.
Structural Integrity: 68%
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Aiden clenched his teeth.
"Bone..."
The skeleton didn't slow down. He kept rushing from one side to the other. Always with the same priority. Protect them both. But that strategy was no longer working. The goblins had figured it out. They didn't even need to defeat him anymore. They only had to wear him down.
A sharp whistle suddenly cut through the tunnel.
An arrow shot out of the darkness. The young thief turned her head at the last second.
Too late.
The arrowhead buried itself deep in her left shoulder.
"Ah!"
She staggered. Her dagger nearly slipped from her hand.
"An archer!" she shouted.
Aiden looked up. At the far end of the corridor, a smaller goblin was already nocking a second arrow.
"Bone!"
The skeleton tried to intervene. But two goblins immediately blocked his path. The first attacked head-on. The second circled around his flank. Both strikes landed at the same time.
CRACK!
Another section of his rib cage shattered. The skeleton staggered back several steps.
"Bone!"
Mira ripped the arrow from her shoulder. Blood streamed down her arm.
"Don't panic!" she shouted.
"Think!"
Easy for her to say.
All around them... the goblins were closing in. They laughed. They shrieked. They knew they had the advantage.
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Survival Probability
11.8%
Current Tactical Assessment:
Overwhelmed.
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