NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64: Goblin Village
{This chapter is unedited. I have a dentist appointment today really early so I wanted to get this out. I will be editing it as soon as I get home. This message will be gone if I have already edited it.}
*Axel's POV*
We walked forward for about another twenty minutes before we started hearing the clatter and common noise of a settlement nearby. We had also been fighting more and more Goblins as we progressed.
Finally just around one last bend and we saw it, the Goblin Village. I could see crude towers built with sentry's posted. Patrols of groups of three goblins per group could be seen moving about the outside of the mishapen walls that seemed to be made from scraps of crudely heated metal that they laid against each other to form it.
The gate if it could be called that seemed to be made of some large beast bones that do nothing to keep anyone in or out. I could partially see the interior of the village and it did not look any better inside. The just were all crude tent like structures made out of wood and animal hides.
They had fish and what seemed to be other goblins being dried over the fires while others ate their brethren alive.
"They truly are the civilised bunch are they?" I said with a scrunched nose being able to smell atracities from where we were concealed.
"That is what I was saying about the difference between the Goblins in here and the ones that live on the surface are two different races. The race of goblins living inside of the dungeon seem more primitive and wild compared to their counterparts in the dungeon."
"I am sure they would just love to listen to you comparing them to the dungeon dwellers hehe." Taylor cut in chuckling slightly.
"Seems like you have a bit of experience with the surface Goblins." I asked feeling slightly intrigued.
"Mhm, I did. Not all Goblin tribes are out to rape and pillage like other. Just like human and elves and orc and all of the races living in this world, they have different factions that have different beliefs and have even been allowed to set up full cities inside some of the other countries on our continent."
It was an interesting tidbit of information and I was happy to learn it but I had to raise my hand to cut her off when I saw one of the patrols coming closer to our location. I raised my hand at her and pointed forward where they where walking. Seeing her nod I knew that she understood why I cut her off before she could explain more.
It was a group of three like the others but I could also see that there was a difference with this group. The others seemed to be just made up of archer and warriors where as this group had a varient in it. One of the goblins was wearing what could only be described as an outfit made of bone an skin.
It carried a staff that was topped with a human skull that had abnormally long k-9 teeth on it making me think of vampires. I then head Taylor curse quietly calling out the name of the goblin varient.
"Damn it... It is a Goblin Shaman..."
I reached back and patted her leg to calm her nerves while my eyes were trained right on the Shaman with a predatory look in my eyes. As they neared our position my body tense my muscles taut ready to exert explosive force. I let my hand change to release my claws. If one looked closely they would notice that these claws had a different look about them. They were more curved and they had a distinct blue flame tracing the edge. I had let the Lion Forms Claws out and coated them with soul fire.
The goblins were talking amongst themselves there language more a form of grunts and screeches then an actual language. That is what I thought till I heard the shaman open his mouth.
"*Schee*, I felt a disturbance over here... You two go in there and check it out... *Schee*"
The other goblins in response screeched and waved their arms in a accusatory manner clearly not happy with the shaman's decision.
"*Schee* I don't want to hear it out of you two! Either follow orders or I will put you both in the food storage pen! *Schee*"
*Ack* X2
The two goblins deflated at a visible rate as they listened to his words and then they readied their weapons as they advanced into the brush we were occupying.
I made my move in a flash of a second not giving either any time to react as I swiped my claws over their necks destroying their souls instantly so they couldn't make a sound.
I turned my head after catching their bodies and looked at Taylor more specifically her bow. Taking my look exactly for what I meant by it, she drew her bow and started charging an mana arrow to shoot down the shaman.
While the arrow was charging the Goblin Shaman kept calling out to his subordinates to no avail making him more and more angry and impatient. As he started stomping towards us muttering under his breath about what to cook them into I moved out of Taylor's way so she could make the shot as soon as it pushed into the brush.
"*Schee* This is bullshit, how hard is it to get good slaves these days... *Grrr* I should just find some more women to have my way with maybe my own seed will be able to act as good servants...*Schee*"
His words made me sick but I held it in as he took the final step into the brush, Taylor loosed her arrow and it shot of with a *Fwoosh* sound as it sped directly at the neck of the Shaman.
Just as I thought it was going to hit I saw a smirk appear on the Shaman's face as I pale green mana shield sprung into existence in front him.
"*Schee* Look what we have here I was just looking for so-"
I never let him finish his words as I shot forward pushing mana into my clawed hands once again as I slammed into the barrier making it shatter into pieces like glass. He reacted quickly though as he tried to jump away from me as I swung my other hand down at his throat aiming to kill him quickly.
I barely missed as he tumbled backwards onto his back but in that last second I watched as he shot a bright red bolt of mana into the air notifying the entire goblin settlement.
My fears were answered as I finally smashed my foot down onto his skull making brain matter spray across the forest floor.
A cacophony of screeched and hollers mixed with war drums started to resonate from inside the village as numerous goblins began spilling out of the makeshift bone gate. To be honest I was not worried about the smaller goblins even in the larges numbers they were coming towards us with.
What did give me pause though was the seven foot tall Hob Goblin wearing a crown made of bone and bits of metal on its head. His power level was high, higher then I could have imagined for a first floor hidden boss. he was at least at the first level of the Core Formation Realm.
I knew that we were already going to have to fight with all of our might to get out of this one alive.
***
*Random Adenturing Team's Captain's POV*
I gritted my teeth as we cut down another warg. The job of collecting their hide for making armor has been something that my group has done for a while now and I can say with ease that we are some of the strongest bronze rankers around.
"Good job everyone lets harvest this groups hide and then we have hit today's quota."
Cheers erupted around me as I watched my group get to work quickly and efficiently break down the carcasses of the wargs. My ears perked at this time hearing a loud cacophony of sounds coming from a distance sounding like drums and at least a hundred goblins.
"Joey, I thought you said that there was no way we could be close to the Village!" I said with an edge to my voice that did nothing to hide the concern beneath.
"I did boss, we should be at least a hole mile away from there and they never stray far from their village."
My navigator told me with a frown marring his face.
"Damn it, I will go and check on this you all just get the job done so we can get the hell out of here."
With that said I took off in the direction I heard the sounds from.
As I arrived I saw six of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in my life all using magic and other types of projectiles to harrass the goblin horde in front of them with brutal efficiencey.
The thing that made me do a double take though was a man with bestial features going tow to tow with an enormous goblin I could only see as the Hobgoblin Chief.
They traded blows so fast that it was hard for me to follow but I could tell pretty easily that the Hobgoblin Chief was going to lose.
With every swing of the man's arms his blows struck the Hobgoblin making it back up a bit while I saw mana bursting from its back in waves as the man's power penetrated through its body.