Ziplocke and his colleagues hurried through the twisting passageways of the cave they entered and stuck to the shadows. Behind them, the fighting outside intensified between the two Greater Fiends’ forces and the Ogre.


    “We best hurry,” Graul insisted.


    “Hold up!” Leandra cried.


    The three Goblins froze as the blue-eyed Goblin knelt on the ground.


    “Rune traps,” she hissed.


    Ziplocke muttered curses. Why does this have to be so difficult? He wondered to himself. The sounds of fighting indicated that the Fiends and the Ogre had entered the cave and were just beyond the bend.


    “Any moment now, and they will be upon us!” Graul exclaimed. The stocky Goblin pointed down the twisting corridor they had just come from.


    “You don’t think I know that!” Leandra snapped back and pointed to the faint Runes etched into the rocky floor. “I suppose you want to trigger this trap and find out what happens?”


    “Just hurry up!” Ziplocke growled.


    Leandra paused her work and placed her hands on her hips. “What do you think I’m doing?”


    Ziplocke scowled but remained quiet. That was the only way to get Leandra to do her job. Otherwise, she would continue to argue back, and before they knew it, they would be overrun by Fiends and a rampaging Ogre. Graul let loose a stream of curses and readied his curved sword and spiked-edge shield. Ziplocke couldn’t help but snicker. Even though Graul was a Greater Goblin, he was still small compared to even the Regular Fiends. He was tiny compared to the Ogre and the Greater Fiends. Shoot! Even I am small compared to them! Ziplocke realized.


    “What’s so funny?” Graul hissed.


    “Nothing,” Ziplocke replied after a gentle cough.


    “You don’t think I can fight them, do you?” Graul asked.


    “Seriously? No, I don’t, but this is not the time for this conversation!” Ziplocke shot back.


    “Finished! This Human is clever,” Leandra stated, and she ran off down the corridor.


    The other two Goblins followed and the sounds of fighting grew closer. They could see the flashes of magical energy flicker along the walls. The Fiends and the Ogre were near! The Goblins rushed down the rocky passageway and they came upon a small opened cavern. Leandra was the first to step foot inside and she immediately froze.


    “Uh oh,” she said.


    Ziplocke smacked his forehead. “What is it now?” He asked.


    “I triggered a Rune trap,” Leandra whispered.


    Graul and Ziplocke took a step back. This gave them an opportunity to see into the dimly lit cavern. On the opposite side, maybe a few dozen meters away, was a single Human man who sat cross-legged against the rocky wall. The Human had long dark hair that hung down to his shoulders and obscured his face. On the ground before him was the glowing red Gem of Magnificence. The man snapped into action, scooped up the Gem, and drew a longsword. He stuffed the Gem inside one of the pockets on his dark brown robe and unslung a round shield. Through his long bangs, the Goblins saw the Human glaring at them.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    “What do we do now?” Leandra whispered.


    “That depends. What type of trap did you trigger?” Ziplocke asked.


    “I think it was an Earth sense trap,” Leandra replied.


    “Oh, to the hell with this!” Graul cried and charged the Human.


    The man tapped channeling tools and formed Glyphs in the air. He Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the Earth aspect with skilled ease. Giant hands made out of rock rumbled along the ground toward Graul. The stocky Goblin dodged and flipped over them and continued his charge.


    “Did you know he could do that?” Ziplocke asked.


    “No, I guess he really is a warrior,” Leandra replied.


    “Stop your yapping and help me!” Graul cried without looking back.


    The stocky Goblin engaged the Human in melee. He was about a head and a half shorter than the man and had a significant reach disadvantage. But Graul managed to close the distance. The two exchanged sword strikes and shield blocks, and after a few seconds, it became clear that the Human was skilled enough to beat the Greater Goblin. Graul retreated with a bleeding gash along his cheek.


    “That’s gonna leave another scar,” Leandra observed.


    “Will you two help me!” Graul cried.


    This snapped Ziplocke into action. The Goblin Lord Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled orbs of flame to launch at the Human. The man blocked one ball of flame that exploded against his shield, and he twirled and dodged two more while countering with Boulders. Leandra and Ziplocke dodged the Earth attacks as they crashed against the cave walls and floors.


    “This guy is good!” Ziplocke exclaimed.


    “We can take him,” Graul stated and reengaged the Human in melee.


    Leandra was nowhere to be found. Ziplocke had forgotten how stealthy she could be. If only he knew what she was up to, then he and Graul could engage the Human accordingly. But that was the problem with Goblins, Ziplocke realized with a sigh. We lack strategy! So, Ziplocke continued to launch balls of flame.


    “Hey, watch it!” Graul cried as he was nearly killed by an explosion from Ziplcoke’s magic.


    “Sorry!” The Goblin Lord exclaimed.


    Leandra appeared out from the shadows and shot rays of red Affliction energy. One struck the Human and Ziplcoke noticed the man move slower. But, the Human managed to dodge the second ray and it struck Graul.


    “Bloody hell!” The Stocky Goblin cried as he fell to his knees, too weak to move.


    “Ziplocke! What are you waiting for!” Leandra cried and motioned toward the weakened Human.


    “Right!” Ziplocke responded and Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled flames to strike the downed Human.


    But he was too late. The Human managed to Shape walls of stone to protect him from the fiery assault and was hidden behind them. Graul grumbled as he attempted to Shape the stone walls away. The stocky Goblin focused more on sword fighting and the Fire aspect. His Earth-aspect skills were not enough to overcome the Human’s enchantment. However, Leandra was able to, and she Shaped the walls away to reveal a tunnel opening. The Human had escaped!


    At that moment, four winged Regular-Fiends soared into the cavern and spotted the Goblins with furious red eyes. The Fiends were from different factions and immediately fought each other and crashed to the ground. The cavern lit up with the Fire and Darkness aspects as the Fiends battled each other in the air and on the ground with spears. A tremendous roar startled the Goblins back to the present as the red-skinned Ogre erupted into the cavern with a burst of magma and intense heat.


    “What are you two waiting for? Let’s get out of here!” Leandra cried. She dove into the tunnel after the escaped Human.


    Graul went next, and Ziplocke followed last. The Goblin Lord sealed the tunnel behind him. But what was the point? The Ogre could easily melt any Earth enchantment Ziplocke could put up, but it may delay their pursuers for enough time. All they needed to do was to deal with the very formidable Human. Why must things be so difficult? Ziplocke wondered to himself as he gave chase.