A Long Night    

The giant Hobgoblin wreaked havoc on their shelter, the first cave that had provided them with a sturdy roof over their heads, the first ever place that they had called home, was now crumbling under the giant's might.

"N-no . . ." Rain croaked, his voice weak. A rock had fallen on his head, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

But then he saw it — the statue was safe. Relief washed over him as he noticed #4 still guarding it steadfastly, even though it was having difficulty standing. He must have injured himself as they run out of the shelter. 

Yet, disappointment and anger surged within Rain as he stared at the ruins of their shelter.

He had begun to find comfort in those two stones, and now the giant had destroyed it –– it had destroyed their home!

Rain gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his weapon.

There were at least more than five Hobgoblins left not including the Shaman and that Giant.

Amongst their group, Chi, Chin, Chill, and Chick were the ones who could do combat. There was no time to think; they were already out from the comfort of their fort and into the open fray.

"Chi, you take care of the Shaman!" Rain commanded. The magic dealer was always the most troublesome opponent. "Chill and I will distract the giant. Chin and Chick, you take care of the scattered Hobgoblins. Pup, don't leave Hana's side, and #4, I'll leave the statue to you!"

Everyone acknowledged their roles with a nod, and they immediately charged towards their respective opponents.

Rain didn't know exactly how to distract the giant. It wasn't fast because of its heavy weight, but it packed a powerful punch. One hit, and he was sure his soul would shatter, and he could say goodbye to his life.

Still, he was the leader of this group, and he had to set an example by leading the charge. Of course, he couldn't afford to risk his life recklessly, so he maintained a cowardly distance, throwing some bombs over the giant to rattle it.

Chill went for the giant and managed to cut its legs, but his strength wasn't sufficient to do significant damage to it.

"That's fine, Chill! Don't get too close and watch out for its axe! Let's keep it occupied until Chi kills that Shaman!"

Rain's strategy was to kill the Shaman. It seemed to be the one leading the whole group. He was hopeful that if the Shaman was killed, the giant would give up and run away. He wasn't confident that they could kill that giant even with Chi's help.

While Rain and Chill tried to distract the giant, some Hobgoblins went after Hana, Pup, and #4, seeing them as easy prey.

Chin and Chick parried their attacks with their swords and shields. The Hobgoblins had the numerical advantage, but that didn't deter the two from fighting off the enemies.

They might just be Crusaders, the lowest class of the Aasimar troops, but the two could handle some Hobgoblins.

#4 didn't just laze around; he blew darts onto the Hobgoblins, adding to the chaos and helping to thin their numbers.

Chi, meanwhile, had her own battle to fight. The Shaman was casting spells, summoning fireballs and lightning strikes, but Chi was quick and agile, dodging the attacks left and right.

She drew her sword and lunged at the Shaman, aiming to end the battle with a single, decisive strike. The Shaman retaliated with a powerful magical shield, repelling her attacks.

Chi was forced back and somersaulted through the air. She landed gracefully, her claws anchoring firmly into the ground before kicking up a cloud of dust as she propelled herself forward, aiming straight for the Shaman's throat.

The Shaman didn't just stand there doing nothing. Although powerful magical spells often took time to cast, simple spells like basic elemental attacks could be conjured in seconds.

Additionally, conduits like wands, scepters, and rods significantly reduced casting time. With a quick flick of his scepter, the Shaman unleashed a burst of flames, aiming to incinerate Chi before she could reach him.

Chi twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the searing heat. She could feel the intensity of the flames as they grazed her side, but she pressed on. Her eyes locked onto the Shaman, and with a fierce chirp, she closed the distance between them.

The Shaman's eyes widened in panic as it realized it spell had missed. It frantically began casting another spell, summoning a shield of ice to protect itself.

The air crackled with magical energy as the shield formed, but Chi was too fast. She lunged forward with all her might, her claws slicing through the ice barrier as if it were made of paper.

The Shaman staggered back, fear etched into its features. It fumbled with its scepter, trying to cast one last spell, but Chi was already upon it. With a swift, decisive motion, she slashed at its throat, her claws leaving deep, crimson gashes. The Shaman's spell died on its lips, and it crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Chi stood over the fallen Shaman, her breath coming in heavy pants. She took a moment to gather herself before turning her attention back to the battlefield.

The defeat of the Shaman had caused a noticeable shift in the fight. The remaining Hobgoblins were disoriented and less coordinated without their Shaman.

The giant paused, coming to a complete standstill, as if it had turned to stone.

Seeing the Shaman's fall, Rain felt a surge of hope. "The Shaman is down!" he shouted, rallying his team. "Finish off the rest of them!"

Chi wiped the blood from her claws and rejoined the others, ready to help them mop up the remaining enemies.

With the Shaman and the giant turning into a big lump of statue, the remaining Hobgoblins quickly lost their will to fight.

They fled in all directions, leaving the battlefield to Rain and his companions.

"Don't pursue them! We don't know what's out there. It's too dangerous. Regroup and tend to your wounds first!" Rain said, breathing heavily. He was beyond relieved that they had won, even though it had cost them their shelter.

At least the threat of the Hobgoblins was no more, and that, at the very least, warranted a celebration.