The Goblin King's Hut

As the group surveyed the goblin village, they observed the goblins beginning to mobilize just outside the crude, makeshift gate that marked the village's entrance. The goblins were in disarray, scrambling to prepare for battle. Among them stood six goblin fighters armed with rusted swords and shields, flanked by two goblin guards wielding halberds. These guards were noticeably more disciplined, their hulking forms towering over the fighters as they barked commands.

The air was filled with the guttural shouts of the goblins, their crude language echoing through the cavernous chamber. While most of the group couldn't understand the goblins' speech, Lilith could. She chose to remain silent, curious to see how Gilion would handle the situation without her input.

From what Lilith overheard, the goblin guards were issuing clear orders to the fighters and shamans. "Shamans, circle around with the fighters and ambush the humans when they're distracted!" one guard shouted, its voice grating and sharp. Another bellowed, "Inform the king! Tell him humans have breached our village!"

The goblins were clearly organizing a layered defense, with the guards taking charge. Their plan was to lure the group into an ambush while rallying reinforcements from within the village.

Gilion motioned for the group to huddle together just out of sight of the goblin gate. His voice was low and calm, but his tone carried authority. "Alright, team, it looks like they're preparing for us. We'll stick to the plan. I'll draw their attention and take on the guards. Maia, you focus on cutting down those fighters quickly before they overwhelm us. Lilith," he added, glancing at her with a nod, "your job is to find and eliminate any shamans trying to flank us. They're our biggest threat in this fight."

Lilith nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. She already knew the shamans' plan, but she decided to let Gilion take the lead. This was his group, and she respected his experience.

Jimmy, the group's scout, chimed in. "I'll keep an eye on our rear and signal if I spot the shamans or reinforcements. Don't worry, boss—I'll make sure no one gets the drop on us."

"Good," Gilion replied, tightening his grip on his shield. "Jess, Stella—stay alert and support where needed. Heal if anyone gets hurt, but don't overextend."

As the group finalized their positions, the tension in the air grew thicker. The goblin guards at the gate had begun to pound their halberds rhythmically on the ground, as if trying to intimidate the approaching intruders. Behind them, the village stirred with movement—figures darting between huts and the occasional glint of crude weapons catching the light.

Gilion raised his shield and took a deep breath. "Alright, team. This is what we came here for. Let's show these goblins what we're made of!"

With a resounding battle cry, the group charged toward the goblin village, ready to meet the enemy head-on. Lilith's grip tightened on her mana saber as she prepared to take down the shamans, her mind focused and her magic humming with power.

As they stood before the crude gate of the goblin village, tension crackled in the air. Gilion took the lead, slamming his shield into the goblin line with a powerful bash. The impact sent two goblins stumbling backward, creating an opening. Without missing a beat, Maia darted forward, her sword gleaming as she cleaved through one of the fighters, its head toppling to the ground in a spray of dark ichor.

The battle intensified immediately. Goblins shouted in their guttural tongue, rallying to defend their village. Jimmy, who had been keeping a sharp eye on the surroundings, suddenly yelled, "Shamans on the left, Lilith!"

Lilith had already sensed them coming, her mana attuned to the flow of the dungeon. She shimmered out of sight and appeared in an instant beside one of the shamans. Her mana saber glowed with a deadly brilliance as it sliced cleanly through the goblin. She moved like a shadow, striking swiftly and efficiently.

It took her no more than fifteen seconds to eliminate all five shamans and three fighters that had tried to flank the group. As she finished the last of them, the goblin's body crumbled into dust, leaving a small mana crystal behind. Lilith scooped it up before shimmering back to rejoin her team.

"I think that's all of them!" she shouted to Gilion. "Do you need help with the guards?"

Gilion, locked in a fierce battle with one of the halberd-wielding goblin guards, called back, "Yes! If you could take one of them, it would make this a lot easier. They're tougher than the others—better gear, more stamina, and they hit like a rockslide!"

"Got it!" Lilith responded, charging toward the second guard.

The goblin guard snarled, its halberd swinging in a wide arc as it attempted to fend her off. Lilith dodged the attack gracefully, the blade missing her by mere inches. With a sharp feint to the side, she closed the distance, her mana saber glowing brighter as she struck.

Her blade met resistance as it clashed with the guard's reinforced armor, but Lilith adjusted quickly. Channeling more mana into her weapon, she aimed for the exposed joints of the goblin's armor. Her strikes were precise and relentless, forcing the guard to stumble back under the onslaught.

Meanwhile, Maia and Gilion worked together to bring down the first guard. Gilion blocked the halberd strikes with his shield, creating openings for Maia to land devastating blows. The guard's armor buckled under the repeated strikes, and with one final slash from Maia, it fell to the ground, defeated.

Lilith's opponent let out a guttural roar, its halberd coming down in a desperate attempt to land a killing blow. She sidestepped smoothly, delivering a powerful upward slash that severed the guard's weapon arm. Before it could react, she followed up with a horizontal strike that cleaved through its neck.

The battlefield quieted as the last of the guards fell. Gilion wiped the sweat from his brow, giving Lilith an approving nod. "Well done, Lilith. Those guards are no joke."

Maia grinned, catching her breath. "That was smooth. You've got some serious skills, platinum."

Lilith gave a small smile, glancing back at the now-quiet village. "Thanks, but the real challenge is probably waiting for us inside."

Gilion gestured toward the village center. "You're right about that. Let's regroup and get ready. The king's not going to go down without a fight."

As the group entered the goblin village, the air was thick with the stench of rot and filth emanating from the poorly constructed huts. The ground beneath their boots squelched unpleasantly, a grim reminder of the goblins' squalid living conditions.

"Look over there," Jimmy said, pointing to the right. Nestled among the ramshackle huts was a small area surrounded by knee-high fences. "That's got to be the goblin king's hut."

The group advanced cautiously, their senses on high alert. As they neared the fenced-off area, an angry shout echoed from within the hut.

"He sounds pissed," Maia smirked, her grip tightening on her sword.

Maia couldn't have been more wrong. Inside the hut, the goblin king was pacing nervously. His shout wasn't one of rage but fear. Having only recently claimed the throne by poisoning his father and then finishing him off in a duel, the new king was no fighter. He relied on cunning and deceit to survive, and the news of invaders had him terrified.

Outside the fence, the group came into view of the goblin king's defenders—three heavily armored guards and ten fighters armed with crude weapons. The goblins stood at the ready, blocking the path to the king's hut.

Gilion surveyed the situation, quickly formulating a plan. "This is where you come in, Jimmy. Use one of those mana bombs you brought to split their numbers. That'll make it easier for us to deal with them."

"On it, boss," Jimmy said, pulling a small, glowing orb from his magic box. The mana bomb hummed faintly in his hand, radiating energy.

"Everyone, get ready," Gilion ordered. "Maia, Lilith, you'll charge in after the blast and take out the fighters. I'll handle the guards with Maia covering me. Stella and Jess, be ready to heal or provide support if needed."

Lilith nodded, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the goblins ahead. Maia flashed her a grin, clearly eager for the fight.

Jimmy moved closer to the fence, crouching low to avoid detection. With a quick flick of his wrist, he lobbed the mana bomb toward the goblins. It landed in their midst, the glowing orb drawing their attention for a brief moment before it exploded in a burst of blinding light and raw energy.

The goblins were thrown into disarray, their formation breaking as several fighters were knocked to the ground. Cries of panic and confusion filled the air.

"Now!" Gilion roared.

Maia and Lilith surged forward, their weapons cutting through the scattered goblin fighters with deadly precision. Maia's blade struck with ferocity, each swing cleaving through goblins as if their crude armor were paper. Beside her, Lilith moved with lethal grace, her mana saber humming as it sliced through her foes.

Meanwhile, Gilion charged the guards, his shield raised to deflect their halberds. With each bash of his shield, he forced them back, creating openings for Maia to land decisive blows when she switched to assist him.

Within moments, the chaotic battlefield began to quiet. The fighters were defeated, their bodies crumbling into dust and leaving behind small mana crystals. The guards, despite their better armor and weapons, fell one by one under Gilion and Maia's combined assault.

Breathing heavily, Gilion turned to the group. "Good work, everyone. That was smooth. Now, let's deal with the king."

They regrouped, their eyes fixed on the goblin king's hut. Inside, the king trembled, clutching a rusted blade. His cowardly heart knew that his time was running out.