Chapter 11: The Fall of the Goblin's Lair

The Mecha Goblin Queen stood tall as the remaining mecha goblins swarmed out of her belly, the opening sealing shut with a metallic clang.

The goblins at the front charged toward Rachel, but they were quickly met by the gunfire of the captain and his men.

Sparks and metal shards flew as the mecha goblins collapsed in heaps.

The captain shouted to Rachel: "Distract the Queen! We’ll destroy the core—if we succeed, she’ll be weakened, since her strength comes from the Goblin King’s core!"

The captain and his soldiers sprinted to the side, but more mecha kobolds poured through the doorway.

The captain barked another order: "You two—suppressive fire at the door! Don’t let any more through!"

The soldiers swung their rifles toward the entrance, mowing down every mecha kobold that tried to force its way inside.

Rachel flashed him a thumbs-up, still unable to speak.

She thought to herself, What can I do to damage this machine? Knowing now that the armor was too strong, her eyes scanned the glowing red gaps and lights along its body—similar to the smaller goblins. Maybe I can penetrate those if I target them precisely.

She focused on her left hand, feeling some of her strength return. The mecha claw were still functional.

Zero One’s voice echoed in her head: I’m not sure why you’re not speaking, but I can deduce it’s one of your curses. I’ll keep this brief—you probably have three minutes of energy left for the mecha claw, so use it wisely. Then he went silent.

Rachel locked her eyes on the red gaps and glowing lines tracing across the Queen’s armored body.

The Queen then charged at her, dragging a massive sword along the ground, sparks screeching as she tried to cleave Rachel in two. Rachel ducked at the last instant, then surged forward with a burst of speed.

Zero One. mecha goblin droping down from above.

Rachel slashed at the falling mecha goblin, not even pausing as her blade split it cleanly in two. Sparks flared and its body shut down, crashing to the floor.

She pulled her sword back and pressed forward, thrusting hard at the red light on the Queen’s leg. The glowing seam cracked, and with a surge of force the sword pierced through, bursting the orb and plunging into the Queen’s ankle.

Zero One’s voice cut in sharply: Watch out, to your right! The Queen’s massive sword swung back toward her, tearing through the metal flooring. Rachel darted between the Queen’s legs, only to collide with another lunging mecha goblin, its claws outstretched. She seized its wrist, spun with the momentum, and hurled the goblin against the Queen’s leg. The impact shattered its frame, components scattering across the floor.

A thunderous boom shook the chamber as the Mecha Goblin King’s core was struck, a massive explosion cracking it wide.

Rachel glanced at the captain, who was already readying his next shot.

The Queen stretched out her hand for Rachel, but she dodged, sidestepping and activated her mecha claw.

She drove it into another glowing orb embedded in the Queen’s arm. There was a sharp pop, the lights along that arm flickered out, and the massive limb sagged, sluggish and half-immobile.

I can do this, Rachel thought, determination burning. I just need to keep dodging and striking the lights.

She pressed on, weaving through the Queen’s desperate swings, destroying orb after orb.

The titan grew slower and weaker, its lights dimming as explosions and gunfire thundered around them, the battle raging on.

the explosions continued to hit the core as the cracks grew more numerous and the core looked like it was about to break anytime

Rachel tried to evade, but a mecha goblin whose lower half was missing latched onto her leg, preventing her from dodging.

The Queen’s massive fist slammed into her, sending Rachel hurtling across the chamber.

She crashed into the Queen’s throne, denting the metal as the air was knocked from her lungs. She slumped to the ground, gasping.

Zero One’s voice came urgently: Three ribs have been broken. I suggest you retreat and come back with a plan.

Rachel gave no reply—only silence.

Then came the whispers, urging Rachel she had no other choice: Kill the men you brought. Let me drink their blood, and you will be strong. Just like on the battlefield—your true strength relies on my power. Without blood, you cannot access it. Do it.

The cursed blade shimmered into her hand. Now go—kill them. Let me feast.

But before she could act, the Queen pulled back her arm and hurled her great sword at the captain.

The blade smashed down, scattering the soldiers and crushing their weaponry. The survivors turned their rifles toward the Queen, firing wildly as she advanced on the captain, hand raised to finish him.

Rachel grit her teeth, activating her mecha claw. She scrambled up the throne, climbing higher.

From the ceiling dangled a tangle of heavy cables. She slashed one free, gripped tight, and swung out toward the Queen.

Letting go at the peak, she unsheathed her sword midair and drove her mecha claws into the side of the Queen’s ear, anchoring herself. With the cursed blade gripped firmly, Rachel spun with the momentum and plunged it deep into the Queen’s eye.

Sparks erupted, the Queen shrieked, and she stumbled back. A violent explosion burst from her eye socket, flinging Rachel down to the floor.

The Queen rolled to her side, clutching chunks of metal that were piled beside her throne.

She devoured them hungrily, her body pulsing as fresh mecha goblins began to form from inside her body.

The cursed blade still jutted from her ruined eye, as the queen stood up and roared in fury.

The captain crawled forward, bloodied and trembling. “Please… finish this.” He pressed a makeshift bomb into her hand. “Push the button—then throw it. After a few moments, it will explode.” Then he passed out.

Rachel clenched the bomb in her hand and rose to her feet, staring at the towering Queen. With a determined breath, she activated her… mecha claw

Zero One’s voice echoed in her helmet: You have about forty-five seconds before it runs out of power.

Rachel then charged forward as the Goblin Queen’s stomach opened, revealing the glowing red eyes of the mecha goblins inside.

She pressed the button and hurled the bomb with all her strength. It landed inside the Queen’s belly just as more goblins began climbing their way out.

The Queen swung down with her massive arm, but Rachel jumped back, barely avoiding its claws.

She sprang forward, sprinting up the queens arm. The Queen reached with her other hand to grab her, but Rachel scrambled onto the forearm just as it closed in, then kicked off the bicep and landed on the opposite arm.

Her claws dug into a glowing red seam, using it as a grip to pull herself to her feet. She darted forward and leapt, hooking onto another red light along the Queen’s shoulder.

BOOOM!

the Goblin Queen’s stomach exploded, circuits, wires, and mangled mecha goblins blasting in every direction.

The Mecha Queen staggered and fell back onto her throne, twitching and spasming.

Rachel rose to her feet and rushed toward the Queen’s head, which lunged at her with snapping jaws. Rachel vaulted high, planting her foot on the nose, then the brow, and launched upward. With a fierce cry she drove her mecha claw into the cracked core above the throne.

Cracks spread wider with each push as she forced her arm as deep as possible.

Then the power faded—the mecha claw dissolved back into her normal hand—and Rachel plummeted. As she fell, her boot struck the cursed blade’s pommel, driving it deeper into the Queen’s skull until it vanished completely.

Rachel then tumbled across the floor, sprawled out, exhausted, watching as the Queen’s head shook violently. Small electrical bursts flickered inside before—BOOM!

The Queen’s head burst apart like a piñata, circuits, shards, and fragments raining down around her.

Then it happened—the cracks on the core spread wider as a crackling sound filled the chamber. With a final shudder, it shattered, releasing all of the stored energy in a blinding nova. Explosions erupted across the massive Goblin King’s body as each energy core detonated, and one by one, all the lights went out.

Rachel, exhausted and sprawled out on the ground, noticed the last few mecha goblins looming over her, ready to finish her off.

Then shots rang out as the remaining soldiers cut them down, turning the last mecha goblins into smoking scrap.

The soldiers approached Rachel with smiles of victory on their faces, cheering as they celebrated the successful removal of the threat posed by the Mecha Goblin King and Queen.

With a relieved smile, Rachel closed her eyes and allowed herself a hard-earned rest as the cheering resounded in the background.