Chapter 90 Hostage

Kieran's heart was pounding in his chest as he clutched the young girl tightly. He knew they had to get to town quickly if they were to have any chance of survival. He could feel the eyes of monsters watching them from the shadows, sending chills down his spine.

As they stumbled through the dense underbrush, Kieran's mind raced with thoughts of what would become of them if they were caught. The goblins were known to be cruel and merciless, and he shuddered to think of the unspeakable horrors they might inflict upon their helpless captives.

Meanwhile, David, Suzuka, and Larry had picked up the trail of the goblins and were hot on their heels. The mud squelched beneath their boots as they raced through the forest, weapons at the ready. They knew the goblins were fierce and cunning foes who would stop at nothing to protect their dark and twisted domain.

The trio found themselves deep in the forest, with dense trees looming over them like a menacing threat. The air was thick with the ominous sound of rain, broken only by the occasional gust of wind or snapping of branches. David's heart was racing, and he knew they shouldn't proceed any further, but Larry was dead set to push on.

"Larry, please, we can't keep going like this," David pleaded, his voice shaking with fear. "It's not worth it. We're not equipped to handle whatever's out here. Let's turn back before it's too late."

But Larry was adamant, his eyes glazed over with a crazed judgment. "We have to keep going," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "We can't let them hurt these girls."

Suzuka, who had been silent until now, turned to David with a sneer on her face. "No one's forcing you to stay," she spat. "In fact, it would probably be better if you left. You're always getting in the way. I bet you will find a way to screw us up, as always."

As David dragged himself behind Suzuka and Larry, he couldn't help but recall all the times he had let his companions down. The memory of their last mission flashed before his eyes, the one where he had been too slow to react, too scared to make a move. It had almost cost them their lives.

Suzuka's words echoed in his mind, taunting him with the truth. He was a liability, a danger to himself and everyone around him. And now, in the heart of the forest, with something lurking in the shadows, he knew his mistakes could cost them even more.

The trees rustled ominously, their branches reaching out like claws, threatening to ensnare them. David's heart raced as he heard a low growling sound that seemed to be coming from all around them. The paranoia started to set in.

After hours of wandering through the dark and twisted forest, the trio finally stumbled upon the ruins of an old fort. It was a desolate and foreboding place, far from civilization and shrouded in an eerie sound. The fort itself was in a state of disrepair, its walls and towers crumbled to the ground.

As they approached the fort, David's heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the weight of the goblin's presence, heavy and oppressive, in the air around them. The fort was occupied, there was no doubt about that. But where were the girls?

The three of them crept closer to the fort, their footsteps muffled by the heavy rain. As they neared the broken walls, they could hear the sound of goblins scurrying about inside. The camp was not as calm as the first one they had encountered. This was a main nest of goblins, and the numbers were much greater than before.

David's heart raced and his stomach twisted into knots as he looked. Goblin, injured and moaning in pain, lurched around in agony, his sharp teeth and pointed ears protruding ominously in the eerie light. The creature caught David's eye, and his blood ran cold as he realized it was the same goblin that had slipped past him earlier.

He was surrounded by other goblins and barking in the goblin language. Their grotesque appearance and sickly green skin made David's skin crawl, but it was the hunger in their glowing eyes that filled him with unbridled terror. He could feel their insatiable craving for flesh emanating from their very beings, and he knew that he was in mortal danger.

But as they stepped closer to the fort, David couldn't help but wonder if they had made a terrible mistake. And in the dark, he could hear something else stirring, something far more sinister than any goblin. Something that made his blood run cold.

Suzuka's voice pierced through the oppressive silence that enveloped them. Larry and David looked at her with a mixture of admiration and fear, knowing that the stakes were high and that failure was not an option.

"Listen up," she began, her eyes flashing with a fierce intensity. "We're going to use the same plan as before. I'll go ahead and draw the goblins' attention while you two sneak in and rescue the kidnapped girls from their clutches."

Her words hung in the air for a moment before Larry spoke up, his voice is heavy with worry. "But Helen, what if something goes wrong? What if they catch you or worse?"

Suzuka's expression softened as she placed a reassuring hand on Larry's shoulder. "Don't worry, I've been through worse. You'll get the girls out, I will make it out alive, I promise."

With a nod, Larry and David set off toward the goblin camp back, their eyes darting around nervously as they navigated through the dense underbrush. Meanwhile, Suzuka made her way towards the camp front, her steps light and swift as she fitted her battle glows.

As she neared the camp, the sounds of the goblins grew louder, their shrill cries and guttural snarls filling the air. Suzuka took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

Suzuka donned her battle gloves, feeling the weight of the metal gauntlets on her hands. She strode forward with a determined gait, her eyes locked on the front of the goblin camp. With each step, her heart pounded with a fierce intensity, fueling her desire to vanquish the horde of vicious creatures that lurked within.

As she drew closer to the camp, Suzuka spotted the closest goblin and broke into a sprint. With a fierce yell, she slammed her fist into the creature's head, crushing its skull with a sickening crack. The goblin crumpled to the ground with a loud thud, its lifeless body sprawled out before her. 

 The sound of the impact drew the attention of the other goblins within the camp. They emerged from their shacks, screeching and howling with fury at the sight of Suzuka. The sound of their angry cries echoed across the clearing, sending shivers down her spine.

 Undaunted, Suzuka readied herself for the oncoming assault. She stood tall, her muscles taut and ready to spring into action. Her eyes glittered fiercely, and she gritted her teeth in anticipation of the battle. The goblins rushed forward, their weapons at the ready.

 Suzuka stood her ground, bracing herself for the impact of their attack. With a savage roar, she lunged forward, striking out at the nearest goblin with a flurry of punches and kicks. The battle was fierce and brutal, with goblins falling left and right. Her battle gloves were dyed with the blood of her victims, her movements swift and deadly. The goblins, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, scrambled for cover, giving Larry and David the opportunity they needed to slip into the camp undetected.

The two men moved stealthily, like shadows themselves, as they crept through the dense foliage. Their hearts pounded with anticipation as they searched for any sign of the kidnapped girls. Every sound, every rustle of leaves, made them tense and alert.

Finally, they stumbled upon a shack. As they approached, they heard faint whispers and cries for help coming from the shack. The two men quickly made their way toward the source of the sounds and were relieved to find the girls huddled together in a small, dirty cage.

However, their relief was short-lived as Larry suddenly froze in terror. One of the girls was missing, and a menacing laugh echoed from behind. They turned around to see a goblin shaman and two orcs blocking the way out of the shack. It was an ambush.

The shaman held the last girl tightly in his arms, a wicked dagger pressed threateningly against her throat. David and Larry were outnumbered and outmatched. They had no choice but to face their attackers head-on.

Larry drew his sword, ready to fight to the death to save the innocent girls. David hesitated for a moment, his fear overwhelming him. But the shaman spoke the language Larry and David understand, "Khe khe khe, fools! Drop weapons or the girl dies. Do it, now!"

He grinned wickedly, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "You will not take these girls from me," he hissed, brandishing a wickedly curved dagger. "If you resist or fight back, I will kill her."

Larry and David found themselves in a precarious situation, facing off against two imposing orcs and a shaman. With their weapons drawn, Larry knew he had no choice but to drop his sword, and David, who was visibly panicked, followed suit.

The orcs wasted no time and immediately escorted the two captives outside of the shack, where they were greeted by a chaotic scene. Suzuka was engaged in a fierce battle with a group of goblins, taking them down one by one. However, the commotion was soon interrupted by the booming voice of the Shaman, who ordered her to cease fighting.

The sudden order puzzled Suzuka, who had been focused on the battle at hand. The Shaman's tone was harsh, and it was clear that something serious was happening. As she turned her attention to the Shaman, her heart sank as she heard the chilling words of the goblin Shaman.

"Stop! Or your friends die!"

Suzuka's heart raced with fear and uncertainty as she tried to assess the situation. She knew that the goblins were ruthless and would not hesitate to harm her companions. However, she also knew that she could not let them get away with their threats.

With a deep breath, she called out to the Shaman, "What do you want?"

The goblin Shaman sneered, "Your surrender, of course."

As Suzuka ceased her fighting, she noticed that the goblins surrounding her also stopped their attacks and began to slowly back away, gathering around the shaman's side. With her guard still up, Suzuka stepped forward, her eyes locked on the shaman who held a young girl hostage with a wicked-looking dagger pressed against her throat.

The scene was tense, and Suzuka could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to diffuse the situation without putting the girl's life in danger. She knew that any sudden movements could trigger the shaman's anger and cause him to harm the innocent hostage.

Suzuka took a deep breath and spoke in a calm, clear voice. "Let the girl go, and we can resolve this peacefully. There's no need for anyone else to get hurt."

 The goblin shaman's response to her proposition was his laughter echoing through the field, sending shivers down her spine. It was clear that this was not going to be an easy negotiation.

"Let them go?" he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "Will do no such thing!"