8.0 - Art of War

On the day of the raid, we gathered in the great hall one by one, our presence filling the room. The mood shifted, becoming quieter and more determined. Our raiding party consisted of two shield-bearing warriors, Kendra and Ryota; two powerful fighters wielding two-handed weapons, Luke and Daiki; one assassin, Zero; one sharpshooting ranger, Yumi; three formidable mages, Mackenzie, Silica, and Haruki; a support role filled by Anna; and a dedicated healer, Tina. Additionally, Sora and Steef, who had recently earned their bronze badges in healing and close combat, joined us. In total, we were a group of thirteen adventurers.

With our preparations complete, we embarked on our journey to the catacombs. Due to limited horses, our progress was slower than expected, requiring some of us to walk alongside the mounted members. I offered my horse to Tina, allowing her to ride while I walked with the others. Unfortunately, Yumi had to leave her wolf companion behind, as it was still too young and unfit for combat in the labyrinth. We only had 12 hours to clear the catacombs and return. With each of us arriving and waking up at different times.

It took us over two hours to reach the entrance of the labyrinth. As we approached the hill leading to the entrance, we spotted five goblins standing guard outside. It seemed they had sensed our impending arrival after discovering their fallen comrades a month ago. These goblins appeared different, armed with spears and daggers, unlike the regular ones we had encountered before in the forest.

Luke, never one to hold back his thoughts, declared, "Let us go and get our revenge for Silica!" The statement hung in the air, met with silence from the rest of us. We were all too aware of the gravity of the task before us, unwilling to give voice to our fears and doubts. Yet, there was a fierce determination in Luke's words, a reminder of the strength within us all. However, charging in recklessly without a plan was not the wisest approach.

“Charge!” As Luke charged in by himself, the rest of us watched with a mix of concern and frustration. We knew the importance of strategizing and working as a team, but it seemed Luke's impulsive nature had taken over. Before long, Ryota and Daiki also charged after him, unable to resist the adrenaline and the desire to support their friend.

Silica sighed, observing the scene. "I see Luke hasn't changed since he came here, stupid blockhead," she remarked, a hint of exasperation in her voice. We couldn't help but acknowledge the truth in her words.

With the guarded entrance in sight, our hearts raced with anticipation. The time for action had come, and the rest of us stood united, ready to face the goblin threat and seek retribution. Little did we know of the trials that awaited us within the depths of the catacombs. The clash between our valor and the goblins' defenses was about to begin, an encounter that would test our mettle and define our destiny.

As Luke ran up the hill, the goblins were slow to respond, caught off guard by his sudden charge. He swiftly took down two of them, with Ryota and Daiki following suit and eliminating two more. However, the last goblin attempted to flee into the labyrinth. Thankfully, Yumi's quick shooting skills halted its escape, allowing Luke to finish it off before it could alert others.

Silica couldn't contain her frustration any longer. "Luke, you have to wait until everyone is ready and come up with a plan! What if one of them escaped and alerted all the goblins inside? What have we been planning for the last week?" Her words echoed with a mix of scolding and concern.

The rest of us couldn't help but grin as Silica gave an earful to Luke and the others. Sora and Steef, who were relatively new to the group, stared at the fallen goblins, their expressions a mix of curiosity and awe. This was their first encounter with goblins, let alone seeing them dead. I remembered the impact of my first encounter, how it had taken the breath right out of me and left me speechless for the rest of the day.

We researched various strategies for dealing with large groups of goblins, gathering knowledge from experienced adventurers and online resources. Smoke and fire were common suggestions, but we hesitated to use such methods within the labyrinth, not wanting to cause unnecessary damage. We thought it was unwise to burn catacombs, where dead bodies were buried, though they were already dead. Karma, I guess. Our plan was relatively simple: move in and clear each room one by one while the goblins were sleeping, retreating if we encountered an overwhelming number, or awake in large amounts of goblins.

"Let's stick to the plan," I said, trying to regain control of the situation. "We have trained for this, and we know what we're capable of. Together, we will succeed." The group nodded, refocusing their determination and readiness to face the challenges that lay ahead.

We entered the labyrinth, the darkness engulfing us as expected. Only Haruka and I were capable of using light magic, some of us carried lanterns filled with oil to guide our way but the lanterns in this world were not great quality as little light was formed. I didn't particularly enjoy being a human flashlight, but it was a necessary role. My light magic was brighter, allowing us to uncover hidden areas more easily. Being able to see was the first challenge we faced.

The group proceeded, with Luke, Ryota, Daiki, Zero, and myself taking the lead. Silica, Yumi, Anna, Tina, and Haruka formed the middle, while Sora, Steef, and Kendra guarded the rear. I knew Kendra might not have liked being at the back, but her strength and skill were invaluable in protecting us from any surprises.

Our lanterns flickered in the darkness, casting eerie shadows as we advanced. Using our light spells and the dim glow of our lanterns, we discovered goblins sleeping in the first few rooms. Quietly and swiftly, we assassinated them in their slumber without stirring the others. As we progressed, the number of sleeping goblins increased, requiring us to repeat the same tactic. However, in one unfortunate instance, Sora's attempt to silently kill a sleeping goblin had failed, causing it to jolt in pain and awaken the rest.

AHHHH! The goblin screamed as Soro leaned in with a sword into his chest. The roar awakened all the goblins in the room. Causing panic to quickly rise.

The vanguard, led primarily by Luke and Ryota, reacted swiftly, dispatching the awakened goblins before they could mount a defense. Daiki couldn't help but reprimand Sora, "Way to go, Sora, you idiot."

Sora hung his head, expressing remorse. "Sorry, brother. It won't happen again," he promised.

I intervened, diffusing the tension. "It's fine," I reassured them. "We handled the situation without any major issues."

We continued into the next set of rooms, only to find some goblins already awake due to the commotion from the previous encounter. The battle ensued, with clashes of magic and the echoing sounds of swords. Amidst the chaos, Kendra's voice rang out from the rear, alerting us to an approaching wave from deeper within the labyrinth.

"Retreat outside!" I shouted, realizing that fighting in the darkness would put us at a severe disadvantage. "We can't continue the fight here; it's too dark."

We swiftly regrouped and retraced our steps, making our way back toward the entrance of the labyrinth. The goblins pursued us, their growls and footsteps echoing in the corridors. Our hearts raced with a mix of fear and determination, knowing that our only chance lay in regaining the advantage of light and space outside the labyrinth's confines.

We regrouped outside the labyrinth, relieved that everyone had made it except Zero.... “Where’s Zero!”,

“He must be still inside! We have to go back in!”