A fresh wave of pain washed over the goblin as she fell to the ground. The entire surface of her body was now assaulted with torment. She tried to pick herself up, but her bones felt like broken glass when she tried to use them. She could only twist her body around to watch the statues surround her. Another fighter statue pulled its arm back and thrust.
Thoom!
Despite the agony, the goblin managed to push herself out of the way of the statue's strike. She continued to fight the pain to wrap her arm around the statue's. Then she mustered whatever strength she could to pull herself up along the statue's body to get in position to strike.
BAM!
But, instead of the statue's head like she wanted, she only managed to reach the statue's shoulder. The arm broke off and she fell back to the ground, the stone limb still in hand.
The statues were now gathered around the goblin who lay before them on her back. Unfortunately, she no longer had the strength to fight them. All she could do was lie there as they stood over her.
The statues prepared to attack in unison. They brandished their weapons and shot forward together as a combined attack. The goblin's eye's shut as she prepared for the end. But instead of a piercing blow, another blue square appeared behind the goblin's eyelids.
[ The test has concluded. ]
When the weapon's strikes continued to allude her she opened her eyes to find the statues frozen in place. Their blades and fists centimeters away from her.
[ Maintenance will begin. ]
[ Challenger will be healed. ]
A comforting warmth arose within the goblin that relieved her pain. At the same time, the statues withdrew their weapons and returned to the fog.
After a while, the warmth left the goblin's body and she found herself able to move again. She pushed her hands down and lifted herself up, freed from the wounds she'd endured through her fight with the statues.
One of the statues remained before the goblin. It removed the shield it carried on its arm, knelt down and held it out to her. The shield glowed in the statue's hands to radiate its power. A gift that allowed it to protect its wielder.
[ The relic "Shield" wants to bond with you. ]
To face the Tall Ones again, the goblin needed all the power she could get. Not only that, she felt a kinship with this relic. She reached out and welcomed its power.
The shield leapt to the goblin as the brass knuckles had and equipped onto her. Then a brilliant light enveloped both it and the brass knuckles.
[ "Shield" will merge with "Brass Knuckles". ]
[ The relic "Gauntlets" has bonded to you. ]