The forest quaked under the reverberations of their fierce clash. William's chest rose and fell in labored, agonizing breaths, the arrow lodged in his side a brutal testament to his vulnerability. His sword dangled precariously from his blood-slicked fingers, quivering under the strain of pain and weariness. Nearby, Aria clutched at her ribs, the golden glow of her magic flickering like a candle on the verge of extinguishing.
The goblin champion snarled viciously, prowling around them with predatory intent, savoring the dwindling moments of the hunt. Its double-bladed spear cut through the air in a menacing dance, tracing deliberate arcs that shredded the underbrush with ease. Each collision with William's blade sent sparks flying, the jolts rattling up his arms like bursts of searing agony.
"We… we can't keep this up," Aria panted, stumbling back, the golden light in her hands fading to a faint shimmer. "It's too strong. It's—"
Her words were abruptly silenced as the goblin champion charged toward her, hurling his spear with the combined force of his immense strength and the momentum of his rapid advance.
Aria raised her hands, unleashing a torrent of golden energy that erupted in a powerful, shotgun-like burst aimed directly at the incoming projectile. However, the spear effortlessly cut through the radiant cascade, slicing with the precision and ease of a blade through soft cake.
She lunged to the side to evade, the weapon whizzing past her former position before slamming into the trunk of a nearby tree with tremendous force, embedding itself deeply. Instead of expressing frustration at being disarmed, the goblin champion appeared to relish the challenge, his expression alight with excitement at the prospect of combat with nothing but his bare hands.
"Gugugu hahahaha!" The goblin cackled, his laughter echoing as he advanced toward Aria. Suddenly, a glint of steel caught his eye, a blade slicing through the air towards his face. Instinctively, he ducked, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike. The weapon grazed his ear, leaving a sharp sting instead of severing his neck.
WHOOSH!
The goblin swung its massive fist, landing a direct hit on William's jaw and snapping his head violently to the side. The sheer force of the blow sent him hurtling through the air with a ribbon of blood flowing from his nose and mouth.
BOOM!
William crashed onto the forest floor, jagged branches clawing at his back and shoulders, yet he refused to stay down. Agonizing pain coursed through his body, the arrow lodged in his side a searing reminder of his fragility. Gritting his teeth, he rolled aside just in time to evade the goblin champion's earth-shaking strike.
Aria stumbled backward, her golden aura flickering erratically as she struggled to regain her composure. The goblin's eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction, savoring her distress. He advanced with calculated menace, each step deliberate and unyielding, his fists and bare feet a whirlwind of lethal power.
"No… no more running," William growled, forcing himself upright despite the blood pooling beneath him. His breath was labored, but the unyielding fire in his eyes remained undimmed. "We end this, here. Together."
Aria swallowed hard, pushing aside her fear. Her hands ignited again, radiant threads of molten gold spiraling outward like luminous chains. "Then let's make it count," she murmured, her voice steady with resolve.
The goblin surged forward, its fists a blur of devastating strikes that would have crushed ordinary warriors. William countered each blow with his blade, sparks erupting as steel clashed against hardened flesh. Aria's golden chains coiled around the goblin's limbs, straining to impede its relentless onslaught.
The forest trembled as the three combatants clashed in a storm of blood, light, and steel. Each strike reverberated through the ground; every spell tore through the darkness. William's ribs screamed in agony, his vision wavering, but he refused to falter. He twisted, swinging his sword in a broad arc, slicing the goblin's shoulder and leaving a streak of thick, black-red blood.
The champion roared, staggering but refusing to collapse, its fists weaving deadly, fluid patterns that forced both William and Aria to remain on the defensive. The golden light radiating from Aria's hands intensified, her chains of energy snaking around the goblin's limbs and torso, yet with each attempt, it seemed only to amplify the creature's rage, making its strikes faster, sharper, and more lethal.
William's thoughts raced, adapting, strategizing, seizing every fleeting second of distraction. We need to shift the momentum... His eyes darted to the riverbank, where jagged rocks jutted from the turbulent waters. That's it.
Turning to Aria, he fought through the searing pain in his ribs, his voice strained. "Drive it, toward the river. I won't last much longer."
Aria's eyes widened as realization dawned. The golden glow in her palms flared, creating a brilliant tether that slithered along the forest floor like a living serpent. "Understood. Stay with me," she said, summoning every ounce of her remaining strength.
Sensing the shift in momentum, the goblin hesitated for a single heartbeat, a fatal mistake. William seized the opportunity, planting his feet firmly and driving his blade upward with precision. Sparks flew as the sword tore through the goblin's midsection. With a guttural roar, the creature staggered, only for Aria to unleash a cascade of golden chains. The radiant bindings wrapped tightly around its limbs, dragging it inexorably toward the river.
Ahead, the clearing opened, and the churning waters below promised a dangerous snare. Blood trickled down William's chin as he gritted his teeth and pressed on, unyielding in his resolve. Side by side, he and Aria drove the goblin champion toward the jagged edge, their attack relentless, their determination unwavering.
The final confrontation loomed on the precipice. Only one side would emerge from the forest victorious.
The goblin champion's eyes burned with fury as it struggled against Aria's radiant chains. Its limbs flailed violently, each movement testing the golden bindings, sparks of raw energy erupting as if the forest recoiled in fear. The creature's double-bladed spear fell to the ground, rendered useless for the moment, and it unleashed a roar that shook the trees and churned the river in defiance.
William leaned heavily on his sword, his face slick with a mixture of sweat and blood. Each step sent waves of agony through his body, the arrow lodged in his side screaming with every motion. Yet, he stood firm, his resolve unbroken. "Now, Aria!" he rasped, his voice strained but unwavering.
Golden chains surged forward like bolts of lightning, coiling around the goblin's torso and legs in a final effort to immobilize it. Aria's hands shone with an intense brilliance, forcing the shadows of the forest to retreat as though banished by her light. She clenched her jaw, channeling every last ounce of her energy into the spell, her body trembling under the strain.
The goblin writhed, its roar rising into an earsplitting wail, but the chains held steadfast. William pushed off from the riverbank, his movements fueled by sheer desperation as he drove the creature backward with a relentless series of strikes. Sparks flew as his sword met the goblin's fierce attempts to counter, each clash echoing through the forest.
The river's edge drew nearer, jagged rocks protruding from the turbulent waters below, a deadly fate for anyone who fell. William's vision wavered from the pain, yet he forced himself to focus, calculating the precise moment to strike. The goblin, bound by Aria's radiant chains, stumbled at just the right time.
With a guttural roar, William surged forward, his blade slicing through the goblin's defenses and landing a decisive blow. The creature howled, convulsing wildly, but Aria's chains constricted further, the golden light searing its limbs like molten steel.
The goblin champion teetered backward, tumbling over the riverbank's edge. William and Aria stood tense, breaths quickened, as the monstrous figure plunged into the swirling waters below. A tremendous splash erupted, spraying water high into the air, and for a brief, taut moment, all was still.
William dropped to his knees, his breathing uneven, each motion sending fresh jolts of agony through his battered body. His side seared with intense pain, his chest rose and fell in labored gasps, yet the unwavering resolve in his gaze did not falter. Aria, her expression fierce and unyielding, continued to channel an immense spell. Her eyes burned with intensity as she glared at the goblin champion struggling in the turbulent waters below. Suddenly, radiant golden lightning crackled to life, dancing between her fingers and illuminating the depths of her irises.
"Elysian Bolt!"
Aria's voice resonated with a commanding power, her words thrumming as golden arcs of lightning crackled and surged both around and within her. The energy gathered intensely at her fingertips, which she swiftly aimed at the still struggling goblin commander.
BOOOSH!
A streak of golden lightning erupted from her fingertips, forming the shape of a colossal and menacing serpent. The shimmering creature surged forward, striking with precision at the half-submerged goblin champion, its radiant fangs piercing deep into the goblin's shoulder and abdomen.
BZTZTZTZTZTTZ... BOOOOM!
A surge of electrical energy detonated within the river, obliterating the goblin commander in a sudden, violent flash. His body was reduced to a fine pink mist as the lightning tore through flesh, bone, and blood, leaving nothing but atomized remains in its wake.
William collapsed onto the forest floor, each breath a ragged rasp piercing the oppressive silence. His side throbbed relentlessly where the arrow had struck, and his trembling fingers struggled to steady the sword still gripped tightly in his hand. Every fiber of his being ached for rest, yet he stubbornly refused to succumb to the overwhelming exhaustion.
Beside him, Aria sank to her knees, her chest rising and falling heavily as golden sparks lazily drifted from her hands. The immense energy she had channeled into the Elysian Bolt left the air shimmering faintly, a lingering warmth that seemed almost sentient. She closed her eyes briefly, pressing a hand to her forehead as though summoning the strength to remain upright.
"Are you… all right?" she asked, her voice raspy but unwavering. Her glowing eyes, still faintly illuminated by the remnants of power, shifted toward the river where the shattered remains of the goblin had been swept away by the churning waters.
William coughed, the metallic taste of blood sharp on his tongue, but forced a weak smile. "Better than I look, I think," he said, though the strain in his tone betrayed him. He shifted cautiously, testing the pain radiating from his side, grimacing but refusing to let it overpower him. "That… was far too close."
Aria extended a hand, golden light still flickering along her fingertips. "We survived," she said softly, though her grip faltered slightly under the weight of her weariness. Her radiant aura dimmed gradually, the light fading like the last embers of a dying fire.
The forest surrounding them was now eerily still. The chaotic symphony of clashing steel, guttural growls, and crackling magic had faded, leaving only the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze and the sporadic drip of water from the nearby river. Birds, once silenced by the battle, began to stir again, their calls cautious yet curious.
William took a deep breath, allowing the crisp air to fill his lungs as the rush of adrenaline started to subside. His eyes drifted to the river, where the water tumbled and foamed around jagged rocks. "We did it… together," he murmured, his voice tinged with quiet relief.
Aria offered a faint smile, though weariness dulled its brightness. "Together," she repeated softly. Her gaze lingered on the dense woods, scanning for any lingering threats, though the oppressive tension had eased with the goblin's defeat.
For a brief moment, they sat in silence, letting their battered bodies rest. The ache was intense, the exhaustion overwhelming, but a fragile sense of triumph lingered, impossible to dismiss.
William's fingers brushed the hilt of his sword, the blade still sticky with congealed blood. He exhaled slowly. "We'll need to recover properly before moving on. This forest… it doesn't forgive mistakes."
Aria nodded, rising unsteadily to her feet. The golden light surrounding her was now a faint flicker, yet her resolve remained steadfast. "Agreed. Let's find a clearing, tend to our wounds, and prepare for whatever else this place might throw at us."
As they cautiously made their way through the forest, the shadows seemed to shift and stretch, whispering faintly in the aftermath of the battle. Though the goblin champion was vanquished, the forest reminded them with every step that danger was always close, waiting in some form or another.
[AN - Ride the lightning, you goblin bastard!]