RYUJIN MOVED THROUGH THE FOREST WITH SILENT, CALCULATED STEPS.
BLOOD DRIPPED FROM HIS KATANA, BUT HIS EXPRESSION NEVER CHANGED.
AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HE SAW IT—A NARROW OPENING IN THE MOUNTAINSIDE, TORCHES FLICKERING FAINTLY INSIDE.
A GOBLIN CAVE.
RYUJIN CREPT CLOSER, LISTENING TO THE DISGUSTING CHATTER AND LAUGHTER ECHOING FROM WITHIN.
HE SLIPPED INTO THE SHADOWS AND WAITED FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT.
ONE BY ONE, THE NORMAL GOBLINS WANDERED OUT OF THE CAVE.
RYUJIN STRUCK SILENTLY—A SLIT THROAT, A BROKEN NECK, A KATANA THROUGH THE HEART.
NONE OF THEM EVEN SAW HIM COMING.
ONCE THE ENTRANCE WAS CLEAR, HE ENTERED THE CAVE.
THE AMBUSH
SUDDENLY—
WHOOSH!
A FIREBALL BURST FROM THE DARKNESS STRAIGHT TOWARD HIS FACE.
RYUJIN ROLLED TO THE SIDE, THE FLAMES SINGEING HIS SHOULDER.
HE TURNED AND SAW THEM.
A GROUP OF HOBGOBLINS, TALLER AND STRONGER THAN THE NORMAL ONES, BLOCKED HIS PATH.
BEHIND THEM STOOD GOBLIN SHAMANS, THEIR EYES GLOWING AS THEY CHANTED SPELLS.
ONE SHAMAN LAUNCHED A BURST OF FLAMES [ INFERNIS ], WHILE ANOTHER SUMMONED SHADOWY SPEARS FROM THE GROUND [ UMBRAL FANGS ].
RYUJIN DODGED DESPERATELY.
HIS KATANA CLASHED AGAINST THE HOBGOBLINS' CRUDE WEAPONS, EACH IMPACT RATTLED HIS BONES.
"DAMN IT… THEY'RE STRONGER…"
BUT HE DIDN'T STOP.
HE STRUCK LOW, SLASHING A HOBGOBLIN'S KNEES OUT BEFORE CUTTING ITS HEAD CLEAN OFF.
ANOTHER RUSHED HIM, BUT HE SPUN AND DROVE HIS BLADE THROUGH ITS HEART.
A SHADOW SPEAR GRAZED HIS ARM, BURNING LIKE ACID.
HE GROWLED, PUSHING THROUGH THE PAIN AND CUTTING THE SHAMAN IN HALF.
THE LAST ONE SCREAMED, FIRING A FINAL SPELL, BUT RYUJIN'S KATANA PIERCED ITS SKULL.
THE REAL THREAT
RYUJIN FELL TO ONE KNEE, BREATHING HARD.
BLOOD DRIPPED FROM HIS SHOULDER AND ARM, BUT HE HAD WON.
OR SO HE THOUGHT.
CRACK!
SOMETHING HEAVY SLAMMED INTO HIS STOMACH, LAUNCHING HIM BACK INTO THE CAVE WALL.
BLOOD POURED FROM HIS MOUTH AS HE STRUGGLED TO STAND.
HE LOOKED UP…
AND FROZE.
A MASSIVE FIGURE STOOD IN THE CAVE ENTRANCE, BLOOD-RED EYES GLIMMERING WITH PURE MALICE.
THE GOBLIN LORD.
AND BESIDE HIM—TWO TOWERING GOBLIN CHAMPIONS, EACH ONE DRIPPING WITH KILLING INTENT.
THE LORD GRINNED, RAISING ITS GIGANTIC CLUB.
"TCH… SO THIS ISN'T OVER YET…"