Chapter 15
Alric felt the time drag on as he waited. He knew that any moment the trap would spring. He lay on the stone floor waiting. His heart sped up in anticipation. He planned to turn the trap around on the goblins. Normally the prey in this trap were tired, disarmed, and stunned by the fall. Alric didn't plan on being any of those things.
He was aware and eager to experience the stone slide that would deliver him to his prey. As for being disarmed, that wouldn't have been an issue for him since he entered this world. Now it was even less of an issue. He was stronger, bigger, and had his new claws.
Alric almost missed the soft click sound. It was subtle, if Alric wasn't waiting for it he wouldn't have caught it.
Here we go. It's clobbering time!
With little other warning the floor split down the middle. The trap doors swung down and away as the occupants were cast below. Alric was pleased to be the first in the awaiting chimney of stone. It was a large canal of smooth stone. Most would have no chance of resisting the steep descent.
Alric could reach his hands and feet to either side and wedge himself if he wished. He had no intention of doing so. He couldn't help the amused smile that he had as he heard the curses and shouts of alarm from behind him.
It's a fun ride. Very exciting, but far too short. I'll give it three stars at most.
Alric managed to get his feet under him as they came to a freefall stop on a small platform. His massive feet cracked the stone slightly on impact. His legs bending to absorb the impact. He ended up being pulled forward a few stumbling steps to bleed off his momentum. Alric needed only a moment to orient on the only available path.
The dinner bell had already been rung. A moving wave of mishappen bodies, gangly limbs and snarling mouths rushed towards him. Alric didn't wait to check the growing pile of dwarves behind him. He had a better idea.
Alric took off at a full sprint. His counter charge took the incoming goblins completely off guard. These were weak creatures who relied on numbers and surprise to ensure they never faced anything close to a fair fight. The sight of a moving mountain of muscle armored in rough green hide and a tusk filled smile rushing to meet them was terrifying.
The leading goblins panicked as they tried to stop. The oncoming wave of unwitting goblins behind pressed forward. Alric smashed into the first goblins. He led with a balled up fist as he battered through several layers of small fragile bodies. Bodies ripped apart and were flung aside as his strength, weight, and speed combined to make him a blood-soaked bowling ball. The rushing hoard began to slow in horror. They remained far too close to be safe from the rampage. In a single large lunge Alric closed the distance to the next batch of the soon to be deceased. As Alric swung both fists forward at two new targets, he unleashed his claws. The four dark grey bone sabers sprang out extending his punches into four relatively small sharp points. They slammed into the chests of the two goblins. Alric felt no resistance as the blades sunk through them and into the goblins behind them. The two struck were dead instantly. The ones behind would have died eventually to blood loss.
The effected goblins spasmed and fell aside in seconds, their dying bodies seizing up. The venom of his new claws left them helpless in their final moments. Even as they began to fall Alric lashed out in wide swipes of his claws. Their slightly wider profile made them better at piercing attacks. That said with such weak and lightly armored swarms of mobs the serrated claws were sufficient.
Alric's ever-growing strength ripped completely through three goblins and ripped into one or two more before the next swing came. Alric waded forward over the corpses he had made swinging again and again. Blood swung out at the end of his swings in spurting sweeps as momentum continued dragging it forward in macabre arcs. The goblins had begun to react. A large portion of the pale monsters retreating back to reassess. The goblins too close and too packed together threw themselves at Alric in desperate attempts to damage his towering form.
More and more attacks began to land on Alric. Rusted and jagged blades stabbed and slashed at his arms, legs and chest. The effect, the goblins were given a fraction of a second of confusion at the complete lack of damage before they died. The sharpened scrap they wielded with all the strength of the average shut-in was insufficient to do any damage to Alric.
Alric switched to shorter more precise swipes and jabs. The thinning foes fell quickly. The now apprehensive army of goblins watched from a distance with little care for those left behind. Alric took a second to glance behind him. He startled slightly when he found the full company arrayed behind him. Thorin was mere feet behind him a glowing Orcrist raised and ready. The rest of the company was in formation and ready to guard his flanks and rear. Even Bilbo had Sting held tightly his eyes wide and his breathing short. But his hand was firm as he stood beside the rest. The company had made full use of Alric taking the initial attention.
Thorin kept his eye on the growing numbers in the distance but Dwalin besides him gave Alric a fierce smile as he nodded for him to press on.
"We're behind you. Let us wipe this filth from the earth." Thorin confirmed with a small but no less bloodthirsty smirk.
Alric began the second charge. He kept his speed to a jog, knowing his sprint would leave his allies behind in moments.
The dwarves gave loud battle cries as they followed him. Bilbo's cry joined slightly shrill but determined.
The goblins rushed forward splitting and widening. They climbed on the walls and rocks trying to surround them. The main strategy for goblins to deal with strong opponents was to keep attacking. This brain-dead tactic was rather effective, while nearly any competent warrior could slay goblins with ease a hoard was different. Even the most skilled fighters wouldn't be able to stop every attack at every moment for hour after hour. They would grow tired.
One slip would become many as they were buried under endless bodies. Even without taking damage a normal Troll would eventually run out of energy and either retreat or be pecked to death as they climbed and stabbed out eyes and any other weakness they could reach.
Alric however was not an average Troll. He was stronger, his defenses harder, and his endurance even more absurdly massive than other Trolls. With little danger of being chipped down he could continue effortlessly harvesting lives like a reaper before grain. The wider attack of the goblins led to many passing the green meat blender to attack at the dwarves.
The dwarves were more than able to handle climbing goblins as they trickled past Alric. They couldn't form numbers or get a better position before they were cut apart in flashing steel. The dwarves weren't all in the best shape, but they had a wealth of experience. They utilized the advantage of Alric providing a choke-point of sorts. The dwarves in front swapped places every few minutes allowing frequent rest and recovery.
The battle raged on, the time blending and becoming difficult to gauge as endless wave after wave piled high and slid into the waiting darkness below. The ground grew slick in blood. The mounds of corpses rose and fell as they were pushed off the side to make way for more. The lack of sun made it impossible to judge how long they had been fighting.
Alric's breath was deep but steady. His body sung as his muscles gleamed with a thin layer of sweat. His body radiating excess heat. Even with his stamina beginning to wane he had not slowed down. He had become more efficient recovering even as he slaughtered. He wasted as little effort as possible. He relied and his size and defense to allow him to rest in the middle of what should have been a dire situation.
Eventually the flood of goblins withdrew like a tide once more. Standing there like an adult among children was the Goblin King. The giant of a goblin was covered in rolls of fat. A hideous mocking smirk spread wide across his pustule covered face.
"You fought well! Bravo! You even brought a Troll. No idea how you tricked the dumb beast to fight for you. But this is the end of your little games Oh great King under the mountain. This is not your kingdom. You have no armies this is my domain. Your beast tires…When I rip it's head off I'll make it into stew before selling you off to Azog."
Alric had been excited to see the boss fight beginning. As much fun as stomping the weaklings had been to start it had become monotonous. But the longer the Goblin insulted him as if he was merely some attack animal the deeper his frown grew.
"If he has sent word to Azog the defiler we must finish here swiftly. It would not be prudent to face both together."
Alric's head snapped back as he heard Gandalf's wise counsel.
"How?...When?"
Alric shouldn't have been surprised to see the excentric wizard standing there in the group as if he never left.
"Can you beat this foe swiftly Alric?"
Gandalf cut off Alric with a serious inquiry.
With an annoyed huff Alric turned and began walking towards the boss.
"My first dungeon run and the stupid boss ruins it with unintentional trash talk."
He grumbled as he strolled towards the confident goblin.
Alric didn't bother blocking as the goblin smashed his club into his shoulder.
The skull at its top shattered as Alric just stood there. The Goblin king was comparable in size but far from Alric's current power. The King's smile froze as his blow did nothing.
Alric pulled his fist back and punched. The terror on the Goblins face faded as the strong blow pushed his large body back. While the blow had done damage the blunt damage was greatly reduced due to his thick layers of fat.
"Haha…ghurk!"
The Goblin didn't get to celebrate long before Alric snapped his two claws out. The fist he had left pressed deep into his pudgy body barely moved as nearly a full foot of bone sank deep into the Goblins lung.
"Eeehh!!!…cough"
The Goblin gave a weak scream before coughing bloody spittle. The venom began showing symptoms next. He gave two short, aborted breaths before his punctured lung was too full of blood and paralyzing poison. The disgusting face gasped at the air in a fairly accurate impression of a bugged eyed fish on land.
The goblin weakly grabbed and squeezed at Alric. Desperate and panicked as the life began ebbing away. Alric almost felt bad with how long and painful this seemed to be as the goblin continued to suffer a slow and agonizing death. Uncomfortable with how psychopathic just holding the disgusting being close as it slowly died Alric decided to hurry up the process. Alric swung a left uppercut into his many jiggling chins. His two left claws sunk deep up through his wheezing mouth, snapping his jaw shut. The snap as his jaws were smashed shut was the final bell for the blob of fat. The frantic light in his eyes went out immediately.
Alric kept his claws out as he pulled away from the disgusting corpse with a wet squelch. He flicked as much of the filth of them as he could before retracting them. They still left bits of dark goo at the sides of their natural sheaths as they slid back inside.
"Eww."
"Do remind me to stop underestimating you… I must say I don't think I'd noticed those peculiar claws before…"
Alric gave Gandalf a happy grin that most likely was less than reassuring considering how much blood he had on him. He gave the clearly inquisitive old man little else. He had no particular reason to hide the effects of his powers from him. The fact that he quickly adapted and changed would be far too difficult to hide. Nevertheless he didn't feel any pressing need to directly state anything about how his cheat worked.
On that note it's time to eat. As loath as I am to put this slob anywhere near my mouth…What one does for power.
The remaining goblins had unexpectedly fled. Perhaps it shouldn't surprise Alric that they would act so cowardly. But he distinctly remembered that they had swarmed forward in rage when Gandalf had beheaded the boss last time. Was it the small army of them Alric had already killed or was he more intimidating? Whatever reason Alric was glad. Finishing them to the last would doubtless be the best for his growth but a rather brutal grind.
Alric was pretty sure if he understood anything about the pattern his system worked, he would be getting a whole lot of "very slight increases" to his speed and vitality. As the goblins relied on being able to survive anywhere and were faster than truly strong. The boss was different as he was far from the small and nimble goblins. He wondered what he would even use the goblins essence for if he ate them. They had no body part or physical trait he felt like taking.
Even eating the King was likely only going to get Alric essence for more muscle or something.
Alric ripped an arm off the blubbery corpse and sat on the rather comfy body as he began eating. It tasted like a weird mix of pork and durian fruit. It was edible in the same way pineapple on pizza is…strictly on paper. Alric muscled the meat down with as little chewing as he could manage.
The group was huddled up nearby. Bofur kept sending nervous smiles his way as he kept a lookout for any returning goblins. Gandalf and Thorin were deep in a serious conversation. Alric decided to listen in, anything to distract him from this terrible taste.
"…If we hurry perhaps we can avoid a fight altogether."
"Normally I would agree…We are in no position to face the defiler and his warband." Thorin gave me a quick glance.
"But it is most likely to late to avoid a run in now…We should be prepared for it. With Alric's help we might even be able to slay the coward. Bloody beard! With what I just saw Alric might even be able to help against Smaug."
Alric continued crunching away at his revolting meal. He had little doubt they could flatten the pale ork…Smaug on the other hand. Alric had yet to test his exact resistance to flame but he doubted he was nearly ready to face dragons' breath.
"While Alric is mighty indeed be realistic! You might have a point, Azog will likely not give up on hunting us until we face him…But do not put the wait of slaying the dragon on Alric. Even he is no match for that vile dragons' malice. We are not out to slay Smaug yet. We seek the Arkenstone to unite your people against him."
Thorin and Gandalf gave the feasting Troll evaluating looks. He seemed like a monstrous god of war. Rippling muscles were slick in dark blood as he ripped apart his fallen foe and ate it.
"Aye…perhaps I grew too excited. Alric for all his strength can't hold the weight pf my peoples calamity alone."
"Yes, well if we cannot escape a fight with Azog, as I suspect you are right to believe, I for one will feel quite pleased to have him."
"Mmm." Thorin gave a solemn hum of concurrence.
Thorin knew in his blood that his family nemesis would not be leaving the Goblins' summons unanswered. Azog was coming, and when he arrived he would find more than just the Dwarves steel and a few trick from a heavily restricted Maia he would be facing a monster.
Crunch!
The last remaining bone cracked apart in Alric's' mouth as he finished eating nearly his own body weight in only a handful of minutes.