Mastery Is Earned

The glare had left the Dragonblood Goblin unable to see through its remaining right eye. Sensing danger, it started to open its mouth, but Raymond’s shortsword pierced its eyeball. It shrieked in agony.

Raymond gripped the hilt tightly, forced the blade deeper, and twisted hard. He did not ease the pressure until the Dragonblood Goblin stopped struggling and its body went limp.

“Henk!” Raymond shouted. He pulled out the shortsword, reversed his grip, and tossed it hilt-first toward him.

Henk raised a hand and caught it. The Greater Goblin pinned beneath him could not break free and could only hammer its fists against his waist and stomach. Henk raised the shortsword and stabbed it again and again. Only when the creature finally stopped moving did he let out a long breath.

Less than half a minute had passed between Henk’s appearance and Raymond piercing the Dragonblood Goblin’s remaining eye, yet the course of the battle had reversed dramatically.

The goblins still fighting Dario and his men lost all courage when they saw the Dragonblood Goblin and the Greater Goblin fall one after the other. Clutching their heads, they scattered through the cavern in panic.

The crossbowman stationed near the exit flinched as the goblins came swarming toward him, but he immediately drew the shortsword at his waist and blocked their escape. Once Raymond and Henk joined the fight, the remaining goblins could no longer resist. The group soon wiped them out.

Only after the last goblin had been killed did Raymond sink to the ground. He fell back and lay there, gasping for breath.

Ever since the Dragonblood Goblin had emerged from the cave, he had noticed how sensitive it was to bright light. When he reached the quarry hall, he had also spotted a collapsed section along one side, with light filtering down from above.

That was why, after returning to the upper level, Raymond had told Henk to break through the loosened rock in the collapsed section. They would strike when the sudden flood of light left the Dragonblood Goblin unable to see. In the end, Raymond had used the shortsword Tom left behind to pierce the creature’s other eye and kill it.

“Raymond, Henk, we couldn’t have done this without you...” Dario broke off in a violent fit of coughing. He was wounded as well. Three claw marks across his chest had torn straight through his hardened leather armor. Three bloody gashes showed on the exposed skin beneath, with faint wisps of black smoke rising from them.

The remaining wounded were helped to their feet one by one.

“Did we... win?” a badly wounded mercenary asked with a dry cough as someone helped him up.

Dario surveyed the scene with a bitter expression. “If this can be called a victory, then I hope we never have another one like it.” His words silenced everyone. No one felt any joy at their victory. Grief hung heavily over the battlefield instead.

Raymond struggled back to his feet and spoke slowly. “Today, we should celebrate the courage we showed. At the same time, we must mourn the comrades we lost. They were strong warriors, and I am honored to have fought beside them.”

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“May the Holy Light watch over their souls,” one soldier murmured.

“May the Holy Light watch over their souls...” the others echoed.

Raymond murmured the words along with them, then turned to Dario. “Captain Dario, there are still villagers imprisoned below, waiting for us to rescue them. This is no time to grieve.”

“Yes, you’re right.” Dario shook his head, then addressed the others. “Two of you stay here and tend to the wounded. Everyone else, come with me!”

Raymond and Henk had just come from below, but no one could be certain the lower level was completely safe. More goblins might still be hiding elsewhere, so it was best to remain cautious.

Fortunately, they encountered no further trouble. As soon as Raymond and the others reopened the wooden door, the captive villagers surged toward it, each desperate to get out ahead of the rest.

Dario abruptly drew the weapon at his waist.

The cell lay in the farthest corner, beyond the reach of the lamps outside, and its interior remained murky. In the darkness, the sound of Dario drawing his weapon rang especially clear. The restless crowd fell silent at once.

“Quiet! Come out one at a time, and don’t push. If anyone makes trouble, I won’t go easy on them!” Dario said coldly.

Faced with his drawn weapon, no one dared to move recklessly again. They formed a line and filed out. A soldier led the way while the survivors followed him up to the quarry hall.

The hall above was a scene of carnage, littered with dead goblins and two human corpses battered beyond recognition. The survivors began retching as soon as they entered. Most were young men and women, though there were several children among them. There were more than ten in all—a sizable group.

With the survivors’ help, moving the wounded became much easier. Supporting one another, the group slowly made its way toward the cave entrance.

Henk returned the shortsword to Raymond, then retrieved the hand-and-a-half sword he had left in the hall.

Raymond, Henk, and the two mercenaries who could still move asked the physician waiting outside to treat the critically wounded first. They then took their weapons back to the battlefield and began cutting the right ears from the goblins. Though all four of them were injured, the ears were trophies that could be exchanged for bounty money and could not simply be left behind.

The Dragonblood Goblin was especially important. It had been the most important target of the expedition, but its entire body was far too heavy for Raymond to take with him. After some hesitation, he decided to bring back its head as proof. He tried one blow, but the scales stopped the blade. Pain tore through his chest and ribs, forcing him to stop and brace a hand on his knee as he caught his breath.

Scales covered the Dragonblood Goblin’s neck as well. They were thin and of excellent quality, and seemed well suited to making armor. Yet knowing that they came from an intelligent creature, Raymond could not bring himself to regard them as mere materials.

“Let me.” Seeing that Raymond had no strength left, Henk raised his hand-and-a-half sword and severed the Dragonblood Goblin’s neck with a single blow. Raymond found a piece of torn cloth, wrapped the head in it, and prepared to take it back to Blackstone.

As for the other goblins’ ears, Henk and the mercenaries eagerly set about collecting them. They were valuable trophies, after all, and would earn them a handsome bounty once they returned to Blackstone.

They had killed four Greater Goblins in this expedition alone, along with more than a hundred big goblins and ordinary goblins. Even at the original rates, the trophies were worth more than thirty silver coins. With the bounties now doubled, the actual payment would be higher still. On top of that, Raymond would receive the twenty silver coins Dario had personally promised him.

Once everything was ready, Dario regrouped with those waiting outside. The group took the bodies of the fallen with them and escorted the wounded and the rescued villagers back toward Graypine Village.

Blackstone was still a long way off. But once they reached Graypine Village, they could send two people ahead to report what had happened. Blackstone would then send a group to meet them and help bring back the wounded and the survivors.