Reality overload

CLAAAANG

SCHREEEENNNNG

WHHAAAP—GRIIIINDD

“RHYLL, FLANK LEFT! NOW!” Riley’s voice cracked through the chaos.

I jerked backward, boots skidding across stone as the orc’s massive, rust‑rotted cleaver carved the air where my skull had been. The tip kissed just under my left eye — a burning line of pain, warm blood sliding down my cheek.

–15 HP

“SHIT.” I yelled

“HAAAAAAAH!”

Luke barreled forward with a roar, shield braced against his shoulder. Heat shimmered around him as he slammed into the twelve‑foot monster. The impact sounded like metal hitting a mountain.

The orc barely budged.

Its red health bar flickered… and dropped by a sliver.

Then it roared — a sound that shook dust from the cave ceiling — and its backhand hit Luke like a battering ram. His body shattered against the rock wall in a burst of white particles.

“LUKE! DAMMIT!” My throat tore with the scream.

How the hell did it get this bad? Focus, Kris. Focus.

“RHYLL! NEW PLAN — PINCER WITH ME! ALTERNATE ENGAGEING! TRY TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!

NATE, FIREBALL ON COOLDOWN — STUN IT IF YOU CAN!”

The orc’s next roar pressed on my chest like a physical weight. The air felt thick, wrong.

“C‑CHAR! HEALS AND BUFFS! DON’T LET ANYONE ELSE DROP!”

“Right!”

“Roger!”

“Let’s go!”

Their voices overlapped — fear, adrenaline, determination.

Rhyll shot forward, a blur of motion. Her daggers flashed, carving deep into the back of the orc’s tree‑trunk leg. The beast howled, spinning with terrifying speed. Its cleaver screamed through the air, but she was already gone, rolling out of reach.

WHOOSH—BOOM

Heat blasted across my face as Nate’s fireball streaked past me and detonated against the back of the orc’s skull. Flames rippled across its hide, forcing it forward a step.

A single step — but enough.

I surged in, coating my blade in ice, frost crackling along the steel as I leapt, and lost my balance!

“KRIIIIIS! MOVE!”

Too late.

The cleaver hit my ribs like a freight train. My vision went white. Breath ripped from my lungs. I felt myself airborne, then—

CRUNCH

Boulders slammed into me, jagged edges tearing skin as I tumbled, helpless, deeper into the cavern. A hole no one had seen swallowed me whole.

PING

WARNING: USER MENTAL STATE UNSTABLE

PING

ATTEMPTING FORCED LOGOUTPING

ATTEMPTING FORCED LOGOUTPING

FORCED LOGOUT FAILEDPING

WARNING: USER MUST REMAIN STILL TO

INITIATE FORCED LOGOUT

PING

ATTEMPT FAILED — IMPLEMENTING

FAILSAFE

The system prompts echoed distantly, muffled by the roar of blood in my ears as I slid into the abyss.

Darkness swallowed everything.

———————————————————————

Two hours ago

Party invite accepted

Kris — Lvl 1 — Health 100%

Char — Lvl 1 — Health 100%

Rhyll — Lvl 1 — Health 100%

Lukethatank — Lvl 1 — Health 100%

Nattysparks — Lvl 1 — Health 100%

“Nice. Now we’ll actually be able to keep track of each other instead of wandering off and dying alone in a ditch.” My thoughts turning to the morose.

“Okay, so…” I held up my fingers, counting them off. “We’ve got a tank, a rogue, a healer, a wizard, and last but not least—a magic swordsman.”

“Swordwoman,” Charlie corrected, smirking like she’d been waiting for the moment. I rolled my eyes hard enough to sprain something.

“Anyway,” I continued, refusing to take the bait,

“first we need to do some power leveling. I heard from a reliable source that certain items can be auctioned off for real‑world money. If it’s possible, I want to hit a decent level so we can sell some high‑tier loot.”

“Wait, so that rumor was actually true?” Luke asked. “You can make money off this game? I thought people were just talking out their ass.”

“Yep. But we’ll need a guild before we can sell anything,” I said with a sigh.

“And no mounts until level five,” Rhyll added, deadpan.

We all groaned. We’d been walking for an hour, and everyone’s feet hurt. Mine especially—I’d tripped at least three times trying to get used to the balance of this new body. Graceful was… not the word.

“Why don’t we take a break and eat lunch?” Charlie suggested, moving toward a fallen tree and plopping down. She pulled food and water from her inventory like some kind of smug survivalist while the rest of us stared like starving wolves.

She finally noticed us watching as she bit into a meat skewer, cheeks puffed out with bliss.

“Mmmmmm… so tasty… Huh? Why are you guys staring at me like that?”

A realization flickered across her face. “Oh no. Don’t tell me you idiots didn’t buy provisions in town. You were given five silver when we logged in!”

We stared at the half‑eaten skewer like it was a holy relic.

I slid up beside her, putting on the cutest expression my new face could muster. I even tilted my head a little. Weaponized adorableness.

“Pleaaase, big sister… you wouldn’t let your cute baby sis starve out here in the cold, riiiiiight?”

Charlie blinked. Then blinked again. A tiny trickle of blood slid from her nose.

Got her.

I widened my eyes. “Pleeease.”

“Aaah—fine! I’ll share! But lot better pay me back. Seriously, how are you adults? I feel like I’m babysitting.” She huffed and turned away dramatically.

I snatched the skewer the moment she offered it and hugged her in thanks before stuffing my face like a feral chipmunk.

“Oooh, this is good. Thanks, sis.”

I pointed the skewer at Nattysparks. “By the way Natty… Nate. I’m calling you Nate. Your username is a war crime. What town are we heading to?”

Nate swallowed before answering unlike me, who was still talking around food.

“Hilguard. I overheard some of the townsfolk talking about a goblin infestation. They’ve been causing a lot of trouble. When I heard it, a quest window popped up. Since we’ve got a big enough party, I figured we could use the chance to level up and make some money.”

He sighed. “Sucks that it’s so far away, though. At least the pay is good, five gold on completion. And we can make extra if we bring the cores to an adventurer’s guild.”

“Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Rhyll muttered around another bite of her skewer, grease glinting on her fingers.

“I, for one, can’t wait to try these skills out,” I said—right before sneaking a bite of Charlie’s skewer while she wasn’t looking.

A sharp thwack landed on my head.

“Hey! Hands off, you gluttonous villain!” she snapped, glaring like she was ready to smite me on the spot.

“Ahh, my young apprentice,” I said, rubbing my skull, “those who lose focus are at a loss.”

I gave her a smug grin. “Think of it as revenge for daring to bully me.”

“Oh, is that right?” she said, an evil grin spreading across her face like a shadow. “Oh nooo, what ever shall I do with the rest of this food and drink? I guess I’ll just eat it all myself.”

｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡

“Nooo, sis, I was wrong… please forgive this foolish brother of yours!” I begged, but she ignored me with the cold efficiency of a seasoned executioner.

“C’mon, Charlie, please! I’m still starving! I—I’ll do anythiiiing!”

She turned slowly, a smug expression stretching across her face.

“Oh no… she’s got that look. Crap,” I thought.

“Anything,” she drawled. “Oh, dear little elven sister… I’ll forgive you.” Her smirk sharpened like a blade.

Hope flickered in my chest.

“Under one condition, of course.”

The satisfaction in her voice told me she knew she had me cornered, no escape, no mercy.

I looked to my friends for backup. They immediately pretended to be deeply invested in polishing weapons, adjusting armor straps, or picking imaginary herbs.

The betrayal hit harder than any monster.

(´༎ຶོρ༎ຶོ`)

I sank to my knees, staring up at my now‑gloating sister with dread.

“W‑What condition…?” I asked, voice trembling. The gleam in Charlie’s eyes confirmed every terrible suspicion.

“Oh, nothing too outrageous,” she said sweetly. “Just let me dress you up when we get back to town.”

Her pleased expression made me want to dig a grave with my bare hands and roll into it.

“B‑But I’m a guy! I can’t do that! What about my dignity as a man?!”

My voice cracked, my face burning crimson all the way to my ears. But the thought of going the entire trip without food or water… yeah, that was worse.

“Plus, you’re already wearing girls’ clothes,” she added casually. “So it’s not that big of a deal to let me dress you up a little. Hehehe.”

I looked down at my outfit… and realized she was right. Horrifyingly right.

Shame rose like a tide as I nodded, tears pricking my eyes.

The instant I said yes, her whole face lit up. She handed me another skewer with the tenderness of a saint.

I took it and ate in silence, staring into the void as I chewed my skewer all the taste having vanished.

As we finished our meal and gathered our belongings, we stepped out from the shade of the tree and back onto the dirt road. The sun beat down on us, the air thick with dust kicked up by our boots. At least our hunger and fatigue stats were finally replenished.

Twenty minutes later, Nate pointed toward a distant cluster of buildings as we crested a small hill.

“Hey, look—there it is. Hilguard.”

“FINALLYYY…” I groaned. “Whoever said games were hard work clearly wasn’t joking.”

“Riiight… never thought I’d get this much walking in while playing a game,” Charlie muttered, rubbing her calves.

It took another five minutes to reach the gates. The walls looked freshly cut raw timber still bleeding sap, wood shavings scattered like snow around the base. The sharp clack of hammers echoed through the air, mixing with the low murmur of tense voices.

“HALT! WHO GOES THERE?!”

A deep, gravel‑rough voice boomed from atop the gatehouse. A large, bearded man glared down at us, posture rigid, hand resting on a spear. We froze twenty paces from the gate. The hostility in his tone wasn’t subtle.

“STATE YOUR BUSINESS OR BE ON YOUR WAY!” he barked.

We exchanged looks. Nate stepped forward, his velvet wizard hat shadowing his eyes. I sighed internally as he slipped into full role‑play mode. More guards gathered behind the first faces gaunt, eyes sunken, like they hadn’t slept in days.

“My dear sirs,” Nate called up, voice warm and theatrical, “we are humble adventurers seeking a quest. We’ve heard rumors of a goblin den near your fine town and wish to speak with the one in charge, that we may offer our assistance.”

A flicker of hope cracked through the guard’s hardened expression.

“Truly? You are here to slay those foul beasts?”

“Why yes, my dear boy,” Nate replied. “That is why we have traveled such a long distance to your gates.”

I snorted under my breath as the guard called back down.

“Please wait, wise one. I’ll have the gates opened. Once inside, follow me. I will take you to our elder.”

He vanished briefly, then reappeared as the gates groaned open. He gestured for us to enter.

Inside, the village felt… strained. Fear clung to the air like smoke. People moved with the sluggishness of exhaustion. Every face we passed looked worn down eyes ringed with fatigue, shoulders slumped under invisible weight.

“Please, follow me,” the bearded man said. Up close, he looked older than his thirties stress carving deeper lines into his face. “Geld is my name. Your group has arrived at a fortunate time. We are in great need of help. Come, I will bring you to our elder.”

We followed him through the village. Women clutched their children close, little faces peeking out with wide, wary eyes. Men watched us silently, each gripping whatever weapon they could find, pitchforks, rusted blades, even sharpened sticks.

We reached a low thatched longhouse. Geld opened the door and motioned us inside. The dim interior was lit by torches set in sconces, shadows flickering across stone supports. A fire pit smoldered in the center, the coals glowing like dying embers.

At the far end sat an ancient man in a cushioned chair near the fire. His hands, though wrinkled, moved with practiced precision as he finished carving a small wooden horse. He handed it to a young boy, who scampered away with a giggle that felt painfully out of place in the grim atmosphere.

Setting the knife down, the old man looked up at us. His eyes were sharp. Too sharp for someone his age. His voice rumbled like gravel.

“Come, sit, my friends. Geld, are these the adventurers I heard about?”

Geld bowed. “Yes, Elder. They say they’re here to slay the nest of goblins.”

We sat in the chairs provided. The Elder studied us for a moment before speaking.

“Fancy a bit of food? Your group looks like you could use it.”

Nate, still in character, answered smoothly.

“We are famished, if I do say so myself. It would be much appreciated… umm?”

“Let me introduce myself,” the old man said. “My name is Beordu, but you may call me Elder. And I see two elves among you. Elves are long‑lived the resemblance between you two… you must be sisters, yes?”

Charlie stepped forward, slipping into her role with surprising ease.

“You’re correct, Elder, though we aren’t older than you. My name is Char, I’m twenty. And this,” she said, pointing at me, “is my younger sister Kris. She’s eighteen.”

I rolled my eyes at sister

The Elder nodded as bowls of stew were passed around.

“Young… very young for elves to be traveling. I thought elves weren’t considered adults, and allowed to travel until seventy winters.” He paused, then waved it off. “But that is neither here nor there. Eat while I tell you of our troubles.”

We obeyed. The stew was rich and hearty, warmth spreading through our limbs. A system ping confirmed the effect.

Notice: Buff of the Beef — Duration: 2 hoursEffect: +5 to all stats.You feel full of energy and vigor.We listened to his story in heavy silence, the firelight flickering across the Elder’s lined face as he spoke. It began with people vanishing in the night, not all at once, but one here, one there. A missing hunter. A child who never returned from gathering herbs. A farmer whose lantern was found still burning beside an overturned cart.

At first, they thought it was wolves. Or bandits. Or maybe someone simply ran off. But the disappearances kept happening. Weeks passed, and the fear grew thick enough to taste.

Then came the first sighting.

A goblin, small, and twisted, its skin a sickly green-gray. spotted dragging a sack that dripped blood. By the time the villagers gathered enough courage to investigate, the creature was gone, and the sack with it.

After that, the raids began.

Not organized assaults not at first. Just shadows slipping between houses, livestock going missing, tools stolen, food stores raided. But the goblins grew bolder. They attacked in groups. They struck at night, shrieking and clawing, leaving behind shredded doors and terrified families.

The villagers fought back with whatever they had pitchforks, axes, kitchen knives, but they were farmers, not soldiers. And the goblins were relentless.

That was when they built the wooden fortifications. Rough, uneven, splintered, but better than nothing. The walls outside still bore the marks of clawed hands and crude weapons.

It took the Elder nearly fifteen minutes to recount everything. With each detail, the room seemed to grow colder. Even the fire felt dimmer, as if the story itself drained the warmth from the air.

By the time he finished, the silence was suffocating.

“Well… that’s the whole of it,” he said at last, voice low and tired. “As you can see, we’re in dire need. We’re too far removed from society for the military to deem us worth sending reinforcements. And we have no real weapons to defend our town or our loved ones.”

He exhaled slowly, shoulders sagging. The weight of the past months seemed to settle on him all at once. Retelling the events had clearly cost him something.

With a trembling hand, he waved Geld over.

“Please… see that you help them in any way you can. Unfortunately, I need to rest now. My old bones are ready for a nap, I think.”

Geld bowed his head respectfully, then motioned for us to follow him.

We stepped back out into the bright daylight. The village looked even more worn now that we knew the truth behind its fear. A woman hurried her children inside as we passed. A man sharpening a rusted blade paused to watch us, hope and desperation warring in his eyes.

We reached the gatehouse. Inside, a large wooden table dominated the room, a map spread across it and held down by stone weights. The parchment was stained, edges frayed, as if it had been handled too many times by too many trembling hands.

Geld pointed to a spot near the edge of the map.

“Here…about three miles northwest is where the den of beasts resides. A large cave set into the side of a cliff facing west.”

His finger traced the rough terrain.

“We’ve tried multiple times to attack their den, but it’s in an awkward position. Narrow approach. High ground advantage. They can see us coming long before we reach them.”

He paused, jaw tightening.

“If you’re quiet, you should be able to sneak up and catch them unawares. Expect at least fifteen… maybe eighteen combatants. I don’t think there are more than that, but I can’t be sure.”

He looked up at us then, really looked. His eyes were tired, but beneath the exhaustion was a flicker of something fragile.

Hope.

“If you can complete this job for us, rid us of those vermin, there will be a reward upon your return. But more importantly…”

His voice cracked.

“…you’ll be saving lives.”

The room fell silent again, the weight of his words settling over us like a shroud.

Outside, the wind rattled the wooden walls.

Inside, the map lay between us.

Geld’s words hung in the air long after he finished speaking. The map between us felt like a death sentence written in ink. None of us said anything at first even Nate had dropped the role‑play voice.

Rhyll broke the silence.

“So… fifteen to eighteen goblins.” Her voice was low, steady, but her eyes were sharp. “That’s a lot for levels.”

“Yeah,” Luke muttered, adjusting the straps on his shield. “But we’ve handled worse in other games.”

“This isn’t other games,” I said quietly. “People here are actually scared. It all feels weird.”

The weight of that truth settled over us. As we walked back out into the daylight each of us, excluding Nate received a quest notification.

The village of Hilguard has requested your aid.

QUEST: DEN OF THE GREYDETAILS: subdue the nest of goblins

And bring proof of you’re conquest back to the 

elder of Hilguard

Goblins slain 0/20Rewards: uncommon loot box + 1500xpSpecial requirement: Complete quest before dawn for additional rewards!!!

Failure upon party termination can be

re -attempted after 12 hours.

We spent the next half hour gathering what little the village could spare. It wasn’t much.

A bundle of half‑rotted torches.

A few strips of dried meat.

A chipped dagger Rhyll immediately sharpened with a stone.

A battered wooden buckler Luke strapped to his back as a backup.

A small pouch of herbs Char recognized as low‑tier healing components. As well as one mana potion,and one heath potion

The villagers watched us with a mixture of hope and fear. A woman pressed a small charm into my hand, a crude carving of a bird.

“For luck,” she whispered. “Bring my husband home if you find him.”

I didn’t know what to say. I just nodded and tucked it into my belt.

Nate studied the map again, brow furrowed.

“The cave faces west,” he murmured. “The sun will be In line with the cliff, and will blind anything looking out. If we leave now, we can reach it right as the sun hits the cliff face.

“Then we move,” I said.

We left the village under the bright mid day sky. The gates shut behind us with a heavy thud, like the village was sealing itself away from whatever fate awaited us.

The forest swallowed us almost immediately. The trees grew tall and twisted, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and rot.

Every sound felt amplified. The crunch of leaves underfoot, the distant chirp of a bird, the rustle of something unseen moving through the underbrush.

Luke walked at the front, shield raised.

Rhyll moved like a shadow beside him, daggers drawn.

Char stayed close to me, staff in hand, eyes scanning the dim forest.

Nate muttered spell formulas under his breath, fingers twitching with nervous energy.

I kept my sword ready, the cold edge of the ice enchantment humming faintly against my palm.

“Anyone else feel like we’re being watched?” Char whispered.

“We are,” Rhyll replied without looking back. “Forest’s too quiet, but goblins hunt at night so you’re probably just some animals, but I think we’re getting closer.”

Luke swallowed hard.

“Great. Love that.”

We pressed on. The deeper we went, the more oppressive the air became. The sun barely pierced the canopy, leaving us in a world of shifting shadows.

At one point, we passed a torn scrap of cloth caught on a branch. A few steps later, a broken spear. Then a trail of dried blood leading off into the the shadowed under brush.

No one spoke after that.

By the time the cliffside came into view, the sky was beginning to cast long shadows the light shining directly into the cliff. The cave mouth yawned open like a wound in the rock, jagged, dark, and breathing cold air that smelled of rot and damp stone.

We crouched behind a cluster of boulders overlooking the narrow approach.

“There,” Nate whispered, pointing. “Two guards.”

Two goblins stood at the entrance, their skin a sickly gray‑green, their ugly forms stark against the cliff. One gnawed on a bone. The other dragged a rusted blade across a rock, sharpening it with slow, deliberate strokes.

Rhyll leaned in close.

“I can take the one on the left. Kris, you take the right. Quiet kills.”

Luke nodded. “I’ll move in once they’re down.”

Char tightened her grip on her staff. “I’ll keep watch for patrols.”

Nate swallowed. “And I’ll… uh… be ready to blast anything that screams.”

“Good plan,” I sniggered at him. “Let’s move.”

We crept forward, staying low, using the rocks as cover. The goblins were alert, twitchy, sniffing the air, but the sun was in their faces, blinding them to our approach.

Rhyll moved first.

She was a ghost silent, fluid, and deadly. Her dagger slid across the first goblin’s throat before it even realized she was there. It collapsed with a wet gurgle.

+150xp

I struck a heartbeat later.

My blade plunged into the second goblin’s chest, the ice enchantment flaring as frost spread across its skin. It convulsed once, then went still.

+ 150xp

We dragged the bodies behind a rock and wiped our blades clean.

Luke exhaled shakily. “Okay… okay. That wasn’t so bad. Plus we gained some shares experience!”

“That was the easy part,” Rhyll said.

We turned toward the cave.

Inside, faint torchlight flickered against the walls. The sound of guttural voices echoed from deeper within, laughter, snarls, the clatter of bones.

The smell hit next.

Rot. Sweat. Old blood. The stench of creatures that lived in darkness and fed on whatever they could drag back to their den.

“Hugh that’s some rank stench.” I said me stomach lurching trying to block the smell with my hand. Everyone’s face going pale as well.

I tightened my grip on my sword.

“Alright,” I whispered. “Let’s finish this.”

And together, the five of us stepped into the dark.

The cave swallowed us whole.

The moment we stepped inside, the temperature dropped. The air was damp and stale, carrying the faint smell of old smoke and something sour beneath it. Our footsteps echoed softly against the stone, even though we tried to keep them quiet.

Rhyll took point, moving like she’d been born in the shadows. Luke followed behind her, shield raised just enough to catch anything that lunged from the dark. Char stayed close to me, staff held tight, her breathing shallow. Nate brought up the rear, muttering quiet spell formulas under his breath like a nervous mantra.

The tunnel sloped downward, twisting like a burrow carved by something that didn’t care for straight lines. Faint torchlight flickered from deeper inside, casting long, warped shadows across the walls.

We moved slowly. Carefully.

Every few steps, Rhyll raised a hand to halt us, listening. The cave was alive with sound of distant chattering, the scrape of something against stone, the occasional sharp laugh that echoed too long.

“Goblins are awake,” she whispered. “They’re close.”

We pressed on.

The tunnel opened into a wider chamber. Crude wooden beams held up the ceiling, and piles of bones…animal, probably. Were scattered around the edges. A few goblins lounged near a fire pit, their silhouettes twitching and jerking as they argued over something.

Rhyll motioned for us to stay low.

“We take them quietly,” she mouthed.

We nodded.

She slipped forward, hugging the shadows. I followed, keeping my steps light. Luke stayed back, ready to rush in if things went wrong. Char and Nate crouched behind a rock, watching with wide eyes.

We were almost in position.

Almost.

Then it happened.

A pebble skittered across the floor behind us loud in the silence. Too loud.

All of us froze.

I turned just in time to see Nate’s foot retracting from where he’d accidentally kicked a loose stone. His face went pale.

One of the goblins near the fire stopped mid‑argument. Its head snapped toward us, nostrils flaring. Its eyes narrowed.

It hissed.

Then it shouted.

The chamber erupted.

Goblins scrambled to their feet, grabbing crude weapons. More poured in from side tunnels, drawn by the noise. The firelight flared as bodies rushed around it, shadows twisting wildly across the walls.

“Damn it—GO!” Rhyll shouted, abandoning stealth entirely.

Luke charged forward with a roar, shield raised. Char began chanting, her staff glowing faintly. Nate’s hands sparked with unstable magic as he scrambled to form a spell.

I sprinted toward Rhyll, sword drawn, ice coating the blade in a thin sheen.

The first goblin lunged at me, and I met it with a quick strike, knocking it back. Another rushed Rhyll, and she ducked under its swing, slashing with both daggers in a blur of motion.

More goblins flooded into the chamber.

Too many.

“Fall back to the tunnel!” Luke yelled, blocking a blow with his shield. “We can bottleneck them!”

We retreated step by step, fighting as we moved. The goblins pressed hard, their shrill cries echoing off the stone. The narrow tunnel behind us suddenly felt miles away.

A goblin leapt at Char, and I barely intercepted it in time, knocking it aside. She stumbled but kept chanting, her spell building.

Nate finally unleashed a burst of flame that lit up the chamber and forced several goblins to scatter. The heat washed over us, the shadows dancing violently.

But the blast also illuminated something else.

A larger shape deeper in the cave.

Something bigger than the others.

Something watching.

Its eyes glowed faintly in the firelight.

“Oh no…” Nate whispered. “Guys… I think there’s a boss!!”gettin all of out attention.

The goblins surged again, emboldened by whatever lurked behind them.

We were outnumbered. Outmatched. And the tunnel was still too far.

“RHYLL!” I shouted. “Plan?!”

She gritted her teeth, parrying a blow.

“Same plan as always!” she yelled back. “DON’T DIE!”

“Not exactly comforting!!” I retorted

But it was all we had.

We braced ourselves as the goblins closed in, the cave echoing with their shrieks, the firelight flickering wildly, and the deeper darkness behind them shifting with something far worse.

The stealth run was over.

Now it was survival.

The cave exploded into chaos.

Goblins surged from every direction, from side tunnels, from behind stalagmites, from shadows we didn’t even know were there. We were surrounded. Their shrill cries ricocheted off the stone walls, turning the chamber into a storm of sound and motion.

Rhyll was already moving, daggers flashing as she ducked under a crude spear thrust. She spun, slashing twice, forcing two goblins back.

Luke slammed into the front line with his shield, the impact echoing like a drumbeat. He held the narrowest part of the chamber, blocking three goblins at once, teeth gritted, boots sliding on loose gravel.

“Hold the line!” he shouted, voice cracking with effort.

Char planted her staff, chanting under her breath. A faint glow wrapped around Luke, strengthening him. A low‑tier defense buff, but enough to keep him standing.

Nate hurled another burst of flame into a cluster of goblins, forcing them to scatter. The firelight danced wildly, catching two unfortunate goblins aflame. Their death throes loud throwing monstrous shadows across the walls.

I fought beside Rhyll, my sword coated in ice, each swing leaving a trail of frost in the air. A goblin lunged at me with a jagged blade. I parried a little too late a sharp pain lancing up my side, pissed I kicked it back, and drove forward.

But for every goblin we pushed back, two more took its place.

“There are too many!” Char yelled, panic creeping into her voice.

“They’re swarming!” Nate added, stumbling as a goblin nearly clipped his leg.

Luke roared, shoving his shield forward and knocking three goblins off balance. “Fall back! Tunnel! NOW!”

We retreated step by step, fighting tooth and nail. The goblins pressed harder, sensing weakness, their shrieks rising in pitch.

Rhyll grabbed my arm. “Move! Move!”

We broke into a sprint, Luke covering our retreat with his shield. Goblins chased us, their footsteps slapping against stone, their breath hot and foul.

We never reached the narrow tunnel our escape blocked by another ten or so goblins.

“Luke, we’re trapped! You have to hold them!!” I shouted.

Gritting his teeth he planted his shield and braced.

The first goblin slammed into him and bounced off. The second tried to climb over, Rhyll cut it down. The third jabbed at his legs, I intercepted it with a quick strike.

The rally slowed them but it didn’t stop them.

They kept coming.

Char’s healing spells flickered, her mana draining fast. Nate’s fire sputtered, his hands shaking.

“We can’t keep this up!” he yelled.

And then—

The cave shook.

A deep, resonant thud rolled through the stone, vibrating in our bones. Dust drifted from the ceiling. The goblins froze mid‑charge, their eyes widening.

Another thud.

Then another.

Something massive was approaching.

The goblins backed away from the tunnel, chattering nervously. Some fled entirely. Others pressed themselves against the walls, trembling.

Luke lowered his shield slightly. “What… what is that?”

Rhyll’s face went pale. “Something big.”

The chamber beyond the tunnel darkened not from the torches dying, but from something blocking the light.

A massive silhouette stepped into view.

Twelve feet tall.

Broad shoulders.

Thick, corded muscles.

Skin like cracked stone.

A rust‑rotted cleaver dragging sparks across the floor.

The orc boss.

Its eyes glowed a dull, hateful red as it stared down the tunnel at us. Its breath came out in hot, heavy gusts that fogged the air.

Nate wailed, “Oh… oh no. That’s not a normal orc!!!”

The orc lifted its cleaver.

The goblins scattered like insects.

Then it roared.

The sound hit us like a physical force, a shockwave that rattled our teeth and made the torches flicker violently.

WARNING: HIGH‑LEVEL ENEMY DETECTEDThe system prompt flashed across my vision, but I barely registered it.

The orc charged.

“MOVE!” I screamed.

Luke barely had time to raise his shield before the cleaver slammed into it.

CRAAAACK

The impact launched him backward, shield splintering, his body crashing into the tunnel wall. He gasped, stunned.

“LUKE!” Char cried.

Rhyll grabbed her. “Don’t run to him! You’ll get killed!”

The orc dragged its cleaver free from the stone, sparks flying.

It stepped into the tunnel.

Too big.

Too strong.

Too fast.

“Spread out!” I yelled.

We scattered just as the cleaver carved through the air, smashing into the floor where we’d been standing. The shockwave knocked us off our feet.

Nate fired a fireball, the flames washed over the orc’s chest, but it barely flinched.

“ITS TO STRONG!!!!” he shouted.

Rhyll darted behind it, slashing at its leg. The blade bit in…barely, but the orc kicked backward, sending her flying into a stalagmite.

Char cast a healing spell on Luke, who staggered to his feet, shield arm trembling.

“Kris!” he shouted. “We need a plan!”

The orc raised its cleaver again.

I coated my sword in ice, frost crackling along the blade.

“Then we make one,” I said.

The orc roared and charged.

And the real fight began.