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We reach a staircase leading up into the forge. Warzheil motions for me to follow, and we emerge into a dimly lit hallway. The forge is alive with activity—goblins hammering away at crude weapons, their guttural voices echoing through the corridors.
“You go to the third-to-last room from here,” Warzheil instructs. “I’ll gather the materials we need. Meet me back in five minutes. The longer we stay, the riskier it gets.”
We separate, and I make my way to the storeroom. I slowly open the door, revealing a dark, dusty interior. I close the door behind me and use the tip of my spear as a makeshift torch. Time is of the essence.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg9cUQL5NZ
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“Boy this place is filled with webs bigger than my spear.” Just as I whisper this, a big spider falls on my left arm which reminds me of Geolard so I flinch and l lose balance trying to get it off me. Just before I fell on things and made a ruckus, I use the spear as a support to steady myself.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT1t2dttt4
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God that could have been a disaster, imagine an army of goblins waiting for me outside the room if I fell. A chill runs down my spine when I run stimulations of possible events in my head.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXiKUHPRNg
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I spot small pockets similar to Warzheil’s and test one. It can store anything!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADMcoBNIOT
“Jackpot!”
I think probably grinning like a madman too.
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But just when I was getting happy, a strange T symbol burned on the pockets, and then the pockets turned into light and went straight into my right eye.
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“What?”
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I ask almost hitting against a big mannequin dawning a full armour.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7pDqFbc5j
I Quickly grab it before it fell.
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Last thing I want is Warzheil laughing at me on being a sloppy assassin.
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“But if the pockets went into my eye, doesn’t that mean….” I think as I reach out my hand toward the mannequin, and surely enough it vanishes.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3r6XyuOAt
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I almost reach out my arm again to try takin git back out but realise that if it fell and made a sound I can be a goner. So I leave the testing for later.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHTHvmE2GR
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Finally, I spot a plain-looking tome with a symbol resembling my eye etched on the cover I take out the book I had from before and they both resemble each other, suddenly the books starts to pull towards each other and combine into one big book. This day and my abilities are getting questionable by the minute.
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The book glows faintly. Some of its previously inaccessible pages now shimmer with visible text, still written in Sanskrit. It feels as though the book has unlocked another layer of itself. But I have already wasted enough time, so I focus on the book and it vanishes too, possibly stored in the pocket that went into my right eye.
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Still Curious, I glance at my plasma spear. The same ‘T’ symbol burns onto its surface, and the weapon begins to hum with newfound energy.
“What is this power?” I whisper, feeling a mixture of awe and unease as the reality of my strange abilities sinks in.
Wow, I really need a guide on what my powers are.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBomfprnS4
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I start Using my storage ability to make more weapons and things vanish, and since I cannot use my spear here, I vanish it too, instead taking two daggers. Just as I finish, the sound of heavy footsteps outside sends me ducking behind a crate. A group of goblins trudges past, their guttural voices echoing through the storeroom like low growls.
“Why… why us guard?” one of them grunts, its words slow and clipped. “King feast and mock lich. We... stuck here. Always us!”
“Quiet,” another growls, its deeper voice laced with irritation. “Better here... than surface. Goruk’s group… dead! Blade—bright… cut through!”
“Hah! Stupid humans,” the third one sneers, its voice rough and raspy. “Blade… no help. Smash skull, they die… all same.”
The deep-voiced one lets out a low rumble. “Champion say... mana-less freak… strong. Near river. Kill goblins. No magic… still kill. Weaklings!...Lich say”
The first one snorts, baring jagged teeth. “Mana-less? Bah. Lie! Goblins dumb. Always fall easy!”
“Gut them!” the raspy one barks, slamming its fist into its open palm. “No talk. No fight. Just gut!”
“Enough!” the deep-voiced one snaps, its tone sharp. “Dwarf first. If no answers... champion feed us to king. Now move!”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmAC2Xnk1F
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“Wait, Dwarf? That old man just can’t sit still for once, huh?” I think as I fear that Warzheil is captured.
I try my best to stay low, letting them pass before silently following them down the dimly lit hallway. Every shadow, every faint noise puts me on edge, but my movements are deliberate—silent, efficient, trying to recall the days of my prime.
As I trail the hobgoblins, a smaller goblin rounds a corner ahead, its crooked form carrying a crude axe. It pauses mid-step, its nose twitching furiously as it sniffs the air, almost like it’s caught my scent. Blood would be a dead giveaway to the hobgoblins, and I can’t risk alerting them.
Before it can react, I dart forward, swift and silent. My hand clamps over its mouth to muffle any noise I wait for the hobs to make some distance and notice them taking a turn in the corridor, I use my strength to restrict the goblin’s movement, as they turn I twist the goblin’s neck sharply. The sickening crack echoes briefly in the silence, and the its body goes limp in my grasp. I carefully lower it to the ground, ensuring no sound escapes to betray my position.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcLXD9D84f
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The faint twitch of the goblin’s nose stops as its life fades.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdr6NR6qHA
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Leaving no trace of blood that might draw attention Spilling blood right now will only alert the goblins, but maybe I can use that for my advantage.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTds1xqaBC
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I glance down the corridor, ears sharp for any sign of movement, before slipping back into the shadows to continue my pursuit.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLTNOteBwE
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I take a few breaths to reset my hormones to not go crazy from the disgusting smell of these filthy goblins.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwh4ue98wN
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Slip into a darker alcove as another goblin stumbles out of a side room, scratching its head and muttering to itself.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3doMqArCJP
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Its mismatched Armor clinks with every step.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaoxJyCyBq
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Without hesitation, I grab a nearby metal shard, hurling it with precision.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW5ri2fmHr
The shard strikes its temple, the goblin collapsing in a heap.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMRNjWg8f7
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I move quickly to drag its body into the shadows,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9H36rohty5
ensuring no trace of my presence is left behind.
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Two more goblins come patrolling as I reach the turn in the corridor, their guttural chatter filling the air.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdMFArYVlw
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I scale the wall, finding handholds in the rough stone, and perch above them. As they pass below me,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0z0Ryg60s
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I drop down, driving the daggers through the back of one while snapping the neck of the other with my free hand.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHtrJIEboD
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The entire encounter took only seconds.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG365qiSAW3
Silent. Deadly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nesduq7pZ
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Soon they will surely notice the smell of blood,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSqSazU7oQ
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We need to make our exit before that happens,18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Beqc5B8NY
it’s all that Oldman’s fault, getting caught in such dire mission.
Every action I take is calculated, born from years of training and practice.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHIu0YIhzT
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My hitman instincts kick in, the familiar rhythm of combat flowing effortlessly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt4d7ZKzgf
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Hit hard. Hit fast. Leave nothing behind.
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There are many rooms in the corridor, I use my ears as if focusing them as I try to assess the sounds from each door I pass.
By the time I reach the rooms where 4 hobgoblins have Warzheil, no trace of the goblins I’ve eliminated remains.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8YJvEEC2t
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Their bodies are hidden, their deaths quick and unceremonious. I steady my breathing, preparing for the next move.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa3ctync2A
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I find the room where Warzheil is captured and put on my mask to hide the glow from my left eye to avoid getting caught as the room is very dimly lit.
The hobgoblins’ guttural voices reach my ears, their threats loud and raw. I peer into the room, assessing the scene and waiting for the perfect moment to Slide in as I use my knife to loosen the hinges, yet they make some sound, one of the Hobs look back over his shoulder but I slide into the shadows into few barrels near there using my suit’s anti-light property.
Warzheil glares at the hobgoblins, his voice steady despite the danger. “You lot talk too much. Poor bastards, normally you would just kill your victim, but since your king told you not to, you are stuck doing torture, something which you don’t know shit about.”
As he says this, his eyes flicker to the shadowed corner of the doorway, just for an instant. It’s subtle, almost imperceptible, but it’s enough to let me know he’s seen me.
A grin spreads across his face, slow and deliberate, his entire demeanour shifting. The tension in his shoulders eases, and he leans back in the chair as if he’s entirely unbothered by the three hulking figures surrounding him.
The largest hob narrows its eyes, confused by the sudden change in the dwarf’s attitude. “Why you smirk, daarf? You think pain funny? We kill, we powerful” he says as he flex his muscles.
Warzheil chuckles, his confidence growing. “Since, you fools are such bad torturers, I tell you this, I did not come here alone. I have a friend who will soon come and save me.”
The first hob snarls, its claws flexing. “Lies! No one coming for you. You alone!”
The second hob glances at the doorway, suspicion creeping into its tone. “Why you so calm? You think you escape? We capture your friend too. Eat him infront of you. Haha, Oguda, king tell, one more with the dwaaf.” He orders a hobgoblin to leave.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uMBcKe9Vb
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I thought I would get captured, but thank fully night is already around the horizon, and with darkness, their sight is as good as gone, at least that’s the only reason I can find, why else would he not see me.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V1bNtGSgA
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Warzheil’s grin deepens, and he leans forward slightly, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Escape? Who said anything about me escaping? I’m right where I need to be. It’s you three who should be looking over your shoulders.”
The hobs exchange uneasy glances, their earlier bravado faltering.
The third hob growls, its voice tinged with nervousness. “What you mean? No one here. You bluff, dwarf. I break your arm!” one of the hob gets furious and moves toward Warzheil.
Warzheil seem awestruck by how well I am hidden in plain sight, It took me years to get so good at this. And my suit has light cancelling features, although it is torn from some parts, its enough to be better hidden in dark. I can completely erase my presence despite being in plain view, all it requires is controlled breathing of 2 breaths per minute. The lack of mana gives me an edge, but even without this advantage, I am confident in my mastery of stealth and positioning. But I can’t let the hob goblin do as he wants.
The hobs, oblivious of their impending deaths, continue their threats.
Warzheil smirks. “Oh, he’s here. You’re just too dumb to see him.”
As the hobgoblins scan the room in panic, I take the right moment to strikes.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysP5yLeLuy
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From Warzheil’s perspective, Ronin moves like a shadow given form, using daggers like a seasoned fighter, The first hob barely has time to gasp before the silver lining of blade pierces its head, cutting cleanly through skin and bone. The creature crumples to the floor in an instant, lifeless.
The second hob turns with a guttural roar, its crude axe raised to strike. But Ronin is faster. His hand arcs upward in a controlled, deadly sweep, severing the axe and slashing deep into the hob’s throat. Blood sprays across the dimly lit room as the hob collapses, clutching at its neck.
The third hob, the largest of the group, stumbles backward, its wide, bloodshot eyes darting between Ronin and Warzheil. “How…? No mana! What are you?” it snarls, desperation tainting its voice.
Its gaze locks onto Ronin’s figure, Then, as if a realization dawns, its expression twists into something between fear and rage. “No… You… You’re him!” the hob growls, its voice trembling. “The mana-less freak! The one the champion spoke of!”
Ronin remains silent, as he takes a measured step forward. The hob’s grip on its weapon falters, and it stumbles again, nearly tripping over the body of its fallen companion.
“They said you… impossible to sense,” the hob continues, its words spilling out in a frantic rush. “Kill squads wiped out. Champion says you ghost… a shadow with no mana, no scent, no fear!”
Warzheil, now freed, glances at Ronin with a raised eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Sounds like you’re getting quite the reputation, lad.”
The hob snarls, backing toward the wall as its trembling hands raise its weapon in a feeble attempt at defence. “Stay back! Champion will crush you! You not a god, just flesh and bone! Just a human!”
Ronin’s expression remains unreadable as he moves in. “And you talk too much,” I say Thinking what to say to Warzheil about getting captured.
Before the hob can react, I thrusts forward, one dagger piercing its chest another in its head in one clean motion. The creature’s eyes widen in shock, its weapon slipping from its grasp as it collapses to the ground, lifeless.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmda8gqfO4
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“Tch, I don’t like daggers, their reach is so limited.” I say as I throw them away and close my eye to summon a different spear, which magically appears out of one of the weapons I put in my eye!
Warzheil is shocked beyond belief. “What did you do Lad? What was that just now?” he ask18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy8HovMHnC
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“A trick I learned a few minutes ago.”
Ronin glances at the dwarf, his expression calm but his voice carrying a hint of dry humour. “You are lame for getting your as captured by them and expecting me to save you know that Oldman, this was supposed to be a clean infiltration.”
Warzheil smirks, picking up his hammer from the corner of the room. “I gave you perfect chance to show of those assassin skills of your, didn’t I?”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKwG6mTIAO
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Suddenly there is a big ruckus In the hallway.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtFWOTkGz0
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“Let’s chat later. We need to get out fast.” I say as I signal Warzheil to hop on my back.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhtBfRIKJm
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“Ugh… next time you tell me I am slow, I will smash a hammer in your face.” He says as he hops on my back.
“Fine, now tell me where to go as I run.” I reply.
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“Did you see a book in there?, I was supposed to give it to you, Drax said it’s the 2nd half of a book he made.” Warzheil asks18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWHospUWyB
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“It’s well…. Technically I did get it. But first lets get out of here.” I say with an awkward tone which raises questions in Warzheil but the doesn’t speak anymore about the book.
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I see the parameter in the hallway, there are normal goblins in the way I came from but thankfully we don’t need to go that way as the sewer connects to a passage to the opposite side too.
As I run in the opposite direction of where we can from in the hallway, a humanoid figure shrouded in black and red aura approaches us.
“R-run! Run, Ronin, as fast as you can! That’s the Devil,” Warzheil warns.
I start running faster toward the underground passage, but the demon lord speeds up as well. It seems we’ll intersect at the passage based on our speeds.
As we close in, the demon lord summons a demonic claw made of dark energy. I dodge it and use the opportunity to strike at his legs while dodging using my the temporary spear I summoned. The old man joins in, using his lightning to strike the demon lord’s backside.
“Take that, you demonic Son of a Witch! Heehaw!” Warzheil exclaims.
“Hey, what am I, a horse to you?!” I retort.
But something’s off. I can see the demon lord’s skeleton, so, I close my right eye, it turns out to be the lich.
“I don’t understand. From what I know, he was supposed to be in the demon castle right now,” Warzheil says, confused.
“Hey, calm down. It’s not the demon lord; it’s the lich disguised as the demon lord,” I explain.
“What? How are you… don’t tell me your eye can see through illusions too?” Warzheil asks, surprised.
“I just discovered it myself. The lich can’t catch up with my speed without his dragon, I think we can escape.”
“You are out of this world, lad.” He comments
“You are spot on” I say as adrenaline rushes and I sped up.
As we make our escape, I notice a giant goblin, almost three times my size, approaching us. I react instinctively, using all my strength to block the goblin’s attack. The impact sends us flying into a horde of goblins. I hit Warzheil’s left foot as I fall with him on my back.
The attack fractures my hand, but I heal quickly. I pick up Warzheil and run over the goblin’s head, which is coming towards us.
I summon some daggers and throw them at the brute’s eyes. Which he grabs but at least we can escape.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd3FbK4Pv5
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“You think I twisted my left foot? It’s killing me,” Warzheil says, wincing in pain.
“Its not severe, right?” I ask.
“Don’t sweat it; I would rather not take a direct hit from a champion goblin.” Warzheil says, chuckling.
“So that was a Champion huh? I still feel slight tingling in my arms, if it wasn’t for my healing, I would have been done for.” I say “Have you fought them before?” I ask.
“Well when I was younger and still traveling through different lands, still learning things, I did fight 3 of them, I got few minor fractures at that time. But won.” Warzheil replies, grinning.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ypto1AGX2
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“And you got captured by Hob goblins huh?” I ask18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX2Dc5NjgY
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“I have my reasons ,Lad. But after we get out of here you must tell me about your new abilities, ok?” he asks18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqRpqnkfuW
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“I can only tell you what I know. But in return you must tell me about your travels and reason for getting captured.” I say18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbceQDvIqn6
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“I will take you up on that trade, lad.” He replies18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySyjyzpBtp
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As I run, I hear a whistling sound above us, but there’s nothing there. I feel like something is wrong. The riddle said, that the night is threatening while specifying me, but I don’t see anything threatening to great extent or something that I would consider a threat, I might just be over reacting, but I have a bad feeling about this.
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