That's a big fella...

Twelve hours before Scholar Rang found himself screaming like a little girl...

Chu had a very interesting conversation with the goblin Chief Elder and Shaman. Using little Rang, as he termed the goblin translator, the bargaining and striking of future deals occurred without any misunderstanding. Once during the meeting, Zubyia Rang tried to impress upon the Elders his original Master's worth.

That attempt to gain some form of favoritism and recognition for Scholar Rang met with confused looks and questioning faces from the Elders. When the Champion signed away as to who, or what mighty individual had power surpassing the devil himself, Chu turned towards little Rang while smiling.

The discussion progressed a little slower afterward since the goblins had difficulty understanding the translator who lisped after loosing two molars.

"Tell the Shaman the men outside are not to be trusted. Before we chat further, I want to know more about the ruins."

Chu instructed. Lucy stood beside him while crunching her knuckles like a thug. For some reason, her actions reminded him of a bigger Dyna.

"The ruins have long been part of goblin lore. In ancient times, a race with powerful magic built them as a last defense. When it fell, large tribes in forest turn small. Take many, many moons for all race in forest to sprout again."

Little Rang said while using his lanky hands to reinforce his words.

"Two passages lead to inside large towers, bottom filled with traps and vile beast. Shaman want to stay, but scouts say too dangerous."

Thinking about it, Chu nodded since he did not expect much information. Maybe if he asked Tye, he might learn more about the past history of the Empire. One thing did strike him as odd. The goblins history only mentioned a race of magic users and not humans.

Who exactly created the ancient talismans?

As for the tower and its present denizens, well he had some willing cleaners just raring to go.

"Since we have completed what we came for, it's understandable we help out in some way. I want an Elder goblin and a small troop of goblin fighters to escort me to the camp. Little Rang, you will remain here, to prevent you from blabbering with that loose mouth of yours."

Chu said. Business partners should always try to help one another, especially when it cost them nothing.

Scholar Rang spotted the contingent exiting the gates first. He had been pacing and compressing the snow, ever since his ward had been taken from him. Without his trump card, he had been demoted to a level similar to these uncouth companions.

Not only did they fail in demonstrating a might to cower the goblins, but they allowed the goblins to manhandle his possession. For the first time in his life, he regretted not learning a few words of that vile goblin language. Witnessing the approaching party, he hastened towards the man standing sentry at the front.

"Scholar Rang, ah thank the Heavens. Your little goblin sends you word of success. If I deliver this message, he might find a way to free my companions."

Chu said.

"Ah, so Zubyia has succeeded? Hahaha, I knew I worried over nothing. What does he say, speak up man! Wait, wait, Captain, Captain! Gather the men, I want everyone to hear and bear witness."

Scholar Rang shouted while holding up his hand for Chu to wait. Soon a crowd gathered around the old man, placing him plump in the middle of a semicircle. Scholar Rang flouted his sleeves as he signaled for Chu to report.

"Sir, your goblin has sent greetings, and say soon the council of Elders will summon you by tomorrow to hear your demands. While they wait for others to join the assembly, the goblins have allowed you free access into the ruins. Your servant says the goblins have left it untouched, and it has many treasures belonging to humans."

Chu reported. He stopped as the soldiers and adventurers burst out in chatter. Waiting for the noise to subside he then continued.

"Sir, your servant also said that ruins seem very dangerous since it has some small beast calling it home. The goblins say if anyone in your party does not want death, they will lead them to a nearby human village in safety. No need to risk life for cheap gold."

He said while glancing at everyone. Chu sighed on the reactions, and also the expectant faces of the men. Not one man in this group showed any hesitation to retreat, or even accept his goodwill.

"Scholar Rang, by your command when the men are ready I will lead the way towards the entrance of the ruins. Please don't forget to walk with torches and rations."

Chu reminded. He never expected the crude replies, now that the group knew that Scholar Rang had power over the entire goblin horde.

"Boy, do you take us for fools? Don't forget the Scholar has the power to keep you alive. When we return with our loot, I will bed those girls in front of you as payback for what happened in the village."

"Captain, you can't bag all for yourself. Dungeon exploration tends to make a man horny you know."

"I call dibs on the black-haired girl, I have wanted to taste her ever since she bandaged my arm after the wildcat ambush."

Chu changed his look of surprise, to one of fake despair as he gazed on these ungrateful wretches. The Captain and his cronies aside, he had actually treated some of these men for wounds that might have festered, and eventually killed them. In the face of untold riches, even the adventuring code could be discarded.

But then again, adventurers never had much respect for women in the first place.

Well, no matter. Hopefully, they will complete the task at hand. After last night, he had taken Lucy's suggestion to heart.

His eyes morphed these men into vile little green-skinned critters, complete with pointy ears and noses. Greedy eyes filled with lust above sneering and snickering mouths, completed the picture.

The horrible stories matched up with these guys perfectly.

Who were the real goblins in the narrated stories?

When the men disappeared into the passage, Chu shook his head and left, while goblin fighters and scouts began surrounding the entrance. No one could fault him since he had helped both parties in achieving their dreams.

***

Felix slashed at the large spider, causing it to skittle in retreat. The small respite allowed him to position his feet and body for a vertical two-handed strike. He channeled all his strength and cleaved. The swishing sound ended in a welcome crack and squelch. His sword had split the spider's head into two as it lunged towards him.

Looking at the flesh and juices that flowed from the mangled wreckage, he shuddered, since one split-second slower the spider would have scrambled and toppled him over. He wrenched his sword from the bloodied mess and retrieved his discarded torch.

"Damn this hell. I never signed up for this!"

He cried. His hand trembled as it held the sword. As a person from a noble peerage, he had never experienced battle, much less one against the monstrous beast. To him, the waist-height spiders morphed into the dreaded demon beast which roamed the north. Nearby, another soldier locked battle with another of these fearful looking things.

"Ahh! Screw this!"

Felix shouted while stomping his boot on a scurrying spider the size of a melon. Feeling the caressing weight of something landing on his body, he slapped the blazing torch on his back in reflex. A high-pitched squeal sounded as another small spider dropped paralyzed from the reflexive burning slap.

Felix pressed his boot down on the creature and ground it into a paste. Locking his gaze with another dog-sized spider nearby, the adrenaline boost drove him forward in frenzy.

Unlike the adventurers who formed groups and tackled the spiders both large and small, as a team, the soldiers treated this as a battlefield. The programming of killing as many enemies held precedence over helping fellow comrades.

"I told that stupid idiot of a captain we should have kept the girls and enjoyed them. Ever since that girl clobbered my manhood in the village, I wanted to rip her clothes apart... Ahh, why am I thinking about this now!"

Felix shouted while guzzling down another antidote potion. If not for his family, he would have been frothing and twitching on the cold stone, like some of these poor adventurers. He had followed his captain friend and that stupid Scholar for glory and ended up here... fighting for his life.

Loud yells over the crescendo of battle shook him from his reverie.

"By the North Pass. Dammit man, who could be so stupid!"

"Who the hell shot a fire arrow at the high ceiling?! Don't you fools know that cobwebs and the dry trash inside burns quickly?"

"Hurry and find another exit, or else the smoke will kill us all!"

Voom!

As if a person had thrown a lighted stick in a puddle of alcohol, a low rumble sounded as the ceiling ignited. In the space of two breaths, the large hall lit up as if exposed to the midday sun. The fire blazed along the conduits of cobwebs and dried trash, scorching the stone arches and dusty roof black, with soot.

"Same damn thing I said, lucky for us this hall is large with a high roof, or else we would have died. How the hell will we see through this smoke!"

"Check the far wall, it should have an exit there, maybe we can break through it."

Clack.

"Arrgh!"

Clack, clack, clack!

"What the... yaaa!"

Within the fog, dying wails followed the echoes resembling a pointed iron spear tacking on the stones.

The clashing of swords with the accompanying shouts became faint. Felix found himself standing all alone in the middle of this training-field sized hall. He slashed and cut his way forward screaming and yelling to calm his nerves. Finding a broken pillar near the wall, he scrambled and then stood on top of the rubble.

"Where is everyone?"

He whispered while peering around. If not for the need of his torch, he would have discarded it so as to hide. Glows from torches laying on the ground proved insufficient to cut the darkness. Even though the height of the broken pillar stood about seven to eight feet, the smoke obstructed ceiling lay about two times higher.

"Gill? Smull? Shub?! Dammit Reys, you sad excuse for a Captain. Answer ME?!"

Felix shouted and then spluttered from the smoke. Unknown to him, the hall had some form of ventilation holes that allowed the smog to dissipate. The previous fire had smoldered and also cleared some of the clogged ventilation passages as it blazed through.

Clack!

His pores raised as if sensing an approaching danger. Swiveling around with his sword raised, he witnessed a large head the size of a bathtub breaking through the fog. What seemed like countless black eyes locked upon him as if devouring his soul.

"Ahhh! Die you beast, Die!"

Plunging his sword into the swift incoming head, the welcome cracking and squelching sent a euphoria of bliss coursing through his body. A high-pitched scream echoed out as the black bulb curved upwards in pain, while the razor type mandible sliced off his raised arm from the shoulders.

Felix joined the mammoth spider, as together their sonorous wails filled the hall. The last thing he witnessed was a large spiked leg skewering him in the chest as the spider then continued its rampage. If not for his position he could never have wounded the beast.

In the corner of the hall, a heap of torches lay burning together like a bonfire. Slinking and huddled between the walls, an old man stifled his breath as he clutched his shaking frame. His singed beard and clothes lay in tatters, while his wet trousers reeked of urine.

After experiencing the scorching blaze, the spiders steered clear of the fire. Scholar Rang clasped a hand over his mouth while his eyes bulged open, as a spider scuttled over the nearby twitching captain and hauled the man off. A trail of blood and vomit mixture disappeared into the smoky darkness.

Beyond the fog, the dragging and skittering noises interrupted the eerie silence, causing the man's imagination to also run wild.

'Heaven help me...'