Chapter 33: The Dark Ritual
The air crackled with dark energy as the Goblin King's laughter echoed throughout the cavern. His body, now shrouded in a sinister aura, towered over Srabon, Mira, and Magnus. The rune circle beneath his feet glowed a menacing crimson, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"You thought you could take me down?" the Goblin King sneered, his eyes blazing red. "You don't understand the true power of the dark arts."
Srabon swallowed, his grip tightening on his sword. "I killed you once. I can do it again."
[New Quest: Disrupt the Dark Ritual. Reward: 3500 Gold, 2500 Elixir.]
Mira pulled an arrow from her quiver, her hands shaking. "What is he? He's not even... alive."
"That rune circle is keeping him tethered to this world," Srabon said, his gaze locked on the pulsating markings. "If we can break it, he'll lose his power."
Magnus grunted, raising his axe. "Then let's smash it to pieces."
The Goblin King roared, raising his arms. The ground beneath them trembled, and dark tendrils of shadow erupted from the rune circle, snaking toward the trio.
"Watch out!" Srabon shouted, diving to the side as one of the tendrils lashed out, narrowly missing him.
Mira released her arrow, aiming for the Goblin King's chest. The projectile sailed through the air but disintegrated before it could reach him.
"Fools," the Goblin King said, his voice echoing as if a hundred voices were speaking in unison. "You cannot touch me while the ritual is active."
[Quest Update: Disrupt the Dark Ritual - Destroy the Rune Circle Stones.]
Srabon's eyes darted to the rune circle. At each point of the circle, dark stones pulsed with a crimson light. "Mira! Magnus! Focus on those stones! They're powering the ritual!"
Magnus charged toward the nearest stone, bringing his axe down with a powerful swing. The stone cracked but did not shatter.
"They're tougher than they look!" Magnus grunted, bracing himself as another dark tendril shot toward him.
Mira aimed her next arrow at a stone to the left, releasing it with pinpoint accuracy. The arrow struck the stone, sending fissures spider-webbing across its surface.
"Keep it up!" Srabon yelled, slashing at the tendrils that threatened to ensnare him.
The Goblin King's face twisted with rage. "You dare defy me? You will all die here!"
The shadows around him coalesced into a massive, monstrous form. It lunged at Srabon, claws extended, eyes glowing like burning embers.
[New Skill Unlocked: Shadow's Bane - Inflict extra damage to dark entities. Duration: 30 seconds.]
Srabon felt a surge of power coursing through him. His sword gleamed with a brilliant white light, pushing back the encroaching darkness. "Time to end this!"
He charged at the monstrous shadow, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade sliced through the shadow, causing it to dissipate with a deafening roar.
Magnus and Mira continued their assault on the stones, shattering them one by one. Each time a stone broke, the Goblin King staggered, his form flickering like a dying flame.
"No!" the Goblin King howled as the final stone shattered beneath Magnus's axe. The rune circle lost its glow, the dark energy dissipating into the air.
The Goblin King fell to his knees, his crimson eyes dimming. "You... cannot... stop... me..."
Srabon stepped forward, his sword poised above the Goblin King's head. "This time, stay dead."
With one swift strike, he brought the blade down, severing the Goblin King's head. The dark aura around the Goblin King dissipated, and his body crumbled to dust.
[Quest Complete: Disrupt the Dark Ritual. Reward: 3500 Gold, 2500 Elixir.]
Srabon exhaled, dropping to one knee. Mira rushed to his side, her face pale but relieved. "We did it."
Magnus leaned on his axe, breathing heavily. "For now."
Srabon looked back at the shattered stones, their dark power gone. "If the Goblin King could be resurrected once, there could be others. We need to find out who's behind this dark magic — and fast."