AmethYst

Chapter Nine

 The atmosphere crackled with tension as the goblin's companion, a menacing fire mage, roared in fury. He hurled a blazing fireball straight at Lilith, the flames licking at her heels. In a heartbeat, Lilith sprang into the air, her instincts kicking in. With a flick of her wrist, she loosed a shimmering arrow aimed straight for the mage's heart, but he countered with a roaring firewall that erupted from the ground, searing the very air around them.

Miles and Crimson, adrenaline surging through their veins, dashed to Lilith's side, determination etched on their faces. Crimson conjured a wicked-looking crossbow, the weapon crackling with energy as he took aim at the mage, who was fully engrossed in his duel with Lilith. Just then, the goblin, nursing a painful wound, scrambled to his feet, fury written across his twisted features. He swung his club with a wild cry, deflecting Crimson's bolts with surprising strength.

"Miles, this is it! You ready to face the ugly?" Crimson shouted, barely keeping his focus on the chaotic battle.

"First time meeting a goblin? Let's make it memorable!" Miles grinned, heart racing. "I'll do whatever it takes to rescue Laurel."

Before they could strategize further, the goblin charged, eyes blazing with vengeance, and the mage snickered, readying another spell. The fight was escalating, and every moment counted—victory meant saving Laurel; failure could cost them everything.

Miles gripped his sword tighter, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he squared off against the snarling goblin. His heart hammered with each breath, his senses heightening, readying him for the coming clash. With a fierce yell, he lunged, blade arcing down to strike, but the goblin deflected it with a bone-jarring swing of its heavy club, sparks flashing between them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Miles spotted a burst of flames—Lilith's arrows were raining down on the fire mage, who responded by igniting the goblin's club. The weapon blazed, flames licking hungrily along the wood as the goblin swung it at Miles in a brutal sweep. Miles dropped low, feeling the intense heat just above him, searing the air as it missed him by inches.

Meanwhile, the fire mage, with a burning fist now, turned toward Lilith, a wicked grin on his face. But Lilith was quicker. She whispered an incantation and loosed an arrow, and just as the mage raised his flaming fist to deflect it, the arrow shifted mid-flight, transforming into twisting relentless vines. The mage's face contorted in horror as the vines snaked around his arm, tightening with brutal force, ripping him apart piece by piece. His screams echoed through the clearing as the vines smothered his fire, snuffing out his life in seconds.

The goblin, seeing his ally's defeat, let out a monstrous roar. Enraged, he swung the flaming club again, its light beginning to fade but his rage only growing. Miles and Crimson barely dodged the blow, each step they took crackling with urgency. From behind, Lilith fired another arrow that buried itself into the goblin's thick back, but it only seemed to drive him further into a frenzy. The goblin charged forward, his massive hand reaching for Miles. With a single shove, he sent Crimson sprawling and seized Miles by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.

Miles' vision swam as the goblin's crushing grip squeezed the life out of him, his hands clawing helplessly against the goblin's thick fingers. Lilith kept up her relentless volley, but the arrows barely fazed the creature, each one piercing his skin yet leaving his bloodlust undimmed. Foam gathered at the goblin's mouth as he tightened his hold, savouring his imminent kill.

Crimson, dazed but undeterred, forced himself up. Summoning twin knives in his hands, he charged with a fierce cry. He leapt at the goblin, driving one blade deep into its left shoulder. The goblin roared, loosening his grip just enough for Miles to fall to the ground, gasping for air. Crimson held his ground, gritting his teeth as he plunged the second knife into the goblin's chest. Again and again, he struck with brutal speed, his knives carving into the creature until its grip on life began to slip.

At last, the goblin staggered, then crumpled, its body riddled with wounds. Miles lay on the ground, clutching his neck as he gulped down shuddering breaths, while Crimson knelt beside him, weapons still in hand, and Lilith approached, bow lowered but her gaze steely and alert.

Silence settled over them, broken only by their ragged breathing, each one glancing at the others with a grim of determination. Their path to finding Laurel was still dark and treacherous, each step more deathly than the last.