Chapter 269: -Clash (1)

A momentary silence ensued in the hallway where two opposing forces stood against each other. At one side a group of armored creatures, with humanoid, robust body shapes. One could just take a look at them and mistakenly think they were the very same orcs since they were currently in the heart of their settlement. 

Yes, it would be a mistake, a grave mistake to think of them as simple as 'orcs'. While their shape, and maybe even their look that was hidden under the full body armor would resemble one, but if one would take a deeper, closer look at them, he or she would see the differences. For one, they had very little of their own life essences circulating inside their bodies. Two, in addition to their own fading energies, they had an additional much more sinister, dark mystical source swirling at their center, engulfing their minds and Monster Cores in its entirety. This dark, twisted, sinister source was their main source of power that commandeered this small battalion of warriors to stand against the invaders.

They had no free will of their own, they were little more than the stone guardians; puppets, with barely any life left in them, moved on magical strings to their master's amusement. They stood still, looking at the four opponents that stupidly dared to stand up against them, protecting that fragile-looking oversized goblin in the back.

The frontline soldiers tightened their grip on their weapons as they awaited the mental command to throw themselves on them without a care in the world.

---

Looking at the creatures garbed in gorgeous steel armors, an expectant smile curved at the edges of Roas' lips. A grand battle was about to break out. A chance to prove his worth and show his power to the young master. He wanted to show the power he held, he wanted to prove that he deserved his spot as his guardian. 

The young master saved him, pulled him out of his wallowing misery, and gave him hope a new source of light to stand up against the despairing darkness once again. He was given a chance to payback for all the pain and torment he and his people had gone through due to the actions of these so-called overlords.

The power he was granted, boosted his strength by an incredible amount. He was strong, much stronger than when he was under the influence of that horrible staff. Still, he knew this power was far from enough. He wasn't even close to the level of his young master, he still needed to train, and looking at the opponents ahead, and listening to the thoughts and whispers of his master through the connection they shared, he knew that this hall will hold much more than this initial welcoming committee.

Looking at his left, he smiled at the sight of these strange, new creatures that joined the Fold. While it wasn't explicitly explained, he understood from the master's thoughts that these three used to be goblins that he transformed, reshaped. They were all evolved creatures, with matching or maybe even higher strength than what he currently held.

Looking at them, his resolve increased further. He was determined to prove his worth. He will be the number one, he was the first, and he will stay the first both in standing and power. 

Still, since it was their first fight together, and for some reason, the enemy still hasn't shown any intention of initiating this battle, he parted his lips as a guttural voice was hushed into the air aimed at the three new joiners.

"[Goblin] I am Roas, the first and the Master's Guardian. What are you three called, and what are your strengths? We need to work together if we want to make the young master proud."

The first to answer was the tallest, strongest, and closest male that held the most similarities with the young master. He was also the one, that seemed to carry the young master's energy signature within his body. The tribal, ritualistic animal figureheads tattooed all over his body, did give him some ideas about his strengths, and his profession but it was still best to ask while they had the chance.

Still, despite this fact, he didn't seem overconfident, nor arrogant. Keeping his eyes on the enemies ahead, he spoke in a clear, calm tone of voice; another similarity that was the young master's signature.

"[Goblin] I am called Glohn, I am the master's envoy, the hand to execute his will. I will be with you in the forefront, with Gob while Galina will assist us from the back, as she is more proficient with healing than melee combat."

The two younger ones silently nodded when their names were mentioned. Both holding a lance in their hands, they had the same determination that did not falter in front of Roas' own. Witnessing it, Roas smiled at it, shifting his attention and facing the opponents ahead.

[Goblin] In that case, I will be counting on you all. Let's make, the young master proud!" 

His last words were akin to a battle cry, he shouted with confidence as he raised his weapon in the air and abruptly charged ahead.

Not wanting to lag behind, both Glohn, and Gob followed after, throwing themselves forward without any hesitation.

Their sudden action broke the tense atmosphere. As soon as their intent burst forth and they began their assault, the previously stoically standing armored warriors also began to move. Their frontline melee combatants replanted their feet, straddling their legs to increase their stability and not be pushed back or thrown on the ground. Behind them, the duo of archers, released the bowstrings they held stretched out, launching a white-feathered arrow each. Passing through the frontline the arrows whistled in the air, flying towards the robust orc and the tall and broad goblinoid looking male at his side, rushing with reckless abandon. 

Before the arrows could hit their targets, however, a gust of air suddenly arose in the closed hallway crashing into the zapping arrows, causing them to deter from their original, intended trajectory ever so slightly, and miss the charging opponents. One of them crashing into the wall and breaking into pieces, whilst the other flying towards the lone, golden-eyed, long-black-haired figure at their back. Before the arrow could hit the lone youth, he simply evaded it with a simple movement of his head. 

This sudden change didn't seem to phase the archers, they already had another arrow placed on their longbow's rest and were stretching the string. One of them aimed at the orc, while the other changed his target from the other charging warrior to the female at the back.

When the arrows were launched her hands began a strange series of movements, a bright green light covered her hands, just before the breeze came, canceling their first attack. The archer aimed carefully, awaiting till his partner was ready, and just like before, they both released the bowstring, firing for a second time.

Roas didn't even care for the arrow as he threw himself to the two closest already expectant warriors in front of him. Glohn at his side did the same, jumping in the air and crashing down with a powerful swing of his battle axe.

Gob, seeing the arrow passing through his teacher and flying towards Galina, immediately sprang into action. Jumping to the side in front of the whistling arrow, he focused intently on the rapidly approaching deadly wooden bolt. Unbeknownst to him, his eyes suddenly began to shine with a faint golden light, he suddenly felt as if the arrow slowed down, making it easier to follow with his eyes.

What was difficult previously, now turned simple. When the arrow got into range, he swung his lance against it, successfully hitting it in the air and turning it into small splinters. 

He didn't stop here, as soon as the attack was thwarted, he kicked off from the ground, raising his weapon in front of himself, and flew into the closest enemy.

Aiden was slightly surprised when he noticed the changes happening to the lance-wielding youngling. The golden luster and the increased speed he exerted were similar to his own powers. At the same, while he looked like he was calm and wasn't really bothered by anything that transpiring, he was ready to jump in front of Galina if an arrow would pass through the three in the midst of the battle. He wasn't to just stand behind and watch as this little girl would be killed off by a stray bolt.

Turning back, he watched as Roas raised his weapon high above his head once again and struck down to the enemy with fierce momentum. The head of the axe was glowing with an eerie dark light, as Roas' dark magic surrounded it, crashing into the steel helm of the warrior and knocking him down on the ground without any chance to block.

A moment later, a second swing came from the right side, destroying the last bits of the headgear's resistance, diving deep into the creature's skull with a mixture of crouching and churning sound, ending the first life merely a minute after the eruption of their clash.

Aiden who was smiling with satisfaction watching his first servant ending the first enemy, suddenly heard the bell-like sound, causing him to focus on the newest notification. As he opened it, and read its contents, he went wide-eyed with shock.