Chapter 5: Abandoned
Leon’s system interface flickers to life:
[Mana Restored: 100/100]
[Hostile Entities Detected – Estimated Count: 10]
Ten. Not the one or two goblins mentioned in the qualifications briefing.
The heavy footsteps reverberate louder as it gets closer to their junction, shadow shifts at the tunnel mouths. Leon system is correct as ten creatures emerges from the tunnel mouth - goblins - different from the illustrated guides. These are lean and feral, their green skin mottled with dark fungal growths. Barbed spears gleams with venomous coating.
Elise presses against the timber, eyes wide. "There are too many."
Leon steps forward and raises his hand.
Come out."
Blue wisps spirals up from his shadow, coalesces into familiar bone and spectral energy. His Mage Zombie materializes—skeletal frame wrapped in dark smoke, eye sockets blazes with cold fire.
Elise flinches. "You summoned that thing?"
"Just stay behind me. Support if I fall."