Chris took the lead, moving forward towards the chambers entrance.
He moved slowly now, the earlier confidence had changed into something sharper and serious. Each step of his carried intention as he advanced toward the end of the tunnel. Slowly, the darkness of the tunnel was replaced by light.
Nathan followed a few steps behind Chris his heart thudding loudly in his chest.
Soon, the tunnel began to widen. The tight walls of the narrow passage started opening up, the roof getting higher as it started to look like they were entering a hollow cave.
Seeing the environment slowly change, Nathan curiously leaned forward, just enough to look over Chris's shoulder and what he saw, made his breathing halt.
'What is this?'
The chamber wasn't massive, but it was open enough to fear an ambush. Makeshift tents were spread across the space with tattered cloth stretched between wooden poles. Bones were littered across the space with some broken bones spread on the ground and some skulls placed by tents.
Goblin soldiers moved through the camp, they looked very different from the scouts Nathan had been hunting as they were bigger and broader.
Their green skin looked tougher and many of them wore pieced together leather vests or reinforced cloth armor. Their weapons varied, short spears, heavy cleavers and small shields. Almost all of them looked far more lethal than the scouts Nathan had grown used to.
Nathan swallowed.
"So… what do we do now?" he whispered.
Chris glanced back at him, eyes calm.
"I'll go in first," Chris said quietly. "I'll grab their attention."
Nathan nodded slowly.
"They'll chase me," Chris continued. "I'll lead them back into the tunnel. You hide here and angle yourself by the wall."
He gestured subtly to a slight dent in the tunnel wall, a spot where the stone curved inwards just enough to obscure someone who would lean by it.
"When the first one enters," Chris said, "you ambush it and that should pull all of their focus. Then I jump in and take out as many as I can, then we just clean up."
Nathan listened carefully, replaying the plan in his mind.
Controlling the tunnel then divide their attention and as the tunnel limits their number they will kill them one by one.
'That should work...'
"I'm ready." Nathan said, tightening his grip on the spear.
Chris smiled faintly. "Good."
Then he moved.
Chris burst forward in a sudden blur, sprinting straight into the encampment. His sword flashed as he slashed through cloth walls and wooden supports, ripping tents apart and scattering debris.
Goblin voices erupted instantly shouting and screeching. They sounded angry, and their words sounded like commands.
Nathan pressed himself into position, backing himself into the dented wall with his spear angled forward. His breathing slowed as adrenaline flooded his system.
'Focus!'
He heard Chris shout from inside the chamber.
"They're coming!"
A second later, Chris sprinted past Nathan, boots pounding against the tunnel floor as he retreated deeper inside.
Then suddenly, he heard movement and a goblin soldier entered Nathan's vision.
Up close, it was even more intimidating.
It stood nearly a head taller than a scout, it's shoulders thick and posture aggressive. A leather vest wrapped tightly around its torso and in its hands was a short spear with a chipped metal tip that it would be able to impale him deeply.
Nathan's pulse spiked.
'This is totally different than hunting a scout.' He thought.
Although surprised, Nathan didn't let hesitation linger in his mind.
And as the goblin crossed into range, Nathan planted his feet and thrust.
The spear shot forward, striking the goblin square in the chest.
There was a lot more resistance than when he would be hunting scouts.
The goblin stumbled back a step but it didn't fall. It didn't even cry out in pain, instead it roared out in anger.
A deep, furious sound that vibrated through the tunnel.
Nathan's eyes widened.
'What?'
Behind the first goblin, another figure appeared.
'Another goblin soldier!'
This was armed and alert as its gaze locked onto Nathan instantly.
'I am fucked.'
The thought slammed into his mind with terrifying clarity.
The first goblin tightened its grip on its spear, it's muscles contracting as it resisted Nathan's weapon that was still embedded in its chest. The second goblin raised its own spear, shifting its stance toward him.
Nathan tried to push the spear deeper, desperate to force distance, but the goblin merely staggered again standing still.
'They're stronger! Way stronger!'
Panic threatened to seize him.
'If I stay here I'll get hit.'
Nathan made a split second decision as he released his grip over the spear.
Letting go felt wrong and his instinct screamed at him to hold on but his survival instincts took over. He quickly stepped backward, shifting his weight toward the tunnel exit, preparing to dodge or run.
Just then.
"Good job!"
The shout came from his side as Chris appeared in a blur of motion.
His sword swung once and then again. Doing two clean and decisive swings.
The goblin heads separated from their bodies as dark blood started spraying from their neck.
Nathan barely had time to flinch before warm liquid splashed across his face and clothes. The metallic smell hitting him immediately making him feel nauseated.
He gagged slightly.
The goblins collapsed at his feet, completely dead.
Nathan stared, stunned.
'He killed them instantly!'
There was no hesitation or struggle, the goblins had just died instantly.
But there was no time to process it.
From the chamber beyond, more goblin voices rose sounding angry and getting close.
Nathan quickly snapped out of it.
'Lock in!'
He rushed forward and grabbed the shaft of his spear still lodged in the dead goblin's chest. He pulled hard but it didn't bulge.
"Come on..." He hissed through clenched teeth.
He braced his foot against the goblin's body and yanked harder and suddenly the spear came free with a wet sound.
And just as it did, he heard the footsteps reach closer.
Two more goblin soldiers had appeared at the edge of the tunnel, spears raised, eyes burning in anger.
Nathan backed up instinctively.
Chris stepped beside him, sword already lifted.
"Remember," Chris said calmly, eyes fixed on the goblins. "Just keep thrusting your spear and don't let them get close. I'll take care of the rest."
Nathan swallowed hard.
Then the realization hit him.
It took some time to understand why Chris wanted him as his teammate.
'He's using me as bait.'
The thought was sharp and unsettling but he did not think about it too much deciding something concrete in his head.
'Fine.'
If that was his role right now, then he would play it properly.
Nathan tightened his grip on the spear, feet setting into stance as the goblin soldiers charged towards them.