To Forgotten ces 9


    Its a giant rat, Garen growled as he eyed the creature warily.


    It may have been a rodent, but it was more thanrge enough to be dangerous, and it was no normal animal. Underestimating any sort of mutant was stupid. You never knew what they were capable of.


    It is a divine being, and your doom! Obdehi screamed fervently. What was he doing beside that glowing barrel? cknail didnt like it.


    We should kill this mutant quickly. The priest is up to something, cknail told Garen.


    Agreed, dy does not suit our purposes. Let us attack! Garen replied as he raised his weapon and stepped forward.


    The rat hissed menacingly and bared its fangs again as cknail moved to nk it. The creature didnt like being surrounded. Its hackles rose as it watched both its opponents, and its eyes shone with bestial rage.


    I wish I had a spear, Garen muttered. He seemed to be having difficulty deciding on the best way to attack the beast.


    The rat solved his problem for him. With a furious hiss it threw itself at Garen. The vympir reacted quickly, but the rat was faster than it looked. It came in under his de and barreled into him, knocking him over and disarming him. He hit the floor with a thud but wasnt stunned. Instead, he immediately began punching the creature in the face repeatedly, as he tried to throw it off. The rat reacted by biting down on one of his arms and scratching at the vympirs face with its ws. Garen screamed in pain and rage, but he kept using his free arm to punch the rat and try to knock it loose.


    Fortunately for Garen, he had an ally. cknail lunged forward and stabbed the creatures side with his sword. The de sank into flesh almost to the hilt, and the rat screeched. This meant it let go of Garens arm, so cknail took the opportunity to kick the creature as hard as he could. His boot hit with enough force to send the rat rolling away and free Garen.


    Thank you for your aid, the vympir said as he quickly picked up his sword and jumped to his feet. He didnt seem to be too badly injured. His armor had absorbed most the damage, although there were some nasty looking scratches on his face.


    I like stabbing rats anyway, cknail replied with a grin.


    The giant rat didnt stay down long. Even though cknail had given it a deep wound, it quickly scrambled back onto its feet and spun around to face its attackers. It wasrge enough that it would take more than a single attack to kill it, and it was a mutant as well. That always madebat uncertain.


    Garen nced at the hobgoblin. Quickly, lets attack it together before it has a chance to recover.


    Are you okay? cknail asked him. Hed just been mauled by a rat that probably weighed as much as he did.


    Im fine. Lets go.


    cknail nodded, and they both lunged at the rat at the same time. Their steel des swept toward the monster, but it didnt stay still. Hissing, the rat jumped sideways. Garens de sliced across the creatures side and cut through the thick ck fur, but cknails missed. As the hobgoblins de swung harmlessly past it, the rat leapt straight for him. The creature was fast, but so was cknail, and he had skill and discipline to back it up. Twisting around, the hobgoblin pulled out a dagger and rammed it into one of the rats eyes, before spinning away.


    The de sank deep into the eye socket, scraped against bone, and then prated into the soft brain matter beyond. Shrieking in pain, the rat trembled, and its back legs gave out, causing it to stumble and fall onto the stone floor of the cave. That was when Garen lunged forward and decapitated the beast with a swing of his sword. The de sliced through the air and cleaved the rats head from its body with a single strike. Thick ck blood sshed against the rocks as the body tottered over. A momentter, the head hit the ground with a wet thud.


    Should I take a trophy? cknail mused as he walked over to pull his knife out of the creatures eye. A rat tooth ne might look dashing.


    Meanwhile, Garen was already striding over toward Obdehi. The priest was still standing near the shrine. During the fight, hed continuously nced back and forth between the fighters and the shrine.


    Put the mana stone down and you we wont kill you, Garen told the priest. He was undoubtedly lying.


    At his words, Obdehi hesitated for a second. He seemed uncertain of what to do next, so he nervously nced back at the shrine. At that moment, the green glow within the shrines confines flickered and grew brighter. In response, the tension seemed to flow out of Obdehi. He reached down and carefully ced the crystal hed been holding up on the ground.


    Alright, good, Garen remarked in surprise as he slowed his approach.


    Ahead of him, Obdehi suddenly stepped over to the shrine and threw open its small ceremonial doors. This revealed the source of the light. It was a round crystal on a cushion. The priest wasted no time. Hurriedly, he grabbed it and moved to ce the chasm in the floor between him and his assants.


    Less good, Garen grunted sourly.


    Obdehi sneered at him and raised this new glowing crystal high. You may have defeated the herald, but that means nothing! You have simply prolonged your suffering, instead of epting Dev-Methis mercy, fools. The great gods power remains endless and undiminished by your pathetic struggles. You have simply earned his ire. Now, hees, and you will be devoured! Your time is nigh.


    cknail really wasnt liking where this was going, and his suspicions were confirmed a secondter when the ground beneath his feet shivered ever so slightly. Instantly, the tiny hairs on the back of cknails neck stood straight up. Every instinct he had was telling him that something bad was about to happen.


    As cknail readied himself, Obdehi tipped over a barrel, and dozens of cabbages rolled out. Um, what? Why cabbages? Never mind, they were probably just a distraction. cknail turned his attention back to the priest.


    Garen also sensed danger, although it was rather hard to miss at this point. Throwing caution to the wind, the vympir sprinted straight for Obdehi. The width of the chasm was the only thing between him and priest, and after putting on a burst of speed, Garenunched himself right over it.


    Right before Garens de coulde down and sh Obdehi, something burst out of the chasm below him and knocked him aside. The vympir was thrown against the cave wall next to the now empty shrine. He hit it with a thud and then fell down on top of the tipped over barrel and amongst the spilt cabbages. cknail winced. At least the vegetables were soft.


    Focusing, cknail starred at the thing that hade up from the crack in the floor and assaulted his ally. It was hard to see in the dark, since it seemed to reflect the green light that was radiating from the crystal Obdehi was holding. Was it some sort of limb or tail? Actually, it looked transparent, and as cknail watched, the things shape flexed and expanded in a way flesh couldnt.


    Wait, was that slime? It was. Obdehi beganughing as another wave of transparent slime surged out of the crevice and sshed onto the cave floor. Instead of going soft, it formed itself into a rigid blob. Then, light shone out of the crevice for a moment as another glimmering crystal emerged and floated into the center of the blob. It was smaller, but the crystal was definitely glowing the exact same color as the one Obdehi was holding.


    Groaning, Garen got back up and quickly retreated away from the slime. He seemed to still be a little dazed and confused. As the ooze chased him, it sucked up all the fallen cabbages and tore them apart.


    What hit me? Garen asked as he stumbled toward cknail.


    The hobgoblin spared him a nce. Looks like a slime. The priest is controlling it somehow, probably with his glowing rock.


    It looked like more and more slime was flowing up through the crevice. The blob just kept getting bigger and bigger. How big was this slime? How big did slimes get? cknail could easily imagine a truly massive slime living deep under the ground, maybe even city-sized.


    Yes! You are powerless before my god! Obdehiughed. His might is without limit, and he is as vast as the oceans! He will devour you as he devours all.


    cknail groaned. The priest was undoubtedly just making fancy noises, and the slime was probably not nearly that big, but it was better to y it safe. More and more slime was seeping up from below. Soon, it might fill the entire cavern.


    Thinking quickly, cknail sheathed his sword and pulled out his sling. After loading it, he spun the weapon and hurled a stone at Obdehi. Instead, of dodging the priest scowled disdainfully and made a dismissive gesture with his free hand. Immediately, a wall of slime rose in front of him and blocked the shot.


    Rat blood! cknail cursed as he stepped back and almost slipped in some rat blood.


    Unfortunately for him, Obdehi didnt stop there. The priest made another sweeping hand motion, and the blob of slime next to him began to change form. A thick tentacle formed and shot toward cknail. The hobgoblin sidestepped it and jumped back. As the tentacle reformed to attack again, cknail drew his sword. Just as it moved tosh out at him, cknail cut right through the tentacle with a sh of his sword. Immediately, the severed portion copsed into a pool and began to creep back toward the main blob.


    Youre just dying the inevitable! Your doom has already been decided, Obdehi yelled at them.


    Hes not wrong, Garen remarked as he stepped up beside the hobgoblin. He was looking better now. We cant remain defensive. We need to take that crystal from him. We should try a coordinated nking maneuver.


    cknail shook his head. Were not mages. Even if we take the crystal, we cant use it. The slime might still eat us.


    Then what do you suggest?


    Running away. This is a very bad ce for this fight, and the slime keeps getting bigger.


    Garen grimaced angrily. I wont run from a false priest and his pet ooze.


    Alright bye, cknail replied as he turned to leave.


    Garen grabbed the hobgoblins shoulder to hold him in ce. What if we destroy the slimes core?


    How are you going to do that? Its inside the deepest and stickiest part of the blob! cknail replied. You can go swimming if you want, but I like breathing.


    Garen scowled. Fine, we will perform a defensive withdrawal to lure the slime and the priest after us. That should cause the slime to stretch out and render its core more vulnerable.


    Sounds good, Ill withdraw first! cknail said as he tugged himself free from vympirs grip.


    At Obdehismand, a wave of slime surged toward the pair, forcing them both to stumble back. Next to the priest, the main blob of slime had shrunk as a result of the attack, although more slime was still pouring up from the ground to replenish the fluid that had just been used. Garens n just might work.


    Sighing, cknail began to slowly back away from the sludge and toward the exit. He kept his sword up defensively and one eye on Obdehi as he moved. Beside him, Garen was doing the same thing.


    Ha, look at how helpless you are before the might of my god! Obdehiughed. Soon, you will see that running will earn you naught. There is nowhere you can hide from his terrible hunger.


    As heughed, the priest began walking forward at a leisurely pace. The main blob of the slime shivered and moved to follow alongside him. It remained connected to the chasm in the floor by a thick tendril of flowing ooze.


    Pick up the speed, but try to stay in sight. Its working! Garen whispered as they approached the door.


    Nodding, cknail nced back over his shoulder as he backed through the caverns entrance. He wanted to make sure he wasnt about to walk into a wall or trip other some rubble. Garen followed him and then took up position right in the center of the door, as Balcknail picked up themp theyd left on the floor. Without its light, they wouldnt be able to see in the dark cave.


    Thats no god! Garen yelled at the priest. Its just another foul monster, and youre a mad pretender to power.


    The words of an unbeliever mean nothing to me, Obdehi shouted back. He sounded very angry for someone who supposedly didnt care about what Garen had said. Youre just like all the other doomed souls who stood in my way! They couldnt see the majesty of the god, and so their souls were consumed.


    As the priest was yelling, a trio of tentacles formed out of slime and reached for the vympir. Garen was forced to jump back and scramble out into the corridor. The tentacles tried to follow him, but the further they got from the main blob the slower they became. cknail watched from a safe distance.


    A few momentster, Obdehi stepped around the corner and emerged into the corridor. His face was red with fury as he red at cknail and Garen. Until the revtion of the great harvest god, no one gave me the proper respect, but I showed them. Everyone who ndered me or refused to bow before the divine was devoured by Dev-Meshi. He then consumed their families as payment for his blessings and the crops grew bountiful once again. Thanks to me!


    Yourepletely insane and a murderous menace to all civilization, Garen replied coldly.


    And your god smells terrible, cknail added.


    Obdehis eyes burned with rage as he red at cknail and Garen. cknail grinned back. His insult seemed to have hit home.


    Enough prattle, now you die! the priest hissed as he thrust the glowing mana crystal he was holding forward.


    Instantly, the blob of slime containing its core rolled into the corridor, and then it exploded forward. A dozen tentacles shot toward the vympir and the hobgoblin with startling speed. Surprised, cknail jumped sideways and cut down the closest slimy appendage. He could only use one arm since he was still holding themp. Unfortunately, one of the tentacles hed dodged swerved at thest second and grabbed his leg. It tugged him off his feet, but as cknail fell, he managed to cut himself loose with a slice of his sword. The impact of the fall made the light of themp flicker, but it didnt go out.


    At the same time, Garen was back up, but he quickly noticed the hobgoblins plight. He dashed forward and unleashed a flurry of attacks against the tentacles that were now turning to grab cknail. Slime sshed against the floor as his de cut through the transparent tendrils.


    Your god doesnt seem like much to me. Itll have to do better than a few tiny tentacles if it wants to get us, Garen remarked loudly as cknail climbed back to his feet.


    Just die already, you heathen maggots! Obdehi screamed.


    As if in response to his anger, the main body of the slime spasmed for a moment, and then a wave of slime exploded out from it. The churning surge of ooze filled half the confine of the tunnel as it rolled forward with startling force. It was more thanrge enough to drown both cknail and Garen.


    Nows your chance. Go! Garen yelled urgently to cknail as he pointed to the creatures core.


    Hesitating, cknail threw the vympir an annoyed look. Why was he the one that had to charge in there? It was Garens n! Before he could point this out though, the wave of slime threatened to m into him.


    Growling in displeasure, cknail burned some of the Elixir in his blood and put themp down. As the power red up within him, he jumped up and over a corner of the iing wall of slime. Flipping through the air, hended safely atop a rock on the other side of the wave. As soon as hed regained his bnce, cknail went down into a sprinters crouch and eyed his target. Next to the now startled - but still red-faced  Obdehi, the slimes main body had shrunken noticeably in size. The blob of protective ooze around its core was much thinner now. The entire thing was only about three feet tall.


    Much of the floor around cknail was covered by ooze, and it quickly began to churn in response to his presence. However, the hobgoblin didnt give it time to take shape. Heunched himself forward using the nt of rock beneath his feet as a block. Sprinting with all his might, and with a hungry grin on his face, cknail charged straight for Obdehi.


    The priest yelped in fear and stumbled backward, which caused him to fall on his ass. However, the slime reacted as well. Three new tentacles shot out of the blob to block cknails charge. That was fine with the hobgoblin, though. Kicking off another rock, he swerved out of the way of the tentacles and right toward the blob itself. As he zoomed toward it, he held his sword out like a spear.


    No! Obdehi screamed as the tip of cknails sword prated the ooze and hit the glowing core within.


    The impact of the blow shattered the crystal. Its light went out as it fragmented into over a dozen pieces. Then, cknails body hit the slime. There was a loud smacking noise as it absorbed the momentum of his charge, and he sank several inches into it beforeing to stop. Thankfully, with the core dead, the slime quickly began dissolving around the hobgoblin and he was easily able to free himself.


    Shaking himself clean, which threw slime in every direction, cknail got up and turned to look at Obdehi. I just killed your god, and now its your turn."