One by one, Ark's crew followed Fluffy toward the crumbling cobblestone road to the south. By staying low and running from boulder to boulder, they managed to keep out of the wyrm's sight and were soon standing in between the small, crumbling walls lining the old road. Fluffy disappeared first, and, after a few moments of hesitation, Klart, Lutz, and Frik followed. Ark turned to go with them, but she stopped when Grort hesitated.

  Turning back toward us, and with a small shake of his head, the goblin mouthed, "Are you sure?"

  Ark reached for his arm and pulled, mouthing, "Come on!" but he wouldn't budge. "Idiot." She wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled harder, but he held fast.

  "Boss?" Grort asked.

  She looked back at me. "They've got it!" she said.

  Giving the pair a grin and a nod, I whispered, "Go. We'll be fine," then waved for them to follow the others.

  With a small nod of his own, he mouthed, "See you soon, boss," then disappeared behind the wall with Ark.

  I couldn't help but smile. For as weird a relationship as we'd established so far, I was touched by his concern.

  Grort was a good guy.

  When they slipped out of sight, I let out a slow breath. I didn't know yet how I felt about everything that had happened on this quest. I also had absolutely no idea what to do with the relationship we'd established. I'd never thought about having people be bound to me, not by social customs and especially not through the Dark Lord's magic. Still, I enjoyed the goblins' company. Also, even if circumstances weren't ideal, I had a huge soft spot for them, courtesy of Vral. I knew how hard their lives were, and I hoped to make them a little better, if the goblins wanted it.

  "We've got this," A soft voice said beneath me.

  "Huh?" I looked down to find Vral looking the same way I was.

  "They wouldn't be able to help us, anyway," She whispered. "They might as well get to somewhere safe."

  Placing a hand on her shoulder, I said, "Yeah. You're right."

  "I'm always right, dummy."

  Smiling down at her, I said, "I didn't know you had such a soft spot for them."

  Tensing, she whispered, "They're, uh..." She took a breath. "They're not so bad. I guess."

  I grinned down at her. Vral was something else. "It sure seemed like you were at their throats this whole time. Especially Ark's."

  She shook her head. "That's just goblin stuff. There's a pecking order, and I'm planning to stay at the top of it."

  "What about Tristan?"

  "She's my treasure. Just like you."

  "So she doesn't count, huh?"

  "Nope." She worked her shoulders. "It's my job to compete for my treasure, not with it."

  "Oh yeah?" I shook my head. "Then why do you compete with me all the time? Aren't I treasure, too?"

  "Well, yeah. But you're also a boy. It's only right." She put her hands on her hips and put a face on that told me I was being dumb.

  "Ah." Goblin logic never made much sense. All I could do was go with it. "Makes sense."

  "Of course it does." She shook her head and looked back at the cobblestone road. "Pecking order aside, I actually think we all got along pretty well." Her eyes softened, and she whispered, "I wasn't so sure about them at first, and I still don't like that Grort and Ark are Flamecallers, but..." She sighed. "It's been nice having some of my people around again."

  She was getting better at being vulnerable. I liked it. "When this is all over, I'll make sure we spend more time with them."

  With a snort, she said, "Yeah, let's not get too ahead of ourselves. I like my people, but I can only spend so much time with them." With a final glance, she turned away. "At least these ones aren't trying to get into my pants."

  Chuckling, I asked, "What? Don't you think Frik's aiming for you? Or maybe Klart?" I wiggled my eyebrows. "You know you're about it."

  With a massive eyeroll, she said, "Yeah, not a chance. Not that any of them would try anything with you around. Not only are you scary, but it's clear as day whose hand I took."

  "Oh?" I thought I was still in tryouts."

  She sputtered. "I mean... You're, uh...?"

  "Convincing."

  "Shut up." She punched my thigh.

  Groaaaa...

  The wyrm flapped its wings and adjusted itself on the tower.

  I sighed. I knew we had to start making moves on the wyrm, but a moment more of normalcy couldn't hurt, right? "Did your old crew actually think they had a shot with you?"

  "Psh," She chuckled. "Every one of those losers thought they'd be the one to conquer this mountain." She ran her hands over her hips. "I'd have eaten them alive."

  "That's my girl." Vral was so damn hot when she was confident.

  Her eyes sparkled up at me. "Damn right. You think I'd ever settle for anything but the finest treasure?" Reaching out, she brushed her hand along my cheek. Then, her hand fell, and she squeezed my groin. "There's only one piece of treasure that can fill this chest just right, and it's right here."

  Hot.

  Before I could make a move back, Ro' walked up behind us and cleared his throat. "So, uh, right here in the open, huh?"

  "Eep!" Vral's face turned bright red as her hand darted away. With a loud cough, she turned and stepped away from us.

  Adjusting my pants, I whispered, "We were just watching the goblins leave."

  "Clearly." He stepped close and lowered his voice. "I assumed we'd rest, then run back into the forest, but Na-Ya told me the plan." He hesitated. "I agree that we can't let it go free, and I think you sending the others away was for the best." He pulled on my arm until I was facing him. "However, if we're going to do this, we need to start the fight soon."

  "Is everything alright?" I scanned the area, but aside from a giant, almost-dragon glaring at us from a nearby tower, nothing seemed out of place. "Did something happen?"

  He nodded. "While we're recovering, the monster's recovering too, and monsters recover faster than us mortals." His lips drew thin. "If we wait any longer, I'm afraid of what will happen." Looking out over the horizon, he added, "Also, that western wind that blew through here a few minutes ago gave me a chill. I don't know what that means, but I know it means something."

  Elves and their magic senses. "It's time, then." Waving everyone over, I waited for them to approach. When everyone was close, I whispered, "Alright, team. Here's the plan..."

  ***

  "Remember the plan!" I shouted as I stepped out into the clearing. The others followed.

  Grooooa...

  The wyrm rumble shook the ground as we approached.

  "Tell me when." Vral skittered to the west, where the hill Ro had been hiding behind was located. Crouching beneath the small wall lining its slope, she looked back and grinned.

  "Got it," Tristan called out as she walked to the northwest and leveled her mace at the massive dragon monster. White light began pouring off of her in waves.

  "Same." Na-Ya walked to the southwest and lifted her staff. She quickly grew as radiant as Tristan.

  Rooooooaaaaa!

  The wyrm beat its enormous wings. With every flap, the wind whipped around us, and the dirt, leaves, and even small rocks were thrown into the air.

  "Ready?" Ro asked beside me.

  "Yeah." I took a step forward and readied my shield. "Ready as I can be. Na-Ya! Tristan!"

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  [Endure Elements]

  [Bless]

  Two waves of energy rippled over us, making us stronger and protecting us from the wyrm's breath weapon.

  [Armor of Faith]

  [Armor of Faith]

  Ethereal suits of armor appeared around both of the priestesses, then vanished.

  Groaaaa!!!

  The wyrm bunched its back upward, beat its massive wings, and leaped. For a long moment, it looked like it was going to crash into the marsh below. However, somehow, despite the monster being fifty feet long and seemingly far too bulky to fly, it wobbled as it cut through the air like a massive snake, flying directly for us.

  "Alright! Here we go!" Whirling with as much strength as I could muster, I launched my shield directly at its face.

  [Shield Throw]

  The shield whirred as it cut through the air. In the blink of an eye, it crossed the distance and struck the monster in the left temple, then rolled up its body like a giant frisbee before plinking off its tail and soaring into the marsh.

  Raaooo!!

  The wyrm shrieked and cut to the right.

  "Now, Ro!"

  His hand found the hilt of his sword, which was still sheathed. Taking a single step forward, he drew his sword and cut through the air in a perfect, fluid movement.

  [Wind Slash]

  A blade of wind cut through the air. Before the wyrm could adjust, the attack carved a deep line into its right wing.

  Shrieking, it tumbled sideways, fell at least fifteen feet, did a barrel roll, then recovered and flew higher into the air. Once its flight stabilized, the wyrm began circling out over the marsh, its emerald eyes tracking our movements as it maintained its altitude. With every flap of its wing, blood dripped from its wounded appendage, leaving a trail of steaming droplets in the marsh below.

  "It's trying to get out of range," Ro said beside me. "Smart."

  "Yeah. But that's what our girls are for." Cupping my hand over my mouth, I shouted, "Na-Ya! Tristan!"

  Both priestesses stepped forward, weapons raised. Glowing with holy power, they each said their chants, and they quickly grew so bright that I had to look away.

  [Holy Light]

  [Holy Light]

  Twin beams of searing white energy erupted from their weapons and streaked toward the wyrm. The beams struck true, with one hitting its shoulder, the other carving a burning line across its belly.

  Grooooaaaa!!!

  The wyrm's shriek shook the air around us. It twisted in the air, wings flailing as smoke billowed from its wounds. The holy magic caused its body to smolder and burn, leaving long blackened scorch marks down its body as it fell.

  "Yes!" Tristan pumped her fist.

  "Did you see that?" Na-Ya's voice carried across the clearing.

  "Great job!" I shouted back. "Hold off until it comes close again!"

  "Okay!" The cousins shouted together.

  The wyrm recovered quickly, but something had changed. It climbed higher this time, putting even more distance between itself and us.

  "It's thinking," Ro whispered. "It knows how far our magic can go now."

  "Then we'll have to adjust." I watched the wyrm's pattern. "Girls, wait for my signal."

  The wyrm made another wide circle, then began another approach. This time, it came in at a shallow angle.

  I guessed that meant it was positioning itself so that it could retreat again if needed. Still, with how slow it moved relative to their magic, there was no way it could fly away fast enough to avoid the next volley. "Now!"

  Again, they chanted their holy words, and light rippled off their bodies.

  [Holy Light]

  [Holy Light]

  For the second time, twin beams of burning white light erupted from Tristan and Na-Ya's weapons.

  The wyrm's eyes narrowed on the spells. Then, for the first time since we'd run into the monster, it did more than roar and groan.

  It said something.

  "Rorrrissstek..." Its guttural voice cut through the air. The wyrm's small arm shot forward, and that same globe of scintillating energy appeared in its palm. The holy beams flickered, wavered, then dissipated into harmless sparks before they could reach their target.

  The wyrm's eyes gleamed with what I could only interpret as satisfaction as it cut through their failed spells and aimed its bulk directly at them.

  "Damn it," I growled. "It baited us." The wyrm's words had made my brain itch and my arm burn. It was almost like... almost like I could understand it, but, like when Tristan and Na-Ya spoke in the Goddess's tongue, I couldn't quite make out the words. "Ro, you're up again."

  "Already on it!" Ro twirled, and with a rising slash, cut through the air for a second time.

  [Wind Slash]

  Another wave of air carved through the air, directly at the monster's throat.

  It tried to veer away, twisting so that it was flying back toward the swamp and away from us, but it was too slow. Ro's attack struck the monster's outstretched arm and cut a deep furrow into its elbow. Black blood poured from its flesh and spattered into the marsh below, causing it to steam and bubble.

  "Good job, Ro." As I spoke, my shield teleported back to my hand. It had taken about thirty seconds. I didn't know why it had taken so long, but I knew I'd need to keep that in mind moving forward.

  "Alex!" Tristan shouted. "What's the plan?"

  "What do we do?" Na-Ya was already walking backward.

  "Get back, both of you. Go just far enough that it can't reach you with its magic." We had a good idea of how far its magic could go after the night before. They'd be able to find a safe distance. And, if it could dispel their magic, they couldn't help us much for now. At least, they couldn't help us until it was out of mana. "Stay in the trees, and wait until I give the signal!"

  Both of them rushed backward and quickly disappeared into a small grove a hundred yards behind us, one that I'd pointed out earlier, and one I hoped was far enough away that the wyrm couldn't use its magic on the trees there.

  "Ro, again." He could use the skill five times at max power. I was hoping to save it for later, but with the girls unable to help with their magic, and with my shield returning so slowly out here, it was best to use his range for now.

  "Two more full-power uses after this." He looked over at me. "Are you sure?"

  "Yeah. Go for it."

  "Done." Gripping his sword with two hands, he whirled, and a wide wave of air burst out from the blade's edge.

  [Wind Slash]

  The burst roared through the air, aimed directly at the wyrm's belly.

  "Isterrrek!" With a full-body twist, the wyrm turned its back to the ground. It fell another twenty feet out of the sky, but the maneuver would allow it to catch Ro's attack on its spine, where its scales were noticeably thicker. As it spun, its scales flashed with green light and grew darker.

  Ro's attack struck true, but it didn't do nearly as much damage this time. A single scale broke in half and plummeted to the ground below, landing a dozen feet from Vral, near the top of the hill. Even still, Ro's attack slowed it. And pissed it off.

  The wyrm spun back onto its belly, flew in a large circle, and doubled back at us.

  At the edge of the hill, hidden behind the little wall, Vral pointed to the sky with a dagger.

  I nodded softly. Mouthing, "Plan B," I sheathed my sword and took a running stance.

  She gave a small nod back.

  "Ro," I said, watching the monster do a large circle in the air and aim for us yet again. "Do the thing."

  "You've got it, Chosen."

  [Champion's Resolve]

  A yellow glow rippled over me as his skill took hold.

  Roooooaaaa...

  The wyrm was getting close now. It was just on the other side of the hill and gaining.

  "Na-Ya!"

  "Yeah!"

  [Eagle's Swiftness]

  Using the power of both buffs, I broke into a sprint. In six strides, I crossed the gap between Vral and me just as the wyrm's head crossed the hill.

  "Big guy!" Vral leaped and landed on my shoulders. "Are you ready?!"

  "Slorishtesss?" The dragon hissed above us. "Malthusidek!" In response to its words, the plants around us began writhing.

  "Alright!" I skidded to a stop next to her and lifted my shield above my head.

  A breath later, she landed on top.

  "Going up!" I crouched low and, with all the strength I had, I heaved.

  Vral shot into the sky like a cackling, green, dagger-wielding bullet. With a wicked slash, her long dagger buried itself into the wyrm's wing, throwing the little goblin into a wide spin, until she was rightside up and facing the way the wyrm was facing. With her other dagger, she let out a wild cry and buried the weapon into that wing's joint, causing the entire thing to fall limp.

  Groooooaaaaa!!!

  The wyrm beat its one good wing desperately, trying to gain altitude, but with Vral still clinging to the ruined joint, it was fighting a losing battle. It limped through the air, barely managing to maintain its height as it spun in the air and aimed back for the tower out in the marsh.

  An idea struck me as I watched it fly away. "Tristan! Na-Ya!"

  "Yeah?" they called back in unison.

  "Barrier it!"

  "Tell us when," Tristan shouted out.

  "Now!"

  [Barrier]

  [Barrier]

  Two translucent walls of shimmering golden energy materialized in the air directly in the wyrm's path. They appeared so quickly, so close to the wyrm's face, that the creature had no time to react.

  WHAM!

  The wyrm's head struck the first barrier so hard that the air shook. Then, when that barrier shattered, it shattered into a thousand glittering fragments. But it had done its job.

  The wyrm's momentum was broken.

  CRACK!

  A split second later, its body slammed into the second barrier. This one held for a heartbeat longer than the first had before exploding in a shower of golden light.

  Its momentum halted, the monster began to fall out of the sky.

  "Shit!" Vral screamed.

  Looking up, I saw that Vral's leg was tangled in the monster's ruined wing. "Vral!" I screamed.

  "Boss!" She screamed as she tried to hack at the tattered skin.

  "I'm coming!" Another idea came to me. I had no idea if my skill worked this way, but I had to try.

  [Intercept]

  The world bent around me. An instant later, I was in the sky, floating between Vral and the wyrm.

  "I've got you!" I spun and wrapped my arm around her waist. Kicking off the wyrm's body, I felt the monster's wing shred as we pulled free and started hurtling toward the ground.

  Wrapping her legs around me, she screamed, "Holy shit! Shit, shit, shit!"

  "This'll hurt!" We were fifty feet in the air and falling fast. With nothing else to do, I put my shield between us and the ground and shouted, "Hold on!"

  She sheathed her daggers and held on tight.

  We were forty feet then.

  Thirty feet.

  Twenty.

  Ten.

  Five.

  I pulled her close and tensed my everything.

  Just then, there was a flash of light beneath us.

  [Rampart]

  An instant before we struck the ground, a second ethereal shield interposed itself between us and the earth. That shield shattered, but it slowed our momentum. Instead of splitting, we were thrown into a long roll. We rolled end over end for a good twenty feet before we came to a stop.

  Groaaa!!

  Nearby, the wyrm let out a final, horrific shriek before it struck the ground. The earth shook violently, and the air was filled with thick dust.

  Slowly, as the dust began to clear, Vral's face came into view. Her eyes were sparkling, and she was grinning like a madwoman. When she saw that I was looking at her, she lowered her face to mine, kissed me, and said, "That was fucking awesome!"