A hobgoblin guard yawned loudly, the sound echoing in the dimly lit tunnel. He leaned lazily against the rough stone wall, his spear resting haphazardly against his shoulder.
The damp, stale air and monotonous silence were taking their toll.
"Hey," he grumbled, kicking a loose pebble across the tunnel. "How long we gotta stand here? My feet hurt."
On the opposite wall, another hobgoblin snapped his head around, his eyes narrowing in irritation. This one stood rigid, his spear held properly, his gaze constantly sweeping the shadowy corridor with intense focus.
"Are you for real?" he hissed, keeping his voice low but sharp. "It's been just ten minutes. Ten whole minutes! And every two minutes, you ask the same stupid question."
The lazy hobgoblin shifted his weight, scratching his bulbous nose. "Well, it's boring, ain't it? Just standin' here, doin' nothin'. Makes a hobgoblin jittery, it does." He sighed dramatically, picking at a scab on his arm. "Least they could give us somethin' to eat. Or maybe a chair."
His serious comrade let out an exasperated sigh. "Listen to me," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, though there was no one else nearby to overhear.
"You should be grateful for what we have. Everything we have now, everything we are now – it's all thanks to her. Our Great One." He spoke with reverence, his eyes glazing over slightly.
"Our Goddess," he continued, his voice hushed but filled with awe. "She saved us. Without her, this dungeon would still be dead. Without her, the goblins would have been wiped out ages ago. Without her, you and I would still be living in that filthy hovel, scavenging for scraps."
He thumped his chest with a fist. "She gave us purpose. Strength. A home!"
He paused, struggling to articulate the profound wisdom that bubbled within him. "Do not… do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not," he declared, nodding firmly.
"Be content. Find joy in simple things. Look," he gestured vaguely at the gloomy tunnel walls. "See the beauty around us. Even here… even here in the dark…"
His words trailed off, and he scratched his head furiously. "Dwell on the beauty of life!" he blurted suddenly. "Watch the stars… and see yourself running with them!" He smiled beatifically, satisfied with his profound insight.
The lazy hobgoblin stared blankly at his serious companion, blinking slowly. He craned his neck, peering up at the solid rock ceiling pressing down on them.
"Stars?" he said flatly. "What stars? There ain't no stars down here, you dolt. Ain't even any light!" He snorted, kicking another pebble. "You got whacked in the head?"
The serious hobgoblin puffed out his chest with misplaced pride. "I learned that from the library! The one in Great One's mansion. There's… books! Lots of 'em!" He nodded importantly. "Got wisdom in them, I tell you. Profound knowledge!"
His lazy friend squinted suspiciously. "Books? What, those weird flappy things with squiggles? Also, that floor was only for the Great One and her harem. How did you get in?" He scratched his armpit. "Why would anyone wanna stare at squiggles? Sounds boring. And painful."
The serious hobgoblin said "Actually, I couldn't get in, but I borrowed it from the sexy Bloom Mothers."
The lazy goblin gestured dismissively with his spear. "I only went to the Mistress's classes 'cause… well… you've seen her tits, right? And that massive cock? Juicy." He licked his lips. "But then they said we had to learn 'readin' and 'rithmetic' to get 'rewards'." He shuddered. "Fuck that noise. Too hard. I quit."
He eyed the serious hobgoblin skeptically. "So, you actually read this 'book' stuff?"
"I do!" the serious hobgoblin declared. "Well… kinda. Mostly."
"And you understand it?" the lazy one asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.
The serious hobgoblin hesitated, then puffed out his chest again, though with slightly less confidence. "Of course I do! Well… mostly." He paused. "Some of it. The squiggly bits. The pictures are easier."
The lazy hobgoblin snorted. "Sure. You understand it so well you're talking about stars in a cave." He leaned back against the wall, shaking his head. "Idiot."
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment. The serious hobgoblin's proud expression slowly crumbled, replaced by a look of profound confusion. He frowned at the rock ceiling, as if hoping stars might magically appear.
The lazy one just smirked and resumed picking his nose. The silence stretched, thick and awkward, broken only by the distant drip of water and the occasional guttural snort of disbelief from the lazy guard.
"Hey," the lazy hobgoblin leered, giving his companion a sidelong glance. "You wanna fuck? My cock's getting bored." He shamelessly adjusted the bulge in his crude leather trousers.
The serious hobgoblin jerked back as if struck. "Are you out of your tiny green mind?!" he hissed. "We're on guard duty! What if something attacks?" He gestured wildly down the dark tunnel with his spear.
"Attack?" The lazy guard snorted, leaning his spear against the wall. "This dump? No one's coming here. Trust me." He sidled closer, reaching out a hand to grab his comrade's backside. "Besides, your ass is looking mighty fine in those rags."
The serious hobgoblin smacked the offending hand away, but a faint green blush crept up his neck. "Pfft… fine. After duty," he grunted, trying to sound stern. "But not a word to anyone! And you better make it worth my whi—"
His sentence was cut off by a sudden, echoing thud from deeper within the tunnel. Both hobgoblins froze. The lazy one's lewd smile vanished, replaced by wide-eyed panic.
"What… what was that?" he stammered, stumbling backwards.
The serious hobgoblin instantly snapped to attention, his earlier flirtation forgotten. He gripped his spear tightly, eyes scanning the darkness. "Shut it!" he snapped. "Something's coming. Get ready!"
He stepped forward, crouching slightly, every muscle taut. The lazy hobgoblin fumbled for his fallen spear, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste. He finally managed to grasp it, holding it awkwardly in front of him with trembling hands.
Both guards stared down the tunnel, hearts pounding, as the sound grew louder – the unmistakable thump of heavy footsteps drawing near.
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"QUICKLY! ALMOST THERE!!!" Rigg bellowed, desperation fueling his exhausted sprint. The dark entrance of Nazas Dungeon loomed ahead, half-obscured by thick, tattered vines hanging like shrouds. Beside him, Lark gasped and cursed, stumbling over roots.
"I-I'm coming! FUCK!" Lark screamed, glancing wildly over his shoulder. The Brambletusk boar charged after them like a vengeful spirit, its red eyes blazing with rage, foam flying from its mouth. Every thundering hoofbeat shook the earth.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, I'm so tired!" Lark roared, his vision blurring. His legs burned, lungs screamed. If this kept up, he knew he'd be torn apart.
'I can't die! Not here! Not yet!' he thought frantically. 'There are still so many tight pussies back at camp I haven't tasted. I can't end like this!' His gaze snapped to Rigg, surging forward just a few steps ahead.
A cruel thought sparked in Lark's mind, cold and calculating. "Hey… Rigg!" he gasped.
"What, Boss?!" Rigg glanced back, his face etched with terror and exhaustion.
"I-I might not… make it…" Lark forced out, stumbling deliberately. "My legs… giving out…"
"NO! We're almost there! Just a few more steps!" Rigg shouted, slowing slightly, concern overriding fear. "Come on!"
Lark staggered, grabbing Rigg's shoulder. "T-tell the boys…" His voice choked.
"Tell 'em… I said… hi."
A chilling smile spread across Lark's face, dark and triumphant. In one brutal motion, he shoved Rigg violently sideways with all his remaining strength.
"...why...?"
Rigg mumbled in surprise, tumbling directly into the path of the rampaging Brambletusk. The monstrous boar didn't slow. Its massive head slammed into Rigg's back with a sickening CRUNCH. Bones shattered. Rigg's spine snapped like dry kindling.
He didn't even have time to scream. His limp body was tossed aside like a discarded rag doll.
Lark sprinted ahead, a savage grin splitting his face. "I'll remember you, brother!" he yelled mockingly, his voice barely audible over the boar's furious squeals.
The precious seconds Rigg's sacrifice bought him felt like an eternity. He dove into the dark, vine-choked entrance, disappearing into the dank gloom of the dungeon as the Brambletusk slammed into the rock wall behind him, snarling in frustrated fury.
The boar wanted to continue the pursue but skidded to a halt before the dungeon entrance, its massive hooves tearing furrows in the soft earth. Its nostrils flared wide, sucking in huge gulps of the stale air that drifted from the tunnel. It snorted, a deep, rumbling sound that shook the ground.
Suddenly, its body went rigid. Its eyes widened, not with rage, but with pure, primal terror. A guttural whine escaped its throat, high and panicked.
The monster which had fearlessly charged bandits and torn trees from the ground, now trembled like a leaf.
Without a moment's hesitation, it whirled around. Its powerful legs churned the mud, throwing clods of earth behind it as it sprinted away from the entrance with astonishing speed.
It crashed through the undergrowth, vanishing into the Withering Jungle as if pursued by demons.
Only the deep gouges from its hooves and a lingering scent of fear remained, marking the spot where terror had turned a relentless hunter into fleeing prey.
Silence settled heavily over the dungeon entrance once more.