The survivors were laughing and celebrating after their victory. Just as they were preparing to return to the city, a coughing sound was heard. One goblin was still alive. Vihen immediately moved toward the goblin.
"So you're still alive, you disgusting creature," said Vihen. The goblin spat all the blood in its mouth into Vihen's face. Vihen grabbed the goblin's chest even harder and pulled it closer.
"How did so many goblins gather? Is there more of you? Speak, and your death will be quicker!"
The goblin smiled viciously.
"There are more of us than you can imagine."
"Where? Where are they?"
"Under the mountains. In that old cave," the goblin said, exhaling its foul last breath into Vihen's face. Then, in a faint voice, Sadagat said:
"Bungobler Cave."
"Where is that?" Vihen asked.
"It's a cave that once caused hundreds of wars—more precisely, an old camp of an army. The old Goblin King Bungobler used it as a fortress and spread terror across the world with his army. Only the ancient Sovengard Kingdom was able to stop him and his forces. If a goblin army is being formed there again, someone must stop them," Sadagat said.
Vihen called out to one of the soldiers.
"Gather a unit of thirty skilled men. They will head north immediately and find that cave."
Then Sadagat stepped in.
"Commander, they don't need to find it. I know where it is. Send me with them."
"Alright then. You will guide them," Vihen said.
"Don't die, my friend," Mervilion said, looking at Sadagat.
"And don't forget to win that tournament," Sadagat replied.
After saying their goodbyes, he mounted his horse with thirty soldiers and set off. They rode north. When they reached the mountains, Sadagat pulled out a map and began thinking, murmuring the cave's name.
"Two pine trees!" Sadagat shouted. "The entrance will be between two pine trees leaning toward each other. Search the area carefully."
At that moment, Sadagat noticed a young boy among the soldiers and asked his name.
"Durok," the boy said.
Sadagat called the pale-haired boy over.
"Come, sit."
"How old are you?"
"Fourteen," Durok replied.
"Why did you become a soldier at this age?"
"I was a slave two years ago," he began. "I used to fight in arenas. One day in Lakeby, Commander Vihen noticed me. He bought me and freed me from slavery. Then he gave me two choices: leave, or become a soldier under his command. I had nowhere to go—no family, no one to care for me. But Vihen took care of me and trained me."
"So you're talented, Durok. Value that," Sadagat said, smiling and placing a hand on his shoulder.
But something unexpected happened.
While the conversation continued, a goblin arrow pierced Durok's throat. Blood gushed from the boy's neck, covering Sadagat's face, and Sadagat shouted:
"AMBUSH!"
The scattered unit could not respond effectively, and Sadagat, with four remaining soldiers, was forced to fight the goblin swarm. The fate of the others was unknown. The four soldiers fought with swords and shields but were quickly overwhelmed and killed.
Sadagat unleashed flames in pure rage. The goblins were afraid to approach him, but an arrow grazing his shoulder broke his focus, causing them to rush him.
At that moment, Sadagat whistled with all his strength, and his horse burst through the bushes, trampling goblins. Sadagat immediately mounted and fled through the narrow rocky paths.
While riding, he dodged arrows, but eventually his horse was struck in the leg and collapsed. As Sadagat fell, he cast a thick mist spell and hid behind a rock.
On the other side, he saw the bodies of three soldiers. He knew hiding was not enough—he had to escape to survive. As he peeked around the rock, he felt a sharp sting in his neck and his vision slowly darkened.
Finally, everything went black.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark cave chamber lit by a torch. His hands were bound.
A voice came:
"You won't be waiting long, old friend."
The voice felt familiar.
"Serot?" Sadagat said in shock. The man in front of him was indeed Serot—neither bound nor sitting on a cold stone.
"Did you miss me?" Serot asked.
Sadagat coughed harshly.
"Is this really you, or is my mind playing tricks on me?"
"Your mind is not playing tricks, Sadagat. But you have stepped outside the game I am playing."
"So you fell into the same pit as me—or are you the one who runs it?" Sadagat asked.
Serot calmly leaned back.
"I'd say I finance it rather than run it. Do you want to know what I've done?"
Without waiting for an answer, he continued:
"I sent Befar to the elves. We promised them money, and they helped us. Some of them went against orders and followed you to that cave. You were supposed to be the only survivors who would bring me the treasure. Everything was going well, but you strayed from the path. I even tracked you to Elgovil. I sent men after you. Their goal was to kill everyone except you so you would head south instead of Lakeby."
"And Maria?" Sadagat asked.
"Maria?" Serot smiled. "She opposed my plans. With Befar's help, I killed her."
"Why? Why would you let your brothers die for money? Why did you kill your own wife with your own hands? Why, Serot? We trusted you. You were our leader. The leader of the brotherhood."
"There is no brotherhood anymore," Serot said.
"Yes, there isn't. Because of us. Trusting you was our greatest mistake," Sadagat replied bitterly.
"If it weren't for me, your miserable lives would have ended sooner."
"At least we would have died without betrayal," Sadagat said. "And the treasure? Does it really exist?"
"Yes. I didn't lie about that. That was the whole point."
"Enough talk," Serot said. "Straga."
From the shadows emerged a massive armored figure with a blackened presence, holding the same axe that once took Maria's head.
"I trusted you…" Sadagat said.
"I know," Serot replied, signaling Straga.
Straga raised his axe and swung—but it hit only cold stone.
Sadagat was gone.
The ropes fell to the ground.
He had teleported outside—but the effort left him barely alive. Blood and dust covered his face. His staff reappeared in his hand.
He saw the two pine trees and realized where the entrance was.
He had to escape.
He slowly made his way down the mountain.
At sunset, he gathered his remaining strength, whispered incantations, and released glowing runes into the sky.
"...You are my only chance."
That night, Tarnash stood outside the tavern waiting. The glowing runes fell into his hand. Without hesitation, he took two horses and supplies and rode north.
At dawn, he reached the Northern Montragan Mountains and found Sadagat barely alive.
"There is no time, Tarnash. The goblins are too many. The army from Montragan must be reached. If they are late, Lakeby will fall. And Serot… Serot is with them. He caused all of this."
Tarnash silently lifted Sadagat onto the horse. But Sadagat could feel his friend's rage.
And together, they rode east.