My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 39: Where Did They Go?

"Why can't you find them?" Urien demanded from Lucas.

"Calm yourself. They can't have gone far. There are so many of us scouring the mountain that it would be impossible for them to leave." Lucas replied. Unaware that this was exactly what had happened before they had managed to spread their net so wide.

Within the tent was Lucas, Sarah and Phillip representing the Heroes. Across from them were Urien, Gregory and Roger for the Mercenary faction.

They had been up in these mountains for weeks. Desperately searching for the Goblin stronghold. So far all they had found were abandoned caverns. They had intensified their search after Urien had tracked them down and recounted what had happened in the town.

The mention of the unheard of before monsters had piqued Lucas's curiosity. He wanted to gain the credit for killing them to add to his records. Unknown to him Phillips thoughts on the matter were different. He was now wondering if the Hunter from before was actually some kind of shape shifting monster.

He had formed this conclusion after speaking with Gregory in private. The description of the assailant in the mansion matched his memories of the Hunter. He just could not place what the other monster might be though as he heard about Grugda from the mercenaries. Ofcourse these were only the ones who had seen him when he had been fleeing. After all none had survived that had actually seen him up close.

"Either way, we should send a group to report back to town. We need more provisions and we need to deliver the bodies that we recovered." Urien replied curtly, "In favour of chasing these monsters down we have neglected our deceased comrades. Surely you don't have enough supplies to keep this up?"

"You're right of course." Lucas replied, aware that Urien only spoke the truth. "However if we recall the men then there's a chance we could let them escape from the mountain."

Urien was becoming perplexed by the whole ordeal. They had suffered enormous losses during their pursuit and his eldest son was dead. Not wanting to take anymore chances he had Gregory retrieve Roger from the mansion to keep his only remaining son close by. Lest anything happened to him aswell.

"How about this. Sarah and Phillip here will escort a portion of your men back to town. That way we gain supplies as well as continue the hunt." Lucas suggested.

Sarah and Phillip shot him a disgusted look. They knew this was only an excuse to get rid of them in the hopes he would find the creatures before they returned. That way they could not argue their contributions to gain some merits.

Urien, unaware of the internal struggles amongst heroes thought this plan did not sound too bad. With heroes to guard them it would be unlikely for his men to suffer losses from an ambush.

"Very well. We shall go with your suggestion." Urien said nodding in agreement.

"Excellent. You heard the man. Go prepare yourselves." Lucas said to the disgruntled pair.

They had no right to complain though now that Lucas had taken command. Gregory watched them as they left the tent. He was curious about Phillip since he had overheard that he had actually been killed during their battle with goblins. It was a useful ability if he really could revive himself. Something that he would not mind getting his hands on.

"Sir, maybe I should accompany them as well. Maybe I can gather more men from the guild to aid the search." Gregory suddenly suggested.

Urien stared at the man. Unable to tell what he was thinking. Gregory never volunteered for things like this. Preferring to stick to his bodyguard duties and collect an easy pay cheque. Although what he had said definitely made sense.

"Very well." Urien finally said after deliberating.

Watching the man as he also left the tent to join the group back to town. With them now gone the two leaders began to have a more casual talk. Intent on building a good relationship for the future.

"Fucking Lucas!" Phillip swore. Already angry with losing his post as leader but now he was deliberately being removed from the hunt.

Sarah had no reply to this but she felt the same. Choosing instead to keep these feelings to herself. As they walked through the camp Phillip began barking orders at the Mercenaries. In the name of their Guild Master. At first they had given him looks of contempt but once hearing it was the masters orders they swiftly sprang into action.

Ten minutes later and a squad of thirty mercenaries were prepared to depart alongside Sarah and Phillip. It was then that Gregory appeared. Waving a hand at them.

"Hey. Mind I join you?" he called out.

They were not close with each other so Sarah and Phillip felt he was being too forward with them. They were not going to complain though with having an extra set of hands.

Gregory took their silence as a form of consent. Easily falling in alongside them. The journey would take a few days anyway so he may as well use the time to gather some intelligence.

The group set off from camp with solemn expressions. At least here with the others they were safe, however out there? In the forest? Who knew what new horrors might be waiting for them. Most of the mercenaries within the group had been present when they found their comrades impaled in the forest. Several of them shuddered at the thought that something similar could happen again.

The journey was quiet. That was until they were only a few hours away from town. The atmosphere between Gregory and the two heroes had become quite strained. This was a result of him asking probing questions about Phillips ability. They had lied to Jim and said he had just been injured but Gregory could see their lie for what it was. This had only made him more curious.

At this point of the men screamed out in pain. An arrow had pierced him in the knee. Soon afterward the forest seemed to come alive. As more and more arrows flew through the air between the trees.

"Ambush!" Phillip yelled.

This snapped the group back to their senses. Gregory easily parried the projectiles mid flight. Not only covering himself but also those aimed at the men behind him.

Sarah dashed into the forest and the squeals from goblins in that direction could soon be heard. Phillip immediately began to determine the different positions the arrows were being fired from. Once he had a idea of their positions he began casting his fire magic, setting the forest around them alight.

Goblins began to emerge from the fire yelling in agony as their skin began to melt from their bodies. Gregory felt the pressure on himself begin to ease up as more and more of their attackers began to suffer this fate.

'That one's dangerous.' he thought as he watched Phillip go to work. Phillip's wide range magic was a natural counter to his close combat style. Disrupting his thoughts of trying to forcefully "persuade" him to reveal his secrets.

As the commotion began to due down they performed a head count. Twelve of the mercenaries had lost their lives in the sudden attack. Sarah returned from the forest carrying the head of one of her victims.

"I thought we had already secured the supply line?" she asked as she threw the head at Gregory's feet.

"We did. They weren't in this area when we passed through." He replied. Confident that this had been the case.

"That leaves the question of why there are goblins so close to town." Phillip said aloud. Concerned about this development. "Sarah run ahead. You're the fastest and we need to know what's going on."

Sarah was also confused about why they would come across their enemies here so she readily agreed. Taking off like the wind. Although they were a few hours from town she had an ability to increase her speed. Allowing her to reach the edge of the forest I half the time.

She emerged into the open land at the top of a hill. Overlooking the town since it was still raised on the side of the mountain. Her eyes flashed as she took in the sight.

The town had been breached. Every street she looked towards had goblins, orcs and of all things trolls marching down them. Killing the people within that they were engaged in combat with.

'We never heard about the trolls...' she found herself thinking as she watched the monsters overrun the town.

Suddenly walls of ice appeared around the Mages Association. This drew her attention. She knew the Mages would not be weak. So long as they came out victorious there was a chance they could salvage the situation.

However the battle just seemed to become more intense. She began to shiver as lighting rained down on massive stone domes. However what happened next gave her the chills. A stone mausoleum suddenly appeared and with it the battle over there came to an end.

Since nothing seemed to retaliate against the monsters she had to assume the Mages had failed. 'We have to make it back. The situation is far worse than we imagined.' she thought as she watched the continuing massacre. A new fear, something that she had not felt in a long time began to form in the back of her mind. She was wondering if she could survive if she encountered whatever monster had defeated the Mages. At the same time she felt herself becoming excited.

'Interesting...'