The Leveling of Humanity Ch 10: Goblin Ambush

Chapter 10: Goblin Ambush

The chamber loomed before them, the air thick with the musty scent of damp stone and something fouler—rot. Chase halted, his pulse quickening as he surveyed the dimly lit space. The dungeon’s architecture had taken on a more ominous design, with deep shadows pooling in the corners where the flickering torchlight failed to reach.

Something wasn’t right.

His gaze flickered over overturned crates, broken barrels, and the cluttered debris scattered along the chamber’s edges. A deliberate placement, almost too convenient—like a staging ground for something lurking beneath the surface. He stiffened as a flicker of movement caught his eye.

There.

A hunched shape skittered between two crates, its beady yellow eyes reflecting the firelight as it peeked over the edge. Chase’s breath slowed, his stomach knotting with instinctive certainty. Goblins. Not just one. More eyes gleamed from the darkness, tracking their every movement.

He raised a hand, signaling a silent halt to Gary and Matthew.

"We're not alone," he murmured. "This isn't a random encounter. They're waiting for us."

Gary shifted beside him, his grip tightening on his staff. "How many?"

Chase exhaled through his nose, eyes darting between the half-hidden figures. "At least three visible. Maybe double that hidden."

Matthew clenched his bat, rolling his shoulders. "Think we can take 'em?"

"Not like this." Chase analyzed the terrain again. The goblins had positioned themselves strategically. The ones near the door were standing just close enough to lure them forward, but not so far that they’d be the first to engage. High ground advantage belonged to the goblin perched on a crate, a crude bow in its hands. The others lurked in the shadows, likely waiting for an ambush.

The door at the far end was barred. Guarded. That meant these goblins weren’t wandering enemies—they had a purpose.

"We rush in, we're done," Chase said, keeping his voice low. "We need to disrupt their formation first. Take control of the battlefield."

Gary nodded. "You want me to hit the archer?"

"Yeah. Take him out with Thorn Whip before he can get a shot off."

"And the rest?"

Chase considered. "Matthew, when they react, hit the front-line goblins. I’ll use Minor Projection to bait out the hidden ones. Once we see their numbers, we can adjust."

Matthew smirked, tapping his bat against his palm. "Sounds like a plan."

Gary crouched, steadying his breath. He muttered an incantation under his breath, magic pooling at his fingertips before he thrust his hand forward. A thorned vine lashed out from the ground, wrapping around the goblin archer’s leg and yanking it off the crate.

The creature shrieked, the bow clattering from its grasp as it hit the ground with a sickening thud.

Then, everything erupted at once.

From the shadows, four more goblins lunged forward, their rusted weapons gleaming in the low light. Chase activated Minor Projection, sending a shimmering illusion of himself darting forward. The goblins snarled, their attention snapping to the false target.

"Now!" Chase shouted.

Matthew charged, swinging his bat in a brutal arc that caught one goblin across the jaw. The creature yelped, stumbling sideways into a second goblin. But another was already moving in from behind, its dagger flashing as it lunged at Matthew’s exposed side.

"Right side!" Chase yelled.

Matthew twisted, barely dodging the blade as the goblin swiped wildly. Blood trickled from a fresh cut on his arm, but he gritted his teeth, driving his boot into the creature’s stomach to push it back.

Gary flicked his wrist, summoning another vine that wrapped around a goblin’s leg, tripping it mid-lunge. Chase wasted no time, rushing in and slamming his dagger into the creature’s throat.

Three down. Four left.

Then, a deep, guttural snarl echoed from the far end of the room.

The iron door creaked, and a larger goblin stepped into the light, its jagged blade reflecting the flickering torchlight. Unlike the others, its armor was heavier—pieced together from mismatched scraps of iron and leather. Its beady eyes glowed with intelligence as it surveyed the battlefield, its nostrils flaring at the sight of its fallen kin.

It raised its weapon and let out a roar.

The remaining goblins surged forward with renewed aggression.

The goblin leader’s roar sent a ripple through its underlings, and the creatures rushed forward with newfound aggression. Their snarls echoed off the stone walls, and their jagged weapons gleamed under the flickering torchlight.

Chase barely had time to think before one of the smaller goblins lunged at him, a rusted shortsword stabbing toward his chest. He twisted to the side, feeling the wind of the blade skim past his ribs. His mind raced—these goblins weren’t acting mindlessly anymore. The leader was giving them confidence, driving them into a frenzy.

“Keep your distance!” he shouted, raising his dagger in a defensive grip. “They're fighting harder now!”

Matthew barely dodged another goblin's swipe, cursing under his breath. “Yeah, no kidding!” He swung his bat with a grunt, smashing his weapon into the goblin’s shoulder. The creature shrieked, but instead of collapsing, it staggered back and came at him again.

Gary was already weaving another spell, but he was panting now, the magical exertion starting to wear on him. Chase could see it—the way his fingers trembled, the sweat forming on his brow. They were pushing their limits, and the enemy wasn’t backing down.

The goblin leader wasn’t charging in yet. It was watching, waiting, calculating.

That’s what worried Chase the most.

Two goblins came at him in tandem this time, one feinting left while the other struck from the right. Chase barely blocked the first, using his dagger to deflect the attack, but the second one managed to graze his shoulder. He hissed in pain, rolling backward before they could press the attack.

“They’re learning our patterns!” he realized aloud.

“Then we mix it up!” Matthew growled. He feigned a step back, then lunged forward instead, bringing his bat down in a brutal arc. The goblin in front of him shrieked as its skull cracked under the impact, its body going limp before hitting the floor.

Three left, plus the leader.

Gary clenched his jaw, focusing his magic for one last Thorn Whip. He extended his hand, the vines sprouting from the stone floor, coiling around one of the goblins' legs. But this time, the creature didn’t just shriek—it reached down and cut through the vines.

“What the—?” Gary’s voice wavered.

“They’re adapting,” Chase muttered. His heart pounded harder. If these goblins were already learning from them in real time, they were in serious trouble.

The leader finally moved.

With a guttural growl, the armored goblin stomped forward, its jagged blade scraping against the stone floor. It locked eyes with Chase, nostrils flaring as if recognizing him as the biggest threat.

Chase’s fingers tightened around his dagger. He barely had time to rest from dodging the earlier attacks, and now the real fight was about to begin.

“Gary, Matthew—hold the others off!” he barked. “I’ll handle this one!”

“You sure about that?” Matthew asked, knocking another goblin back with a heavy swing.

“No,” Chase admitted, shifting his stance, “but we don’t have a choice.”

The goblin leader didn’t wait for an invitation. It lunged, fast—far faster than something of its bulk should have been able to move. Chase barely raised his dagger in time before metal crashed against metal. The force sent him stumbling back, his boots scraping against the uneven stone floor.

The leader pressed forward immediately, delivering another savage downward strike. Chase sidestepped at the last moment, feeling the blade slice clean through the air where he had just been standing. His heart pounded. One hit, just one hit from that thing, and he was done.

The goblin leader sneered, lips curling back to reveal yellowed, jagged teeth.

Chase took a deep breath. He had to stay calm. This wasn’t just about reacting anymore. He had to outthink it.

It was stronger, but he was faster. He could use that.

The goblin leader raised its blade for another heavy swing. But this time, Chase didn’t dodge backward. He surged forward instead, slipping under the goblin’s reach and slashing his dagger across its exposed side.

The goblin howled in rage as black blood spattered against the stone.

Chase didn’t give it time to recover. He darted to the side, trying to circle around for another quick strike. But the leader was learning too. Instead of chasing him, it kicked out violently, its heavy boot catching Chase in the ribs.

Pain exploded through his side as he was sent sprawling to the ground. His vision blurred for a moment, breath knocked clean from his lungs.

“Chase!” Gary yelled, trying to move toward him, but another goblin blocked his path.

Chase gritted his teeth, rolling onto his hands and knees. Move. Move! He forced himself up just as the goblin leader’s blade swung down at his head.

At the last possible second, he threw himself sideways, the sword crashing into the stone where he’d been. Sparks flew, the impact leaving a deep crack in the floor.

Too strong. Too fast. He needed a plan, fast.

Chase’s eyes darted around the room. The fire from earlier was still burning along the crates, casting flickering shadows. The goblins feared it. That meant the leader did too, even if it wouldn’t show it.

He couldn’t overpower this thing. But he could scare it.

Chase lunged to the side, grabbing a loose torch from the wall. The moment his fingers closed around the wooden shaft, he swung it in a wide arc, the flames casting long streaks through the air.

The goblin leader flinched.

It was brief, barely more than a hesitation. But it was enough.

Chase kicked forward, ramming the burning end of the torch straight toward the goblin’s face. The creature roared, recoiling as the flames licked at its skin.

And that was all the opening Chase needed.

He twisted his grip on his dagger and drove it deep into the goblin’s exposed throat.

The leader let out a wet, gurgling breath. Its hands trembled, trying to reach for its weapon, but its body was already failing. With a final shudder, the massive creature collapsed, black blood pooling beneath it.

Silence.

For a moment, all Chase could hear was his own heartbeat hammering in his ears. Then—

A sharp screech.

The remaining goblins, seeing their leader fall, hesitated. Their confidence wavered, their frenzied movements faltering.

Matthew took the opportunity, swinging his bat in a wild arc, crushing the nearest goblin’s skull.

Gary thrust his hands forward, magic surging as vines wrapped around another goblin’s legs, yanking it off balance.

The last one turned to run.

But Chase wasn’t letting it get away.

With a burst of adrenaline, he sprinted forward and slammed the torch into the goblin’s back. The creature shrieked, flames licking at its ragged clothes before it collapsed into a heap.

And then—just like that—it was over.

Chase stood there, chest heaving, the torch still flickering in his hand. The goblins lay scattered around them, their bodies still.

“Holy… hell,” Matthew muttered. “That was intense.”

Gary wiped a hand across his forehead. “Is everyone—?” He cut himself off, spotting Chase’s hunched form. “Chase, you okay?”

Chase let out a long breath. His ribs ached. His muscles screamed. But they had won.

“Yeah,” he murmured, straightening. His gaze flicked toward the far end of the chamber, where the iron door now stood open.

They had survived. But the dungeon wasn’t over yet.

The chamber was eerily silent now, save for the crackling of the dying fire still licking at the edges of the wooden crates. The stench of burnt flesh mixed with the stale dampness of the dungeon air, making Chase’s stomach turn. His entire body ached—his ribs throbbed where the goblin leader had kicked him, his arm burned from where the dagger had grazed him, and every muscle in his legs screamed in protest from the constant dodging and lunging.

But they had won.

He forced himself to steady his breathing. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in the aftermath. He turned toward Matthew and Gary, taking stock of their conditions.

Matthew was leaning heavily on his bat, a gash on his forearm still trickling blood. His face was pale, but he was standing, still gripping his weapon.

Gary, on the other hand, looked completely drained. He was bent over slightly, hands braced on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Magic exhaustion. Chase had seen it before—pushing too hard with spells could leave casters completely spent, unable to do much more than stumble forward.

“We need to keep moving,” Chase said, his voice raspier than he expected. “The noise might’ve drawn more of them.”

Matthew wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his uninjured arm and exhaled. “Yeah, yeah. Give me a second. That big bastard hit like a truck.” He grimaced at his bleeding arm before shooting Chase a tired grin. “You, uh… got any healing spells in that Tactician kit of yours?”

Chase snorted. “If I did, don’t you think I’d have used it on myself first?”

“Fair point.”

Gary finally pushed himself upright, wincing as he stretched. “I’ll be fine. Just… remind me not to blow through all my magic in the first fight next time.”

Chase nodded. He turned toward the far side of the room, where the iron door now stood open. The goblin leader must have been carrying a key—whether physical or through its death triggering the mechanism, it didn’t really matter.

They had a way forward.

But there was still something gnawing at the back of Chase’s mind.

The goblins had adapted.

They had learned from their attacks mid-fight. One had cut through Gary’s vines. Another had adjusted its approach when it realized Chase favored dodging. The leader had held back until its forces were almost wiped out, choosing the perfect moment to turn the battle.

This wasn’t normal dungeon behavior.

In most games or stories, low-level enemies didn’t get smarter the longer you fought them.

“Something bothering you?” Matthew asked, noticing Chase’s expression.

Chase hesitated before nodding. “Yeah. They learned from us.”

Gary frowned. “What do you mean?”

“They adapted mid-fight,” Chase explained, stepping toward the leader’s corpse and nudging it with his foot. “They adjusted based on how we fought them. That shouldn’t be happening this early in a dungeon like this. They were strategizing.”

Matthew’s grip on his bat tightened. “You saying we just fought smart goblins?”

Chase shook his head. “Not smart—not yet. But they were getting there. If this keeps up, if the enemies in this dungeon get more advanced the deeper we go, then—”

“Then we might not be able to brute force our way through the next one,” Gary finished, his voice grim.

A heavy silence fell between them. The fight had been hard. If they had taken another hit, made one more mistake, or gotten unlucky with an attack, any one of them could have gone down. If the enemies ahead were going to keep improving, then charging forward without a plan was suicide.

Chase exhaled. “We have to be careful from here on out. No more guessing—no more rushing in just because we think we can take them.” He looked at each of them in turn. “We play it smart. We treat every room like it’s trying to kill us.”

Matthew let out a dry chuckle. “What, and this one wasn’t?”

Chase smirked despite himself. “This one just warned us.”

The weight of his words settled over them, but they didn’t linger. They knew what they had to do.

Chase stepped forward and pushed the iron door open fully, revealing the hallway beyond. Unlike the previous rooms, this one was narrow, its walls tighter than before, forcing them into single file. The flickering torches along the walls gave off just enough light to show a series of carvings etched into the stone.

Symbols. Words in an unfamiliar language.

“Great,” Matthew muttered. “A puzzle room?”

Gary squinted at the carvings. “It’s possible. But the goblins were guarding this path. That means it leads somewhere important.”

Chase’s mind raced. If the goblins were the first trial, what came next?

There was only one way to find out.

He stepped forward. “Let’s move. We’ll figure it out as we go.”

And with that, they pressed on, leaving the battlefield behind—but knowing that the dungeon’s true challenge was only beginning.