The night settled over the misty mountain, blanketing everything in a suffocating darkness that seemed almost tangible. Inside the cramped, hidden cave, the Horde sat in tense silence, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of a small, makeshift fire. Shadows danced on the walls, twisting into shapes that mimicked the monstrous forms they had encountered earlier in the mist.

The quiet was unsettling. The sound of their own breathing and the occasional crackle of the fire felt deafening in the stillness. It was as if the very world outside had been swallowed whole, leaving them alone in a void. Then, a sound broke through the silence—a low, guttural growl that seemed to echo from the mist itself.

The Horde froze, their eyes darting to the cave entrance. One goblin clutched his knees, rocking slightly as if trying to comfort himself. “It’s just the wind,” he whispered, his voice trembling.

But then came another sound, this one sharper—a snapping noise, like the breaking of brittle bones. It was closer, more distinct, and undeniably unnatural.

“That’s no wind,” muttered an ogre, his deep voice barely above a whisper. He gripped his massive club tightly, his knuckles whitening.

The sounds outside grew louder, more varied. A low rumble, a high-pitched shriek, and something that sounded like claws scraping against stone. The noises seemed to come from every direction, surrounding the cave like an unseen predator circling its prey.

The smallest goblin, barely more than a child, clung to the leg of a larger goblin. “What is it? Are they… are they real this time?”

“No one knows,” grunted another ogre, his eyes locked on the entrance. “And I don’t want to find out.”

The scraping grew louder, closer, and was joined by the sound of something wet, like the slithering of a massive serpent dragging itself across the ground. The Horde huddled closer together, their collective breath hitching as the noises intensified.

Volk sat at the edge of the group, his posture rigid, his eyes fixed on the faint outline of the cave entrance. He didn’t speak, didn’t move, but his mind was racing. He could feel the fear radiating from his people, their trust in him balanced precariously on the edge of their growing panic.

A sudden roar split the night, so loud and guttural that it seemed to shake the very walls of the cave. It was followed by the sound of heavy, pounding footsteps that stopped just short of the entrance.

The Horde flinched as one, some of the goblins letting out small cries. One ogre instinctively raised his club, ready to swing at whatever might come through the opening.

Then, silence.

The absence of sound was almost worse than the noise itself. It pressed down on them, heavy and suffocating, as if the darkness outside was alive and waiting.

“What… what’s out there?” a goblin whispered, his voice barely audible.

Volk finally spoke, his voice low but firm. “It doesn’t matter.”

The Horde turned to him, their eyes wide with fear and desperation.

“If it’s real, we’ll deal with it,” Volk continued. “If it’s not, then it’s just the mist playing tricks on us again. Either way, sitting here and trembling won’t help.”

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“But what if it gets in?” one goblin asked, his voice cracking.

“It won’t,” Volk said, his tone brooking no argument. “We’ve blocked the entrance well enough. Whatever’s out there can’t get to us.”

As if to challenge his words, another roar echoed outside, followed by a chorus of shrill, inhuman screams. The sounds were more intense now, more visceral, and the Horde clutched their weapons tightly.

One of the ogres shifted uncomfortably, his massive frame casting a shadow over the smaller goblins. “It’s getting louder,” he muttered, his deep voice betraying a hint of unease.

Volk’s gaze remained steady, though his mind was anything but calm. He couldn’t show fear. Not now. Not when they needed him to be their anchor.

The sounds continued—scraping, growling, shrieking—interspersed with occasional thuds that sounded like something heavy hitting the ground. The Horde couldn’t tell if the noises were moving closer or farther away, but each sound felt like a fresh assault on their already frayed nerves.

A sudden, piercing howl filled the air, followed by what sounded like laughter—deep, guttural, and mocking. The sound sent a shiver down their spines, and one of the goblins whimpered, covering his ears.

“Make it stop,” he pleaded, his voice muffled. “I can’t take it anymore.”

“It’s just noise,” Volk said sharply, his tone cutting through the panic. “Don’t let it get to you.”

But even Volk couldn’t deny that the sounds were growing more intense, more invasive. They seemed to worm their way into their minds, amplifying their fear and feeding the mist’s malevolent presence.

The fire flickered, its light dimming as if even it were being consumed by the oppressive atmosphere. Shadows grew longer and darker, and the walls of the cave seemed to close in around them.

“Volk,” one of the goblins said, his voice barely a whisper. “What if… what if this place really is cursed? What if the mist never lets us go?”

Volk didn’t answer immediately. He stared at the fire, his expression unreadable. Then, he looked up, his eyes sharp and determined. “We’ll get through this,” he said firmly. “We’ve survived worse. The mist won’t break us.”

The Horde nodded hesitantly, clinging to his words like a lifeline.

Another roar echoed outside, followed by the sound of something crashing into the rocks near the entrance. The entire cave shook, and dust fell from the ceiling.

“Enough,” Volk said, standing abruptly. His commanding presence silenced the whispers and murmurs. “This is just another trial. We’ve faced danger before, and we’ll face it again. But right now, we need to rest. No more worrying, no more listening to the noises outside. Rest. That’s an order.”

The Horde exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately nodded. One by one, they began to settle down, though their grip on their weapons remained tight.

Volk sat down near the entrance, his eyes scanning the shifting shadows beyond the cave. The sounds continued, but he forced himself to block them out, focusing instead on the slow, steady breaths of his people as they drifted into a restless sleep.

The morning came not with the warmth of sunlight, but with the same oppressive grayness of the mist that had haunted them throughout the night. It seeped into the cave like an unwelcome guest, brushing against their skin and carrying with it an eerie stillness that made every breath feel heavier. One by one, the Horde stirred awake, their expressions groggy and pale. The night had been restless for most, filled with dreams that blurred the line between reality and the horrors of the mist outside.

The fire had long since burned out, leaving only a faint trail of smoke curling into the stale air. The silence was deafening. After the cacophony of monstrous roars, shrieks, and scraping claws that had surrounded them, the absence of sound now felt like its own kind of predator, lying in wait to pounce the moment they let their guard down.

A goblin sat up, rubbing his eyes with trembling hands. “It’s… quiet,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His words echoed faintly in the confined space, as if the mist itself were mocking his attempt to break the silence.

Another goblin, older and scarred, shot him a sharp glance. “Don’t say it like that,” he hissed. “Quiet doesn’t mean safe.”

“But…” the younger goblin stammered, looking toward the cave’s entrance, where the mist coiled like a living thing. “Shouldn’t we… check? Maybe it’s over?”

An ogre sitting near the back snorted, his massive arms crossed over his chest. “Over? Do you think those things just stop because we got lucky for one night?” His voice was rough and gravelly, but there was a trace of unease in it. “No, they’re out there. Watching. Waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” another goblin asked, his voice trembling.

“For us to step out,” the ogre replied grimly.

The group fell into uneasy silence, the weight of his words pressing down on them. The thought of stepping into the mist again, after everything they had endured, was enough to make their stomachs churn.

“But it’s… too quiet,” another goblin whispered, clutching his knees to his chest. “Last night, it was all roars and screams. Now there’s nothing. Isn’t that worse?”

The ogre narrowed his eyes at him. “Worse how?”

The goblin hesitated, his gaze flicking nervously to the mist. “Because… because it feels like they’re gone. But what if they’re not? What if they’re just… hiding? Waiting for us to think it’s safe?”

“That’s ridiculous,” another goblin interjected, his voice strained but defiant. “Monsters don’t hide. They attack. If it’s quiet, it means they’re gone.”

“Or it means they’re smarter than we think,” the scarred goblin muttered darkly.

The tension in the cave was palpable, each word adding another layer to the mounting anxiety. Even the ogres, usually stoic and composed, seemed unsettled by the debate.

The smallest goblin, barely more than a child, clung to the leg of one of the ogres. “I don’t want to go out there,” he whimpered. “What if they’re waiting for us?”

The ogre patted his head awkwardly but didn’t say anything. His silence spoke louder than words.

One of the goblins near the entrance shifted uncomfortably, peering into the swirling mist beyond. “We can’t stay here forever,” he said, though his voice lacked conviction. “If they’re out there, we’ll have to face them eventually. Right?”

Another goblin scoffed. “And what if they’re not out there? What if we’re just scaring ourselves over nothing?”

“Nothing?” the older goblin snapped, his voice rising. “Did you see what happened last night? Did you hear those roars? Those weren’t nothing!”

“That was last night!” the other goblin shot back. “This is now! Look outside—there’s nothing there!”

“Because we’re still inside the cave!” the older goblin yelled. “Step out, and we’ll see just how much ‘nothing’ is waiting for us!”

The argument escalated quickly, voices overlapping in a cacophony of fear and frustration. Some argued that they should stay put until they were certain it was safe, while others insisted that staying would only prolong their suffering.

“The mist isn’t going anywhere!” one goblin shouted.

“And neither are we if we keep hiding!” another retorted.

“Enough!” the ogre near the back bellowed, his deep voice cutting through the noise like a thunderclap. The goblins fell silent, turning to him with wide eyes. He glared at them, his expression dark. “Arguing won’t get us anywhere. We need a plan.”

“A plan?” one of the goblins muttered. “What kind of plan? We can’t even agree on whether to stay or leave!”

Another goblin shook his head. “This isn’t about plans. This is about survival. And if we want to survive, we need to stop being afraid of shadows.”

“But what if they’re not shadows?” the smallest goblin whispered, his voice trembling. “What if they’re real?”

The group fell silent again, the weight of his question hanging heavy in the air.

Finally, all eyes turned to Volk. He had been sitting quietly near the fire’s remains, his expression unreadable. His sharp eyes scanned the group, taking in their fear, their uncertainty, and their desperate need for guidance.

“Volk,” one goblin said hesitantly. “What… what should we do?”

Another goblin chimed in, his voice tight with fear. “Do we stay? Do we go? Tell us.”

Even the ogres, usually so independent, looked to him now, their massive forms looming in the dim light as they waited for his decision.

Volk didn’t answer immediately. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze fixed on the mist outside. “Let’s go outside,” he suddenly muttered.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep