Chapter 49: Keikaku Means ‘Plan’

Kaius lay flat, the soft earth of the fungal farms dampening his clothes ever so slightly. Porkchop had hunkered down next to them. He peered over the peak of a soft rise in the fields, staring at the mounted goblin Champion that prowled a couple hundred long-strides away.

Their walk here had been uneventful. Only the dizzying array of mushrooms, and the odd goblin labourer had interrupted their journey.

Now he watched the Champion. Tried to learn as much as he could, before he dived head first into fraught confrontation once more. Up close, he got a much better look at the depths-born. Unlike some of the others that he saw in the city, this one was not much larger than the common labourers they had mowed through in the fields. Its spear looked just as mean as it had before, but it was also long. More of a pike or a lance than a weapon meant for duelling.

Its mount, the cruel wolf looking creature, was smaller than he expected. Viciously muscled it may have been, the creature looked like it would match him shoulder to shoulder. By no means an easy fight, but far smaller than the Dreadclaw had been. Barely taller than Porkchop, though his friend almost certainly had more mass. It was garbed in thick leather barding, armouring its side, back, and chest.

He used Identify, first on the goblin, and then on its mount.

Goblin Outrider – Level 25:

Champion, Depths-born, Cavalry, Low Race

Warg – Level 22:

Depths-born, Beast, Mount, Elite

**Ding! Identify has reached level 16!**

Kaius gave the skill notification a quick look. Inspecting the massive variety of mushrooms in the fields had been amazing for its growth. He shoved it to the back of his mind, turning his attention back to the Outrider.

The Champion itself glowed in the sight of his Sense Mana, the aura giving away its empowered might. He’d started to get more comfortable with the skill, more used to the constant ghostly presence of the mystic world. He hoped that this time he would be able to make use of it in the fight. Capitalise on the information it provided much like he had under the influence of the Psychopathic Assault tonic.

Kaius ducked back down, hiding behind the hill once more as he turned to Porkchop.

“It’s a Champion alright,” he whispered, shuffling away from the rise. “Only the goblin though. Its mount is something called a warg, level twenty-two. It’s a short thing, barely taller than the rest of the goblins. With how long its spear is I think it would be an easy fight if we can knock it from the saddle.

Porkchop acknowledged him with a flick of his ears, crawling forward on his belly to get his own look at the mounted duo. He shimmied back a moment later.

“I can take the warg, easy. Leather will not protect it from my new claws.”

Kaius nodded. His friend was right, while Porkchops new ring was most likely designed for a humanoid pugilist, its savagery was amplified in his friend’s hands. His long digging claws had hardened to the point they acted more like sharpened steel daggers, and they had been tearing through leather armoured goblins with ease.

“Its biggest advantage is mobility, and its ability to use its lance. I think I should bait it into a charge while you lie in wait here, hidden behind the hill. Once it’s committed and summiting the peak, you pounce on the warg.” Kaius said, tracing a loose diagram in the dirt.

Porkchop looked at his drawing, flicking his ears in agreement. “I’m ready when you are.” He said, backing up and bracing himself to charge at the slightest provocation.

Kaius nodded, taking a moment to breathe, stoking the heat that bubbled just below the surface. His heart raced, blood rushing to his extremities. He was ready.

Jumping to his feet, he drew his sword and stomped to the top of the hill. Stern eyes locked on the champion, boring into them.

“Hey, short-stuff!” He yelled. “Get your ass over here.”

The Champion snapped its gaze over to him, sneering in disgust. The warg it was mounted on snarled, a low crackling rumble rolling across the fields of mushrooms between them.

“Yeah that’s right. You and your half drowned rat of a warg!” Kaius continued.

The goblin screamed something indecipherable at him. They must have been quite the mix of obscenities, because even from half a field away, Kaius could see veins bulging on its face. The outrider lowered its spear, training its point towards him.

A slight kick of its legs and the warg ran, kicking up plumes of dirt. Pulping delicate mushrooms in its furious charge. Gods, it was fast.

**Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Goblin Outrider **

Kaius suddenly questioned the wisdom of standing directly in front of a Champion’s cavalry charge. He braced himself, bringing his sword up. Ready to block or deflect the goblins spear if he wasn’t fast enough to dodge.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

At the halfway mark he saw the goblins aura pulse, flaring with magical potency.

“Shit! Porkchop, get ready! It’s using some sort of skills.” Kaius said, his eyes widening at the sight.

“Ready!” His friend called silently through their link, avoiding making any sound that could give away his hidden presence.

Magical energy suffused the goblin’s mount. Despite already moving at a full sprint, it suddenly sped up more. Nearly doubling the speed of its charge.