The walls of the cavern reverberated as goblins chanted and taunted. There were thousands, hanging from rocky balconies and makeshift towers around her. Puny, noisy creatures, the lot of them, aside from the one seated across from her at the stone table.

He was almost her height, fat and muscular at the same time. A rusty old crown tilted on top of his head, too small for him.

“Shaaa!” Paradox cried out, putting all her strength in that move.

The stone table exploded, shards scattering in the air, as the back of the Goblin King’s hand smashed against it.

Paradox grinned, the cavern falling silent in unison as the he fell on his back, seemingly unconscious from the shock.

She pulled the list from her pocket and opened it.

2.      Defeat goblin king in an arm-wrestling match.

Done.

Paradox checked that item off with a piece of charcoal and returned the list to her pocket.

They were still staring at her for some reason. Like... a lot.

“Sup?” she asked.

A strident voice rang out from one of the towers.

“She downed Big Rulah!”

Paradox puffed up her chest, nodding proudly, until an accusing green finger shot towards her.

“Get her, boys!”

“Oh snap.”

They lunged at her from every side, crooked spears in hand, the cavern growing loud again with shrieks.

Paradox jumped and batted her wings, shooting herself upwards like a rocket.

Though the moon couldn’t be reached, as there was a rocky ceiling above.

The stubborn creatures leaped from the balconies and towers, trying to catch her in the air.

She wouldn’t be getting out of here anytime soon.

“Hai-ya!”

❋ ❋ ❋

The crazed shrieks grew distant, torchlight on the walls moving away from her. They were going the wrong way, the silly creatures. Paradox chuckled, alighting near a boulder, and sat down on it.

It was quiet at last... too quiet. And dark. And damp.

This gloomy place was killing the mood, but she needed to wait here for a while, at least until the goblins got tired of looking for her.

She shook her head, pulling the list from her pocket.

“What’s next...”

3.      Piggyback ride a giant sea snake.

“He he, that’s a good one.”

But unfortunately, two people were required for the job. Someone needed to bait the snake for it to stay on the surface, otherwise the creature would just dive back into the sea with the rider.

Paradox pursed her lips and took the charcoal.

Her cheeks burned a little as she stared at the item.

She shook her head, wiping away the silly tear beneath her eye.

“It’s alright.”

She ran the charcoal along the sentence.

3.      Piggyback ride a giant sea snake.

There were other things she could do on her own.

Paradox nodded, reading the whole list until the last item...

30. Make a friend.

In the end, the simplest goal turned out to be the hardest of them all. Maybe she was not very good at it.

It was what it was, though. Some people were only good at punching things.

Paradox sprung up to her feet, hands on her waist in a heroic pose.

“It’s the price we pay as heroes!”

Even so, her cheeks burned again for some reason, even harder this time.

“Stop it,” she said, wiping away the tears that wouldn’t stop coming.

A grunt from behind.

Startled, Paradox lowered her hands, the sobs receding at last.

Goblins? Did they find me?

She turned as a grappling hook flung over the hole, latching to the rocky ground in front of her feet with a metallic clank.

Her eyes widened.

“Zog?”

Herzog crawled out of the hole, dirty as a mole, his hair like a black porcupine, and stood up, hands on his knees and panting. The big backpack on his back.

“Did you find the Goblin King?” He asked. “Am I late?”

She was speechless, staring at him in silence with her jaw agape.

His head tilted, puzzled.

“No...” The brightest smile lit on her face. “You’re not late at all.”

❋ ❋ ❋

Thanks for reading Chapter VI: A Heroic Match.

If you're enjoying the story, please share it with friends and leave a like/score. Any engagement, however small, helps massively with the algorithm and getting this story discovered.

📃 New chapters every Tuesday AND Friday - follow to stay updated.

📚 Check out my other stories while you wait. Cheers!