Second floor: Elves

The fire is still burning, but almost ending ... all is going according the plan ... I open the cave, to check the results.

Not bad ... a few pots are ready ... so for now is time to close all with glue, small rocks on all the openings ... and see the fire fade away ... Even fire needs to breath ... About all that smoke ... already gone ... moved somewhere ... The dungeon has a system of renewing the air, so it went out ... Need to let all this cool down ... Making pottery is a lot of trouble. From now on I'll use the bladders, and stomachs of animals ...

Back to Ru mode. Close the entrance of my secret area ... and join the small crowd I sense leaving the Maze.

" This is a terrible place to hunt ... just a few rabbits ... and they fly ... I only got two. "

" Lucky ... I only got one ... "

Listening to the adventures is a good way to adapt ... one ... An amateur like Ru caught only one ... Makes sense. Now back to the guild, and the receptionist is looking worried at me.

" Ru ... Where were you ? I prepared a meal, do you want some ... "

I take the rabbit body from my bag on the waist, and the receptionist is not happy ... it worked like I planed.

" Go through that door, Ru ... They will tell you the rest. "

I was expecting this, the others talked about it. The next room is a dismantle zone, I place my rabbit on the counter, and the old Dwarf smiles.

" Just one ... this beasts are hard to find, terrible to hunt, and don't pay much. Here, 1 gold coin. Name ? "

" Ru. "

I show my wood plate, he nods, and hands me a small parchment. Then he tells me to give it to the receptionist.

" All done Ru ... But working like this ... you will not make much money. Where are you sleeping ? "

" At the Maze, with the others. "

" Ah ... good ... being on a group is always good ... If you want to take another quest, I can ... "

" Maze. "

One word, she nods. And I walk away. The way she is trying ... Maybe she is kind ... or she is setting traps for new adventurers ... I heard all while I was with the group leaving the Maze ... How rookies prefer to hunt in the Maze, instead of picking other missions ... and never return to the town. According to the rumours the client liked so much of their work, that send a note to the guild saying that they got a job on another town. But for some reason several young Rookies sleep on the Maze ... And if this goes on ... they will hunt them here also ...

The idea of the clay was interesting ... but the some will give anyone a clear path to where I am ... so after entering the Maze, and travelling into my secret chamber, I move all things into my inventory. This is going to be my resting place, so there is not need for the air passages ... now fully blocked ... The rabbits are plenty because they reproduce ... like rabbits ... They are not hard to find, or hunt ... but rookies are rookies ... And I can hear a few conversations about leaving the Maze and try the forest quests ...

Since we all can only capture a few rabbits, each rookie goes to a separate place. I join them a little just enough to be seen ... The guild is keeping track of who comes here ... for some reason ... This is smelling worse then that bear bowels ... Bowels can also be used as bags, but they are too big ... unless I find something different ...

Is time to hunt a little ... but Ru needs some help to not be on this area ... Scan is seeing my prey, and that I'm alone. This is enough to test my idea. The rabbit is oblivious to my presence. So I open my mouth, Ru's natural opening to the exterior ... one of them ... Then I move mass from my inventory ... and the slime showers the poor rabbit, and drowns it in ooze. I send a tentacle with a dagger to sever his head, and end the pain. There is no struggle, the rabbit is prepared to be digested. And the slime wave returns to Ru's mouth ... Now back to the inventory ... My plan worked ... Ru can now eat the opponents ... So is time to hunt ... Another Rabbit, but this time I don't digest it.

This one goes to the inventory, and is my excuse to return to the guild. My scan noticed the eyes watching Ru, so I need to go there a few more times to **** their move ... Or they can come here ... That is their choice ... but now, is time to go for the lower floor again ... Never tasted a goblin before ...

Ru moves like before, and is on the top of a tree ... but this time I use scan to move away from the village. Goblins like to forage the forest, and sometimes they become an easy prey. A simple method to keep larger beasts away from the village, and also a ritual of passage to become a goblin soldier. Here he is ... but he is not alone ...

Two other goblins are getting closer, carrying stone knifes ... The floor is already changing ... From pointy sticks to pointy knifes is not much, but for them makes a big difference. And that one has a spear with a stone tip. The one with the spear is more experienced, the one with the knife is less.

This is one of the reasons why Ru carries daggers under the cloak ... there is no point revealing how good you are, because that makes you a target ... And they are chasing something ... no someone ... an adventurer ... Two ... a party ... Warrior and Mage probably.

Let me get into a better position ... jump to this branch, use a tentacle to reach higher ... And here I am, unseen by all ... The Warrior is in front, and carries a mace and a shield. That is going to be a challenge to the goblins armed with stones ... Where is the honour, heroes ? The Mage ... has magic ... so is hard to tell how she is going to end the green fellows. But Goblins are not patient ... and came here for a reason ... Brave warriors ...

All of them aim for the woman ... Not because she is a Mage ... but because of the instincts ... There are several reasons why Goblins use only a toga ... most of them are biological. All leap as one, perfectly combined. One aims for her back, the others for her legs ... And all miss ... One it would be possible ... but all ... some kind of magic ... Why carry an armour, if the enemy misses ... I want that spell ... and all the others ...

The two adventurers are now preparing to attack the unlucky Goblins ... And another one joins them ... Nice technique ... useless agains my scan, but very good for Goblins ... And ... he scratches the Warrior's throat ... You forgot your stone little guy ??? The Mage is already making her cheap tricks ... a lightning against a spear ... True hero ... The Warrior is smashing the backpack goblin with his mace ... and the air becomes solid in front of the goblins with knives ... Two spells ... one after the other ... She is on cold down now ... But seems one sided battle ... so I open my mouth, and Ru releases Slime puppet.

Like Slime wave, but smaller, and can be moved using Telekinesis ... I jump to the next tree, in case a lightning or worse hits the origin point of suicide slime puppet, and observe. I feel the strange **** preventing my puppet to hit the woman, but with a little push from Telekinesis it shatters, and my puppet lands on her face.

First thing even before landing was deploying the thin tentacles mana drainers ... and works ... Remotely mana drain unlocked ... This is fun, even knowing I'm going to see my puppet be defeated, the mana I spend with Telekinesis is returning fast. She is stepping back from the surprise ... and falls ... I should have placed a rock near ... But she is not moving ... temporary shock from impact ...

Backpack goblin is now a crimson stain on the floor, and the other two are still standing but facing an angry Warrior. I could try to go for the Mage, and end this fast ... But I go for the Warrior, Slime puppet is here to balance the field, not win.

The head is too far, and I don't want to show all my tricks ... so I wrap my puppet on his legs, He tries to move, and falls. New record, Slime Puppet takes down two bullies ... before getting a mace on the face ...

One of the advantages of using Telekinesis to move a puppet made of inert mass, is that there is no pain. The Goblin team moves as one ... rocks against his armour ... is not fair. But he is distracted by the rock in his face. For some reason the big majority of the heroes never carry an helmet ... And he can't use his hands anymore ... Tied by slime puppet. He stopped moving, and continues to gee hit by the Goblins ... Is time to return to the main meal before she burns all of us. She is not running ... Her fingers are making sparks ... and another lighting bolt hits the Goblin team ... but they ended the Warrior before being electrocuted ... So I return to my mana drain ... and she falls again ... Cool down period ... the worse part of casting magic ... And without mana, she can't move ... so I can take all the time I want to drain her vast HP.

Since the battle is over, I release the puppet, and use slime wave to bring them all inside me ... Goblins, weapons, heroes, all go inside ... before they vanish. I learned my lesson. Stone daggers are hard to biggest, so they go to my inventory. And this will trim the forces on both sides ...

This floor can be a place to have another resting place ... since I no longer need the clay oven ... And is also a good idea to keep an eye on this heroes, to give time for the Goblins go beyond the Stone Age. And she is here.

" Welcome back, Ruler. The voices of the world asked to name this area. What do you think about Ru ? "

She says it without hesitation ... The Voices of the world ... Whatever they are, told her the name of my puppet ...

" Ruby. "

" Ruby ... A tribute to the fallen, and a promise for those that will march against me. "

She nods, and the land is filled with a wave. The scan detects the wave spreading.

" It's happening ... Ruby is born. The Great Dragon gave my Grandmother the blessing, and now I'm witnessing it again ... Name me, Ruby ... "

" You are the Queen of the Goblins, let your ways name you. "

" Wise. I'll accept your idea ... Ruby ... The voices are telling me that the elders are preparing offerings ..."

" Keep them ... You have many clans, with different abilities. Learn and teach between you. Stone is not enough to fight lightning. Traps and ambushes can help, but you need all to improve. Queen, you are the ruler of this land ... I'll not be here. "

" And yet ... your ideas unite the divided, and what for you seems simple, took us years to see. I'll rule your land, Ruby. But do not cover your glory. I renew the invitation, come visit me when you need. "

" Queen. I took meals from both sides. The Warrior, the Mage, and your four men. I'm not your leader. "

" Yes, I know. Ruby ... We follow a simple truth, the weak follow the strong. And naming a land ... is not for all. I'll keep you land safe, until you are ready to lead us."

" Lead you where, Queen ? The world outside of the Maze ... is different ... "

" You can travel between both worlds, like the heroes ... But they can't understand us. You are the bridge between us, Ruby. With or without that intention, it's now a fact. "

" I'm not a bridge, Queen. "

" You have no idea how powerful you are, Ruby ... Your body is made of ... flesh ... If I try my best, I can only make one made of sound and colour ..."

" You are referring to minor illusion ? "

" Minor ? Yes ... heroes call it that way ... but for us is Grand Magic ... I see from your face that you started to understand ... Train my men, Ruby ..."

" Many will die if you fight, Queen. "

" All will die soon, Ruby ... This land is named ... but needs time to blossom ... And after gathering all the clans I saw it ... "

" There is not enough food ... You are preparing to hunt Rabbits on the upper floor ? "

" Some will do that ... others will go down ... and loot the Elves. "

" Hunger, Lust ... You are not thinking properly ... "

" We are Goblins, Ruby ... Shamans like me have higher intelligence ... But our ways are ... "

" Queen, your ways work ... You just need to improve a few details. 4 goblins facing 2 heroes almost won ... Double it ... Two waves. One attack from the ground, the other is hidden and toss spears. They have shields, and magic, yes. But with enough attacks 8 can take them. Why you use your weapons so close ? If you toss them you will expose less, and ... "

" Ruby ... forgive me to repeat myself again ... What is clear to you ... is unseen by us ... After you saying it, a patrol of eight makes more sense ... Once again I ask ... guide us ... "

" I need to learn the way of the Goblins, before I try to advise you, Queen ... And I also need to talk with the Elves ... can you schedule a meeting ? "

" A meeting ? Ruby ... floors only talk when there is war ... And that is made sending an emissary ... that normally doesn't return ... Here ... give this to a Goblin and he will speak for all of us."

" You want me to chose ... "

I stop talking, and look at the object ... a small necklace of bones ... small for me, but a big craft for them ... I open my mouth, and make another puppet ... but this this time with the shape of a Goblin. The Queen is speechless.

" You can make Goblins, Ruby ? "

" No, Queen ... I refuse to pick someone to die, so I'll send my minion. "

" Can I be your minion, Ruby ? "

" You don't understand, Queen ... My minion is ... me, disguised as a Goblin ... "

" I see ... I'm old, Ruby ... When the time comes ... Can I be your minion ? Take this vessel into a glorious battle against your enemies. "

" That is possible ... When you time comes ... I'll make you my minion ... But don't **** it ... "

" Never, Ruby ... My apprentice still needs time. And my level up gave me a few more years to teach her. "

I store my Ru on my inventory, so that only this mass is available ... a risky move ... but I don't know how far can I use a puppet ... and it consumes to much mana ... So is best to follow this idea ... I begin to walk, and the Queen calls.

" Ruby ... The portal is on the other side ... "

" Queen prepare your best troops ... Only Goblins use the portal. Is there any other way to enter ? "

" An ambush ... to catch the heroes by surprise ... We use those for hunting ... And not even I consider it. Another way ? My Grandmother told me that there was a stairwell also ... but it collapsed ... "

" Guide me to the portal, Queen. "

She nods, and I follow her ... While we walk she talks, and I use scan ... nothing ... magic doesn't appear ... I stand on a circle surrounded by crystals ... and the Queen explains. The portal only works to the next level ... While I'm being teleported, I receive a message.

" Portal Scanned, updating. "

I was counting on it ... I need to use something to understand it ... And after arriving the Second floor, I can detect another portal ... on another direction ... The way to the Third floor probably ... But for now, I have several Elves aiming their arrows at me.

" Any last words, ugly one ? "

Different ... or maybe this is how elves think away from humans ... But not all, I have a few memories that show me that some still think like this ... while others have more progressive ideas ... Is best to say something, or I risk to return to my slime form ... and eat all of them.

" Several, but not for you. Take me to your leader. "

" You speak our language ? How ? "

And now all makes sense ... Goblins can't understand or speak their language ... so the deals were never made ... Being silent makes them take me to the centre of the village ... Smart ... I stay on the centre, and they surround me by all directions ... behind the line in front of me is an Elf ... looking at me. Near her is another elf armed with a sword ... and looking at me, in a different way. She says.

" You are before the Queen, ugly one. She is the best warrior in our clan. Speak before you die. "

" Best warrior ... surrounded by 10 archers, and in front of them 10 swordsmen ... All the others that I can see have knives ... and is possible there are others I can't see ... Facing an old Goblin without any weapon ... Ah, here is one. "

I crouch slowly, and grab a rock from the ground. The air becomes dense in front of me, I laugh, and seat down.

" Magic ? Hahaha ... Against a stone ? Do you understand my message, Queen ? "

" Give the order, my Queen I gladly duel this ugly one. "

Speaks the Elf near the Queen, while stepping forward. The Queen remains still, until she speaks.

" Why are you seating on my presence. Stand up, ugly one. "

" Ugly one ... even the wisest can't see it ... You are the Queen of the Elves, I'm not an Elf. So you can't give me orders. On the other side, you are afraid ... all of you are ... an army of your best, against a representative of the floor above ... Why you have that fear, or why you hate us, is not for me to fix. But ugly one is not a proper way to start a meeting with a representative, Queen of the Elves ... unless you don't want to listen my message ... On that case, allow me to explain. Each one of your archers has a quiver, on that quiver you have 20 arrows. You are all excellent hunters, so one goblin will fall for each arrow. When you run out of arrows, you will use your swords. Half of my message is delivered. If you want to listen the rest, is for your ears only. "

My words make the Queen look at the elder Elves, and the angry elf stops forward.

" Enough. You spells will not work on me. Prepare to die. "

She says raising her sword against me. I remain seated, and point in front. Several eyes are turned to the big tree.

" If by a miracle I win, how your friends and family react ? "

" Don't worry, sorcerer ... I'll make sure that no one will avenge my fall. More, under the Tree of the World I make an oath, if you cut me, I'll become your ****, so that you can **** my flesh like your kind does. "

" Tell me more about that ... How can one goblin **** one elf ? You are taller, stronger, and smarter."

" They were FIVE, not one. I'll avenge my sister. Taking the heads of all of you. "

" All ... How many heads you took under that excuse ? 5 ? 10 ? 100 ? How many more you will take until your fire fades away ? 1 million ? "

My words make the Queen look again to the Elders, they nod, and she speaks.

" The chief of my personal guard comes with me, and you will stand before the Council of the Elders. If you wish to deliver your message, those are the terms, and ... "

" I accept. "

" You should listen the rest, Goblin ... "

" If this is the only way, I accept. If you think that others can understand my words, I accept. If you don't like my message, and prefer this head. I accept. "

My words make the Queen look once more to the elders, and I'm escorted forward. Again a shield is raised, but this time surrounding me. The Queen says.

" It's not for you, but to protect our most sacred tree. Know this, under it, there are no lies. Speak. "

" What do you know about the upper floors, Queen ? "

" You message is a question ? Do you really have 1 million Goblins living above us. "

" Several questions, Queen. Before I speak, I need to understand. 5 millions Queen, all tribes are united under the Goblin Queen ... and all clans are starving. Some are planning to hunt Rabbits, others are planning to hunt Elves. "

" 5 million ??? And you came here ... betraying your kind ? "

" I came here to understand, Queen ... Another question is necessary ... Why Goblins exist ? "

" Why ... That is ... "

The Queen stops talking when she sees me turning to the elders at my right. They all shine for a moment. Speaking without words ... interesting ... One of them is coming forward, but I speak first.

" What would happen after you exterminate all Goblins ? "

My second question makes them shine once more, and now the one in front speaks.

" Now is clear why you want to speak with us alone ... You are wise enough to understand that others will interpret wrongly your message ... Continue ... "

" Why Goblins exist ? I don't know ... What is going to happen after they invade this land ? That one is easy. The first floor will be empty, and will be a camp for heroes to gather resources. At first they will fall fast, but soon they will do to you, what you did to Goblins. Now another questions comes ... "

" Enough ... "

Screams the angry elf with the sword, and jumps towards me. A good technique ... but too slow for me. I sidestep to my right, toss a little dust on her eyes with my right hand, and use my nails to cut the back of her hand. She falls, stands up immediately, and jumps again ... but kneels.

" What is happening ? "

She cries looking at the elders shaking, the Queen speaks.

" Look at your hand ... Blind by rage, you were beaten by your words, and forgot your honour. "

She looks at her her hand, sees the little cut I made ... and begins to cry. I look at the Queen, and wave my head.

" Not all move like me ... Even your angry warrior alone can defeat all above, until her arm is tired ... She can't cut 5 million, but assisted by your archers, and soldiers ... you can wipe all of them without effort ... And this is from what I'm seeing ... because you also have things I can't see ... "

The Queen looks at the Elders, then back at me, and speaks.

" Why do you give all this information ... We knew rumours, but now you confirmed our superiority ... "

" She wants our magic arrows. "

Says the elder representative, I wave my head, and explain.

" You fail to see the obvious ... Without your help, all Goblins will die. With your help, eventually all you offer to them will be used against you. However there is a short path, using your weapons, and a longer path, learning your ways. "

" You want us to teach Goblins our magic ? "

" Magic ... Goblins can't even dream what is your magic, Queen ... For them Minor Illusion is a high spell ... The longer path is food. Goblin lack knowledge on what to eat. From what I see the fauna and flora are different on each floor, so maybe you don't know the plants and the beasts above you ... but you learn fast ... and can show it to them. "

" We have plenty ... we can give them our extra food ... so that they don't starve ... "

" A beautiful idea, Queen ... But that will only spread the seeds of Greed, and some of the Goblins will come here. No matter how many buckets you send, they will always want more ... "

The Queen is silent, the elders are silent, and a voice is heard from the tree.

" This land needs a name to be in peace ... "

All elves kneel at once, and I see the image on an elf made of light coming out from the tree. Then the Elf at my feet grabs her sword, and aims at her throat.

" I can't live with his humiliation. First I lost to a Goblin, and now the World Tree is witnessing it. "

She is fast, I'm faster. A small tap on her wrist, she drops the sword, and I step on it. Then I say.

" You are my ****, and I didn't order you to do that. Names are powerful, and you know my answer. "

" I accept your conditions ... show them ... "

All elders look at me, still standing and speaking directly to the tree ... so I make an adjustment to my form.

" Let you fire fade away. You were not beaten by a Goblin, strong one. The name of this land is Ruby. "

They all stare at my elf form, and see that the Goblin is gone, the light Elf returns slowly into the tree, and whispers.

" Two become one. Many can die, until they see it. Ruby, know this. Humans have no magic. They are thieves, and all they have is stolen. By blood succession, parents shared their loot with their offspring. Is time to return, for me ... and for you."

" One question ... can the portal be closed ? "

" There is only one way to close them all, Ruby ... And you know it. No matter what happens, humans can't touch the egg ..."

The light fades away, I return to my Goblin form, and the Queen is still kneeling ... but now before me.

" The voices of the world are speaking ... This land is now called Ruby ... Why you use that form ? "

" Ruby has no form, Queen. So it can assume all forms. Is my wish to listen your words, not **** you to kneel under my power. Tell no one what happened. Is time to return. "

" What about the investigation ? We can't speak their language, and ... "

" Send a patrol to investigate near the area of the portal, identify fauna and flora that are good to eat. Leave it there, the Goblin Queen will understand. "

" An offering to Ruby ... Our work is your hands ... Anything more ? "

" While you search what is good to eat, search also how the heroes enter. Move unseen by the Goblins. Call your best in military. Imagine that you are humans, and want to breach the first floor ... "

" Tunnels ... I'll search the places where the ceiling is weaker ... And do the same on this one. How humans will convince anyone to dig soo deep, Ruby ? "

" Planting gold, or some other rare ore ... faking investigations confirming there is more. Lying about your arrowheads made of enchanted iron, and telling that is something else that can be used to make magic swords ... And so many other ways. Goblins are amateurs compared to humans. My time is over. I was never here. And for you, my **** ... Live free. "

" I'm your ****, Ruby ... you can't do that ... "

" Follow your heart ... If after all this you still want to end the Goblins, go. If you wish to train your sword to be the Queen's shield, calm your mind. And if you decide to do something else, do it. It's an order."

I walk away, use the portal once more, and the Goblin Queen is waiting for me. I nod.

" On this place, offerings will be given. Come here, learn, and use that knowledge. "

" Swords ? Arrows ? Magic ? We are going to grow our military ****, Ruby ? "

" Food, Queen. You will learn that with a full belly, no Goblin wishes to hunt rabbits. They are very fast. "

" I can't prevent them to try to loot the Elves, Ruby. "

" All that try, will not return, Queen ... Stones can't fight swords, arrows, and magic. "

I walk away once more, now on Ru mode ... Then I face the closed stairwell, and spill glue ooze all over it, except in one small part. I place that rock into my inventory, go into snake mode, and send all mass to inventory until I look smaller then an ant. Then I continue my digging, gluing ... until is done.

It is a strange idea, but possible. Any other adventurer could store the rocks on the inventory like I did, but now they can't ... only a small tunnel remains ... I tried ... the glue ooze did the job ... can't move this big rocks to my inventory anymore. I reach my secret resting chamber ... and is time to sleep ... just a small ooze on the floor ...