The Demon Among The Knights-Chapter 24: A Christmas special:The Goblins’ Holiday Heist
The battlefield was a storm of chaos. Every step crunched on shards of broken armor, and the cries of the injured echoed across the desolate landscape. Luci, Vic, and Mary moved swiftly, dodging skirmishes while focusing on their mission: to take the injured to the medical tent. Luci saw a injured goblin but ignored it and Vic carried it.
Mary zipped around Luci’s head, her wings glowing faintly in the dim light. " why do you hate goblins so much, Captain. Tell me why !" she said, her tone concerned.
Vic, hauling a wounded knight across his shoulders, rolled his eyes. "This isn’t the time for all this questions, Mary."
"But we need to know!" she insisted. "Captain Luci, tell us why is there a reason for that did they cause you pain in the past ."
Luci’s crimson eyes flicked toward her, narrowing slightly. "You want to know?" he muttered, his voice low but steady.
Mary nodded eagerly. "Of course! Come on, we’re dying to know what made you hate them—or at least smirk."
Luci sighed, clearly debating whether to indulge them. Finally, he relented. "Fine," he said, his voice taking on an almost storytelling cadence. "I’ll tell you about the goblins who dared to steal from Hell."
Flashback: Groddle’s Scheme
Seventeen years ago, Hell was unusually quiet—a rare moment of uneasy peace. The infernal denizens were too preoccupied with their own rivalries to notice the outside world. Sensing this opportunity, a group of goblins hatched an audacious plan.
At the helm of this operation was Groddle, a chubby goblin with a wild imagination. His oversized Santa suit, dyed a sickly green, hung awkwardly over his bulging belly. His plan was simple: sneak into Hell, raid its storerooms, and feast like royalty.
In a dimly lit cavern, Groddle addressed his ragtag crew. "Boys!" he bellowed, his voice echoing dramatically. "Tonight, we make history. No longer will we scavenge scraps or bow to demons. Tonight, we take what’s ours!"
The goblins cheered half-heartedly, clearly skeptical. One of them, a wiry goblin named Slink, raised a trembling hand. "Boss, uh... isn’t stealing from demons a death wish?"
Groddle waved dismissively. "Demons are lazy and full of themselves. They won’t even see us coming. Trust me!"
The Journey to Hell
The goblins’ preparations were haphazard at best:
Building the Sleigh: Groddle insisted on constructing a magical sleigh, arguing that flying would be the fastest way in and out of Hell. The result was a rickety contraption held together with rope and wishful thinking.
"This sleigh looks like it’ll fall apart mid-air," Slink muttered.
"Nonsense!" Groddle retorted. "It’s... rustic!"
Crossing the River Styx: The goblins bribed Charon, the ferryman, with a sack of counterfeit coins.
Charon, unimpressed but unwilling to waste time arguing, ferried them across.
Halfway across, one goblin fell overboard, shrieking about ghostly hands pulling at his ankles. The others pulled him back, only for Groddle to scold him for almost "blowing their cover."
Avoiding Patrols: Donning crude disguises—scraps of fabric and fake horns—the goblins managed to bluff their way past several demon guards. Groddle’s quick thinking and exaggerated lies saved them from exposure more than once.
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The Storeroom Raid
Hell’s storeroom was a sight to behold. Rows of glowing barrels, heaps of roasted meats, and enchanted delicacies filled the massive space. The goblins stood in awe for a moment, mouths agape.
"This... this is it!" Groddle whispered, tears of joy streaming down his face. "We’ve hit the jackpot!"
The goblins sprang into action, their earlier doubts forgotten.
Chaos in the Storeroom:
One goblin tried to carry an entire barrel of infernal ale by himself, only to trip and spill its contents.
Another accidentally activated an enchanted sack of grain, which began levitating and pelting them with glowing seeds.
Groddle, ever the improviser, ordered them to "stuff their pockets and move!"
Hellhounds Attack: Their clumsiness alerted a pair of hellhounds guarding the storeroom.
The beasts snarled, their glowing red eyes locking onto the intruders.
Thinking quickly, Slink tossed a chunk of enchanted meat to distract them. The hounds pounced on the bait, allowing the goblins to finish loading their sleigh.
The Great Escape
The sleigh, now overloaded with stolen goods, creaked ominously as it took to the air. The goblins cheered, their voices echoing through the cavern.
"Look at us!" Groddle crowed, standing triumphantly at the front. "We’ve done it! We’ve robbed Hell!"
As they soared upward, their sleigh passed in front of the blood-red moon, casting an eerie silhouette. It was a moment of triumph—or so they thought.
Hell’s Wrath
Unbeknownst to the goblins, their escapade had not gone unnoticed. The infernal overseer of the storerooms, a demon named Xavros, discovered the theft minutes after they escaped. Furious, he sounded the alarm, summoning a legion of demons to pursue the culprits.
Back on the sleigh, the goblins’ celebration was interrupted by the distant sound of horns. Groddle’s grin faltered.
"What’s that noise?" Slink asked nervously.
Groddle’s eyes widened. "Uh... nothing! Just... festive music!"
But as the sound grew louder, they turned to see a horde of winged-hand demons gaining on them, their fiery weapons glowing ominously.
"Uh-oh," Groddle muttered.
Back to the Present
Vic and Mary were in stitches, barely able to contain their laughter.
"They thought they could outrun demons in that sleigh?" Vic choked out.
Mary clutched her sides, tears streaming down her face. "I can’t breathe! This is too much!"
Luci’s expression remained stoic, though a flicker of irritation crossed his features. "It wasn’t funny for the demons," he said.
Mary sobered slightly, her curiosity piqued. "So, what happened next?"
Luci’s crimson eyes gleamed. "Let’s just say the goblins learned that Hell doesn’t forgive or forget. But that’s a story for another time."
Mary then turned to Luci, her curiosity evident. "Is that the reason you hate goblins so much? And... are you a demon? How did you know this tale?"
Luci stiffened for a moment, his mind racing. Oh no, what was I thinking, telling them that story? he thought. He quickly composed himself, clearing his throat.
"Well," he said aloud, trying to sound casual, "the reason I hate them so much is because they stole roasted chicken. And as for the story... well, let’s just say a friend of mine told it to me."
Mary tilted her head, clearly unconvinced, but before she could press further, Luci shifted the topic, ending the conversation abruptly.
To be continued...
