The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

The prison chamber was dim, the flickering torchlight casting elongated shadows on the stone walls. Mikhailis watched as the two Goblin Champions faced off, their massive frames filling the tight space. The hypnotized champion, eyes dull and vacant under Hypnoveil's influence, stood opposite its challenger—a furious, snarling goblin with muscles rippling under its scarred skin. The atmosphere was thick with tension, anticipation hanging in the air like a storm cloud about to burst.

Okay, okay, just stay calm, Mikhailis. They might tear each other apart, but you can make this work, he thought, beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.

The muffled echoes of the battle between the Goblin Apostle and the red-skinned challenger in the fortress's courtyard provided just enough of a distraction. The roaring of the Apostle and the sound of the heavy clashes outside meant that the noise here would hopefully go unnoticed. Mikhailis knew this fight had to stay contained—no alarms, no one hearing them. He nodded towards Hypnoveil, signaling it to stay alert.

The opposing champion let out a guttural roar, charging forward, its massive fist raised to strike. The hypnotized champion stepped aside, just barely dodging the blow, its reflexes guided by Hypnoveil's influence. Mikhailis moved around the edge of the chamber, his eyes darting from one goblin to the other, assessing, calculating.

Gotta keep this quick. And quiet, he thought, Don't need anyone walking in on our little dance. Discover exclusive tales on empire

The opposing champion swung again, its movement a blur of raw power. Hypnoveil's vines tightened subtly around Mikhailis's champion's head, guiding its body to twist out of the way. The attack barely missed, crashing into the stone wall, sending a shudder through the room.

"Good, keep dodging, big guy," Mikhailis whispered, creeping closer, his eyes locked on the other champion's exposed back. He could hear the hypnotized champion grunting, the force of each dodged attack taking its toll.

The opposing goblin's eyes were filled with fury, its frustration growing with each missed strike. It lunged forward again, its massive fists crashing downwards. Mikhailis's champion shifted its weight, narrowly evading, then countered with a heavy blow to the challenger's side.

The sound of the impact echoed through the chamber, and Mikhailis smirked, his eyes narrowing. That's it. Keep wearing him down.

The hypnotized champion moved methodically, its strikes precise, driven by Mikhailis's commands and Hypnoveil's influence. The opposing goblin staggered back, a snarl escaping its lips as it tried to regain its footing. Mikhailis took advantage of the moment, sneaking behind the opposing goblin, his hands gripping the crude knife he'd taken from one of the guards.

Gotta make this count, he thought, lunging forward. He drove the knife into the back of the goblin's knee, twisting it sharply. The goblin let out a roar, falling to one knee, its balance lost. Mikhailis jumped back quickly, watching as the hypnotized champion moved in for the final blow.

"Finish it," Mikhailis muttered under his breath, his heart pounding.

The hypnotized champion didn't hesitate. It raised both of its massive fists, bringing them down onto the opposing goblin's head with a sickening crunch. The goblin crumpled to the ground, its body collapsing with a heavy thud. The room fell into an eerie silence, the echoes of the battle outside still reverberating in the distance.

Mikhailis let out a shaky breath, stepping back, his eyes fixed on the fallen goblin. His heart was still pounding, adrenaline rushing through his veins. He looked at the hypnotized champion, its eyes still vacant, waiting for its next command.

"Nice job, buddy," Mikhailis said, nodding. He took a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead. The fight had been brutal, raw, and far too close for comfort. He glanced at the door, half-expecting another goblin to burst in at any moment.

"Okay... One down. Let's just hope there aren't any—"

Suddenly, the door to the chamber creaked open. Mikhailis's head snapped towards the entrance, his breath catching in his throat. A figure stood in the doorway—a Goblin Shaman, its eyes widening at the sight of the fallen champion and the hypnotized goblin still standing over it.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Mikhailis muttered, his stomach sinking.

The shaman's eyes gleamed with recognition, and it raised its staff, its lips moving quickly as it began to chant. Dark energy began to swirl around it, the air in the chamber growing cold, a chill that seemed to seep into Mikhailis's very bones.

This is bad. Real bad, Mikhailis thought, his eyes darting to the hypnotized champion.

"Stop him! Now!" Mikhailis hissed, pointing at the shaman.

The champion lunged forward, its massive hands reaching for the shaman. But the shaman was quick, its staff glowing with a dark, purple light as it swung it in a wide arc. The champion was blasted back, a wave of dark energy slamming into its chest and sending it crashing into the wall.

Mikhailis gritted his teeth, his mind racing. Gotta stop him before he calls for backup. He dashed forward, grabbing a piece of broken stone from the ground and hurling it at the shaman. The shaman turned, the stone striking it on the side of the head, momentarily interrupting its chanting.

"Yeah, take that!" Mikhailis shouted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He knew he was in over his head—this wasn't just another brute he could stab in the leg. The shaman was dangerous, and its magic could easily turn the tide against them.

The shaman snarled, its eyes locking onto Mikhailis, a flicker of rage burning within them. It pointed its staff towards him, dark energy coalescing at the tip. Mikhailis felt a chill run down his spine, his instincts screaming at him to move.

"Oh, no you don't," he muttered, diving to the side just as a bolt of dark energy shot past him, narrowly missing his head.

The hypnotized champion, recovering from the blast, pushed itself to its feet, shaking off the debris. It charged towards the shaman once more, its massive fists swinging with renewed fury. Mikhailis scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting around the room, looking for anything he could use to help.

His gaze landed on the fallen goblin's club, lying just a few feet away. He lunged for it, grabbing the heavy weapon and turning back towards the shaman. The champion had managed to grab hold of the shaman's staff, the two of them locked in a struggle, the shaman's eyes wide with panic as it tried to wrestle the staff free.

"Hey, ugly!" Mikhailis shouted, hefting the club over his shoulder. The shaman turned its head, just in time to see Mikhailis swing the club with all his might.

The club connected with the shaman's side, the impact sending the smaller goblin sprawling across the chamber, its staff clattering to the ground. The dark energy dissipated, the room falling silent once more.

Mikhailis panted, his arms aching from the effort. He dropped the club, his eyes locked on the shaman as it struggled to get up, its eyes filled with pain and rage.

"Finish it," Mikhailis said, his voice cold, his eyes meeting the hypnotized champion's.

The champion moved forward, its massive hands wrapping around the shaman's neck, lifting it off the ground. The shaman gasped, its eyes bulging as it struggled, its hands clawing at the champion's grip. There was a sickening crack, and the shaman went limp, its body hanging lifeless in the champion's grasp.

Mikhailis let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping. He wiped a hand across his forehead, his fingers trembling slightly. "This is getting way too troublesome, way too quickly," he muttered, his eyes flicking to the door, half-expecting yet another interruption.

He glanced at the hypnotized champion, still holding the shaman's lifeless body, and shook his head. "Alright, big guy, let's get ready. We're not done yet."