"Well, of COURSE, that makes sense," Lina declares, smacking her free hand into her head. "Zelas is the beastmaster, and goblins are beasts after all."
"Thanks for the lessons in stating the obvious," Zel groaned. "But right now, we could use less talking and more slashing." A goblin thrust at the chimera with a spear, Zel grunted as it splintered against his skin, thinking. that's going to leave a mark Garv sliced four goblins in half as they idiotically charged him.
"This isn't working," he grumbled.
"Yeah," Lina agreed. "We can't use magic without bringing the damn mountain on our heads."
"Why should that matter," Zel grumbled, as he neatly sliced a throat, severed an arm, and disemboweled a third goblin in a single pattern pass. "Its not like we can't handle a few goblins, even without those two..."
"...unless.." Zel's voice trailed off. Lina appeared to be swamped, but the situation was really to her advantage. Fighting in-close her short sword was five times as deadly as the goblins spears.
"This is a distraction!" she yelled.
Garv looked up momentarily.... "what did you say about the mountain before?"
Lina yelled back to Garv, "We can't use magic without bringing the mountain down on our heads!!" Lina turns back to slicing up more goblins, dodging attacks by moving swiftly between the two attempting to attack her and snickering as they kill themselves off. Garv kills off three more as he thinks of a way to get them out of the cave alive.
Meanwhile Gourry is beginning to stir, and notices that they are being attacked and quickly unsheathes his sword. "Light, come forth!" He called out and began to pick up some slack.
"Damn.." mumbled Lina as her arm was cut. Zelgadiss took care of the goblin attacking her and sidled up next to Garv.
"What's the plan?" he asked.
Gourry who notices that Lina has been injured asks "Are you okay Lina?"
Lina turns to see Gourry and says "I am fine."
Garv looks at them and says "We need to get out here because Zelas seem to know where we are."
Just then Amelia begins to wake up and asks "What happened here?"
Lina turns to her and says "I will tell you later."
"So Garv where do we go?" Lina asks. Garv has no idea where to go because where they go Zelas is sure to find them eventually.
"Well, I'd say getting out of the caves is top priority," Garv declared. "Because if we could accidentally bring it down..."
"Then she can bring down anytime she WANTS!!!" Zel shouted.
"Then let's bring it down first," Lina declared. "Gourry! Get over here!" she snapped the command and fell back as Gourry took her place. "Amelia, can you cast a Defense?"
"I....think so. Why?"
Lina snapped her hands out. "You aren't seriously considering...." Garv started.
"Darkness beyond twilight....."
"Oh bloody Cepheed!!"
"Bloody Cepheed? Talk about mixed curses."
"Amelia, we have more to worry about right now than Garv's cussing."
"Like what?" Gourry asked.
"DRAGU SLAVE!!!!" The gathered power laced outward from Lina and struck the cave ceiling. Usually the ray extended out several more feet before exploding, but packed in here. The blast would begin right above them. "AMELIA NOW!! NO #$#@## DODDLING!!"
"uh...DEFENSE!" and the cave roof was incinerated by the powerful spell. Most of the goblins were incinerated in the backwash, even Amelia's spell had only stopped the majority of it and left the slayers moderately dazed. When everything cleared, they were standing underneath a brand new cliff, that didn't look very sturdy, but at least it wasn't falling yet. Once they were a safe distance away, everybody settled to rest as the rest of the mountain crumbled to rubble.
"What I don't get is why she didn't bring the mountain on us," Lina said.
"If she knew where we were, she had plenty of opportunity."
As the dra-matta was pondering this, Phibrizzo sat across from Zelas. "Wipe that grin off your face," Zelas spat. "I could rip you from gut to throat before you knew I had moved."
"But then you won't, because we have a bargain."
"I've done my part already, now just fulfill your end and you can deal with them as you like."
"You'll get the merchandise when Lina and Garv are dead."
Phibrizzo transported out of the area, only to return to watch as the slayers stood up and began to talk to one another. Garv was rubbing his head, and muttering to Lina, " Nice move sorceress.."
"WHAT?!" Lina yelled. "I got us out of there didn't I? And we are all alive, correct?"
Garv stood his ground, getting his face close to Lina's "Yeah, but don't you think that maybe you could have NOT used your dragon slave?" Lina glared at him, and then turned away and hmphed. Amelia and Zel watched amazed as they argued.
"We have to find out what is going on! Then we have to kill that little brat Phibrizzo. " Zelgadiss commented, breaking the silence.
Amelia nodded, agreeing with him. "Yes, Lina-san! We need to get moving and find out what is really going on."
At that moment, Garv glanced around and noticed Phibrizzo hiding in the trees watching him. "Lina, Zel! Phibrizzo is in the trees over there. We have to get him while we still have a chance!"