Deep within the forest, in a room filled with crystal balls, many of the spheres had dimmed, their previously clear images of the forest now clouded and gray.
A green, ugly face revealed a murderous intent.
“Impressive. Who could have discovered my surveillance?”
The Goblin King recalled a battle he had witnessed a few days earlier. His intuition told him that the unassuming boy was the one who saw through his plan.
“It’s likely him. After he spoke with his leader, their actions resulted in the loss of my sight.”
The squad pursuing the escaping pigs lost contact halfway. The rescuers stayed hidden in the blind spots, never revealing their faces, indicating they had split up for action.
If there were many of them, my subordinates wouldn’t have charged so recklessly.
Are they sending an elite force to ambush me? How naive.
The Goblin King’s face twisted into a sinister smile. Losing his surveillance didn’t mean he wouldn’t take action.
He pressed a button on his chair, and several small goblins armed with daggers descended from the ceiling.
“Your command, my King.”
These small goblins looked weak but emanated a deadly aura, honed from countless battles. Underestimating them meant certain death.
“Formation 311, Area FBA, Command AK for F Area.”
The leading elite assassin goblin showed a hint of surprise, which the Goblin King noticed.
“What’s the matter? Any doubts?”
“None, my King. You are always right. We shall awaken the ancestral spirits and once again reign supreme over the world.” The elite assassin goblin captain replied reverently, confident that their king never made mistakes.
“Go, then!”
With a wave of the Goblin King’s hand, the assassin goblins vanished from sight. He pressed another button, summoning an inconspicuous goblin.
This goblin had leaf-like markings on its body, enabling it to move stealthily through the treetops. It knelt before the Goblin King, ready to relay his orders.
“Relay my command: withdraw the ambush troops, surround and attack from both sides. Use the trap units as bait.”
The inconspicuous goblin nodded and disappeared.
—
The rescue team had mostly recovered.
Yang Yu, along with Sekamens, retraced their steps to meet with Andeno and relayed the gathered information.
“They’re more cunning than expected. Not sure what ritual they’re performing. We only have one chance. If they escape now, the next time they appear, it could cause even more chaos.”
“This situation is worse than we thought. Historically, similar rituals were used by the Goblin Emperor, who performed daily sacrifices. Records are scarce, but it’s believed he created some sort of powerful artifact…” Andeno frowned, muscles tensing.
“Activating it requires numerous sacrifices. We don’t know its effects, so we must prepare for the worst and act swiftly to prevent further escalation.”
Andeno gathered the rescue team and summarized the findings. The mood turned grim. The legend of the Goblin Emperor was infamous, and no one wanted a repeat of history.
Everyone felt the weight of responsibility. Even though they might later be mocked as mere C and D-rank adventurers, they were determined to stop the catastrophe at its source.
The rescue team reached a consensus: they would locate and eliminate the goblins’ main camp and rescue the missing adventurers.
With renewed determination, they set off under Andeno’s leadership, avoiding heavily surveilled areas and moving cautiously to avoid detection.
But reaching the goblin camp unscathed was wishful thinking.
They passed a large pit where goblins had hidden stones. The massive hole, clearly premeditated, confirmed the trap had been planned for some time.
Goblins wielding shovels surged from the pit, engaging the rescue team in a fierce battle. Despite achieving a decisive victory, the noise attracted attention.
Ten slender figures perched on the trees, observing the rescue team from afar. Two assassin goblins split off to coordinate a pincer attack.
The remaining eight goblins kept a watchful eye on the team, planning to spread fear before the full ambush.
The elite members of the rescue team had been separated, thinking they could outflank their king. Naive. Thirty elite assassin goblins, led by their captain, awaited their demise. The weaker members left behind would be easy prey for the goblin army’s ambush.
The elite assassin goblins noted Andeno, sensing his strength. But they dismissed him as bait to draw their forces, confident a few elites wouldn’t pose a significant threat.
They selected their first target: a young, inexperienced boy with a shield and sword, reeking of weakness.
Human bonds are fragile. Once someone falls, fear and chaos will spread through their ranks.
Locking onto their target, the elite assassin goblins unleashed a barrage of throwing knives, showing no mercy.