In the clearing, the Goblin King and Andeno were locked in a fierce battle, their fists and staff clashing with resounding cracks.
Though a warrior, Andeno fought like a pugilist, his fists enhanced with various buffs, delivering powerful blows. The Goblin King, a legendary melee mage, infused his staff with magic, dealing mixed magical and physical damage with each hit.
After several exchanges, Andeno, despite his higher level, began to falter. As his buffs wore off, he exposed a vulnerability, and the Goblin King seized the opportunity, striking Andeno in the chest with his staff.
Andeno spat blood but grabbed the staff, pulling the Goblin King forward and landing a punch on his face. The Goblin King barely flinched, glaring at Andeno with disdain.
“You’re quite capable.”
Andeno was stunned. A goblin that could speak? Just how intelligent was this creature he was fighting?
“What’s so surprising, old man?” the Goblin King sneered, kicking Andeno in the stomach.
The force sent Andeno flying. He struggled to control his urge to vomit, landing on all fours to stabilize himself.
“Oh, still standing? The next strike will end you. You’ll be the stepping stone for the revival of the Goblin Empire!”
“Heh,” Andeno laughed, “Arrogant. Even if we all die here today, once you leave, you’ll—”
“Once I leave, there will be stronger adventurers waiting for me?” the Goblin King interrupted, twirling his staff with a smirk. “I know I am a frog at the bottom of a well. Despite my strength, I am still very weak. But you humans will lose in the end. Think about why only low-tier D and barely C-ranked adventurers are here.”
Could it be that everything was part of his plan? If so, the rescue team was in grave danger.
“What are you trying to say?” Andeno asked, desperate for confirmation.
“Goblins are weak creatures, not worth the attention of B-rank and above adventurers. Those adventurers are too busy seeking treasure-filled dungeons to bother with us. Even in a disaster, they wouldn’t care. This gave me time to grow stronger.”
The Goblin King was far more intelligent than Andeno had imagined. His unease turned to dread. If they didn’t defeat the Goblin King today, he would undoubtedly become a second Goblin Emperor.
If he attacked aggressively, he would surely lose. He had to stall until reinforcements arrived.
“I know what you’re thinking. Your reinforcements are likely at a stalemate with my forces. It’s a pity, that squad was meant to ambush you. But humans are more courageous than I thought. Still, I won’t let you reach here easily.”
The Goblin King swung his staff at Andeno, who gathered his strength for a [Annihilation Strike].
Their collision shook the ground, the impact blowing away nearby goblin soldiers.
“Even if they win, finding this place won’t be easy. My forces are scattered throughout the forest. If they stumble into a training ground, it will take even longer for them to arrive.”
In pure power, they were evenly matched, but the Goblin King had the advantage. His staff was imbued with magic, which seeped into Andeno’s body on contact, causing corrosive damage.
Andeno was sent flying again, accumulating injuries. He was tiring and unsure how much longer he could hold out.
“Damn it!”
“Face it! This is the harsh reality. Surrender and become my sacrifice, and I might let you live a bit longer,” the Goblin King taunted, twirling his staff arrogantly. “Don’t expect your elite squad to save you. They were likely killed by my assassins.”
Elite squad? What was he talking about?
Suddenly, Andeno recalled Yang Yu’s suggestion to scout first and the moment he brought back Sekamens. Was it possible Yang Yu had created the illusion of a split team to confuse the enemy?
“Is it so hard to believe? I am much smarter than you think. Your petty tricks are transparent to me.”
The Goblin King approached Andeno, intending not just to defeat him but to break his spirit and show these arrogant humans the taste of defeat.
Standing over Andeno, the Goblin King spread his arms wide, “Look! Your rescue team is being overwhelmed by my goblin army. Listen to their cries of despair. You’ve led them to their doom!”
The Goblin King closed his eyes, savoring the imagined sounds of victory.
But instead, the sounds of clashing swords and the fall of goblin bodies filled the air.
The Goblin King snapped his eyes open, turning to the battlefield.
The rescue team held their ground, their defense unbroken, while the goblin army suffered heavy losses. The overwhelming goblin force had been halved, with no visible casualties among the humans.
How… is this possible…
Seizing the moment, Andeno charged at the distracted Goblin King, who blocked with his staff and countered with a strike to Andeno’s abdomen, sending him sprawling.
Barely able to stand, Andeno taunted, “Didn’t expect that, did you? You might be strong and smart, but you and your troops lack real battlefield experience.”
“Shut! Up!” the Goblin King roared in fury.
He had risen to power with his unmatched intellect, knowing that goblins lived by instinct. While he had tried to enlighten them, he had kept them ignorant to ensure his control.
His goblins followed his every command without question, even to their deaths.
The Goblin King’s intelligence was his strength and his downfall. His army’s rigidity made them predictable and vulnerable to adaptive strategies.
Despite his anger, the Goblin King knew he needed to crush Andeno and the humans to prove his dominance. But the sight of his army falling apart gnawed at him. He had underestimated these adventurers, and now he faced the consequences.