Volume 2, Chapter 88: Night Attack
Volume 2, Chapter 88: Night Attack
The flickering watch fires revealed the monster’s great stature. It was much bigger than the other goblins, almost two heads bigger, in fact.
It held a long sword in its hand. It was the same long sword the soldiers used, but the way the monster used it made it appear smaller and weightless. The black flames of the underworld covered the long sword. They burned darker than the surrounding darkness, almost as if they were calling the living to death.
When the monster looked around, it looked like a death god who had come from the abyss in search for a trophy to bring home.
—What is that thing doing?
Yuan blankly looked the monster in the eye, and he immediately regretted it.
The monster’s gaze brimmed with hate for humans — for himself, and that ferocity of it made him freeze.
“A-A-A—”
He had to give orders, but flustered, the only thing he could utter out was a list of incomprehensible sounds. He did not even realize the puddle of water that had gathered beneath him by his quivering legs. The blood-red eyes of the goblin king had left him completely frozen.
As a roaring sound bellowed, death came swinging.
The heads of the soldiers nearby came flying with their helmets still attached. One of those heads rolled over to Yuan and wordlessly stared at him.
What are you getting all scared for? Weren’t you going to save us? We died because of you.
“A, ahh, AHH—”
Fight, coward! Fight that thing and die! Die! Die! Die!!
The envious voice of the dead toward the living echoed clearly in his ears.
—I’m going to be killed. I’m going to die.
Yuan shook his head at the approaching goblin king, but that thing was the embodiment of death. It would not stop just because of that. ‘Death’ approached him. Step by step, it neared him, but Yuan had already forgotten about the sword in his hand, only continuing to shake his head as he watched ‘death’ approach.
“GURUuuuAAaaAA!!”
‘Death’ howled.
It was as if it were saying it would send everyone to hell. It howled, angrily, as it cut down the soldiers one after another, even crushing a soldier’s head with its helmet still attached with its other arm. It was
then that Yuan was reminded of a story he’d heard of before. A legend regarding the very shadow he was seeing before him. Beings born of the abyss, they were called: devil.
—A monster, a real monster has crawled out of the abyss. Humans can’t win. Not against that.
‘Death’ threw a soldier’s crushed head to the side. And before Yuan knew it, ‘death’ was right before him. Black flames flickered around the sword of ‘Death’ as it raised up, but Yuan only watched—
“Yuan, fall back!!”
It was a first hearing that heroic voice so angry, and immediately, Yuan woke up from his stupor, allowing him to jump back.
◇◆◆
Using one of the effects of the One-Eyed Snake’s Evil Eye, I could see the status of those whose classes were lower than mine. I analyzed all the humans I came across, causing my head to ache with all the information rushing, but I grit my teeth and endured it.
It would be best if I can get the head of the commander.
“King!”
Behind me were two rare goblins. I ordered them to break the enemy formation.
“Go! Alashd, Gi Zu! Don’t look to your left or your right, just run straight for the west!”
I saw them off as they ran west. I’ve sent the main force. If they go around to the back, we’ll be able to cut the enemy apart at the same time.
The main purpose of the attack is to instill fear into the enemy. To that end, even burning the village is worth it. So I had the Princess of Ganra, Narsa, use the Byunei Bow to shoot a flame arrow and set my house, the king’s house, on fire.
To scare the enemy further, I also decided to put on a little act as a devil from the abyss, making full use of my naturally intimidating appearance.
Now, where’s that commander?
I gaudily killed the humans I came across. Sometimes I would crush their heads, and sometimes I would bash them. I killed everyone I came across even as I kept my calm. But it’s different compared to when I fought Gol Gol and the ogre lord. A different pressure was weighing on me from within as my soul screamed.
“GURUuuuOOAOAAa!”
Fear me, humans! I wallowed in hate for those who’ve killed my brethren to suppress my screaming soul. If I let them go, they’ll only kill more.
—Is this really the right thing to do?
It was only for a moment, but that hesitation caused a spear to graze my cheeks.
—No, don’t hesitate. It’s too late for that. Are you trying to make the humans laugh? I am me. I will rule this world as the king of monsters. And then I will save that woman, Reshia! This time I’ll protect our promise!
For a moment, the memories from the other side that I’d long forgotten stirred, and the image of someone sadly smiling at me overlapped with Reshia’s.
I grabbed the spear that grazed me, and then kicked away the terrified soldier.
—Yes, fear me! Fear me, humans! You have touched that which should not have been touched!
I threw the spear I’d just picked up, letting it fly into a soldier to skewer it dead.
—Where is the commander!?
I looked around the battlefield.
—Wrong.
I cut down another soldier, and then another.
—Tch, wrong again!
With my strengthened muscles, my enchanted sword, and the skill, Swordsmanship A, compensating for my sword skills, I easily cut down enemy after enemy, letting dark-red blood to gush and dye the field.
—Found him!!
When my eyes fell on a person standing some distance away, the title ‘Sub Leader’ flashed through my mind. Immediately, I ran to that man, cutting down all the soldiers in the way.
“GURUuuoOOAaaAa!”
I raised up my sword. If I can just get this human’s head, we’ll have accomplished enough. Fear would dominate the enemy, and pursuing them would become that much more easier.
But just when I was about to cut down the enemy commander, another soldier jumped out of nowhere, angrily yelling.
I tried to read his status but failed.
—The same class!
I swung down my sword against the soldier’s.
So this is the real commander!
◆◇◆
“This is good.” The giant goblin, Rashka, smiled.
“Damn, it’s that goblin from this morning!” Wyatt cursed.
Rashka attacked the west with his horde, and the person to greet him was none other than the Herculean Wyatt whom he’d fought this morning. The main powers of their horde aside from him were Gi Gu Verbena, who excelled in leadership, and Gi Gi, the ancient beast warrior. Gi Gu was always leading from the back, so it was only natural that he was uninjured, but Gi Gi being uninjured was mostly by luck.
“Wasn’t the defense in the west the strongest!?” Vitz said as he quickly stopped tending to the wounded and wielded his sword.
“I will take the lead,” Gi Gu said as he passed Rashka, who was fighting Wyatt, and attacked Vitz. Gi Gu laughed at the strength of the opposition. “It’s our home, so of course we would know all the ins and outs. Even the very location of the traps themselves and the holes in the fences.”
“Damn it! Are these guys really goblins!?” Vitz cursed.
Gradually, Vitz began to fall back to Gi Gu’s relentless charge. If Yugil hadn’t jumped in to help him, he would have surely died.
“Be careful, Yugil! This goblin is strong!” Vitz warned as Yugil tacitly walked up after nodding.
The two adventurers worked hand-in-hand against Gi Gu. Yugil would block Gi Gu’s attacks with his shield and attempt to break Gi Gu’s posture with a parry, after which, Vitz would attack.
When Gi Gu saw how well they worked together, he laughed. “Are you actually challenging me to a battle of teamwork!”
As Gi Gu fought against Vitz and Yugil, and Rashka against Wyatt, Gi Gi rode his triple head, ignoring the wounded humans around, as he entered into the village.
Following him were the beast tamers under the late Gi De. Gi Gi had heard from them how Gi De died.
—Vengeance must be had.
Gi Gi and the goblins he led had that one thought running through their minds. Beast tamers such as them greatly loved their beasts and their comrades. Goblins reproduced quickly and were usually numerous, so such a quality among goblins was particularly striking.
They trampled over the humans that approached them as they went deeper into the human territory, when a man wielding a flaming sword came to view.
“Boss, that’s the one!” One of the survivor beast tamers pointed to the man who was none other than Bellan, the Wand of Destruction.
As Gi Gi eyed him, he lightly kicked the belly of his triple head. In no time at all, the distance between them was shortened. As Gi Gi took out his axe, he clashed against Bellan’s wand.
“So it was you! Die!”
“From fire shall be born a blade!Fire Sword”
The red gem on Bellan’s wand dazzled brilliantly as flames shot up from it.
The battle in the west raged even more.
◆◇◆
The enemy sword repelled my sword. The enemy handled his sword well, making it difficult to exhibit the actual power of enchant. It was hard to land a clean hit, as the enemy kept managing to parry my attacks.
For a moment, the enemy turned to look at the surroundings.
The panic from the surprise attack is almost about to wear off. They’ll probably regroup after this. It have been nice to kill the enemy commander before leaving, but that doesn’t seem likely. Especially, since he seems to specialize in defense.
It’s a pity, but it seems we’ll have to retreat.
I slashed up with my sword, and the enemy dodged by slipping through below it. Immediately after, I slashed down, and the enemy backed off even more to dodge.
After seeing that a considerable distance had been made between us, I called forth my ether.
“My life is like a cloud of dust!Accel”
I moved so quickly the very air broke, but the enemy dodged again.
I didn’t turn around to clash with enemy commander a second time.
We still have time. There’s no reason to hurry. The real thing starts once dawn breaks. We’ve already accomplished our main goal, so it’s fine to retreat now even without the commander’s head.
I cut down all the humans in my path as I opened a path to the west.
This sword is really too light. I can wield it just fine, but it’s really lacking that weight needed to cut the enemy apart.
As I thought that, I bellowed out the howl that signaled our retreat. Now then, humans.
What will you do?
Will you be too scared to move? Or will you retreat anyway? Either way, only hell is waiting for you.
◇◇◆◆◇◇◆◆
Level has risen.
20 to 21
◇◇◆◆◇◇◆◆