Chapter 72
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: 8th Floor - Lv. 195 Fortress Commander (3)
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Long-brewed malice takes on a form like this.
The Girl wrinkled her nose. Sure, it was just a goblin scowling, but the more you looked, the more it seemed like a rather refined goblin.
The orcs were the first to sense something off. Being the smallest in build, the poison's effects hit them fastest.
Next came the trolls. Their insane regenerative powers came hand-in-hand with equally insane metabolisms.
Monsters that burned through rations faster than anyone else absorbed massive doses of poison—and it spread through their bodies quicker than anyone else's.
Unlike the orcs, who were on the brink of death, the trolls would eventually pull through, but for now, they were groggy and helpless.
The ogres, by contrast, were relatively fine.
Not entirely muscle like the trolls, these huge, lumbering beasts with thick layers of fat ate slowly and moved sluggishly.
Following the facts I'd shared, the goblins targeted the trolls first.
If they didn't finish them off now, the trolls would regenerate endlessly and become an insurmountable wall for the goblins.
They had to capitalize while the poison had them dazed.
Precisely at midnight.
The goblins began converting. The youngest, who couldn't help much without a shield, served as the intermediary relaying their prayers to the goddess.
With so many of them, even with a dozen or so converting around the kid at a time, it took considerable time.
The youngest would play the role of Chaos Missionary all night long. And above all, he seemed thrilled about it.
The goblins were quick.
Even outside the Stormhowl Brigade, deserter assassins were plentiful.
If you couldn't climb to the top, you were just cannon fodder—no exceptions.
Many veteran goblins picked up weapons, revealing their past careers.
Surprisingly, there were plenty of old-timers who'd climbed the ladder of success but couldn't hack it at the top.
Shadows of [Stealth] blanketed the area.
The night was deep, but the darkness even thicker.
Muffled screams began echoing from all around.
The bulk of the troops knew something was wrong with their bodies but had no clue as to the cause.
They couldn't even imagine the goblins daring to rebel.
A few shamans invoked the God of War's power.
Holy waves spread through the fortress, driving the faithful into a frenzy.
Some goblins who hadn't converted yet actually benefited.
The power boosted resistance to abnormalities, but it didn't undo poison already in effect.
Gaming terms: it prevented debuffs, not cured them.
Troll heads rolled from necks all over, as the dazed beasts staggered.
The orcs were even easier. Already dead or dying, they met their end to crude daggers.
One such dagger, crudely carved from stone, trembled in the grip of a goblin who'd spent his life as a mere laborer.
The ogres were the ones properly grasping the situation and resisting.
Less affected by the poison, these instinctive magic-users had brains that actually turned.
The goblins started taking casualties.
One club swing, one fireball, and many goblins met their deaths.
We raced across rooftops, bypassing it all—me and the party members except the youngest.
Trailing us were the goblins' top assassins.
It was little more than a shantytown, but a fortress was still a fortress.
It wouldn't collapse under the thudding steps of massive, powerful monsters.
Even the Hunter, whose short goblin limbs felt awkward, nearly slipped a few times.
Despite her lowered physical stats as a goblin, the Girl's super-goblin strength and agility yanked him back each time.
The fortress commander's quarters weren't heavily guarded but sat amid dense troop concentrations.
The assassins with us scattered.
The troll commander kept his strongest, toughest kin close by.
The key would be whether those assassins could get the job done before they woke.
We stopped on the ceiling of the commander's room. I gestured for the party to fall back.
No snoring.
I'd noted his exceptionally loud snorts before.
A massive troll sensed our presence and swung his weapon. The flimsy ceiling flew off in one go.
We dodged just in time and landed safely.
The Hunter loosed an arrow. Not his usual precision.
Just a distraction.
Still, the arrow aimed at his face drew his eyes a bit.
The Girl charged. Even as a goblin, her agility held up best.
Slower than before, but way too fast for goblin movement.
The commander felt it too.
Before he could react, she closed in.
But a troll commanding even a remote outpost was battle-hardened.
Eyes and nose were vital senses—too risky to regenerate mid-fight.
Trusting his regen, he only poked his head out enough to avoid damage.
But the Girl wasn't attacking.
A vial flew—straight into the troll's mouth.
His roaring maw, gearing up for battle cry, couldn't close in time for the unexpected toss.
It even chomped down late, shattering the vial.
The indestructible artifact vial reverted to ordinary glass when hurled with intent.
Glass crunched, spilling foul liquid into the fortress commander's mouth.
Most magic potions worked orally, but not exclusively—effective even otherwise.
Gaming logic: had to work on races without mouths or digestion.
The massive troll shoved the Girl away hard.
She flew but tumbled with a decent roll.
The troll tried roaring again. Glass shards couldn't hurt him.
"Grraaaah! You filthy runts...?!"
Before his furious shout finished, doubt hit him.
The low, scraping growl turned thin and shrill.
His vision dropped.
His body shrank and shrank until he couldn't even lift his weapon properly.
"Grahk?"
The goblinized fortress commander stared blankly at his hand held before his eyes, no longer thick and tough.
"Hey, troll. Fair and square now, eh? Kekeke."
A goblin's laugh sounded more like a groan.
"Kek..."
The ex-troll made the same noise.
00:10
The tide still favored the goblins.
The Chaos Goddess felt like she was commanding an army again after so long.
Her devoted followers—goblins, deemed pathetic—were loyal and brave.
「Dodge! Fall back!」
One goblin's life extended a bit longer.
「Aim higher. Don't rush. Carefully, slowly. He's already down.」
One orc's life ended.
「Nah, skip that fight. Just run.」
Even so, trouble brewed near the fortress core.
Especially where big, vicious trolls gathered—they recovered faster.
A few assassins took to the sky.
Not by choice.
The goddess grew a tad worried.
Then, a powerful holy surge erupted.
Not your standard invocation.
Like when the God of Nature conjured a forest before a castle—full-on divine intervention.
The goddess hastily checked her insolent follower's view.
She'd seen the goblin transformation. Assumed he'd die smoothly after, so hadn't watched.
Unexpected developments.
The God of War intervened more directly than ever.
The goblin fortress commander, cornered near death, was stacked with massive buffs.
No regen left, but physical stats nearly matched his old self.
The Girl struggled to parry. An insolent follower exploited the gaps.
Of course he'd interfere.
This was poaching devotees outright—not mere provocation.
A matter of divine pride.
The God of War was truly pissed.
Even in clear crisis, the goddess couldn't hold back a laugh.
She felt his desperation.
Hah, that cheeky troll bastard. Serves you right.
She recalled countless warriors who'd betrayed him for her—fine god that he was.
Shed let some go willingly, but before that, her Chaos and Freedom cult inevitably lost devotees to drift.
The God of War had even blatantly poached.
A major god grown cunning from long life as a troll.
He toed the line on theft without crossing—still a bully in his way.
Dumb races turning divine caused issues.
Many gods must find this War God "tempting" now.
But it was a genuine crisis.
The sudden holiness triggered overreach.
Remaining polymorph duration ended abruptly.
No purification from the God of War.
Just brute-force stacking of his signature buffs.
Raw power rendered tricks meaningless.
The Chaos Goddess pondered: maybe this follower's true counter was a god like War.
His style wove tricks into advantages.
Pure spec overwhelm was deadlier.
And it was happening now.
Even she fretted in this pinch.
But not overly so.
Instead, she widened her view, scanning the fortress.
Then it hit her.
No Hunter.
Well, yeah.
He must've foreseen the God of War jumping in so aggressively.
So no big worry.
He'd bulldoze through somehow.
Instilling that faith even in gods.
But it felt a bit short.
Right then, something entered her sight.
A bat where no bat should be in this frigid plain—flying toward the distant fortress.
Oh ho.
00:15
The tide turned against the goblins.
Unfinished trolls snapped out of severe poisoning and rampaged.
Ogres, having slain countless goblins already, went berserk at their god's advent.
Orcs too—even surviving shamans massacred the poorly armed goblins.
Surprise advantage gone.
Head-on clash? No chance.
Then fires erupted. Goblins retreated along preset routes in unison.
Heading straight out of the fortress.
Fires dotted the paths.
The unprepared fortress became a massive bonfire.
Even trolls die burning long enough.
Greenskins fled disorderly after the goblins, survival paramount.
Chaos everywhere. Night blazed bright.
In the glare, skilled assassins struck successfully.
Chaos matching their new goddess's name unfolded.
00:18
"This is ridiculous."
The Hunter's distant heavy sniper round nailed a troll's head.
No explosion—just a savage snap-back.
Bullet ricocheted off. Pure kinetic transfer.
War god's power jacked defense absurdly—for a short time.
The troll was a buffet of buffs already.
Not a particularly devout commander.
But with mass defections, the God of War grasped the crisis—pouring powers recklessly, backlash be damned.
Meant he had devotees enough to afford it.
Couldn't touch the buff-wrapped troll till ammo ran dry.
I activated [Stealth].
Signaled the Girl to pop an invis fruit.
As we vanished mid-fight, the troll scowled hideously and roared.
His holy roar stripped my [Stealth].
Her fruit-based [Invisibility] held.
I stalled him as he turned to scan for ambush, now exposed.
At this point, better to stall till human form returned, gear up fully, then rematch.
Of course, goblin revolution fails then.
Precarious even with us; impossible without.
But time to cut losses now.
Normally, goddess would've relayed direct, but God of Nature wasn't radio-savvy.
Asked the passive observer actively; relayed via her to the Girl.
Her presence hesitated, then vanished.
No melee viable. Solo chase easier, ironically.
Flung random check spells. No damage.
Real hits through those buffs? Pro mage's big spell needed.
Dodged and bolted full tilt.
Ditch him before exiting fortress.
Prolonged chase bad for all.
[The God of Nature says he'll overstep if needed to help you.]
Great news—at least I won't die.
But can't bank on it fully.
Forced intervention amid War buffs scattered everywhere? Tough.
Then, more trolls appeared—adding insult.
Club whistled overhead. Tiny goblin bod barely dodged.
Ducked hammer smash; flames flew next. Magical, not arson.
Sudden order in foes' moves.
Someone coordinating.
"What, encirclement?"
[The God of Nature curses a troll for cowardice.]
Yeah, puppeting devotees like avatars.
Determined to kill me at any cost.
Even troll gods get crisis quick.
Ever seen revolution?
Short think: asked Nature to reconnect to Chaos Goddess.
Third use.
Chaos power now? Map reroll? Goblin cult too small despite gains.
Doubtful for that scale.
Then: make casting failure backlash Abyss exile.
Abyss return feasible as Chaos devotee.
Divine favor key.
Abyss as emergency exit even.
Minded to ask—Nature silent.
Meanwhile, cornered tighter.
Loyal goblin assassins joined.
Big/small foes' assaults coordinated.
Yeeted [Blink Dagger] into incoming club.
Not embed—sent it flying far.
Tried riding it out; incoming dagger clipped my [Blink Dagger].
It spun like a top back near me.
"Argh!"
Perfect counters. Throne troll's command flawless.
Then Nature's message.
[The God of Nature relays Chaos: 'Looks like future you planned well.']
Yeah? What's that mean? Perfect timing though. What'd you prep, me?
Fortress outskirts near.
Actually, can't exit. Flatland chase worse for goblin main force.
Human form better at least. Should've timed polymorph potion.
Things went too smooth—red flag.
Ducked returning dagger, rolled past obstacle club.
Flames incoming. Might tank this—potions spare...?
Bit risky—then flames veered odd.
Targeting ogre/trolls engulfed.
Flame walls erupted around me.
[Fire Wall]?
No mage here... .
Bat swarm sudden. In fire-blocked gap, they clustered before me.
Instinct ID'd.
Vampire. Smaller than Barbaroi. Much smaller.
Bat count: about ten years old...
Battle stance dropped seeing the kid's face.
Knew what happened.
Tiny frame, red eyes, silver hair whipping in flames.
Clumsily raised hand danced with mana. Knew it: [Dispel Magic].
Not instant-cast normally. I'd have self-dispelled if so.
Talent gap too, but gear flashier—mana-calc aids galore.
Barbaroi clan kid vampire: random NPC, mainland resident.
Yet outgrows fixed named exiles.
Wanted her bad. High-perf NPC to replace temp mage me.
Dispel washed over. Back to human.
Naked issue, but kid averted eyes, tossed cloak.
Cloaked up—better. Barbaric, but whatever.
"Alright, you there. Am I clan master in your future?"
The future kid vampire nodded slowly, face low on emotion.
"Yes, Dad."
Wait, what?