Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Hobgoblin Bastards #8
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"Graaak! Grak grak!"
The hobgoblin chieftain started gesturing wildly, barking out orders. Just from a glance, it was obvious. These bastards were gearing up for an attack. They were probably planning to gather the squads that had gone off elsewhere and hit us all at once.
Made sense, given the size of the dungeon. The entrance had been widened plenty, at least. They must've figured there was something big inside.
But seriously, no bears or anything in here? Even with an army like that, they'd get wrecked by a bear. It's a mystery why they'd try storming a cave this big... Nah, they probably spotted goblin traces.
If they thought it was a goblin den, it'd be worth attacking.
"Sharan, stay put and wait."
"Shaa."
Sharan and I lay prone together, peering out toward the entrance. I'd made up my mind. Once this war was over, I'd ask her to let me touch her chest.
How much time passed?
"Graaak!"
The chieftain gave the order to attack, and the hobgoblin army—armed with stone axes—began marching slowly into the dungeon.
—Thud thud.
—Thud thud.
—Thud thud.
They were tense, but acting pretty casual. No marching in formation or anything. And most importantly, all their weapons were stone axes.
A stone axe can never beat a spear...!
So we can win!
We can win!
I counted as many as I could while they filed in, thinking that. Ten had entered so far. That meant maybe five more outside as reserves?
And then.
"Graaak."
"Grak."
The chieftain wasn't coming in. Looked like he planned to hang back and command from the rear.
Perfect.
A little more.
Come in a bit further.
The tunnel wasn't that wide. If we held formation like we'd practiced and met their attack, we could win!
"Sharan, let's fall back a little."
"Shaa."
I carefully got up and retreated deeper. Hobgoblin howls echoed from the entrance.
"...!"
As they pushed further in, Sharan's aura sharpened. She was my ace in the hole. If the formation broke somehow, she'd go in as reserves. She couldn't fight alongside the phalanx—tunnel was too narrow.
"Graaak."
"Grak grak."
Once the hobgoblins reached the sweet spot.
"Everyone!"
I yelled right away!
"To your positions!"
And at the same time.
—Keruruk!
—Ker yaaaak!
—Keruuk!
From deep in the dungeon behind me, goblin roars erupted! My minions! My soldiers! My phalanx! They were charging in perfectly, just like we'd trained!
And then.
"Grak!"
"Graaak!"
Hearing the goblins, the hobgoblins spat curses and sped up their advance. Goblins were their prey. Knowing that, they charged without fear! Convinced they'd win!
Such delusions!
I'll shatter them!
"Form up!!!"
My goblins leaped over me and Sharan—still prone, grabbing their gear—and formed ranks right in front of me.
—Clang!
Front line: shieldbearers!
Rear line: spearmen!
The phalanx formation was complete. Flawless!
"Graaarak!"
"Graaaaaak!"
Cheers rang out. I stood, bent at the waist, and stared ahead. Hobgoblins charging with stone axes raised...! Collision imminent!
"Keruk...!"
Buril, spear aimed, trembled like he was scared. His first war. I was tense too— no way they weren't. But we'd trained for this. No need to panic!
"Hold the formation!!!!"
I bellowed with all my might.
And.
"Grak!"
Hobgoblins slammed into the phalanx.
—Puk!
—Pook!
—Puk!
—Puk!
In that instant.
It felt like time froze.
"Keruk...?!"
The lead three hobgoblins—charging full tilt—stopped dead, spears buried in their chests!
"Grak...!"
Success! Three down in the first clash! But we were short on spears! More behind them!
"Pull spears! Recover and stab again! Fucking stab them! Spear thrust, go go gooo!!!"
"Ke, keruk!"
"Keruk!"
I yelled the drill.
—Pook!
Spearmen yanked spears free, hobgoblins toppled. Shieldbearers shoved the corpses aside in total panic.
"Gr, graaak!"
"Graaak!"
The ones behind roared in frenzy, axes high! No situational awareness? Axes can't pierce a spear wall! But if they kept blindly charging, it'd break eventually!
Time for me to step up!
—Paat!
One powerful step forward.
"Kwaaaaaaah!!!!!!!"
War cry to terrify, thrusting my long spear!
—Pook!
One impaled on my spear, and without pause.
"Demon Breeeeath!!!"
Flames spewed toward the hobgoblins.
—Whoooosh!
Fire roared over the goblin spearmen's heads, engulfing the front hobgoblins.
"Graak?!"
"Gr, grak!"
"Graaak!"
Sudden huge guy. Exploding war cry. Long spear. Blasting flames!
—Papat!
Hobgoblins paled, milling in panic, turning to flee. Chaos—they tangled with each other, couldn't even run straight!
"Stab!"
"Ke, keruuuk!"
"Keruk!"
Goblins, emboldened, speared aggressively—hobgoblin backs pierced.
—Kwadang!
Toppling corpses.
—Kung!
Hobgoblins tripping mid-flight.
"Break formation! Slaughter the little shits!"
Quick orders, leaped the phalanx, speared a downed one!
"Kyaek! Keruk! Kyaaak!"
"Kereeeak!"
"Graaak!"
My soldiers went berserk on the fallen hobgoblins. Survivors swung axes in resistance, but flat on their backs? No chance.
—Puk!
Spears hammered into hobgoblin flesh.
"Uoooooh!!!"
Roaring cheers!
I counted bodies amid it. Nine hobgoblins writhing, bleeding out. All combat ineffective! First engagement: perfect victory!
"Keruuuk!"
"Kereeeak!"
Overhyped goblins screamed and jumped wildly. Gotta rein this in. More enemies left. Burning energy on ceremonies would lose us the stamina war!
About to order.
—Graaaaaak!
Battle cry echoed.
—Thud thud thud!
"Chieftain! Fuck!"
The hobgoblin chieftain charged from afar! Leading the remnants in a mad rush!
"Keruk?"
"Keruk...?!"
Goblins' morale plummeted instantly. Yeah, that thing looked badass! Normal to freak when it roared and charged!
But that's why we trained!
"Everyone to positions! Form up!"
"Keruk!"
Goblins started reforming. But sluggish. Brains fried by hype and fear.
Time for the ace!
"Sharan! You roar too!"
"...!"
Sharan, trembling with excitement.
"Shaaaaaaa!!!"
Blasted a massive roar!
Then.
"Gr, grak?!"
"Graaak!"
Charging hobgoblins slammed brakes. Yes! Dryad's scary! Unexpected foe—total panic! Bought time for goblins to form up.
"You fucking bastards!"
Seized the gap, grabbed a stone axe, hurled it with all my strength!
—Whiiish!
Aimed at the chieftain!
"Grak?!"
But the sharp bastard dodged.
—Puk!
"Grak...!"
One behind ate it instead. Sneaky prick. But resilient—roared right back!
"Graaak!"
Chieftain charging again.
I'd waited for this moment.
"Sharan."
"Shaa."
"Bind his feet."
"Shaa!"
"Graaaaaak!"
—Papapap!
Chieftain and minions charging. Face twisted in rage and hate. Tunnel vision.
Sharan was for formation breaks, but with tanky adds shielding the chieftain? It'd punch through for sure.
Now was perfect timing.
—Crunch!
Vines burst through the dungeon floor.
Perfectly snared the chieftain's oblivious feet.
"Grak?!"
—Boom!
The hulking brute faceplanted like a cartoon. Other hobgoblins' faces filled with horror.
—Kwaang!
As chieftain fell.
"Everyone!!! Advance and attack!!!!"
I commanded.
"Keruuuk!"
"Keruk!"
Phalanx advanced slowly.
"Graaak!"
Hobgoblins rushed to save their fallen chief, but —pook! All skewered on spears. Victory. Just spear the chieftain! That instant.
"Graaaaaak!"
—Whooosh!
Downed chieftain thrashed, trying to rise.
"Kyaek!"
Two front-line shieldbearers dropped shields, fell! Chieftain swept goblin shins from prone position!
"But you're the last one left, you fucking shit!"
—Paat!
Kicked off the ground.
"Keruk?!"
Shoved Buril's shoulder aside.
"Dieeeee!!!"
"Grak?!"
Body-slammed the rising chieftain!
—Kung!
Now I was tangled with him like wrestlers. He was muscled, but I had the size advantage! Wrestle here, buy time!
"Graaak! Grak!"
"This bastard's strong!"
Grappling was brutal! We rolled, pure strength struggle.
"Sharan! Hurry! Claw this fucker to shreds with your nails!"
"Shaaaa!"
But I'd win in the end.
Sharan lunged. Chieftain pinned me in the grapple.
—Rip!
Blood sprayed.
"Shaa! Shaa! Shaaaa!!!"
"Gr, gruk...!"
Sharan shredded his back like a maniac. Flesh-tearing claws. Blood and chunks flew everywhere.
"Grruk..."
The chieftain.
Collapsed on me.
Back mangled—no surviving that.
—Kung.
Shoved the corpse aside, sat up.
What I saw.
"Keruk..."
Exhausted goblin phalanx squad collapsed. Hobgoblins bleeding out dead. Finally, chieftain's corpse, back meat scraped clean.
We won.
"Shaa!"
Bloody Sharan hugged me tight.
"We wiiiin!!!"
I declared victory!
"Uoooooh!!!"
Victory rush swallowed my brain. Felt like I could fly! Hell, I could soar straight home to Earth if I wanted!
Had that thought, then a weird urge bubbled up.
"Hm?"
Hobgoblin chieftain's corpse.
Looking at it, my mouth watered. Some primal instinct surged violently inside me.
"Extract."
Take his power.