As the Goblin King attacked, the rest of the goblins followed suit and attacked the humans.
“My liege is fighting… We should watch over his duel, but…”
Gi Jii Yubu was unsure whether he should move his army or not.
“It would be better if you move your army. If the king can’t lead, then someone needs to take his place,” Gi Za Zakuend said. “If you’re not doing it, I will.”
Gi Jii was unhappy with Gi Za’s attitude, so he turned to Gi Ga Rax, but he didn’t say anything and merely watched Gi Za.
Helpless, Gi Jii raised his spear. “The darkness is our domain! Attack!”
At his behest, the goblins lined up their spears and attacked the humans hiding within their camp.
The goblins readied their weapons and calmly approached in formation.
The panicking humans did not know what to do. They fought individually and ran about like frightened mice.
Some of them would challenge the goblins from time to time, but they were quickly dealt with by the goblins’ line of spears.
“Gi Jii, leave the back open,” Gi Za said.
“Why? Wouldn’t it be better if we surround them?” Gi Jii asked.
“It’s easier to kill when the prey is running, right?” Gi Za smiled.
“I don’t think it’s advisable to underestimate humans,” Gi Jii replied, daunted.
“Caution is important, indeed; but if we’re too timid, we’ll miss an opportunity,” Gi Za said with a smile.
Gi Za called out to Gi Ga, who was riding on the back of his black tiger. “Let’s leave the front to Gi Jii, we can take the flanks.”
“…I don’t mind, but what about the tribes? Think they’ll agree?” Gi Ga Rax asked.
The goblins from the Gi Village and the tribal goblins had a sensitive relationship. When the king was around, they were equals, but when he wasn’t, the goblins become unsure how to proceed.
“I’ll take responsibility. If the Gaidga demands it, I’ll even offer my head.” Gi Za looked Gi Ga in the eye.
“Fine, I’ll bet on that resolve of yours! Gi Jii, the elves and the demihumans that can’t see in the dark should wait at the back.”
“R-Right!” Gi Jii replied.
“Let’s have Lord Hal pursue the enemy. I’ll inform him,” Gi Ga said, then he turned to Gi Za. “I’ll tell the Gaidga to take the left flanks.”
“I’ll take the right then,” Gi Za said.
As Gi Za saw Gi Ga leave with his subordinates, he took his subordinates and moved out.
“…Inform the demihumans and the elves that they are to stand alert!”
Gi Jii, who was tasked with pressuring the humans from the front, held his spear tightly as he looked over the battlefield.
“Are they still out of reach?” He asked himself.
Just now, he didn’t have the confidence to make a decision without the king.
Gi Jii felt small before someone as bold as Gi Za, who could nonchalantly offer his neck and assume responsibility.
Though he has led a horde himself, it seems the 1st generation, Gi Za, was yet out of reach. He would have to chase after his back for some time yet.
Neither the rain nor the battle was close to ending, but in the midst of all that was a goblin who held his spear tightly, frustrated at his own lack of power.
◆◆◇
“GURUuuOOA!”
A great sword descended with enough strength to cut a human in two.
Gulland instantly understood that he could not take that sword directly, so he scooped up with his own great sword to deflect it.
He somehow managed to parry it, but it still left his hands numb, causing him to smile fiercely.
As the Goblin King’s great sword hit the ground, Gulland, who had just lifted his sword, slashed down.
“ORAaa!”
This time it was Gulland who sent a blow with enough power to instantly kill. At that speed and at that distance, it was a blow that could surely cut a goblin in half, but the Goblin King received it directly.
That sword should have had enough strength behind it, but the result still made Gulland click his tongue.
As their swords locked once more, sparks erupted and the flow of ether illuminated their muddy feet.
“Fu!”
For a moment, when they locked swords, Gulland used the entire strength of his body to push back. When the Goblin King was pushed back, Gulland immediately twisted his body.
“Nu!?”
Gulland laughed inwardly when he heard the Goblin King’s surprised voice. At the same time, he took advantage of the centrifugal force to land a blow when he had taken some distance. It was a blow sent only with his right hand, but it was headed for the Goblin King’s throat.
But the moment the Goblin King saw Gowen’s back, he immediately chanted.
“My life is like a cloud of dust!Accel”
Immediately after, Gulland’s body flew in the air.
“GAH!?”
That was the anguished cry of a man in pain.
Gulland was sure he’d landed a blow on the Goblin King, but for someone reason, he was the one flying.
He immediately fixed his posture midair. As he landed, the rainwater scattered from the impact.
The burning tents illuminated the Goblin King, and a wound could be seen extending from his shoulder. He was clearly bleeding, but his resolve to fight was not at all dampened.
“So that’s what happened… Monster!”
That was all Gulland needed to understand what had happened.
Gulland spat out his blood as he wielded his Blue Thunder again.
When the Goblin King had realized that he couldn’t dodge Gulland’s attack, he intentionally received his attack with his shoulder.
An attack aimed at someone’s neck works best only when it is able to land at that fatal spot; otherwise, its power would be greatly mitigated.
But while that made sense in theory, it was one thing to think it and another to actually do it. The fact that the Goblin King was able to make that decision in that instant proved that he had gone through death countless times.
Moreover, Gulland glanced at his hands.
Unlike that numbing pain from before, the pain in his right hand was burning, and it ran from his hand to his wrist.
He might have fractured a bone, Gulland thought as he held his great sword even tighter.
“I’ll kill you!”
Gulland’s breath burned as he exhaled. It was as if the raging fire within him was looking for a way out.
They had already exchanged over 20 blows.
The rain was gradually getting stronger, but the fire that was their battle only burned stronger.
Their duel aside, however, the overall state of the battlefield was leaning more and more toward the goblins. Gulland’s soldiers might excel at battle, but the goblins’ advantage in a night attack was just too great to overcome.
“Lord Gulland, we can’t hold!”
Gulland glanced at his subordinates and clicked his tongue.
“Damn it! If you run around like mice you’ll just get taken from the back. You bastards need to gath—!?
Gulland wanted to give orders, but the Goblin King wasn’t about to stand and watch. As the Goblin King attacked, Gowen was forced to defend.
Having received the Goblin King’s attack flatly, a feeling of numbness spread all the way to his arms, and he was forced to cry out in pain.
“GURUUuuuAAA!”
The Goblin King sent one blow after another. As one blow landed on the ground, the Goblin King used the recoil to send a reverse slash on Gulland.
Gulland somehow managed to block it in time while retreating, but became he wasn’t able to control his strength, his posture broke and his sword went the wrong direction.
Gulland somehow managed to recover, but the Goblin King’s sword was already right before his eyes.
“GU!?”
Gulland tumbled on the mud as the Goblin King sent him flying. He tried to stand up despite feeling giddy, but the Goblin King’s black burning sword was already right at him.
“…”
His head dripping with rain, Gulland looked up at the Goblin King. If stares could kill, the Goblin King wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Where… did you take Reshia?”
“Ahh, that woman?”
As the Goblin King’s spirit slackened, Gulland looked for an opening.
“She’s probably moaning right about now, shaking those hips of hers for them nobles.”
“Bastard!”
Angered, the Goblin King raised up his sword.
But that action the Goblin King took in a moment of anger created a big opening.
Gulland took advantage of that.
“Ruler of wind and lighting!Astaroth”
“Ku!?”
Three streaks of lightning flashed for the king’s body. The surrounding area grew bright as the king’s body was scorched.
The Goblin King ignored the pain with his anger and swung his blade, but Gulland was no longer there.
“…Son of a bitch! GURUuoOOAAAA!”
The king’s maddened cry vanished into the rain and the darkness.
That day, the northern army of 500 soldiers suffered heavy casualties.
In the end, their numbers were reduced to 100, while the goblins only suffered 50 casualties.
It was the goblins’ overwhelming victory, but the holy knight, Gulland, was still in good health.
