Chapter 77

CHAPTER 77: THE KING’S FOLLOWERS Status

RaceGoblinLevel72ClassLord; Horde ChiefPossessed SkillsRuler of the Horde; Defiant Soul; Overpowering Howl; Swordsmanship B+; Insatiable Desire; King’s Soul; Ruler’s Wisdom I; One-Eyed Snake’s Evil Eye; Dance at Death’s Border; Magic Manipulation; Soul of a Crazed Warrior; Third Impact (The Third Chant); Instinct; Ruler’s Wisdom II;Divine ProtectionGoddess of the UnderworldAttributesDarkness; DeathSuboridnate BeastsHigh Kobold Hasu; (Lv1) Gastra (Lv20) Cynthia (Lv20) Orc King Bui; (Lv40)

They hurled attacks at the ogre lord one after another, yet the ogre lord remained unscathed .

“GOouAaOaA!”

With every howl that bellowed from the ogre lord’s lips, the skills they casted were cancelled .

Gi Za shot his skills one after another, while Gi Go Amatsuki discreetly attacked with his only remaining sword, but the ogre lord remained unharmed . It was as if it had received some divine protection keeping him from harm .

Whether it was from in front, behind, or even down at its legs, not a scratch could be left on its body .

“…What the hell is that freak?” Rashka complained through his ragged breath . The haphazard use of the black light had taken a toll on him .

“A divine protection, perhaps . ” Aluhaliha’s brows knitted . In the first place, it was plenty strange that it was even here . This was the holy land of the goblins, home of the revered Lord of Decay .

No one can enter this place without his permission .

If so, then…

“No . ” Aluhaliha shook his head, stopping his thoughts .

“I’ll go for his eyes . Cover me!” Princess Narsa said .

The other two goblins nodded, and Princess Narsa pulled an arrow from her quiver .

“Arrow feathers!”

The arrowhead burned a fist-sized flame .

The eyes were the weakness of all creatures . Even the ogre lord shouldn’t be an exception, but it was too tall .

Whether it was Aluhaliha who rode on the back of a rider-beast or Rashka who boasted a tall stature, none could reach past the ogre lord’s hands .

It was too dangerous to bet everything on one shot . If even a single one of them were to go down, the damage dealt to their strength would be too great .

“Don’t rush . We’ll do this slow and steady . ” Aluhaliha said .

Rashka, Aluhaliha, and Gilmi covered Narsa as she shot her arrows .

But, since none of their attacks could work against the enemy, then, of course, neither would they work for cover .

“You dare!” The ogre lord grew irritated at their relentless attack . “Earth, tremble for me! (Grand Slam)”

The giant axe descended upon the ground, and the earth shook, breaking the balance of the charging goblins, forcing Narsa and Gilmi’s arrows to miss .

“My heart rides on the wind . (Windea)”

The air shook, and four small tornadoes sprouted around the goblin rare . They struck against the ogre lord only to be dispelled with a blow, but that was more than enough to stop it in its tracks .

“Damn it… Our attacks are just barely enough to stop it from moving . ” Gi Za grew impatient as he felt his ether drying .

There was little hope to victory from the start, but now, the battle was growing desperate . Still… they couldn’t stop .

The murderer of the king could not be forgiven .

“Sky, tremble for me! (Ru Grand Slam)”

But, it was in that moment of hesitation, that the ogre lord’s voice bellowed .

It swung its axe, tearing through the air as its frenzied howl bellowed . The axe did not touch the ground, but the earth shook all the same, and the air lashed itself against the petrified goblins .

The goblins have been fighting all this time bloodied and bruised, so, it was no tall tale to say that that one attack was enough to put a stop to them . Gi Za himself was already tottering about as his ether neared empty, and whatever remained of his strength left as that one attack threw him off his feet .

“Damn, it… Are we, so powerless, that we, can’t even, take, vengeance?” Gi Za’s bones creaked as he forced his body to stand . And when he did, he saw the ogre lord set its sights on Aluhaliha .

“…Like a strong wind . Like a whirlwind . (Wind Cutter)”

Clouds of dust rose as two blades of wind tried to stop the ogre lord, but the price for that was the last of his ether .

“If you want to die that badly, then I’ll start with you . ” The ogre lord mocked as it approached, then it swung its axe .

He felt death come upon him, and he smiled .

“King… I…”

“My body is like a cloud of dust! (Accel)”

Then in the next moment, a familiar back appeared before him .

“Impossible…”

That nostalgic voice, that ever-familiar chant… It was as if…

“Do the dead dream, King?”

The king turned to him and laughed .

“I’ll listen to your complaints later . ”

There was no mistaking it . As soon as he realized that, an inexplicable emotion welled forth from inside him, and he couldn’t look up .

What was that? That burning heat that gushed forth from within, filling every corner of his body .

“Can you fight, Gi Za?” The king asked, but his back commanded him differently . Stand up and fight! It said .

That majestic back full of dignity and glory was the back he had sworn to follow . And so, with shaking hands and creaking arms, and though his legs begged at him to stop as he twisted them back, Gi Za stood up .

“…But, of course . Who do you think I am?”

He would stand together with him and fight . There was no greater joy than that .

Even if he had no more strength, and even if his ether had gone dry, he would stand with the king––– .

Then, somehow someway, he felt the wind blow within .

◇◆◇

I invocated Accel, and rammed my body against the Ogre Lord . The ogre lord was caught unguarded and was thrown off . I used that opportunity to check up on Gi Za .

“Do the dead dream, King?” He asked in a shaking voice I was not familiar with . Looks like he knew about my death . Coming back to life after that is a crazy story wherever you go, it’s not strange he can’t believe his eyes .

But, now’s not the time .

“I’ll listen to your complaints later . ” I told him .

Cuts littered his body and his ether had dried up, but aside from that, he didn’t seem that hurt .

“Can you fight, Gi Za?”

Stand up and fight, Gi Za . I need your power to defeat that thing .

“…But, of course . Who do you think I am?”

Arrogant as ever . But, it wouldn’t do any good if you weren’t like that . Weakness doesn’t suit you .

“This is…” Gi Za muttered, and I turned around, though I kept an eye out for the ogre lord . And there, I saw Gi Za kneeling as a black light covered him . Is he… evolving!?

The already human-like appearance grew even more human as his body transformed . The bluish-white skin of his was the only thing that marked him inhuman .

He had five fingers, and his height reached only up my chest . He was small but not overly for a human . And while he had a cold countenance that seemed to speak of his wisdom, he was handsome nevertheless .

Damn it, I’m actually worse off than a beast .

Status

NameGi ZaRaceGoblinLevel3ClassShaman; Sub-LeaderPossessed SkillsMagic Manipulation; Three Verse Chant; Chant Cancel; Guidance of the God of Wisdom; Wind Guard; Adherent of the King; Wind Control; Ether Movement;Divine ProtectionWind GodAttributesWind

His class has changed from a druid to a shaman . Speaking of which, isn’t this my first time seeing his status?

“It’s been so long since the last time, I’d forgotten what it feels like to evolve . ” Gi Za calmly analyzed himself . Too calm, even . He’s reached a class equal to those of the nobles, so I’ll have to give him a new name .

“King,” he called . “It’s coming . ”

There was no need to ask what was coming for a fearsome howl pierced my ears in the next moment .

“Cover me,” I told him .

“Leave it to me,” he replied .

And like that, the curtains on our battle against the ogre lord was drawn once more .