A small horde of goblins and wolves burst from the undergrowth, heading towards the mass of insect type monsters in the field of grass. The insects immediately took notice, centipedes rushing forward to meet the incoming goblins while bombardier beetles took to the sky, firing acid in waves onto the incoming goblins. Hidden beneath the grass, swarm ants marched in droves to meet the approaching threat. As the two hordes met, they crashed into each other in a cacophony of screeches and howls, waking the goblins and wolves within the cages. They cried out for help, voices strained and tense as they watched the battle.

“Chief, help, please!”

“Let me fight with the chief!”

Other goblins fighting in the battle heard their cries, and began to fight with further fervor, pushing their way towards the cages. Centipedes and swarm ants swarmed the goblins several to one, yet they couldn’t hold up under the power of goblin warriors and the agility of the wolves. Cracked pieces of carapace, ichor, and crushed insect parts flew through the air under the assault from the goblin warriors, though they were beginning to take casualties as well. Several of the normal goblins had fallen under the sheer number of centipedes and ants, and the goblin warriors were starting to receive wounds as well, as the force of their [Club Proficiency] skill destroyed their weapons, forcing them into closer combat against the insects.

The remaining wolves weaved through the edges of the battle, picking at swarm ants and the legs of giant centipedes, preventing the insects from completely encircling the army. The lone goblin berserker carved through the insects with his bare hands, spearheading the charge. The fangs of the centipedes and swarm ants dug into his flesh as every punch he threw crushed open the head of a centipede, allowing some reprieve for the goblins around him. As he continued to fight, his eyes seemed to glint with more madness, and he began to laugh hysterically. Blood began to pour out of his eyes, and the markings covering his body began to bleed as well. He began to throw his attacks erratically, fists flying, crushing apart centipedes, tearing through swarms of ants, smashing into the ground and flying randomly into the air. The berserk goblin became so worked up that he threw out both of his fists at the same time at two different enemies at his sides, leaving his chest wide open…

Now. Dylan sent a command to a specific monster. Make mincemeat of him, then hide again.

From within the depths of the insect swarm, a pair of compound eyes watched through the horde of insects, antennae twitching, the creature sat perfectly still, watching the berserker fight. Its front legs stretched before pulling back. However, receiving the order from its master, it spread its wings…

Phwap!

A blur of green burst from a pile of centipedes, causing several of them to get tossed up into the sky, writhing in confusion before falling back onto the ground with a thud. The blur of green flashed through the army of insects, leaping off of other insects or forcing the out of its way. Right before it reached its target, the monster’s blade-like front legs flashed out, aiming straight for the berserker. As the berserker in his pure rage began to notice the feeling of danger approach, time seemed to slow, and his bloodshot eyes widened as he felt the bloodlust approaching him. His arms which had just punched to his sides slowly came back to himself…

A flash of green suddenly appeared from the front, moving so quickly that even the berserker’s enhanced senses could barely make it out. It looked like a massive praying mantis, wings outstretched, claws flying right towards him. The mantis seemed to pass by like a ghost, and before the berserker knew it, his field of view began to fall backwards. As he fell, he saw the headless body of a goblin berserker-of him starting to collapse, arms which he had just started to move flopped uselessly as his body hit the ground, blood spurting from its neck stump. The berserker watched his body fall in disbelief before his vision faded out, and he was no more.

Finishing its task, the Sickle-Blade Mantis pushed off the ground into flight once again, bursting into a pile of centipedes and hiding as the other insects began crawling over it, hiding it from view.

From the battlefield, there came different reactions from the surrounding goblins. The green blur which had beheaded the goblin berserker frightened the surrounding goblins, causing a break in their line as panic began to set in. The advisor’s eyes widened in shock behind his mask, as he tried to piece together the situation. The chief, however, had seen what had happened. His perception was definitely higher than a goblin berserker due to his evolutions, and he had made out the mantis fairly clearly. Snorting, he grabbed his club and began to step out. After all, it was just a bug. Even if it had killed a goblin berserker in a single hit, so what? The chief could do that too.

The advisor glanced quickly at the moving chief before sighing. He called on one of his earth spirits, then gave it some orders before concentrating. At the very least, he needed to support the chief to look loyal.

As the chief stepped forward, the goblins began to cheer, and fought with even more vigor, tearing apart insects with reckless abandon, some even putting themselves in danger to achieve war-results, a risk which claimed several goblin lives as some were caught and dragged into the middle of the insects.

“KILL!” The chief shouted as he began to charge, picking up speed. Goblins dodged out of his way, lest they be run over. As he reached the frontline, the chief took a heavy step.

[Earth Wall]. The spirit within the advisor’s staff reacted, causing the crystal it resided in to glow strangely. The ground around the goblin chief’s feet swelled as he stamped, and rose up several feet into the air at a high speed, boosting him high up into the sky. As the advisor felt mana leaving his body, he eyed the chief nervously, looking for an opportunity. Currently, he was alone at the back of the army, as all of the other goblins had left to fight. He was confidant in his ability to kill most of the trifling insects with the exception of that green blur which had killed the goblin berserker. An explosive speed like that could kill him before he had the time to react. He needed to take care of the chief and that monster to steal the core, but for now, he needed to wait for them to fight each other.

As the chief landed on a pile of insects, he swung his club around in a blur, smashing nearly a dozen centipedes into paste with a single whirl. Insects charged him, yet he crushed them one by one, with either his club or fist. With every attack, one of Dylan’s monsters fell.

Shit. The big chief is a fucking monster…even though he is a monster. Dylan snickered in his mind as he watched the large goblin plowing through his insects. I need to do something…I know…You and you. Come here and fight him. Also…[Dungeon Edit]. I mind as well use everything to kill this guy first and ambush the small chief later with a spider…it’s a shame that they didn’t fall for the traps, yet I need the numbers… Dylan sent a [Dungeon Order] to his creatures while simultaneously using [Dungeon Edit].

As the chief crushed several bugs, he noticed the large stone cages which housed the trapped goblins and wolves beginning to crack away and fall apart, turning into piles of dust littering the ground. The goblins and wolves within began to stagger up, before all of them turned towards the chief, dangerous glints of light in their eyes as they approached the chief. Insects swarmed past them to hold off the goblin army as nearly a dozen goblins and wolves surrounded the chief.

Not good. The chief sighed mentally to himself as he looked at the numbers, which included goblin warriors and berserkers in their ranks. Might be tough a little. Suddenly, the chief felt a strange pressure, almost like bloodlust, from in front of and behind him. The pressure to his back caused the hairs along his body to stand. What was coming?