Author’s note: I have not proofread this chapter. My goal is to actually finish this book, so do forgive the typos if you do see them.

Chapter 16: Stepping Stones Part I

Upon going outside, a scene that one would only normally see in movies greeted my eyes. Hundreds of Goblins were marching towards the west, towards the direction of a large mountain range. Since the Goblin’s Paradise was a vast, barren plain, it was easy to see the innumerable green monsters. Goblin Mages, Warriors, Spearmen – an absurd amount of those special class monsters were gathered before my very eyes, and all were going clash against the supposedly invading Werewolves.

A Goblin riding a boar approached our group. After dismounting, it approached the Goblin Leaders and delivered its report. One of the Goblin Leaders nodded, and although there was not much change in its facial expression, I could tell that it was satisfied of what was reported.

In the direction where the mountain range was located, the sound of rocks splitting apart reverberated. From this distance, it was really hard to see what was going on, but I was pretty sure that the clash between the Goblins and the Werewolves were already occurring at that place.

At the corner of my eyes, I saw two of the Goblin Leaders cast their spells. Moments after, particles of light enveloped our army – the army of Goblins working in the Slaughterhouse.

You have received the Blessing of the Ancestral Goblin Mother.

HP regeneration rate has increased by 120%

Mana regeneration rate has increased by 120%

Movement speed has increased by 45%

Attack speed has increased by 45%

Due to the effect of the Werewolf Lord’s Roar, the Blessing of the Ancestral Goblin Mother has been reduced.

HP regeneration reduction has been decreased from 200% to 80%

It is now possible to use Healing Potions

Mana regeneration reduction has been decreased from 200% to 80%

It is now possible to use Mana Potions

Fear Status has been nullified

Paralyzing Shackle has been nullified

Shockwave fury has been nullified

The heavy feeling I got after being hit by Werewolf Lord’s roar had dissipated. I saw the look of relief in the faces of the Goblins around me. I stretched my limbs. My body felt quite light right now.

Although it seemed that we were still affected by the reduction in HP and Mana regeneration, this was a lot better than before. What worried my the most was the Fear Status before. The Roar of the Werewolf Lord was a great hindrance to magic casters, giving us a 75% chance of failing in our spells. Thankfully, the Goblin Leaders have managed to remove that curse somewhat.

After the signal of the Leaders, our army marched towards where the battle was taking place. Just like before, this barren plain reeked of the word ‘dead.’ Dried, withered trees were seen everywhere. The ground was parched, as though it had never seen rain for the past ten years.

As we went nearer the battlefield, Goblins kept joining our ranks. These green monsters were like ants, and there were no signs of their numbers decreasing by this time.

The Goblin Army from the Village of Ruktia has arrived.

The Goblin Army from the Village of Malbeus has arrived.

The Goblin Army from the Village of Herkeun has arrived.

It was somehow motivating seeing the Goblin Army growing in size. As we went nearer the rocky mountain range, we passed by numerous villages. The Goblins in those places immediately joined our ranks, drastically increasing our numbers.

I have not really gone to this place before since the Oasis was in the other direction, but the villages of these Goblins were an amazing sight. The houses resembled huts, with larger ones resembling a cabin every now and then. There were no fences, but I once saw a small watchtower in one of the villages.

Another sound in the mountain reverberated. From this distance, I saw a large rock falling down the mountain tip. Battle cries echoed, and the ground we were standing on momentarily shook and rumbled.

I could feel the heat of the battle even from this distance. Damn it. Why did that Werewolf Lord have to wage war now, out of all times? It should have rallied its army during the time I was not here.

“Wait, a Goblin Worker?”

Now that I had taken a good look, I could see Goblin Workers here and there. Also, there were several Goblin Spawns too. I was pretty sure that those monsters came from the villages we passed by along the way.

“So, not everyone was hit by that terrifying Roar, huh?”

It was the conclusion I came to.

But the villages here were nearer to the Battlefield. If that was the case, why was it that the Goblin Slaughterhouse was hit by the Roar, while these Goblin Villages were left untouched? It was a question I had difficulty answering, and I decided not to ponder too much on it.

I was starting to see the battlefield at the foot of the mountain. Fear crawled through my body when I saw the innumerable corpses on the ground. The image of a werewolf in my head was the same as the ones rampaging in this battlefield. Humanoid canines with black furs. Their entire bodies were the very definition of carnage. Even from this distance, I could feel their lust for blood and flesh. Although the Goblin Army numbered in tens of thousands, my instinct was screaming at me that it would only be a matter of time before the Goblin Race was wiped out. After all, no matter where I looked, it was a one-sided massacre in the hands of the Werewolves.

The Goblin Leaders signaled our group to stop, and amazingly, everyone halted in their tracks. A Goblin, wearing a full leather armor, approached us. On his sides were Goblin Warriors and Spearmen, serving as escort.

Goblin Leader (Chieftain Candidate)

Lv 19

“Chieftain Candidate,” said one of the Leaders. “We have gathered the army in the villages near the Slaughterhouse. Your orders, please.”

The average level of a Goblin Leader was around ten. This particular individual was quite a high level, considering that. I heard that the Goblin Chieftain was currently not here in the Paradise, so this Chieftain Candidate must be the temporary supreme commander of this army.

The Chieftain Candidate have a complicated expression on its face.

“It’s obvious that those guys are aiming for the life of the Ancestral Goblin Mother,” said the Chieftain Candidate. “If the Mother dies, the entire Goblin Race will perish along with it. We cannot let that happen.”

I remembered the overly bloated monster that resembled an ant. It was in a different cavern from the Slaughterhouse. The same monster that mass produced Goblin Spawns one after another. That monster was colossal, probably the size of a football field, and even if I stabbed it a thousand times, it probably wouldn’t die. That was the impression it gave me when I saw it. But if it were these Werewolves, they may be able to actually kill it.

“Even if we all die here, as long as the Ancestral Goblin Mother is safe, the Goblin Race will be able to rise once again,” said the Candidate.

Hey, hey. This Goblin was spouting some dangerous things right now.

Although the deafening sound coming from the battlefield before us echoed, the words of the Chieftain Candidate was surprisingly loud and clear. The Goblin Army nodded at its words, and I could feel the vehement will within their eyes to protect the Ancestral Goblin Mother.

That colossal monster was the one that gave birth to Uno and Dos. I did not really hate it, but if I were to choose, I would rather have it die by the hands of these werewolves.

By now, the Goblin Army engaging the werewolves had dwindled in number. There were only a few hundred of them left. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before our turn to fight came. The Chieftain Candidate seemed to know this too. Immediately, it gave out its orders.

“Spawns, Workers, Warriors. Prepare to engage the Werewolves. Mages, go with the Warriors. Spearmen, use Piercing Shot at any werewolves that manage to penetrate our defenses.”

My jaw hanged upon hearing the directives of the Chieftain Candidate. How stupid. This green monster had just told the Goblin Mages to directly engage the enemies. Although Goblin Warriors would be helping us, it was still a foolish plan. At this rate, forget about the Ancestral Goblin Mother, the entire Goblin Race would perish with such incompetent leader. I just wish we would be able to hold out until the reinforcements from the Anubis Clan comes.

As I was cursing the incompetent leader, the Werewolves began charging towards our Army. Their bodies have wounds here and there, but the bloodthirst in their eyes continued to blaze fiercely. Leading the charge was a werewolf with red furs. Upon seeing the box hovering above its head, my mind almost went blank.

Silverfang

Lv 87

What. The. Fuck.

It was still too early for me to be fighting against such a strong enemy. Without doubt, this werewolf called Silverfang was the Lord of their race. The bloodthirst within its eyes oozed out, and although the blessing from the Ancestral Goblin Mother should have nullified the Fear Status, my body still felt rigid and clammy from terror.

My fear escalated further when I saw the levels of the werewolves following behind their Lord.

Werewolf

Lv 33

It quickly became apparent why the Goblin Army was being one-sidedly slaughtered even now. I remembered the Babyface Arachnid. It was like we were currently facing hundreds of those monsters right now. Shit. There’s no way fodders like Goblins would win against these enemies.

Our army assumed formation. Just as instructed, everyone was to clash head-on with the werewolves, while the Spearmen would strike at any enemies that manages to breach the defense.

My entire body was trembling as the Werewolves came closer. Although we numbered in the tens of thousands, I could not rest easy. I felt that there was no way mere Goblins could win.

A howl was heard, and the Werewolves clashed against our army. Blood immediately blanketed the ground as Goblins were shredded into pieces by the claws of the werewolves. Seeing this surreal spectacle, I was reminded of a hot knife cutting through butter.

Magic and Bladed weapons hit the bodies of the werewolves, but they did nothing but create superficial wounds which quickly healed in a matter of moments.

Most notable in this battlefield was the Werewolf Lord. Probably due to its red fur and tall body, it was easy to see. Right now, it was sending Goblins into the air, shredding their bodies into numerous pieces. A rain of blood was starting to literally fall down the heavens as the werewolves continued with their rampage.

I noticed that the magic of the Mages differed from mine, not just in element, but also in strength and size. In size alone, mine was twice or thrice larger. Also, it was clear that their fireballs, ice shards, and lightning strikes were not doing any damage to their enemies. The strength of their magic was so negligible that the Werewolves did not even bother dodging.

If status points distribution was also possible within these monsters, then these Mages probably have not distributed their status points properly.

Shit. Now was not the time to be thinking of these things.

A werewolf began charging towards my direction. Three Goblin Warriors immediately engaged it, blocking its attack for a short moment. In a matter of seconds, two of the Warriors were beheaded, and the other one was sent flying with a kick.

I was trembling. I was going to die at this rate. Fuck. Fuck.

“Double fireball!”

Two fireballs larger than the ones seen in this battlefield manifested themselves on my hands. This was the result of spamming all my points into intelligence, but the downfall of this was that I hardly have anything to defend my body with. No agility, no large HP to tank hits. I was the very definition of a wannabe nuker.

I threw the fireballs at the Werewolf, and probably because they did not really bother dodging the attacks of inferior races like ours, the attacks hit the monster straight at the face.

“Wha—,”

A voice of surprise escaped my lips. Surprisingly, the attack managed to hinder the advance of the werewolf. There were scorched marks on its face, which quickly healed after a couple of moments. The werewolf clearly felt pain from those attacks. It glared at me, its eyes lusting for my flesh.

Goblin Warriors, Workers, and Spawns used the chance to strike at the werewolf. They flocked at it in the dozens. I broke out my trance and immediately started throwing spells at the werewolf once again. Magic kept flying about the battlefield. The scent of blood was irritatingly strong, and the ground was starting to get slippery from the innards and blood that blanketed it.

With the goal of simply surviving within my mind, I kept firing spells one after another. The Werewolf was roaring in rage. Despite its absurd regeneration, it was unable to come to me because of the endless number of goblins flocking towards it. Even at the other places in the battlefield, the same thing was happening. The Werewolves were slaughtering Goblins left and right, but they were unable to truly advance their charge due to the endless number of goblins engaging them.

A notification popped up in front of me.

Insufficient Mana

I realized that I could no longer cast my fireballs. An exhausted sensation flowed through my body. This feeling after consuming large amounts of mana was nauseating.

I immediately retreated to the rear of the army.