Chapter 52: Assassins?

Ten orcs and seven goblins gathered in a neat line with their backs straight before me. Dressed in crude armors made out of layered woods and holding a long spear with sharpened rock as the tip, they were the warriors I had chosen to fight against the threat of those humans. Compared to the shiny armors worn by the two humans I caught, the difference was like gold and mud. But it will get the work done, I guess.

The monsters have a very strong physique, to begin with. In fact, these orcs’ fleshy body could endure even a full-powered punch of an enhanced adult goblin. Moreover, these ten orcs were among the ones who stood in the front lines and blocked the Hobgoblin’s thrashing. Their already powerful defense got further boosted by this crudely made wooden armors. Of course, I knew these wooden armors couldn’t do anything to the magic-based attacks, but I wasn’t worried about that.

As for the long spears, they would be their weapon of choice. It was because I wanted to try out something. Back when I was on the earth, I used to watch medieval-themed movies and shows. I have seen many strategies used by the soldiers when fighting their enemies. There was one that made me marvel at the ingenuity.

While I was assessing them, a group of seven stalwart goblins came to me. Each one of them held a wooden shield made of layered woods in their hands. These shields were for the seven adult goblins, who will act as the vanguard. And the orcs would remain in the back and poke their enemies with the spear. I knew it was a magical world, which made me even more excited to do all these things.

Time fleeted as I ordered the gathered forces to practice this formation until the sunlight crystal over our heads darkened. It was soon the midnight. Throughout the day, I was instructing the goblins and orcs to practice this strategy. At first, it started with me instructing the few who I had chosen. However, more and more joined us as the day progressed, and soon the entirety of goblins and orcs participated. In fact, with the aid of Urt’s Hive Mind, the goblins were able to display its might more fluidly than the orcs.

After such a large scale training, I was left with a tired body and a hungry stomach. So, after having my dinner, which comprised of delicious rabbit flesh and some nutritious goblin flesh, I retired for the night. Due to the presence of magic in the air, and the magical nature of monsters, their carcasses could remain fresh for months without rotting. The number of goblins died had become food for orcs whereas, the orcs who died, including Gyuk, had become goblins’ food. As for me, I devoured them both.

Later, I found that the orc’s flesh was very good for my body, especially the muscles. At the same time, the mutated goblin had a nourishing effect on my magic efficiency. Though there were no visible changes to my stats, I could still detect some subtle ones. Previously I hadn’t noticed these changes, and it only became apparent after I hit the max.

But my good night's sleep was interrupted due to yelling of Logier that came outside from my adobe. Outside I saw the ex orc-chief was pacing back and forth with a long face. Beside him, I saw Sepi with a similar countenance. Even Urt was standing beside them with a troubled face. After seeing them like this, my heart sank to the bottom of my stomach.

‘Something must have happened!’

It was a fact that unless something grave occurred, that could threaten their tribes, these three would never gather together. Despite their apparent peace, some resentment was still present between them. Many orcs died to goblins, whereas the latter got nearly annihilated. If not for my existence, these two powers wouldn’t have thought about co-existing.

“What happened? Why are you getting your panties in a bunch!?”

“Panties? What’s that?” Logier questioned me while forgetting his anxiousness for a few seconds. But, I wasn’t in the mood to explain it to him.

“Just tell me, why are you in this state?” I avoided answering his question and instead asked back another.

“Lord,” Urt stepped forward, giving no time to Logier to explain, “We found many humans fighting outside. They are killing each other and destroying everything. Also, three of them belong to the same group that came the last day.”

“That group of knights?” I was perplexed at the info. After fumbling with my words for a while, I finally squeezed out, “where are they?” Just then, I remembered something and asked another question, “How man are there?”

“They’re at the mouth of the entrance to the forest. My goblins saw no less than ten humans there, Lord.” Urt reported me under the threatening glare of Sepi. Unfortunately, at that time, I wasn’t able to tell this little bit of discord, which would later give me a lot of headaches.

“Alright, let’s go.” We left in the cover of the night and arrived at the place where the battle was taking place. Ten people were fighting amongst each other. Among them, I recognized three. Those were the blond knight and his remaining two henchmen. They were fighting against seven black-robed figures who had their faces covered.

Ting! Tang!

I could clearly see what was going on even though it was pitch black midnight. The seven figures were using daggers and swords to fight against the three knights who were using swords. I saw no flash of light or flow of magic from either, only a dull glow on their weapons.

Assassins!

This name came to my mind when I saw those black-cloaked figures. Donned in stereotypical black robes, and using sneaky fighting styles, who could they be if not assassins? Moreover, they looked stronger and deadlier than the assassins in the movies I used to watch.

As of now, those seven assassins were besieging the three knights. Even then, the three knights were fighting on equal ground. Of course, they were wounded here and there, but still, they were giving the assassins a run for their money.

“What should we do, Lord?” Urt asked me while observing the way they fought. His eyes were on the group, not missing a single action. When I possessed Urt’s body at that time, I felt a sense of empowerment. It had nothing to do with his stats, rather it was a feeling. Its as if, in those few moments, I suddenly became a battle genius who could learn any style in a flash.

Seeing at how concentrated he looked, I knew he was learning these humans’ fighting style. Shaking my head, “Let’s not do anything, and just observe for the time being.” Maybe it's just my guess, but probably these assassins were aiming to attract our attention so that they can use us to kill their target.

We remained hidden as the battle between the two groups continued. Soon the knights started to falter as they took more and more damage. Suddenly, one of the knights made a mistake allowing an assassin to slash his neck.

“Hendry!!” The blond knight shouted the slashed man’s name and then screamed gutturally as a deep shade of yellow aura burst out of him. “Farman, see if he is alright. I am going to slaughter these bastards.”

“Yes sir.”

Their dialogues didn’t interest me as much as the power exploding from the knight’s body. Until now, I didn’t see anyone using any special powers, and this blond one was the first to do so. The seven assassins also started using their powers after the blond man showed displayed his might.

Flashes of light converged with each other as they decimated that part of the forest as collateral. The sword images from the blond knight and invisible air blades from the seven assassins destroyed everything around us and even made my skin tingle in fear.

I retreated a few steps back, and so did Logier and Sepi. Only Urt didn’t move as he was too absorbed in the battle between these superpowered humans. To be honest, it was my first time seeing two humans fighting with everything they have got. The Chi, flowing from their body and the destruction they did to their surroundings amazed me.

This world is really very interesting… and fearsome too!

I honestly thought so.