35: Goblin King

Tang Keke gritted her teeth, her face pale, yet her gaze remained firm.

She slowly lowered her hand; the dark clouds in the sky gradually dispersed, sunlight spilled down, and the rain began to ease.

Her body swayed slightly, and she nearly lost her footing before someone beside her quickly reached out to steady her.

"How much longer can you hold on?" Shen Xiaochuan asked.

"Ten minutes, at most."

She panted, "If I use another Spell, I will pass out."

"That's enough."

He said in a deep voice, "Wait for my order, then immediately recall the clouds."

A messenger came sprinting over: "Chen Yan has captured the stone platform! But the enemy forces are not in disarray; they have all retreated to the central high platform and are standing in formation around a broken statue."

Shen Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes and looked over.

Sure enough, the Goblins were assembled in a square formation, packed densely together.

Standing in the center was a hulking figure wearing bone armor, wielding a giant double-edged axe, with crimson eyes and an aura of dark red energy swirling around him.

The System prompt sounded: [Detected S-rank variant leader — Goblin King, innate skills: Heart of the King (all army morale +50%), Fury Enhancement (the more severe the injury, the higher the attack power)].

"No wonder they aren't fleeing."

Shen Xiaochuan sneered, "They have some brains."

He turned and gave the order: "The archer squad is to switch to fire arrows and burn down the remaining thorn walls. Infantry, flank from both sides; Chen Yan, lead the elites and strike the center army directly!"

The order was quickly relayed.

Fire arrows rose into the air, landing on the vines, and the flames spread instantly.

The thorn walls crackled, and thick black smoke rose up.

The Goblin King looked up, locked onto Shen Xiaochuan's position, suddenly raised his giant axe, and let out a roar.

The entire orchard was trembling.

"Roar—!"

All the Goblins roared in unison, the sound wave piercing the sky.

Shen Xiaochuan vaulted onto his horse, gripping the sky-rending blade tightly.

Lightning flickered on the blade's edge.

Just then, a group of people was pushed out to the front of the enemy formation.

They were all women.

Their hands and feet were bound, their clothes were tattered, and their faces bore scars.

Some were curled up on the ground, their bellies bulging.

The Goblins shoved them to the very front row to act as human shields.

The Goblin King stood on the high platform, staring coldly at Shen Xiaochuan, and roared: "What are you pretending to be a savior for? Do you think you can save everyone? Once I release the thing underground, all of you will die!"

Shen Xiaochuan's expression was cold and stern; he rode his horse forward one step and said loudly: "Then come at me; I want to see what you are capable of."

He raised his war blade high, his voice like iron: "From now on, they are my people. Whoever dares to touch one, I will wipe out your entire clan."

Before his words had faded, a Goblin swung its axe down.

Blood sprayed, dyeing the ground red.

The woman fell, twitched twice, and then went still.

Shen Xiaochuan's pupils constricted, his knuckles turning white from the force, yet he still held his position.

He knew that if he ordered the charge, these people would die first.

He took a deep breath and shouted aloud: "I did not come for revenge; I came to save people! Put down your weapons, and I will spare your lives!"

A ripple of unrest spread through the enemy formation.

Some young Goblins looked down at the women, their grip on their weapons loosening slightly.

The Goblin King bellowed: "Whoever dares to retreat will be executed without mercy!"

He leapt off the high platform, grabbed a pregnant woman by her hair, and dragged her out of the crowd.

"Do you see this!"

He roared, "This is the consequence of betrayal!"

The woman cried out in pain, her hands protecting her belly.

Shen Xiaochuan suddenly raised his hand: "Fire! Target — ten meters above the Goblin King's head! Warning shot!"

The archer squad executed the order immediately.

Fire arrows tore through the sky, exploding into a ball of intense fire above his head.

The heat wave was oppressive, forcing him to let go and retreat.

Shen Xiaochuan's voice came again: "The next arrow will not miss."

The Goblin King glared at him, anger and madness intertwined in his eyes.

"You cannot win."

He said, "There is something underground, and its power far exceeds your imagination. I am guarding this place not for these women, but for the Seal!"

Shen Xiaochuan's heart jolted.

A Seal?

The image of the Cyclops smashing the door flashed in his mind.

Could it be...

"Then you shouldn't have disturbed it."

Shen Xiaochuan said coldly, "You are the one who is about to smash the door open."

The Goblin King was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "I don't want to release it — I want it to eat you!"

He waved his hand and shouted sternly: "Kill half the captives! Let him see the price!"

The Goblin soldiers raised their weapons, preparing to execute them.

Just then, a young girl suddenly rushed out from the group of captives, running desperately toward the outside.

Two Goblins gave chase.

A black shadow darted past.

Chen Yan arrived with his men, cutting one down with a single slash, while the other was impaled by a spear.

He picked up the girl and quickly retreated to his own formation.

The girl was trembling all over, her face covered in tears.

Anna stepped forward to check on her.

"She is the princess of the Eldora Kingdom."

She looked up and said to Shen Xiaochuan, "She is frightened, but otherwise unharmed."

The System prompt sounded: [Triggered B-rank mission "Rescue the Distressed Princess": Rescue all imprisoned females and escort the princess back to her country. Rewards: faith points +5000, incense value +300, unlock building "Embassy"].

Shen Xiaochuan walked up and reached out to help the girl up.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I... I am Liana... the Third Princess of Eldora..."

She choked back sobs, "They killed my guards and took everyone away... Please, save them..."

The other girls also gathered around, kneeling and begging.

"My Lord, please let us stay! We are willing to do anything for you!"

"Please take us in! We don't want to be abducted again!"

Shen Xiaochuan looked at them, one by one.

There were young ones, old ones, injured ones, and pregnant ones.

He said: "I do not take slaves, I only protect my people. Those who wish to stay shall be citizens of Skydome City; those who wish to go home, I will send people to escort."

He paused, his tone turning grave: "All pregnant women are to be settled with priority; no mistreatment is allowed. Whoever violates this order will be dealt with by military law."

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Afterwards, someone sobbed softly.

Anna took the lead in supporting the injured and arranging for medical treatment.

Shen Xiaochuan looked toward the enemy formation.

The Goblin King stood on the high platform, watching them coldly.

"Fine, since you want to see so badly, I will let you be the first to witness its power!" He turned and struck the ancient drum behind him fiercely.

"Boom—!"

A sound like thunder rang out, shaking the surroundings; the ground cracked open, and the iron door in the distance collapsed with a boom.

Shen Xiaochuan's eyes sharpened; he scanned the battlefield quickly and ordered sternly: "Chen Yan, lead your troops to hold the retreat route and protect the captives! Tang Keke, prepare to cast your Spell immediately! Archer squad, listen up: aim at the main enemy force and suppress them with all your might!"

He himself gripped the sky-rending blade tightly and rode his horse forward.

"Today, I will surely take this orchard."

The Goblin King roared, leapt off the high platform, crossed his axes in front of his chest, and bellowed: "If you want this place, pay for it with your life!"

He waved his arm, and all the Goblins rushed out like a tidal wave.

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand, his blade pointing straight ahead.

"All troops—charge!"

Five thousand Believers shouted in unison and charged to meet the enemy.

Fire arrows flew all over the sky, and lightning flashed across the chaos.

Chen Yan led his troops to break in from the left flank, charging straight for the center army.

Tang Keke sat cross-legged, raised her hands, and the dark clouds gathered once more.

Shen Xiaochuan led the charge, his warhorse galloping, the blade light carving out a ghostly blue trajectory.

Less than a hundred meters from the Goblin King.

The opponent also came charging wildly, swinging his axes, carving two deep gouges into the ground.

The two sides were about to collide.

At this moment, the gate to the underground completely collapsed.

A low roar came from the abyss.

Shen Xiaochuan's eye twitched slightly; he saw a huge eye emerging from the black mist.

Blood-red. A vertical pupil. Full of malice.

He yanked the reins, and his warhorse's front hooves reared high.

The Goblin King stared at him intently, then suddenly grinned, revealing a ferocious and triumphant smile: "Good, since you are so eager to see it, I will let you be the first to see it!"