24: After the battle, two thousand survivors

As the golden light dissipated, Su Jin slowly descended from the sky, sheathing his sword and standing tall. The magnificent golden battle armor on his body also retracted its glow, eventually receding like a tide, returning to his usual attire.

He let out a soft breath, feeling the emptiness of his spiritual power, which was almost depleted.

“A full-power strike combining fourteen Soul Releases… the consumption is no joke,” Su Jin muttered to himself, though his expression remained calm.

That single sword strike, “Golden Dawn Judgment,” had nearly drained most of his spiritual power while in the Mind Unleashed state. While its destructive power was world-shattering, its sustainability… it seemed he couldn't be so reckless in the future.

However, the effect was outstanding.

His gaze fell on the figure struggling and writhing on the edge of the Scorched Earth not far away.

The Wolf Cavalry Commander, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, now had most of his body severely burned and carbonized by the high temperature. His remaining limbs twitched weakly, and his eyes, fixed on Su Jin, held nothing but pure terror. He couldn't even let out a wail, only a gasping, wheezing sound from his throat.

The fourteen Spirit Pivot Sword Servants silently gathered around, their materialized azure blades still present, locking onto the Goblin on the ground.

In their eyes, looking at Su Jin, reverence was mixed with a hint of fanaticism.

Their Lord's power was even more unfathomable than they had imagined, and… that golden form was completely different from Bai Xiao's azure battle armor.

“It's good that he's still alive,” Su Jin stepped forward, looking down at Grunak, “It seems your life is a little tougher.”

Grunak trembled violently, seemingly trying to beg for mercy or say something, but the intense pain and fear prevented him from forming any coherent sounds.

“Take him,” Su Jin ordered the Sword Servants behind him, “Keep him alive. Perhaps… he knows something we're interested in.”

“Yes!” Two Sword Servants stepped forward, deftly using specialized restraints to firmly bind the dying Grunak. They lifted him like a dead dog.

After dealing with this, Su Jin turned and led the Sword Servants back towards the main battlefield.

Behind them, only the massive scorch mark remained, branded by the “Golden Dawn Judgment,” symbolizing absolute destructive power.

…

When Su Jin and his group returned to the Goblin Camp, the battle here had largely concluded.

The air was thick with the smell of blood, and Goblin corpses and scattered weapons and equipment lay everywhere.

The Infinite City soldiers were cleaning up the battlefield, gathering prisoners, and tending to their own wounded.

The four Commanders, Stone Rock, Mu Yang, Zhui Yun, and Huo Jun, saw Su Jin return safely, with a half-dead, miserably-looking Goblin prisoner being carried by a Sword Servant behind him, and all came forward to greet him.

“Lord! Are you alright?” Stone Rock asked in a booming voice, his eyes filled with concern and a hint of lingering fear. “The commotion from the west just now was too great! We felt the ground shaking from afar!”

“A group of ignorant green-skinned brats have been dealt with,” Su Jin said dismissively, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield. “What are the casualty figures?”

Mu Yang stepped forward, reporting steadily: “Reporting to the Lord, in this battle, our side suffered twenty-seven killed, fifty-three severely wounded, and over a hundred lightly wounded. The cavalry sustained the heaviest losses, with fifteen killed and twenty-two severely wounded. The Tie Jia Bu Bing (Iron Armor Infantry) and archers suffered relatively lighter casualties. As for the Goblins… preliminary estimates suggest over fifteen hundred enemies eliminated, over four hundred captured, and the rest scattered.”

These casualty figures were within Su Jin's expectations, even slightly better than he had anticipated.

After all, it was a battle of fewer against many, and an assault. Huo Jun's cavalry, who led the flanking attack, bore the brunt of the pressure, so heavy casualties were unavoidable.

“Thanks to Bai Xiao's suppression with the Ashen Extinction Ring, and the Lord's timely resolution of that Wolf Cavalry unit,” Zhui Yun added, a hint of relief in his tone, “otherwise, the casualties would probably have doubled.”

Su Jin nodded, his gaze turning to the center of the camp. Bai Xiao had already exited the Mind Unleashed state and was resting against a relatively intact cheval de frise, his face slightly pale, but his posture still upright. That guy, always trying to save face, probably used up a lot of spiritual power too, just enduring it.

“Lord, we also discovered an underground dungeon. Most of the captured and enslaved humans are in there. Roughly estimated, there should be around two thousand people.”

“Two thousand?” Su Jin raised an eyebrow, looking at Zhui Yun for confirmation.

“Yes, Lord,” Zhui Yun affirmed, “They are all humans abducted by Goblins from nearby areas, men, women, and children. Their condition… is not good, but fortunately, most are still alive.”

“Organize people, provide food and water, and soothe their emotions. Stone Rock, send a squad of Tie Jia Bu Bing (Iron Armor Infantry) to guard them and ensure their safety.” Su Jin paused, “Clean up the battlefield as quickly as possible, and take all usable supplies.”

“Yes!” The generals acknowledged the order and dispersed, and the camp became busy once more.

The soldiers moved supplies, collected weapons and armor, handled corpses, and guarded prisoners.

Most of the captured Goblins trembled, looking at these god-like human killers, especially the Spirit Pivot Sword Servants with their cold eyes and azure light swords, not daring to breathe loudly.

Su Jin, accompanied by a few Sword Servants, began to patrol the sizable Goblin Camp.

Besides scattered tents and crude defensive fortifications, the camp also contained some dug-out cellars, filled with plundered junk and some foul-smelling food.

Before long, he saw the rescued humans Zhui Yun had mentioned.

They were settled in a relatively clean corner of the camp, sitting weakly, holding food and water, swallowing in small sips.

Many had empty eyes, showing the numbness left by prolonged terror, only occasionally looking up, timidly observing the patrolling, heavily armored Infinite City soldiers.

Su Jin stood at a distance, watching this group of reborn human compatriots, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

This expedition not only eliminated a potential threat and captured supplies but also rescued these enslaved people.

They would be the future citizens of Infinite City, the sparks to rebuild human civilization in this world.

But at the same time, it also reminded him that this world was far more cruel and dangerous than he had imagined.

If a mere Goblin Camp was like this, what kind of challenges would they face in the future?

He glanced at Grunak, tied up like a dumpling and tossed in a corner, his eyes deepening.

Perhaps, from this prisoner, he could obtain more information about this world, and… about the Goblins.

…

As the sun set, it cast long shadows for everyone.

The rescued people, guided by the soldiers, slowly walked towards Infinite City. Their steps were faltering, but their eyes sparkled with hope for the future.

Infinite City would be their new home.

And he, Su Jin, would lead them to survive in this perilous land and rebuild human civilization.

It's a long and arduous journey… Su Jin sighed inwardly, then clenched his fists.

No matter what lay ahead, he came, he saw, he would conquer!