Chapter 106: Goblin Town Under Siege

Their dark, chitinous armors caught the sun's rays, reflecting them on the lush shrubberies they passed. Twigs cracked rhythmically under forceful stomps, a cacophony alien to the otherwise natural sounds of the serene forest.

For five hours, innocent wild beasts scrambled in terror as the sounds continued reverberating in a straight line to the West.

Unbothered by the disturbance created by their passage, Adam raised his gauntleted fist high.

Eight-hundred-and-fifty demons, their eager faces flushed red and hands resting on their weapons, halted at the command. Despite their different species, they all shared the same impatience to sharpen their blades on their enemies' bones. Yet, they remained in a tight formation, awaiting their lord's next commands.

Meanwhile, Adam observed the clearing they had emerged in.

Cut-down trunks lined the periphery, making him understand the goblin created this place artificially.

Eyes narrowed, he gazed at the center, a perfect copy of the town he had seen on the demonic map registering in his eyes.

A mishmash of scrap metal melted into heavy planks rose from the ground. Reaching five matter high, they encircled the place in a rusted yet sturdy wall.

Heart hastening in his chest, he squinted at the sparse cannons lining it and the few green creatures roaring to alarm their brethren.

As the shadow stalker had reported last week, those goblins had nothing in common with the forty they had killed.

His brows twitched at their ugly yet efficient mechanical equipment.

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Pistons connected to oversized mechanical hands protruded below their elbows while rubbery tubes connected them to clay cylinders on their backs.

Even if he couldn't be sure, he believed it carried some kind of fuel to boost their hands' strength.

While he observed them, more goblins rushed to the walls to protect their town against the sizable invading army.

However, their faces collapsed, and their legs chattered at the sight of so many demons.

One immediately roared his anguish and resentment towards their leaders.

"We should have destroyed that cult in the West! Look how many they summoned in a few weeks."

Another gritted his teeth as his guttural voice reverberated his despair.

"Your inaction doomed us all, you stupid leader!"

More voiced their discontentment, creating a chaotic scene contrasting with the disciplined army facing them.

Watching the sad spectacle, Adam shook his head and raised his hand.

"I come to negotiate peace. Send your leader or a representative to speak with me!"

However, the despairing goblins drowned his voice with their outraged accusations.

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue and clenched his fist. His knuckles whitened under his gauntlets as a flood of demonic essence rushed to his hand. Dark flames flickered erratically on their surfaces, raising the surrounding temperature by a few degrees as his voice thundered.

"Shut up and listen!"

His hand blurred downwards, the crackling of flames reverberating in a burning whistle as he hurled them before the walls.

BOOM

A chaotic storm, spreading three meters in all directions, exploded before the terrified goblins.

Brown motes of soil flew in every direction before they melted under the storm's assault. Dark gases swirled in the air, the burning scent forcing the creatures to pinch their scrunched noses with their trembling fingers.

The horrifying attack lasted for three torturous seconds that seemed to extend endlessly in their warped perception of time.

Meanwhile, Adam grinned confidently, yet his fists trembled as he roared inside.

'YEEES! I can finally use that skill!'

After his week of training, and since he had divided his time equally between the different things he wanted to master, he eventually reached the minimum proficiency to use both his skills. Still, they only lasted a split second on his last try, making him doubt his intimidation tactic.

But now? His heart drummed in his ears, and his fingers danced in eagerness.

'I almost want them to refuse to negotiate.' An amused smile split his face. 'I'll try bombarding them with my aoe!'

However, he shook his head as a deadly silence hung heavy in the air.

"Now that I have your undivided attention, send your leader or a representative to negotiate peace." His eyes narrowed into fiery slits. "Or die in an inferno of flames and blood."

Another wave of terror crashed over the goblins. Their pupils constricted, and their mouths opened and closed, yet no sound escaped their dry throats.

After all, they were confident in holding their ground against creatures of the second tier, not demons! Worse, they watched the fifty djinn's battalion at the rear in terror.

Even their cannons wouldn't help if they had to face their bombardment. As for their spells? They focused on craftsmanship, not war. That's why they established their towns in this unclaimed forest, far from the realm's three big cities.

A tense silence settled on the clearing before the leader threw his equipment to the ground and raised his hands.

"Don't attack! I'm coming to negotiate. I'm the town's leader, Gork!"

As his voice shattered the silence, another goblin gripped his shoulder to stop him.

"We can't believe demons! He'll behead you before us to revel in our terror." Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Many goblins nodded before one roared.

"Arm the cannons! We'll die today, but not without taking as many of them as possible with us to the grave!"

Before they could act, Gork's hand clutched the one who gave the command by the neck and applied maximum pressure.

The other goblin gasped in horror, his green face turning purple before everyone's shocked eyes.

Then, the leader let him go, lept back before the retaliation came, and roared.

"Follow my commands, you bunch of fools! Even if he beheads me, I won't give up any hope of saving our skins. So, shut up and listen!"

Without waiting for their answers, he jumped down the wall and rolled gracelessly onto the ground.

After picking himself up, he rushed to the demon's leader under his citizens' watering eyes.

Meanwhile, Adam grinned at the courageous goblin and clapped his hands.

"Not bad! It takes a lot to overcome fear and act rationally." He whistled. "I like you already."