Rain was made aware of the formidable strength of the Generals in the Hobgoblin King's army. Lord Izumi had once fought a Hobgoblin General and made it look effortless. But now that Rain and his companions were facing a General themselves, he wasn't sure they could defeat it.
They should run away!
But Thraigar . . .
"Thraigar!" Rain shouted, but he didn't know what to say.
"My friend, run away! Take the others with you! I will hold him off!" Thraigar said, as if he knew what Rain was thinking.
Rain's face was drained of color. "I will not leave you here!"
Veins bulged on Thraigar's hands and face. His muscles strained as he exerted all his strength to stop General Gralnor's axe from cleaving him in two. The blade came dangerously close to his forehead, and his limbs shook from the effort. The Hobgoblin General was so powerful that he could contend with the strength of a Goliath!
"Gerrgh!" Thraigar gritted his teeth, his limbs trembling as he held the axe at bay. The blade pierced his forehead, drawing blood.
Chin, Chill, and Chick all rushed at the Hobgoblin General, thrusting their swords into his torso. Yet, General Gralnor seemed unfazed. His strength only doubled, even tripled, as a dark red aura flowed around him.
"If I'm going to die, I'm going to take you all with me!" General Gralnor roared.
Rain's eyes widened in horror as Thraigar's knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground, one knee down. The blade pierced deeper into his forehead, drawing more blood, while the wound on Thraigar's hand reopened, pouring blood.
Thraigar couldn't hold on any longer! Rain thought desperately. Chin, Chill, and Chick twisted their weapons to inflict more damage on the Hobgoblin General, but it was no use.
Rain gripped his sword and quickly raised it, aiming to cut off General Gralnor's hand. He didn't know if he could penetrate the General's thick skin, but if he didn't do something, Thraigar would die!
Rain brought his weapon down, but an arrow shot through the air, striking his sword and sending it flying. Rain fell to the ground, his shoulder dislocated by the force of the arrow. He screamed in pain and when he looked over, he saw General Varkis and the other Hobgoblins rapidly approaching.
There was no time. They had to escape!
"Go now!" Thraigar urged.
Rain knew what he wanted, but if they left . . . Thraigar would definitely die. He didn't want that! But if they didn't leave, they would all die!
Thraigar forced a smile, his gaze never wavering forward. "Don't worry, friend. This is nothing. Their arrows won't kill me."
"S-still . . ." Rain wanted to say that blood loss would, but he refrained .
Rain could only grit his teeth in helplessness. If only he were stronger, he could have protected himself and wouldn't need others to get hurt protecting him.
At a distance, Chi never stopped releasing arrows, each shot meeting the enemy's arrows, giving Rain and the others precious time to escape. Her aim was precise, her focus unwavering, and her presence a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.
Thraigar's steps were heavy, each one a testament to his indomitable spirit. Despite the arrows lodged in his back, he pushed forward, driven by a willpower that refused to be broken.
"Just a little further!" Rain urged, his voice a mixture of hope and desperation.
The sound of Chi's arrows continued to resonate, a rhythmic reminder of their last stand. With each arrow that found its mark, she carved a path for them, her efforts a lifeline in their dire situation.
Finally, they reached a point where the barrage of arrows lessened. Thraigar, Chin, Chill, and Chick kept moving, the urgency of their escape fueling their strides. Chi stopped firing arrows and joined them as they passed her position, seamlessly blending into their retreat.
Rain thought that they would made it, but the sound of thundering hooves suddenly grew louder, and within moments, the Battlehog riders were upon them. They were fast! The massive creatures charged forward with terrifying speed, their riders brandishing weapons and snarling with fury.
The Hobgoblin army had caught up with them, and it didn't take a moment for General Varkis to encircle their position. In mere seconds, Rain and his companions found themselves surrounded by the Hobgoblin forces, with no path to escape.
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|| A/N ||
We've reached 100 chapters!
Thank you all for your support throughout this journey. Reaching this milestone wouldn't have been possible without your support.
Here's to many more chapters ahead! ????????