Chapter 127 - Collision of Two Armies

Zero dashed towards the bushes that Cale pointed earlier. He believed that Cale was never wrong, so immediately left after he was ordered.

After nearing on the bushes, he felt the presence of several creatures. He took out his two Divine level knives which gleamed coldly after reflecting the sun's light. With his long black hair hanging loosely, it fluttered roughly along with the wind. 

Zero caught sight of four green creatures with savage facial features. They were quite tall with ripped physiques. In each of their hands were huge machetes made from beasts' bones. 

They were not even able to sense Zero's approach, and they only felt his presence after he was just a few meters away from them. They glared at the human while baring their sharp teeth. They raised their machetes in a bid to hack Zero into pieces. 

Zero calmly evaded their disordered attacks with a simple sidestep. Although their strength was surprising, their movements were stiff and full of holes. Zero who specialized in hitting the enemies' vital points smiled coldly. 

These hobgoblins were merely at the Emperor-Class level. He used the handle of his knives to hit their temples in a swift and fluid motion. He looked like he was dancing a romantic contemporary dance as he hit them with the handle of his knives. 

Four faint thudding sounds resounded as the four hobgoblins dropped on the ground. 

Zero scratched the back of his head while glancing at the four unconscious hobgoblins. 

"I think I used a bit more strength. They are still alive, right?" 

Zero casually picked up a twig somewhere nearby and poke a hobgoblin's face. He then heard the sounds of heavy footsteps approaching his direction.

Alucard's and Cale's groups were the first ones to arrive. They saw Zero comically poking a hobgoblin's face with a twig. His facial features were hidden by his mask, but he should be annoyed after making them go unconscious.

Cale's lips lifted upwards, while Alucard frowned heavily.

"Why are they hobgoblins? There is a mistake in the report given. We should only be facing normal goblins, but based on this alone, it looks like the goblin army that we will be facing is much stronger than we thought. Hopefully, there are only three Goblin Generals like what was mentioned." Falkor observed the unconscious hobgoblins. They were all at the Emperor-Class level. They might be weaker than him who was at the Saint realm, but the overall strength of their party was more or less the same with the hobgoblins. But there were less than a thousand of them, while there were several thousand hobgoblins.

Falkor stood up and spoke while facing Alucard.

"Alucard, what do you think? Should we continue our advance or should we retreat?"

Alucard was not a fool, but he also didn't want their dignities to be sullied. He then glanced at Cale's group and felt much better. They had six more Saints with them. It should not be a problem to fight against those hobgoblins. He gritted his teeth and replied in a firm tone of voice.

"We have already marched far enough, and retreating is impossible. It will only bring discontent among the hired adventurers and vagabonds. Let's continue our march, the hobgoblin army should be close by..." Alucard's eyes contained a trace of killing intent. 

He had to accomplish this mission at all costs in order for him to receive the Immortality Pill which was the reward for this mission. With that pill, he will have a much higher chance of ascending towards the Immortal-Class level. Ans by then he could challenge that man who had tarnished his reputation. 

Falkor said no more, he knew that Alucard was right. He also knew the reason why the latter was so eager to complete this mission. 

"Let's move!" Alucard shouted towards the whole group. Zero sighed in relief. He then slit the throats of the hobgoblins, his eyes emotionless.

After walking for another hour, they finally caught sight of the goblin army, one thousand meters from their location. Similarly, the goblin army also saw their group. The two opposing armies stood solemnly while glaring at each other while gripping their weapons tightly. 

They were now on an empty plain with only grasses and shrubberies present, thus it was not too hard to see each other.

The adventures and vagabonds glanced at the huge hobgoblin army just a kilometer away from them. Beads of sweat dropped on the ground as the warm rays of sunlight pierced their skins unceasingly. 

"Shielders, take the vanguard position!" Alucard shouted an order. Following his shout, several dozen buff men went in front with varying sizes of shields. Brogen carried his massive spiked rectangular shield. Every step from him left a deep imprint on the ground, signifying the weight of his shield. But there was not even a hint of difficulty in him.

"Archers, nock your arrows, aim!" Alucard shouted while facing the hobgoblin army.

The sound of multiple bowstrings being pulled echoed. 

The hobgoblin army suddenly produced a loud battle cry as they charged towards the expedition party. They raised their long machetes with malicious grins on their savage faces. Their approach caused the ground to shake, making the hired hunters feel a bit agitated. 

Goblins are known for their brutal natures. They kill anything that does not belong to their race. Some women from all races were even held captive to serve as sex slaves for these savage beasts. As for the men, they will be used as ingredients. In short, food.

"Release your arrows! Shielders prepare! Warriors, stay behind the shielders!" Alucard calmly ordered everyone. He had experienced countless wars during his younger years, and he had an experience of leading a large group of soldiers. 

Dozens of arrows were released and they looked like a plague of locusts from afar. The hobgoblins raised their shields to block the arrows, but some were still hit. They stumbled on the ground while groaning in pain. Nevertheless, the hobgoblins continued their fierce charge.

Cale was impressed by Alucard's commanding skills since he was not that confident in his leading abilities. He smiled widely while glancing at Alucard, it was as if he had seen a treasure. 

'It would be good to have this kind of subordinate.' Cale thought to himself while disregarding the battle in front.

Amelia, the mage raised her staff in midair while softly chanting. Light elemental arrows appeared, she then pointed her staff at the approaching hobgoblins. The light arrows produced whistling sounds as they streak towards the hobgoblins. Dozens of hobgoblins dropped on the ground with holes on their bodies. Still, it did not stop their army from advancing.

"Zarinvienne, Nocturna." Cale calmly gestured the two beauties to attack.

The two ladies stepped forward and raised their slender arms gracefully. They chanted an incomprehensible incantation that produced multiple blazing fireballs and sharp ice spears respectively. 

Zarinvienne was a fire elemental Saint, while Nocturna was a rare ice elemental Saint. The latter was still part of those water elemental Saints, but her attacks were much fiercer in comparison to the usual water attacks who mainly focused on buffs and supporting damage.

Zarinvienne's flames were not ordinary as well. It was imbued with her demonic energy which made her flames appear purplish in color. It burner intensely like the sun's radiance.

They released their elemental attacks which killed more than a hundred hobgoblins. 

A loud shout reverberated behind the hobgoblin army. Five gigantic Goblin Generals charged towards them while wielding their massive axes. Behind the Goblin Generals were three Goblin Shamans draped in long grey robes, each of them was holding wooden staves with glimmering symbols.

Alucard glanced at Cale solemnly and spoke in a mild tone.

"Wolf King, follow us on stopping those Goblin Generals. We should not allow them to kill our men." 

Cale smiled and took out a huge heavy sword from his storage space. This was a Divine level weapon. Although it was significantly weaker than his Void Wolf Immortal Sword, it was more than enough to kill those hobgoblins.

Alucard unsheathed his demonic sword. Waves of baleful aura revolved around his sword like a torrent. His countenance changed and he looked like a Vampire Sovereign after wielding his sword.

Alucard charged towards the Goblin Generals, Falkor followed behind him while gripping his spear tightly.

Cale did not want to be outdone. He teleported in front of one Goblin General using spatial elements. He then hacked his massive heavy sword towards one of the surprised giants.

The Goblin General hastily raised his axe to block Cale's attack. The sound of two metals crushing against each other reverberated violently like an eruption of a volcano. The Goblin General took multiple steps back while Cale gracefully spun in midair before he landed on the ground. His long silver hair unceasingly danced, his lips parted to form an excited smile.

'Tch, that axe should have been sliced if I used my Void Wolf Immortal Sword.' Cale snorted and vanished from his spot. 

Everyone was surprised at Cale's speed. They were still quite a distance away from the Goblin Generals, but he had already attacked one of them. The giant Goblin General was even pushed back after his attack. How strong! 

Goblins were known for their unparalleled physical strength. And an average Saint would have a hard time besting a Goblin General in terms of physical prowess.

Alucard smiled faintly. He summersaulted in midair while slashing his demonic sword. A baleful cry resounded as a huge ghost-like head emerged, following his strike. 

The Goblin Shamans from behind chanted in unison which produced a brilliant light that covered the Goblin Generals like resplendent armor.

Alucard's attack hit one Goblin General, but the latter stood up after stumbling a few times. He glared at Alucard while producing a bestial roar. He hacked his axe towards Alucard who blocked the strike with his demonic sword.

"Claanngg!"

The force of the attack threw Alucard several meters away. He then spun in midair to dissolve the force in his body, before landing on the ground.

"Tsk, this will be troublesome. With those Goblin Shamans providing support, the Goblin Generals will be significantly strengthened." Alucard spoke coldly.

With Brogen and the ladies supporting the vagabonds and adventurers against the several thousand hobgoblins, the remaining Saints found it difficult to defeat the Goblin Generals. Especially with the Goblin Shamans providing them buffs that strengthened them.

Cale, Alucard, Zero, Atlas, and Falkor faced against one Goblin General each. They glared at the giant beasts while gripping their weapons. 

"Alucard, can you hold two of those monsters for a few minutes?" Cale spoke, his focus was on the five Goblin Generals.

Alucard furrowed his brows and nodded his head confidently. 

"Of course, Wolf King."

"Good! Atlas, Zero, Falkor kill those Shamans. We will hold these Goblin Generals for a while, so make sure to kill them fast!" Cale ordered loudly while charging towards the Goblin Generals.

He brandished the massive three-meter tall heavy sword with ease. It was longer than his Void Wolf Immortal Sword, but it was a few times lighter. 

"What a crazy man..." Alucard muttered silently with admiration before tapping his feet lightly. He charged towards two Goblin Generals while slashing his demonic sword twice.

Zero, Atlas and Falkor no longer hesitated. They aimed their attacks on the three Goblin Shamans hiding behind the Goblin Generals.

The Goblin Shamans were also Saints, so defeating them was not that easy. But the three men attacking them were not your average Saints as well.

Zero generated multiple wind blades as he approached one of the shamans.

Atlas stomped on the ground which produced earthen spikes that threatened to impale the three shamans.

Falkor's spear crackled with lightning. He aimed his spear thrust towards one of the shamans.

The shamans hastily conjured light shields to block the attack of the three men. They were catapulted in midair after the combined attack of the three men. The shamans were not good in close combat since they specialize in long-range and support.

With the three shamans occupied by Zero and the others, the buff on the five Goblin Generals were removed. 

Cale glanced at the five giants in front of them while smirking derisively. His silver eyes flashed a trace of mockery.