Chapter 182 – The Goblin Ruler and The Thousand Army
Chapter 182
The Goblin Ruler and The Thousand Army
Date : Day 29 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The guardian chamber on the first floor fell silent.
The massive Goblin Berserker's body was already fully dissolved. Only a single oversized magic stone rested on the stone floor where the guardian had fallen.
Hyoren finally lowered his shield and let out a slow breath. The battle had ended far more quickly than the last time they had faced this guardian, but it had still demanded everyone's full attention.
He deactivated the Accel Zone. The glowing circle disappeared slowly. Using the spell for a prolonged duration had left his forehead drenched with sweat.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead before turning to look at the rest of his party.
Everyone was still standing. No serious injuries. No one had collapsed from mana exhaustion.
Seeing that, a small smile naturally formed on his face.
"Good work, everyone. We did it."
His gaze swept across each of them before he spoke again.
"Once this guardian took everything from us. But now, it was manageable."
Jackey rested his Bloody Axe over his shoulder while flashing his usual broad grin. His tabby cat ears stood proudly upright, while his tail spiraled excitedly behind him.
"Yes! Freedom Party strong! WOHOO!"
Elise lowered her Moonveil Bow before walking closer to the others. A gentle smile rested on her face as she looked toward Arianna.
"True. We still need to be careful but..."
Her pointed ears twitched slightly.
"Having her in our party truly changed a lot."
Arianna removed her wide-brimmed hat before using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her drenched forehead. Despite the fatigue on her face, an elegant smile remained.
"Thank you, Mentor."
She placed her hat against her chest for a moment before speaking sincerely.
"I will strive to never let you all down."
Jackey suddenly glanced toward the middle of the chamber where the guardian had disappeared.
"Che… No treasure chest. No weapon drop. Lame..."
His shoulders slumped dramatically.
Hyoren couldn't help chuckling.
"We already got two golden chests from the monster room. The green greatsword and the silver mace would sell for a lot, Jackey."
Jackey scratched his cheek before nodding.
"True..."
Elise giggled softly.
"Fufu. That's right, Jackey. Plus, those thousands of magic stones will earn us plenty of money."
A teasing smile slowly spread across her lips.
"Plenty enough that you could go to the brothel every day… Fufufu."
Jackey's ears immediately perked up. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he threw both arms high into the air.
"YES!!"
His booming voice echoed throughout the now quiet guardian chamber.
Hyoren simply smiled at Jackey's predictable reaction before looking toward the far end of the chamber, where a swirling crimson teleportation orb quietly floated above a stone pedestal.
"Okay. We're not that tired since we defeated the guardian pretty quickly."
He adjusted the strap of his shield on his arm.
"Let's head to Floor 2."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Mm."
"YES!"
“Understood, Leader.”
Without wasting any more time, the four members of Freedom Party walked across the vast guardian chamber together.
Stopping before the swirling red orb, they each reached out and touched its surface.
In an instant, the scenery around them blurred.
The next moment, the members of Freedom Party were standing atop the massive glowing Runic Array in the safe room on Floor 2. The intricate runes beneath their feet pulsed with pale blue glow.
Hyoren slowly looked around the spacious chamber.
“Unbreakable Will and Merry Go Round are not done yet, huh...”
His thoughts drifted toward the two other parties sharing the resting chamber with them—Jigor's party and Hilde's party.
Elise swept her gaze around the chamber as well before nodding.
“That seems so...”
Arianna smiled faintly.
“Perhaps they are still struggling against the Goblin Berserker.”
Hyoren nodded.
“That might be so...”
He decided to focus on their situation, and slipped a hand inside his shirt and pulled out the necklace pocket watch hanging around his neck.
With a soft click, the cover opened.
08:21.
He quietly closed it again.
“We only spent less than thirty minutes, huh...”
His gaze moved across his companions.
“You guys are tired? If not, we're going to continue and try to reach Floor 2 resting chamber.”
Elise tucked a strand of her silver hair behind one pointed ear.
“I think we should keep moving. I'd rather rest afterward.”
Jackey crossed his arms as his cat ears perked up.
“YES! I'M NOT TIRED! LET'S GO, BIG BRO!”
Hyoren's gaze shifted toward Arianna. His dark irises met her light blue ones.
“What about you, Arianna? Want to rest?”
Arianna adjusted the position of her wide-brimmed hat before gripping her staff tighter.
“I'm fine. My Aethell reserve has been drained somewhat because I kept casting spells during the guardian battle. However, if I limit myself to first-tier and second-tier spells for a while, I should be fine.”
Hyoren nodded in understanding.
“This floor doesn't require your area-of-effect spells. If you only use first-tier single-target spells, you should be fine.”
He turned toward Elise.
“Elise, find us the route to the archway of Floor 2 guardian chamber, please. Avoid battles as much as you can.”
Elise immediately closed her eyes, and activating her Mapping Skill.
The skill provided her with a perfect record of every section they had explored—every chamber, every corridor, every intersection engraved clearly within her mind.
A few moments later, she opened her eyes. Her emerald irises gleamed with confidence.
“I think we can reduce our encounters to fewer than five. We should definitely be able to reach the archway before night descends.”
Hyoren nodded before looking toward the shimmering doorway whose surface continuously shifted through different colors—the entrance leading into the dungeon proper.
“Good. Let's go then.”
Without another word, Freedom Party walked through the shimmering doorway.
***
They traversed Floor 2 with confidence.
Elise led the way while continuously checking her Mapping Skill. She carefully guided the party through routes that would minimize the number of monster encounters. Even so, avoiding every battle inside a dungeon was impossible.
Fortunately, after fighting together for nine consecutive days, Freedom Party had developed excellent coordination.
About an hour after leaving the safe room, they encountered their first group of monsters. Inside the chamber stood a Goblin Lancer, a Goblin Shielder, and a Goblin Assassin.
Hyoren immediately charged forward while barking out his orders.
“I will take the lancer! Jackey, shielder! Arianna, Elise! Quickly deal with the assassin!”
Without even looking back, he entrusted the rest to his companions.
He raised his shield.
“Provoke.”
A wave of Aethell burst outward and washed over the Goblin Lancer. Its eyes immediately turned bloodshot as it let out an enraged shriek before charging straight toward Hyoren.
CLANG!
His shield absorbed the lancer's powerful thrust.
CLANG!
His sword immediately parried the next spear strike before it could reach him.
Meanwhile, Jackey shot past Hyoren like a streak of lightning and charged directly at the Goblin Shielder.
His Bloody Axe swung downward.
CLANG!
The shielder raised its buckler and absorbed the heavy blow.
At the same time, the Flying Kite Axe in Jackey's left hand slashed toward the goblin from another angle.
CLANG!
The Goblin Shielder reacted just in time, raising its short sword to deflect the weapon.
Meanwhile, Elise was already circling along the chamber wall.
As she moved, she briefly glanced toward Arianna. Across the chamber, emerald eyes met light blue ones.
No words were exchanged. They both understood.
Elise smoothly nocked an arrow onto her Moonveil Bow.
“Charge Arrow.”
SWOOSH!
The glowing arrow shot across the chamber toward the Goblin Assassin, which had already begun sprinting toward Jackey to interfere with his fight.
At almost the same moment—Arianna raised her Quadraflux Weaver.
“Wind Slicer.”
SWOOSH!
An almost silent blade of compressed wind flew through the air with frightening speed.
The Goblin Assassin was attacked from two directions simultaneously.
Instinctively, it raised its dagger toward Elise's incoming arrow.
CLANG!
The arrow was successfully deflected.
However, the assassin had completely lost sight of Arianna's spell.
The invisible wind blade was already upon it.
SQUELCH!
The razor-sharp attack cleanly separated its head from its neck.
The troublesome Goblin Assassin that had given them so much trouble during their previous dungeon diving fell instantly under their coordinated attack.
Seeing the assassin already eliminated, Hyoren wasted no time. He slammed his shield forward.
“Shield Bash.”
BANG!
The Goblin Lancer staggered backward as the heavy impact disrupted its balance.
Arianna immediately seized the opening.
“Water Needle.”
SWOOSH!
A long, needle-thin streak of water shot from the tip of her Quadraflux Weaver before piercing straight through the Goblin Lancer's head.
SQUELCH!
The monster quietly dissolved into particles.
Meanwhile, Jackey grinned. He stepped forward and brought both axes down in a powerful cross-shaped strike.
“Cross Slash.”
SCREEECK!
The Goblin Shielder's buckler was cleaved into four pieces.
Before the monster could recover, Elise released another arrow.
SWOOSH!
The projectile streaked through the chamber and struck its mark with perfect accuracy.
SQUELCH!
The arrow buried itself deep into the Goblin Shielder's eye.
The monster froze in place before dissolving. Silence once again filled the chamber.
Hyoren smiled in satisfaction.
“Good. With the four of us, the combination that gave us slight trouble before has become manageable.”
Jackey rested Bloody Axe over his shoulder while spinning Flying Kite Axe once in his left hand.
“They too easy now, Big Bro!”
Elise walked over with a gentle smile.
“Fufu... don't get complacent, Jackey. We only made it look easy because everyone did their part.”
Jackey scratched his cheek with an embarrassed grin.
“Hehe... I KNOW!”
Hyoren turned his attention toward Arianna.
“Good work. Your spell selection and decisions during the fight were excellent. You adapted to every opening without hesitation.”
Arianna gracefully lowered her head.
“Thank you very much, Leader. I merely fulfilled the role entrusted to me. I shall continue striving not to disappoint everyone.”
Hyoren gave a satisfied nod.
“I'll be counting on you.”
Hyoren glanced at the scattered loot.
“Okay then. Let's collect everything and get moving. I want to reach the resting chamber before night.”
Elise, Jackey, and Arianna nodded.
Freedom Party quickly gathered the Magic Stones before immediately continuing their journey deeper into Floor 2.
***
They continued their journey through Floor 2.
Every encounter that crossed their path was dealt with efficiently. Eventually, they arrived at the resting chamber.
Unlike the chamber they had occupied on Floor 1 the previous night, this one was completely empty.
Hyoren reached inside his shirt and pulled out the necklace pocket watch. With a soft click, the cover sprang open.
17:11.
He quietly closed it before turning toward the others.
“Okay. Right on schedule. We'll rest here and prepare ourselves for tomorrow's battle.”
His expression became more serious.
“The Goblin Ruler... and its thousands-strong goblin army.”
A confident smirk slowly formed on his face.
“A guardian we ran away from before.”
His gaze shifted toward Arianna.
The newest member of Freedom Party. A Quad Elemental Mage. The final piece that completed their strategy.
“But not this time.”
A faint smile remained on his lips.
“Because now we have Arianna.”
Arianna gracefully inclined her head, causing her crimson hair to sway gently.
“I shall not disappoint you, Leader.”
Jackey rested Bloody Axe on his shoulder while Flying Kite Axe hung loosely in his left hand.
“TIME TO WHACK THOSE SKULKERS!!”
Elise smiled softly before tucking a strand of silver hair behind one pointed ear.
“Fufu... it still won't be an easy battle, everyone.”
Hyoren nodded in agreement.
“Elise is right. We still need to be careful.”
He looked at everyone in turn.
“Arianna isn't inexhaustible. She can't keep casting spells one after another forever. We need to support her and make every spell count.”
Everyone nodded in understanding.
Seeing the determination in their eyes, Hyoren smiled with satisfaction.
“Good. Then let's get our camp ready.”
Without wasting any more time, everyone immediately began preparing for the night.
Within a short time, their temporary campsite was fully prepared.
The comforting aroma of dinner soon filled the resting chamber. Elise served everyone a simple soup made with meat and vegetables. It was far from luxurious. Yet after a full day of exploration and countless battles, the warm meal eased the fatigue lingering throughout their bodies.
Once everyone had finished eating, Hyoren looked around the camp.
“Good. I think we should sleep early. We've got a big fight tomorrow.”
Elise nodded gently. Her silver hair swayed as she smiled.
“Yes. I miss sleeping in a proper bed... Fufu.”
Her emerald eyes drifted toward the softly pulsating archway leading to the Guardian Chamber.
“So let's get plenty of rest tonight... and tomorrow we'll defeat that army.”
Jackey crossed his arms as his tabby tail spiraled excitedly behind him.
“YES! EAT! SLEEP! TOMORROW... WHACK ALL THOSE SKULKERS!! WOHOO!!”
Arianna let out a graceful smile.
“I believe I shall retire early as well. A good night's sleep will replenish my Aethell reserve, allowing me to perform at my best tomorrow.”
Hyoren nodded.
“Okay then. Let's get some sleep.”
One by one, the members of Freedom Party entered their respective tents.
Outside, the pale blue light of the ancient runic archway continued to pulse quietly through the night, awaiting the challengers who would face the Goblin Ruler when dawn arrived.
Before long, sleep claimed every member of Freedom Party.
***
Freedom Party woke early the next morning.
Without wasting any time, everyone quickly freshened themselves before gathering for breakfast.
The meal was simple but filling, leftover soup from last night with bread. But it was providing enough energy for the battle that awaited them.
After eating, the four of them immediately began dismantling the campsite. It did not take long before every trace of their camp had vanished. The resting chamber returned to its pristine state, as though no one had ever stayed there.
The four members of Freedom Party stood before the softly pulsating runic archway leading to the Floor 2 Guardian Chamber.
Hyoren turned around to face his companions.
“Ready, everyone?”
Elise smiled gently.
“Let's go, Hyoren.”
Jackey raised Bloody Axe high into the air.
“YES!! Big Bro!!”
Arianna stood with Quadraflux Weaver resting before her.
“I am ready, Leader.”
Hyoren gave a firm nod before turning back toward the guardian chamber entrance.
He slowly extended his hand.
The moment his palm touched the solid surface inside the archway, a familiar voice echoed inside his mind.
Oh? Pretend heroes are back? I thought you already ran away with your tails tucked between your legs! Xixixi. Or do you really wish to die? Well then... go on, enter! Go and get killed by my army! Xixixi…
Hyoren ignored the oily, mocking voice of Demon God Gidol. His answer was simple.
Yes.
The world around them dissolved. The next instant, Freedom Party reappeared inside the Floor 2 Guardian Chamber.
The scenery before them was exactly as Hyoren remembered.
A vast underground chamber. A deep rift surrounded a massive rectangular stone platform in the middle. And upon that platform—over a thousand goblins stood waiting.
At the very back of the army, upon a raised stone dais stood the Goblin Ruler.
It stood motionless in polished dark armor. Its left hand firmly held a long pole bearing a purple banner that fluttered despite the still air. Its right hand remained empty, though the sword sheathed at its waist radiated an unmistakable sense of danger.
Hyoren calmly observed the battlefield before turning back toward his party.
“Okay, everyone. Time for revenge.”
He glanced toward the stone bridge.
“We're using a similar strategy to the one we used while clearing the monster rooms, but with a few adjustments.”
His eyes carefully measured the width of the bridge.
“Unlike those corridors, this bridge isn't narrow enough for Jackey and me to block completely. Some goblins will definitely slip past us.”
He shook his head.
“So our previous choke-point strategy won't be completely feasible.”
Elise tightened her grip on Moonveil Bow.
“So, what's the strategy, Hyoren?”
Hyoren looked toward the open space between the bridge and the goblin army.
There was a considerable gap before the horde. Almost as though the chamber itself had been designed as a battlefield where two armies would clash.
“We'll hold the bridge.”
He pointed toward himself and Jackey.
“Jackey and I will stop the main force there.”
Jackey spun Bloody Axe in his right hand while Flying Kite Axe rotated once in his left.
“Leave it to me, Big Bro!”
Hyoren nodded before looking at Elise.
“Even so, we won't be able to stop every goblin. Some are bound to slip past us.”
Elise met his gaze without hesitation. Her emerald eyes were filled with quiet determination.
“I know, Hyoren. I'll intercept every goblin that gets through before they can reach Arianna.”
Arianna stepped forward.
“Leader, would it be beneficial if I sealed part of the bridge with Earth Wall?”
Hyoren tapped his chin thoughtfully. Using Earth Wall to funnel the goblin horde into a narrower path certainly had its advantages.
However, everything depended on its Aethell consumption.
“How does Earth Wall work, Arianna? Do you have to continuously supply Aethell like my Accel Zone, or is it a one-time cost?”
Arianna answered without hesitation.
“It is both, actually. If I cease supplying Aethell, the wall will only remain for approximately sixty seconds.”
Hyoren immediately understood the implication.
“I assume maintaining it consumes quite a lot of Aethell?”
Arianna smiled apologetically.
“As it is a Third-Tier Spell... regrettably, yes.”
Hyoren shook his head.
“Then don't use it. You need to conserve your Aethell.”
His eyes shifted toward the massive goblin army waiting across the bridge.
“We still need your Lava Surge.”
The spell from Advanced Branch of Arianna's Earth Magic—Lava Magic. The spell that had become the cornerstone of their strategy. A single cast possessed enough destructive power to wipe out hundreds of goblins at once.
Hyoren looked back at Arianna.
“I need you to eliminate the horde as quickly and efficiently as possible. Don't waste your Aethell on unnecessary spells.”
Arianna tightened her grip on Quadraflux Weaver.
“Understood, Leader. I shall prioritize eliminating as many goblins as possible.”
Hyoren looked at each member of Freedom Party.
“I know we can do this.”
He slowly unsheathed Dawn Breaker before raising the sword high above his head.
Seeing their leader's conviction, the others immediately followed.
Elise raised Moonveil Bow.
Jackey lifted Bloody Axe high into the air while gripping Flying Kite Axe tightly in his other hand.
Arianna raised Quadraflux Weaver.
Hyoren slowly inhaled. Then shouted.
“Victory for Freedom Party!”
The others answered in unison.
“Freedom Party!”
A satisfied smile appeared on Hyoren's face.
He lowered Dawn Breaker, turned toward the stone bridge, and fixed his eyes upon the endless goblin army.
“Let's do this.”
***
Hyoren and Jackey advanced onto the stone bridge.
With every step they took, the true scale of the guardian chamber became even more apparent.
The rectangular platform across the rift was enormous. Large enough to accommodate an army.
They stopped just before reaching the end of the bridge.
Neither of them advanced any farther.
Going beyond that point would allow the goblins to surround them from multiple directions, completely negating the bridge's defensive advantage.
Hyoren took the left side. Jackey positioned himself on the right.
Hyoren glanced over his shoulder.
As planned, Elise stood near the entrance of the bridge. An arrow was already nocked on her Moonveil Bow, the bowstring partially drawn as she patiently waited for an opening.
A short distance behind her stood Arianna. She gripped Quadraflux Weaver with her right hand, her expression calm and composed.
Satisfied that everyone was in position, Hyoren turned his attention back toward the goblin horde.
The distance between the bridge and the army was considerable. Roughly half the length of a football field. Around forty to fifty meters. Far too wide to simply charge across.
Hyoren understood that better than anyone.
Crossing that open ground and meeting over a thousand goblins head-on would be nothing short of suicide. Not unless he was leading an army of his own.
He glanced toward Jackey beside him.
“Ready, Jackey?”
Jackey nodded as he tightened his grip on Bloody Axe and Flying Kite Axe.
“Ready anytime, Big Bro.”
Hyoren gave a single nod.
Then his voice echoed across the enormous chamber.
“Start the bombardment!”
Neither Provoke nor his own attacks could reach the goblin army from this distance.
The opening move belonged to Arianna.
Upon hearing the command, Arianna calmly raised Quadraflux Weaver.
“Fire Ball.”
SWOOSH!
A blazing sphere of fire shot from the tip of her staff before arcing high through the air.
Dozens upon dozens of goblin heads instinctively tilted upward. The flaming projectile reached its apex. Then descended toward the tightly packed front ranks.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the platform.
More than ten goblins were caught within the blast. Their bodies were torn apart by the violent explosion before rapidly dissolving into countless particles of Aethell. Moments later, several Magic Stones clattered onto the stone platform where they had fallen.
Silence lasted for only a heartbeat.
Then—countless goblins roared in unison. The deafening chorus echoed throughout the guardian chamber.
The front ranks surged forward. Then the second rank. Then the third.
Within moments, the entire goblin army began advancing across the platform like an unstoppable tide.
Their destination was clear—Freedom Party.
The battle had begun.
***
Hyoren swallowed.
As the goblin army drew closer, the sight became even more overwhelming.
Back in the monster room, although there had been three hundred goblins, they had only fought thirty at a time because of the spawning limit.
This was different.
Every one of the thousand goblins had been present from the very beginning. The charging horde formed an endless sea of green, accompanied by countless snarls that echoed throughout the guardian chamber.
Hyoren tightened his grip on his shield.
We can do this... Arianna can wipe out half of them by herself… My job is to keep them from reaching her…
His mind rapidly considered his options. Accel Zone would consume too much Aethell. Enchant Maledict would also be unnecessary.
He gave a slight nod.
“Magic Blade.”
A thin layer of Aethell immediately coated Dawn Breaker's edge.
He decided to rely mainly on Magic Blade, using Shadow Bloom only when an opportunity presented itself.
His priority was simple. Kill as many goblins as possible.
He did not need additional speed while holding the bridge. Nor did he need to waste Aethell stacking debuffs.
He raised his shield.
“Provoke.”
A wave of Aethell spread across the army.
More than half of the goblins in the front ranks immediately locked their bloodshot eyes onto Hyoren before charging directly toward him.
As the horde continued closing the distance—Hyoren suddenly felt a surge of Aethell gathering behind him. Without needing to look, he already knew who it belonged to.
Arianna calmly raised Quadraflux Weaver.
“Ring of Fire.”
An orb of crimson flame suddenly materialized in the middle of the charging front line.
For a brief instant, it hovered motionlessly. Then, the orb rapidly expanded into a massive ring of fire.
WHOOSH!
The expanding ring swept across the goblin horde like a blazing tidal wave. Every goblin caught within its path was instantly engulfed.
Then, a towering wall of crimson flames erupted from its circumference.
Their shrill screams barely lasted a moment before their bodies burned away and dissolved into countless particles of Aethell.
Even after the ring stopped expanding, the towering wall of fire remained.
Goblin after goblin blindly charged forward. Only to run straight into the inferno. The flames mercilessly incinerated every monster that attempted to push through.
Hyoren couldn't help but smile at the devastating spectacle. He had already witnessed Ring of Fire inside the enclosed monster rooms. It had been powerful then.
But against an army—only now did it reveal its true potential.
Amazing… I think more than thirty goblins… or even forty… were caught in those flames alone…
***
Hyoren knew this wasn't the time to relax.
Arianna's overwhelming firepower came at a price. Even from his position on the bridge, he noticed the subtle changes in her condition.
Casting Fire Ball and Ring of Fire in rapid succession had noticeably quickened her breathing. Tiny beads of sweat had formed across her forehead despite the cold air inside the dungeon.
Without hesitation, Arianna retrieved a small blue bottle from her pouch—a Magic Potion.
She uncorked it and drank the contents in one smooth motion. A hint of color gradually returned to her face.
However, Hyoren knew better than to assume she had fully recovered.
She told me those potions don't restore Aethell instantly… They only accelerate regeneration. We need to cover her during her downtime.
His gaze returned to the battlefield.
The towering wall of flames had already vanished. Yet the goblin army continued advancing without hesitation. They simply stepped over the scattered Magic Stones left behind by their fallen comrades, showing no fear as they charged toward the bridge.
Hyoren narrowed his eyes toward the raised dais.
The Goblin Ruler… Still hadn't moved…
It remained standing with perfect composure. The purple banner in its left hand continued fluttering despite the still air. It showed not the slightest concern as dozens of its own soldiers perished.
There were still thousands remaining.
Hyoren shifted his focus back to the front. The first rank had arrived. He raised his shield.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Three goblins struck his shield with their rusted weapons almost simultaneously. Driven by the effect of Provoke, they snarled wildly without any coordination. Instead of working together, they shoved and pushed one another in their eagerness to reach him.
That lack of discipline created exactly the opening Hyoren needed.
He stepped forward.
“Shield Bash.”
BANG!
The shield slammed into the foremost goblins.
The impact sent them stumbling backward. Like bowling pins, they crashed into the goblins behind them, throwing the advancing front ranks into brief disarray.
Hyoren immediately capitalized on the opening.
“Sweeping Slash.”
Unlike Quick Slash, which emphasized speed—Sweeping Slash gathered power for a brief heartbeat.
Brilliant blue Aethell enveloped Dawn Breaker's blade. Then the sword carved forward in a wide horizontal arc.
WHOOSH!
The crescent-shaped slash tore through the tightly packed goblins.
SQUELCH!
Bodies were severed one after another before rapidly dissolving into countless particles of Aethell.
Even as the technique completed, Hyoren noticed something.
The attack reached farther than Dawn Breaker's actual blade...
Its effective range extended well beyond the sword itself.
Nearly six goblins had been caught within the sweeping arc.
Before long, only several Magic Stones remained scattered across the stone bridge, while the goblin horde continued pressing relentlessly toward Freedom Party.
***
As Hyoren held back more than half of the goblin front line, Jackey was no less busy on his side of the bridge.
The goblins unaffected by Provoke finally reached them.
Rather than attacking Hyoren, they attempted to push past the melee, climbing over their own comrades in an effort to break through and reach the backline.
Jackey's golden eyes gleamed.
“Not on my watch."
He tightened his grip on Bloody Axe and Flying Kite Axe.
Then he activated the new skill that had yet to truly showcase its power.
He lowered his stance and both axes spread wide to either side.
“Whirlwind Slash.”
In the next instant, Jackey became a spinning blur. Like a raging whirlwind, he charged straight into the goblins while rapidly rotating his entire body.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Both Bloody Axe and Flying Kite Axe carved through everything within their reach.
SCREEECK! SCREEECK! SCREEECK!
Goblin after goblin was torn apart before immediately dissolving into countless particles.
Magic Stones rained onto the stone bridge as the whirlwind cut a bloody path through the charging horde.
Several seconds later, Jackey came to an abrupt stop. Despite spinning at such incredible speed, there wasn't the slightest hint of dizziness on his face.
He immediately returned to his battle stance.
“I love THIS skill!!”
Then he noticed where he had stopped. He had advanced much farther than intended. Almost halfway across the gap between the bridge and the goblin formation.
“Tch...”
Without hesitation, Jackey leaped backward several times until he returned to the defensive line beside Hyoren.
He understood the weakness of Whirlwind Slash. Repeatedly using it would only drive him deeper into the enemy army.
That would be suicidal.
“Can’t be helped!”
He resumed his original position and continued holding the line.
Bloody Axe swung downward.
SCREEECK!
A Goblin dissolved into particles of Aethell.
Before another could fill the gap, Flying Kite Axe swept horizontally.
SCREEECK!
A Goblin's head was severed cleanly before its body dissolved moments later.
Jackey didn't stop. He immediately activated another skill.
Unlike Whirlwind Slash, which belonged to his Dual Wielding techniques—this one originated from his Axe Mastery.
“Rotating Slash.”
He spun only once. A single, explosive rotation.
WHOOSH!
SCREEECK!
Every goblin surrounding him was caught within the circular slash. Several monsters were dismembered before dissolving into countless particles of Aethell.
Jackey steadied himself and tightened his grip on both axes.
"Che... guess I'll limit myself to this. And the other when necessary!”
With that, he resumed hacking into the endless goblin horde alongside Hyoren, refusing to allow a single skulker to break through Freedom Party's defensive line.
***
While the two frontliners worked hard to hold back the goblin horde—Elise's emerald eyes continuously scanned the stone bridge.
The goblin army kept pouring onto the massive bridge without end.
She had already drawn Moonveil Bow, an arrow resting on the bowstring as she patiently searched for threats.
Her gaze briefly shifted toward Jackey.
He was holding his side well. Although several scratch wounds had appeared across his body, his new Illusion Viper upper and lower armor protected most of him from serious injuries.
Her attention then shifted toward Hyoren.
He was holding the left side of the bridge just as steadily. Protected by his Steel Kite Shield and Mithril-alloy Chainmail, he had yet to suffer any visible wounds.
Elise's eyes narrowed toward the gap between the two frontliners.
No matter how well Hyoren and Jackey fought, two people could never completely seal a bridge this wide. Soon enough, several goblins managed to squeeze through the opening between them.
Elise calmly drew the bowstring.
“Double Shot.”
SWOOSH!
Two arrows flew almost simultaneously. Each found its mark.
SQUELCH!
The two goblins dissolved before they could take another step.
Without pausing, Elise nocked another arrow. A Goblin had slipped past Hyoren's side.
SWOOSH!
The arrow streaked across the bridge.
SQUELCH!
The Goblin dissolved instantly, leaving only its Magic Stone behind.
Elise smoothly reached back and drew another pair of arrows from her quiver.
Her emerald eyes quickly found another opening. Two Goblins had survived Jackey's Rotating Slash and were attempting to break through.
She activated her skill one more time.
“Double Shot.”
SWOOSH!
The arrows struck with flawless precision.
SQUELCH!
Both Goblins were pierced through the eyes before immediately dissolving into particles of Aethell.
Without a single wasted movement, Elise nocked another arrow, her unwavering gaze continued to watch over the gap between Hyoren and Jackey—preventing any goblin from reaching their magician.
***
Arianna stood a short distance behind Elise.
She slowly raised Quadraflux Weaver.
Her light blue eyes calmly observed the battlefield stretching before her. Her mind worked rapidly.
Which spell should I use...?
Is the Aethell cost justified...?
Would a lower-tier spell be sufficient...?
Where is my firepower needed the most...?
Her gaze swept across the bridge.
Jackey had just finished using Whirlwind Slash, carving a bloody path through the goblins on the right side of the bridge. That section of the frontline had been pushed back significantly.
Without hesitation, Arianna shifted her staff toward the left—toward Hyoren's side.
The goblin horde there had become noticeably denser, forcing Hyoren to defend against an ever-growing number of attackers.
Arianna gathered Aethell.
The four colored lights inside the orb of Quadraflux Weaver accelerated, gradually swirling until they shone with a brilliant white radiance.
“Boulder Throw.”
The orb flashed.
A massive boulder, roughly the size of a goblin, instantly materialized before launching high into the air. It followed a graceful arc across the battlefield before descending several meters in front of Hyoren.
BOOM!
The impact shook the stone bridge.
Several Goblins were crushed beneath the enormous boulder before instantly dissolving into particles. The boulder continued rolling forward under its tremendous momentum. Goblin after goblin was flattened beneath its path before disappearing, leaving only scattered Magic Stones across the bridge.
Arianna did not stop. She took another steady breath.
To ease the pressure on the frontliners once more, she immediately began preparing another spell. She raised Quadraflux Weaver again and aimed toward the center of the advancing horde.
“Earth Spikes.”
DONDONDON!
Dozens of massive stone spikes erupted violently from the ground.
Each spike skewered multiple Goblins at once. The tightly packed formation worked against them. Within moments, dozens of Goblins had been killed.
The frontline briefly became noticeably less crowded.
The moment the spell ended, Arianna's body swayed. She quickly planted Quadraflux Weaver against the stone floor to steady herself.
Her breathing became noticeably heavier.
“Haah... haah...”
Sweat continued to gather upon her forehead.
Even so, her thoughts never stopped.
Ring of Fire… It could eliminate at least thirty...
Her light blue eyes carefully observed the devastation left behind by Earth Spikes.
Earth Spikes… If I target the densest part of the horde… It can probably eliminate around fifty...
She paused.
No… Closer to forty...
Her grip around Quadraflux Weaver tightened.
But Earth Spikes consumes much more Aethell...
She slowly inhaled before exhaling to steady herself.
I just drank a Magic Potion. I can't use another one until its five-minute effect ends...
After regulating her breathing, Arianna straightened her posture once again.
I should prioritize Ring of Fire. I'll only use Earth Spikes if the horde truly overwhelms Leader and Sir Jackey.
Determination shone within her light blue eyes.
We haven't even defeated ten percent of the army yet… I have to conserve my Aethell.
Sweat still glistened on her forehead. Her breathing remained heavier than before. Yet, she stood ready to unleash another wave of devastation upon the goblin army the moment the battlefield demanded it.
***
The Goblin Ruler remained standing atop the raised dais. It had yet to draw the sword at its waist. Nor had it moved even a single step.
By now, nearly ten percent of the goblin army had already been eliminated.
Yet, the army was still enormous.
Despite the overwhelming odds, not a single member of Freedom Party showed any sign of wavering.
Hyoren continued holding the left side of the bridge with unwavering determination. Jackey fiercely defended the right side, refusing to let a single Goblin pass through.
Behind them, Elise calmly eliminated every Goblin that slipped between the two frontliners, while Arianna carefully managed her Aethell, unleashing devastating spells only when they would achieve the greatest effect.
Every passing minute strengthened their resolve. They had not come here to retreat again. This time—Freedom Party was determined to conquer the Floor Two Guardian.