Chapter 561 - 501: Mortal Iron Crumbles, a Fist Breaks the Foe

Chapter 561: Chapter 501: Mortal Iron Crumbles, a Fist Breaks the Foe

"Is... Is that a goblin?"

Peering through a gap in the bush’s leaves and branches, Roland immediately identified the silhouette of the skulking creature.

This was completely different from the Green Skins he remembered from the "future" timeline—those were usually scrawny, short, and poorly equipped. The goblin that had just revealed itself was shockingly different.

It still wasn’t tall, but its torso and limbs were covered in taut, knotted muscles that seemed to have the texture and explosive power of stone under the faint Dawn Light.

Its rough, green skin was covered in dark war markings. The glint in its narrow, yellow eyes was no longer one of simple bloodlust and Chaos, but a shifting look of vigilance, assessment, and an unsettling, cunning coldness.

Its equipment was even more conspicuous.

It wore a fitted breastplate made of tanned hide stitched with small metal plates, and in its hand, it clutched a short-handled Hand Axe with an exceptionally sharp edge that glinted coldly.

This single glance was a silent, powerful confirmation of Roland’s theory that the Demons of this era were abnormally strong.

These goblins were entirely different beings from their counterparts in the "future" he knew, who were often treated as low-level threats.

As thoughts raced through his mind, Roland quickly lowered his waist, sinking his center of gravity. He gripped the hilt of his shortsword with his left hand, his right hand resting loosely in front.

He assumed a basic combat stance, ready to explode into action at any moment.

Only then did Holland’s voice come from behind him—a low, angry curse.

"Dammit! More of these damn Green Skin bastards!"

Before he’d even finished speaking, Holland’s tall figure had already taken half a step forward.

His heavy, Iron-Wrapped Wooden Shield slammed onto the ground with a THUD, kicking up a small cloud of dust. It landed perfectly between Roland and the suspicious bushes, shielding most of Roland’s body behind it.

Almost at the same moment Holland raised his Shield, the Shadow on the other side seemed to come to life.

Accompanied by more rustling sounds and short, muffled grunts, one, two, three...

A full five muscular, fierce-eyed goblin Warriors emerged from behind the bushes, beside rocks, and even out of a shallow ditch.

They fanned out in a loose semicircle, their movements coordinated and silent. They pointed their sharp Hand Axes, Nail-Head Staves, or rusty but sharp Long Spears forward.

In the brightening Dawn Light, their yellow pupils glinted with a cold, focused killing intent, locked tightly onto the two men behind the Shield.

But despite their numerical advantage, they didn’t immediately shriek and charge. Instead, they advanced slowly, their steps steady, maintaining a careful distance from one another as they subtly formed an encirclement.

Seeing this, Holland kept his Shield firmly angled toward the most likely direction of attack while protecting Roland, inching backward with extremely slow steps.

Without turning his head, he spoke quickly in a low voice.

"Listen, Rudolph. In a moment, I’ll find a way to draw their attention. The second I make my move, don’t worry about a thing. Just turn and run for town as fast as you can! Got it? Don’t look back!"

Before Roland could even respond, Holland let out a low roar and began rapidly chanting short, rhythmic syllables that carried a sacred Echo.

At the same time, he swung his Nail Head Hammer in a heavy arc and took a deliberate step forward.

The instant his foot landed, a tangible beam of pure, gold light suddenly pierced the thin morning mist. It descended from the gray sky, precisely enveloping Holland’s figure, his Nail Head Hammer held high.

The light vanished in a flash, but it seemed to have plated him in an invisible layer of resilience and Power.

The next moment, the seemingly plain Nail Head Hammer cut through the air with a dull WHIR, smashing toward the nearest goblin Warrior—who was just about to pounce—with a speed far greater than usual.

"BANG!"

A sickening, muffled crunch followed.

The goblin’s hastily raised Wooden Shield shattered like paper under the force of the Nail Head Hammer, which was now infused with Holy Power.

The hammer head, its momentum unchecked, landed squarely where the goblin’s neck met its shoulder.

With the sound of splintering bone, the sturdy goblin let out a pained shriek as its entire body was knocked sideways, clearly having suffered a grievous wound.

He had seized the initiative.

Having landed the first blow, Holland didn’t hesitate. He followed through with a horizontal sweep of his Shield, forcing back another goblin trying to flank him. He raised his Nail Head Hammer again, which still shimmered with a faint trace of Holy Power, and brought it down hard on a third enemy.

The battle erupted in an instant.

Holland fought like an enraged bear. His shield bashes and hammer strikes, his advances and retreats, all followed a simple, efficient, and battle-honed rhythm.

The blessing of the Holy Light had clearly enhanced his Power and speed. Every swing of his Nail Head Hammer was so heavy and powerful that the sturdy goblins didn’t dare to block it directly.

However, the number and quality of the enemies were beyond ordinary.

After their initial panic, the five goblin Warriors quickly regained their footing.

They didn’t swarm him blindly. Instead, two of them split off to constantly feint and harass him from the flanks and rear, trying to draw his attention and dictate where he positioned his Shield.

The other two engaged him head-on, using their agile forms and coordination to dodge the brunt of his hammer strikes while searching for gaps in his shield and armor with their sharp weapons.

Even the goblin with the injured shoulder, despite its impaired movement, stayed back and posed a threat by throwing Short Spears.

Holland was hard-pressed.

The power from the holy blessing was not infinite. Facing five well-equipped goblin Warriors who knew how to coordinate and possessed tough Constitutions, the pressure on his defense was immense.