Chapter 110: A final attack

"Alright, let him do it," I said.

"But, Big Boss!" Gopuran was about to protest.

"It’s fine."

I interrupted her.

For some reason, even though I wasn’t physically there and could only see everything through my goblins’ eyes, I could somehow feel it.

His anger.

The deep, burning hatred he held toward the monster that had slaughtered so many of his people.

I could see the determination in his eyes, too.

But more than that...

I had a feeling the chieftain had been blaming himself all this time for not being strong enough to protect his tribe.

Perhaps that was why he needed to make this final strike. He wanted to prove something, not to us, but to himself.

That he was still capable of fighting.

That he could still take revenge against the monsters that had destroyed his home.

Well...

If it is just one strike, I suppose we can afford to give him that much.

I withdrew my previous retreat order and issued a new one.

"Alright. Shadow, think you can keep that thing occupied for a little longer?"

"No problem!!!" Gopushadow immediately replied.

The slender goblin grinned and dashed back toward the giant spider.

At the same time, I relayed another message through Gopuro.

"Twenty seconds. No matter what happens, we’re leaving after that."

"Understood," the chieftain replied.

And so...

The battle resumed!

*****

Fortunately, Gopushadow was still holding the spider’s attention, so buying the chieftain a little time wasn’t particularly difficult.

The skinny goblin darted across the battlefield, weaving between the monster’s enormous legs and repeatedly drawing its attention.

Meanwhile, the others quickly withdrew to a safer distance.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help. Rather, there wasn’t much they could do against this monster at their current strength. Their ordinary attacks couldn’t even scratch its exoskeleton, and charging in recklessly would only put them in unnecessary danger.

For now, the best thing they could do was stay out of the way.

Meanwhile...

The chieftain was already approaching the battlefield.

The flames surrounding his body were growing brighter, and the Blazing SkullCleaver in his hand was glowing more intensely. Its orange markings burned like molten metal, while waves of heat radiated from the blade.

The air around his enormous frame began to shimmer and distort.

...Wait a minute.

Could this guy have a Fire mana attribute, too?

Haha... That’s crazy!

That would explain the weapon’s reaction.

After all, the Blazing SkullCleaver would grant a 30% damage bonus to anyone with a Fire mana attribute.

If the chieftain possessed one as well, then he’d be getting that bonus!

But there was something else I’d noticed.

Hold on...

How is he even standing there without being affected by the spider’s fear aura?

Right!

The chieftain wasn’t one of my citizens, which meant he wasn’t receiving [Blessing of Protection] from me.

And yet, despite standing so close to the giant spider, he showed no signs of fear whatsoever.

Meaning he must have some other way to resist that aura.

Interesting...

....

Just then...

The chieftain suddenly shifted his stance.

He planted his feet firmly against the ground and raised the Blazing SkullCleaver to his side. His enormous muscles tightened as he lowered his body, gathering strength for what looked like a powerful charge.

Then...

"BERSERKER’S RAGE, ACTIVATE!!!"

BOOOOOOM!!!

An incredible burst of power erupted from his body!

His muscles bulged, growing considerably larger than before. The veins along his arms and neck stood out prominently, and his already enormous frame seemed to expand even further.

Oh shit! What the hell?

A self power up skill?

His entire body had undergone a dramatic transformation!

"Shaman! What the heck is that?!" Gopuro exclaimed, staring at the chieftain in disbelief.

"That is the chieftain’s skill," the elderly shaman explained. "It allows him to greatly increase his power for a short period of time. He sacrifices his defensive capabilities and converts that power into offensive strength."

"Ohhh! Is that so?" Gopuro nodded, his eyes widening.

Wait...

He sacrifices his defense for more attack power?

That was quite a dangerous ability.

But considering what he was planning to do, I suppose it made sense. He needed to gather all of his strength into this slash. It’s all or nothing.

Besides that, the shaman had already also cast another powerful enhancement spell on him just moments ago.

With that blessing, [Berserker’s Rage], and the Blazing SkullCleaver’s special effect all working together, his offensive stats must have skyrocketed.

Damn...

Looks like the chieftain is really going all out.

I watched with bated breath.

The chieftain lowered his body and began charging toward the giant spider.

His enormous legs pounded against the ground with every step, each stride carrying him closer to the monster. The flames surrounding him grew brighter, trailing behind his body like a burning cloak.

Haha... This is going to be one hell of a slash...

I couldn’t help but feeling so exciteed.

With all those buffs stacked together, just how powerful would his attack become?

Would it actually be enough to break through that ridiculous exoskeleton?

Come on, Chieftain...

Show me what you’ve got!

****

Unfortunately...

The giant spider seemed to sense that something was wrong.

Until now, it had been almost entirely focused on Gopushadow. But suddenly, it stopped chasing him.

Its enormous body shifted, and its crimson eyes turned toward the approaching chieftain.

KRRRRR...

The monster’s mandibles clicked.

It had noticed the new threat.

"HEY! OVER HERE, YOU UGLY BASTARD!"

Gopushadow shouted, desperately trying to draw its attention back.

He even threw one of his daggers!

Clang!

The weapon bounced harmlessly off the spider’s exoskeleton.

Completely useless.

The monster didn’t even bother looking at him. Its crimson eyes remained fixed on the approaching chieftain.

Then...

"KIEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!"

The giant spider let out a furious screech!

It raised its enormous body and spread its eight legs wide, preparing to intercept the incoming goblin!

...

But even then, the chieftain didn’t slow down.

Neither did the spider.

For a brief moment, the entire battlefield seemed to fall silent.

A colossal monster, twelve meters tall, stood ready to crush anything in its path.

And charging straight toward it was a wounded goblin chieftain, wielding a flaming axe with only one arm.

The difference in their size was absurd.

Yet neither side showed any intention of backing down.

Then...

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The giant spider suddenly charged!

Its enormous body surged forward, shaking the ground with every step.

At the same time, its two front legs swung inward!

SHHHHIIIIING!!!

SHHHHIIIIING!!!

The blade-like appendages crossed each other, forming a massive X-shaped slash aimed directly at the chieftain!

OH SHIT!

The attack was coming from both sides!

"CHIEFTAIN!!!" Gopuran shouted.

"WATCH OUT!" Gopuberry cried.

But just as the two enormous blades were about to close in...

The chieftain’s legs suddenly tensed.

His muscles bulged.

And then...

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The chieftain leaped into the air, the ground beneath his feet exploding from the sheer force of his jump!

His enormous body soared over the spider’s incoming X-shaped attack, leaving its two blade-like legs to cross beneath him and cut through empty air.

Before the monster could react, he was already above it.

He twisted in midair, gripping the Blazing SkullCleaver tightly with his remaining right hand and raising it high above his head.

The orange markings along its handle burned brighter, and flames erupted from the blade, engulfing its entire length!

FWWWWOOOOOOOSH!!!

The chieftain descended.

The spider was still recovering from its failed attack. Its front legs were extended, leaving its back completely exposed.

NICE!!!

What an opening!

*****

And so...

"GRAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

The chieftain roared.

"EAT THIS!!! WHIRLING FLAME!!!"

He brought the axe down.

A gigantic wheel of fire erupted from the Blazing SkullCleaver!

And holy shit!

Unlike the previous attacks unleashed by my goblins, this one was absolutely enormous!

It was easily three times larger than the fire wheel Gopuflammy had produced!

The flames were also much more intense, burning so brightly that they almost seemed to turn white at their center!

FWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The blazing wheel swallowed the chieftain’s silhouette as it crashed into the spider’s back!

The impact shook the entire clearing.

The spider’s thick black exoskeleton shattered beneath the overwhelming force. Massive chunks of armor broke apart, and its enormous body buckled under the attack.

Then...

BOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A blazing line tore through the monster’s entire body, from its abdomen all the way to its head!

"KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!"

The spider let out one final, ear-piercing shriek.

Its eight legs thrashed violently, scraping against the ground as its crimson eyes flickered. For a brief moment, its enormous body seemed to struggle against the inevitable.

But it was already too late.

The colossal spider split completely in half.

Its two enormous halves crashed to the ground in opposite directions as a massive wave of fire swept across the clearing.

Flames surged into the sky, while chunks of black armor and burning fragments scattered in every direction.

****

Moments later...

He remained standing, the Blazing SkullCleaver still firmly gripped in his right hand.

Slowly, the flames surrounding his body began to fade.