Chapter 90: Desparate escape

The chieftain charged straight into the wolves’ formation, his enormous body barreling forward like a runaway boulder.

The Horned Gray Wolves reacted immediately.

Several leaped toward him from different directions, their jaws wide open and sharp fangs gleaming in the sunlight.

However...

"RAAAAAHHH!"

The chieftain swung his greatsword in a wide, brutal arc.

SLAAASH!

Another wolf was caught in the path of the jagged blade. Its body was torn apart by the sheer force of the attack, blood spraying across the rocky ground.

But the chieftain didn’t even spare it a glance.

He had no time to waste.

His only goal was to open a path for his people to escape!

"RUN! EVERYONE, RUN!"

The surviving goblins immediately scrambled toward the opening he’d created.

Some limped, while others stumbled over the uneven ground, desperately trying to keep up with those ahead of them. They were terrified, of course, but they understood what their chieftain was doing.

He was risking his life to buy them these precious few seconds.

They couldn’t afford to waste them!

Unfortunately, the Horned Gray Wolves weren’t about to let their prey escape so easily.

One of the wolves suddenly broke away from the pack and sprinted toward the fleeing goblins. Its powerful legs carried it across the rocky ground, rapidly closing the distance to the nearest straggler.

The goblin barely had time to turn around.

"AHHHH!"

The wolf lunged, its jaws snapping toward the goblin’s head.

However, before it could make contact...

BOOM!

A massive shadow suddenly appeared beside it.

The chieftain had arrived!

Moving with astonishing speed for someone of his size, the gigantic goblin launched himself at the wolf and drove a devastating kick into its body.

CRAAACK!

The impact was horrifying.

The wolf’s body buckled around the chieftain’s foot before being blasted sideways, its ribs shattering under the tremendous force. It crashed into the ground several meters away and slid across the rocks.

By the time it came to a stop, it was already dead.

The goblin who had nearly been killed stared at the scene in stunned disbelief.

"Don’t just stand there! RUN!"

The chieftain’s furious roar snapped him back to reality.

"Y-YES!"

The goblin hurriedly scrambled away, not daring to look back.

Meanwhile, the chieftain’s gaze swept across the battlefield, searching for any other wolves trying to intercept his people.

There!

Another wolf was rushing toward a group of fleeing goblins.

The chieftain reacted immediately and hurled his greatsword.

The enormous weapon spun through the air, its jagged blade flashing beneath the sunlight.

WHOOSH!

Before the wolf could react, the greatsword slammed into its torso and pierced straight through, lifting the unfortunate creature off its feet.

The wolf crashed to the ground with the massive weapon still embedded in its body.

Another enemy down!

But...

It still wasn’t enough.

No matter how strong the chieftain was, there were simply too many wolves.

And he couldn’t be everywhere at once.

While he dealt with one enemy, another was already preparing to strike somewhere else. Every time he turned his attention to one part of the battlefield, danger was brewing somewhere else.

Then, from the corner of his eye, he spotted another wolf darting toward a wounded goblin who had fallen behind the others.

The poor fellow tried to crawl away, but his injured leg refused to cooperate.

"HELP!"

The wolf pounced.

Its jaws clamped around the goblin’s head.

CRUNCH!

The goblin’s scream abruptly stopped.

His body went limp, and the wolf tossed him aside before immediately turning its attention to the other fleeing prey.

"NOOOO!"

One of the goblins witnessed the gruesome scene and let out a desperate cry.

But there was no time to mourn.

The wolves were still coming.

And then...

Another wolf spotted the young goblin girl running near the rear of the group.

The chieftain’s daughter.

She was struggling to keep up with the others, her injured leg slowing her down. Blood and tears streaked her face, and she was breathing so hard that every step seemed to take a little more effort than the last.

The wolf locked onto her and charged, its enormous legs pounding against the rocky ground as it rapidly closed the distance.

The girl heard the movement behind her and turned around.

Her eyes widened.

"Ah..."

The wolf was already upon her.

The chieftain saw everything.

His heart nearly stopped.

"DAUGHTER!"

He immediately tried to rush toward her.

But before he could take even two steps...

THUD!

A wolf slammed into his right side and sank its teeth deep into his remaining arm!

"ARGHHH!"

The chieftain roared in pain.

Almost at the same moment, another wolf darted in from the opposite direction and clamped its jaws around his left leg.

Its powerful bite locked the limb in place, making it difficult for him to move.

"YOU BASTARDS!"

The chieftain struggled violently, trying to shake the two wolves off.

But the beasts seemed to know exactly what they were doing.

One had pinned down his weapon arm, while the other held his leg. Their combined weight dragged him off balance, slowing him just enough to keep him from reaching his daughter.

And then a third wolf joined in.

It lunged at his other leg and sank its fangs into the flesh.

CRUNCH!

The chieftain’s massive body staggered.

For the first time since his transformation, he was forced down onto one knee.

"NO! LET GO!"

He roared and tried to wrench himself free, but the three wolves held on with terrifying tenacity.

Their claws dug into the ground as they pulled in different directions, keeping the gigantic goblin pinned in place.

He was strong. Far stronger than any ordinary goblin.

But even he had his limits.

And right now, he couldn’t even get back on his feet.

Yet through all the pain and struggle, his eyes never left his daughter.

The wolf was almost upon her.

Its claws extended as it prepared to pounce, ready to tear into her fragile body.

"Damn it!"

The chieftain’s eyes widened in horror.