With steady steps and its head held high, the kobold swept its cold, yellowish-brown slit pupils across the battlefield, finally resting them on the despairing goblins.
A primitive yet unquestionable authority radiated from its body. The surrounding kobolds lowered their heads one after another, letting out submissive whimpers as they parted to make way for it.
Instead of immediately joining the fray, it stood outside the encirclement. Suddenly, the dark red light at the tip of the staff in its hand flared brightly!
No clear incantations or chants came from the kobold's mouth. Instead, it muttered continuously in low, muffled, intermittent syllables—hisses squeezed from the depths of its throat that sounded like a mix of a beast's whimper and grinding stones.
“Sss... galu... hasa...”
As time passed, Matthew could clearly feel the surrounding air suddenly grow heavy, a faint yet searing, restless energy beginning to gather around the crystal.
In the next instant, the kobold priest pointed its staff at a goblin that was trying to mount a desperate counterattack.
With a soft poof, rather than a violent explosion, a fist-sized, dazzling orange-red fireball shot from the tip of the crystal, striking the goblin with pinpoint accuracy!
“Gaaah—!”
The goblin let out a shrill, distorted shriek. Its chest split open where it was hit, and a burnt smell mixed with the scent of sulfur drifted through the air. It stumbled backward, collapsed, convulsed, and quickly grew still.
The surviving goblins completely lost their will to fight, letting out despairing wails.
Lowering its staff, the dark red light dimming slightly, the kobold priest let out a short screech, as if issuing the final execution order. The surrounding kobolds roared bloodthirstily in unison and lunged at the remaining goblins.
Matthew held his breath, cold sweat seeping from his palms, while a tempest raged in his heart.
'It really is... a spell! A kobold priest!'
Although the fireball was small and its power fell far short of the "magic" Matthew had imagined—resembling more of an ignited, high-speed thrown hot stone—it had indeed been created out of thin air!
Witnessing this primitive and violent spellcasting process with his own eyes was far more impactful than any rumors he had heard.
Matthew's heart pounded wildly in his chest, filled with both shock at the unknown power and an indescribable trace of longing.
If only he could master such power...
Just as Matthew's mind raced and waves of emotion surged within him, the people beside him were also awed by this sudden sight of a "spell" that far exceeded ordinary monster brawls!
The three mercenaries froze instantly. The greed that had arisen just moments ago from the prospect of picking up scraps was now replaced by fear of the unknown power.
Highly experienced, Calm knew that a monster leader capable of casting spells, even if they seemed primitive and crude, posed a threat far greater than an equivalent number of ordinary monsters. The situation had to be re-evaluated.
In this brief silence, hushed by the power of the spell, Flynn looked at Brody.
Brody's eyes were filled with absolute greed as he stared at the staff!
Sensing Flynn's inquiring gaze, Brody nodded heavily without the slightest hesitation!
At the exact moment Brody nodded, while the others were still immersed in the shock and fear brought by the spell and had not yet fully recovered, Flynn moved!
This half-step Silver Rank Class holder, who had been guarding Brody's side like a silent shadow, suddenly erupted with terrifying speed and power!
His slightly hunched posture suddenly straightened. Thrusting off the ground, he shot out from behind the bushes where everyone was hiding like an arrow released from a bowstring!
At the same time, he reached back and drew the strangely shaped scythe that had been wrapped in cloth.
Even more astonishingly, as Flynn charged, the muscles in his arm gripping the scythe bulged. A surge of "qi"—or rather, "energy"—invisible to the naked eye but causing Matthew's skin to prickle slightly from nearby, instantly flooded into the weapon!
At the edge of the scythe's blade, an extremely faint yet incomparably sharp, pale white glow began to shimmer!
Flynn's objective was crystal clear: capture the ringleader to capture the gang!
Although Flynn's movements were as decisive and swift as thunder, the kobold priest's reaction was also incredibly fast.
Almost the very instant Flynn moved and his killing intent flared, its murky, yellowish-brown slit pupils constricted. It let out a short, sharp screech.
Without a moment's hesitation, its body, which had been standing proudly at the edge of the battlefield, shrunk back. It scrambled on all fours, scurrying back into the midst of the kobold warriors who had just finished their slaughter and had not yet fully dispersed!
“Screech—!” Hiding behind several of the strongest kobolds, it poked half its head out, waving its staff and shouting urgent, garbled commands.
By then, Flynn had already arrived like a bolt of grey lightning!
The first kobold warrior standing in front of the priest had just raised its crude stone axe. Before it could even clearly see the attacker, the scythe blade, enveloped in a pale white glow, transformed into a fierce arc and cleaved downward!
Splat—crack!!!
There was no loud metallic clash, only a sickening squelch and crunch as flesh and bone were violently torn and crushed by an irresistible force!
Like a hot knife through butter, the scythe blade sliced through the wooden handle of the stone axe the kobold warrior held high, and then ripped right through its abdomen!
Yet the other kobolds seemed completely fearless of death, throwing themselves one after another in front of the priest!
Flynn cleaved the first, and the glow on his scythe remained bright. But after he sliced the second, it dimmed significantly. By the time he cut down the third, the light had vanished entirely.
He sighed inwardly. Changing his footwork, he stopped trying to force his way through. Instead, utilizing the recoil from slaying the third kobold, he leaped lightly backward, quickly putting several paces of distance between himself and the pack.
Behind the bushes, the onlookers' minds raced with various thoughts upon witnessing this, and they almost simultaneously began cursing in their hearts.
Remy went as far as to curse aloud, “What is that old bastard playing at? Is he trying to show off to his master so badly that he's throwing his life away? He's dragging us all down with him! If he had actually killed that spellcasting kobold, it would have been fine. But look at this mess now! Thirty crazed kobolds, plus a priest that throws fireballs staring us down. We'll be lucky if we can even run!”
Sweating as they gripped their weapons, they began instinctively scanning for the best escape route, deeply regretting taking on this deadly job.
After all, kobolds were entirely different from goblins!
A regular villager could deal with a single goblin.
But kobolds were a different story. Once fully grown, they were taller and sturdier than humans. Not only did they have thick tails that provided balance and power, but their bones were also denser, their muscles knotted, and their strength far exceeded that of goblins.
With thick hides, tough flesh, sharp claws, and fangs, they could even wield crude stone axes and spears. They were practically born as mini-superhumans!
Rate on N.U.
