Goblin Kingdom (Part 1)

Chapter 20: Gray Wolf II

[Race] Goblin
[Level] 12
[Class] Duke; Horde Chief
[Possessed Skills] <<Horde Commander>> <<Insurgent Will>> <<Overpowering Howl>> <<Swordsmanship B->> <<Insatiable Desire>> <<Distant Soul>> <<A Ruler's Wisdom I>> <<Eyes of the Blue Snake>> <<Dance at Death's Border>> <<The Red Snake's Eye>> <<Magic Manipulation>> <<Soul of a Crazed Warrior>>
[Divine Protection] Goddess of the Underworld, Altesia
[Attributes] Darkness, Death
[Subordinate Beasts] Kobold (Lv9)
[Abnormal Status] <<Charm of the Saint>>

The gray wolf was 2 meters long, making it bigger than me. Scars could be seen here and there on its gray fur. But those scars did not give the image of weakness, instead it exuded an aura of experience.

Wolves with a small build and brown fur followed the gray wolf. There were 20 of them, but in contrast to the fearsomeness of that gray wolf, those wolves were but fodder.

Now, although we might be inside a forest, it's not as if there're trees abound everywhere equally. There are also some places where the trees are less dense, and some areas that are plains. And the gray wolf chose the plains, an area with little trees, for their hunt.

I need to buy time for Gi Gu and the others until they're able to find a way out, and run back to the village.

As I thought that to myself, I looked on at the approaching threat.

I have never fought with a gray wolf before, but I know... that thing is without a doubt formidable! Yet despite that, I couldn't help but smile.

––– Strong? Formidable? What's that got to do with me? A place like this isn't fit to be my grave!

At those thoughts, I raised my voice, and ordered the goblins,

"I will hold the rear! Now, run!"

At my voice, the goblins ran with the escorts.

The attacking wolves formed a line as they began to close in, their fangs ready to strike from a multitude of angles.

"Let my body be inviolable (shield)," I chanted.

I braced myself for the oncoming fight, and casted a shield over my body, keeping the damage to the absolute minimum.

Just dodging won't be good enough in this fight. Even if I were to dodge all of their attacks, that won't be good enough to create an opening for a counterattack.

One of the wolves went after my legs from my lower right. Another tried to seal my arms from the opposite side. And from behind me, another leaped, aiming for my neck.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. A speed at which Iron Second couldn't possibly hope to reach. The small stature of the wolves didn't help as the colossal size of my sword in contrast to their dwarfed stature left me in an uncomfortable position.

Yet despite that, I swung my sword.

With an overbearing strength that could summon winds, I swung my sword. Iron Second flashed, and the wolves before me were cut in halves. The sword completed its swing, but it rested not. Following the trajectory it had come from, the sword returned, and in its path, it blew the remaining frightened wolf away, sending it into the air.

The [Skill] <<Swordsmanship B->> had shown its worth.

My dignity in full display, I bellowed out an earthshattering howl, activating the [Skill] <<Overpowering Howl>>.

"GURUuuRUAA!"

With it, my foes stopped in their tracks, unable to move.

––– Now, what will you do?