Chapter 336: Ancestral Command! Shattering the Shield Formation! [1]

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The dull beating of war drums echoed continuously throughout the underground cavern. As time passed, the rhythm grew increasingly urgent, and the goblins that had previously been running around in confusion after the warehouse attack actually began restoring order under the drums’ direction, quickly dividing into several groups and searching the roads surrounding the warehouse.

In the middle of the street, a Goblin Shaman holding a bone staff stood under the protection of several heavily armored warriors. From time to time, it waved its staff, directing the arriving goblins toward different intersections. Even the ordinary goblins, which usually did nothing but fight over food and shove one another around, were now obediently following orders.

"Looks like these fellows actually have some organizational ability."

Zich hid behind a damaged stone wall, observing for a moment with a trace of interest in his eyes.

However, his attention did not remain on the goblins for long as his gaze quickly shifted toward the beast pens on the opposite side of the street.

More than a dozen enormous gray-skinned Tuskbeasts were imprisoned there.

These magical beasts were covered in rough gray skin, with thick limbs and two long, massive tusks protruding from either side of their mouths. In terms of size alone, they were several times larger than ordinary goblin warriors.

At this moment, as the war drums outside grew increasingly urgent, the previously quiet Tuskbeasts had clearly become restless. They paced back and forth inside their enclosure, their enormous tusks occasionally striking the wooden fences and producing dull thuds.

Upon seeing this, the goblins responsible for feeding them made no attempt to calm them down. Instead, they picked up long poles and repeatedly struck the beasts through the fences, trying to force them to settle down.

Naturally, their actions had the opposite effect.

"Roar!"

Accompanied by an angry growl, one particularly large Tuskbeast suddenly slammed into the fence, causing several wooden posts to shake violently and frightening the nearby goblins into retreating.

Seeing this, the corners of Zich’s mouth slowly curled upward.

"Hmm?"

Nadia noticed his expression and followed his gaze.

"What are you staring at those magical beasts for?"

"Looking for a few helpers."

"Helpers?"

Nadia froze slightly before glancing at Frostgrave in Zich’s hand, seemingly realizing something.

"Don’t tell me you’re planning to release them?"

"Exactly."

Zich nodded, his tone perfectly natural.

"Since those goblins like blocking roads with shields, let’s give them a taste of what it’s like to be charged by magical beasts."

Hearing this, Nadia couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.

"But those things can’t distinguish friend from foe. What if they turn around and attack us after you release them?"

"Don’t worry."

Zich smiled.

"Someone will tell them where they should charge."

With that, he took a low-grade Mana Recovery Potion from his spatial bag, tilted his head back, and drank it in one gulp before casually placing the empty bottle on a nearby rock.

Although the earlier warehouse raid had not lasted particularly long, repeatedly using Shadow Blink, Blood Arc, and Spirit Exchange had still consumed a considerable amount of his mana.

And what he intended to do next would clearly require further preparation.

While waiting for the potion to take effect, Zich glanced toward the middle of the street again.

Previously, only one Goblin Shaman had been directing the troops, but now, as more warriors gathered, two additional shamans carrying bone staffs had appeared.

The most conspicuous was the one standing in the center.

It wore a dark-red animal hide, and the top of its bone staff was decorated with the skull of an unknown magical beast. Whenever it waved its staff and issued orders, the surrounding goblins immediately responded, clearly indicating that its status was far higher than that of an ordinary shaman.

"Three shamans..."

A glint flashed through Zich’s eyes.

That certainly made things easier.

Originally, he had been worried that these spellcasters would be scattered throughout the tribe, forcing him to spend considerable time hunting them down individually. Unexpectedly, they had gathered together of their own accord.

Since that was the case, there was naturally no reason to let such an opportunity slip away.

"Nadia."

"Hmm?"

"Once the shield formation falls into chaos, help me hold back the goblin warriors behind it. Try not to let them reorganize."

Nadia glanced at him.

"What about those three shamans?"

"Leave them to me."

Zich answered without hesitation.

Hearing this, Nadia did not ask any further questions, reached out and gently patted the back of the Nether Eye White Tiger beside her.

"Alright. I’ll buy you some time."

...

A short while later.

A figure holding an enormous scythe suddenly appeared on the rubble-covered slope beside the beast pens.

"Gah?"

The goblins guarding the nearby intersection were momentarily stunned.

However, when they recognized the enormous scythe gleaming coldly beneath the firelight, their confused expressions immediately turned to fear and anger.

"Gagaga!!"

"Enemy!"

Accompanied by a series of shrill cries, several goblin warriors immediately raised their spears and frantically sounded the alarm toward the middle of the street.

The Goblin Shaman wearing the dark-red animal hide also turned its head immediately.

Zich was slowly descending the rubble-covered slope, with the enormous enclosure containing more than a dozen gray-skinned Tuskbeasts directly behind him. Frostgrave, held firmly in his hand, reflected a cold gleam beneath the eerie green firelight.

"Garu!!"

The red-robed shaman suddenly raised its bone staff!

The next moment, the goblin warriors searching the surrounding streets abruptly changed direction and began gathering rapidly toward Zich’s position.

At the front were rows of goblin shield soldiers carrying wooden and iron shields. Behind them followed large numbers of ordinary warriors armed with spears and battle blades, while hurried footsteps could be heard approaching from several nearby streets.

With just a rough glance, Zich could already see seventy or eighty goblins!

And these were merely the first warriors to arrive.

Clearly, the earlier warehouse attack had thoroughly enraged the goblins, and this time, they had absolutely no intention of allowing their enemy to escape easily.

However, Zich showed no trace of panic.

His gaze passed over the densely packed shields and settled directly on the red-robed shaman standing behind them.b

The next moment, a system panel appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Goblin Blood-Curse Shaman]

[Level: 33]

[Rank: Elite]

"A Level 33 Elite monster?" Zich raised an eyebrow.

He then glanced at the other two shamans nearby.

Level 30!

Level 31!

Although their individual strength was not particularly impressive, for an ordinary goblin tribe, three spellcasters above Level 30 were already enough to form a fairly formidable fighting force.

Especially when they had large numbers of warriors protecting them.

And while Zich was observing them, the Blood-Curse Shaman had already begun taking action.

It raised its bone staff high into the air and began chanting a low, hoarse incantation. Immediately afterward, a crimson glow slowly appeared within the eye sockets of the magical beast skull mounted atop its staff!

Buzz!

A ring of dark-red mana ripples suddenly spread outward!

The next moment, the goblin shield soldiers that had been advancing slowly began undergoing changes simultaneously!

Their eyes gradually became bloodshot, the veins along their arms bulged visibly, and the hesitation on their faces was quickly replaced by frenzy. One after another, they released furious roars and began accelerating forward with their shields raised!

"A group enhancement skill?"

Zich’s gaze sharpened slightly.

No wonder this Goblin Shaman dared to personally lead so many warriors in hunting down an enemy.

Possessing an ability capable of simultaneously strengthening large numbers of soldiers was indeed enough to raise the combat effectiveness of ordinary goblins considerably.

But...they clearly had no idea what they were about to face.