NOVEL NEXT Chapter 288 [Bonus ] Here Comes The Ruler
The wildfire spread rapidly, and Viviana knew something was amiss. She had already begun to evacuate towards the entrance of the labyrinth, following the instructions of the Cardinal and Obsidian Elders.
However, due to the commotion at the fortress, several goblin military camps on the outskirts had entered a state of war.
Numerous Goblin Wolf Riders were scouring the area in search of enemies. In addition, these intelligent goblins had set up a blockade around the fortress, attempting to intercept any intruders who had breached the labyrinth's core.
The goblins' response undoubtedly increased the difficulty of Viviana's evacuation. She had to boldly stride forward while remaining vigilant against the goblin forces that could emerge at any moment.
Her dancing Crimson Sword cleared a path before her, simultaneously serving as an early warning system for any approaching enemies.
In the direction of the fortress behind Viviana, familiar magical fluctuations and bright flames occasionally erupted. These were the battle techniques of the Cardinal and Obsidian Elders, whom she knew well.
Even without witnessing the scene firsthand, Viviana understood that the two elders were fighting with all their might.
—(Have they already engaged in battle with the labyrinth boss?)
—(I thought they would abandon this labyrinth expedition…)
Viviana continued to worry about the two elders, but soon, she lost the luxury of concern.
A sudden appearance of Goblin Wolf Riders blocking her path forced Viviana to halt. She instantly recognized the leader as a fourth-tier "Goblin Wolf Cavalry Commander." And since this foe had revealed itself, it meant...
"Floating Crimson Sword!"
Viviana decisively summoned all her rapiers to shoot in all directions. As expected, four or five Wolf Riders emerged from the surroundings, intending to ambush Viviana, but her preemptive strike disrupted their plans.
Nevertheless, this brilliant attack could not change the fact that Viviana was now surrounded. She could confirm the presence of one fourth-tier and five third-tier enemies with her own eyes. This was not a situation she could overcome with her current strength.
"Sword Aura Blessing."
Viviana focused on the Crimson Sword in her hand, and the blade began to shine with a sacred radiance.
An inevitable, life-or-death battle was about to unfold.
.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the entrance of the goblin fortress had reached its most tense moment.
From the increasingly approaching footsteps and ground vibrations, it was not difficult to deduce that the ruler of the fortress was about to reveal himself.
"Fufufu... Let us revel together!" Bloodbane Serpent Erosk could hardly conceal the smile on his face, as nothing could bring him more joy than a frenzied and chaotic battle!
The Elders seized this final moment to contemplate their strategy. Once the labyrinth boss joined the fray, their retreat would become even more challenging. However, in contrast, the Bloodbane Serpent, this old monster, would also expose more weaknesses.
After the appearance of the Bloodbane Serpent, Elders had already understood that all of this was the scheme of the secret organization "Snake Shadow Society."
While many people knew of the infamous Bloodbane Serpent Erosk, few were aware that he was actually a core member of the Snake Shadow Society.
Nevertheless, the Scarlet Family's intelligence organization was not maintained in vain, allowing them to have some understanding of the Snake Shadow Society.
Today, with the Bloodbane Serpent appearing in the "Aqua Nest," Cardinal Elder did not believe it to be a coincidence.
He thought that there might be a traitor within the Scarlet Family who had leaked their plan to the Snake Shadow Society. Then, the Snake Shadow Society took advantage of the Scarlet Family's plan, intending to strike at the Divine Heir Viviana and the two elders within the labyrinth.
Due to the labyrinth's isolated nature, any actions taken within it would be extremely difficult to trace, as long as the relevant traces were handled properly.
In addition, Cardinal Elder believed that the previous incidents of the "Pigeon Blood Ruby theft" and the "extortion by the rabbit spirit" might also be related to the Snake Shadow Society, as this organization had the power to accomplish these two tasks.
The only remaining doubt for Cardinal Elder was why only the Bloodbane Serpent had come to commit the crime. If the Snake Shadow Society truly intended to target the Scarlet Family, it would be unlikely for them to send only one person.
Regarding this question, Cardinal Elder could only think of one reasonable explanation: other members of the Snake Shadow Society were hiding, and perhaps someone was already pursuing Viviana.
Upon this thought, his expression became even more tense, as they were now in an extremely urgent situation!
"Bloodbane Serpent, why does the Snake Shadow Society oppose the Scarlet Family?!" Before the labyrinth boss appeared, Cardinal Elder loudly questioned the Bloodbane Serpent.
"Fufufufu, you even know about the Snake Shadow Society... You know quite a lot."
The tall, thin old man, Bloodbane Serpent, smiled mysteriously. He neither admitted nor denied, only wanting to see the anxious expressions of "Reddy" and "Blacky."
As for whether the Scarlet Family would become enemies with the Snake Shadow Society from now on, the Bloodbane Serpent did not care.
For Bloodbane Serpent Erosk, only the madness of battle mattered.
At this moment, another earth-shattering roar resounded within the goblin fortress, and a massive figure leaped out from behind the destroyed fortress gate, landing heavily between Elders and the Bloodbane Serpent!
"Fufufufu! Here it comes, here it comes!!" Amidst the rolling dust, the Bloodbane Serpent's shrill laughter was particularly piercing, while the towering figure standing in the dust emitted a terrifying pressure that oppressed every pore of those present.
As the dust settled, the true face of the massive figure was revealed to everyone.
The goblin ruler who had leaped out stood as tall as a three-story building, with a massive but not bloated physique, and his robust green muscles shone with a metallic luster. However, the most unforgettable aspect was the goblin ruler's body structure, with three faces, six arms, and six legs, making it unclear whether it was a single entity or a fusion of three goblins.
The goblin ruler's head had three faces in different directions, and its torso and hips seemed to be stitched together from three bodies, with three pairs of arms and legs extending in three directions, leaving no blind spots from any angle.
Moreover, the personalities of the three faces were distinct:
One face held a long spear and a square shield, its fierce expression resembling a war god;
Another face gripped a staff with one hand, its eyes gleaming with wickedness like a sorcerer;
And the last face held a longbow in one hand and an arrow in the other, its expression calm as if an archery god.
Upon the goblin ruler's entrance, its six eyes stared at the three people present, and its three mouths babbled in the goblin language, expressing its rage through the tone alone!
Both Elders and the Bloodbane Serpent dared not act rashly at this moment, as the strength of the goblin ruler clearly exceeded their expectations. Moreover, they both hoped that the goblin ruler's hatred would be directed at their opponent.
At this moment, one of the goblin ruler's sorcerer faces raised a skull staff made of countless skulls. After quickly chanting a few spells, a massive green magic circle suddenly unfolded in the sky, large enough to cover the entire Aqua Nest labyrinth!
Immediately, four red beams of light shone down from the magic circle, with three of them landing on Cardinal Elder Rodrygo and the Bloodbane Serpent, and another beam falling on a nearby mountain forest.
That location was precisely where Viviana was.