NOVEL NEXT Chapter 306 Goblin Shaman
Chapter 306 Goblin Shaman
"Fear not, for I am here," Viviana assured, swiftly summoning five floating crimson swords around them while urging Banning to mount his horse.
"The enemy outnumbers us, and the terrain is unfavorable. We must break through."
Viviana's concise words demonstrated her extensive battlefield experience. However, Banning did not mount his horse as she suggested.
"Viviana, my running speed is no slower than a warhorse. I can break through with you," he said, retrieving two smoke grenades from his armor.
Viviana understood immediately, recalling the magical tool Banning had used in the past to create a thick smokescreen. With this tool as cover, their chances of breaking through would significantly increase.
Considering the warhorse's poor performance on downhill terrain, Viviana pointed out a path that circled the mountainside to Banning.
He nodded in agreement before she could explain, showing that he understood her concerns.
This unspoken understanding left a special impression on Viviana's heart.
Before the enemy could attack, Viviana had Tyler throw the smoke grenades, and the two charged together!
.
From within the smoke grenade, a dense white fog quickly enveloped the young boy and girl on horseback, making it impossible to discern their next move from the outside.
However, a sudden gust of wind blew the fog away, leaving the two exposed and embarrassed.
At the same time, more than twenty Goblin Wolf Riders emerged from the surroundings, encircling the young boy and girl.
The leading wolf rider, a shaman wielding a glowing oak staff, looked quite smug.
In the goblin-infested mountains, fog was a common occurrence. To dispel it, the Goblin Shaman had mastered a powerful wind magic spell, which unexpectedly proved useful during this "hunt."
"An unexpected harvest, indeed! We thought there was only one, but now there's another person and a horse!" (Goblin language)
The Goblin Shaman exclaimed, excited but cautious.
He raised his hand, signaling the surrounding Goblin Wolf Riders not to act rashly: The first rule of goblin hunting was to torment their prey, as only exhausted prey was safe.
"Follow the old rules. Do not use full force without my command. Also, keep the female alive for breeding purposes!"
The Goblin Shaman ordered. The encircling Goblin Wolf Riders surprisingly loosened their formation, not out of disobedience, but as part of their hunting strategy.
The two humans, now their prey, looked puzzled, which was precisely what the Goblin Shaman wanted to see.
Whether the humans chose to break through or fight to the death, the Goblin Shaman was confident in his ability to handle any situation. Their hunting tactics had been tested in numerous battles, and they were prepared for anything.
.
The Goblin Shaman, named Apu, appeared smug and self-satisfied, but beneath that facade lay a cautious and diligent heart.
Thanks to his innate cautious nature, Apu had grown from a weak "Goblin Whelp" to a "Goblin Elder Shaman" and continued to evolve, hoping to become the right-hand man of the Goblin Ruler one day.
As a fourth-tier "Goblin Elder Shaman," Apu could not only cast human magic but was also proficient in curses, possessing his own techniques for both offense and defense.
With his wealth of experience, he quickly recognized that the two humans and their warhorse would not be easy to deal with.
As a result, Apu was even more cautious than usual, not ordering a charge even when presented with an excellent opportunity for a surprise attack.
In Apu's view, the key to the current situation was to "drag" it out.
He clearly saw that the female human had many injuries and seemed to be running out of strength. In contrast, he and his subordinates were in high spirits and excellent condition.
So, why should he be in a hurry?
This was their territory, their home ground. In these mountains, the goblin tribe was the one and only king!
.
After the gust of wind, leaves fluttered throughout the forest.
Within the encirclement of the Goblin Wolf Riders, the two humans attempted a breakthrough charge but were met with the goblins' coordinated movements, shifting the entire encirclement and leaving the humans with nothing.
Moreover, during the skirmish, the Goblin Wolf Riders took advantage of the opportunity to launch sneak attacks with their poison-tipped crossbows. Unfortunately for them, both humans reacted quickly, and none of the bolts found their mark.
The crossbows were not an invention of the goblins but rather a replica of the spoils they had seized from human invaders.
Since equipping these one-handed crossbows, the Goblin Wolf Riders' combat capabilities had significantly improved, and chasing poisoned prey to exhaustion was a common occurrence for them.
Apu, the Goblin Shaman, was satisfied with the outcome of this round of engagement. He could see that the female human was indeed nearing her limit. The next step was to focus their attacks on the male human, after which they could claim their new breeding ground.
However, just then, the two humans launched their second attempt at breaking through, and their chosen direction caused Apu to furrow his brow.
— (Damn it, that's a cliff... If they go that way, we'll be forced to open a gap in our encirclement...)
Apu quickly considered the situation and decided that if things continued this way, the two humans and their horse might all fall off the cliff together.
Although such an outcome wouldn't be a problem and would still count as completing the mission, it would be a terrible waste of the silver-haired, blue-eyed breeding ground!
"Tsk...!"
In his urgency, Apu was forced to make a decision.
He raised his oak staff, rapidly recited an incantation, and pointed the staff at the Goblin Wolf Riders.
"My brethren, thirst for blood!... 'Bloodthirst'!"
A crimson aura enveloped each Goblin Wolf Rider, turning their eyes blood-red. Of course, the so-called "Bloodthirst" was more than just a change in eye color.
Under the effect of this curse, all Goblin Wolf Riders' strength and reaction speed would be greatly enhanced, and they would be able to ignore a certain degree of pain, fighting even more ferociously!
Immediately after, Goblin Shaman Apu cast a "First-Tier Earth Magic: Multiple Rock Walls" spell at the two humans. The purpose of this spell was not to inflict damage but to block their charge.
In addition, the uneven terrain created by the spell would be advantageous for the Wolf Riders' leaping attacks, killing two birds with one stone!
—(Just a little longer... Once the "Magic Drain" cooldown is over, these two humans will be powerless...!)