To Iteration[1], it seemed like a small sun had just popped out of the [Mana storm]. Attempting to identify it by sending its [Mana] into it, Iteration[1] was shocked to see its [Automation mana] bounce off effortlessly. The [Goblin] snapped its attention toward the direction the [Crystal lens] was hovering and somehow conveyed its intentions through vibrating [Mana].

"Vile dungeon! My name is Gubolo gun't Kat, [High-Noble Goblin] From the [House of Bigs]. Today I've come for revenge on behalf of the [House of Spirit] and for your [Core] on behalf of the [Goblin Empire], prepare!"

Iteration[1] was shocked; it had never met a [Goblin] that could converse intelligently before. Even though it saw that they were capable of it through their memories, experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different thing. This [Noble Goblin] in particular had called it a [Dungeon]. Is that what its kind was? Iteration[1] now wanted to subdue the [Noble Goblin] take it back inside its domain and try to get more information from it.

That would be quite the undertaking, though, as the [Goblin] looked strong and felt strong. A sense of urgency overtook Iteration[1] as it mobilized everything it had. It sent out four of the five [Guardians] guarding its [Central core] to join the battlefield. Iteration[1] ramped up the production of [V2 Combat Golems] until its capacity was maxed out and quickly sent the 70 new [V2 Combat Golems] to join up with the others, bringing the total up to 170.

The [Goblins] and [Gog riders] had long since stopped throwing themselves at the seemingly impenetrable wall made of [Guardians] and waited on the [Noble Goblin] who was there watching the new [V2 Combat Golems] stream in.

The [Mana] vibrated once more as the [Noble Goblin] spoke.

"I do not know what strange magics you used to conjure such abominations but no matter! It won't make a difference, Strange [Dungeon Core]."

With that, the [Noble Goblin] disappeared from the spot it was in with a burst of speed and appeared at the front of the formation formed by the [Guardians]. With a diagonal slash, the [Noble Goblin] cleaved through a [Great shield] and sent a wave of incredibly cold [Mana], [Frost Mana], into the [Guardian] that was holding it, freezing its entire lower body. It shattered an instant later.

Before the [Noble Goblin] could finish it, the half-dead gathered all its [Mana] and infused it into its [Rotating Pole] before throwing it at the [Noble Goblin]. The [Rotating Pole] flew with mindboggling speed, faster than the [Noble Goblin], and dug into its left arm and continued to sink deeper, eventually cutting a clean hole in the [Noble Goblin]'s left arm.

The [Noble Goblin] grunted and fell back, disappearing in a burst of ice that was obliterated by the [Guardians] a second later. [Frost Mana] wove itself into the [Noble Goblin] a good distance away from the [Guardians]. A second later, the [Noble Goblin] clutched its left arm as blue blood filled with [Mana] gushed out from the open wound.

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With deft and quick movements, the [Noble Goblin] wove a blob of semi-solid [Frost Mana] and slapped it on his left hand. It expanded rapidly and soon covered the entire arm before breaking off as it reshaped itself into the form of the [Noble Goblin]'s left arm. The [Frost Mana] seeped into the arm and transformed into pure [Ice] and [Frost Mana].

Somewhere along the transformation, the bleeding had stopped. And Iteration[1] felt the internal [Mana] of the [Noble Goblin] spike as the other parts of its body bulged and popped as power flowed through them.

"This ends now!"

With a powerful dash, the [Noble Goblin] disappeared, transforming into a blue blur as it effortlessly cut down the [V2 Combat Golems]. A slash and a swipe of his hand were all it took, each action unleashing massive amounts of magically charged [Ice] that cleared out huge numbers of [V2 Combat Golems]. When the [Noble Goblin] finished with the [V2 Combat Golems], it moved on to the [Guardians], which had arranged themselves into a thick circular formation during the precious seconds before the [Noble Goblin] relentlessly attacked.

Iteration[1] had to keep pouring [Automation mana] through the link it had with its [Guardians] to keep them alive and provide enough energy for their [Great shields] to repair themselves fast enough to keep up with the [Noble Goblin]'s relentless assault. Because the [Guardians] were so focused on defending themselves, they barely had any time to go on the offense and thus could hardly damage their attacker, who seemed to have endless energy. Iteration[1] ran dry a few hours later and could only hopelessly watch as the [Noble Goblin] slashed apart the [Guardians] it valued so much. In a last-ditch effort, it sent the last remaining [Guardian] to confront the [Noble Goblin], who was now casually walking towards its [Production room].

With a casual slash of its frosted blade, the [Noble Goblin] effortlessly cut through the door that led to the [Production room] before it could even explode. As the door slid in half the fist of the last [Guardian] collided with the face of the [Noble Goblin], sending it flying a few inches back, blue blood dripped from the caved-in face of the [Noble Goblin] as it got up back with a grunt.

[Frost Mana] pushed off blue dead and damaged flesh as the [Frost Mana] worked to fix the caved-in section of the [Noble Goblin]'s face, soon it was good as new, all replaced by shimmering [Ice] that brimmed with unending power.

"You must be the strongest creature here, good one! But prepare to die!"

Before the [Guardian] could react and move out of the way, the [Frost blade] collided with its head, cleanly cutting through it and the crown atop its head, killing it instantly.

"Is that it? You disappoint me, [Dungeon core], but fret not, the glorious [Goblin empire] shall make good use of your potential."

Iteration[1] barely registered its words as something took its full attention—the [Souls] of all the [Guardians] drifted off their crowns and congealed into a massive crystal-like soul. Within an instant, all the ambient [Automation mana] in its domain was sucked dry as the soul formed into a heavily armored figure with a burning halo atop its head and hundreds of copper swords floating behind it.

It uttered a single word, and the [Noble Goblin] was blasted out of the tunnel.

"Perish."