Agardopolis was a desolate land, filled with terrifying forests and strange rocks. Everywhere were eerie black stones, withered trees, and occasionally, a glaring bloody red — either totems carved on stone pillars for goblin worship or warning signs for humans, marked by red rags often hanging below skulls. The area reeked and was swarmed with flies.
This was the edge of constant conflict between humans and goblins. The majority of Felic's military conflicts erupted here. Both sides fortified a narrow valley with small fortresses, making them easy to defend but hard to attack. For nearly a hundred years, the power struggle between humans and goblins remained unresolved. The goblins were confined within Agardopolis, unable to breach Felic, and Felic's army lacked the numbers to conquer Agardopolis. Only a few goblins had learned seafaring, becoming pirates along Felic's coast, and small bands of thieves harassed the country, draining its military strength.
Rody felt like a fish in water upon arriving. Although not apparent, as a necromancer, his presence was undeniable. In human society, he couldn't openly use his dark servants like Nicholas to protect himself, making him feel vulnerable. His body, enhanced with forbidden magic and martial arts, would be weaker than a properly trained warrior without the secret use of necromancy.
Since sneaking into Agardopolis three days ago, Rody felt it was not his grave but a hunting ground. Nicholas, Marcus, Emma, and two mantises kept watch within a radius of tens of meters, tirelessly protecting him at the center. Rody wore a layer of bone armor, which looked somewhat evil but was excellent for protection.
A patrol of goblins, careless in their territory, passed through the filthy jungle. No one would have thought that a human would dare to sneak into Agardopolis, which even large armies couldn't penetrate.
Rody had cautiously avoided these patrols for two days. But after careful observation, he decided to attack, knowing that goblins didn't care about their comrades' lives. Their only concern was an endless supply of food.
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Two axe-wielding goblins led the patrol, followed by a helmet-wearing, leather-armored captain. Three spear-wielding goblins, yawning and grumbling, trailed far behind.
Rody lured them with a wild pig leg, skillfully sliced by the mantises. The goblins, energized by the scent of blood, all reacted simultaneously, eyeing the unexpected meal. The smarter and stronger goblin captain roared, commanding the others to stay back, and forcefully grabbed the pig leg.
As the mantises lifted the pig leg and flew into the woods, seemingly unwilling to give up the food, the captain chased with a broadsword, followed by the greedy eyes of the other goblins.
Rody instructed Nicholas to cast a 'Damage Amplification' spell. Before the goblins could react, he followed with a 'Weakening' spell. As the goblins felt weakened, Marcus, faster than any normal human, charged, his greatsword bursting with fighting spirit, and cleaved two spear-wielding goblins in half.
The remaining spear-goblin called for help and fled. Two brave axe-goblins rushed back, swinging wildly at Marcus. Rody commanded Emma to shoot stone darts at the fleeing spear-goblin while controlling Marcus to raise his bone shield in defense.
Nicholas prepared a 'Blindness' spell, and with a flash of black light, the two axe-goblins stumbled around disoriented. Marcus leaped, his greatsword slashing twice in rapid succession, cutting down the axe-goblins. Surprisingly, an axe struck Marcus, breaking a rib despite his fighting spirit's defense. Was the axe of this seemingly insignificant goblin enchanted?
Emma's stone darts finally knocked the spear-goblin unconscious. Before Marcus could finish him off, a sword qi shot out from the jungle, targeting Marcus's spine.
"This goblin captain knows fighting spirit?" Rody was shocked. Perhaps Felic's inability to conquer Agardopolis was due to even a patrolling goblin captain being a four-star warrior.
Under Rody's control, Marcus turned, blocking with his shield. The shield shattered under the sword qi, breaking Marcus's chest and arm bones. Unfazed, Marcus counterattacked, his fighting spirit surging, aiming for the unprotected neck and head of the opponent.
The goblin captain screamed, blood spraying from its neck but agilely dodging the fatal blow. It charged at Nicholas, now resembling a necromancer in a cloak. Dark, carnivorous vines from the ground tripped the captain. The waiting mantises dived, decapitating the captain, who, in his final moment, hurled his broadsword at Nicholas's chest.
"Next time, I should target the enemy's arms with the mantises," Rody mused, seeing Nicholas impaled
by the broadsword. Nicholas, as a dark servant, was unaffected by the chest wound, but Rody realized the danger he faced in Agardopolis.
Just a patrolling goblin captain was a four-star warrior skilled in fighting spirit. The thought of facing goblin warriors, shamans, lords, and elders in their dens was indeed terrifying.