I entered the forest, heading straight towards the sounds I could hear in the distance. I was half expecting to immediately run into the Hobgoblins the second I entered the forest, but they were faster than I thought it seems.

Though they could only evade me for so long. After a moment or two of sprinting through the forest in the direction of the horde, and numerous trees flashed past me as I ran, I finally found them. The 10 Hobgoblins were at the forefront of the largest gathering of Goblins I had seen since entering this Tutorial.

They completely dwarfed the 400 Goblin floor of the Green Den. There were thousands of them. I’m not entirely sure of the exact number but they had to be at least a few thousand strong. Even just a thousand of them would most likely wipe the floor with the Outpost. I won’t allow it.

After I showed up, it didn’t take long for them to spot me, and they reacted immediately.

One of the Hobgoblins immediately began yelling something I still couldn’t understand, and then without pause the others dispersed to the left and right respectively. Quickly spreading it out as fast as they could. Though It wasn’t all of them that dispersed. 5 Hobgoblins and around a thousand of the other Goblins remained. They were a mix of normal, archers, and mage Goblins.

Ah were they trying to delay me while attacking the Outpost? Even though a thousand Goblins remained in front of me, there were still thousands heading towards the Outpost. That was not a battle they could fight.

Instead of fighting, they needed to buy me time. Time to kill every single one of them.

I took a deep breath, probably the largest I’ve taken since I’ve been alive and yelled as loud as I could.

“RICHARD!!! RETREAT INTO THE OUTPOST!!!”

The trees shook ever so slightly at the sound of my voice, and I was a bit surprised at how loud I could get. They should’ve heard that. Hopefully they did. Anyway, I didn’t wait any longer and took off running towards the enemies before me.

While they appeared a bit shocked at my earlier yell, that only slowed them down for a moment. It wouldn’t matter if they were ready or not. This will be a massacre.

A moment after my charge they sprang into action. The five Hobgoblins spread into a semi-circle and a couple hundred Goblins started rushing after me with reckless abandon. Though that wasn’t all, hundreds of arrows and tens of fireballs immediately began raining down in my general direction.

Burn.

I swung my spear down with all my strength as the first of the Goblins reached within my range. My flames burst forth like the rising tide of a stormy ocean. Consuming everything that laid before me. The world was painted black, and the Goblins were consumed. I heard them yelling but it was all meaningless, as they continuously entered the flames, they were consumed without fail.

Though it was a good thing I didn’t let my guard down as a I heard something behind me, and I turned around in time to see a fist just mere inches from my face. I sidestepped the Hobgoblin and delivered a punch to his chest which he somehow reacted to in time and blocked with his arms. He was still sent flying back but the damage he took was minimal.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

That caught me by slight surprise. How did he approach me? And how was he able to react properly to my attack? I was far stronger than I was in the Goblin Outpost Dungeon, and those Hobgoblins couldn’t keep up with me.

I didn’t have any longer to think about it as the other 4 Hobgoblins suddenly appeared around me and attacked as well. I dodged every punch and kick sent out attacks of my own, but they managed to dodge or block with some extent.

These Hobgoblins…they were stronger than normal.

We had long since known that Hobgoblins were roughly the equivalent of a 2nd Cycle Cultivator, but these guys were above that. 3rd Cycle…they were around the 3rd Cycle in strength. That was not good.

While my flames continued to burn behind, I dashed after the first Hobgoblin I punched away who had only just gotten to its feet. I slashed out with my spear, fully intending to decapitate it in one motion, but it somehow managed to leap backwards in time, though not without sacrificing his right arm, which I still managed to cut.

The others didn’t waste any time and quickly jumped back in the fray, doing their best to harm me, while their partner came to terms with its missing limb.

Unfortunately for them I didn’t have time to waste.

The flames that were still burning strong behind me lost some of their energy as another wave burst out in all directions from my body. The Hobgoblins did well to respond to this and tried to retreat but I wouldn’t let them. They jumped in different directions, but it was futile.

My flames would swallow all.

Burn.

I could feel the power build up within my body before it exploded outwards once more, moving faster than the Hobgoblins could run. Before long they too were engulfed.

Proving their improved strength, they weren’t immediately burnt to ash as I could hear their screams.

An outside party wouldn’t find it too hard to label me a villain if they saw this scene, but I didn’t care.

The lives of the people at the Outpost were at stake.

My people.

I didn’t waste any more time cleaning up the rabble and immediately dashed towards the Outpost. That entire battle took roughly a couple minutes, but that was more than enough time for the fastest of the horde to reach the Outpost. 5 Hobgoblins at 3rd Cycle Strength. Tch, I just hope I’m not too late.

~ ~ ~

Going back a few minutes before Raizen engaged with the Hobgoblins…

“Everyone listen up! Raizen just went ahead to reduce the burden we’re about to face! I hate to say this, but we are too weak to fight what’s coming this way by ourselves. Our entire focus is on surviving! We need to hold on long enough until Raizen can make it back here!

“That is it! We will fight together, and cover for each other! Do not move anywhere near the forest under any circumstance! We must remain here and survive until Raizen comes back!”

After hearing what Richard had to say, Brandon and a number of others could be seen clenching their fists tightly. No one liked being called weak, but they weren’t stupid. If Richard was going as far to say all they could do was hold on till Raizen got back, then the situation had to be catastrophic. Yet despite the dire circumstance they found themselves in, Raizen was going out on his lonesome to fight for them. To protect them.

All because they were weak.

More than a few of the people present vowed to themselves that should they survive this they would double- no, triple their efforts in cultivating. Obviously only Richard and Raizen were there to witness Brandon’s speech about being a burden, but a lot of them were now feeling the same way.

It was then the voice of the person they were all thinking about roared from the forest.

“RICHARD!!! RETREAT INTO THE OUTPOST!!!”

It only took a moment of shock to pass before Richard started barking out orders.

“Everyone get back in the Outpost!! Hurry up! Do not tally! Move! Move! Move!”