Free Web NovelChapter 138: Chapter 108: Raid the Camp (3)
After a short wait, a clansman came back with a report: just over two thousand goblins had escaped, meaning their losses were even more devastating than those of the Headhunter Race.
The Goblin Leaders came over as well, the one at the head of the group furious. "Panok, you owe us an explanation! Didn’t you say you’d cover our retreat...?"
Before he could finish, a Bone Rod came crashing down from above, splitting his skull open. The headless corpse collapsed to the ground with a THUD as a mixture of red and white matter spilled out. The other Goblin Leaders scrambled backward, staring at Panok in utter horror.
"Leader Panok, what is the meaning of this?" one of the Goblin Leaders gasped.
Panok slowly raised the Bone Rod, still dripping with blood and brains, and rested it on his shoulder. His eyes were ice-cold as he stared at the goblins before him. He snorted. "What’s the meaning? It means you will listen to me, and you will not say things you aren’t supposed to say."
The icy killing intent washed over them, and the Goblin Leaders froze. Though they were seething with resentment, they didn’t dare say another word. Breaking out in a cold sweat, they lowered their heads.
Having quelled the rebellious goblins, Panok found a large rock to sit on. "Have your people rest up. We can’t die here. We need to leave and get word back that the Undead can move in the daylight."
The Goblin Leaders all nodded and scurried off to tell their people to rest.
A Headhunter clansman sidled up to Panok and asked in a low voice, "Chief, are we really just leaving like this?"
Panok watched the goblins’ retreating figures and shook his head slightly. "No, we have to press forward. I have a feeling that the force we just encountered was their main army. There shouldn’t be many more Undead back at the Wraith Mountain Range. We’ll go take a look. If there’s an opportunity, we might be able to eliminate them. Even if we can’t, we’ll gather more intelligence."
’He couldn’t just run back with his tail between his legs. It would ruin his reputation. He’d probably even lose his position as chief, and that would be a real disaster.’
The clansman felt this was a mistake, but seeing the crazed look in his chief’s eyes, he swallowed his words. He didn’t want to be the one to cross him right now. The dead Goblin Leader was a perfect cautionary tale.
’If you want to live, you keep your mouth shut.’
After about an hour of rest, there was still no sign of pursuit. This made Panok even more certain of his theory: the Undead that had attacked their camp were the main army, and there wouldn’t be any more of them in the forbidden area.
He roused his clansmen and forced the goblins to walk point as they set off toward the forbidden area.
"This is the wrong way. This isn’t the way back."
"Yeah, aren’t we heading toward the forbidden area?"
"What is Panok thinking?!"
"Maybe we should make a run for it..."
"We’d never get away. The Headhunter Race is right behind us."
"*Sigh*... We never should have come."
Several Goblin Leaders huddled together, whispering amongst themselves and glancing nervously over their shoulders. They didn’t want to get any closer to the Wraith Mountain Range; the Undead had already shattered their courage. But they didn’t have the guts to voice their concerns to Panok, fearing his rod would crush their skulls. They could only grit their teeth and march forward.
They walked for about an hour as the sun sank in the west, gradually dipping below the horizon.
"What’s that? An Undead! There’s an Undead!" a Goblin Lord suddenly cried out, having spotted a lone Skeleton standing up ahead.
His voice instantly triggered a wave of panic, which only subsided when Panok strode forward and viciously slapped the shouting Goblin Lord across the face, stunning him into silence.
"What are you yelling for?! Open your damn eyes and look! It’s just one Skeleton! So what if it’s an Undead?" Panok shouted, pointing at the figure ahead.
The Goblin Lord clutched his stinging cheek, looking utterly aggrieved. But when he saw that Panok was right—it was only a single Skeleton—he couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief.
