Free Web NovelChapter 20: No Honor Amongst Beasts
O’nil’s words echoed across the clearing, and for the first time since arriving at Vaal’kor’s borders, confidence disappeared from the faces of the goblins. Surprise quickly gave way to disbelief. None of them had expected the frail old kobold who struggled to stand upright without a walking staff to issue such a merciless command. They had expected fear, bargaining, perhaps even surrender. Instead, the old chief had sentenced every one of them to death with the same calm tone one would use to discuss the weather.
Even Ka’z was momentarily stunned. Then his heart swelled with satisfaction. This was exactly what needed to happen.
Magic beasts were the backbone of every settlement. Just as Vaal’kor treasured every awakened hunter it possessed, the Ashmork Clan undoubtedly valued every Bronze and Iron Core warrior they had. If these seven died here today, it would weaken the goblin village long before the real war even began.
Ding!
[New Quest: Honor Doesn’t Win Wars]
[Description: The survival of your colony greatly depends on every advantage you can secure. Do not allow any of these scouts to escape.]
Ka’z’s eyes brightened.
Clearly, even the Greater Kobold agreed with him. Without waiting for orders, he slammed both palms against the ground.
Bam!
Aether surged violently from his core, flowing through his arms and into the earth beneath him. The ground behind the kobold line trembled before erupting upward into a massive wall of compacted earth nearly five meters high and just as wide. Before the dust had even settled, Ka’z clenched his teeth and thrust one hand forward.
Hundreds of jagged earth spikes burst outward from the face of the wall.
Every section became lined with deadly stone except the narrow space where he and his four companions stood concealed behind its protection.
Ka’z immediately felt the strain.
His chest rose and fell rapidly as sweat formed across his brow. His vision blurred ever so slightly, forcing him to steady his breathing.
The problem was not that his core lacked Aether. It was output.
Every inch of earth he manipulated demanded concentration. Every spike required precise control over shape, density, and placement. Maintaining such a large construct while remaining combat ready pushed his young body close to its limits.
The Goblin Blood Shaman slowly shifted his gaze toward the newly formed barrier.
Without hesitation, Tu’ka stepped beside Ka’z. His pupils gradually darkened until the whites of his eyes disappeared completely.
Darkness spread beneath the towering wall.
The shadows cast by the afternoon sun thickened unnaturally before swallowing Ka’z and the others whole.
"Darkness Magic: Concealment."
The darkness became almost tangible, transforming into a veil through which nothing could be seen.
Even the Goblin Blood Shaman frowned. The wall itself had already denied him line of sight. Now the darkness had erased it completely.
He could neither see the young kobolds nor predict where their spells would originate. Meanwhile, those hiding within the shadows retained a perfect view of everything outside.
His crimson eyes slowly shifted toward another figure standing ahead of the kobold formation.
Tud’or.
The adult kobold stood completely alone before the assembled warriors of Vaal’kor. His broad shoulders remained relaxed while one hand rested upon the haft of his metal spear. There wasn’t the slightest hint of fear in his posture.
The Blood Shaman narrowed his eyes.
’Two Silver Core magic beasts... eight Iron Core magic beasts...’
His gaze swept across the kobold ranks.
’To think such a tiny colony possesses this many awakened fighters.’
The Vaal’kor Clan possessed fewer elites than Ashmork. That much was obvious. However, attempting to force his riders through so many awakened kobolds while being attacked from concealed positions would cost lives.
"Killing messengers?" the Blood Shaman scoffed loudly. "Have you no honor?"
His words were met by nothing more than a cold snort from Tud’or. The kobold warrior looked at him as though staring at an insect.
"Don’t be foolish," Tud’or growled. "There is no honor amongst beasts."
As he spoke, Tud’or slowly crouched.
The tattered scarf around his neck fluttered gently in the breeze while both palms pressed firmly against the earth beneath him.
The Goblin Blood Shaman’s pupils contracted.
Something was coming.
"Hai!"
Without waiting for further instructions, all seven goblin riders jerked their reins and charged left simultaneously.
They intended to bypass the wall.
"Darkness Magic: Pestilence!"
"Fire Magic: Arrow!"
Two spells erupted from within the black veil.
Dark violet and blazing orange projectiles tore through the air with frightening precision. Months of hunting moving prey had honed Ka’z and Tu’ka’s aim until striking galloping targets had become second nature.
The Pestilence Arrow struck one Hobgoblin Rider square in the waist. He instinctively grabbed the wound, his face twisting in agony. Nothing appeared broken and no blood spilled. Yet with every powerful stride of his boar, the pain intensified.
His grip failed on the third gallop and the goblin toppled helplessly from his mount before crashing violently into the forest floor.
At almost the same moment, Ka’z’s flaming arrow struck another rider square across the chest. His thick animal pelt immediately ignited.
The flames spread rapidly through the dry fur and his striped boar squealed in panic before rearing violently onto its hind legs. The burning goblin screamed as he was thrown high into the air before landing hard amongst the roots of a nearby tree.
"Cursed lizards!" the Blood Shaman snarled.
His eyes darted toward the wall of darkness with mounting frustration. If he could simply see them, dodging their attacks would not have been difficult.
"Pay attention!"
The shout had barely left his mouth when the world suddenly turned orange. An overwhelming blaze erupted overhead and every goblin instinctively looked upward.
A blazing trail of fire streaked across the sky like a falling meteor. At its end stood Tud’or.
No, he wasn’t standing. He was descending.
Flames burst continuously from the gaps between his thick scales, wrapping around his body like living armor. Even his eyes burned with fierce orange fire while streams of blazing fire spiraled around his frame.
Within the safety of the darkness, Ka’z and Tu’ka instinctively froze. Both had already begun gathering Aether for another volley of spells but their concentration shattered instantly.
Their magic dispersed harmlessly into the air and their jaws slowly fell open. Neither of them had ever seen anyone manipulate magic like this.
For the first time in their lives, they witnessed what a true veteran of countless battles looked like and both young kobolds silently realized the same thing.
Everything they had done until now had merely been children playing with magic.
