Free Web NovelChapter 41: Chapter 35: Startling Development
A few days ago, Shire found Fearsome Claw Bear tracks around the Slime habitat. He knew then that the cunning beast hadn’t relaxed its surveillance on him at all.
Little John had also brought news that Adventurers were starting to hunt the Fearsome Claw Bear, but Shire felt it would much rather come to him to have its heart torn out.
To make the beast ’willingly’ hand over its Beast Core, Shire had his goblins dig for an entire day yesterday, creating a large pit over three meters deep.
He then had Bai Mao make a goblin scarecrow, which he slept with for a night before dressing it in his own clothes to ensure his scent would attract the Fearsome Claw Bear.
Meanwhile, Buck Teeth diligently cared for the three Slimes in the glass tanks, making sure they grew large enough.
This morning, Shire led his subordinates to place two of the large Slimes at the bottom of the trap pit, keeping one in reserve.
Next, they used three thick tree trunks as support columns, covered them with camouflage, placed the dummy on top, and quietly waited for the Fearsome Claw Bear.
Sure enough, the ferocious beast leisurely followed the scent right to them.
It even hid in the bushes and lurked behind trees. But little did it know, this time Shire had spread his subordinates out, one to each large tree. Whoever saw the creature wreathed in black smoke was to make a bird call.
When the ’COO COO’ sound rang out, Shire successfully pinpointed the Fearsome Claw Bear’s location—an idea inspired by the watchtower.
Finally, the elaborate plan worked. As the Fearsome Claw Bear tore at the dummy, the three support trunks buckled and broke under the weight, and the Slimes successfully made ’intimate contact’ with their target.
"Everyone, get down from the trees," Shire commanded in a loud voice. He left only Broken Tooth, a single goblin, in a tree on lookout, while all the other goblins gathered by the pit.
The Fearsome Claw Bear roared furiously, "RAWR RAWR!" The sound was so loud it startled the nearby birds into flight, and it was mixed with the "HISS HISS" of corrosion.
Shire ordered his subordinates to prepare to pour in the third Slime, but no one moved.
The Fearsome Claw Bear’s roar had frightened the goblins into silence. Their trembling legs and chattering teeth all revealed what they were feeling: fear.
Goblins often judged combat strength by height. Compared to human Adventurers who stood 1.8 or 1.9 meters tall, the Fearsome Claw Bear, which was over 2.4 meters when it stood upright, struck fear into the very core of their being.
In all their previous encounters with the Fearsome Claw Bear, the goblins had always fled on sight, without a second thought.
But today, he felt a sliver of relief. None of his subordinates had immediately turned to run. It meant that after all the recent battles and hunts, they hadn’t just gotten well-fed and put on some muscle—their confidence had also grown a bit.
Not much, though. Just a little.
"C-C-Chief, we sh-should... run. Run away," Red Eyes shuffled to Shire’s side and stammered.
Shire glanced at the subordinate who usually just charged in recklessly, and nodded slightly. ’Not bad,’ he thought. ’At least he remembered to tell me we should run. Ten days or so ago, he probably would have pushed me into the pit before making his own escape.’
’But we can’t run now. We absolutely cannot run.’
’This is the perfect chance to rebuild the goblins’ confidence. According to their simple way of thinking, if I lead them to defeat the Fearsome Claw Bear with their own hands, they won’t be afraid of stronger monsters or Adventurers in the future. They’ll charge at them without hesitation.’
’I even feel this is the first step to forging the goblins’ warrior spirit. If we flee now, all this effort will be for nothing.’
Shire kicked Red Eyes to the ground. Then, his gaze swept over all his subordinates as he roared, "No one is to leave! Anyone who dares to run will be exiled from the tribe!"
The surrounding goblins looked at each other. Seeing that no one was making a break for it, they weighed the pros and cons, tightened their grip on their weapons, and stood their ground, trembling like leaves.
Seeing that his subordinates were momentarily cowed, Shire knew he had to stabilize their morale. He said, "Don’t be afraid! That thing can’t climb out. Everyone, stay away from the pit."
The pit was deep with sheer, vertical walls. Although the "SCRAPE, SCRAPE" of digging could be heard from inside, it would be difficult for the Fearsome Claw Bear to leap out from a standstill given its jumping ability.
Besides, the Slimes were corroding the beast’s hind legs. As long as the goblins didn’t get near the edge of the pit, even its Eye of Confusion would be useless.
"Red Eyes," Shire called out.
"Ch-Chief," Red Eyes stammered, scrambling to his feet. He wobbled over to Shire’s side on his bowlegs.
"Take two others, grab your Long Spears, and go stand guard over there," Shire ordered, pointing to the edge of the deep pit. "If the Fearsome Claw Bear shows its head, stab it."
Red Eyes, his legs still wobbly, called two other goblins and moved into position. All three of their Long Spears swayed about; not one of them was held steady.
The white, corrosive smoke filling the air and the screams of the Fearsome Claw Bear helped the surrounding goblins slightly restrain their fear. They knew their target was in a bad state.
But the "SCRAPE, SCRAPE" of digging grew more frantic. The Fearsome Claw Bear was trying to claw its way through the earthen wall.
It was an Intermediate Magical Beast, after all. If it actually broke out of the trap, it would likely go on a rampage and slaughter every goblin present. The confidence they had just begun to build would evaporate, the goblins would scatter in chaos, and Shire would surely be hunted down and torn to shreds by the enraged Fearsome Claw Bear.
’So I absolutely cannot give it a chance to turn the tables.’
"You three, bring the glass tank over here," Shire ordered, pulling the bag of Hand Grenade Fruits closer to him.
Three goblins tremblingly carried the glass tank to the edge of the pit. They were only supposed to pour the Slime in, but in their fear, they shoved the entire tank into the pit.
With the addition of the third Slime, the Fearsome Claw Bear’s miserable shrieks intensified. It had gone berserk. Muffled "THUD, THUD" sounds echoed from the pit; Shire knew it was ramming its body against the walls.
The surrounding goblins were no longer trembling. Red Eyes even had a smile on his face as he stood on his tiptoes to peek into the pit.
"Everyone, today’s operation is a success! When we get back, there will be rewards for all of you," Shire promised at the opportune moment.
"Ready your torches." He didn’t dare rashly order them to throw the Hand Grenade Fruits, afraid the resulting explosion and splash of acid would cause the pit walls to collapse. Torches were more economical.
A dozen or so goblins raised their burning torches, ready for action.
The white smoke rising from the pit grew thicker, and the Fearsome Claw Bear’s roars had been completely replaced by wails of agony.
Shire kept his eyes fixed on the pit’s opening. If there was any sign of collapse, he would order his subordinates to throw their torches. A dozen or so torches would certainly inflict heavy damage on the Fearsome Claw Bear. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
’That way, even if it escapes, we can just follow it from a distance and wait for it to die of exhaustion.’
The surrounding goblins were no longer silent; a few had already started chittering excitedly.
Just as all the goblins were celebrating their victory, no one noticed the white smoke in the air gradually converging into a ball, which then slowly twisted into the shape of a human face.
"Who is it?" A woman’s questioning voice stunned all the goblins present. They all looked up at the sky in astonishment. "Who is killing the Fearsome Claw Bear I raised?"
Shire frowned, staring at the white smoke that had formed a human face. He hadn’t expected such a turn of events.
"Goblins? You little runts have some nerve." The distorted face looked down on the goblins in the clearing, its tone dripping with contempt.
Then, she shouted a Magic Spell: "Mind Shock."
A visible ripple of air rapidly expanded outwards. All the goblins except Shire clutched their heads and collapsed in agony, moaning and wailing.
He felt a scorching heat on his left thumb. It was from the Magic Green Glaze Ring he had acquired earlier. He had wrapped a thread around it and was now wearing it as a thumb ring.
Seeing his subordinates wailing until they fainted, he picked up a Hand Grenade Fruit.
