Chapter 63: The Final Test

Starlight bathed the green skin of the goblins, and Randolph felt a comforting sensation throughout his body. It made him feel several years younger, although he knew it was just an illusion.

Ansair stopped casting the Astral Infusion, and Randolph was the last goblin to face his test.

Before him, only two dozen young and strong goblins had passed the test.

They were all relieved to be alive, although the deaths of many companions brought momentary sorrow.

The Astral Infusion primarily restored vitality and couldn't reverse aging or rejuvenate the body.

Randolph's issue wasn't a physical disability but a severely weakened body due to old age.

Even if he were to walk downhill by himself now, he would struggle to catch his breath, let alone attract ferocious beasts.

"My lord, I am already old. If I attempt to attract wild beasts, I fear I will die. Can you grant me a gift for my old age?" Randolph knelt on the ground and prayed to Ansair.

Ansair's massive head loomed high in the air, and his voice seemed to descend from the sky through the clouds.

"Inferior goblin, how dare you question my test! Death, at least, can prove your loyalty to me!" Ansair mercilessly declared.

Having fully recovered from his injuries, Ansair had no intention of lingering here. Whether he galloped through the boundless world, slaughtering wild animals or searching for his way home, having a group of incompetent and weak goblins would undoubtedly be a burden.

Ansair failed to realize that the exposure to the blood moon had made him excessively agitated. In the past, the kindness of the metal dragon might have prompted him to show respect for the elderly and compassion for the young, allowing poor Randolph to go free.

"No, no, Lord God, I dare not question your decision! If only death can prove my loyalty to you, I will never back down!" Randolph proclaimed loudly. In Ansair's test, there was still a glimmer of hope, and if he defied the gods, death would be the only outcome.

"Hmph!" Ansair coldly snorted.

At this point, Randolph knew he couldn't escape Ansair's test. He approached the magical artifacts, but the swords and shields were too heavy for him to handle, so he chose to forgo them.

These magical items had been replenished by Ansair.

Randolph passed on the magic boots that offered increased speed, glanced at Ansair, and then adorned magic rings on his hands and feet.

Ansair resisted the urge to slap him to death. Randolph hadn't violated the rules of Ansair's test, but his behavior repulsed Ansair.

I don't want any of these magic items anymore. I'll simply distribute them to these goblins later since they're useless to me anyway, Ansair thought with disgust.

After selecting the magical artifacts, Randolph didn't immediately leave. Instead, he approached Sandy and the surviving goblins.

"Master Patriarch," the goblins seemed to realize that Randolph had slim chances of surviving this time, and their eyes reflected a tinge of sadness.

They recalled how the patriarch used magic to bless them during his own test, but when it came to the patriarch's own test, they couldn't do anything to help.

Randolph glanced at the goblins and nodded, finding solace in their presence. They were all goblins who had been exiled from their original tribe due to disability and weakness. Because Randolph possessed a bit of magic knowledge and more knowledge in general, he was elected as the patriarch of the small hill tribe.

Although they had only spent a little over a month together, they had experienced countless dangers.

In the end, there

were still so many goblins who managed to survive, and Randolph felt that his role as patriarch had not been in vain.

Without Ansair's protection, these dozen goblins would have perished sooner or later in this treacherous world.

Though Ansair's test had caused the population of the hill tribe to sharply decline, the surviving goblins would no longer live in constant fear.

Randolph himself was very old, and even without Ansair's test, he might not have survived for long.

"From now on, you will be dependents of the Lord God. Even without me, you will be able to survive in this world. Henceforth, you must obey the words of the Lord God and follow his guidance," Randolph turned to the young goblins with tears streaming down his face, offering his heartfelt advice.

Then he walked up to Sandy and looked up at the giant six-meter-tall goblin, who still appeared oblivious.

Randolph couldn't help but smile a little. Sandy truly didn't grasp the concept of death.

"Although I don't know why the gods value you so much, the future of the small hill tribe rests entirely on you."

"Me?" Sandy pointed to himself, seemingly unable to comprehend Randolph's words.

Randolph wanted to pat his head, but now he could only reach Sandy's calf.

"Farewell, everyone!" Randolph said resolutely and descended the hill.

Ansair patiently waited for them to bid their farewells. After all, he wasn't a heartless dragon.

Due to Sandy's enormous size, the previous invisibility ring was no longer usable. Ansair didn't assign any goblins to accompany Randolph because he couldn't trust the other goblins.

Ansair watched as Randolph descended the hill and disappeared into the forest.

He didn't mind if Randolph truly ran away. After all, Randolph was so old, and Ansair knew that allowing him to pass this test would be akin to sending him to his death.

After waiting for an hour with no sign of movement from the mountain, Ansair finally grew impatient.

He stood on the edge of the cliff, his colossal figure eclipsing the sky and the sun.

The hill trembled, causing the goblins to lose their balance and fall to the ground.

"Grab onto my claws, we must depart!" Ansair commanded.

The goblins reluctantly glanced down the hill, hoping against hope that their patriarch would miraculously survive.

But such situations only occurred in fictional novels, and their hopes were in vain.

Sandy was the first to seize Ansair's massive golden dragon claw.

Despite now being six times larger than before, standing at six meters tall, he was still only the size of one of Ansair's claws.

The other goblins followed suit, immediately clutching Ansair's paw.

Their bodies were too small, and Ansair's claws were akin to thick tree trunks. They couldn't wrap their arms around them, so they held onto the granite scales attached to the claws.

Ansair flapped his strong and powerful wings, soaring through the air at high speed. The goblins clung tightly to his claws, wary of being swept away by the forceful currents.

Though it would be more advantageous for them to hide within Ansair's scales, he refused to let such a filthy race tarnish his scales.

As expected, after a short while in flight, one goblin was carried away by the currents and fell from the sky.

"Ah!" The fallen goblin let out a scream, but Ansair merely glanced at him and paid no further attention.

The goblins held on steadfastly, although their bodies gradually weakened.

In a critical moment, Sandy made his move. He grasped a few goblins and concealed them beneath his chest, safeguarding the last remnants of the small hill tribe.