Chapter 377

With a rustling sound, a collar-like shape materialized out of thin air, clasping around Kali-Alexander's neck.

"..."

Kali-Alexander gazed blankly at the chain around his neck.

[You have incorporated Goblin God-King Kali-Alexander (SSR) into your forces!]

- Current Loyalty: 0(+0)/100

- Absolute Command Authority: 1 time

Despite the effect of [Imperial Edict], there's no added loyalty bonus. It seems he has no desire whatsoever to become my subordinate. But what I needed was the 'Absolute Command Authority,' allowing me to issue a one-time enforceable order to my captured creatures.

With this, I could command the assaulting goblins to withdraw from the walls, fulfilling my strategy.

"Kali-Alexander, I command you!"

I shouted in succession.

"Immediately withdraw your legion..."

But I couldn't finish my command.

Thunk!

Kali-Alexander swiftly thrust his scimitar into his own chest, acting faster.

"...What."

Watching the blood fountain from Kali-Alexander's chest and back, I momentarily froze.

"I refuse, Ash."

Coughing up blood, Kali-Alexander calmly stated.

"No matter your command, I refuse."

Desperately, I grabbed a potion and rushed to him, trying to save his life. But his self-inflicted wound was fatal, having split his core.

Despite pouring the potion on his chest wound, I shouted,

"Damn it! I command again! Immediately withdraw your..."

"It's futile, Ash."

Kali-Alexander spoke calmly.

"Even if I obey, I'll die before withdrawing my legion, and the war will resume." 

"But why?"

"Why?"

"You said you wanted to be born human. You didn't want to harm humans. So, why?"

We could have coexisted. Had he accepted my offer, we might have shared a future where goblins and humans lived peacefully as one alliance, interacting culturally as he wished.

"A goblin's life is miserable. A goblin's life is terrible."

Leaning against the wall, Kali-Alexander mumbled weakly.

"Goblins have no ballads, no culture, no ethics, only a dreadful lust for destruction."

"..."

"But I am their king."

Blood dripped from his crown, integrated with his helmet.

"I must lead them... let them find happiness in their nature, in their instincts."

"So, goblin happiness is... invasion and slaughter?"

"Tragically, yes."

Coughing up more blood, Kali-Alexander continued.

"I could have neutered that instinct, joined your alliance, forced cultural assimilation. But that would be happiness for me, not my kind."

"..."

"A ruler's personal will shouldn't dictate his people's misery. It's no different than living as slaves."

Through the mask, he seemed to smile faintly at me.

"A leader lives not for himself, but for his people. So, Ash, I am a goblin after all. A damned monster."

A goblin yearning to be human,

"We can't coexist. Sadly, that's reality. My kind can never live as humans. So, I choose to die as a monster."

In the end, he chose to live and die as a goblin.

"If you want to survive, kill me and all of my kin without exception."

"..."

"Don't stand on a mound of our corpses in the river of blood, regretting or reproaching. Move forward. With a heart of steel, move forward. As a sovereign, don't look back..."

His breath grew ragged. The death of the enemy leader was imminent.

"One last, foolish request. Would you grant it?"

"Speak."

"After hearing your words, I... attempted to write a poem."

Kali-Alexander, with desperate eyes, looked at me.

"Would you listen?"

"..."

After ensuring there was enough time before Plan B's execution using [Map Making], I nodded.

Kali-Alexander took a deep breath and slowly recited his verse.

Waiting for summer's sun,

Through seven years of day and night,

Breaking through the frozen ground, only to find

A white winter's night.

Oh world, misborn,

Cries reaching the stars, return only

As hollow echoes,

He finished the somber poem, his voice hollow. Kali-Alexander hung his head.

"I'm embarrassed by its crudeness."

"No. It's a splendid poem."

His poem, likening himself to a cicada born in winter, was blunt but sincere. Unbelievably refined for a first attempt.

"Had you not become a warlord, perhaps you would have been a renowned poet of the continent."

"Haha... don't tease me..."

Kali-Alexander laughed bitterly, then mumbled sadly.

"But yes... I once dreamt of such a life..."

"..."

"Had we met differently, in another place, another form, Ash. Perhaps we could have been... something else."

I didn't console him in his dying moments.

I just watched as he drew his last breath.

"Farewell, Kali-Alexander. May you find peace in rest."

"Call me Alexander, would you? If I had friends, I wouldn't have liked to be called something grand like Kali."

"Farewell, Alexander."

I whispered respectfully as he took his final breath.

"Have a good journey."

As if responding, Alexander murmured softly.

"To you, traveling far, my blessing... May you never regret, regardless of the end you reach..."

The Goblin God-King breathed no more.

He was dead.

Approaching, I removed Alexander's helmet. His goblin face, hidden behind a mask, was scarred by years of battle. His nose was sliced off, one eye mutilated by a sword, and one cheek pierced, resembling an arrow wound.

It was the face of a warrior.

After a long gaze at his peaceful face, I took only the helmet and turned away.

Plan A had failed – using the enemy leader to force the goblin legion's retreat. Now, Plan B must be initiated.

'A much harder path ahead...'

Plan B was straightforward: to physically annihilate the goblin legion using all available means.

I had already strategized for this eventuality.

Activating [Map Making], still active from earlier, I checked the remaining enemy count. In the short time since the battle began, over 5,000 goblins had perished.

But their lines were perilously close to Crossroads.

Ascending to the top of Grey Fortress, manipulating the walls at will, I surveyed the surroundings.

Crack! Crunch!

Most turrets surrounding the fortress were damaged, and the few remaining were crumbling under the goblins' fierce assault.

'It won't hold much longer.'

I looked towards the Crossroads walls.

Boom! Crash!

The walls of Crossroads were engulfed in flames, and one section was seriously damaged and collapsing.

Goblins, clinging to the walls, began their ascent, utilizing their light bodies to climb without ladders.

'The walls and the creatures have merged enough.'

Perhaps out of impatience, the Goblin Legion's formation leaned forward.

Having bypassed my Grey Fortress, most of the Legion had crowded right in front of the walls of Crossroads.

It was time for Plan B.

I pulled out a blue-flamed torch from my inventory and waved it high.

My subordinates on the walls recognized my signal and waved their flags.

Simultaneously,

Rumble-

The eastern and western gates of Crossroads began to open.

I had activated the 'One-Way Traffic' option with [Gardis Blessing] for this defense. The monster legion only attacks from the south.

Meaning, troop deployment through the east and west gates would face no hindrance!

'What's the essence of tactics from ancient to modern times?'

As I said before, it's the Anvil & Hammer.

The defense (Anvil) withstands the enemy's attack, while a mobile attack force (Hammer) moves around to strike the enemy's rear.

In the current situation, the wall enduring the goblin's onslaught is the Anvil.

My hero parties, capable of striking the goblin's flanks and rear while they are occupied with the wall, are the Hammer.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

Hero parties mounted on horses emerged from the open eastern and western gates.

They began to rally towards me at the Grey Fortress. I cracked my knuckles, readying for action.

Plan B is simple in concept.

While the wall holds, guerrilla units comprised of hero parties obliterate the enemy from the sides and rear.

If we annihilate them before the wall falls, it's our victory. If the wall is breached first, it's the monsters' triumph.

'Guerilla tactics are different now.'

Back then, there wasn't a robust Anvil like the wall. It was like hammering air.

But now, the monster frontline, the best Anvil, has conveniently lined up the goblins for us.

Our Hammer is also exponentially more powerful...!

Before the hero parties arrived, I organized the Grey Fortress. It was time to dismantle it.

My four captured beasts were severely injured but not dead. I patched them up with potions and stored them back into the void.

Crash! Rumble...

The last automated defense turret collapsed,

Creak! Creak!

As the goblins breached the Grey Fortress,

"My Lord!"

Lucas arrived first, galloping swiftly. His blade of light sliced through about a dozen goblins. Other hero parties soon followed.

Lucas's party. The Penal Squad. Dragonblood Knights. Holy Grail Seekers. Each party was accompanied by fifty skilled soldiers, all mounted.

The Holy Grail Seekers, not fully recovered, insisted on participating.

In total, two hundred and twenty-one close-combat experts capable of breaking through goblin encirclements.

They were the Hammer unit of this battle.

"Mount up, my Lord."

"Right."

I mounted the horse brought by Lucas and then deactivated [Imperial Edict].

Whoosh!

The Grey Fortress, covered in goblin blood and corpses, vanished like an illusion.

'Ugh!'

I felt a wave of nausea from maintaining the fortress for too long but desperately held it back.

Handing over the Goblin God-King's helmet to Lucas, I said, "Take care of this, Lucas."

"Understood, my Lord."

Taking the helmet, an amalgam of a mask and crown, Lucas lifted it high, his voice booming powerfully.

"Your leader is dead!"

Goblins, confused upon hearing Lucas, turned to us, and then recoiled in horror.

Lucas skewered the helmet on his sword, raising it high for all to see. 

"Your god and king has fallen by our commander's hand!"

Panic spread quickly through the Goblin Legion.

"And you will meet the same fate!"

As fear and chaos gripped them, I spoke determinedly, 

"They've lost their leader. Wipe them out, leave none standing!"

"Yes!"

"Charge! Hyah!"

As I spurred my horse forward, other heroes followed, forming a protective ring around me.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

The heroes formed a wedge formation, with me at the center and the regular soldiers extending behind.

Together, we charged like a spearhead into the swarm of goblins.

Boom!

We plunged into the Goblin tide.