Counter Offer

Burning Legion literally devours the Hulk, swallowing the huge monster up in just two bites. One bite for the upper body, and another for the lower body.

Well, in three bites actually if you consider its torn arms and legs.

It is necessary to assimilate –

"Za Warudo!"

Time stops just as an air blade is about to slice through my neck and cut off my head. It is the only part that are unprotected by my micromachines robe.

The magic attack came from that goblin shaman or mage, and from Selene's analysis, it is the strongest spellcaster found in all the dungeons so far, and I have been to several dungeons already. This dungeon is the largest I have seen though.

The creature's magical power is roughly around the first stage of the 2nd circle.

Even so, how fucking annoying.

Please don't interrupt me when I am monologuing for the masses. And a boss of a secret organization, hell-bent on taking over the world and making sure the human race joins hands and sings kumbaya, must be able to monologue uninterrupted.

It is my damn right!

Anyway, Burning Legion – I give Legion the nickname when he is on fire – needs to devour the Hulk – that is the Hobgoblin, green and very angry – in its entirety to unlock all its secret.

If I just want the information and knowledge, I really only need the soft organ at the centre of its head, but magical power does not actually come from there, so Legion must assimilate its body. That is why Legion also consume its ripped arms and legs just to make sure all the necessary parts are assimilated.

Now, I just need to wait for Legion to do his magic. That is a pun. There is nothing magic about this.

It is purely science, so one for science? Hurray!

Are we still keeping score?

No? Okay, let's move on.

"Windstorm!"

The goblin shaman calls out, casting another wind spell when time is allowed to continue flowing.

There is no need for the vocalization of the spell, but its shouting gets me really pumping, so I shouted something from memory when I stop time. Shouting out spells for the heck of it also gives me a sense of adventure. It is like playing a role-playing game… in real life?

What do you know? Where is my beautiful princess, who has baked a lovely cake for me? I think that is a sexual innuendo. Good job, Nintendo. Thank you for corrupting kids worldwide.

"Firestorm!"

I response vocally in kind. A magical incantation diagram manifests before my palm. Countless fire and storm runes fill in the circumference of the circle quickly. It takes just under a couple of seconds now, thanks to my proficiency in the fire rune.

Spiralling flame roars and crashes against an incoming tornado. Their clash constantly shredding blasts of shockwave and heatwave throughout the dungeon, sending dozens of Yoda flying.

There are like hundreds if not thousands of goblins in this dark dungeon. It is a lot more than the other dungeons I have been to previously.

It probably has something to do with the massive Hulk in this dungeon.

Its nakedness leaves nothing to the imagination.

And I am so glad that Marvel Comics decides to give the Hulk an indestructible pair of pants… because the horrors!

Ahem…

This is not the time to think about those stuffs even if I own most of Marvel Comics and can basically tell them how I want those stories to progress.

I am currently in combat with a powerful mage, so I should pay more attention. I might learn a thing or two in the process.

Since I am equivalent to a mage of the 1st circle, my flame should lose out the elemental struggle with a mage of the 2nd circle, but from my understanding, fire should triumph over wind as air does make flames burns more intensely due to the increase in oxygen.

The Heavenly Book on Basic Magic confirms this scientific analysis. However, geniuses studying in the arcane art can reverse this elemental advantageous with their greater understanding of the element.

How? The Heavenly Book does not say since it is just a basic introduction to magic.

I need more books to compile a complete Heavenly Path to Magic!

Anyway, I can guess fairly accurately on how wind can beat fire using scientific knowledge. There are a lot more stuffs in the air than just oxygen. Hans demonstrates this through his duels with Alex.

Their duels are always recorded for research purposes. They are scientists before they are mages. Just because they can cast magic, doesn't mean they disregard everything they have studied.

Hans' winds can supress Alex's flames because Hans sucks out all the oxygen in the air. Without oxygen as accelerant, Alex's flame burns less intensely and consumes more magical power to remain burning even without oxygen.

Magical energy does bend reality to the wielder's will.

In any case, Hans can literally suffocate people with his mastery over the wind element. As a mage of the 10th circle, he didn't need to lift a finger to basically kill every human on the planets. Just remove all oxygen in the atmosphere and everyone is as good as dead.

This just show magic does not completely disregard the natural law of the universe.

I don't think the inhabitants of Azula understands the true nature of the universe, as they are still very primitive in things scientific.

All they know is fire should beat wind if both combatants are of similar power level thanks to elemental advantageous.

But a lot of other stuffs do come into play when mages battle each other for whatever reason. Magical power and energy for one.

I have limitless magical energy even if my magical power is weaker than the Shaman.

Plus, I can multi-cast thanks to having basically two magical cores. Three if you count the one inside my body, but I am unable to use that because of a stupid curse.

But if you really, really want to be technical, I have billions of magical cores at my disposal.

Each part of Legion can cast magic through me as medium, and now, through the numerous shamans that have been assimilated.

The moment the firestorm and windstorm die down, the goblin shaman gets crushed against the wall by a massive green palm.

It didn't turn into a bloody pulp instantly thanks to the magical shield. The shield is slowly frozen over due to the ice magic being casted.

"What are you doing!?"

The old goblin calls out in shock while channelling more magical energy to sustain the shield. It didn't expect one of its brethren to turn on it while all of its attention is on me while my attention is divided.

Not exactly. I multitask so I am aware of everything happening around me. Huge amount of data and information is being streamed into my visual cortex.

For example, exactly how many goblins are remaining.

That number drops rapidly since they are being slaughtered by my robots disguising as hulking knights with laser blade. The creatures that can use magic are devoured and assimilated instead of being killed outright.

Selene updates me on the new species as soon as Legion finishes deciphering its genetic. I have started collecting data on all these fantastical species because it will be useful in the future.

The creature that pin the old goblin against the wall is known as a Hobgoblin.

Hobgoblin is a subspecies of goblin just like the dark elves is a subspecies of the elves.

I haven't gotten any data on the elves or the dark elves yet, but I will soon. I hope Eliana won't mind me kidnapping one of her people and assimilate them.

Countless wind blades manifest along the air before crashing against the Hobgoblin, causing deep cuts all over its body, but the Hobgoblin did not bleed a single drop of blood.

Its wound also heals instantly due to being part of the legion.

The monster retaliates by smashing the old goblin against the floor, repeatedly.

The magical shield protecting the goblin shaman crumbles when it suffers massive damage. Either that or the old goblin depleted its magical energy. The latter seems more likely.

The old goblin immediately tries to flee, but it is surrounded on all side by heavily armoured knights with glowing laser blade. Their face cannot be seen since there are really none. These are all avatars of Legion.

"Where are you going, Yoda?"

I question in their language. It comes out as snarls and growls instead of legible words. It is quite hard with my vocal cord to be honest.

Yoda looks around and finds all the goblins have been slaughtered, even the children were not spared in the massacre. Their collective greenish blood flows like river while their charred flesh fills the air.

"Are… are you a Monarch!?"

Yoda utters as it looks at me fearfully.

The Hobgoblin is standing tall behind me until I tell it otherwise.

I think I will name the Hobgoblin Bruce.

"Grrr…"

Bruce responses. It likes the name.

Its individually is supressed by Legion, but all of its combat experience and magic prowess is there for me to use along with its knowledge. I have extracted everything from its brain, but memory is a very difficult thing to decipher and analyse correctly.

The mind doesn't store information like a computer.

"What is a Monarch?"

I question. It doesn't sound like the literal term for King, Queen or an Emperor.

No, a Monarch is likely a title for something else.

"If you do not know then you are not one. Human, you have made a grievous mistake. Let me go and my master will spare your life."

The goblin demands.

I narrow my eyes.

Did it just threaten me? Me!?

"Alright, here is my counter offer. You will be skinned alive and you will die when I allow you to. If your master comes, I will skin your master too right. Is that agreeable?"