Having witnessed two powerful ogres fall effortlessly to Adam's blades, and now seeing the human drawing closer, the goblin variant trembled.
Each swing of Adam's twin swords sent a terrifying gust of wind, stinging its cheeks.
Swish!
The goblin's cowardly nature was etched into its very genes. Faced with the threat of death, its first instinct was to escape.
However, if the goblin had stayed still, lying flat, Adam's widespread destruction of the surroundings might not have hit it directly, potentially keeping it hidden.
But now, as it fled, the Camouflage Spell began to falter. It was as if a shifting, color-changing barrier had appeared in the air.
Blatantly obvious!
"Got you."
Pausing his sword swings, Adam turned toward the moving, color-shifting mass, a brilliant smile spreading across his face.
Hm?
Adam noticed its speed was remarkable.
Despite the jungle's complex terrain, it ran as if on flat ground, unhindered by the surrounding plants.
What kind of ability was this?
Surprised, Adam didn't hesitate. He reversed his grip on the sword's hilt and hurled it like a javelin.
Whoosh!
The immense force sent the iron sword whistling through the air.
It struck the color-shifting creature instantly!
"Ah!!"
A scream echoed through the forest. The creature collapsed, writhing and wailing.
Adam strolled over leisurely.
The attack had dispelled the Camouflage Spell, revealing the goblin's true form, leaving Adam momentarily stunned.
Unlike the deep-green skin of ordinary goblins, this one's was much lighter. Two sharp fangs protruded from its lower jaw, and its size was the most striking difference!
While adult goblins were roughly the size of human children, this one was nearly as large as a dwarf.
"I'm gonna die!"
"It hurts! I'm dying!"
The goblin lay on the ground, the iron sword embedded in its back. Agonizing pain drew relentless screams.
If Adam had doubts based on appearance alone, the fact that it could speak confirmed his earlier guesses were off.
"I thought you were a mutant goblin." Adam said coldly, staring at the writhing Hobgoblin. "Turns out you're just a goblin subspecies, a Hobgoblin."
Hobgoblin.
A subrace of goblins, far superior in both physicality and intelligence, nearly on par with humans.
However, unlike the goblins' terrifying reproductive rate, Hobgoblins bred slowly. Since they could interbreed with regular goblins, they often lived among goblin tribes. Their superior strength and intellect granted them higher status.
Adam stepped forward, planting a foot on the screaming Hobgoblin's head, silencing it. He reached down and yanked the sword from its back.
Splurch!
Green blood sprayed!
"Ah!!"
The Hobgoblin, silenced by fear, screamed again as pain surged, its body twitching. In a weak, pleading voice, it begged, "Human, don't kill me…"
"If I die, the ogre lords won't let you go, ah!!"
Thud!
Hearing the word "ogre." Adam's eyes narrowed. He stomped again, grinding the Hobgoblin's face into the muddy leaves.
"Shut up."
Adam spoke impatiently, realization dawning on his face.
So that's it.
If he recalled correctly, a group of Hobgoblins did live in the ogres' territory, part of a tribe called the Gigu Tribe.
This Hobgoblin tribe had appeared in the anime.
Much like the relationship between regular goblins and ogres, Hobgoblins and ogres were similar. Thanks to their intelligence, Hobgoblins were subjugated by ogres.
Of course, to ogres, the Hobgoblin tribe was also a backup food source!
After Ainz Ooal Gown killed the Eastern Giant, the ogre Guu, the Gigu Tribe was freed and joined Carne Village.
They later came under the rule of the Great Tomb of Nazarick making them one of the New World's luckier tribes.
But they were supposed to live in the inner jungle, under Guu's rule. Why were they out here in the outskirts?
Adam frowned, puzzled.
Still, he now understood how this creature had caused him so much trouble.
Hobgoblins were like nobility among goblins. Commanding regular goblins was no issue.
As for ogres?
Given their racial traits, ogres were more inclined to protect and obey Hobgoblins than regular goblins.
Hm?
Adam lifted his foot, glancing at the Hobgoblin beneath him. Its body convulsed violently, as if on the verge of death. He raised an eyebrow.
So fragile.
Yet far stronger than a regular goblin.
His earlier throw, though restrained, would've killed a normal goblin instantly.
This Hobgoblin was only gravely wounded but had survived this long, its constitution far surpassing that of its kin.
A glint flashed in Adam's eyes. He raised his hand, aiming at the Hobgoblin's bloody wound. "Minor Healing."
Until moments ago, he'd planned to kill it. But a new use for this Hobgoblin had occurred to him.
A soft white glow appeared, settling over the Hobgoblin's mangled wound.
The bleeding stopped immediately, and the injury began to heal rapidly.
A single low-tier healing spell couldn't fully mend such a severe wound, but it was enough to keep the Hobgoblin alive.
Its convulsions ceased, and a mix of confusion and relief filled its eyes.
Pulling its mud-and-leaf-covered green head from the dirt, it looked up at the human standing before it, gazing down coldly.
"Human-"
"Let me go, and the ogre lords will leave you alone."
The Hobgoblin trembled, scrambling to its feet and shrinking back while speaking. It stiffened its neck, trying to feign composure.
***
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