The blade flashed as Kaito's dagger struck toward the Goblin General's neck.
Clang!
An invisible force surged forth — an unseen barrier that stopped Kaito's strike cold. His blade rang sharply as if it had struck solid steel.
The backlash hurled Kaito backward. He tumbled across the ground, landing hard before rising shakily to his feet. Confused, he stared at the Goblin General.
He had calculated that strike carefully — everything should have aligned perfectly. Yet this power gap... it was like facing a force that defied reason. Was it connected to that voice in his head or his rapid recovery?
"Oh..." The General's voice was cold and unimpressed. With a dismissive wave of his hand, Kaito was flung back several feet — yet the Goblin General barely moved.
Kaito gritted his teeth. That opening had been his best chance.
"Bold... far too bold!" came a sneering voice from the crowd.
The low-tier goblins, now realizing what had happened, erupted in anger.
"He tried to kill the General!"
"Kill him!"
The mob surged forward, eager for blood. But Kaito stood his ground, unmoved. No matter how many there were, these weaklings posed no threat.
"Stop," the General's voice cut through the crowd. The goblins froze in place. Turning to the Goblin Shaman beside him, the General gave a simple order:
"Shah, take them away."
"Yes," the shaman nodded. "Follow me."
Kaito didn't move. He stood firm, positioning himself protectively in front of Rosentine. His mother's hand slipped into his own, warm despite her trembling fingers.
"Let's go," she said softly, her voice strained yet resolute.
Despite her shaking body, Rosentine stood beside her son, not behind him. She was no coward. Kaito tightened his grip on her hand and followed the shaman silently.
They moved deeper into the tunnels, ascending from the fifth level to the second. The air grew less oppressive, yet tension clung to them like a curse.
"We should strike now," Kaito muttered. "I can take them."
"No," Rosentine warned. "If you fight now, we'll lose everything. Be patient."
Her voice was firm, yet soft enough to steady his rising anger. Kaito clenched his fists but said nothing.
Back in the main chamber, the Goblin Knight stepped forward, glaring at the General.
"General," he growled, "why spare that traitor?"
The gathered goblins murmured in agreement.
"Yes! That killer should be dealt with now!"
"He's a threat! Kill him before he causes more harm!"
The Goblin Knight stepped closer. "General, that thing is a walking disaster. We should—"
Clang!
The Goblin Knight's blade flashed, and a low-tier goblin's head rolled across the floor. Blood spattered the stones as shocked silence swallowed the room.
"You dare question the General's orders?" the Goblin Knight snarled. His blood-soaked blade gleamed darkly in the torchlight.
"W-Wait... I didn't mean—"
Slash!
Another goblin fell before finishing his plea.
"The General's orders are absolute," the Goblin Knight growled. His sword danced again, slicing down another trembling goblin.
"You don't even deserve to look at him!" he roared, striking down yet another.
The air reeked of iron, and the room filled with panicked screams. One by one, the Goblin Knight silenced them all. The blood pooled thick across the floor as the few surviving goblins trembled, barely daring to breathe.
"Damn you... you're mad!" one of them choked out before the blade claimed him too.
The Goblin General stood in silence, observing the massacre without emotion.
"A king... must command absolute loyalty," the General muttered to himself, gaze fixed on the path where Kaito had disappeared.