Chapter 20: Killing a Hobgoblin
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Chen Yining had an idea when it comes to killing an idiot.
It would be difficult if the quarry was smarter, but since that hobgoblin did not appear that way, Chen Yining would just need a little trick to dominate over it in a battle of wits.
Gently stroking his chin, Chen Yining considered how he should deal with the idiot hobgoblin.
Misdirection? Isolation? A diversion?
Various strategies appeared in Chen Yining’s mind.
Nonetheless, he soon realized something troubling—even with his own summoned beast and his younger brother’s, they only amounted to five people.
Honestly, five was too few.
There was quite a gap when compared to a group of thirty-four goblins.
“There’s no need for the trouble, Master.”
Nonetheless, Green Skin clapped a hand on Chen Yining’s shoulder, its eyes seemingly flickering with a glint of confidence.
The corner of its lips lifted as it looked at the distant group of goblins with contempt, clenching its fist. “I, Green Skin, am enough.”
“All goblins are cowards. They would all be scared off once I reveal my heroic form,” it added nonchalantly, patting itself on the chest and assuring Chen Yining that he alone could take down the group of goblins.
“Aren’t you a goblin too?” Chen Yining was speechless—who talks about themselves like that?
“I’m not like those coward goblins… I’m a great goblin warrior!” Green Skin vehemently denied that it was a goblin and solemnly declared itself a goblin warrior.
With that, it was ready to rush forward and fight all thirty-four goblins.
Chen Yining stopped it, however. He turned toward his brother and said, “Have your gnome strengthen Green Skin’s rebar.”
Chen Yining remembered that having both gnomes provided a bond bonus of +1 effectiveness in crafting alchemical items.
The underlying principle was unknown, but they should not waste it.
Green Skin then handed his rebar to the two gnomes, who took out their crude tools and hammered away on the rebar.
Amid the loud clanging, the rebar seemed to be altered mysteriously.
It appeared… straighter?
With that, the gnomes returned the rebar to Green Skin.
Green Skin swung it around a little but did not sense anything special, nor was there a change in its weight.
After brandishing it for a while, it kept the rebar on its right hand, while excitedly picking up a brick with its left hand before dashing forward!
Pow!
The thirty-four goblins that were hiding in the distance turned around when they heard the series of approaching footsteps.
Even the goblin which was lying on the ground after being stabbed by a rake extending out of the farm turned toward Green Skin.
Green Skin was swift thanks to its two-meter height and long legs.
It covered ten paces with each stride, and raised its rebar, swinging it ferociously.
Pow!
It landed an audible hit on flesh, and the closest goblin was sent flying over six meters away and dropped to the ground, rolling like a bottle gourd.
Three other goblins nearby squawked, flailing their weapons as they charged at Green Skin.
In response, Green Skin slammed the brick it was holding with its left hand into one of the goblin’s faces while fighting off multiple foes at once with its right. Soon, the other two goblins were knocked down to the dirt, and they would not be getting up soon.
Knowing neither strategy nor technique, Green Skin relied entirely on overwhelming strength to clear a path toward the hobgoblin.
“Gobbo!” It roared in fury, hitting itself fiercely on the chest with its left fist.
“…”
The other goblins around it all froze, afraid to even get closer.
Upon seeing that sight, the hobgoblin, which had remained to the rear of the goblin group, raised its weapon ferociously.
Green Skin threw it a look of disdain, its look of contempt saying it all.
However, the hobgoblin did not dare to charge even if it was left utterly indignant.
It was aware that it would not win against a goblin warrior.
Leveling a hateful look at Green Skin, the hobgoblin started to squawk randomly then and pointed its steel bar at Green Skin.
Even so, the other goblins around it traded glances, exchanging some verbal gibberish and soon backing away.
None of them dared to take the lead.
Having observed it all, Chen Yining realized why Green Skin was brave enough to fight that group of goblins alone.
The talent of average goblins that had yet to evolve as hobgoblins was to run away in the face of danger.
They truly worked with the mindset of a mob and only picked fights they could win.
If there was no chance of winning, all of them would run away.
Such was the shortcoming of a goblin.
On the other hand, Chen Yining was able to strengthen his goblin to hobgoblin and then to goblin warrior, and there was a chance that Green Skin could become an even stronger goblin.
Moreover, once Green Skin evolved into a hobgoblin, its race talent had improved as well—now, it had a certain chance of triggering Raging Cry when threatened, which accelerated its own speed.
It was a much better talent than fleeing.
Moreover, the hobgoblin had a stronger fighting spirit than an average goblin.
Chen Yining’s gaze flickered then.
The lowest bond bonus requirement for a goblin was three goblins.
It would be meaningless to have the goblins occupy his three-page slot of the Summoner’s Grimoire if the bond bonus was not activated.
As for the bond bonus itself, three goblins would gain 10% boost in strength, whereas six would gain 20% and ten would gain 30%.
But was he really prepared to use up all his summoned beast slots on goblins?
Chen Yining fell silent.
Goblins appeared frequently in the anime, movies, and video games of Mercury.
Nonetheless, every incarnation of their race could not be considered powerful or attractive.
Moreover, every man has their own ambitions.
Chen Yining himself hoped to capture two dragons—the godly beasts of divine myths.
Power is temporary, but looking cool is for life.
That being said, there was another option… he could utilize bond bonus, but without focusing on it excessively.
Chen Yining then remembered that he alone had the fusion function.
With it, having the bond bonus would be best, but he could fuse or level up his summoned beasts if there were no bond bonuses to be had.
If he could level up his summoned beast over a dozen times or so, it would become powerful even without the bond bonus, would it not?
Even as those ideas crossed his mind, the fight was already over.
Green Skin had successfully killed the hobgoblin, which was reluctant to run away.
It turned into a white light, fusing into Chen Yining’s Summoner’s Grimoire.
Chen Yining opened it and dragged the picture of the hobgoblin to fuse it with Green Skin’s picture on the first page.
Once it combined with Green Skin’s picture, Chen Yining was delighted to find that the (0/1) beside Green Skin’s name became (1/1).
He smiled.
It was done.
Moreover, he felt confident that he had grasped the formula and pattern for leveling up and fusion.
After that, he fused all the remaining goblins that were killed to Green Skin as well.
With that, the (3/8) beside Green Skin’s name became (6/8).
“Those goblins are really spineless,” Chen Jing could not help saying then.
“They are, but that works to our favor in hunting them down.” A smile showed on Chen Yining’s face then.