Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

20: Chapter 20 Giant Stone from the Sky 20: Chapter 20 Giant Stone from the Sky Andro chose the very same route that Yang Yu had taken the day before yesterday to hunt goblins.

That route was the most convenient way to reach deep into the Goblin Forest.

Since the last major expedition, goblins were rarely seen along the forest perimeter of that route, and groups of them had never been heard of.

The sudden appearance of twenty goblins the day before yesterday was a sign, Andro was certain.

In this world, there are various legends, one of which is about the Goblin Empire.

Legend has it that, long before the emergence of the Human Three Kingdoms, goblins had once established an empire that not only enslaved humans but also giant dragons, reaching a peak of prosperity unrivaled.

However, due to their tyrannical reign, they were overthrown by a coalition of races.

Over the years, the goblins as a race dwindled and degenerated, divided amongst several forests, their glory days long gone.

Occasional goblin mischief had been reported, but ordinary D-level adventurers were more than capable of subduing them.

They had completely become a weak race of monsters.

Now, they seemed to be moving in groups consciously, and with their first move, they made a large number of adventurers disappear.

They definitely should not be underestimated.

The most likely scenario was that a strong individual had emerged among this race, unifying the tribes within this forest and organizing them to set traps.

Worse yet, someone might be manipulating the goblins.

Anyone capable of controlling so many goblins was no ordinary person, and catching him would be as hard as reaching the sky.

Without dealing with this hidden manipulator, it was impossible to predict the troubles they might cause in the future.

The most dangerous possibility would be the resurrection of the ancient Goblin King or the weakening of the ancient Sealing, with the Demon King returning to this world in the not too distant future.

Contrary to what Andro thought, Yang Yu’s first thought was of the Demon King’s influence on the goblin race.

Perhaps some of the Demon Clan had already crossed the Seal of the Gate of Demon World, interfering with this world, with the intent of plunging it into chaos so that when the Demon King came to rule, he could, like a bulldozer, sweep away the whole world before humanity could even react.

A small disturbance escalating bit by bit is a common tactic of the incoming Demon Kings, so, there’s a very good chance of a hidden manipulator behind the scenes.

This manipulator, too, would become one of the hidden plot threads.

However, it was absolutely necessary not to engage too early.

Even if discovered, it was best to not expose him, as that would surely lead to being obliterated by the plot.

As for the storyline of a single strong individual emerging from amongst the goblins to unify the tribe, Yang Yu deemed that the least likely.

An ordinary goblin leading its tribe to rise to power and unite, while simultaneously coordinating multi-sided planning of traps, lying in ambush, conducting group hunting, and meticulously devising a plan to only let go one adventurer to lure many adventurers deep into the forest, was implausible with an IQ of less than 250.

And should they also find some ancient ancestor’s treasure, it would undoubtedly be a storyline as outrageously overpowered as Long Aotian’s.

What’s next?

Will that goblin lead a goblin army to attack the cities, overthrow human rule, and restore the glory of their ancestors?

Could such a plot actually happen?

Yang Yu would never believe it, not even if he were beaten to death.

Walking through the forest with great caution for a while, they saw rows of tall trees, each marked by sword or knife cuts.

There was an unspoken rule among adventurers: to prevent young adventurers from straying too deep into the forest, experienced ones would use their weapons to create cross marks on the trees as a warning.

Of course, the marks were not absolute.

Due to the forest ecology, all creatures were mobile, and outside the marked perimeter, powerful monsters could occasionally appear, though these were rare cases.

Regardless, seeing these trees with cross marks meant they had entered into a danger zone and must proceed with extreme caution.

“Everyone, stay alert,” Andro’s resonant voice was clear to every person present, the group immediately gathered together, following closely behind Andro and moving forward cautiously.

Andro wasn’t aimlessly leading the team.

Before entering the forest, the union had assigned a Magic Master to use Reconnaissance Magic for aerial surveillance over the depths of the forest.

No goblin activity could be seen in the sparsely wooded areas; the only remaining territory where goblins could be were the dense woods where large trees stood thickly.

And now, those at the adventurer’s association who stayed behind were closely monitoring the rescue mission through the Magic Master’s Crystal Ball.

As the adventure group reached a hill, suddenly the image inside the Magic Master’s Crystal Ball disappeared.

“Why has the image gone?” a spectator grumbled discontentedly, but before his words even finished, the Crystal Ball cracked and finally broke in two.

“They’ve discovered us.

Someone has conducted counter-reconnaissance.”

The Magic Master wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

On his aged face, worry could not be suppressed.

High-altitude reconnaissance was one of the spells he was best at; in his old age, few could prevent his spying.

And now, not only had someone prevented his spying but had also smashed his tool of espionage, which meant…

“In that forest, there is someone with a Magic Perception that is not inferior to mine.”

Upon hearing the old man’s words, the onlooking crowd gasped, clasping their hands together, silently praying for the rescue team.

Elsewhere, although Andro was unaware of what was happening back at the union, his intuition told him something bad was about to happen.

Suddenly, the ground trembled.

“What’s happening, an earthquake?”

The shaking grew stronger, and many adventurers found it hard to stand alone, leaning against the nearby trees.

A few of the scouts responsible for reconnaissance jumped down from the treetops to steady themselves, while a few others still held their positions.

It was they who saw clearly the source of the vibrations.

“There’s a rock bigger than three big trees put together rolling towards us!

Run!

We can’t withstand it; we’ll be crushed to a pulp!”

A circular Giant Stone over 50 meters in diameter tore through the forest with a force that uprooted trees, its speed so great that it swallowed every bird and small animal that had not escaped in time, leaving behind a trail as long as a comet streaking across the sky.

The ground shook more violently, some adventurers tried to run, but as soon as they left the support of the trees, they were unavoidably brought to their knees.

A few with firm resolve stabbed their weapons into the ground, trying to move as best as they could, attempting to escape the danger zone of unknown extent.

Feet planted into the earth, Andro clenched his fists, his clothes burst in an instant, revealing his muscular physique.

“Don’t panic, everyone!

Those of you who still have the strength, come and try to stop the Giant Stone with me, or we’re all going to die!”

With that, Andro spread his arms on the spot, his solid back seemingly the last hope for everyone.

One by one, those who could stand came closer, placing their hands on Andro’s shoulders, those who could cast buff spells did so frantically, and those who couldn’t, imitated Andro by burying their feet into the soil, forming a firm triangle.