Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

34: Chapter 34: The Dictator 34: Chapter 34: The Dictator On the clearing, the Goblin King and Andro were locked in a fierce combat, their fists and long stick colliding, constantly emitting loud “Bam” sounds.

Although Andro was a warrior, his attack style was more like that of a boxer; he enhanced his fists with various buffs, delivering powerful punch after punch.

The Goblin King, on the other hand, was a legendary Melee Mage.

He imbued his long stick with magic power—every hit dealt a combination of magic and physical damage, enough to give anyone a hard time.

After several rounds of exchange, the higher-level Andro was the first to suffer.

Once his buffs dissipated, his vulnerabilities were exposed, and the Goblin King struck Andro’s chest with his stick.

Andro spat out a mouthful of blood, grabbed the stick reflexively, pulled forward, and punched the Goblin King in the face.

The Goblin King was unfazed, staring intently at Andro with a disdainful smirk.

“Pretty capable.”

Andro was astonished.

A talking goblin was unheard of.

How intelligent was it?

What exactly was he fighting against!

“What’s so surprising, old man?” The Goblin King kicked Andro in the gut.

The stomach acid surged up to his throat, and Andro was sent flying backward.

Suppressing the urge to vomit, he lowered his center of gravity, landed on all fours, and steadied himself.

“Oh, you didn’t fall.

The next hit will claim your dog’s life.

You’ll be the stepping stone for the revival of our Goblin Empire!”

“Heh.” Andro chuckled, “Arrogant.

Even if we all die here today, once you go out, you will…”

“Once I go out, stronger adventurers will be waiting for me?” The Goblin King spun his long stick, scoffing.

“I’m well aware I’m just a frog in a well.

Even with my current level, I’m still far too weak.

But ultimately, it’ll be you humans who will lose.

Think about why only low-level D-ranked adventurers or those who’ve just entered C-rank are coming!”

Could it be…everything was part of its plan…If so…the entire rescue team was likely doomed.

Andro, in disbelief, asked, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Goblins are indeed very weak monsters.

There’s no need for B-ranked adventurers or above to deal with us.

Or rather, B-ranked adventurers are busy chasing treasures in underground cities and have no time for weak monsters like us.

Even if a disaster occurs, those arrogant adventurers wouldn’t care.

That gives me enough time, enough time to become stronger.”

The Goblin King was far more intelligent than imagined, Andro’s unease slowly turning into reality as he clenched his fists.

If they didn’t defeat the Goblin King today, given time, it would surely become the next Goblin Emperor.

But if he charged in head-on, he would certainly be no match; his only option now was to delay until reinforcements arrived.

“I know what you’re thinking.

Your rescue team is probably at a stalemate with my troops right now.

Sadly, that team was meant to ambush you.

However, it seems humans are braver than I thought, and I can’t let you just stroll in here.”

The Goblin King swung his long stick at Andro, who tensed his muscles and gathered the Breath of Destruction into his fist, delivering a [Destruction Heavy Strike].

As Andro’s fist met the Goblin King’s long stick, the ground split, unleashing a powerful force that blew away many nearby Goblin Soldiers.

“Even if they win, finding this place won’t be easy.

This is a troop directly under my command.

In this forest, the Goblin troops aren’t limited to just this location.

If they mistakenly enter one training ground, the time it takes for them to reach here will greatly increase.”

As pure strength collided, though they were evenly matched, the Goblin King had an edge—his stick was imbued with magic that invaded Andro’s body upon contact, corroding his flesh.

Andro was violently struck by the long stick, his injuries accumulating.

He felt exhaustion overpowering his body and didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.

“Damn it!”

“Face it!

This is the cruel reality, if you surrender and become my sacrifice willingly, perhaps I will kill you last,” the goblin taunted with mocking eyes, swaying his stick arrogantly.

“Don’t even hope that the elite squad you sent will come and save you, they should have been annihilated by the assassin squad I dispatched by now.”

Elite squad?

What was it talking about?

Suddenly, a puzzled expression crossed Andro’s face, as flashes of Yang Yu suggesting a reconnaissance first and the scenes of him bringing back the Sekamens flicked through his mind.

Could it be that after encountering the Sekamens team, Yang Yu took precautions and created the illusion that we were split into two squads?

“How ridiculous, is it that unbelievable?

I, the Great King, am far more intelligent than you.

I saw through your little tricks long ago!”

The Goblin King approached Andro with measured steps; its intent was to destroy the strongest in this squad, aiming not just to demolish his body but also to shatter his spirit, letting these arrogant humans taste the flavor of defeat thoroughly.

Coming in front of Andro, the Goblin King spread his arms wide.

“Take a good look!

Your rescue team has been engulfed by my Goblin Army, torn to pieces!

Listen well!

This piercing cry of despair, it’s you who led them into this desolation!”

The goblin proudly closed its eyes, listening to the sounds of the battlefield.

Contrary to what it had anticipated, the only sounds that reached its ears were those of close combat and the failing shouts as small figures fell.

It was normal for a few goblins in the Goblin Army attacking the rescue team to die in resistance; after a brief pain, they would still seize the fruits of victory.

But.

Reality, as though a hammer had fallen from the sky, shattered the Goblin King’s dreams.

The Goblin King abruptly turned its head towards the battle area.

The formation of the rescue team was well-ordered, showing no sign of confusion.

In contrast, its own Goblin Army suffered countless casualties.

The Goblin Army, having an overwhelming advantage, was actually eaten away by half, while the opposition seemed unscathed.

How…

how could this be…

Andro raised his fists and rushed towards the bewildered Goblin King, who swung his long stick to block Andro’s strike.

A reverse strike hit Andro in the abdomen, sending him flying.

Andro barely stabilized himself after rolling and scrambling, then spoke tauntingly:

“Heh, didn’t expect that, huh?

Although you are formidable and anticipated many of our moves, it seems like you and your subordinates don’t really know how to command troops.

Your army blindly follows your orders and rules, apparently without any flexibility.

This is the army you have raised as a sole dictator!

I don’t think such an army is truly fit for the battlefield.”

“Shut!

Up!”

Years had passed, and the Goblin King roared in anger after a long silence.

It stood above all goblins in this forest, relying on its unique intelligence.

Once it became the King, it also realized that almost all goblins survived on instinct alone.

Though it had attempted to enlighten them, it always stopped short.

An overly intelligent army is hard to control; ignorance is necessary.

As it thought, its Goblin Army obeyed its every command—rather, all goblins obeyed, willing to march to their deaths without complaint.

No goblin quarreled over its decision with the foolish and aging goblins brought to the outskirts to nurture humans; no goblin ever questioned its decisions; no goblin failed to execute its command, even at the cost of their life.