Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP

I didn’t need [Analyze] to tell me what they were.

They were orcs.

The moment the first one stepped through the portal, it threw its head back and let out a furious roar before charging straight at me, with the rest pouring out behind it in quick succession, leaving me without even a moment to react.

I thrust both hands forward, activating [Deathroot].

Dark vines erupted from beneath the floor, bursting through the stone before surging toward the portal like starving serpents. They wrapped themselves around the leading orcs, binding their limbs and torsos before countless thorn-covered roots pierced their bodies.

The vines didn’t simply restrain them.

They devoured them.

Their flesh rapidly withered away as the roots consumed everything they touched, leaving behind nothing but dry husks that crumbled into dust within seconds.

For a brief moment, it worked.

Every orc that emerged from the portal was consumed almost as soon as it appeared, the dark vines reducing each one to dust within seconds.

But the portal wasn’t slowing down.

More orcs continued to pour through, first one, then another, then several more in quick succession, until the stream became a constant flood that even [Deathroot] was beginning to struggle against.

It kept disgorging orcs one after another, each one forcing [Deathroot] to split its attention. The roots spread farther across the room, consuming more mana with every additional target until even I could feel the strain beginning to build.

I could keep killing them, but protecting everyone at the same time was a different matter. As long as they remained here, I’d have to split my attention, so without taking my eyes off the portal, I shouted over my shoulder.

”Fall back! All of you, now!”

They all hesitated except Ariel, who blinked away the instant the words left my mouth. I had to admit that hurt my feelings. But then again, it was probably for the best.

If anyone should prioritize their own safety, it was Ariel, as if she died...I died.

”I said leave!” I barked. ”Prepare the clan for battle. I’ll hold them off.”

Zarah took a step forward, determination flashing across her face.

”I can...”

”No! Leave, now.”

The words came out without a moment’s hesitation.

She froze, clearly unwilling to back down, but before she could say another word, Caius caught her by the arm.

”Chief is right,” he said, his voice calm despite the urgency of the situation. ”If we stay, we’ll only become liabilities.”

Zarah clenched her jaw, her eyes lingering on me for a brief moment. I could see the reluctance in them. She wanted to fight beside me, not run while I faced the enemy alone.

In the end, she swallowed her objection.

Caius didn’t give her another chance to argue. He pulled her toward the window, and the others immediately followed, each of them vaulting through the opening one after another before rushing to carry out my orders.

Within moments, the quarters were empty, leaving only me and the portal that continued to pour orcs into my clan.

The roots continued tearing through the advancing orcs, but I no longer had any reason to hold back.

I poured more mana into [Death Root], my gaze locking onto the figure still standing behind the horde.

”Whoever you are...”

A cold smile spread across my face.

”I’ll make sure you regret attacking my clan.”

***

As soon as Caius stepped out of the quarters, he and the others instinctively drew in a deep breath.

Only then did they realize how oppressive the atmosphere inside had become.

The pressure radiating from the battle was overwhelming, pressing down on them like an invisible mountain. Even outside the building, remnants of that terrifying aura continued to leak through the walls, sending an involuntary chill down their spines.

For a brief moment, none of them spoke.

Then Zarah snapped out of her shock.

The hesitation that had frozen her inside the quarters disappeared, replaced by the calm decisiveness expected of the clan’s commander.

”Ziv,” she called sharply. ”Inform Doro and Bundi about what’s happening. Then get every noncombatant into the shelter and have them activate the garnet.”

”Understood!”

”Gobbo,” she continued without missing a beat, ”gather every warrior in the clan and bring them here immediately.”

Gobbo gave a firm nod.

”Yes, Commander.”

”The rest of us will remain here,” Zarah said, her eyes fixed on the quarters. Faint tremors continued to ripple through the building each time another impact echoed from within. ”If even one of those orcs breaks away, we stop it before it reaches the rest of the settlement.”

Her expression hardened.

”Our objective is simple.”

”We keep the threat contained.”

”We do not allow this battle to spread beyond this building.”

”Yes, Commander!”

Gobbo and Ziv answered in unison.

Without another second of hesitation, both of them turned and sprinted off to carry out their orders, but they had barely taken a few steps before a low, unnatural hum echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of space twisting in on itself.

The strange noise immediately drew everyone’s attention, causing them to stop and instinctively turn toward its source, but the moment their eyes landed on what had produced it, every single one of them froze where they stood.

”H... how...?”

Zarah’s pupils contracted.

Two massive portals had opened just outside the Chief’s quarters.

Unlike the one inside the building, these weren’t hidden from view. Dark energy churned within them as the surrounding space rippled violently, sending waves of distorted mana across the settlement.

Then, the sound of heavy footsteps rolled out from the portals, each thud shaking the ground as towering figures emerged one after another.

Their broad shoulders, crimson skin, protruding tusks, and hulking physiques made their identity unmistakable.

Orcs.

More of them continued stepping through, their numbers steadily increasing as they fanned out from the portals, each carrying the unmistakable presence of a seasoned warrior.

The battle...

It was no longer confined to the Chief’s quarters.