Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP

Thok was about to step beyond the barrier when Flogga suddenly grabbed him and yanked him backward with surprising force.

Thok lost his balance and hit the ground, his weapon slipping slightly in his grip as he turned toward her with a confused expression.

”What are you doing, Granny?”

Flogga didn’t look at him.

”Do you want to die?”

Thok stared at her, clearly confused by the question. He was about to respond, but then he noticed something that immediately caught his attention.

Flogga’s hands were shaking.

Not slightly.

They were trembling badly, and despite her attempt to remain composed, the rest of her body was beginning to tremble as well.

”You’re certainly acting like you want to.”

She continued speaking without looking at him, her voice noticeably tighter than before.

Her body trembled as she stared toward the approaching goblin.

And for the first time, Thok realized that Flogga wasn’t simply being cautious. She was afraid.

Thok had seen Flogga angry before. He had seen her irritated, annoyed, and even furious enough to threaten someone with a cooking spoon, but he had never seen her like this. Fear was not an emotion he was used to seeing on her face.

As Raghul drew closer, the rest of them began to feel the same eerie pressure that had been weighing on Flogga.

None of them needed to be told to stay back anymore. Their bodies had already understood what their minds were struggling to accept.

The closer he came, the heavier the atmosphere became, as though an invisible force was pressing down on their bodies and making every instinct inside them scream that they were standing before something they couldn’t afford to underestimate.

Thok turned toward the approaching Raghul, and he finally understood why Flogga had stopped him.

If she hadn’t pulled him back, he would have walked straight into his death.

There was no doubt about it.

He would have died.

Thok swallowed hard, realizing just how close he had come, before tightening his grip on his weapon. He was grateful that Flogga had stopped him, even if he still didn’t fully understand how she had recognized the danger so quickly.

Raghul eventually stopped in front of the barrier.

He stood there calmly, barely a few steps away from the energy dome protecting the workshop, yet despite the barrier separating them, everyone inside could still feel the immense pressure radiating from him.

The barrier could keep his body out.

It couldn’t completely block the presence he gave off.

Flogga gathered whatever confidence she had left and stepped forward. Although her hands were still trembling slightly, she forced herself to remain composed and spoke in a calm voice.

”Who are you?”

Raghul’s eyes settled on her, and a hint of curiosity appeared in his expression as he studied the old goblin standing behind the barrier.

For a moment, he simply stared at her.

Then he spoke.

”I’m surprised you can look me in the eyes and speak.”

Flogga’s expression hardened. She understood what he was doing. He wasn’t simply talking to her. He was testing her, trying to see how long she could maintain her composure before the fear she was desperately suppressing became obvious.

”Speak up, youngling!” Flogga said, her tone becoming even more insistent. ”Standing here for so long is making my old bones ache.”

Raghul chuckled at her response.

”The name’s Raghul. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

”No. It doesn’t ring a bell.”

Raghul laughed once again, seemingly amused by her answer.

Then, without warning, he stepped forward and slammed his fist against the barrier.

BOOM!

The impact sent a powerful shock through the energy dome, causing the entire barrier to shimmer violently as waves of mana spread across its surface. Flogga and everyone else inside instinctively flinched at the sudden impact.

A few instinctively raised their weapons, but none of them actually moved toward the barrier.

Flogga shuddered as she stared at the shimmering light protecting them from the monster standing before them.

For a brief moment, she couldn’t help but feel grateful.

Eli had used a garnet to power the barrier around her workshop despite her protests, insisting that he shouldn’t waste such a valuable resource on protecting the place.

At the time, she had thought he was being overly cautious.

Now, as Raghul stood outside and the barrier continued to hold against his strength, she finally understood why Eli had done it.

That garnet was no longer protecting a simple workshop.

It was the only thing standing between them and a terrifying enemy.

Flogga had no doubt about what would happen.

If Raghul managed to get inside, they were all dead.

She glanced at the barrier surrounding the workshop before turning her attention back to the goblin standing outside.

”For that goblin to use a garnet on this place, there must be something special here, isn’t there?”

”There is nothing special here, only potions and cauldrons. And unless you’re an alchemist starved for tools, I don’t see any reason why you should waste your time here.”

Raghul brought a hand to his chin, his expression becoming thoughtful as though he were genuinely considering her answer.

Then, after a brief pause, he spoke.

”Maybe it’s not about what.”

Flogga frowned, confused by his response.

Raghul’s eyes remained fixed on her as his expression slowly changed.

”Maybe it’s about who.”

Flogga froze at what Raghul had just said.

For a moment, she couldn’t move a muscle.

He knew about Eli. More importantly, he knew enough about Eli to understand that hurting her would mean something to him.

Raghul smiled as he watched her reaction.

”Am I right?”

Flogga quickly shook off the shock and forced herself to maintain her composure.

”It’s about who?... What do you mean by that? There’s only me, an old goblin with frail bones, and a bunch of weak goblins.”

Raghul leaned closer to the barrier, his expression taking on an eerie calm as he studied her through the shimmering mana.

”Tell me then.”

His eyes remained fixed on Flogga.

”Would Eli be heartbroken if I killed you and everyone inside?”

His smile widened slightly.

”Because I’m pretty certain he would.”