Chương 76: Instant Kill

The kobolds inside the main chamber each had their own tasks. Some shattered stone. Some planned out new tunnel routes. Others hauled away rubble. The entire cavern buzzed with organized activity. At this pace, it wouldn't take more than a couple of weeks for them to transform the abandoned mine into a sprawling labyrinth. Standing among them was a kobold that was unmistakably different. A Giant Kobold. It paced back and forth like a foreman supervising the workers.

Nearly as tall as Marcus, its body bulged with thick muscle, and a massive iron mining pick dragged behind it. Adventurers' Guild Universal Monster Guide [Sequence 32] Giant Kobold Threat Rating: [Difficult] Appearance: A rare mutant among kobolds, believed by some scholars to be the result of ancestral bloodline reversion. Far larger than ordinary kobolds, they can grow to nearly two meters in height.

Behavior: Shares the same habits as normal kobolds, but Giant Kobolds typically serve as the absolute leaders of their tribes. Special Traits: Possesses immense physical strength proportional to its size, allowing it to wield enormous mining picks or even stone pillars as weapons. When driven into extreme rage, its eyes turn crimson and its strength increases dramatically. Primary Weakness: An ordinary flesh-and-blood body. Can be killed through conventional means. Guild Note: Do not engage one head-on alone.

The recommended strategy is to have the party's vanguard pin it in place while ranged members focus all fire to eliminate it before it enters its berserk state. Besides the Giant Kobold patrolling the central chamber, another freshly excavated tunnel stretched away from the cavern's right side. Deep within it came a series of guttural growls, far louder than those of ordinary kobolds. Without question... The second Giant Kobold was still inside, digging out more tunnels.

Now they knew exactly where both of the tribe's greatest threats were. The situation had become much clearer. After taking in the layout, everyone quietly pulled back behind the tunnel wall. Using the sound of pickaxes striking stone as cover, Marcus whispered, This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

"How do we open?"

"I'll start it." Zelier had already decided.

"I'll charge an Arcane Missile and take out the Giant Kobold in the main chamber first."

"After that, stick to our usual tactics and clear the rest." Then he looked toward Lante.

"Lante."

"I don't expect much from you."

"Watch the battlefield."

"If you think someone needs help, cast a spell to support them."

"R-Right!" Lante nodded vigorously, though the tension in his body remained obvious. Even his breathing had become uneven.

"Remember." Zelier gave one final reminder.

"Don't move until I attack." Everyone acknowledged with quiet nods. They waited. Zelier slowly raised his ashwood staff and aimed directly at the Giant Kobold. The kobolds in the chamber trusted the traps they'd laid throughout the tunnels completely. Every one of them remained focused on their work. Not a single kobold bothered glancing toward the entrance. Threads of blue mana gathered before the staff. Thanks to Marven's guidance, the construction of the Arcane Missile flowed far more smoothly than before.

Mana surged through its designated pathways. Within moments... A brilliant diamond-shaped projectile condensed into existence. Only then did one unusually sharp-eyed kobold notice something was wrong.... Wait. Why is there mana gathering nearby? It stopped working and glanced around in confusion. Its gaze landed on Zelier standing at the tunnel entrance. Too late. Arcane Missile. BOOOOOOM!! A blinding flash of blue erupted from the spell. For an instant, it overwhelmed even the torchlight filling the chamber.

Violent mana ripped through the air as the projectile screamed toward its target. BANG!! The explosion drowned out the sound of pickaxes completely. The entire cavern shook violently. Dust and gravel rained from the ceiling. The Arcane Missile struck the Giant Kobold dead center. Smoke and debris exploded outward— But the cloud wasn't merely gray. Dark crimson blood mist mixed into the blast. Silence fell across the chamber. The kobolds stared blankly, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

As the smoke slowly cleared... Half of the Giant Kobold's body was simply... Gone. Chunks of mangled flesh and blackened bone littered the floor around it, splattering the nearby walls. The Giant Kobold was killed instantly. At the same moment— Marcus roared.

"ATTACK!!" He exploded out of the tunnel first, instantly drawing every kobold's attention. Grey followed a heartbeat later, his sword flashing from its scabbard.

"Grah! Waka-waka!" (Humans! Humans are here!)"Kee-kee!" (Kill them!) The orderly construction site dissolved into complete chaos. Recovering from their initial shock, the kobolds snatched up their weapons and charged Marcus with shrill battle cries. Marcus's charge was unstoppable. His superior size and raw strength sent two kobolds flying the instant they tried to block his path. His battle blade swept downward. Each crushing strike split their crude weapons—and the kobolds holding them—in half.

Grey protected Marcus's flanks. Precise thrusts. Swift sweeping cuts. Any kobold attempting to ambush Marcus died before it could even reach him. Behind them, Vaelis calmly drew his bow. He didn't even bother using Thunder Bolt. A trace of aura infused into each arrow was already more than enough. Thwip! Every arrow he loosed claimed another kobold surrounding Marcus. No shot was wasted. Cyr, meanwhile, continued fighting exactly as she always had. The frontal assault barely required her assistance.

Instead, she silently drifted along the edges of the battlefield. The first thing she did was seal off every narrow side tunnel that offered an escape route. Any kobold foolish enough to approach those passages lost its head before realizing she'd been there. The extermination proceeded with practiced precision. The sheer violence unfolding before his eyes left Lante completely frozen. He gripped his staff so tightly his palms were soaked with sweat. His mind... Had gone completely blank.

He had no idea what he was supposed to do. Zelier noticed immediately. But he said nothing. For a young noble who had lived his entire life in comfort... This reaction was perfectly normal. He wasn't expecting Lante to contribute much anyway. As long as the boy stayed alive, that was enough. Zelier ignored the battle raging behind him. His entire focus remained fixed on the newly excavated tunnel. Thud. Thud. Thud. Heavy footsteps echoed from deep within. Growing louder. Closer. Faster.

The second Giant Kobold had clearly heard the commotion outside. It was rushing back to reinforce its tribe. Zelier silently calculated the timing.... Perfect.