The conclusions drawn were as follows:
'Breeding' is a dark event that clones ordinary monsters to increase their numbers.
Moreover, since the dark event wasn't utilized from Stage 11 to 14, its application in this Stage 15 was exponentially stronger. Therefore,
"...Ultimately, it is expected to increase by about twice the amount..."
Ordinary monsters - the level 15 goblins had doubled in number.
Fortunately, the elite monsters seemed to be unaffected by this dark event.
The Goblin God-King, Goblin Amir, and Goblin Janissaries would come in the originally marked numbers.
Still, in conclusion, their numbers had swelled to an absurd quantity... nearly 50,000.
With trembling hands, I ran my fingers through my hair and muttered for the first time in a while.
"Dammit, fuck..."
It's not like I curse a lot. The game's difficulty setting is just so shitty that it makes me swear. Damn it...!
But hurling curses doesn't clear the game.
Ultimately, it's the player's lot to shovel and slog through the mire. I opened my eyes wide.
"What can you do to help on a systemic level?"
"[Gardis' Blessing], and that's about all with the achievement shop..."
"Even that's something. Open up the achievement shop functions to their fullest extent."
Regrettably, the achievement shop functions are mostly skewed towards dungeon exploration. There's hardly any points to use for defense battles.
Still, I'm planning to make use of whatever little there is.
"It seems we've pulled together every measure we can within the city, now it's time to look... outside the city."
It was time to request reinforcements from beyond Crossroad. I instructed Aider.
"Send requests for reinforcements to all cities and neighboring nations that can dispatch troops within three weeks. Tell them Prince Ash will not forget their assistance."
"Got it!"
Aider began to busily draft the documents. His hands would hurt from scattering official documents to all cities within a round-trip distance of three weeks.
"If we fall, their cities are next, threaten them outright! Got it?"
"Understood... But aren't you going to request support from the Imperial Capital or your brothers?"
"Like they would care to listen?"
The empire was currently in the midst of a civil war. They wouldn't bother with a 'mere' goblin outbreak.
And it's a painful realization, but I declared a solo policy myself.
Above all, I've come to intuit from the last incident.
Fernandez is an enemy on this monster front.
Asking for reinforcements from Lark, who opposes such Fernandez, might weaken our strength and potentially have adverse effects in the long run.
So, what choice is there but to reach out to other cities and to the minor city-states on the periphery?
I decided to request reinforcements from all cities and neighboring nations to the south, west, and east. The scope had broadened before I knew it.
After narrowing down the list of recipients, it was as if I was sending a New Year's letter to nearly the whole world.
"And..."
After a moment of hesitation, I spoke up.
"Send official documents to the autonomous districts of other races, too."
"Eh? Are you requesting reinforcements from the autonomous districts of other races too?"
"No. There's no way they have the capacity to send reinforcements under their dire circumstances... It's just a courtesy call."
A real New Year's letter indeed.
But they're potential contacts I might need to approach at some point. Might as well establish a connection now.
"Write that I wish to maintain good relations with them. That I hope we can meet and talk in person soon."
I tapped the table with my fingers and let out a sigh.
"Write it like that. Don't mention requesting reinforcements."
"Okay. Understood!"
"Good, that's enough for outside the city."
I rose to my feet.
"Time to head to the last place where I can muster strength."
***
It was nearing midnight.
I found myself in the Lake Kingdom dungeon, at the base camp. I had to make use of all the support I could muster here.
Verdandi and the Holy Grail Seekers immediately promised to join forces.
"If Crossroad falls, our Elven autonomous district is in danger too. We'll naturally lend our aid!"
"Thank you, Verdandi."
The Holy Grail Seekers are a versatile damage-dealing party, adept at handling monsters, composed of the elven princess and her personal guards, skilled in both close and long-range combat.
Moreover, Elves are sworn enemies of the Greenskins. They deal additional damage when fighting orcs and goblins.
Of course, they receive additional damage when hit as well.
Anyway, their help will be significant. I shook hands firmly with Verdandi.
"And, it's a bit brazen to ask, but... could you also request the wandering adventurers here to join the battle?"
"It must be quite urgent. Understood."
Verdandi smiled warmly, her eyes dotted with tears.
"The fate of the outer world hangs in the balance. I'll seek as much help as I can."
Feeling it was not enough just to thank her, I grasped Verdandi's hands with both of mine. I'll bring you sunflower seeds in a truck...
"Ahem...! Maybe I should lend some muscle?"
Kellibey, who had been watching, rolled up his short sleeves and flexed his biceps in a show of strength. I grinned.
"While it would be like gaining a mighty army if a Master Smith like yourself entered the battlefield... I think it would be more helpful if you continued to craft equipment here."
Not that Kellibey's combat power was low.
But it would be a greater loss if this supremely unique magical blacksmith were to suffer an unexpected accident on the front lines. Please just stay here and craft weapons and armor quietly.
"Your Highness, I can join the front lines now, too!"
Hannibal, whom I had assigned as Kellibey's assistant, burst forth excitedly. I shook my head emphatically.
"Wait until after your birthday."
It would be a different story if we were using the Korean age system, but here, one only ages after their birthday has passed.
You're still fifteen, and the monster front only allows those sixteen and up to join.
Both Kellibey and Hannibal looked downcast. The two of similar short statures looked somewhat comical standing there dejectedly.
While there, I placed various equipment orders with Kellibey. Instead of a few high-grade pieces, I requested as many of the slightly lower-grade items as possible.
I made armor orders a top priority.
The other parties had more or less completed their equipment farming, but the newly joined Leprosy Extermination Squad, despite being a tank party, was inadequately equipped. They needed something to wear.
Next was Coco the Severer's turn.
I made my way to old Coco's magical workshop. As usual, Coco was furiously boiling something over her magic cauldron.
"..."
The old witch glanced at me with eyes deep as a well. The giant mouth of the witch split into a grin from side to side.
"You've got the eyes of someone scheming, young prince."
"..."
"What assistance do you require?"
I took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
I had decided to become the tyrant of this game.
To win, I would become a transcendental being that ignores laws, justice, principles, and norms.
To stand upon the ruins of rules, using every available trick to defeat the monsters. To save even one more person, I was ready to do whatever it took.
Though it sounded grandiose, in essence, it meant I was willing to use any loophole available.
"I need a teleport gate."
"The usual kind of gate you order?"
"No."
And to stop this absurdly large-scale goblin invasion, we too needed to play a big trick.
"An extra-large gate."
At my words, Coco the Severer's eyebrows playfully arched. I added once more.
"I need as many huge teleportation gates as possible, Grandma Coco."
***
After finishing my business, I was about to return to the Crossroad when a familiar face visited the base camp. I waved at her with a bright smile.
"Nameless!"
"Ash."
It was the dungeon merchant NPC, Nameless.
Approaching her, I flinched at her shoulder.
She wasn't usually one for cleanliness, but Nameless's current state was... a bit much.
Her body was smeared with green fluid and blood. Noticing my shock, Nameless awkwardly wiped the blood splattered on her cheek.
"Sorry about this. I was just... slicing through some monsters on my way here."
"You've had quite the battle?"
"It's an everyday occurrence."
I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to her. Gratefully accepting it, Nameless wiped her hands and face clean before continuing.
"It seems the 'Great Flood' this time involves a goblin legion."
"You already know."
"It's my duty to fend off monsters, after all. For the past five hundred years, I've been trying to prevent them from escaping the Lake Kingdom."
Nameless then added with a bitter note.
"Though I'm starting to reach my limits."
"..."
"I intend to reduce their numbers as much as possible this time too. However."
Nameless paused, looking at me.
"...Ash. Are you aware that the Goblin Legion is using the Orc Legion as slaves?"
"Kinda."
The Greenskin Alliance.
Usually, the physically superior orcs enslave the weaker goblins, but within the darkness of the Lake Kingdom, the story was different.
The Goblin Legion, led by Kali-Alexander, swiftly defeated the Orc Legion and now ruled over the survivors.
This was also perfectly implemented in the game.
The sight of big orcs groveling to tiny goblins was quite amusing to remember.
"The Goblin God-King intends to use the Orc Legion to stop me."
"What?"
"I've just had a skirmish with the Orc Legion on my way here."
Then that green fluid and blood spatter must be from the orcs.
"They are not an easy foe. Especially the Orc Emperor – he might not be in the top ranks, but he possesses formidable strength..."
I knew as well.
The Orc Emperor, 'Wrathmonger' Daimark, was also a well-known named character in the game.
He ignored all forms of rigidity and stuns, constantly in a Super-armor state, and could smash through our walls with his tremendous charging power – a broken train, that one.
Was such a creature targeting Nameless?
For me, who was inwardly counting on Nameless's help, it was a bitter pill.
The Orc Legion, though under the Goblin Legion, possessed strength not inferior to any other monster legion.
If they targeted Nameless with intent, even she might not be able to fend them off and stop the Goblin Legion.
"As a guardian and sentinel of the Lake Kingdom, it's shameful. I don't seem to have many ways to assist you."
"No, just holding off the Orc Legion is no small feat. Let's wish each other good luck."
I said with a grin.
Then Nameless rummaged through her belongings and pulled out a green dagger.
"It's embarrassing to call this a gift, but take it."
"What is this?"
It was a short dagger. Its green blade seemed to burn even in the darkness.
"This dagger – [Goblynch] – is meant for killing greenskins. In the ancient tongue, it means 'knife that skins the green hide.'"
"That's quite cool."
I took it and examined the options.
With an SSR-grade dagger in hand, its attack power was average, but it came with a special option that dealt an additional 200 percent damage to orcs and goblins.
"Isn't this weapon useful for you too?"
"I use nothing but this iron sword," Nameless said, tapping on the worn sword strapped to her back.
Well, considering that her sword could even shoot beams, there was no real need to bother with a dagger like this. I neatly stored the dagger in my inventory.
"I'll make good use of it. Thanks, Nameless."
"I only regret that I cannot be of more assistance. I will clear out the Orc Legion as quickly as possible and then focus on helping you."
"Don't worry about it too much. There are plenty of ways to annihilate those goblin brutes..."
Indeed.
If you step outside the rules, circumvent them, and broaden your way of thinking... there are numerous methods to slaughter the enemy.
By any means necessary, I will eradicate the goblins. Without fail.
As I silently vowed to myself, Nameless looked at me intently and said slowly,
"Ash... Don't go too far."
"...What?"
"Don't become a monster in the pursuit of killing monsters. Don't drink the darkness to dispel darkness."
Nameless stepped closer and whispered clearly,
"Don't end up like me."
Through her disheveled white hair, her eyes, blue as a lake, emitted a hollow light.
"You, at least you, must remain human."
Bewildered, I blinked.
What... What are you talking about all of a sudden?