Chapter 86: The Lizardman Army Attacks
"Captain, how do you think the airship crashed?"
Odyssey took the crystal from Rachel's hand and looked at her curiously.
"Rachel, did you discover something?"
Perhaps Rachel had found clues within the cabin.
Rachel turned to look at the wreckage of the airship.
"The wreckage has numerous openings, clearly pierced by some sort of sharp weapon."
Pierced by a sharp weapon?
Rachel's words made the four companions scrutinize the remains of the airship.
Indeed, the wreckage had many pierced areas.
"A sharp weapon? Could the airship have encountered some powerful flying magical beast?"
Payes speculated that some flying magical beasts might also create such openings.
"Now that the airship's crash is confirmed, our mission is complete. Let's go!"
There was no further point in investigating the crash site.
Months had already passed.
In a place like Goblin Forest, all traces would have been wiped out.
The people onboard were likely eaten clean by the magical beasts of the forest, leaving no bones behind.
Afterward, Odyssey led his companions deeper into the forest.
"Good, good, hurry and leave. Don't come back! Next time, you won't be so lucky!"
At this moment, Li Meng, hiding deep within the forest, smirked as he spied on the adventurer squad.
Seeing them leave, Li Meng, perched on a tree, revealed a satisfied grin.
If he hadn't feared drawing in those two powerful individuals, he wouldn't have let the adventurer squad go so easily.
Now, Li Meng only wanted them gone so he could focus on the upcoming series of events.
For the next two days, Li Meng trailed the adventurer squad from a distance.
To avoid being discovered, he kept his distance very far.
On the third morning, in the forest south of Goblin River.
Odyssey and his team pushed a small hidden boat from the woods into the water.
Standing on the shore, Rachel cast a wary glance toward the forest depths.
"Rachel, what's wrong? Get on the boat!"
The other four were already aboard, waiting for Rachel.
"I'm coming!"
Rachel turned and hurried onto the boat.
As the oars moved, the boat gradually floated downstream.
"Captain, it felt like something was following us these past two days!"
Not until the boat was far from the shore did Rachel finally take a deep breath.
Something following them?
The four exchanged glances, but Odyssey's expression remained thoughtful.
As the boat disappeared from the river's surface, a burly green figure emerged from the forest where the five had launched.
Watching the boat fade away, Li Meng grinned grimly.
"Finally, those troublemakers are gone."
Li Meng had already figured out how to resolve the returning issues.
If he sped up the timeline, he would have ample time to handle any threats.
Soon, the figure vanished from the shore.
---
That afternoon, in the Goblin Nest.
Li Meng hurried out of the forest and entered the cave.
"Boss, what about those adventurers?"
Seeing the leader return, Gobu Tian eagerly approached.
Recalling the recent battle with humans, Gobu Tian's face revealed a greedy expression.
Human meat was too delicious.
Once tasted, it could never be forgotten.
"They've left. Don't mess with them—they're not to be trifled with. Even ten of you would be courting death."
Goblins were good for nothing but their numbers.
When he first arrived in this world, Li Meng had thought Gobuba was strong, perhaps among the world's top combatants.
Only now did he realize what he thought was the pinnacle was merely the starting point of this world's power.
Gobu Tian shrank his neck and gave an embarrassed smile.
It had witnessed the strength of human adventurers from afar during that night's battle.
In just a moment, the humans had killed forty of its underlings.
"Gobu Tian, remove all the magic crystals from the wall and send them to the Throne Cave Dwelling."
Gobu Tian quickly nodded.
Though it didn't know what the boss wanted with those shiny crystals, it didn't ask.
After all, those things were useless on the wall anyway.
"I need to head back. Gobu Tian, go stay at the Throne Tribe for a while. The goblin population here must remain around two thousand."
The Goblin Nest's hunting territory was vast enough to support that many goblins without issue.
Currently, the Goblin Nest's population was under seven hundred.
Gobu Tian nodded excitedly.
Li Meng didn't linger in the Goblin Nest and soon left.
---
Hours later, before nightfall, on the south bank of Goblin River.
"Huh, it still hasn't melted?"
As Li Meng emerged from the forest, he was startled by the scene before him.
After so many days, the ice path was still intact.
It showed no signs of melting.
Due to the lowered water level in recent days, the ice had been suspended above the river's surface, with both banks becoming its sole points of support.
Even so, the ice path remained unbroken.
"An upgraded skill truly is powerful!"
True to its "King" title, the skill lived up to its name.
With a grin, Li Meng stepped onto the ice and crossed to the opposite bank.
---
Northern Marshlands.
Afternoon, Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
With Gobu Di and Gobu Shi leading reinforcements, the goblin forces stationed at the stronghold reached four thousand.
Adding in roughly two thousand lizardmen, the total population of the Wooden Stockade Stronghold swelled to six thousand.
This made the stronghold crowded.
The afternoon was usually the most tranquil time at the stronghold.
But suddenly, loud goblin cries erupted from the southern wooden wall.
"Hoo!"
A deep war horn followed immediately.
The sound of the horn threw the entire stronghold into chaos, like a drop of water hitting a hot pan.
The Wooden Stockade Stronghold boiled with activity.
Numerous goblins poured out of huts large and small, yelling and rushing toward the southern wooden wall.
At the same time, in the southern marshlands.
In a deeper water area, ripples appeared across the surface.
Beneath the water, fleeting black shadows could be seen.
At the edge of the deeper waters, countless lizardmen emerged, standing upright and wading ashore.
Soon, a dense mass of lizardmen covered the land, their numbers growing as more emerged from the water.
Before long, a vast army of nearly five thousand lizardmen had formed in the marshlands south of the stronghold.
Stretching over nearly a kilometer of water, the sheer number was staggering.
Though their formation wasn't organized, their presence alone radiated immense power.
"They've finally arrived!"
On a southern watchtower at the stronghold, Gobu Di grinned ferociously as he gazed at the overwhelming lizardman army.
He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Today, the lizardman army was finally here.
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