Chapter 98: What Are You Afraid Of?
"Ah!"
A scream rang out.
Several Pigmen were struck by crossbow bolts.
The bolts pierced into their plump bodies.
Although they penetrated deeply, they didn't inflict fatal injuries.
Their layers of fat effectively protected their vulnerable internal organs.
The wounded Pigmen became even more frenzied.
With bloodshot eyes, they charged at the Goblins.
"Wa-haha, die!"
The massive Gobu Di was like a heavy tank.
The moment it saw the Pigmen, it launched a charge.
Its barreling body, like a mountain of flesh, pressed toward the Pigmen.
Two fearless Pigmen rushed to meet it head-on.
Gobu Di grinned hideously, raising its spiked club to smash down on one of them.
"Stand back! Leave it to me!"
A thunderous shout rang out.
A stronger Pigman darted past the two others.
It charged forward, wielding a large cleaver to counter the spiked club.
Clang!
A piercing clash of metal echoed through the forest.
The spiked club collided with the cleaver.
Sparks flew as both combatants were forced back two steps.
The impact from the spiked club left Gobu Di's hands trembling.
The Pigman, known as Pig Gutwater, fared no better.
Its right hand, clutching the cleaver, also quivered.
"Again!"
Gobu Di grinned savagely.
It charged forward again, swinging its spiked club.
Unwilling to back down, Pig Gutwater rushed to meet it.
Their weapons clashed repeatedly.
Once, twice, three times!
Their strikes grew faster and faster.
Both warriors adjusted their footwork continuously, seeking an opening in their opponent's defense.
The rapid swings of their weapons stirred up gusts of wind.
The force was palpable even to bystanders nearby.
While the leaders were locked in fierce combat, Goblins and Pigmen clashed as well.
The dim forest echoed with chaos.
The Goblins' screeches and the Pigmen's roars intertwined.
The Pigmen warriors were undeniably strong.
Even with their powerful crossbows, the Goblins couldn't secure a decisive advantage.
Despite their numbers being several times that of the Pigmen, they couldn't end the battle swiftly.
In the dark forest, the gruesome fight raged on.
Each Pigman faced off against multiple Goblins.
They also had to remain wary of the occasional whistling crossbow bolts.
Many Pigmen, pierced and bloodied by Goblin spears, still refused to fall.
Meanwhile, their cleavers were stained with Goblin blood.
A single cleaver strike from a Pigman was often lethal to a Goblin.
However, as more Goblins poured in from all directions,
the balance shifted.
The Pigmen, once evenly matched, began to falter.
"Accursed green-skinned trash, get lost!"
Amid the chaotic battlefield, a Pigman roared furiously.
It stepped forward and slashed a Goblin across the shoulder.
"Ah!"
The Goblin screamed in agony,
its body nearly cleaved in two.
It fell lifelessly to the ground.
Its death did not intimidate the surrounding Goblins.
They screeched and charged in.
Their spears stabbed into the Pigman's body with force.
The spearheads sank halfway in.
The Pigman howled, staggered, and fell heavily to the ground, never to rise again.
Its body was riddled with bloody holes.
Clang!
At that moment, a sharp metallic clash pierced the air.
The leaders' duel reached its climax.
A massive cleaver flew through the air.
It soared over ten meters before embedding itself into a tree with a "thunk."
"Die!"
Gobu Di roared with excitement.
It swung its spiked club down on Pig Gutwater's head.
If the blow landed, Pig Gutwater's skull would undoubtedly shatter.
"Elder!"
Suddenly, a Pigman rushed forward.
It lunged, knocking Pig Gutwater aside,
and used its own body to absorb the blow.
Crunch!
The massive spiked club struck the Pigman's head.
The Pigman's head burst like a watermelon,
blood and flesh splattering everywhere.
Its crushed body was driven into the ground by the force of the club.
"Accursed Goblins!"
Pig Gutwater's eyes burned with fury at the sight.
"Elder, retreat! Retreat!"
Two Pigmen rushed forward, forcibly dragging Pig Gutwater toward the depths of the forest.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Reluctantly, Pig Gutwater issued the command to withdraw.
It blew the whistle hanging around its neck.
Tweet! Tweet!
The sharp whistle echoed through the forest.
The Pigmen, snapping out of their combat frenzy,
abandoned their enemies and retreated, bloodied, into the forest depths.
"Wa-wa!"
The Goblins erupted in gleeful shouts at the fleeing Pigmen.
They rushed after them in pursuit.
But after a short chase, the Pigmen disappeared without a trace.
Though the Goblins could track their scent,
they knew the Pigmen's settlement was nearby.
Pursuing further would risk drawing more Pigmen into the fray.
"Boss, boss, they ran away!"
With the Pigmen gone, the dark forest fell silent.
Gobu Di chewed on a Pigman's severed head with relish.
A large chunk of skin tore off with each bite.
Seeing their leader eat so heartily, the Goblins swallowed hungrily.
"Let them run! Clean up the battlefield, eat, and drink to your heart's content!"
The surrounding Goblins' eyes lit up.
They screeched and pounced on the corpses littering the ground.
The returning Goblins, who had been chasing the Pigmen, cursed but joined the feast.
For a while, eerie chewing and gnawing sounds filled the dim forest.
---
Pigmen Settlement
In the afternoon, inside the largest wooden hut.
"I can't take it anymore! Those damned Goblins—I'll tear them apart and boil them for soup!"
A furious roar echoed through the wooden hut.
Sitting at the head seat, Pig Da Qiang glared at Pig Da Zhi, panting heavily.
"Those disgusting Goblins have invaded our doorstep, Pig Da Zhi. Do you still want us to wait and do nothing?"
Pig Da Qiang clenched its fists tightly, its face flushed with anger.
It had made up its mind.
If Pig Da Zhi spouted nonsense again,
Pig Da Qiang would teach it a lesson with its fists.
Facing the chief's fiery gaze, Pig Da Zhi grinned.
"Then we won't wait. We'll clean out the Goblins in the surrounding forest first!"
Pig Da Qiang was momentarily stunned by the agreement.
It hadn't expected Pig Da Zhi to concede so easily.
"Chief, we can fight, but we mustn't venture too deep into the forest.
Our forces are limited; we can't afford a reckless westward advance."
Pig Da Qiang rubbed its bald head,
casting a puzzled look at Pig Da Zhi.
"Sage, what are you afraid of?"