NoveLight ™
[Random Trait Activation!]
[‘Chaos’ initiates hyper-evolution!]
Boom!
The first wave of enemies landed on the capital.
As soon as they hit the ground, the fragments split apart like amoebas.
[Corrupted Goblin Lv.53] X 519
Kieeeek!
Dozens of goblins emerged from each fragment.
Their red eyes gleamed as they advanced toward the capital.
[Corrupted Goblin Lv.53] X 1032
“What… what are those?”
Pria’s jaw dropped.
Well, it would be shocking to see slime creatures morph into monsters.
[Corrupted Goblin Lv.53] X 2643
In an instant, a goblin horde filled the main street.
“It’s a random trait.”
“A random trait?”
“They have different patterns every time they come.”
Let’s see.
This time, the traits were immortality and self-evolution.
‘…Damn it.’
Only the most troublesome ones showed up.
I spun my sword.
<Fortify your positions!>
Rodrick thrust his command sword outward.
<First Corps, guard the north gate; Second Corps, the south gate; Third Corps, the west gate. As for the east gate…>
“We’ll take it.”
Rodrick nodded.
The palace was composed of the central structure surrounded by walls.
There was one entrance at each of the four gates: east, west, south, and north. It would take a single party, three people, to block each narrow entryway.
“Commence fortification!”
「Initiate.」
From the 150th to the 155th party.
The 7th Assault Unit, composed entirely of mage engineers, began their chants in unison.
Threads of magic extended around the capital, lifting debris of stone and wood.
「Assemble.」
Clack. Clack clack.
Like fitting together Tetris blocks, the materials stacked atop the palace walls.
Stones and wood were chiseled and reshaped, forming ballistae and cannons.
‘This time is different.’
With mage engineers, fortifications could be rebuilt repeatedly.
Heroes stationed on the walls manned the weapons’ sights.
<Fire!>
Boom!
A deafening roar followed as shots were fired at the western avenue of the capital.
Hundreds of goblins caught in the blast were reduced to pulp.
<Fire!>
Wiiiiiing.
A massive purple orb hovered in the sky.
The combined A-rank spell of elementalists, the Sixth Element. The mana projectile drew an unusual trajectory, sweeping through the goblins on the northern avenue.
“Hmm, maybe it’s not as difficult as I thought…?”
Jenna scratched her cheek.
I shook my head.
“They don’t die.”
“What?”
“Just so you know, they have the immortality trait.”
As the dust settled, the scene on the avenue became visible.
Goblin corpses lay strewn across the shattered street.
But soon, pieces of flesh and bone turned into liquid and gathered in one place.
“Kieeeee!”
[Corrupted Goblin Lv.53] X 2834
Not only did they resurrect, but fragments kept falling from the sky, endlessly increasing the number of goblins.
<Fire!>
Papapapap!
Arrows shot by the archers filled the sky.
Hundreds of arrows struck the goblins’ vital spots, but the creatures trudged forward undeterred.
“Listen up!”
I shouted.
All the heroes gathered in the capital turned their attention to me.
“Against them, cutting, piercing, or explosive attacks are useless. They regenerate quickly. If you want to subdue them…”
I reached out my hand.
Zap! Crimson lightning sparked at my fingertips.
“Kraaa!”
A goblin beyond the gate was pulled toward me.
Crunch! I broke its neck, twisting its limbs backward.
The goblin collapsed limply.
“Crush their bodies completely. It’ll slow down their regeneration.”
“Regeneration…?”
“Yes, regeneration. Spread the word to everyone else unless you want to die.”
“Understood!”
A young man wielding a spear rushed off.
Velkist muttered.
“No cutting or piercing?”
“Beat them down.”
Clack.
I sheathed my Bifrost.
“We’ll take care of the east gate defense. Delay as much as possible, and move when there’s a chance.”
“Han! What should I do?”
Pria approached in small steps.
“You… prepare your dimensional sword.”
“Dimensional sword?”
“You’ll definitely need it. Be ready to act when I signal.”
“Understood!”
“Let’s go.”
I walked forward.
‘With the immortality trait…’
It was better to engage them at the front line.
The defensive formation would inevitably have to retreat over time.
“Is the gate not closing?”
Jenna cranked the pulley, but the wide-open gate wouldn’t budge.
Another mission constraint. Likely a restriction to prevent exploits.
Woosh!
I dashed out onto the avenue.
The leading goblin in the line met my gaze.
“First time since the 10th floor, huh?”
A familiar face.
Thwack! I struck the goblin’s neck with my sheathed sword.
The goblin, its head twisted 180 degrees, toppled forward.
Twitch. Twitch, twitch.
‘Still not dead.’
Well, even so, they were still goblins, the lowest-tier monsters.
Annoying, sure, but immortality wasn’t a major problem.
Not for me, nor for the Townia heroes defending the other gates.
But the real problem was…
[※Warning!]
[Certain entities have begun ‘self-evolution’!]
Far away, several goblins exhibiting strange movements burst out in a spray of blood.
Black tar-like solids pierced their green skin.
Soon, their forms changed.
[Corrupted Orc Lv.54] X 18
“Uooo!”
Towering over like adult men, these orcs were muscular and wielded axes.
They were 2nd-tier monsters.
[※Warning!]
[Certain entities have begun ‘self-evolution’!]
The evolution didn’t stop there.
[Corrupted Lizardman Lv.59] X 9
[Certain entities have begun ‘self-evolution’!]
[Certain entities have begun ‘self-evolution’…]
They continued to shed their shells, evolving further each time.
And then.
[Corrupted Red Dragon Lv.99]
Boom!
A foot covered in red scales shook the ground.
Ten meters tall, its enormous yellow eyes glared at me.
‘Did it evolve to the highest tier in one go?’
“Craaaaa!”
It roared, opening its massive maw.
Known as the Red Dragon, it hadn’t appeared in Townia yet, but it was one of the most dangerous monsters rated in Pick Me Up!
[※Warning!]
[Certain entities have begun ‘self-evolution’!]
[Certain entities have begun ‘self-evolution’…]
Elsewhere, more goblins convulsed as they prepared to evolve.