YM778.TV Chapter 104: The March North
As they advanced, the remnants of battle and disease marked their path. Hobgoblin bodies, rotting from the virulent illness that had decimated their ranks, littered the ground.
At that moment, Rain was profoundly grateful for Hana\'s ingenuity in producing a cure and Pup\'s discovery of the beetle that had made it possible to win this war and survive the otherwise deathly cough. Without their timely intervention, his own forces might have succumbed to the same dreadful fate.
The barren wasteland was eerily devoid of beasts, as if the creatures sensed the war\'s approach and hid away to avoid becoming fodder for the armies.
Rain deduced that his campaign might last a month or two, but he had an idea that would save them time and ensure they wouldn\'t go hungry.
However, as of now, their immediate goal was to stop at the Hobgoblin King\'s lair.
King Kraggul must have had immense faith in Generals Varkis and Gralnor, along with their ten thousand strong army, for he didn\'t expect them to be defeated. Confident in their strength, Kraggul had left his kingdom with only a few soldiers to defend it.
King Kraggul hadn\'t anticipated any attack from the south, leaving his kingdom largely unguarded.
However, the Hobgoblin kingdom was not simple to conquer. Set deep underground, it featured a labyrinthine network of tunnels, a fortress of darkness and stone.
Rain and his forces approached the entrance to the underground stronghold with caution. The terrain above was desolate, but the entrance to the lair loomed like a gaping maw in the earth.
The Seadwellers, with their naval expertise, adapted quickly to the new challenge of subterranean warfare.
As they descended into the dark tunnels, the air grew colder and the sense of danger more felt. The tunnels twisted and turned, a maze designed to confuse and ensnare invaders.
The Hobgoblin\'s lair was immense, yet it couldn\'t possibly house the entirety of the Hobgoblin horde. Rain surmised that other lairs were scattered throughout the wasteland, with their inhabitants converging underground only when it was time to strike.
Despite this, Rain was certain this was their capital, the stronghold where the Hobgoblin King resided. It was imperative to destroy this heart of their power, ensuring that the Hobgoblins could no longer rally under one banner.
Dismantling this central lair would be a crippling blow to the Hobgoblin forces, scattering them and sowing chaos among their ranks.
As they ventured deeper into the underground labyrinth, the sounds of battle echoed through the corridors. The few Hobgoblin soldiers left to defend the lair fought fiercely, but they were no match for the combined might of Rain\'s forces.
The Seadwellers, adept in both land and sea combat, quickly overwhelmed the defenders, their weapons flashing in the dim light of the tunnels.
Suddenly, Rain\'s voice rang out urgently. "Wait. What are you doing?" he called, drawing General Varlox\'s attention just as he was about to strike down a Hobgoblin child.
General Varlox stared at Rain, his voice cold. "Killing all the Hobgoblins as you ordered, my lord."
Rain found himself momentarily speechless. He looked around and saw the area was filled with women, children, and the elderly. His resolve crumbled in the face of their innocence.
General Varlox, however, remained steadfast. "If you don\'t kill them now, they will regroup and hold grudges against you. In the future, they might pose a threat to your rule. It\'s better to kill them now."
Rain hesitated, torn between ruthlessness and mercy. General Varlox was right, but was it right? .net
~Chi . . .~
\'My Lord . . .\'
Everyone awaited Rain\'s decision.
The scared and helpless faces of the Hobgoblin women and children haunted Rain\'s mind, weighing heavily on his heart. They were innocent, that much was true. However, he was certain that if the situation were reversed, the Hobgoblins would have killed everyone in his village, including women, children, and the elderly.
The right thing to do was to eliminate the seed so they could never grow again.
"General Varlox . . . everyone," Rain finally said.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Step aside."
General Varlox and the others were stunned at Rain\'s proclamation.
"My Lord?"
"You don\'t mean to spare them, right, my lord?" the general asked while Chi frowned and berated the Seadweller.
\'How dare you question our lord\'s order!\'
"It\'s fine, Chi." Rain faced General Varlox with a serious expression. "General, I understand your concern, but these aren\'t soldiers. I don\'t know whether my decision is right or wrong, but . . . I want to be a lord who doesn\'t go around massacring the innocent.
"But of course, your point is valid too. That\'s why . . ." Rain approached the scared Hobgoblins and offered a hand. "Join me and live. Refuse and die."
Everyone was stunned by Rain\'s declaration yet again, but his seriousness left no room for doubt.
"My Lord, are you sure?" General Varlox asked.
Rain nodded. "Instead of making them prisoners and risking a rebellion, I plan to make them swear to the universe to serve and be loyal to me. As servants in my village, you will be treated equally. You will have shelter and food, but in return, you will help in the village and receive equal wages. I think that\'s only fair, right?"
Every Hobgoblin present looked at each other, unsure.
"This is your only way out. Swear fealty to me and live, or refuse and die. Your choice." Rain knew that making everyone here swear to the universe to serve and be loyal to him was the only way to save the children and women without compromising his safety.
This deal was a win-win for them. He needed more villagers to replace those ravaged by disease and to rebuild after the explosion that had destroyed their village.
General Varlox took a deep breath and turned to face the Hobgoblins, hiding a smile. "You heard my lord. What are your answers?"
Within seconds, almost all of the Hobgoblins went on their knees and bowed deeply until their forehead touched the ground to pledge fealty to Rain, the lord of Silverstone Oasis.