Chapter 44 - 44 41 Displaying Strength_1

44: Chapter 41 Displaying Strength_1 44: Chapter 41 Displaying Strength_1 “Hou is coming woof…” “Run for it woof…” The Blackwell Gnolls, who were lined up for their meal, scattered. Some dove into the Blackwell Mine, others ran up the surrounding slopes, stuffing delicacies into their mouths as they fled; buffaloes were hard to come by on their tables. Only four did not run. More precisely, two humans, a Goblin, and a Gnoll. That Gnoll was none other than Gos, with his trembling legs a clear sign of the fear he felt for the imposing figure before him. As for why he didn’t run, Gos himself couldn’t say; he just felt like this wasn’t the time to flee. Gos, trying to keep his nerve, stepped forward and said, “Respected Lord Hou, we…” “You actually dared…” snarled Lord Hou, tossing aside his bulging backpack, “…to steal my tribute… You all deserve to die…” Swinging the Giant Wooden Club, he aimed a massive blow at Gos. The club in his hand was essentially a small tree uprooted, with its base crudely trimmed; even at its thinnest end, it was as thick as an adult’s arm. Rudimentary as it looked, it was thick and large, and coupled with the strength of the wielder, it possessed terrifying destructive power. If the blow landed, Gos would not merely suffer broken bones and torn muscles; he would be flattened on the spot. Gos had never imagined that Hou, who was usually communicative, would lose his mind upon seeing him today and start swinging a giant club at him. Gos kept backing up but was never able to evade the shadow of the incoming club. Just when Gos thought he was as good as dead, a large hand grabbed him by the neck and flung him out of harm’s way. After landing, Gos rolled several times. Boom! The Giant Wooden Club had hit where he had just been standing, kicking up a cloud of dust, and the strong rebound force made the club bounce up to half a man’s height. The human man stood to the right of the club, less than a step away; he had obviously been the one to throw Gos to safety. What was he thinking? Could he be planning to engage the Ogre in close combat? Had he gone mad? The Ogre towered nearly twice the man’s height, had fists larger than the man’s head, and arms thicker than his waist; its strength could snap small trees. Even the wildest Barbarian wouldn’t dare to grapple with such a monster at close range. The wisest choice would have been for the Goblin Sorcerer behind him to bombard the Ogre with Magic. But the human’s next move left Gos even more dumbstruck, his eyeballs nearly popping out of his skull. The human man had the Goblin Sorcerer transform him into a Gnoll. He wasn’t just planning to grapple; he was going to do it in the guise of a Gnoll. The man, now a Gnoll, was wielding a Long Spear, the most common weapon among Gnolls. He wielded the ordinary Gnoll Long Spear with a flurry of movements, his now diminutive stature darting about the Ogre’s feet. He alternated between thrusts and swings, all focused on a single leg. While fighting, the man-turned-Gnoll shouted in the Gnoll’s tongue, “These big guys woof, they look scary woof, but they have a fatal weakness woof, which is their slow speed woof. As long as you keep up with the rhythm woof, their Attacks are easy to Dodge woof, especially this kind of circular club-swinging, it’s just stupid woof. Before the club lands woof, I have enough time to stab him several times woof. With his Strength, there’s no need for him to charge up like that woof. He should go for short, quick blows, trying to hit me woof, just one hit and he could flatten me woof. “This spear is most suited for thrusting, especially against these thick-skinned brutes. Don’t expect to penetrate with a single thrust—you don’t have the strength for that. As long as you keep jabbing the same spot, sooner or later it will have an effect.” “But I recommend the slashing tactic even more. By doing so, you’ll continually hit the muscles in his legs, causing pain and eventually impairing his movements.” “When it comes to the most suitable combat style for Gnolls, it is short weapons, particularly dual blades, to make the most of your short stature and agility. Just sever their tendons, and their fighting power will be reduced by sixty percent.” “Shields are the least recommended. When facing opponents taller and stronger than you, never try to block—that’s like using your weakness to challenge their strength. Evading and making it impossible for them to hit you is the correct approach.” “Don’t forget your tails—they are your third point of attack and the most powerful means at your disposal, especially when you’re spinning, adding more force and the element of surprise.” “However, remember, such attacks must always catch the enemy off guard. When you deliberately gather strength, you give up your greatest advantage and the enemy can seize the opportunity. Any mistake can be fatal.” In just a few minutes, the man who had transformed into a Gnoll had cycled through four or five different weapons, handling each with practiced ease—thrusting, chopping, cleaving, and piercing as smoothly as flowing water. Hou, livid with rage, swung his Giant Wooden Club with a buzzing sound and constantly bent over trying to grab at the Gnolls bouncing around his feet. But compared to the man transformed into a Gnoll, the burly and strong Hou moved clumsily like a large bear, missing every attack. It didn’t take long for Hou’s legs to be covered in wounds. Most weren’t lethal, but they were painful, especially those that struck the bones and sinews, causing piercing pains during movement, which greatly affected his overall ability to attack. Bark! Bark! Bark! Cheers erupted around them, one after another. The Gnolls, who had been scattered around, had gathered back at some point, each one excitedly cheering on the man, their ardor boiling as if they were eager to join the battle against the Ogre themselves. At that moment, Gos fully understood the man’s true intentions. He intended not only to use the Ogre to establish his might but also to bridge his relationship with the Gnolls. Fighting the Ogre in the form of a Gnoll was clearly more likely to win the favor of the other Gnolls. Even knowing that he was originally a human, they would still side with him. This had been the man’s plan from the start. Gos recalled how three days ago, the man had first started practicing with various weapons in the form of a Gnoll. Looking at him now in the arena, a chill ran from the base of Gos’s tail to the top of his head. This young-looking man was undoubtedly a peak combat genius among humans. Fortunately, they had not started a conflict with him early on, for they would have been wiped clean by now. This was a super strong pillar that they must firmly cling to from now on. “Great!” Gos jumped around on his feet, shouting louder than any other Gnoll. By now, he had completely abandoned any thoughts of cunning rivalry with Gaven, resolved to hold fast to Gaven’s strong pillar, to be his loyal hound, and follow him through the dark. When he made that decision, all previous entanglements and worries vanished instantly, and he felt his entire life filled with hope, a beautiful hope. He would no longer need to worry about ore trading, whether his tribe could get the next meal, or if they would encounter stronger monsters. Because there was a more powerful being to shield them from the wind and rain. Most importantly, this powerful being seemed very kind—he didn’t enslave them; instead, he made them delicious food every day. Could there be anything better in the world? No wonder his tribesmen had been so happy recently. He should have thought of this earlier. Ow! Hou let out a mournful and angry howl, collapsing to sit on the ground, unable to stand. The tendons in both of his feet could not withstand Gaven’s repeated cuts like a blunt knife slicing through flesh, and he had severed both. Gaven, still not satisfied, smacked his lips and called out loudly, “Anna, heal him. I haven’t finished swapping weapons yet!” Sёarch* The NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.