"Alright, let's roll out!" I shouted. Unfortunately, the response I saw was much more subdued and confused than I expected.
"We are going to roll there?" Kishin confusedly asked the same question the others were no doubt thinking, based on their expressions.
"Ah, sorry. That's just an expression of sorts from where I come from. Let's just get going." I said, slightly embarrassed.
"""O-Oh!""" They all spoke somewhat confused.
Now that I had ruined my own momentum, we awkwardly followed the dozen or so goblins back to their village. Along the way, I cast various magical arrow spells to test out their effectiveness on anything that entered my sight.
I collected their bodies and fed their parameters to my gluttonous sword. Slowly but surely, I would release Lilith's beauty to the world.
Somewhat similar to Kurosaki Ichigo's Zanpakuto, which never had a sealed form, once unlocked, my sword would also remain in its Shikai form unless I neglected feeding it for long periods. Although, that's what Lilith told me, I have no idea whether or not a long time was a month, a week, or even just a day or two.
Thankfully, it seems she's fine just skimming off the top of whatever she kills, but I bet the battlefields are where she truly shines the brightest.
Along the way, the ogres asked the goblins about their village defenses as well as the enemy numbers. The villages defenses were next to nothing, having never suffered such attacks before. And from what they have discerned, the enemy consists of a few dozen, C-rank direwolves.
A simple enemy for everyone in our group to handle, except Jesus and Ever, of course. On the way here, I split our group into two parties and instructed everyone to reduce their presence as much as possible.
They were wowed from the functionality of my unique skill, but I told them to save the questions for later.
It would be quite unfortunate if our prey sensed us and ran away. Our primary goal was the rescue of this goblin village. Still, I also had the secondary objective to capture and tame the direwolves if they lacked intelligence or subordinate them if they are wise enough to submit.
About an hour later, the sun had appeared high in the sky and we had arrived at the goblin village. Waiting there was the remainder of the goblins and the village elder.
The defenses here were just as miserable as we had been told. It lacked even a proper wall due to their previous peaceful lifestyle. After setting aside the greetings with the elder, the first thing I did was order all the abled body goblins to cut down the nearby, young trees that could be made into poles and spikes.
We created spear walls that could impale any charging forces that rushed in, not suspecting the defenseless goblins to counterattack. These defenses were strengthened using my thread skills and the ogre craftsman's experience.
At the same time, the ogre prince began organizing the goblins and instructing them on what to do when the wolves attack. The princess was using the tonics I provided to care for the wounded alongside Jesus while the stealthy ogre left to scout the surroundings.
Although the goblins were terrified when we first appeared, they quickly calmed themselves and got to work to protect their people. They especially got along with the cute couple, Eve and Kishin, who were helping to build the defenses and cut down trees, respectively.
While time quickly passed, we somehow managed to finish all of the primary defenses before noon. Now, we were having lunch and resting in wait for the attackers.
Temporary walls had been erected, traps had been laid, and the goblins had been instructed for the battle to come. It was surprising witnessing the prince's skill in organizing and deploying the troops. It was also quite promising, though. He would make for an excellent captain for one of my combat squads.
'Hmm… maybe Jesus could further, "convince" him to stay and feel at home here. Perhaps I should also make his companion the head of my intelligence network, and clandestine affairs. With both of them doing that, it should make good use of the monsters filing in for our protection.'
While we were here, Treyni informed me of two other small goblin tribes, each with a population of twenty or thirty monsters. They were seeking our protection from orcs after my people had reached out to them. Apparently, they had had their own run-ins with the pigs, though they were much less successful than Mia and I, hence their reason for approaching us.
The only problem now was that our current location would not support the 200~ish goblins that would be arriving, and we would need to start the land development projects alongside the orc stronghold attack a bit sooner than I had expected.
While those thoughts entered my mind, the stealthy ogre sent a message using the party chat to inform us of movement in the nearby forest. About 100 direwolves were moving in our direction at a quick pace.
The goblins froze up momentarily, but I stood and ordered them to their positions. "For years, you have lived here in peace and safety, but now things have changed. Not just here, but throughout the entire forest, things are changing and the fight for supremacy is beginning. Now is the time to fight for your right to survive.
Fight for your lives with your own two hands, and seize the strength needed to defend the things that you wish to protect! Now, gather up and move to your assigned locations."
Although the speech was a bit lacking, the simple goblins were fired up and quickly began taking up their positions around the village. The village had, in less than half a day, become a hardened encampment to resist the siege of the direwolves.
As the moon rose into the sky, we could hear their howls as they approached us, and in the clearings around the village, dozens of wolves could be seen, all led by one wolf larger than the rest. The alpha it seems.
The alpha wolf had a large scar covering his right eye and was surrounded by several female wolves. It seemed that they were his mates and probably some of the strongest hunters in the pack, judging by the results of my appraisal.
/-------------------------------------\
Status:
Name:???
Race: Direwolf(First-Evolution)
Rank: C-plus
Title: [Alpha of the Pack]
Lv. 89/100
Parameters:
STR: C[648]
END: C[672]
DEX: E[410]
AGI: B[711]
MAG: F[364]
Blessings: N/A
Unique Skills: Pack Leadership, Pack Hunting, Steel Hide
Skills: [Rush], [Steel Fangs], [Taunt], [Telepathy]
Special notes: A Leader-class monster from the fanged wolf tribe. A fairly unremarkable species whose bark is worse than their bite. Recommendation: (1) Make some suitable armor from the hides of those who fail to submit. (2) Make them mounts for your weaker goblin and hobgoblin troops.
\-------------------------------------/
'Oof! That's a harsh appraisal, isn't it, Saul? Are they animal-like monsters, or are they an intelligent race?'
『Direwolves are moderately intelligent at the same level as average goblins.』
'Oh, I guess I'll need to put in a little effort to have them join us then.'
Thinking that, I stepped forward and called out to the wolves. "Surrender now, and I will treat you well, otherwise—"
Before I could finish, the alpha's mates rushed forward, yipping as they charged. They, from what I could tell, used some sort of telepathy to help them coordinate with one another, but it did them no good as they rushed headlong into the wire traps I set up using my steel thread.
The razor-thin wires instantly cut through the dogs with the lucky ones being instantly beheaded. Although more than a dozen wolves fell, many more lined up to take their place. It seems the goblins estimations on their numbers were incorrect.
Seeing the first wave fail didn't stop them. The blood-soaked lines became evident and helped the wolves evade the first trap. Although much slower, the wolves tried making their way to our walls, but Mia led the local goblins in a barrage against the wolves using bows and arrows.
Many more wolves were quickly slain, and the few who actually made it to the wall were quickly dealt with by the goblins, who each guarded a segment of the wall.
All in all, the first confrontation was a complete victory for my side. I stood alone at the front gate, cutting down each wolf that cut their way through the wires using their sharp fangs. Naturally, I fed their parameters to my sword, and slowly but surely, we both grew together.
I could feel Lilith's joy and excitement with each enemy we cut down. The nearby goblins were disconcerted due to the bloodthirsty feeling emanating from my sword, but imagine how they would feel if they saw Lilith's true form greedily bathing in the blood of her enemies here.
Would it be terrifying or adorable? Perhaps terrifyingly adorable?
『Hey! Don't say such scary things about my cute little sister!』Exclaimed Áine while shakily holding the eerily smiling Lil-chan in her embrace.
I felt warm thinking about my family in this new world, despite the bloody massacre occurring around me.
Unfortunately, my pleasant reminiscence was interrupted by the charging alpha. The remainder of the pack had gathered up around him, and they were taken aback by his sudden charge. It was only moments later that they tried to chase after their chief.
As the alpha charged forward, he telepathically shouted in a maddened voice for all to hear, "Despicable human, you have no right to interfere in the affairs of the forest. I shall rip you apart and present you as an offering to our goddess!"
His sharp fangs cut through every steel wire in his path, and when finally he was clear, the alpha wolf pounced forward seeking his prey. Sadly for him, he sorely underestimated his opponent.
I flashed past him and used Bakudo #62: Hundred Steps Fence, launching the rod of spiritual energy towards the following wolves and blocking their path. At the same time, the ogre closed in from behind them, releasing their B-rank auras and surprising the remaining wolves even further.
By the time the alpha had landed and turned back to face me, he was completely separated from his pack, significantly reducing his strength.
Through the gaps in the barricade, he could see his pack and here their whimpers as they were corralled and cowed into surrendering. "What is the meaning of this, human? Do you intend to use my pack as hostages?" he bellowed fiercely while gritting his teeth.
"Hmm? Of course not, your pack will be treated quite well, so long as they surrender and submit to me. Besides, I'm not a human. I am a slime…sort of?" I admitted my plan.
"Bwahahahaha! Do you even know what a slime is? Who do you think you are fooling, human? I'll kill you here and then rescue my pack!"
Well, I'm not one much for conversations during fighting anyways. Almost instantaneously, I appeared before the alpha direwolf and drew my sword. In a single, swift motion, his head rolled from his body and fell to the ground.
The battlefield turned silent until a single telepathic shout called out, "Father!!!" Accompanying this was a series of mournful howls.
After they finished, I released my kido spell and allowed the direwolves to approach me. Unleashing my dark violet aura to its full extent, I gave the pack one final choice. "Submit and follow me! Enough of you have needlessly fallen here!"
It wasn't a grand speech, nor was it a request. Under the weight of my aura, the words were but a simple command.
The direwolves each lowered the heads one by one except for a single wolf that knelt over the corpse of the alpha. He was the only one of the direwolves not completely cowed by my aura, so I curiously used appraisal on him.
/-------------------------------------\
Status:
Name:???(Reveal)
Race: Direwolf(First-Evolution)
Rank: C
Title:
Lv. 77/100
Parameters:
STR: C[620]
END: C[615]
DEX: G[240]
AGI: B[760]
MAG: D[512]
Blessings: N/A
Unique Skills: Pack Leadership, Pack Hunting, Steel Hide
Skills: [Rush], [Steel Fangs], [Taunt], [Telepathy], [Shadow Movement]
Special notes:
\-------------------------------------/
Assuming that this wolf is the child of the alpha, it's not surprising that his status is similar. It seems he even has a true name as well as an impressive-sounding ability that the alpha did not.
Mentally, I clicked on the shadow movement skill to check it out.
/-------------------------------------\
Shadow Movement:
An ability that allows the user to merge and appear from shadows. Depending on one's prowess with the skill, it can enable them to travel vast distances quickly.
\-------------------------------------/
'Hmm. That might be useful someday. I'll need to find a chance to mimic this skill…'
The lone wolf rose from his grief and looked at me squarely. "By defeating my father, you have become our master. I beg that you treat us kindly, Master!" He said, lowering his head like the others.
Seeing his sentiment, I nodded in approval. "Are you a descendent of the alpha?" I asked to make sure.
"Yes, Master!"
"Very well, allow me to name you then, as evidence of our pact. That is, if you don't have one already."
"It would be a great honor, Master." He replied respectfully.
"Hmm." I mentally selected the reveal button next to his name and information and unknown feelings fluttered within in me. Unconsciously I spoke in a mechanical voice, "You shall henceforth be known as, Ranga!"
The trance-like state lasted only a moment, and then I felt a familiar drain as a substantial amount of mana and spiritual energy exited my body. At the same time, new information appeared in my mind, and I unlocked an ability similar to Ranga's [Shadow Movement] skill from my Quincy Bloodline.
It was simply called [Shadow], and it allowed me to use shadows for teleportation, similar to the Shinigami's Senkaimon or an Espada's [Descorrer].
I had already unlocked my hollow's [Descorrer] ability and discovered that without a location for it to connect to, the ability was only useful for accessing my stomach storage dimension. An odd conundrum to wrap my head around and something I generally avoid thinking about.
Perhaps if I analyze Ranga's ability, I will be able to use [Shadow] to transport myself and my people to places I am familiar with…
"Alright, although we were once enemies, you guys are now my subordinates. If you work hard, you each can earn your own names too!" I spoke, looking towards the direwolves who all howled cheerfully. You'd never guess that these fellows just lost their chief, but that's how it was. Maybe he just wasn't all that popular?
From behind, I felt some more piercing stares. I turned to see both the goblins and ogres looking at me excitedly. Sensing their feelings, I smiled wryly. "If you guys are going to be my subordinates too, you will, of course, have an opportunity to be named too."
The goblins all cheered, and the ogres also looked towards me with anticipation. "There isn't a high bar for naming my troops, its a rather basic reward since it is necessary for the success of my organization. When we return to our village, I will name you guys. In return, I hope you all do your best to support me."
For the first time, the prince smiled at me while both the princess and her guard dashed over and embraced me. I smiled and patted their heads before looking towards this village's elder.
"For now, we can't house you do to an influx of other monsters today, but soon we will be moving to a much more spacious area. For now, I will have Ranga and his people to stay here and guard your village. I don't expect you all to forgive and forget immediately, but as my vassals, I expect you not to fight one another nor mistreat each other. Do you understand?" I asked, looking towards both the wolves and the monsters.
I was surprised though to see Ranga napping In the middle of his pack undergoing the evolution process.
I sighed and looked towards the wolves. "Make sure you explain my orders to Ranga when he wakes up. I won't accept accidents happening while I am gone!"
"""Yes, Master!""" They all shouted in unison.
"Well then, if there's nothing else, my people and I will be returning to our village." I was prepared to gather my men, but one of the goblins raised their hand, requesting permission to speak. "Go ahead, what do you need?"
"Umm, m-my lord, could you tell us your name, please?" They timidly asked.
"Hmm?" Ah, come to think of it, we were in such a rush, I never properly introduced myself. "My name is Orion, a Majinn, and a Slime Lord." I then turned to my subordinates that followed me here. "Let's return!"