Chapter 203: The Emperor Appears, Desperation for All; Fantasy Authority Unlocked, I’m Invincible, Do as You Please (1)
At this mont, Sistine approached Shia, intending to strike up a conversation.
But as she stood before him and looked into his eyes, she hesitated, unable to voice her thoughts.
There were things she couldn’t ask outright, secrets she dared not reveal.
She wanted to ask about the events of the previous night, yet the words wouldn’t leave her lips. Her heart wavered in a tug-of-war between speaking up and staying silent.
Shia looked at Sistine, his face lighting up with a gentle smile.
"Senior, you’re not scary at all~!"
His voice was soft, almost casual, but the weight behind his words struck deeply.
Shia was well aware of what was bothering her—not their accidental contact last night, but what he had inadvertently seen.
To Sistine, admired by outsiders but harboring self-doubt, her insecurity stemd from her eyes.
That’s why she always covered them, refusing to let anyone see. Yet, Shia had seen them last night.
Hearing his reassuring words now, Sistine’s cheeks flushed crimson.
He… He already understood without her saying anything, and his words felt so comforting, so trustworthy.
Lowering her gaze slightly, she could feel her heart beating erratically, its rhythm utterly chaotic. Her grip on her sword, however, tightened even further.
As the group advanced deeper into the underground cavern, another situation unfolded back at Seven Shields Academy.
Before departing, Shia had left precautions in place, just in case.
"If I don’t contact you on ti, it ans sothing big has happened. Most likely, the goblins are rebelling!"
Those were the instructions he gave to Ella before leaving.
Although she agreed at the ti, she hadn’t taken it seriously.
Missing Shia as she did, she couldn’t imagine such a simple group task going awry.
But as the agreed ti passed without any ssage from Shia, Ella didn’t hesitate to inform the academy’s headmaster.
Normally, such matters would require confirmation, planning, and then execution. But having a strong backing changes everything.
Even though doubts surrounded the situation, caution prevailed.
rely the possibility of Shia encountering danger prompted the headmaster to mobilize the senior students for an expedition.
The target: the Shadowy Forest!
---
Inside the Goblin Palace
Shia led the group further into the depths, with Rong scouting ahead in her stealthy form.
As predicted, the number of goblins diminished the deeper they went.
By now, they had encountered only sparse resistance, confirming Shia’s accuracy.
Everyone began to look at Shia with growing admiration. Truly worthy of his title as top student—his foresight was uncanny!
Violet, her spirits high, withdrew her gaze from Shia, her fighting intent brimming.
"Ti for the decapitation strike. Let’s go!"
Her voice was low but carried unmistakable confidence.
“Guh!”
The next mont, Violet clutched her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she pouted at Shia, feeling wronged.
"Why’d you hit again?"
Shia remained unfazed by her puppy-dog eyes.
"Overconfidence will get you killed, idiot! You’re not the protagonist, so don’t act like it."
Surveying the eerily quiet palace, unease prickled at Shia’s mind.
He knew well how cunning the Goblin Emperor was. Charging recklessly into enemy territory with just their small group was far from ideal.
The safest strategy would be to stall for ti and regroup with reinforcents from the academy.
But the current situation left them with little ti.
Violet muttered under her breath, still indignant. Why couldn’t he just talk without hitting her?
The group pressed on, venturing deeper. The passage widened, becoming increasingly spacious.
Rounding a corner, they found themselves facing a modest palace.
The palace bore signs of decoration but lacked grandeur, appearing rather shabby.
Seated on a stone throne in the center was a peculiar goblin wielding a scepter and wearing a crown.
It was unmistakably the leader of the goblin forces—the Goblin Emperor.
Shia halted the group with a raised hand, motioning for them to stay put.
Sothing felt off.
The ease with which they had reached this point was unnerving. Since entering the palace’s depths, apart from two patrol squads, they had faced no significant resistance.
Now, it seed that all they needed to do was kill the Goblin Emperor to secure their safety.
But such smooth progress was suspicious in itself.
The best option was to wait and observe.
Unfortunately, not everyone had the patience for that.
A flash of white streaked past Shia before he could stop it.
Sistine, overwheld by her chaotic emotions and erratic heartbeat, had surged forward.
rely being near Shia left her breathless and distracted, his voice echoing like a siren call in her mind.
The overwhelming reactions in her body pushed her to act impulsively.
Spotting the Goblin Emperor seated ahead, she attacked without hesitation!
Her sword glead like a shooting star, reaching the Goblin Emperor in an instant.
A faint "shff" sound echoed, but the sensation in her hands felt wrong.
The Goblin Emperor before her began to change, revealing itself to be a straw dummy—an illusion!
Damn it, a trap!
Sistine’s expression shifted instantly.
The others, still hidden, also turned pale at the sudden realization.
Behind them, the sound of chaotic footsteps erupted.
From all directions, goblins poured out of hidden passages, surrounding the group completely.
Sistine’s face showed a hint of panic. She realized she had fallen for a trap, but it was too late.
From the rear of the palace, the goblins parted, forming a path.
Another crowned goblin erged, holding a scepter and looking nearly identical to the decoy on the throne.
It was undoubtedly the true Goblin Emperor.
The unexpected twist caught everyone off guard. A decoy? Truly cunning!
The Goblin Emperor grinned wickedly, revealing sharp yellow teeth.
"Welco to my empire, humans. I’ve been waiting for you."
If not for its appearance, one might mistake its voice for that of a human.
But its grotesque form made the truth unmistakable—a goblin was speaking!
"You lured us here on purpose!?"
A girl in the group couldn’t help but shout.
"That’s right."
The Goblin Emperor admitted proudly, gleefully revealing its entire plan.
From the mont Shia's group entered the Shadowy Forest, layers of sches unfolded, ultimately luring them to this place—a testant to the Goblin Emperor's cunning intelligence.
Shia played along, engaging in a verbal battle and letting the Goblin Emperor bask in its self-proclaid brilliance.
"You’re despicable!"
Shia's face twisted into an expression of anger, showcasing the helplessness of a human ensnared in a carefully laid trap.
"My, my, such impolite youth. I went to the trouble of inviting you here as my guests, yet this is how you speak?"
The Goblin Emperor’s tone was reproachful, but its smug expression betrayed its satisfaction.
It was imnsely proud of its "masterpiece."
While frustration and fury appeared on Shia's face, his mind remained calm, quietly monitoring the progress of sothing crucial.
'97%.'
Just a few more minutes.
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