Chapter 374: Sacrifice and the Fire Rat Giant
With a wild laugh, Gobu Tiger charged into the horde of Ratmen.
Swinging his massive spiked club in a horizontal arc, several Ratmen were sent flying, soaring over ten meters before crashing into their own ranks.
Gobu Tiger rampaged through the Ratmen army like a wolf among sheep.
Screams echoed wherever he passed, Ratmen being flung left and right.
"Waaah!"
Nearly a thousand Goblin warriors and fighters followed closely behind, joining the battle with fervent roars.
Wielding their spiked clubs, they struck down any Ratmen that blocked their path.
Gobu Tiger and his subordinates became a piercing spear, driving deep into the enemy ranks, smashing aside any opposition.
The average Ratman stood around 1.6 meters tall.
Even a standard Goblin fighter was a giant in their eyes.
Although ordinary Goblins appeared frail, their evolutionary path emphasized strength.
From the moment a Goblin evolved into a larger form, their physique leaned toward raw power.
While spiked clubs were blunt weapons, in the hands of Goblins, they became instruments of destruction.
Despite their crude iron armor, the Ratmen could not withstand the might of the Goblins' strikes.
Those hit by the clubs spewed blood and died instantly.
As Gobu Tiger reveled in battle, a shadow descended from above.
A raven landed on his shoulder.
"News! Gobu Leopard Tribe and Gobu Bear Tribe are under attack by the Ratmen!"
The raven's report made Gobu Tiger pause momentarily.
Seizing the opportunity, nearby Ratmen soldiers lunged at him, swinging their long-handled war blades.
The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying as the blades struck his armor, leaving only faint white scratches.
Gobu Tiger sneered and swung his club again.
A dozen Ratmen were sent flying, their dying screams piercing the night.
Noticing the fear in the surrounding Ratmen's eyes, Gobu Tiger scoffed.
Turning around, he began striding toward the western gate.
His warriors fought while retreating, slowly falling back toward the gate.
"I have an idea. You need to tell Gobu Leopard and Gobu Bear."
"Go ahead, I'll pass on the message—but boss, you've got trouble."
Perched on Gobu Tiger's shoulder, the raven turned its gaze in a specific direction.
Gobu Tiger halted, following the raven's line of sight.
At the forest's edge stood a massive Savage Bull Beast.
Atop it was a Ratman clad in gray robes, staring directly at Gobu Tiger with murderous intent.
Moments later, a towering Ratman was dragged from the forest by its kin.
Standing three meters tall, the Rat Giant dwarfed ordinary Ratmen.
Heavy iron chains coiled around its massive frame.
Following behind, a procession of frail, gray-robed Ratmen emerged from the trees.
They knelt in unison—nearly a thousand of them.
"What is it doing?"
Gobu Tiger's eyes flickered with confusion at the sight.
"They're burning! They're burning!"
The raven cawed in alarm.
Indeed, the gray-robed Ratmen were engulfed in flames.
It was as if they had spontaneously combusted, their bodies wrapped in green fire.
Within seconds, they were reduced to ashes.
Yet the fire did not vanish.
Instead, as if guided by an unseen force, the flames surged toward the Rat Giant.
Hundreds of streams of magical energy flowed into its body.
The Rat Giant began to mutate.
Its filthy fur ignited, its skin cracked, revealing a web-like network of glowing green lines.
"ROAR!"
Wracked with agony, the Rat Giant let out an earth-shaking bellow.
Then, something even more bizarre happened.
Its body expanded, flesh writhing as it grew.
From three meters to three and a half.
Then to four.
Finally, it reached five meters tall.
The iron chains had long since melted away in the green flames.
Now fully transformed, the Rat Giant had become a Fire Rat Giant, its entire body wreathed in green fire.
Its massive form seemed to fuel the flames.
Its once-red eyes now glowed an eerie green.
The Ratman atop the Savage Bull Beast appeared pleased with the transformation.
Raising its staff, it pointed directly at Gobu Tiger.
"ROAR!"
The Fire Rat Giant responded immediately, bellowing as it charged into battle.
The air around it warped from the heat.
As it moved, nearby Ratmen ignited spontaneously, their bodies turning to ash in an instant.
The resulting flames were absorbed into the Fire Rat Giant, further intensifying its blaze.
With each sacrificed Ratman, its flames burned hotter.
"What a bizarre Ratman ritual."
Gobu Tiger grinned, baring his fangs.
The immense pressure emanating from the Fire Rat Giant was suffocating.
But as the leader of his tribe, as a descendant of the Great King, he could not retreat.
"You all fall back. I'll handle this thing."
"Too scary! I'm outta here!"
The raven flapped its wings, shrieking as it took to the skies.
Gobu Tiger's warriors retreated toward the western gate, fighting as they withdrew.
"Come on! I'm not afraid of you!"
Gobu Tiger roared, brandishing his spiked club as he charged at the Fire Rat Giant.
In the darkness, the flaming giant was an ominous beacon.
Wherever it passed, fire followed.
Even the Ratmen seemed to fear it, scrambling to clear a path.
As it charged, the Fire Rat Giant raised its head and opened its maw.
A second later, a green fireball burst forth.
The moment it left its mouth, the fireball swelled to a meter in diameter.
It moved at blinding speed, far faster than the previous fireballs conjured by Ratman mages.
In the blink of an eye, it was upon Gobu Tiger.
Before it even struck, he could feel the scorching heat washing over him.
Without hesitation, Gobu Tiger swung his spiked club at the incoming fireball.
"BOOM!"
The fireball exploded the instant it made contact with the club.
A powerful shockwave engulfed Gobu Tiger, pushing his massive body back over ten meters.
Yet, the green flames failed to ignite his armor.
The club, too, remained unscathed.
"Hah! Your green fire is useless against me."
His armor and club were coated in mithril, rendering them impervious to the flames.