Glenda was slow to react to the soft, whispering voice curling around her ear. Only she had the intention to fight; Souei did not even see her as an opponent.
Then it happened—a wave of unnatural pleasure coursed through her body. Thin, ethereal threads wound around her, stimulating her in ways that were foreign and overwhelming. There was no pain, only relentless, consuming pleasure.
"Well now," Souei's voice murmured, calm and detached, "I have sealed your ability to faint or to reach a climax. You should talk before you lose yourself entirely."
Trapped in a hellish tide of sensation, Glenda struggled, but her resistance was fleeting. The more she tried, the deeper she sank into the torment. Every muscle of her body resisted, yet her mind screamed for control.
◉
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Shion, Gobta, and Gabil charged forward, dodging debris and chaos, racing toward a squad of paladins. Hakurou ran beside them, silent and precise, while the five "Shadows"—Souei's loyal subordinates—followed their lead, invisible predators stalking the field.
"Please don't get in our way, Souka!" Gobta shouted.
"Mind your own business! You're the ones who shouldn't get in my way!" Souka barked back.
Their bickering was sharp, as usual, but beneath it lay trust and familiarity. Anyone watching could see the closeness they shared, even if the pair pretended otherwise.
Finally, they arrived at their destination. The paladins, having sensed the group approaching, prepared for battle. Spiritual energy flared as each one activated their spiritual armament, their blades and shields gleaming in holy light.
"Watch out! Those monsters don't look weak!"
"Captain, there are six dragonewts, and… is that one without armor an ogre?"
"No. That's impossible. That isn't an ogre—it's an Oni. Unlike ogres, who rely on brute strength, this one uses specialized abilities. This is dangerous."
"Hou, that's troublesome," another paladin said. "But I also sense abnormal power radiating from the dragonewt in front. Be careful."
The paladins quickly analyzed the situation. The enemy approaching them were the elite forces of the monster nation. Even if some of their barrier positions were left unattended, they could still rely on the remaining defenses. It validated Hinata's predictions—though the enemy's presence was threatening, it also played into their strategy.
"All right!" Captain Gregory called out, his voice ringing over the battlefield. "I will take down that large dragonewt myself. You two handle the Oni. The rest of you, split and engage the remaining five dragonewts!"
"Understood, Captain! And the hobgoblin?" one of the paladins asked, glancing at the small, solitary figure mixing in with the enemies.
Captain Gregory clicked his tongue, a smirk on his face. "Tch. One small fry slipped in, huh? I'll crush it in an instant!"
The paladins adjusted their stances. Every eye was focused, every muscle coiled for action. The battlefield in Eterna was alive with tension. Even minor miscalculations could mean death, and the monsters before them were anything but ordinary.
The clash was about to begin. Every moment counted, and the paladins knew that the strength of the enemy's elite forces would test them to their absolute limits.
The paladins nodded at Captain Gregory's words. They knew their leader well—he could annihilate a mere hobgoblin with a single strike. Still…why was a hobgoblin mixed among the enemy forces? The question lingered for only a moment. There was no reason to reveal names to monsters.
Without hesitation, Gregory swung his halberd, channeling anti-monster energy into the blade. A shockwave erupted ahead of him.
"Don't interfere, die where you stand! Tyrant Impact Slash!!"
The halberd strike was a concentrated anti-monster attack, capable of leveling even formidable foes. Gregory combined it with spiritual power, spiraling a Holy Cannon from his palm along the shaft of the halberd, gathering energy and releasing it at the tip. The result was a devastating band of light that surged forward like a blade of pure judgment.
The dragonewts—Gabil, Souka, and the others—quickly leapt aside, evading the assault. Hakurou kicked off the ground and sprinted along the trees toward the paladins, leaving only Gobta in the narrow trail below.
"Hey! Are you serious-ssu!?" Gobta shouted, panic in his voice.
The trail offered no room to escape. Gregory's strike was meant to take down two or three opponents at a minimum, but his primary target was that lone hobgoblin. After that, his focus would shift entirely to the approaching dragonewts and the Oni.
Gobta braced himself, grumbling under his breath.
"Sheesh, this is no joke-ssu! How cruel of them to leave me, the weakest one, behind-ssu."
Compared to the powerful leaders and their overwhelming skill, he had little hope of surviving a direct hit. Being left behind felt like punishment.
(Solarys! This is an emergency-ssu. What should i do?)
<
(Understood! Thank you, Solarys!)
Gobta's eyes narrowed. He readied himself, focusing his energy into the shadows around him. Timing would be everything. The Tyrant Impact Slash was imminent, and survival depended entirely on precision, courage, and cunning.
The battlefield of Eterna burned with light and shadow. Each action carried weight. Every paladin and monster alike was about to collide in a dance of death, where only speed, skill, and intelligence could keep one alive. Gobta disappeared into the shadows, preparing to turn the enemy's confidence against them.
The battle was beginning, and there was no turning back.
Surprisingly, Gobta could communicate with Solarys through the thought link, even without fully knowing who the Sovereign of Wisdom was. Every computation, every strategic suggestion, he followed instinctively.
Without hesitation, Gobta activated "Unification" with the Star Wolf and vanished into the shadows to evade the incoming shockwave. His senses sharpened, his abilities surged, and he realized his strength had more than doubled.
Trusting Solarys' guidance completely, he moved behind the paladin who had targeted him. Gobta didn't notice that this opponent was no ordinary fighter—the paladin Gregory was the captain and the strongest among them. But Gobta didn't question it. He acted with precise obedience to Solarys' calculations.
Gregory, vigilant as ever, immediately sensed the presence behind him. He rolled forward, narrowly evading the wolf's fangs striking from the shadows. Instantly, he blocked the follow-up strike from Gobta with his halberd.
Gregory's eyes widened in astonishment. The hobgoblin he had assumed destroyed was alive—and attacking from behind. But experience and instinct took over. He focused entirely on his opponent, acknowledging Gobta as a worthy adversary. Neither one yielded an inch, and the clash began.
Gobta had used Shadow Transfer to reach the paladins ahead of anyone else. The sudden appearance surprised both the paladins and the approaching dragonewts.
"Shadow Transfer, huh… That's our failure. He's mastering the shadows better than we are," Souka murmured.
"No kidding. Gobta-chan's incredible, you know?" Touka added.
"Yeah… he's actually stronger than us, really," Saika agreed.
It was their first time realizing just how formidable Gobta could be. And yet, the monster nation of Eterna was full of powerful fighters. Their master, Souei, possessed strength beyond comprehension. They could not afford to underestimate even small advantages.
"You're right. Then we need to show our strengths too!" Souka said, determination sparking in her eyes.
The battlefield crackled with tension. Gobta, empowered by the Star Wolf and guided by Solarys, and Gregory, the battle-hardened paladin captain, faced off with absolute focus. Shadows clashed with light, speed against precision, and strategy against instinct. Every move was life or death.
This was no mere skirmish—it was a test of resolve, skill, and power. And in the shadowed forests of Eterna, Gobta's gamble had begun.