Chapter 551: Chapter 553: Overwhelming Power No one needed to be reminded of what goblins were, but for those who needed to know... Goblins were small monsters. They were low- to mid-tier threats at best—unless they came in swarms numbering in the thousands, they were not considered a serious danger. Exceptions existed, of course—dangerous subspecies like Red Caps, and a few others, or perhaps advanced types like Hobgoblins, who grew to the size of a man, or worse, Great Goblins, that grew to the size of a troll. However, most were just small, especially the common green types barely half the height of a man. They were weak... or at least, that was the case. No one took them seriously.... Except newbie adventurers. So why did Damon’s heart pound? Why did his shadow tremble, urging him to flee? Yet Damon wanted to see this. He couldn’t leave, this distance was far from safe. ’Curiosity killed the cat, and satisfaction brought it back... assuming I live to enjoy the feeling.’ Because what he saw made him freeze. A knight in the Fourth Class had just been brought to his knees... by a... by a... ’Lowly goblin.’ He wasn’t the only one who froze. The knight trembled as if resisting some unseen force, clutching his head. "Ahrggggg... ghhahhah!" he screamed frantically, clawing at his helm. The goblin sighed in disappointment and waved his hand. The screaming stopped. What followed was the sound of something rolling on the ground. Damon, far away, felt his hands tremble and his eyes widen in horror. "I... I... didn’t even see what... he did..." And he hadn’t—because what rolled was the knight’s head. This was a high-ranking officer in the Fourth Class... A Fourth Class knight had died—helpless. This was someone in the same league as Marabel Defontee, someone who could shatter mountains and live for a thousand years or more... They were just killed by... by a goblin. Damon wasn’t the only one consumed by shock. If the knight had been killed so easily by a dragon or a scylla, it would have made sense... "Wha... wha... Commander Clinton... h... how..." Everyone froze until another knight, also in the Fourth Class, raised his spear. Its tip glowed, his body swelling with power as the earth around him shattered. The wind howled, carrying a destructive intent far greater than before. "Dieeeeeee!" The goblin still wore the same bored expression, as if these people weren’t threats at all. He casually raised a finger, smiling thinly. "Vector Dominate." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚 With a roar like the heavens falling, the spear struck the goblin’s fingertip. And stopped. The knight pushed with all his Fourth Class might... but it was useless. It was like training against an unmoving boulder in his youth except now, it was many, many times more terrifying. "Not bad... I almost felt that one..." The goblin smiled, pushing his hand forward slightly. His smile sharpened. "Flesh Dominate." There was a small jolt. The knight felt something slither across his skin from the arm holding the spear to his head, then the rest of his body. He looked down at his armored hand and narrowed his eyes in confusion. Something was leaking out from under the plates. It wasn’t just red, it was other colors too, viscous and thick. His eyes widened as he realized his flesh, bones, muscles, and nerves were spilling out of him. Before he could react, the rest of him followed leaving only a semi-liquid pile with the vile stench of blood and waste. The shock made everyone tremble with fear. The knight leader knew they could not survive this unknown monster. "Take the lady and escape, Lita! Knights of Valtheron—to death!" There was no fear in his eyes, only resolve. The knights roared and raised their swords high. "For the Empire!" Lita turned around, meeting the helpless gaze of her lady. "We need to go..." The lady bit her lip until she tasted blood. She knew it was the only choice, but she still hated it. She turned, eyes hard with resolve. Her subordinates carried the same determination—warriors forged through hell who would fight despite fear. The goblin’s eyes narrowed as a trickle of blood ran from his ear. He calmly wiped it away. "I don’t have much time left..." He acted as if they weren’t even charging. With a casual motion, he raised his hand. "Mind Dominate." The unstoppable charge froze. None of them could move. "Kill those who resist, and when you’re done... kill yourselves." The command instantly turned most of the Third Class knights. They stabbed the knight leader from all sides piercing his neck, head, chest, back, and stomach. Bones snapped, and they stabbed again and again, blood soaking the ground. Some cried as they resisted, but their bodies obeyed the command. The knight leader roared, shoving them away with his last strength. His sword glowed as he charged at the goblin. "For the princess!" He raised his sword high— "Kneel before me." The weight of a mountain crushed him to his knees. The goblin looked down at him. "You will do just fine... as a minion." "Mind Dominate." The knight leader’s eyes glazed over. Slowly, he lowered his head, bowing to his new master. "The rest of you—kill yourselves. I have no use for you." Blades slashed throats. Bodies fell. When it was done, the goblin looked up—at the woman flying away with her attendant. "Wind Dominate." Thin blades of air sliced through the sky, killing the attendant instantly. Her remains rained down on the forest below. The goblin smiled, hand outstretched. "Fall." With a single word, the flying lady plummeted to the earth. He was about to speak again— "Agh... cough, cough..." Blood spilled from his lips. He wiped it away. "Ahhh... this body is too weak... ahh... the new body the Unknown God is giving me better live up to my expectations..." He glanced at where the woman had fallen, then at the lesser demons. "Bring her to me." They roared, rushing into the distance where she had fallen. Naturally... she had fallen right on top of Damon.