Becoming a Monster

Chapter 692: Chapter 691: Fight Until You Die

Bolas had sent Dummy and Baka away before either could involve themselves in his fight against the S-rankers. The dragon had made it abundantly clear that he didn’t want anyone interfering, leaving the two creatures to find somewhere else to make themselves useful.

Unfortunately, one was a monster whose greed dictated nearly every decision, while the other was constantly itching for something to punch.

Neither needed much convincing to join the fighting.

And with so many humans spreading across the battlefield, they certainly weren’t lacking in opportunities.

The two charged toward the soldiers that none of their superiors had called dibs on, heading straight for the forces that had deliberately maneuvered around the stronger monsters.

The two monsters’ departure quickly drew the attention of the creatures who’d been ordered to remain behind.

Dog was the first to follow. As a member of their pack, he had no intention of standing by while Dummy and Baka rushed into battle without him. And when he went after them, the other canines followed without hesitation.

Alexandria watched them leave with an increasingly displeased expression. She had every reason to remain where Noah had ordered her, but the thought of allowing those foolish dogs to run off without her was apparently even less appealing.

With obvious reluctance, she followed.

And once the cats began moving as well. Even Varkesh and Genghis eventually found themselves caught up in the advance. Neither of them could sit back and say they were doing what they were told when everyone else went out to fight.

For the humans, the situation was becoming increasingly troublesome.

Fortunately for them, there were only two monsters amongst them that fit the criteria of what they wanted to avoid.

Unfortunately, those two were unusual in how their strength measured up against Noah’s upper echelon of monsters. Especially the one that went unnoticed amongst them all.

Because of those two, the supposed weaklings’ fights were perhaps more chaotic than any of the fights there.

—

At first, the humans had attempted to maintain some semblance of organization. With so many soldiers and adventurers advancing together, their mages couldn’t afford to unleash their strongest spells without considering the allies who might be caught in them.

Fortunately, they had more than their numbers working in their favor.

The Holy Field established by the Church was still active, and although much of its power was being directed toward the stronger demons fighting elsewhere, its influence extended across the battlefield.

For the humans, the difference was considerable. Their attacks carried the support of holy energy, while the demonic creatures found themselves struggling against an influence that weakened their bodies and interfered with their mana.

And the advantage was apparent almost immediately.

Nearly thirty mages began preparing their spells. Those capable of using fire magic naturally favored it, knowing that flames were among the most effective ways to deal with trolls and their troublesome regeneration. The others relied on whatever elements or magical abilities they possessed, while the archers accompanying them prepared their own volleys.

The demonic elves had already taken command of the monsters’ advance, and while they had no intention of joining the initial fighting directly, they weren’t about to allow the humans to bombard their forces without resistance. Even if they considered those creatures inferior.

Roots and thick vines erupted from the forest floor as the elves attempted to intercept the first barrage. Some twisted together into barriers, while others spread through the surrounding trees to catch the approaching arrows.

But the Holy Field made their efforts considerably less effective than they had anticipated.

Their nature magic was still capable of stopping ordinary attacks, but the holy energy accompanying the humans’ spells weakened their defenses, allowing several attacks to break through before the elves could reinforce them.

And the monsters suffered for it.

The goblins were particularly vulnerable, with several falling before they could even approach the human lines. The trolls fared better, but their regeneration was being hindered by the holy energy, making the fire magic directed toward them considerably more dangerous.

Even when the surviving monsters managed to reach the humans, the situation hardly improved.

The soldiers and adventurers had expected to struggle against the trolls’ superior physical strength, yet the Holy Field had reduced that difference enough that several warriors working together could force one back.

Their mages continued supporting them from behind, taking advantage of every opening to inflict injuries that the trolls couldn’t recover from as easily as they normally would.

For a time, the humans appeared to be gaining the upper hand.

The demonic elves could see it as well. They had expected casualties among the goblins and trolls, but at this rate, their forces would be overwhelmed before they could accomplish much of anything.

That was when they finally gave the chieftain the order to use his curse.

The goblin chieftain stood behind the advancing monsters, his warstaff held firmly in his grasp as black fumes began pouring from its surface.

There was something unusual about the way he used his magic. Most goblin shamans relied on curses to weaken their enemies or inflict debilitating conditions, but the chieftain had directed his attention toward his own forces instead.

Every goblin and troll that had entered the battle bore a mark etched into its body.

And as the black fumes spread from his staff, those markings began reacting.

An invasive presence swept through the marked creatures, forcing its way into their bodies without any resistance. Black smoke began rising from their heads, and their eyes gradually took on a crazed appearance as whatever restraint they possessed was overwhelmed by an almost uncontrollable bloodlust.

Their physical strength increased alongside it.

But this wasn’t an ordinary berserk state.

The curse was drawing upon the creatures’ own life force, consuming it to force their bodies beyond the limits they would’ve normally been capable of reaching. Their muscles swelled with strength, and even their ability to withstand injuries improved considerably, though the power came at the expense of the very lives it was meant to preserve.

And despite the Holy Field continuing to suppress them, the difference was enough to change the fighting.

The trolls that had been struggling to withstand the humans’ attacks began forcing their opponents backward, while the surviving goblins charged forward with little concern for the injuries they sustained.

The humans still possessed the advantage of the Holy Field, but the curse had compensated for much of the difference in strength. What had previously been a battle they were steadily winning was becoming one where neither side could afford to make a mistake.

Once the fighting reached close quarters, the humans found it increasingly difficult to make use of their superior numbers.

With the chieftain’s curse strengthening the demonic trolls, even the soldiers and adventurers who had previously managed to hold them back were beginning to struggle. Their combined efforts were no longer enough to reliably overpower a single troll, especially when the frenzied creatures showed little concern for their own injuries.

The mages were forced to concentrate their attacks on supporting the warriors, using smaller, more controlled spells to avoid striking their allies. The archers faced similar difficulties, eventually leaving many of them with little choice but to draw their swords and join the fighting directly.

And with fewer attacks reaching the monsters farther back, the surviving goblins finally had an opportunity to enter the battle.

An attack that would’ve normally forced a goblin to retreat or defend itself was now met with reckless aggression. Even when a sword threatened to pierce their bodies, the cursed creatures continued pressing forward, willing to suffer injuries if it meant landing a blow of their own.

A soldier might have the strength and experience to kill a goblin in a direct confrontation, but that meant little when the creature willingly allowed itself to be stabbed just to drive its weapon into the soldier’s chest.

In exchanges where both sides risked dying, the one who hesitated was often the one who lost.

That was why the demonic elves had never considered the goblins and trolls entirely worthless.

Individually, most of them weren’t strong enough to justify investing considerable resources into their development. Even gathered together, they couldn’t hope to contend with the truly powerful creatures fighting elsewhere on the battlefield.

But with the chieftains’ curse compensating for their weaknesses, they could threaten an army that would’ve otherwise overwhelmed them.

The demonic elves continued directing the battle from behind their forces, using their nature magic to intercept the more dangerous attacks. As for the wounded, they were left to fend for themselves. Even those who could barely stand were expected to keep fighting until they died.

And with the chieftain’s curse driving them into a frenzy, that was exactly what they did.

But as the first of the cursed creatures began dying, something strange happened.

Their remaining life force began materializing outside their bodies, gathering into a visible mass of energy before being pulled away.

The same thing happened to every other goblin and troll that fell.

Initially, the humans could only watch in confusion. They had encountered monsters capable of using their own life force to strengthen themselves before, but seeing that energy leave their bodies after death was another matter entirely.

And it wasn’t until several more creatures had died that they realized where all that energy was going.

The goblin chieftain.

It stood behind the fighting, its warstaff still releasing black fumes as the life force of its fallen warriors continued flowing toward it.

And it was absorbing all of it.