Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage-Chapter 164: Thermopylae... The Promise of an Empire

CH164 Thermopylae... The Promise of an Empire

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Another Fury team was about to engage the Hobgoblins.

The last pair of Direwolves could be described as the best pair of professional baiters in their pack.

With smooth coordination, they guided their pursuers right where the Fury soldiers had set their ambush: the southern edge of the forest enclosing the goblin meadow village.

This time, the Fury soldiers decided to reenact a famous strategy from Alex’s past life—Leonidas’ stand with his Spartan Royal Guards against the Persian Immortals at the Hot Gates.

After eliminating the lesser goblins attempting to flee through a secret passage in the southern sector of the village, four Fury Shieldbearers and four Spearmen moved in to seal off the narrow entryways.

The group quickly assumed a Roman-style phalanx formation. Shieldbearers stood shoulder to shoulder, blocking the passage, while Spearmen waited behind them, ready to stab anything stupid enough to challenge them.

With the formation locked in place, the professional Direwolf baiters brought in the volunteers Immortals—a cluster of Hobgoblins still frothing with aggression, into the mock Hot Gates.

The Direwolves leapt clear of the Fury formation just in time.

The Hobgoblins—creatures seemingly unfamiliar with the concept of ’stop’—slammed into the shield wall with reckless abandon.

The Shieldbearers dug in, anchoring themselves with braced legs and trained grit. A moment later, warm magical light washed over them from a healer tucked safely in the rear.

[Strength Buff]!

The healer cast his spell and immediately ducked back into hiding.

Bang!

The first wave hit hard, shaking the formation—but not breaking it.

Then—

Pucchi!

Spears thrust through the gaps between shields, striking the disoriented Hobgoblins. However, their attacked vital spots were protected by the protective barrier around them.

The Shieldbearers wasted no time. Swords slashed out, followed by synchronized shield bashes to create space.

The pattern became a rhythm.

Hobgoblins charge—

Spears stab—

Swords slash—

Shields bash—

Repeat.

"AHH!!"

The relentless cycle began to wear them down. One Hobgoblin fell.

Then another.

And another.

Before long, only two remained. Bloodied, panting, their eyes met—and without a word, they dropped their swords and turned to flee.

Two Spearmen stepped forward and, with practiced aim, hurled their spears like Olympic champions.

The javelins soared through the air, then struck true—piercing both Hobgoblins through the back and pinning them to the ground.

The Shieldbearer line cautiously advanced until they stood over the fallen enemies.

The two Shield Captains stepped out from the front line and, without hesitation, decapitated the corpses. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

It was a flawless performance—one that might’ve earned the approval of Leonidas and his brave 300.

One Shield Captain pulled out a canine whistle and gave it a sharp blow.

Then, without celebration or chatter, the formation began to move again.

The Goblin Village Chief and his twelve Hobgoblins were still relentlessly chasing after Alex and Fen. Even after covering two kilometres, they showed no signs of giving up.

From the distinctive whistles Fen had been picking up along the way, Alex confirmed that the Fury soldiers had already eliminated all the other goblins—save for the elite group still on their tail.

Smirking, Alex reached forward and tapped Fen’s shoulder.

"It’s time to bring it home."

"Woof~"

Fen barked in affirmation.

[Featherflight]!

Alex cast the body-lightening spell on Fen, then closed his eyes and withdrew his senses from the outside world.

With the OmniRune Core shifted into its Energy Gathering function, Alex entered a meditative state and focused entirely on recovering his mana reserves.

He was going to need a lot of it for what came next.

To the goblins’ confusion, Fen suddenly performed a sharp U-turn and charged back in their direction. Thanks to the boost from [Featherflight], the great wolf had become noticeably faster and more agile, weaving past the Hobgoblins with graceful ease—never once tossing Alex off or rousing him from his focused trance.

Without stopping, Fen surged forward—heading straight back toward the goblin village.

The cat-and-mouse chase came full circle, returning them to where it had all begun: the hidden meadow and the village nestled within it.

Fen, naturally, arrived far ahead of the pursuing goblins.

The direwolf even had time to stop by the stream and quench its thirst with a few mouthfuls of water.

By the time the Goblin Village Chief and his Hobgoblin entourage reached the clearing, Alex stood alone at the centre of the village—fully recovered.

The Hobgoblins bared their weapons and prepared to pounce.

But Alex calmly raised both hands, eyes glinting as he activated a spell through his connection with OmniRune.

[Black Shroud]!

Instantly, tendrils of dark mana coiled into the area, plunging the village into a zone of absolute darkness—so thick and unnatural that even the goblins’ limited night vision failed them.

But the shroud didn’t just block off their sight.

It suppressed sound as well.

[Beast Intimidation]!

Alex triggered his mental-ocular ability, his gaze sharp and controlled.

Then, through it, he cast another spell.

[Fear Pulse]!

Dark mana surged from the [Black Shroud], drilling into the minds of the Hobgoblins. Their aggression faltered. Confusion and dread rippled through their ranks as fear eroded their willpower.

Then came the reinforcements.

Lieutenant Cross, flanked by the yet-unseen Shieldbearers and the remaining Spearmen led by their Spear Captain, arrived behind the distracted goblins.

The [Black Shroud] hadn’t been part of the original plan—an improvisation from their commander—but that didn’t change their mission.

With the goblins already disoriented and their backs exposed, the unit entered the shrouded zone.

Unhindered by the spell, the soldiers moved efficiently, cutting down the panicked Hobgoblins one after another.

By the time the other squads arrived—ready to support the clash against what was supposed to be the largest goblin force—Cross’s unit had already reduced the elite group to lifeless corpses.

Alex stood before the Goblin Village Chief.

"Why do you oppress us?" the goblin asked in a rasp voice.

Its voice was guttural, yet shockingly articulate in Common Tongue—a testament to its intelligence. "Why won’t you just let us live?!"

"No hard feelings, buddy," Alex said, nonchalantly shrugging. "It is what it is. Our species are antithetical. For goblins to thrive... my people would have to suffer. That, as you must understand, I cannot allow."

His tone was steady, cold but honest.

"Now give up this useless resilience and tell me—why are you in this forest, so far from your homeland?"

"How can this be..." the goblin muttered, almost in disbelief. "The prophecy... I saw it myself..."

Its yellow eyes turned misty.

"The Goblin Empire... must rise and conquer this world!"

Alex’s brows twitched.

’A prophecy of a goblin empire?’ He studied the zeal blazing behind the goblin’s gaze. ’It doesn’t seem to be lying...’

"I see..." the goblin murmured. "So, I am not the one fated to lead our people to the promised empire..."

Its voice no longer trembled with fear but with clarity—as though something greater had just dawned upon it.

"But I will ensure the dream lives on."

The goblin raised its gaze to Alex, speaking with eerie conviction.

"The other seeds in this promised forest will surely sprout. You cannot stop the rise of our prophesied empire!"

"You keep going on about prophecy," Alex said with a snort. "But I don’t believe in such things. I believe in taking what I want with my own hands."

He stepped forward, eyes burning.

"There are others like you scattered across this forest, aren’t there? I’ll find every last one... and I’ll end them. Just like I’ll end you."

"I won’t let you," the goblin hissed—and launched the spell it had been secretly casting.

But Alex was already moving.

[Abyssal Conqueror Steps: Third Step — Wraith’s Crossing!]

Darkness mana surged from the [Black Shroud], enfolding Alex in a swirl of shadows.

He vanished.

Then reappeared—right in front of the Goblin Chief.

Pucchi!

Assassinate.

His Wristblade drove clean into the goblin’s chest.

The goblin gasped, mouth agape, eyes wide.

Alex stepped back, letting the body slump to the earth.

The goblin’s expression slowly shifted—from shock to... peace.

"I have played my role... for the Empire..." it whispered.

"I hope... when the day comes... when the Empire is born... they will applaud... and remember our sacrifice."

"For the destined... Goblin... Empire..."

Then it died.

Silence reigned.

Alex stared at the fallen goblin with a strange look in his eyes.

"Those last words..." he muttered. "Did it just quote Emperor Augustus?"

He recalled the reported final words of Rome’s first Emperor:

’Have I played my part well? Then applaud as I exit.’

"That was just a coincidence... right?"

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