Shia remained utterly unmoved.

He knew the Goblin Emperor's cruelty and cunning all too well. How could he possibly let it go just because it begged for mercy? If he weren’t strong enough, what kind of horrific fate would have awaited the girls trapped in the Goblin Emperor’s schemes?

Recalling the earlier scenes, Shia's expression grew colder. He wasn’t in any hurry to grant it a swift death but instead ensured the Goblin Emperor experienced a slow and excruciating demise.

Absolute ruthlessness!

The Goblin Emperor's eyes burned with intense unwillingness. Though it possessed intelligence, its combat prowess was practically negligible—especially before Shia, where all resistance proved futile.

In its desperation, it cried out, "Please, save me!" aiming its plea toward the necklace it wore. But the necklace remained just that—a lifeless accessory offering no response. Its relics, which could bend others to its will, were powerless against Shia.

Finally, with a decisive slash, the Goblin Emperor perished, its eyes wide open in disbelief.

The Goblin Emperor, who should have brought chaos and slaughter, was preemptively eliminated.

Shia glanced at the Goblin Emperor’s lifeless body before shifting his focus to the severed arm. Bending down, he retrieved the bracelet.

The 'Sacred Relic: Black Desire Elegy'—a terrifying weapon designed to amplify lust, reducing women to helpless prey.

At the same time as the Goblin Emperor's demise, the rescue team from Seven Shields Academy arrived. Although the new students hadn't known the location of the goblin nest due to their trial, the rescue team cut straight through the outer forest, heading directly for the lair.

A knight with moss-green hair and sun-kissed skin wielded a massive sword, cleaving goblins in two. Aph, her sharp eyes scanning her surroundings, led the charge into the underground palace.

Her heart was consumed with worry for her man, desperate to clear every goblin in her path.

The elven girl, delicate in appearance, had a wild determination burning in her youthful face. Her long silver hair cascaded to her ankles as she used her bare hands as weapons. Wherever her gaze landed, goblins' limbs twisted and snapped in agonizing screams before they died.

She regretted not coming along earlier. If she'd known this would happen, nothing could have stopped her.

'Master, wait for me!'

Lilith hesitated briefly at the sight of Aph and Lia each choosing a different tunnel before steeling herself and entering another.

'Shia, you’d better hold out until I get there!'

Without him, her plans would fall apart. The blonde heiress, clad in her black stockings, glared with determination and a faint hint of desperation. No matter what she thought of him otherwise, Shia was at the forefront of her mind now.

The three led their teams of senior students in a sweeping purge of the goblins within the underground lair. Even with the Goblin Emperor's command, the goblins were no match for these experienced fighters. And with the emperor dead, the goblins reverted to their mindless, sluggish state, relying solely on base instincts.

The once-thriving underground kingdom crumbled. A disaster meant to erupt six months later was snuffed out prematurely.

Shia's 'Goblin Slayer Interface' flickered briefly before dimming. His armor began to vanish as the projection faded, leaving the 'Authority of Fantasy' dull and lifeless for now. Most of its power had been consumed, making it unusable for the foreseeable future.

This projection represented the current limit of his abilities. To summon a stronger or more sustained presence, Shia needed time and accumulation. Although the 'Dreamer' had been unlocked, its potential was still in its infancy.

In time, as his influence grew, so too would his capacity to wield greater powers. Shia understood that the only way to achieve unrestricted use of his abilities was to progress from 'Authority' to 'Throne'—a state where he could stand on equal footing with gods.

However, his first use of the Fantasy Authority had drained him significantly. His face pale, his stamina and energy were depleted to their limits. Staggering slightly, he retraced his steps along the Goblin Emperor's escape route, which was shorter than the main path. Dragging his exhausted body back, he wasn’t sure he could have made it otherwise.

Soft hands steadied him.

Seeing Shia's figure in the distance, Rong had rushed to his side, reaching him first.

"Master, are you okay?" Rong’s eyes swept over Shia anxiously, confirming he was intact. Though relieved, her brows remained furrowed. He looked uninjured, but could she be sure there wasn’t internal damage?

Shia met her gaze, her worried and caring eyes reflecting nothing but his image. Her concern melted away his exhaustion, and a warm smile crept onto his lips. He reached out, patting her head.

"Wasn’t I awesome just now? Aren’t you going to praise me?" His teasing tone earned him a playful eye-roll.

"You were amazing, super amazing," Rong replied with a hint of mockery, her voice light. If he was joking, he must be fine. Fully reassured, the tension in her chest eased completely.

The two shared a harmonious, tender moment.

Violet watched from afar, envy flickering in her heart. When would she get to experience a bond like that?

She had seen Shia return but hesitated, and Rong had seized the moment. Now that the life-and-death crisis had passed, her haughty nature reemerged. Remembering what she had said before, her face turned bright red.

At this moment, although Shia’s projection had faded, the residual pressure of his power lingered.

The wandering goblins dared not approach him. Trembling with fear, they knelt from afar, emitting pitiful whimpers in submission.

Suddenly, a rumbling noise echoed from the passage.

Everyone turned their attention toward the sound, including Shia, who glanced over his shoulder.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com