Chapter 344 - 295: Bald Hide’s Magical Beast Hunting Method 2

"The Frogmen's offering altar." Shire frowned, looking at the answer on the beast hide. His gaze shifted to the top of the distant steps, at the entrance to the Egg-Birth Gate. There, when they had first entered the cavern, they had seen a strange stone with a shriveled fish placed on it.

"That thing didn't look white at the time," he muttered, grabbing the hide and quickly walking toward the offering altar.

Soon, Shire reached the Egg-Birth Gate. He swept aside the shriveled fish and then carefully examined the stone. Only now, looking at it again, did he realize it was actually square-shaped.

'It feels a bit rough and uneven.' Shire's finger traced the surface of the stone platform. He then tried to rub its surface and discovered what seemed to be a sticky "coating" of grease or some other substance.

'The Frogmen must have used this for offerings for thousands of years. The fish, algae, and whatnot left behind a patina of grease.' He scrubbed at it forcefully several times and finally managed to wipe away a patch of the black "coating," revealing a grayish-white color underneath.

'I'll leave it for now. I'll see if I can clean it with soap when we get back.' Shire flicked his hands, deciding he would have Red Eyes and the others carry this offering altar away.

"I'm truly sorry. This time, we're not only taking the Clan Leader's stone cushion, but the offering stone as well," he said apologetically upon returning to the Frogman Race Leader.

"No, outsider. These items have proven their worth, and they did indeed serve their purpose. After all, you truly came, ribbit," the Frogman Race Leader said with a smile, waving his hand. "I only ask that you do not forget our agreement, ribbit."

Shire didn't speak. He just raised the hand he had high-fived with the Frogman Race Leader, gave it a little shake, and then smiled and nodded emphatically.

In the distance, Wa Er San Wu Qi Yi and a group of Frogmen were gathered around Oreco and the other Centaurs. It seemed they wanted to ask them to "play" that surfing "game" from before.

「Meanwhile, in the forest.」

In the forest, Bald Hide impatiently dismissed several Dongtou and then plopped down against a large tree. 'Sure enough, leading so many people is a huge pain.'

This time, the High Priest had him bring out members from five goblin toes' worth of burrows. All told, that was 2,000 goblins. And that wasn't all; he also brought 100 Petrifying Lizards, which was nearly all the remaining Petrifying Lizards in the Kingdom.

"With this many, it's nothing for them to fight over food," he said casually. Those Dongtou just now had come to him because the goblins from 100 burrows had to find their own food while marching. One could only imagine how slow their progress was, and how chaotic it became when they were foraging.

Snatching each other's hunting spoils was one thing; if the High Priest hadn't strictly forbidden killing and eating goblins from other burrows before they set out, there would likely have been non-combat casualties.

No, that's not right. It couldn't be considered a loss of personnel. After all, the combatants would just reappear in the ranks in another form—a dismembered one.

But none of that was on Bald Hide's mind. His thoughts were filled with what the High Priest had said when he sought him out again: "The Divine Being is furious. He is exceptionally enraged that those goblins desecrated its power. The Divine Being said nothing of your previous failure, but you must wash away your own shame."

So, this time, he had brought out more goblins, along with more Snake Shedding Garments and Petrifying Lizards. 'Although the High Priest didn't promise me anything, as long as I defeat these blasphemers and drag them before the Divine Being, I should receive a personal commendation from the Divine Being itself.'

In the Feathered Serpent Kingdom, other than the High Priest, no goblin had ever seen the Divine Being with their own eyes. They had only heard the High Priest say that the Divine Being's body was immense, an existence that goblins could not possibly stand against.

If he completed the mission given to him by the High Priest this time, he might very well be granted a personal audience with the Divine Being. 'No, there is no 'if',' Bald Hide thought, clenching his fist in confidence.

"Military Leader," a goblin came running over in a panic, "we're under attack!"

"Attack?" Bald Hide looked at the terrified goblin standing before him. He patted his ragged clothes, shaking off some barely-there dust. That title, "Military Leader," felt very satisfying. It was a new position the High Priest had appointed him to in front of all the goblins before they set out, giving him command over all of them. Even the Dongtou had to obey his orders.

"What would dare attack us?" he asked, standing up and puffing out his chest and stomach.

"A... a wild boar, wreathed in black smoke."

"An infected monster?" The corner of Bald Hide's mouth twitched. The High Priest had previously told all the members that these mutated animals were very dangerous, and their meat was inedible. "Get everyone ready. Tell those Dongtou to drive the Petrifying Lizards and follow me."

Not long after the order was given, Bald Hide arrived at a forest clearing. The bloody scene before him made his eyelids twitch.

A giant boar, powerfully built and several times larger than a normal adult boar, was lazily rubbing itself against a thick tree. The trunk swayed back and forth from the force, looking as if it was about to snap.

On the ground lay nearly ten goblin corpses. Some of the bodies were incomplete, likely having been eaten by the mutated boar.

The ground was scattered with pools of blood and fragments of viscera, emitting a foul odor that was unsettling to smell.

The mutated boar paid no mind to these small creatures approaching again. It merely glanced at the goblin troop before closing its eyes and continuing to rub its body against the tree trunk.

'It makes sense. This thing could bite a goblin in half with a single chomp.' The corner of Bald Hide's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but feel a little scared. However, with so many subordinates standing behind him, he had to force himself to pull it together. He reached down and fiercely pinched his own thigh, using the pain to calm himself down.

"Don't be afraid! Follow my command," his voice was somewhat shrill—whether from fear or pain, no one could tell, but no goblin seemed to notice. Bald Hide slowly raised his arm and ordered, "Drive the big lizards forward! Attack!"

A clamor of "SQUEE-WAA-LAA" erupted from the goblin crowd, followed by the "SHRR-SHRR" of scales scraping against blades of grass. Soon, a group of Petrifying Lizards was driven out, charging toward the mutated boar.

The boar's enraged squeals once again echoed through the clearing. It charged back and forth among the Petrifying Lizards, snapping numerous trees in its path. As for the goblins, as soon as the Petrifying Lizards were driven out, they instinctively ran backward.

Before long, the boar's howls died down. Bald Hide waited a while longer before leading the goblins to approach the area again.

Through the gaps between the trees, he could see a huge stone block, broken into several pieces, lying on the ground amidst a patch of felled trees. The Petrifying Lizards were trying to gnaw on the now-petrified mutated boar.

It was a bit of a shame, though. Not long after eating it, the lizards spat out the chunks of boar meat. It seemed they didn't like this kind of mutated creature either.

"Not bad," Bald Hide said as he walked up to the small, hill-like stone and kicked the petrified corpse of the mutated boar a few times. The hard impact on the sole of his foot made him grin. "With so many big lizards, we took care of one mutated boar in an instant. Now let's see what that bunch of goblins can do."

"Think you can beat me again with just those Centaurs and that weird-looking bear?" he laughed, kicking the stone in front of him again. "It doesn't even matter if you have that strange Freezing Spell. I've already figured out how to deal with it this time."

He turned and ordered the goblins to drive the Petrifying Lizards back. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he started walking back with a carefree and self-satisfied air.

He paid no mind at all to the goblin corpses on the ground being carried away by their living comrades.