Chapter 477 - 351: So, Gou Dan, What Is the Cost?

Chapter 477: Chapter 351: So, Gou Dan, What Is the Cost?

This was also the reason why, for the longest time, so few people had focused their energy on the Goblin Slayer Extraordinary Profession—it was just too inefficient!

To be honest, Soron still wasn’t satisfied with the current Goblin Slayer. Tier Two Upper was already its limit. The threshold to Tier Three was not something the meager power from the Goblin Slayer ritual could break through.

Why was Tier Three such a major hurdle for Extraordinary Professions?

Because Tier Three involved an evolution of one’s fundamental life essence! ℯℯ𝑙.

Strictly speaking, a Tier Three Transcendent was no longer the same species they were before. Compared to the simple accumulation of power in Tier One and Tier Two, the energy required for the Tier Three metamorphosis was astronomical. It had even reached a point where mere quantity was no longer the solution.

The simplest way to solve this problem was to introduce other variables, such as the one Agares had mentioned before—Evil Energy!

However, the corrosive power of Evil Energy was too strong. By the time the ascension was complete, the result couldn’t be called a Goblin Slayer, or even a goblin. It would be a Demon!

A pure-blooded Demon!

It would simply give rise to a new Demon bloodline.

This was not the result Soron wanted.

On the other side, seeing that Soron had nothing more to say, Agares didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked, "How are the preparations? Is it time to begin?"

"Let’s begin. Preparations are nearly complete." Soron turned to look at the Goblin Tree behind him. A strange light glinted in the deep green Demon Eye floating amidst the black mist.

In that instant, the trunk of the towering Goblin Tree began to squirm as if it were made of liquid!

At the same time, one after another, hulking, modified goblins began to fruit on the tree before dropping off!

*HISS~*

Watching this surreal scene, Agares couldn’t help but gasp. ’As expected,’ he thought, ’these guys who mess with biological modification are all lunatics!’

The scene was a bit much for Agares to take in, so after a few glances, he turned and walked away.

As he walked, he opened the Barriers, unleashing the Demon Legion and Goblin Legion that had been amassed within!

BOOM!

The instant the Demon Legion and Goblin Legion charged out, a visible, malevolent radiance shot into the sky. A tidal wave of vile energy crashed toward the natives in the distance!

*HISS!!*

The sickening, vile energy made their skin crawl, but with the great enemy before them and their families behind them, they could not retreat!

The Knights gripped their Longswords, the fear in their eyes slowly replaced by resolve. They raised their blades and shields as one!

Seeing this, the Star Mages brandished their Magic Staffs. First, they cast shimmering auras of Magic to bolster the Knights at the front. Only then did they begin to summon their respective Star Beasts, which formed the first line of defense against the Demons and goblins.

As Agares stepped out of the Barrier, two objects floated out from him. One was a Recording Crystal Ball, which would document all magical fluctuations on the battlefield to provide raw data for later research. The other was a Magic Book that hovered in the air, its pages flipping ceaselessly as if recording something.

Agares, however, had no idea what the book was for. The leader had given it to him before his departure, saying only to bring it with him.

The book had flickered with magical light intermittently before, but this was the first time it had reacted so strongly.

BOOM!

Soon, the eruption of conflict on the front lines drew Agares’s attention. The two armies clashed, sending countless limbs and torrents of blood flying through the air!

Facing the frenzied Demons and berserk goblins, the battle instantly reached a fever pitch!

This was especially true for the Demons. Since this was just the initial stage of the battle, most of the Demon Legion consisted of Tier One Little Inferior Demons. These were small Demons, similar in height and appearance to Ordinary goblins. The only difference was that the Little Inferior Demons were fiercer, their bodies packed with sinewy muscle, and they could also cast Magic.

But they were a far cry from the hulking goblins modified by Soron. Those creatures were not only Tier Two with much stronger bodies, but they also lacked any semblance of reason. They were pure weapons of war!

Their fighting style made Agares wince. Little Inferior Demons could at least feel fear and would flee from powerful enemies or after suffering heavy injuries. But these goblins were different. Their minds were filled with nothing but battle and slaughter!

Even if only a head remained, it would still try to bite and tear!

Their Life Force was terrifying!

However, what truly captured Agares’s attention were the few Goblin Slayers. They were also Tier Two, but compared to the frenzied fighting style of the hulking goblins, they were far calmer.

Their fighting style was perfectly suited to their profession—that of a killer!

They were extremely decisive, delivering a killing blow with a single strike most of the time. Whether with a bow or a shortsword, their movements were clean and efficient, their skills superb.

As Agares watched the two starkly different types of goblins, his brow furrowed. A flash of insight struck him, and he thought he finally understood why Soron still created so many hulking goblins even after developing the clearly superior Goblin Slayers!

’Soron intends to fuse these two types of goblins!’

By combining superb skill with a powerful physique, he would create a stronger, purer goblin!

And...

In this, Agares saw a glimmer of a path to Tier Three!

The powerful physiques of the berserk goblins were all products of magical experiments. He couldn’t tell right away how many modification procedures they had undergone or how many Magic Potions they had consumed, but he knew one thing: even if the current success rate for this path was pitifully low, there was a definite hope of success!

Because this was how Legendary Mages ascended to Tier Three!

The only difference was that the modifications for Legendary Mages were purer and part of a more complete, established system compared to those of these berserk goblins.

The current berserk goblins could never reach Tier Three, even if they successfully integrated the strengths of the Goblin Slayers. The modification process was too convoluted, making the final stage of fusion incredibly difficult—practically impossible to succeed.

But the direction was right!

At least, the direction toward Tier Three was correct!

At this realization, Agares turned to look back toward Soron, his breath catching in his throat. He knew the man was an outstanding Servant Demon Mage to their leader, and his rise from a weak goblin to a Tier Three High-level Wizard was certainly impressive. But he had never imagined that the man was *this* impressive!

’No wonder the leader handed the Star Mage research over to him without much hesitation. It wasn’t nepotism after all.’

After all, this was the creation of an entire Extraordinary Profession!

’If this guy succeeds and manages to stabilize the process, he might be able to use this to ascend to Tier Four and become a Miracle Mage!’

BOOM!!

Just as Agares was lost in amazement, the battle escalated once more!

The pressure that the death-defying Demons and goblins put on the native Transcendents was unprecedented. After only a few short clashes, the Star Beasts summoned by the Star Mages were completely annihilated!

The Knights engaged the enemy and immediately began to suffer heavy casualties!

Seeing this, the Tier Three Transcendents among the natives could no longer stand by. If they continued to watch, the casualties would become too severe. They had to set aside their concerns about potential Tier Three invaders on the enemy side and enter the fray themselves!

At first, they did indeed inflict massive casualties upon the Demon Legion and Goblin Legion, cutting them down in droves.

But this situation was quickly brought under control.

Because while there were no Tier Three goblins, there were Tier Three Demons!

With large numbers of Demons dying, a green light flashed across the sky. The power of Evil Energy converged, and one after another, three Tier Three High-level Demons appeared on the battlefield!

They were a Flame Demon cloaked in fire, a Six-armed Snake Demon wielding six sharp blades, and a Succubus with small wings holding a leather whip.

The instant the three High-level Demons appeared, an overwhelming Demon Radiance spread out. All creatures within its range—be they Demon, goblin, or the enemy Knights—received a significant buff!

Their combat effectiveness rose by a whole new level!

But what was the cost?