Psychokinetic Eyeball Pulling

Chapter 71: All According to Plan

“Warlord Dreigno!” A kobold rushed to a hulking lizardman. “There’s a group of our brethren fighting each other. It has spread to the far reaches of our sanctuary!”

“Gather the armoured knights and slaughter them,” Dreigno said with a hiss. “With the help we were given, no one shall stop our expansion.”

Warlord Dreigno could only be loosely called a Kobold. His size resembled that of an orc and the thick, wiry muscles expanded and contracted at every slight movement. Large horns spiralled from his head, thorn like appendages branched off from the main trunk. His scales were a blackened red, and they contrasted sinisterly against his fluorescent orange eyes.

Warlord Dreigno leaned on the metal bannisters that overlooked the sprawling workshop. A constant surge of heat wafted through the dry air. It was often hard to breathe from the thick smoke that clung to their lungs, but they had gotten used to it quickly.

Two smaller kobolds stood in front of a larger one. It was a sub-leader, one that had just evolved. They helped the largest by hosting a massive breastplate onto its chest. Their little arms trembled under the weight. With a grunt from the evolved kobold, it grabbed hold of the bottom and pushed it up. The smaller kobolds quickly tightened the straps, securing it to its chest.

The sub-leader clanged its knuckles against the solid breastplate. Smoke emitted from its maw and, unlike the smaller kobolds, large horns sprouted from its skull. It was a sign of its greater heritage and power.

It was a common scene within the production hall. Smaller kobolds attached Armours made of strange ore to the stronger ones, all while the smithing kobolds were busy making weapons. They were crude and often held weird shapes. Sharp, thick metal attached to long sticks, or a simple wide blade designed for chopping. They were unbalanced. Sharp in some areas and dull in others, but they could still kill, and that’s all that mattered.

A commotion blasted at the entrance. Dreigno stood to attention as a group of kobolds smashed into the production hall. They held weapons of their own creation, and their savage eyes held no attempt at hiding the bloodlust within.

“For what reason do you have to rebel?” Dreigno shouted, his voice boomed across the hall. “I gave you everything and now we have a chance at rebirth, yet you bite the hand that feeds you. I will tear you all limb from limb and savour your blood.”

“Ah god damn, so loud aren’t you?” the leader of the invaders said and stepped forward.

Dreigno thought his eyes were deceiving him. Now and then, the leader’s head would sprout some fine golden hair from the cracks in its scales. They flickered, as if it was an illusion. That, and the female voice was grating on his ears. He did not know what she was saying, but it was shockingly similar to human speech.

“My fellow knights, attack, regain your freedom from those that have enslaved you!” The kobold shouted, but no one reacted.

“My lady, they can’t understand you,” the kobold next to the golden-haired leader said. Metal encased most of its body.

“Right, I know that,” the leader said. “It’s harder than I thought to inspire monsters without my Mind Domain. Leena, if you will.” it sighed helplessly.

“Yes, my lady!” the kobold shouted and flashed forward. Its metal lance thrust at the stomach of one of the armoured evolved. Its eyes widened as a clang rang throughout the workshop. The lance had failed to penetrate the strange armour. Not even a mark.

Dreigno’s laugh boomed through the hall. “You think your measly weapons can pierce our treasured mineral? The gods themselves bestowed it upon us! We will take back this town and rise into the human world! No wait, stop!”

The kobold thrusted its lance forward at a speed that Druigno could no longer track. It tore through the unarmoured throat of the evolved and it crashed to the floor in a puddle of dark, viscous red.

“What was it laughing about?”

“I’m not sure, my lady. Maybe it doesn’t like its own people?”

“Huh, do you think? That’s quite heartless.”

“I agree, my lady. It’s making me quite angry.”

“That’s what I was thinking! Just because they’re monsters doesn’t mean they shouldn’t care for their own!”

“We should give the leader a stern talking to, my lady. Ah, with your permission, of course.”

“Okay! Let’s do it.”

Astrid looked at Leena as she shrouded them both in her illusion. She barely stifled her laugh as she looked at Leena’s kobold form. She was encased in metal like a tin can. it surprised Astrid she could even move.

Level 67 - Kobold Warlord: A kobold that has reached far into their current bloodline.

Current bloodline? I guess there have been cases where a kobold evolved even further into a Draconic being. I wonder how far off this one is? Astrid wondered.

Unlike humans and their classes, most monsters evolved from their bloodline to become stronger. As they levelled, their bodies changed to different forms. The common goblin was the best example of this. From a lowly goblin, to a hobgoblin, to an ogre, and it continued above that, but the science classes were still examining them. The limit was currently unknown.

There was even a legend of the kobold named Dronis. It evolved all the way from a tiny kobold that only reached Astrid’s knees, to a mighty dragon capable of raining hellfire down on the scattered islands around the world. Although just a story, many believed it to be true. After all, once one had seen the Leviathan, anything was possible after that.

The big lizard seemed to command something as the surrounding kobolds received a boost to their morale.

Astrid raised her sword and yelled. The kobolds on her side rushed forward in a bloody brawl. Scales were sliced and red splashed onto the dust ladened floor.

Every time a kobold on her side was about to receive damage, Astrid blocked the attack with her mind.

Leena dashed forward with her lance and clashed against the strongest kobolds. The armour worked wonders against her weapon as it blocked its dead in its tracks. But, with a little finesse, she made her lance thinner to pierce the flesh hidden in between the armour. Neck, thighs armpit, were all targets for her to mercilessly attack.

Her high level made it impossible for the kobolds to fight back. They simply didn’t have the strength to penetrate her Mind Barrier.

The kobold warlord roared and leapt from the catwalk above. Its hulking body slammed into the ground in front of Astrid. The ground trembled under its powerful legs.

Astrid’s mind latched onto its hulking body and lifted it up in the air. She felt the weight bear down on her mind, but it wasn’t something that caused her pain. It was more like an inconvenience, like carrying a huge jug of water around with one arm.

The Warlord struggled. Its legs and arms furiously wailed within the air as the air swished at every abrupt movement. Astrid slapped her hand, and she sent the hulking kobold hurtling through the air like a cannonball. The scaled body slammed into the wall, sending dust and rubble flying.

Astrid immediately blasted the dust away and chased after the Warlord.

It shook its head from the impact. It scurried around on the floor and hastily snatched its axe from the ground. The Warlord tried to charge at the golden-haired young woman, but it was of no use. It wasn’t in control of its body. She was.

Astrid didn’t give the kobold time to think as she crashed its body into any solid object she could find. It was surprisingly good practice. It wasn’t often she could lift a monster within her level range and feel its intense struggle. After breaking its body, she finished it by latching her psychic mana on its eyes and yanking them from its skull. Blood spurted, followed by two simultaneous miniature explosions.

With the Warlord dead, the kobolds that Astrid and Leena had turned to their side, cheered and hugged each other in relief and excitement from the tyranny of the lead kobold.

A sudden thought struck Astrid’s mind. She cast Mind Domain on six of the nearest kobolds. Astrid immediately changed the world to the exact surroundings that she was in just moments before. The cheering continued.

Astrid looked down at her lizard hands and claws. Lifelike scales covered her body in its entirety. She was no different than a kobold.

“You are free now. The forests are safe and clear. Make your way there for a new life,” Astrid said.

The kobolds looked at eachother, then thumped their chest with their small fists.

“Great warrior, are you not coming with us?” one kobold asked.

“I’m afraid not, young one, for my life's purpose lays beyond the verdant forest, and past the boundless mountains, all towards the unfettered clouds that lay above!” Astrid stood tall, as if she was the centre of the world.

What the hell am I saying? Oh well, I bet I look damn cool right now. Astrid silently chuckled.

“Take us with you, great warrior, to the skies above!” The other kobold hissed. “We will bleed for you, die for you if needs be!”

“I can’t,” Astrid thumped her chest. “You need to remain here, gather our brethren from around this land and one day you will rise with me!”

“We will do as you command!” The kobolds all thumped their chest with furore.

“Begone!” Astrid commanded, and she collapsed the Mind Domain.

The kobolds said something in their lizard tongue, then ran off with blazing fire ignited within their eyes.

Uh, what did I do? Did I just recruit a damned kobold army? Ah, whatever, I'll never see them again, anyway. Farewell, brave warriors. Astrid gave a final salute as they disappeared into the distance. Thankfully, the forest they entered was far away from the other Wayfarers.

“Should we go after them, my lady?” Leena tightened her grip around her lance.

“No, let my children fly free and soar.” Astrid shook her head.

“My lady?” Leena looked at her master in confusion.

“Hmm? Ah, shi–nothing.” Astrid almost forgot that she had returned to the real world.

Talking like that was rather addicting… Astrid coughed.

“Cover me,” Astrid said. “I’m going to enter my system.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Sinking away from her embarrassment, the system messages greeted her.

You defeated - Level 34 - Crackled Wolf

You have levelled up!