A single blow.
Talos’s lone punch struck true, smashing directly into the ogre’s head.
POW!!
Unlike the ogre’s previous barrage of attacks, no shockwave erupted outward.
There was only the distinct sound of something violently rupturing.
“My god…”
The witnesses could do nothing but gape in awe.
Where the ogre’s head had been mere moments ago, there was now nothing but empty space, filled solely by Talos’s unyielding fist.
The mighty ogre, bereft of its head, toppled over like a felled giant tree, lifeless and motionless.
“I can’t believe it…”
The Knight King could only mutter in stunned disbelief, his command forgotten as he stared at the battle between the two titans.
It was only when Talos moved, the one who had shattered the ogre’s skull, that the frozen atmosphere finally thawed.
Talos lifted the fallen ogre’s corpse from the ground and gazed skyward.
In response, a dazzling light descended from the heavens, enveloping Talos and the ogre remains in its radiant embrace.
After what felt like an eternity, the pillar of blinding light dissipated, leaving behind not a trace of either combatant.
Only scattered fragments of ogre blood and flesh remained, testifying to the reality of the clash that had transpired.
—
A body without a head is destined to perish—this truth held firm even for the mightiest of beings.
With the ogre’s reign of terror ended, the invisible collar of sin binding the goblins snapped, setting them free.
Though the ogre’s dominance waned, other overlords like orcs and hobgoblins still remained, attempting to maintain control over the chaotic masses.
But their efforts were futile.
WHOOSH!
“KIEEEK!”
An arrow, fired from some unseen elf archer, pierced cleanly through an orc chieftain’s skull.
While some orcs managed to survive the elven assault, they soon found themselves beset upon by relentless lizardmen warriors.
In short order, nearly all those capable of commanding the goblin horde were eliminated.
With the ogre’s powerful head gone and the backbone of leadership—the orc and goblin chieftains—annihilated, the once-mighty kingdom crumbled almost instantly.
Freed from their oppressive rulers, the countless goblins scattered in every direction, fleeing for their lives.
Thus concluded the war against the greenskins—at least for now.
Though this marked the end of the immediate conflict, the work was far from over.
Those who had learned firsthand the dangers of unchecked goblin populations moved swiftly to ensure not a single creature escaped their grasp.
Among the most effective hunters were the elves and beastmen of Vistia.
Their heightened senses made them perfect trackers, able to sniff out even the most cunningly hidden goblins.
Elves with preternatural hearing pinpointed fleeing goblins by the faintest sounds of scurrying feet, while their precise arrows, imbued with wind spirits, never missed their mark.
Beastmen, slower than mounted knights but far faster than regular infantry, utilized their keen senses to hunt down the elusive creatures.
Even the rat-beastmen of Rattkinia proved their worth, though burdened by heavy shields, excelling at rooting out goblins hiding in narrow cave systems.
Only after countless such hunts were completed could the war truly be declared finished.
—
The first war fought by the grand coalition of races and nations—later known as the First Confederation War—brought about many changes.
First came the shift in perception toward goblins.
Once regarded as little more than troublesome vermin akin to wild dogs, opinions shifted dramatically after the war.
Who would have thought that such seemingly insignificant creatures, when gathered in vast numbers, could grow so powerful?
From that point onward, any sighting of goblins—be they common goblins, hobgoblins, or even orcs—was treated with utmost seriousness.
Though some goblins continued to thrive in remote regions untouched by human hands, the discovery of higher-level threats like hobgoblins or orcs prompted local lords to personally lead expeditions to exterminate these burgeoning threats.
Another significant change occurred among the mages.
To mages who wielded magical power, goblins represented fascinating subjects worthy of extensive study.
These creatures, evolving through exposure to mana, demonstrated remarkable adaptability to their environments, developing unique ways to utilize magic.
Particularly intriguing were the shamanistic goblins, whose abilities captivated the interest of scholars.
“Could it be that mana isn’t limited to elemental forces like fire and ice?”
“How did that goblin shaman use mana to control death energy, reanimating fallen comrades?”
“Perhaps mana has far broader applications than we previously imagined?”
Such questions sparked heated debates within the mage circles of Procyon.
What could mana truly accomplish?
Was its potential truly limitless?
As these discussions unfolded, mages began to group together based on shared interests, eventually forming distinct factions dedicated to exploring various aspects of magical theory:
– Those who sought to master elemental forces.
– Others who aimed to tame monsters like the legendary founders of Arcadia.
– Practitioners who believed in enhancing physical bodies through internalized mana flows.
– Healers inspired by the miracles of the Church of Life.
– Advocates for making magic accessible to all via scrolls and artifacts.
– Controllers who wished to dominate objects and beings through mana bonds.
– Necromancers seeking to replicate the powers of goblin shamans.
– Seers hoping to predict future events by understanding the flow of global mana currents.
Through this process, mages transitioned from merely using spells granted by innate talent to delving into the fundamental principles underlying all magic—a move away from primitive practices toward theoretical comprehension.
Turning our attention to the knights—or more accurately, the cavalry—an equally profound transformation took place.
These noble warriors, sworn vassals to their kings and stewards of their lands, had long neglected the use of heavy armor due to its impracticality during mounted combat.
Yet they bore witness to something extraordinary: an unshakable guardian clad in impenetrable black stone armor.
They saw firsthand the indomitable figure of Talos.
Inspired by this vision, the trend of wearing sturdy plate armor spread rapidly among the knightly class.
Though obtaining full suits of armor proved prohibitively expensive for most, even partial coverage focused on vital areas provided a significant advantage.
Other races experienced less dramatic but notable shifts as well.
Enmity toward goblins deepened across all societies, leading to swift and merciless eradication efforts whenever sightings occurred.
Inter-racial relations also improved incrementally, as shared worship of deities within divine halls fostered a sense of distant kinship akin to neighboring cousins.
Finally, the Church of Life underwent perhaps the most surprising transformation.
Following the war’s conclusion, they received a singular revelation:
“This shall be our final direct intervention on the mortal plane.
Henceforth, this world belongs to those who inhabit it. The Age of the Gods has long since passed.
No deity shall walk the earth again.”
In simpler terms: “We’re tired! We warned you humans about the goblins, yet you failed to act properly!
From now on, we’re stepping back. No more direct interference! Just… leave us alone!
Yes, Talos doesn’t count—he’s on vacation. Ignore him.
Of course, we’ll still listen to your numerous prayers. Asherat promises that much.
Everything in the underworld continues smoothly, and the Church operates without issue.
Most gods prefer indirect influence anyway, maintaining their faith base without unnecessary drama.
The sudden goblin problem has been resolved, so we’re officially retiring from active duty! Enjoy your independence!
We’re done! Absolutely DONE! Got it?!”
Unsurprisingly, the Church erupted into chaos upon receiving this message.
But who cares? I’m taking a break. Call me the Goddess of Hikikomori from now on!
