Chapter 98: Dolo's New Army
“You’re telling me this ‘secret weapon’ is just these broken iron rods?”
Dolo, the towering Dragonblood Goblin military commander of Ashen Hollow, loomed over the human below, his golden eyes narrowed with skepticism.
Player “Qieshibifu” stepped forward immediately, eager to explain:
“These are the latest model firearms developed by our Storm Armory—Firebreaker rifles. Though still smoothbore, we’ve redesigned the barrel. While firepower has slightly decreased, accuracy and range have improved dramatically.”
Dolo casually lifted one of the rifles, weighing it in his massive hands. With a sneer, he scoffed:
“Just a tiny little stick like this? How do you expect to fight enemies with it? In war, nothing beats our long spears, bows, and war hammers!”
He tossed the so-called rifle aside with a dismissive flick.
Just as it teetered toward the ground, Qieshibifu lunged forward, catching it mid-fall with lightning reflexes, terrified of any damage.
Though utterly unimpressed by the Dragonblood Goblin’s ignorance, Qieshibifu pressed on:
“Lord Dolo, this isn’t used like that. Allow me to demonstrate.”
At that moment, a Great Goblin herder led a Prime Ox toward the training field.
Dolo remained unconvinced, but curiosity tugged at him. He gave a small, reluctant nod.
“Please make way.”
Qieshibifu moved with practiced precision—loading the cartridge, steadying his breath, raising the rifle, and aiming.
BANG!
A thunderclap split the air. Smoke curled from the barrel in wisps.
The Prime Ox—massive and powerful—collapsed instantly, its body riddled with dozens of holes. Steel pellets had torn through flesh, muscle, and organs alike. It was nearly shredded into a sieve.
Dolo sucked in a sharp breath.
He had seen the weapon take down a Prime Ox in one shot—and immediately grasped its potential on the battlefield.
But the true horror of the Firebreaker wasn’t just its power.
A skilled archer could achieve similar results, given time and training.
No, the real terror lay in its accessibility.
Even the weakest, most unskilled Goblin could pick up one of these rifles and fire it. With a single trigger pull, they could stand toe-to-toe with a veteran archer.
And archers? They were elite—expensive to train, rare to produce.
Goblins, on the other hand, were as common as weeds. One litter could spawn dozens in a single night.
Dolo seized Qieshibifu’s shoulders, his breath hot against the human’s face:
“How many of these iron sticks can you make?”
Qieshibifu corrected him softly:
“It’s called the Firebreaker rifle.”
Dolo waved a dismissive hand. “Whatever you call it—how many can you produce?”
After a pause, Qieshibifu replied:
“Our Storm Armory is still new. Manpower is limited. But if we push hard, we can have three hundred rifles ready before the war begins. Bullets, however, can be produced in unlimited quantities—Ashen Hollow’s resources are still abundant.”
“Excellent.”
Dolo nodded, already calculating.
He wasn’t expecting an army of these weapons—no, that would be unrealistic.
But three hundred rifles? If used wisely, they could shift the tide of a battle. He knew this well.
Qieshibifu returned to the armory to report.
Soon after, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man arrived with one hundred rifles and a cart full of bullets.
“These are all we currently have,” he said to Dolo.
Dolo nodded, then summoned several powerful Bear Goliaths to carry the weapons back to the camp.
But before the Goliaths could move, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man stepped forward and said:
“Lord Dolo, our Storm Armory has also developed a tactical system specifically for these weapons. You should try it.”
“Oh?” Dolo’s interest sparked. Great Goblins were never tired of war strategies.
The man pulled out a crooked, hand-drawn parchment, its crude sketches showing stick-figure soldiers.
“A simple, ancient, and highly effective tactic,” he said, lowering his voice dramatically.
“We call it—”
He paused for effect.
“Line-by-Line Execution.”
Three days later, Dragon Vale.
Another routine military drill.
As always, the Red Dragon appeared at the mouth of Giant’s Maw Cavern, surveying the troops from above, boosting morale, preparing for the coming war.
But this time, something was different.
A new unit—equipped with the latest gear—marched among the ranks: a specialized force of Great Goblins armed with the new Firebreaker rifles.
“Master,” Dolo said, standing at attention, voice tinged with excitement, “this drill will absolutely please you.”
“Oh?” Kai Xiusu raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
He had a good guess—Mechanical Divinity’s players were behind this.
The drill began. Every follower wanted to impress the Red Dragon, so they pushed themselves to the limit.
“For Ashen Hollow!”
“WHAAAAH!”
The familiar charge. Massive Bear Goliaths raised their war hammers, charging like beasts, smashing into the straw dummies.
“Hey-o!”
The smaller Goblins followed, hurling short spears that embedded deep into the targets.
“For Master Kai Xiusu!”
Another unit, better armed and armored, advanced in tight formation—shield on the left, sword and spear in the right, moving with disciplined precision.
“Good,” Kai Xiusu murmured. “I’m satisfied.”
He didn’t truly care about these armies. Monsters weren’t his foundation. Even if they were all wiped out, he wouldn’t feel a single pang of loss.
Dolo, however, was thrilled. “Sir, it’s not over yet.”
The war drums echoed across the valley.
Boom… boom… boom…
From the rear, a line of elite Great Goblins emerged—dressed in full plate armor, marching in perfect unison, their steps in rhythm with the drumbeats. Each held a Firebreaker rifle—freshly loaded before they even entered the field.
“Oh?” Kai Xiusu’s golden eyes flickered with sudden interest.
The Goblins formed a line fifty meters from the straw targets, adjusting their formation into a wide semicircle.
The drumming stopped. Silence fell.
Dolo stepped forward, chest puffed, and roared:
“Ready!”
A chorus of rifles rose into position. The sound of bolts sliding into place filled the air.
“Fire!”
Trigger pulls.
BANG!
A deafening roar shattered the valley.
Smoke poured from the barrels in thick, rolling waves. The acrid scent of gunpowder hung in the air. Sweat beaded on the Goblins’ brows—but their eyes burned with exhilaration.
The straw targets disintegrated. Dozens fell in a single volley, reduced to splinters and dust. The sheer force left even the Red Dragon momentarily stunned.
“Line-by-Line Execution?” Kai Xiusu recognized the tactic instantly. He couldn’t help but chuckle—these players had brought a full-blown military doctrine from another world into Ailezegai.
But the Red Dragon stretched his wings wide, surveying the scene from the mountaintop.
“Well done! I hope you’ll fight with the same precision on the battlefield—drenching the earth in enemy blood as proof of your loyalty.”
Dolo raised his rifle high, triumphant.
“For the master! For Ashen Hollow!”
“For Ashen Hollow!”
“For the Red Dragon’s will!”
“Conquer all!”
The army erupted in a thunderous roar—waves of cheers crashing over the valley, echoing long into the sky.
(End of Chapter)
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