I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

"Pfft!"

The dagger plunged deep into the old priest's back until the hilt was gone!

"What are you doing?!"

Ward's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared wildly, trying to pounce, but his movements were slowed by his injuries and weakness.

"Ugh—!" The old pastor's body trembled violently, and the white light of healing abruptly stopped.

He groaned, his aged face contorted in agony, and staggered forward, the color draining from his face instantly. His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a complete syllable.

"teacher--!!!"

On the other side of the battlefield, the orc Garu let out a roar that was a mixture of rage and terror!

He completely ignored the claws of a ghoul swinging from his side, and his massive body charged back at an incredible speed!

Like a maddened beast, it crashed into the burly Bill, who had pulled out a dagger but whose expression remained numb and eerie!

"Bang!!!"

Bill was hit head-on like a galloping warhorse; he was lifted off the ground, tracing a short arc before rolling into the muddy, overgrown grass beside him.

Garu had already knelt down on one knee beside the old pastor, the giant axe carelessly tossed aside.

The large hands that could easily wield a giant axe were now trembling as they fumbled for a small, shimmering red crystal bottle in a leather pouch at their waist.

It contained a thick medicinal liquid that resembled fresh blood, emanating a life force far more potent than ordinary healing potions.

Unlike the low-grade healing potion in Xia Lin's baggage, the old priest was taking a potion of a significantly higher grade.

They pried open the old pastor's clenched teeth and carefully poured the entire bottle of medicine into him.

The medicine has an immediate effect.

A faint trace of color returned to the old pastor's pale face, and the flesh around the terrible wound on his back writhed and contracted.

Although it did not fully heal, the bleeding visibly stopped.

His extremely weak breathing became a little more stable, but he was still in pain, his brows furrowed.

This sudden betrayal and change stunned everyone.

The battlefield fell into an eerie stillness.

Griffin's expression turned extremely solemn as he scanned the shadowy jungle around him and the deep darkness of the swamp further away.

"We're just unlucky this time..."

His voice was deep and clear in the silence, each word like a cold pebble thrown into stagnant water.

"Among the ghouls, there are even more cunning demons who work together to drive the ghouls."

These evil beings wield all sorts of corrupt and filthy necromancy, capable of controlling not only lowly ghouls, but even…”

Griffin's gaze returned to the injured old pastor, his tone as cold as winter.

"...capable of bewitching and instilling fear in living beings. That Bill from earlier was probably controlled by a demon lurking in the shadows."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the bewildered faces of each guard, finally settling on the orc who slowly stood up, his eyes bloodshot.

"Everyone, form a back-to-back, tight formation."

The druid lightly tapped his oak staff, and a barely perceptible layer of pale green natural aura spread out like ripples.

Silently moving through the grass, water, and tree trunks, the druid seemed to be detecting traces that ordinary sight could not capture.

The remaining ghouls did not disperse; they lay low in the shadows of the swamp and among the reeds.

Its cloudy eyes were fixed on the shrinking defensive perimeter, and a greedy whimper rolled from its throat.

Perhaps it was the effect of Xia Lin and his two companions' previous swift and decisive mopping-up that deterred these monsters, who only retained their instincts, from rushing forward.

However, this brief stalemate was abruptly broken the next moment.

"Splash—splash—"

The sound of mud and water being stirred came from behind the ghouls.

The lingering low-level ghouls, as if receiving a silent command, slowly parted to the sides, making way for a passage.

Three exceptionally tall and robust figures appeared in everyone's sight.

They were a whole size larger than ordinary ghouls, hunched over yet exuding an aura of oppression.

Dark bluish-black skin stretched taut over bulging, exaggerated muscles, its surface covered with crisscrossing scars and bone nodules, as if draped in a rough, natural armor.

The claws were longer, with tips that gleamed with a dark, metallic sheen.

What is most striking are their eyes—though still cloudy, they have lost some of their dullness and gained a cunning and cruel crimson light.

When scanning its prey, it carries an air of scrutiny and selection.

"You guys are really unlucky," Woody's voice rang out, unusually serious. "These three 'big guys' are not easy to take on."

"Elite Ghoul!"

Druid Griffin gasped, his face turning completely grim: "A mutated form produced when an ordinary ghoul devours enough flesh and soul."

Its strength, defense, and even intelligence are far superior to ordinary ones!

We absolutely cannot let them break into our formation!

Without him needing to say more, rage and worry had already ignited every nerve in the orc Garu's body.

The old pastor was stabbed and seriously wounded, as if a red-hot iron had been plunged into his heart.

He let out a low growl, a sound that was not human speech, but more like the roar of a wounded beast.

Its massive body shot out like a cannonball, its giant axe tearing through the air, heading straight for the foremost and most robust of the three elites!

"clang--!!!"

The giant axe and the elite ghoul's crossed claws collided violently, producing a metallic clang!

The shockwave exploded, splashing mud and water everywhere.

Under the enraged attack of the orc Garu, the elite ghoul staggered backward, leaving two deep slash marks on its arms and claws!

The other two elite ghouls instantly locked their crimson gazes onto Xia Lin and Griffin.

Unlike their lower-class counterparts who charge blindly, they slightly separate, forming a pincer movement, lowering their center of gravity, and approaching step by step.

"You control the situation, I'll take the lead!"

A simple tactic was devised before the two monsters surrounded them.

Druids are not good at close combat, and their longsword and shield are their only means of dealing with such a formidable enemy.

Griffin nodded emphatically, slamming his staff on the ground, and natural energy began to gather: "Be careful, their flesh and bones are much tougher!"

Before the words were even finished, the two elite ghouls launched their attack simultaneously, creating a stench!

They are several times faster than ordinary ghouls!

Xia Lin slid to the side, narrowly avoiding a ghoul's claws "greeting" him from the left.

A flash of cold air!

He swung his longsword in a swift motion, aiming for its bulging, muscular arm!

"laugh--!"

A completely different feel and feedback compared to ordinary ghouls!

When the blade cut into the tough, bluish-black skin, there was a noticeable resistance, as if it were cutting into soaked cowhide.

With his arm muscles bulging as he gripped the sword, Xia Lin let out a low shout and suddenly increased his strength!

"Snap!"

The sword finally broke through the obstacle and struck hard at the joint of the arm bone!

A twisted claw with sharp nails flew up, gushing out dark red, almost black, filthy blood.

"roar--!!!"

The ghoul with the severed claw let out a pained and furious howl.

Almost at the same instant, the claws of another ghoul on the right had already reached Xia Lin's ribs!