The Evolution of a Goblin to the Peak-Chapter 1107: Settlement

Mountain Rock City

Alice and the others had arrived in the city. It was encased in a barrier, enveloped by a thick layer of ice—the aftermath of an attack unleashed by a Ninth Shackle Realm expert.

"So how are we going to find the core?" Eztein muttered, glancing around.

Towering buildings loomed in every direction, and the city was teeming with titans. Although the Hero-rank titans were outside battling the Hero-rank warriors, danger still lurked everywhere.

"I don't know..." Alice shook her head.

Finding the core would be difficult. That was why multiple capable squads had been assigned to the mission. As long as the protective barrier was dispelled, their objective would be considered complete.

"Let's go."

Alice and the others left their position. Using artifacts and potions, they concealed their presence, ensuring the city's surveillance systems couldn't detect them. The higher-ups had already calculated the capabilities of the runes embedded throughout this titan settlement.

As the group slipped deeper into the city, they spotted titans roaming everywhere. Even the weakest among them possessed the strength and durability of a B-rank warrior.

At times, they couldn't help but wonder—how had Olympus managed to overthrow the titans in the past?

Titanomachy.

The great war that occurred over thousands of years ago.

According to history, the Titans were once a powerful faction, rivaling the strength of the Holy Land in the present age. They enslaved countless creatures and gradually extended their influence over other powerful factions.

In response, the Jade Emperor made a decisive move, halting the Titans' expansion. Soon after, the Titanomachy began—an era-defining conflict where the Gods of Olympus overthrew the Titans and sealed them beneath the earth.

It was through this victory that Olympus solidified its position, rising to become one of the most powerful factions in the world.

...

Alice and the others moved cautiously as they made their way through the streets.

Time passed quickly...

An hour had gone by, and they still hadn't found anything.

The group took shelter in one of the abandoned houses, gathering to discuss what they had observed so far.

Mountain Rock City had once been an ordinary city. That changed when the titans arrived and turned it into one of their settlements.

That's why the buildings here weren't sized for titans—they were originally made for humans and demis. As for the people who once lived in Mountain Rock City, the titans hadn't massacred them. Instead, they had turned them into livestock.

"We lack information. Why don't we capture one of the titans?" Eztein suggested.

"I doubt an ordinary titan would know anything useful," Alice replied, shaking her head. "If we want information about the main runes, we'll need someone with authority. Capturing one won't be easy—but it could speed things up."

"I think that's our best option," Vashno agreed. "It's risky, but it'll help us find the main runes faster. We can't stay here too long—Hero-rank titans might sense us eventually. Plus, the potion's effect has a time limit."

"I thought about that too. To pull this off, we need to locate the other squads that entered the city," Alice agreed.

With that, the group set out to find their allies. This mission would require teamwork.

Alice and the others left the building and moved stealthily through the city, weaving between houses and searching for any trace of the other warriors. Of course, they knew it wouldn't be easy—those squads were also equipped with artifacts and potions that could temporarily conceal their presence.

Before long, they arrived at a strange location.

In the heart of the city, there was a massive, gaping hole.

"This...?!"

"Is this where the titans came from?"

Alice and the others stared at the massive hole, easily a hundred meters in diameter.

"I have a feeling that what we're looking for is down there," Eztein said, his voice low.

The rest of the group silently agreed. One glance at each other was all it took—they all had the same thought.

They needed to descend into that enormous chasm.

But there was a problem. Titans patrolled the area in large numbers. Even with their potions and artifacts masking their presence, getting past them without being detected would be nearly impossible.

"We still haven't found the other squads," Vashno muttered.

"Maybe they were captured," Eztein said.

Alice shook his head and replied, "Only people with certain achievements could even view this mission. That means all the squads who took it are capable. They wouldn't be captured without causing a commotion."

It would be a different matter if there were still Hero-rank Titans in the city.

Vashno glanced at Alice and asked, "Then what should we do?"

Alice looked down, thinking through various possibilities. After a moment, she said, "What if we take this matter into our own hands? From the looks of it, the other squads are still hiding."

"You mean..." Vashno's eyes widened. He quickly shook his head. "That's too risky. You said before that we needed to be careful—but what you're suggesting now is the opposite."

"I know," Alice replied with a nod. "But it seems like this is the only way to create an opportunity."

...

In the Bound Camp

A woman with long, striking green hair sat in the meeting room, clad in a gold and green robe. Her demeanor was cold and fierce—like a sharpened blade.

She was Kyveli, one of the Heroes of Goddess Athena.

"So, the plan to take over Mountain Rock City has begun?" Kyveli asked, her eyes sweeping across the people in the room.

"Yes, Lady Kyveli. All the Hero-rank members of this camp have launched a decisive attack on Mountain Rock City," one of them replied respectfully.

Kyveli nodded and said, "Prepare everyone. Once the people we've sent into Mountain Rock City succeed, we'll launch an all-out attack. That city holds a strategic position—once it's ours, we'll be able to strike the enemy camps on both flanks."

The people in the room nodded in agreement.

Kyveli glanced at them, her thoughts guarded. I can only give them the fake plan. The real one is known only to a few mortals. The Gods are preparing something.

To prevent any leaks, she had shared only the false plan. The true strategy was a closely guarded secret, known only to the Gods and a select few. They intended to slowly chip away at the Titans—until nothing remained.

Kyveli stood up and walked out of the room. Rising into the air, she floated above the camp, her gaze fixed in the direction of Mountain Rock City.

"Our mission is extermination," she said coldly. "Don't leave a single enemy alive. Turn their world into a living hell."

...

Meanwhile, in Mountain Rock City

Alice and the others were still staring at the massive hole before them.

"Are you sure about this?" Vashno asked, his voice low with concern.

"Yeah, I'm confident," Alice replied, her expression serious and resolute.

Suddenly, their expressions shifted as they sensed a presence behind them. Vashno, Eztein, and Alice spun around in unison—eyes locking onto a figure approaching through the dust and shadows.

They slightly lowered their guard when they saw that the figure wasn't a Titan.

The unknown man introduced himself as Berken, a member of one of the squads participating in the mission.

"Our squad has a proposal. I'm sure you've realized that whatever we're looking for is probably down there," Berken said, his gaze fixed on the massive hole.

Alice and the others nodded in agreement.

Berken continued, "We're heading straight in. Our squad leader is a skilled formation master—he'll create an opening that allows us to jump down safely. However, once we're inside, each squad will split up to search for the main rune as quickly as possible."

Going down meant revealing their presence to every Titan in the area. It would trigger a fierce battle.

"This is the only option we have," Berken said. "The Titans outnumber us, so it's going to be a risky fight—but we don't have a choice. The effects of our potions and artifacts will wear off soon, and once that happens, they'll detect us. Our only path is to fight our way down."

Alice nodded. "Agreed. I was thinking the same. There's no other way but to force our way through."

"Good," Berken said. "Our squad leader will create an opening soon. Wait for the signal."

He then revealed the Athen's Champion emblem before turning to leave.

After Berken left, Eztein, Vashno, and Alice exchanged glances.

"Can we trust that guy?" Eztein asked.

"Probably," Alice replied. "He showed his emblem before he left."

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"Still, just in case this is a trap—be ready," Vashno added.

It was better to be prepared than caught off guard.

Leef and the rest of the squad looked tense. They were deep in enemy territory, and the uncertainty in the air was slowly tightening its grip on their hearts.

Alice and the others waited in silence—until a sudden wave of energy erupted.

"Here it comes," someone muttered.

In an instant, a massive formation rose around the gaping hole, glowing with power. The burst of energy rippled through the air, drawing the attention of every Titan nearby.

One by one, the terrifying auras of the powerful Titans ignited—erupting like volcanoes.

Boom!!

Alice, Vashno, and the rest of Athen's Champion stood with grim expressions.

The Titans were coming.