The Trap

On a cart created by the impact of the goblin general's attack, Kai was still blocking the goblin general's assault. With the two-handed axe still in Kai's crossed hands, the goblin general was using his full force to push his axe, trying to slash Kai—but Kai, with shaking hands, was still holding onto it.

Focusing all his strength in his legs and hands, Kai pushed the goblin general's axe with rapid speed. The weight of the goblin general's axe in Kai's crossed hands was so great that when Kai pushed it back, the cart on which he was standing sank deeper than before. The force of Kai's push was so powerful that it sent the goblin general backward. In the blink of an eye, the goblin general began to fall backward—one leg lifted into mid-air while the other remained on the ground—and the axe he held above his head wavered as a result of Kai's counterattack.

Even as Arthur watched, Kata knew what was happening behind him. Having known Kai for a long time, Kata was aware that Kai would use this advantage to attack the goblin general. Kata quickly stood up, maintaining some distance, and looked at Kai.

Seeing the goblin general lose his balance, Kai jumped with rapid speed, aiming to attack the goblin general's arm that was holding the axe.

"It's a trap, my lord," Kata thinks, slightly closing his eyes, knowing that the goblin general wants Kai to attack him.

As Kai jumped, in mid-air he attempted to strike the goblin general's arm with rapid speed. However, the goblin general moved his left arm and grabbed Kai. In mid-air, Kai focused fully on the goblin general's right hand—the one holding his axe. Kai did not expect the goblin general to use his left hand because of balance, but the goblin general was merely feigning a loss of balance to lure Kai into an attack.

As the goblin general grabbed Kai with his left hand, his loss of balance became apparent. He planted one leg on the ground while still partly in the air, and with monstrous force, he attacked Kai with the axe he held in his right hand. With that force, the axe slashed through the air from both sides, coming toward Kai's face. The goblin general's grip was so strong that Kai could do nothing. Seeing the axe coming down from above, Kai already knew he was defeated.

"Kai…" Arthur muttered, watching as Kai was caught in the goblin giant's grip, knowing that with the axe attack, Kai was going to die. Arthur's eyes widened with fear.

Knowing we had been tricked by the goblin general and that we were defeated, Kai lowered his eyes in despair.

Before the axe could hit Kai, it suddenly stopped near him, releasing a force that countered its attack. The powerful airflow created by the momentum caused the axe to halt, demonstrating the immense power of the goblin general's strike.

Unable to move his axe, the goblin general was confused—his mouth hanging open. He tried to move, but the axe was stuck in mid-air. As he tried to understand what had just happened, he looked carefully and suddenly noticed the old man Kata standing nearby, moving his hand in the air and gazing at the goblin general. The goblin general knew it was his doing. Eager to kill Kai, the goblin general tightly grabbed and closed his hand—the very hand that was holding Kai. In that moment, Kai suddenly vanished from the sight of both Kata and Arthur, still trapped in the goblin general's grasp.

Kata stared at the goblin general with a dead expression, and Arthur's eyes popped as he gasped; his heart raced as he saw the goblin general completely clutching Kai. Thinking, "Something bad must have happened to Kai," Arthur felt a surge of dread.

Grabbing Kai in his hand, the goblin general smiled with his large, arrogant, and awful grin. Suddenly, he felt something in his hand. In a quick motion, his hand opened halfway—as Kai, still alive in the goblin general's grip, used both his hands to force the goblin general's hand open. With anger on his face, his cheeks reddening with fury at the goblin giant, the goblin general then used his second hand—the one holding his axe—to grab his own left hand, applying additional force to close his grip and crush, intent on killing Kai.

Using both hands, the goblin general exerted his full strength to crush Kai, his eyes intent on killing him, but even then, Kai managed to force the goblin general's hand open.

Knowing that Kai was alive, Arthur was relieved.

The axe that the goblin general had not been holding remained suspended in mid-air because of Kata's skill. Kata was using his power to stop the goblin general's axe mid-air, knowing it could kill Kai if it were not stopped.

"Do it, Kata," Kai orders.

Hearing Kai's words, the axe that was hanging in mid-air suddenly clamped onto the ground, indicating that Kata had shifted his focus. Then Kata raised his hand fully toward the goblin general and moved his finger. Suddenly, the goblin general's hand began to open automatically. The goblin general tried to close the hand that was gripping Kai, but he couldn't; his hand slowly opened until Kai was free, standing atop the goblin general's hands.

"Do it, my lord," Kata says.

Hearing Kata's words, Kai leaped toward the goblin general's neck. With rapid speed, Kai directed his hand toward the front of the goblin general's neck. In a flash, a shining light appeared in the shape of a half-moon and passed through the goblin general's neck, leaving a rounded, cut shape. The goblin giant's head fell to the ground as Kata lowered his arm, and Kai landed on the backside of the goblin general. Arthur was shocked but relieved that Kai was alive and that the goblin giant was dead.

Without warning, the goblin giant's body crashed to the ground with a devastating sound.

"It's all right, my lord. You fought well," Kata says, looking at Kai.

Feeling humiliated, Kai kept his head lowered, knowing he had failed to defeat the goblin general alone.