After crushing the human forces, the goblins treated their wounded and headed east. It was evident from their actions that the Goblin King wished to conquer the western capital and quickly establish their dominance over the western region.
Their forces numbered roughly 900.
That was the number of soldiers they had left after subtracting the wounded and the soldiers that would be left behind to cover and treat them. The duty of watching over the wounded was given to Gi Gu, who himself was heavily wounded, while the king led the rest of the army east.
“Capture the humans that are still alive. If they resist, kill them.”
The king emphasized that the humans be captured. They were able to plunder the cargo that the human supply platoon abandoned and the elves were able to help them make use of them, so they could afford to keep prisoners.
The Goblin King wished to conquer the western capital in one fell swoop, but that would prove to be a difficult task.
For the harpy scouts were able to spot an army going west from the north. The Goblin King could only regret that his predictions were still too shallow.
The Goblin King thought they’d already won. He believed that even if reinforcements were to come, they would come much later, but reality turned out different.
What he defeated in the last battle was only the power of the western capital, and a new power has appeared from the north under the lead of the holy knight, Gulland. But there was not enough information for the king to understand what exactly was going on, so in the end, he mistook Gowen’s forces to be a detached force sent to the colonial city.
“West, the colonial city, huh,” the king groaned to the heavens as he checked the enemy numbers and their distance.
They don’t seem to have noticed them yet, but their forces numbered 500 and they were currently heading west.
If the surrounded colonial city were to suddenly gain reinforcements, they might be able to break the surround. Even if the humans fail to defeat the goblins, the goblins will still lose the opportunity to defeat the humans.
In the worst case, the western capital might become a much more fortified city. In that case, there would be a possibility of being attacked from behind.
But if they were to just let them go their way, they would be able to avoid suffering needless casualties. And should they manage to conquer the western capital, this area will fall to the goblins. Although, they would have to conquer it quickly, lest another wave of reinforcements arrive from the capital.
“It’s as if there’s a fish bone caught in my throat… No.”
Would this area really fall to the goblins just by conquering the western capital? The Goblin King became thoughtful again.
In the end, the king concluded that even if the western capital was conquered, even if this area fell into their hands, they would still have the problem of keeping it.
500 soldiers were coming from the north. The south was currently suffering distress due to the Kushain believers, but that shouldn’t be enough to keep them from sending reinforcements.
If the colonial city receives reinforcements, this area probably won’t fall to the goblins even if they do manage to conquer the western capital.
At this point, the colonial city has suddenly become a much bigger problem to the king. At first, he believed their morale would crumble so long as he could break Gowen’s forces, but if the capital were to receive one wave of reinforcement after another, the king’s predictions would not come true.
The difference in numbers between the goblins and the humans was leaning more and more toward the humans.
There was no point complaining now, so the Goblin King stopped idling and gave an order. “Maintain distance as we pursue the northern enemy. We will deal with the western capital later! All forces, turn around!”
They had to destroy the colonial city.
As long as the colonial city existed, the goblin won’t be able to attack the west in perfect condition.
“Gi Ji! Take half your soldiers and scout the east! Take note of the defenses of the cities. As for the rest, have them scout the northern enemy!”
“As you command!” Gi Ji nodded, then he took his forces and left.
East of the Piena Plains was the western capital and the various towns connected to it. The king wished to find out the state of their defenses.
Once the northern army is defeated, the Goblin King would have to make a decision between moving east or conquering the colonial city.
As for which of those two choices he would be picking, that would depend on Gi Ji’s information.
◆◆◇
While the Goblin King was at a loss what he should do, Gulland led his army to the colonial city.
“If Gowen is going to meet the enemy, then…”
Gulland was yet to get word that Gowen’s army had lost in the plains, so he formed his plan under the assumption that he would do well.
If he were in Gowen’s shoes, he would surely push the goblins toward the colonial city. Thinking that, Gulland decided to go the colonial city and attack the goblins when they’re tired.
Moreover, Gulland himself specialized in defense, so he would be able to take full advantage of the colonial city’s defenses.
Gulland believed that Gowen would surely do that, so he ignored the western capital and led his army straight to the colonial city.
“Hmph, what a peaceful land.”
Not a monster could be seen since they entered the western region; not even a bandit, in fact. That was of course thanks to Gowen’s management.
Gulland wryly smiled as he thought of how big a contrast the western region was to his northern region that was currently in war with the barbarians.
The body of the god of fire was already at its peak and was beginning its descent west.
“Tch… We haven’t progress much. Hey! Start making camp! Hurry!”
The northern army that Gulland led was inferior individually to Gowen’s western army. They only excelled in combat, other than that, even Gulland himself couldn’t deny that they were inferior.
Their army was a stark contrast to Gowen’s western army, which could move and make camp without leaving a single opening for the goblins to take advantage of. Gulland’s army could be said to be at the bottom of the barrel when it came to such things.
That being said, however, they were indeed a notch above Gowen when it came to power. At least, when the northern army was together.
As Werdna spread her wings, the twin red moon goddesses, Ervi and Navi, peeked through the rift in the clouds.
As the winds blew stronger, Gulland’s expression became cloudy.
“Tch, rain.”
The clouds flowing from the south would soon crash into the distant mountains of the snow god. Not long after, the twinkling stars and moons would be veiled behind dark clouds and rain would fall.
“Send a lot of soldiers to keep watch. It’s going to be a rainy night!”
If Gowen was the type to rely on instincts he’s honed through countless battles to make the decision to increase the number of guards, Gulland was the type to rely on his instincts.
Gowen entered his tent and closed his eyes. When the sound of rainfall reached his ears, he opened them again.
“Shit, it actually came.”
Cursing, Gulland lifted the curtain of his tents and went out.
The rain was still but a drizzle, but it was only a matter of time before it would fall fiercely.
“Hah?”
Thinking he’d heard the sound of metal mixed with the sound of rain, Gulland walked through the camp despite the rain.
His shortly cut hair was already wet from the rain, so the trickling rain only made him even colder.
Gulland carried his Blue Thunder over his shoulders as he looked toward the darkest area under Werdna’s wings.
When a shadow left that darkness, Gulland swung his blade.
“Hmph!”
“Gi!?”
After killing the goblin wielding a dagger, Gulland looked up.
“Oi, you bastards! Wake up! We’re under attack!”
At Gulland’s words, the tents of the camp flapped open simultaneously. Most of the soldiers have yet to get their equipment ready, but they all had their weapons with them.
Suddenly, battle cries resounded from the darkness.
“The goblins are attacking! Keep your wits about you and kill them all!” Gulland said as he wielded his Blue Thunder over his shoulders and smiled a ferocious smile befitting the leader of these ruffians.
“Yes, Sir!” The soldiers cried in response.
“Tch, it’s dark!”
“Hey, burn some of those tents, so we can see something!”
Gulland’s soldiers quickly began adapting to the darkness to fight.
“GURUuuuAAaaAA!!”
As light dispersed the darkness, a ferocious howl and cries from beyond the light of the burning tents resounded.
When the soldiers looked up, a soldier could be seen flying through the sky. Eventually, it landed right before Gulland.
“I don’t know which bastard you are, but!”
As fury that could evaporate even the very raindrops themselves filled Gulland, he held the great sword in his hands and he cut down the burning tent, revealing the figure of a giant black goblin.
“!”
As that goblin and Gulland recognized each other, they ran.
“OOOOooOoOOAA!”
“GURUUuuUUOOOOOOA!”
They ran like the wind as they took their great swords and swung them down.
The two swordsmen swung their weapons with enough strength to deal a fatal blow as they clashed against each other; the resulting impact sent the rain drops flying away.
“You’re… that monster!”
“Bastard!”
Swords locked, neither side backing down, their aura burst wildly.
“Ruler of wind and lighting!Astaroth”
“Turn me into a blade!Enchant”
Lightning filled Blue Thunder with its power, and it scorched even the very raindrops themselves as that power scattered.
Yet as strong as that power was, the black flames of the Goblin King did not waver, and they sought to devour the lightning itself.
As the two powers clashed, they scattered from the two warriors, spreading onto the battlefield around them.
Even the band of ruffians Gulland led were forced to run screaming despite their experience in war.
Those two powers were that powerful.
