Chương 25: Taking the Wooden Fort

The fire arrow arched through the sky at a steep trajectory, soaring over two hundred meters before plunging into the fort and embedding itself in a thatched roof. The grease on the arrowhead instantly ignited the dry straw. The flames spread in a flash, turning the entire cabin roof into a roaring blaze!

"Fire! Fire!" The soldiers on the watchtower shrieked in terror. The warning bell clattered— ding-ding-ding —as people inside scrambled in a frantic, disorganized attempt to douse the flames. But having been besieged for over a month, the fort was bone-dry. After a desperate rescue effort, they managed to stop the fire from spreading, but the cabin itself was reduced to a blackened skeleton. The defenders were covered in soot, many nursing painful burns—they looked utterly pathetic.

And this was just from a single arrow. If all four watchtowers were manned and firing volleys of fire arrows simultaneously, they would all be roasted alive.

"What do we do? What do we do? Someone think of something!" Hana cried out in agitation, looking to the other two for a solution. But Knight Leo stood there with a grim, shadowed expression, and Steward Monde did nothing but sigh repeatedly. Leo spoke with a sense of defeat.

"There's nothing left to do. Those four towers see our every move. Their forces have increased so much in such a short time that the castle is completely surrounded. We have nowhere to run." Hana turned pale.

"Is there... really no way? Is this... is this our end?" Leo nodded grimly. He drew the dagger from his waist and handed it to Hana.

"At least we still have time to decide our own fates. Miss Hana, you are a woman; I don't need to tell you what happens if goblins catch you... I pray you return to the Light God's Kingdom." Hana took the dagger with trembling hands. She didn't want to die. As one of the top ten students at the Royal Magic Academy, she should have had a brilliant future. To think she had to end her life in this desolate Magic Forest—how had things gone so horribly wrong? Heavy tears fell as she pressed the blade against her neck.

Leo and Monde closed their eyes, unable to watch. But death is a terrifying thing. Hana hesitated, adjusting the blade several times but never finding the courage to press down. Finally, she lowered the dagger, thinking maybe she'd go back inside and find some potion to drink instead. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. Just then, the goblins moved. A Hobgoblin approached the walls, holding a shield. It was Gob-Spear.

"Hey! Is that human female who speaks our tongue there? My Boss says he'll give you a chance to surrender. You can live!" Hana froze, then instinctively translated the words for the other two. The men's breathing hitched. They were human; they didn't want to die. Even if the guarantee came from a goblin, they wanted to see if there was a chance. Hana leaned over the wall, her voice shaking.

"What... what does your leader say?" Gob-Spear shouted back, "The Boss says our army outnumbers you six to one. He can turn this fort into charcoal at any moment. Your lives are in the palm of his hand! But the fort is built well, and he doesn't want to burn it. You humans are valuable labor. You can become the Boss's slaves and work for him. Those with knowledge will even get higher status. Your lives will be protected." Hana translated the offer. Leo said, "Ask him how he plans to guarantee our safety."

Hana complied. Gob-Spear scratched his head, trying to channel Li Qinwu's arrogance. He mimicked: "Humans! I'll screw your ancestors! Are you surrendering or not? Give me a straight answer! The Boss says if you haven't surrendered by lunch, he'll launch every fire arrow he has and turn you into roasted pigs. If you want to surrender, throw your armor and weapons off the wall! Oh, and especially the human female mage—you must throw down your staff. The Boss wants to see it."

Hana consulted with the others, then shouted, "You must promise not to touch the women!" Gob-Spear turned around to leave.

"Suit yourselves. I'm going. You people are too damn annoying with all this talk—it's like I'm the one begging you to stay alive!" He walked away with an expression that said he couldn't be bothered anymore. He didn't understand why the Boss was wasting time talking when they could just burn the place down and eat roasted meat. The three on the wall watched him leave with heavy hearts. Should they really surrender? They were talking about goblins. In this world, goblin atrocities were legendary.

Villages raided by them were left in unspeakable states, and the stories of the women rescued from goblin dens were the stuff of nightmares. Could they truly trust a monster that ate people without blinking? The three couldn't find an answer, but they had no choice. Time ticked away. Goblins began climbing the towers with torches, preparing to fire. At that moment, Lord Lance—haggard and looking like a ghost—emerged from his room. He approached the three and whispered, "Miss Hana, Steward Monde, Knight Leo...

let's... let's surrender." Startled, they rushed to check on him. Lance shook his head.

"When my father's coup failed, the King gave us a choice: immediate execution or exile to the Magic Forest. We chose the forest. Everyone knows the forest is a death trap, yet we chose it anyway. Why? Because we wanted that one sliver of a chance to live. How is this situation any different? We are just switching from begging the King for life to begging the goblins. Our lives are in the enemy's hands again. Let us submit. Even if there's only a ten percent chance of survival, being alive is always better.

What is scarier than death? Sigh..." Hearing this, the three felt the last of their strength drain away, and the veil of their pride was finally torn aside.