Chương 13: Book 2 Chapter Ten: Night 2

TEN The goblins did not come in waves. It was a tide itself, green skinned and armed with obsidian blades they poured from the trees with suicidal intent. Defensive mobs fired their crossbows in waves, slaughtering hundreds of the goblins before they could cross half way to the walls. Ramparts began to build, the small corpses piling up, goblins forced to crawl over their dead kin only to fall back with the next wave of bolts. Roan saw that there were plenty of climbers on the walls who had bought ranged weapons.

Bows, crossbows, slings, or light weight javelins. He didn't think the javelins were the best choices, not for a horde battle, but they were earning points while he was forced to stand on the ramparts.

"I have a gift for you." Roan told Moira, summoning the slice of mushroom and offering it to the alchemist.

"Why thank you," Moira said, plucking the mushroom and disappearing it into her ring.

"And how would I thank you?" Moira asked. She was leaning against a crenelation, her slab of metal currently a slender rapier, perfect for stabbing.

"One of those more powerful healing potions would be nice," Roan said with a shrug and smile.

"I can do that. This is enough material for four or five of them," Moira guessed. The two of them kept looking back and forth along the battlements. There were none of the horde officers yet, just the endless stream of goblins dying in mass.

"Glad to be of service. I would also like a look at that alchemist manual when we have a chance."

"I can do that. Though I'd warn you about spreading yourself too thin. Find a few options to master rather than a bunch that you can barely begin to learn."

"I got a bit of an edge when it comes to learning. But you're right, I'm going to have to consolidate my efforts shortly," Roan said. He leaned back as an obsidian tipped spear flew over the wall, nearly skewering him.

"I wasn't enthused about being stuck in the alchemist role. But there's some elixirs I'm looking forward to brewing once my tier goes up. Also helps when we start pushing through body tempering," Moira said, her sword turning into a round shield that she lifted over her head. A second later a spear broke against it, showering them in bits of sharp obsidian.

"Enchanting has a lot of uses," Roan said, looking at his warhammer. Without an offensive skill, which would likely need a mana core to be useful, he would have to use items. There was a general, hordemaster, and dragon to kill and after seeing the strength of the hobgoblin, Roan knew he wasn't strong enough to kill any of them. Even the hob would be a challenge. Even with his body tempering and recent increases in his physical stats.

It grated on him to know that he still wasn't the strongest of them, but he was gaining. There were few left who could match him, only the pinnacle fighters. With every dead goblin though, those weaker than him slowly cut the lead down. Or at least created the opportunity for them to catch up to him. He needed the wealth of the dead goblins to continue strengthening himself. From the woods came ladders, dozens of them carried by the goblin horde. Then came the ogres, carrying heavy slabs of wood.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Roan watched as the ladder carriers followed behind the massive ogres with their wide shields. Bolts and rocks slapped against the shields with no effect, the ladders quickly making their way closer to the walls.

"Look at that, they're adapting," Roan said conversationally. He lifted his warhammer as two different ladders closed in near their corner of the walls. Moira grunted in agreement, ducking down and using the walls as protection, turning her shield into a spear.

"Think Taoya will break it?" Roan asked. He didn't think the big man would move against this attack, not when he was holding back to deal with the hob. There would be shamans lurking as well, ready to attack and burn them.

"No, he will wait until the hob arrives. Be ready to deal with them," Moira said. The other skilled fighters were sitting on their corners, all of them ready for the mass of ogres and goblins. The ground shook with the ogre's footsteps as they got closer. The shields slid to the side and the ladders rushed forward. Only half of them making it through the barrage of bolts, but ladders reached the walls and goblins began to climb. They were quick and nimble, racing up in a moment.

Part of Roan was happy, finally done with the waiting. His hammer caught the first goblin's face as it threw it back, tossing it back into the crowds with ease. The alert for the kill had barely filled his vision before another goblin reached the top of the ladder. Roan grabbed it by the throat with his free hand, lifting the squirming monster up and throwing it with a grunt. He finished his swing and brought the hammer around to crush the skull of the third one.

More and more of the goblins were rushing upward though. Faster than he could swing the long hammer in the tight confines of the wall. Roan slammed the hammer into one of the ladder's rails, splintering the wood and sending the ladder to the side. A dozen of the goblins fell in a messy heap. Still more climbed up, racing up the second ladder without fear or hesitation. With only the one ladder to watch it was easier to handle the crowd, Moira and Roan alternating who killed which goblin.

She was skilled, stabbing and cutting in perfect synch with him as they slaughtered the small monsters. Further around the wall other ladders had managed to start forming breaches. Defensive mobs and some few climbers falling to the stabbing obsidian daggers. Fire grew in balls at the edge of the forest, transforming into lances that razed the top of the wall. Sections of mob and climbers burned in an instant.

Roan grabbed at the ladder and pushed it hard, his forearm straining as he sent the ladder flying back into the hordes. He ducked, grabbing Moira, just as a beam of fire cut above the wall at shoulder level. Heat battered him, burning away at his exposed skin and making it hard to breathe. Then it was gone, as fast as it had begun. Roan lifted his head over the edge of the wall and saw the shamans now, stepping free of the woods with clusters of goblin guards all around them.

A ram was being carried again by a line of ogres who rushed forward, heading to the gates.

"Think we should move now?" Roan asked.

"Yeah, I think now would be a good time," Moira said. She stabbed the next goblin that came over the ladder without standing, her spear thinning as it lengthened out into a needle point. Her words had the edge of premonition to them as the massive ram hit the fate for the first time, a blue-white form leapt from the walls. A blast of power shattered the ogres on the ram and sent goblins flying everywhere.

"I don't think that was the plan," Roan said.

"Shamans have to die," Moira said. Roan nodded and threw his leg over the side of the wall.

"We really need a better distance fighter." Moira's words followed after him as he landed on corpses and rolled until his feet got under him. So close to the walls there were plenty of goblins close by, staying close to the ladder. Roan lashed out with his hammer and shattered the bottom rungs and sent the second ladder to the ground. The goblins scattered as Moira landed next to him. Further down the wall the other two of Taoya's squad landed, beginning to slaughter the weak goblins.

They were breaking quickly, rushing away aside from those around the ogres. Around the ram the ogres were beginning to rise. As powerful as Taoya's attack had been it had not been enough to kill them, they rose to their feet, balling up their fists.

"Come on, can't let Taoya exhaust himself," Moira said, racing toward where the big man was standing alone.