"Impossible…an army of goblins!"
"I don't care if it goblins on wolves or a flight of dragons, I refuse to take orders from you!"
The cries of concern and outrage came from the Mayor and Guild Manager. The Mayor was a middle aged man with a shiny, bald head and round belly that shook over time he spoke. His counterpart, Guild Manager, was also middle-aged, but managed to not only keep an acceptable weight, but also kept the black hair on his head as well as a shaggy beard on his face.
"If we are to be ready for them, I'll need the assistance of the Guild's adventurers and the military force station in this town."
In his hand the Mayor held the parchment that bore the insignia of the sword and scales, the note itself came from the Sword Maiden. In her note, she explained that a silver-ranked adventurer and his party were there to help with the Beast Master and all individuals were to follow his directions down to the letter. Naturally both men were a bit upset to be told they would be taking orders from a boy half their age, regardless of his ranking.
"Its goblins, why should we be concerned, they're weak and stupid." Guild Manager, a former adventurer himself, shook his head at the foolish idea of being afraid of goblins.
"Those are the words Beast Master said you would say."
The two men were surprised to hear he had actually met the Beast Master in this town. This mysterious assailant and his partner had always been seen with their faces covered, so no one could identify them, yet here was a person who casually spoke with him earlier.
"Is he still here? Can you lead our adventurers to him?"
"I doubt he'd still be here or this woman of his." Dwarf Shaman shook his head and let out a sigh. "They only seemed interested in explaining that they would attack tonight."
"But why warn us?" The Mayor was confused by this, could these people be in league with this Beast Master.
"He's probably just very overconfident." Elf Archer knew if Orcbolg answered he's say something that would cast a negative light upon them. "In essence, he's saying we can't stop him."
"You just said it, we can't stop him so why bother?" Guild Manager sneered at the group, they may be mostly silver ranked, but that didn't mean he had to indulge their fantasy of a goblin problem.
Both High Elf Archer and Dwarf Shaman growled in frustration, Guild Manager was pompous as he threw his authority around while Mayor was indecisive. Lizard Priest and Priestess were equally frustrated in that fact they had few precious hours to prepare and it seemed like neither would provide any support. Goblin Slayer's party looked toward the silent leader to see what he would say or do, and as if on cue he turned and began to walk back toward the door much to the surprise of the Mayor and the Guild Manager.
"Goblin Slayer, where are you going?"
"This meeting isn't finished yet!"
"I'm going to prepare for his attack tonight, do as you wish."
"I already said I don't plan on telling my adventurers what to do just because you have some pull with Sword Maiden."
Goblin Slayer turned to face them once again, both men felt intimidated as they starred back at the man in armor, this mysterious adventurer.
"None of that matters to me, I'm here to slay the goblins. Know that if you decided to do nothing, tonight's deaths will be on your hands."
Goblin Slayer turned back once again to head for the door, but this time he was joined by his comrades, smiles on their faces as they joined behind their odd leader. Once they left, both men were speechless, never before had they encountered an adventurer like him, and had only one decision left to them.
"Guild Master…offer a bounty on the goblins. A gold coin for each goblin they kill, I'll dig into the treasury and find you the money. My soldiers will be divided and split up around the town to do their patrols. If he's wrong we only waste time and manpower, if he's right we may have saved precious lives."
"Yes sir."
xxxx
Outside the forgotten Earth Mother Temple, Beast Master and Fallen Magician stood before their amassed army of goblins and hobs, over 500 strong. The goblins stood ready with weapons in hand, his 50 plus hobs would provide the muscle needed, and nearby was Scar who growled and snapped at the 100 wolves and their riders to follow their alpha's direction.
"Are you ready my love?"
Beast Master turned back toward the town, it was only a few kilometers away from the mountain side and yet his destiny never seemed so far away before. He spent more than ten years waiting for this very moment and yet there was still a sense of doubt within him.
"That boy…why did I meet him now? Even with all this, I am still worried."
"My love?"
"I've given them a month to prepare, to provide some kind of response to the goblin attacks and yet they've done nothing. Just this morning they went about their business as normal, they deserve what is coming to them. I won't let one man stop my quest for justice."
Once more he turned toward his goblin army, with left hand raised, the jewel on his ring glowing brilliantly in the darkness.
"Destroy all in your path! Slaughter every man, woman and child! Leave none alive!"
xxxx
As before the thunder rolled as streaks of lightning lit up the night sky. However, this night dozens of armed men and women were stationed all around the city in anticipation for the impending attack. From human to half-elf to rhea to dwarf, all were impatiently waiting to see if this goblin army would really show, the only thing they knew for sure was they were getting paid gold for the goblins they killed and that was all that mattered. The armed soldiers were stationed around the town with the orders to support the adventurers and drive back the goblins. At the center of town was Goblin Slayer's party, it was decided that until they knew which way the army would be attacking from, they would stand by ready to strike. Wolf once again stood beside Goblin Slayer, his leg still bandaged from the last attack, but he seemed to be moving around well.
"Um…excuse me?"
Goblin Slayer and the others turned to see Young Warrior and his party approaching with smiles on their faces.
"Oh it's you guys." Priestess found herself smiling that the trio from the other day had found them once again.
"Good to see you again." Young Warrior bowed his head but started to frown as he turned toward Goblin Slayer. "Um…I wanted…wanted to…"
"Thank you for your assistance last night." Goblin Slayer extended his right arm out the young man.
Young Warrior was stunned as were his party members to hear this silver ranked adventurer thank them, he smiled as he gladly took the hand and gave it a firm hand shake. The adventurers continued to wait, the smell of rain fresh in the air, but soon enough they started to hear a strange screeching sound, but this screeching was coming from all around them.
"They're here."
The sound of the screeching grew louder and louder as the time continued to pass on, the gates were closed to the entrance and exit of the town, yet even with this precaution many of the adventurers, experienced and inexperienced, began to tremble with fear. Those of their faith prayed to their deities for protection and the wellbeing of the Mountain Pass. High Elf Archer was the first to notice them, as she looked up toward the sky saw not just the lightning but now dozens of bright blue lights.
"Above us."
"What are those…fairies?" Priestess looked up at the pretty lights that floated overhead.
"No…they're not fairies."
The group watched as the lights moved onward, but the moment one of the lights touched the rooftop of one of the nearby, the wood was suddenly scorched. Goblin Slayer suddenly realized the lights were the work of the Fallen Magician and there could be only one reason for them in the town.
"We need to douse those in water. They're going to ignite the grenados."
Eyes were wide as the saw the lights traveling all over them, those who had seen the grenados knew just how dangerous they could be. It was decided that Lizard Priest, Priestess and Rookie Mage would stay behind while the others scattered around to try and warn the others as well as put out the blue lights. The two archers ran along the rooftops trying to keep up with the lights, while Dwarf Shaman and Young Warrior took off in one direction and Goblin Slayer and Wolf took off in the other. They sounded the alarm, and those who could use water magic managed to put out some of the lights, but not enough.
The blue lights found their targets, grenados planted in the dirt near the base of the wall all around the town. The instant they touch the wicks, the explosives erupted around the adventurers, those too close were killed by the shockwave from the blast, others were thrown back and left temporarily deaf from the sound. The moments the walls came down, dozens of goblins rushed in to slaughter the downed adventurers. The hobs followed behind with massive clubs, crushing the skulls of unsuspecting people in their way. Then came in the wolf riders, the wolves would rushing and seize hold of downed people while the goblins hacked and slashed from atop these creatures.
Outside the town, Beast Master, Fallen Magician and Scar waited patiently before they too would enter the fray. They smiled as they heard the cries of the people inside, they could see the plumes of smoke from houses being set on fire, but soon they heard the goblins crying out, few at first, but soon there was an overwhelming number from around the town.
"The goblins…no even with the adventurers they shouldn't be this strong. What is it, what…no."
The adventurers quickly reorganized to form tighter ranks, as the soldiers, supplied with better armor and larger shields, formed shield walls to push back the goblins and stop the wolves. The goblins could not get past their armor and the moment the goblins were knocked aside, it was the adventurers who rushed in to finish them off. The goblins were successful with the first few houses they entered, slaughtering all the occupants, but soon everyday people rushed forward to strike the little devils with clubs and quickly went to work extinguishing the flames before the spread.
All around the town, the people went to work as instructed by the Mayor and Guild Manager who were simply relaying strategies given to them by Goblin Slayer. Those more experienced with the fights, such as High Elf Archer and Dwarf Shaman advised others to go for the wolves, once they were down the riders would be thrown off and easy targets, if possible use sleep or stupor to incapacitate the goblins making it easier to finish them off once they fell.
A dozen or so wolves rushed in to target two startled adventurers and soldiers when suddenly a large black figure leapt before them snarling. The wolves suddenly stopped as they looked at the size of the black animal, at first the humans thought it to be a bear, but soon realized it was a dire wolf. Instinctively the wolves growled and began to circle around the dire wolf, but soon an armored man stood beside the dire wolf with sword drawn. A few of the wolves tucked their tales between their legs at the site of these two, but that was met by the hit of a goblin club. Three of the wolves rushed forward to attack, one went for the armored man while the others two leapt toward the dire wolf.
Goblin Slayer raised his shield and pushed the wolf back as it leapt for him, a grunt of pain from the impact, but he quickly finished it off with a sword strike to the neck. Wolf lunged for one of the wolves, seizing the started creature by its throat and with one bite crushed its neck. The second wolf leapt onto the dire wolf back biting into its hide. Wolf growled angrily as it shook its massive body violently, easily tossing off the smaller wolf and once it was down went for the neck as it did with the first wolf. Once finished, the two stood before the remaining wolves and goblins ready to continue the fight, but instead the goblins and wolves quickly retreated screaming as they ran back towards entrance they made.
"We're going."
Wolf gave one bark as it followed Goblin Slayer after the goblins and the wolves.
xxxx
Beast Master could see some of the goblins and wolves retreating back through the openings made by the grenados, each one bearing marks of the battle that was still taking place inside. His plan was falling apart, this boy, this Goblin Slayer had done the impossible, convinced an entire town to fight together against his army. With the unified citizens, soldiers and adventurers, there was no chance in hell that these creatures could win against such experienced fighters. Shamans could speak and use magic, he never wanted them among the goblins ranks, Goblin Champions were few and he only had three at the temple, but decided not to bring them thinking this force would be more than enough.
"My Love, what should we do?"
Angrily he tore off his hood throwing it to the ground then raised his left hand once more, as the jewel glowed the goblins and wolves felt pain around their necks, they still had to obey the orders of their master.
"All survivors, make for the temple and prepare for a counter attack!"
The survivors who fled dutifully headed the call of Beast Master and retreated back toward the ruined Earth Mother Temple. Before he too would retreat, he would enter the town to find and kill this boy, with whip and sword in hand he marched toward the destroyed section of the wall, Fallen Magician and Scar followed behind, never having seen him this angry before.
"How did you do this? For more than ten years I planned and prepared for this attack. I even made sure to only capture goblins, never using captive women to increase my army's size. Yet in two nights, you have brought my plans crashing down. Where was this unity when my family needed it? Where is my justice?"
He entered the town, nearby adventurers saw him and his companions and realized he was Beast Master. One adventurer rushed forward with ax in hand, only for the whip to strike him across the face. Blinded and bleeding he fell to his knees screaming until Beast Master rammed his sword through the adventurer's chest. Two archers readied their arrows, but before they could attack, were engulfed in flames by Fallen Magician's firebolt spell. A female martial artist stood ready to engage, but never got the chance as Scar pounced upon her. She screamed right up until Scar's massive jaws engulfed her head and crushed her skull in one bite. Onward they marched with a bold stride, killing any and all in their way as they continued on toward the center of town.
"Where are you?" Beast Master growled in frustration as he looked about the battlefield for Goblin Slayer. "I should have killed you the moment I saw you! I am here to correct that mistake! Show yourself!"
xxxx
"I think we have won the day." Lizard Priest panting heavily as he watched the remaining goblins flee from the adventurers.
"There is still quite a bit of damage to the town, we'll have to help those we can." Priestess added as she finished bandaging Rookie Mage's arm.
"Easy, the damn goblin arrow still hurts."
Just as things seemed to be settling down, Lizard Priest cried out in pain, the two girls turned to see him fall forward, the cause of which was a black whip striking his back. The Dragoon-Tooth Warrior was destroyed by a fireball as it rushed to its summoner's side. Rookie Mage's eyes were wide as she turned further and saw the Beast Master recoil his whip before tucking it away as Fallen Magician walked behind him. Before she could defend or even say anything, he rushed toward her and struck her stomach with all of his force. The force of the blow against her slim frame was enough to force her to vomit up the contents of her stomach, with the wind knocked out of her, she blacked out and fell forward. Beast Master then turned his attention toward Priestess who trembled so much her sounding staff jingled loudly.
"Why?" She looked toward her party member and saw the blood flowing down his back then back toward Rookie Mage to see her motionless body. "Why are you doing this?"
"I told him he'd lose those close to him if he interfered." He walked forward, a burst of fire from a house blazed behind him making his blue eyes appear to glow.
Priestess took a couple steps back, she was reminded of Goblin Slayer the first time she saw him in the cave, but this was not Goblin Slayer…this was something much worse. He stopped when he was only a couple inches away from her, easily able to tower over her, Priestess eyes were wide and started to water as she looked at the face of the monstrous man, until she felt the pain in her stomach like Rookie Mage had. Beast Master struck her with the same force about her stomach, the chainmail absorbed part of the impact but still left her breathless. The last thing she saw was him smiling just before she collapsed to her knees, falling toward the ground. Lizard Priest grunted as he struggled to get back on his feet and saw both Beast Master and Fallen Magician scoop up the unconscious girls.
"Unhand them you devil." He got back to his feet, but the pain through his body kept him from moving.
"That boy will rue the day he crossed me, tell him the longer he takes to come, the less of the girls there will be to save."