Chapter 40: Counter-attack!

Noticing the appearance of the new groups of humans that were quickly approaching them, Linek and other leaders quickly moved their attention to the galloping riders.

"Nagas, engage!," ordered Hessa.

"Archers, get ready," said Linek.

Other enemy leaders also started making preparations before the inevitable impact.

However, it was futile because just as their forces started forming and preparing to meet the enemy, many spells and energy techniques appeared, aiming at them. Besides, it wasn't basic spells or techniques, but advanced ones, specializing in area attacks.

Firestorms, Frost waves, earthquakes, and other area spells appeared together with many advanced techniques specialized in piercing nagas' sturdy skin.

Several moments were enough to wallow all six defending perimeters in chaos where most of the goblin and naga forces were gathered. Besides, almost all their leaders were with their groups except for their strategist - Gallus.

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At the same time among one of the perimeters in a group that was quickly approaching Linek and his subordinates, the armored female with red hair raised her sword and pointed at them.

"For the 5th special, for Freinos," battle cried Stella before, increasing her speed.

Several moments later, she and her group of one hundred heavy armored knights and mages collided with unorganized groups of goblins and nagas.

*Whoosh*

*Boom*

The goblin's head fell to the ground and Stella continued moving forward, killing everything on her way. Her subordinates were also reproducing similar behavior and easily followed after their commander, devastating all 1st rows of enemy forces.

At first, riders easily pierced through the unprepared goblin and naga formations, killing many in the process, but as time continued to pass, goblins and nagas recovered from the initial shock and started resisting with all their might.

Their archers couldn't do anything against the energy shields knights used to protect themselves and mages close to them, so they concentrated on their horses beneath them and started dismounting one rider after another. Nagas on the other hand tried to evade riders and concentrated on the dismounted, letting tall goblins and their wolves take care of the riders.

For the inexperienced glance, it seemed as if humans were slowly losing, but only veterans could notice many silver and gold-colored energy and mana traces, appearing after each attack. Though there were fewer humans, battling against them, they were the best of the best of the 5th special and each of them was the gold, silver knight, or mage, several steps from advancing to the next realm. The goblins and nagas were more numeric, but humans had stronger and more qualitative warriors.

In short, they were in a stalemate for now.

Killing another group of wolf riders with her energy technique, Stella noticed a unique-looking goblin that was holding Mark's head in his hand.

A glance was enough to recognize royal goblin attire their royal members wore, she saw in several books, related to monsters and the looks that goblin was getting was also another good pointer for Stella.

However, she didn't concentrate her whole attention on the goblin himself but moved her glance at the head of the captain, she talked to in the morning.

Clenching her blood-covered sword, her veins started pulsating as her glance became more threatening and burning.

Right now, a thick killing intent together with specks of gold battle energy appeared around her.

Noticing his opponent's transformation, Linek smiled before looking at the red-haired armored woman in front of him.

"Never thought that enemy commander herself would honor us with her appearance," said Linek with a slight smile on his lips, "Since you came to me yourself, I wouldn't need to spend any more efforts wasting my time looking for you,"

Finishing his speech, Linek gave a signal, and moments later several batches of arrows appeared aiming at Stella, and a big group of wolf riders followed immediately after that.

At first, Stella didn't react in any way to both arrows and goblin wolf riders and continued to look at the head in the Linek's hand.

However, when arrows were already a meter away from her, a golden energy shield appeared as she started using her battle energy and adjusted her position.

A moment later, when all the arrows hit into the shield and ricocheted, a bang resounded from her previous position.

*Boom*

As a result of using a significant portion of her battle energy to the movement technique that worked similar to "Bursting step", but even in a better form, Stella disappeared from her last position and appeared colliding with the vanguard of the wolf riders that were quickly approaching her.

*Boom*

*Whoosh*

In short, the massacre started, Stella swang her sword, imprinted with her battle energy, and slowly pierced through their formation, approaching towards Linek with each new step.

At the same time, her subordinates also finished with their opponents and caught up with their commander, and almost immediately they sent several spells and techniques to assist her by killing a few of her enemies that concentrated on their commander. Besides, a unique-looking group of knights didn't stop on that and increased their speed following after their commander.

Killing another batch of enemies and beheading a wolf that tried to kill her horse that was already fighting with many opponents, Stella used "Tripple slash" quickly opening a path for herself and her horse.

Without wasting such opportunity, she moved her horse there and several moments later she was already meters away from Linek quickly approaching him.

However, Linek also expected that and when Stella broke through, his squad archers were ready and many arrows flew, aiming at the horse Stella was riding on.

Seeing an enemy move, Stella pulled the reins and stopped the horse, and moments later she used her battle energy and jumped from it, making the horse run away.

At the same moment, as she flew through the air, advanced energy technique appeared aiming at the several short goblins that were distracting her.

*Boom*

Right as she landed several meters away from Linek, she raised her sword, aiming at him and noticing how her subordinates and his subordinates started fighting not far from them.

"As expected of a goblin leader," said Stella, spitting saliva to show her disdain.

"You haven't even challenged me for the "Sacred duel", your monster race is famous for. A true coward that can only fight in ambushes," said Stella before moving her glance at the head in his hand, "Don't you think that it's already enough for that knight?"

Linek didn't react to her words and just threw Mark's head as if it was garbage to the side before smiling and raising his curved goblin sword, aiming at Stella. Only he, himself knew how offended he felt when she called him a coward.

"You are not dying yet, woman, that captain was one step away from the graveyard, so I bestowed him with the honor of fast death," said Linek, "But, you, on the other hand, is different and I will enjoy tormenting you before the killing,"

Stella just narrowed her eyes before, using her battle energy and jerking towards him.

Linek also didn't stay in his place and jerked in her direction.

A moment later, a dance of swords began!

Unlike before, Stella was stronger and faster than Mark, so Linek couldn't evade or dodge all her attacks, making many efforts to protect himself from the enemy sword that tried to stab him in the vital zones.

Though Linek seemed losing, he was still smiling because he long ago noticed that she never fought with goblins before and didn't know their movements, tactics, and behavioral patterns. A short fight against some of his subordinates as she approached him was enough to show that fact.

So, it didn't take long for him till he used such fact, by moving strangely, she was unfamiliar to and start his counter-attack, by pushing Stella several meters away from him.

"Seem like it's your 1st battle against noble goblin," said Linek with a smile on his lips, "I will show you all my abilities as the member of the royal family,"

At the same time as he said that reinforcements sent by Gallus appeared and started pushing Stella's forces.

"Tell me, woman, why have you attacked us with such small numbers? You would have much more chances if you didn't divide your forces into six groups," said Linek, looking at her.

Of course, Stella noticed everything that was happening on the battlefield and she even dodged several poisoned arrows, aiming at her during their battle, but she smiled when she heard him.

"You really think so?" asked Stella before releasing a short laugh, "Hahahaha because it would be enough to deal with you and your forces,"

Just as she finished laughing, magic and battle energy undulations appeared on the battlefield, and her forces started their counter-attack.

"It's you, not me who entered into the trap, they were just saving their forces just like me, and now we will show the whole power of the elite members of the 5th special,"

At the same moment, similar scenes started happening in all six outer defending perimeters and humans started their counterattack.

Jerking from her previous position, Stella started pouring Linek with her sword, using absolutely different sword style, concentrated on swift attacks than on fatal ones she used before.

Several moments were enough for new wounds to appear on Linek's body, and now not only he, but other leaders finally realized that they underestimated human forces too much. Even their reserve groups couldn't help them and suffer under their hands.

In short, the overall battle in all six perimeters was slowly inclining towards humans.

However, Linek didn't have enough time to think about that and was too busy, dodging and evading.

Their battle continued for another half an hour, and with each passing moment, it became clear that now Linek was slowly getting exhausted from constant dodges and evades.

Only now, he finally realized that his strategy backlashed at him the moment Stella decided to exhaust her opponent.

'She wants to capture me alive, and that's why her attacks are lighter than before,' thought Linek as a shiver passed through his spine.

A moment later he used up all his leftover strengths to make a final counter-attack and push Stella for several meters away from him.

Evading from a sudden attack, Stella stopped several meters away from him only to see that Linek turned around and quickly approached his wolf that was watching after their duel and ordering all the goblins nearby to slow her.

Clenching her sword, Stella jerked in his direction, gathering battle energy in the process and killing all enemies that jerked in her direction.

Beheading another goblin and piercing naga warrior, a sudden horn signal resounded across the battlefield.

When that signal resounded across the battlefield, many expressions changed, and moments later, goblins and nagas started to retreat, leaving behind some groups to fight against Stella's forces.

A moment was enough for Stella to realize what was happening, and understand that the enemy strategist most likely saw the overall picture of the current battlefield and ordered a retreat.

However, remembering Mark, his people, and a certain person, serving in the northern borders of her family, Stella clenched her sword before sending an advanced energy slash in the Linek's direction.

When her slash appeared, all opponents that were trying to stop her got devastated as the slash continued to approach Linek that was retreating atop of his wolf.

As if Linek felt something, he turned and saw a technique that was quickly approaching him, and a shiver passed through his spine. He knew that he wouldn't be able to evade this time.

*Boom*

When the dust settled, a thin layer of a shield made of light appeared on the spot Linek was before the attack. There were several dead bodies, belonging to goblins and their wolves and only Linek seemed unimpaired by that.

Smiling, Linek looked at Stella before taking another wolf from the passing tall goblin and leaving, raising a certain object in the process.

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When her attack landed at him, Stella concentrated her full attention on that spot, and she was among the 1st to notice the appearance of the shield. Hitting the ground with anger, Stella sighed before looking at that bastard.

At that moment, Linek also looked at her and that continued for several moments before he didn't take another wolf and continue his journey.

Watching him Stella released another sigh, understanding that she couldn't deal with him now, and stopped preparing her next energy technique before turning and looking at her forces that were busy killing enemy forces that failed to retreat.

"Commander," said blood-covered Anthony as he approached her.

"Report," ordered Stella.

"All six defending perimeters have returned to our control, captains are finishing dealing with all the enemy left-overs that are still in the fort, commander," said Anthony, "Enemy is regrouping bellow the hill,"

"What about those reserve forces? Did all of them join as reinforcements?" asked Stella.

"No, their strategist sent only a few groups to assist, saving their elite groups in the process,"

Hearing his words, Stella released another sigh, understanding that she can't chase after the enemy.

"Fine, finish with left-overs, gather the bodies of our fallen comrades and return to the 2nd layer," said Stella, leaving the battlefield.

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At the same time as all active battle ended, and a thick smell of blood and iron reached him, Theo released a nostalgic sigh before smiling in the process. His sister has just shown a typical cavalry sortie, taught in the "Belgone Supreme academy" on the tactics and strategy classes.

In fact, he himself used it many times in his previous life, and a glance was enough for him to realize that Stella was victorious from the 1st minutes they collided with the enemy.

Goblins made a huge mistake, thinking that they would be able to counter-attack, relying solely on their numbers, in fact, they needed a similar opposing force to stop the charge first, and distract mages and knights that were preparing spells and techniques behind the lines.

While they were dealing with the 1st several rows and aimed at the horses, slowing their charge, those mages and knights finished preparations and changed the overall situation when enemy reinforcements arrived to assist.

This was a typical tactical mistake made because of the lack of knowledge, the monster race made when they fought against humans.

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Several hours later, it was already the beginning of the evening. Almost all members of the 5th special gathered on the relatively big open field inside the 2nd layer, looking in the same direction.

There were several special platforms, and every member of the 5th special recognized what was on those platforms.

There were specially-constructed cavities for burning bodies and hundreds of them were already lying in there.

In fact, there were 400 dead bodies there, and all of them were covered with cloaks with Freinos family insignia on it and were placed in an organized manner close to each other.

Looking at the knights, mages, scouts, archers, and others gathered here, Stella released a sigh before stepping at the platform and looking down on them.

"We have gathered here to accompany our comrades for the last crusade," said Stella, "These are the fallen members of the 5th special, the brave, the dutiful and loyal warriors and mages. These people chose to continue fighting against the stronger enemy when they could retreat, leaving their perimeters behind, but they swallowed those pills and met their enemy, staying there till the end of their lives. They have made the highest sacrifice for the well-being of their Lord and their families, and I as the direct member and heir of the Freinos family vow that their ashes would be placed to the Freinos knights' crypt, Freinos family will take of their relatives and their names will be added to the list of fallen heroes,"

Hearing her words, a huge cheer appeared on the field and many of the gathered here started crying different names, the names of the fallen.

At the same time, Stella nodded and alchemists and blacksmiths activated the mechanism, and a huge fire appeared below the platform, and moments later one dead body fell to that fire.

A short time later when the body transformed into ash and was placed in a special container, another body fell next.

Others continued to cry different names, accompanying their fallen comrades for the last crusade they could travel together.