Chapter 10: The Attack on the Village
Max peered through the small window of the carriage as they approached the village. His stomach churned at the sight of smoke rising from the thatched rooftops. Even from a distance, he could see the small, dark figures of goblins swarming the village, their shrill cries piercing the air. Larger, hulking figures—orc warriors—moved amongst them, smashing down doors and dragging villagers out of their homes. Chaos reigned, and the village was on the verge of falling.
Max clenched his fists, his earlier blunder with magic still fresh in his mind, but this was different. This wasn't a practice session gone wrong—this was a real battle. And he had an army at his command.
Max (Internal): I've got to act fast. If I hesitate, more people will die.
He swung open the carriage door, stepping out into the open, his boots hitting the dirt road with a thud. His knights were already assembling, their black armor gleaming ominously in the afternoon light. Captain Darius, leader of the Black Vanguard, rode up on his mount, his face hardened with grim determination.
Max stood in the open carriage doorway, his gaze fixed on the village ahead. Thick smoke billowed into the sky, and the distant sounds of chaos echoed through the air—screams, the clattering of weapons, and the high-pitched shrieks of goblins. His hands tightened around the hilt of his sword, though he knew he wouldn't need to fight directly. His army was more than capable of handling this, but the sight of the goblins and orcs tearing through the village still sent a chill down his spine.
The village itself was on the verge of collapse. Buildings had been set ablaze, their rooftops collapsing in a shower of sparks. Orcs crashed through walls, their brutish forms leaving destruction in their wake. Smaller goblins, faster and more agile, darted between houses, looting anything they could carry. The situation was dire.
Max (Internal): Goblins and orcs... It's always goblins and orcs. Why is it always them?
The small, green-skinned creatures were darting in and out of the burning homes, looting whatever they could find and laughing wickedly. They were vicious and cruel, using their small size and speed to terrorize the villagers. Behind them, the larger orcs stormed through the streets, their brutish forms smashing through doors and walls as if they were made of paper.
Max (Internal): It's worse than I thought. These aren't just scattered raiders... it's a full-scale assault.
Max turned to Captain Darius, who was already waiting for his command.
He straightened, trying to push the anxiety aside. This was no time for hesitation. The Duke of Arenia wouldn't have hesitated, and neither would he.
Max raised his hand, signaling his forces. His small army of knights stood at attention, waiting for his command. The soldiers were tense, their hands gripping weapons as they eyed the rampaging monsters below. Some of them had probably never seen a village in this much chaos before, but they were ready.
Max's grip tightened on the reins of his horse. This was it—the moment where he had to show leadership, to act like the Duke the soldiers believed him to be. He had seen enough.
Max: "Knights of Arenia!" he shouted, his voice steady and commanding. "We move now. Protect the villagers, cut down the goblins, and send those orcs to their graves!"
Max: "Prepare for battle!" His voice rang out, clear and commanding.
The soldiers snapped into action, drawing their swords, raising shields, and preparing their mounts. Captain Darius, the grizzled leader of the Black Vanguard, rode up beside Max, his expression grim but resolute.
Captain Darius: "Your Grace, the goblins are swarming the eastern quarter, and the orcs are breaching the main gates. What are your orders?"
Max: "Captain, order the Black Vanguard forward. I want those goblins crushed before they cause more damage."
Max nodded, then turned to address the rest of the soldiers. "I want no hesitation. Drive them back, protect the villagers, and leave no creature standing. Show them what it means to challenge the Duke of Arenia!"
The soldiers roared in unison, their battle cries filling the air as they surged forward. Max watched them charge toward the village, the thunder of their hooves shaking the ground beneath him.
Darius saluted sharply. "As you command, Your Grace. Black Vanguard, advance!"
The elite knights, already mounted and prepared for battle, surged forward. Their black armor gleamed in the firelight, and their lances pointed downward like fangs ready to strike. The ground trembled beneath the hooves of their warhorses as they charged toward the village.
Max watched as they crashed into the goblin horde. The tiny creatures scattered, shrieking as the knights cut them down with precision and brutality. But even as the goblins fell, more of them appeared, spilling out of the nearby forest and overwhelming the streets.
Max glanced at the battlefield, calculating his next move. He could feel the eyes of the soldiers on him, waiting for his decision. For a moment, doubt flickered in his mind. But then, he remembered the power at his command—the knights, the beasts, the magic. He had to play the part.
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Soldiers' Dialogue
Soldier 1: "Look at those green bastards run!"
Soldier 2: laughing "Run all you want! We'll catch you!"
Soldier 3: "Bet you five gold I'll skewer two on one lance!"
Soldier 4: "I'll take that bet. These little buggers are fast!"
Soldier 5: slashing through a goblin "These things are nothing! I expected a fight!"
Soldier 6: kicking a goblin aside "Don't get cocky! There's more where that came from!"
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Max kept his eyes on the battlefield, taking in the scene as his knights continued their assault. Despite their small size, the goblins were persistent. They darted in and out of the shadows, using their agility to avoid the knights' blades. But they weren't the real problem. No, the real danger came from the orcs.
In the distance, he saw several of the hulking figures smashing their way through a line of villagers, cutting through any defense that dared to stand in their path. The orcs, with their heavy clubs and axes, were tearing apart homes, knocking down walls, and leaving chaos in their wake.
Max (Internal): If we don't stop those orcs soon, they'll flatten the entire village.
He turned to Darius again, his voice firm.
Max: "Send the Iron Guard to reinforce the Vanguard. I want those orcs taken down before they destroy the rest of the village."
Darius nodded and raised his sword. "Iron Guard! To the front! Hold the line against the orcs!"
The Iron Guard, armed with heavy shields and spears, moved into formation. They marched forward in unison, shields interlocked, creating a solid wall of defense as they advanced. As the orcs barreled toward them, the Iron Guard met them head-on, their spears thrusting into the charging beasts.
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Soldiers' Dialogue
Soldier 5: "Hold the line! Don't let 'em break through!"
Soldier 6: grunting under the weight of an orc's club "These bastards hit hard!"
Soldier 7: "Push them back! We've got them cornered!"
Down below, as the soldiers fought, some of them exchanged shouts and hurried commands.
Knight A: "Watch out for the big one! He's swinging that club like a tree trunk!"
Knight B: "I see him! Let's bring him down together!"
Knight C: "Why do goblins always run in packs? One's bad enough, but twenty?!"
Knight D: grinning "You just gotta swing faster!"
The banter among the knights was laced with tension, but Max could tell they were holding their ground. His small army was more than capable of handling this. The goblins and orcs, while vicious, were no match for trained soldiers.
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Max observed the battle, his mind racing with strategy. The goblins were being handled by the Vanguard, but the orcs were a tougher challenge. The Iron Guard held their ground, but the orcs' brute strength was difficult to overcome.
Max (Internal): I need to focus. I can't let this get out of control. We can't afford any losses here.
He scanned the battlefield again, watching as the goblins made one last desperate push. They were trying to regroup, to rally their numbers and launch a counterattack. But Max wasn't going to give them the chance.
Max: "Archers! Target the goblins before they regroup! Fire at will!"
At his command, a volley of arrows shot through the sky, raining down on the goblin horde. The goblins screeched as the arrows struck, their attempt to reorganize falling apart as their numbers were decimated.
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Soldiers' Dialogue
Soldier 8: "Look at them scatter! Goblins don't stand a chance against real archers."
Soldier 9: "Nice shot! Took down two in one hit!"
Soldier 10: "Finish the rest of 'em off before they run for the trees!"
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As the battle continued, Max felt a surge of confidence. The goblins were all but wiped out, and the orcs were being driven back by the Iron Guard. The village would be saved, and with minimal losses. For once, things were going according to plan.
Max (Internal): Good. This is how it should be. I need to maintain control—over the army, over the battle, over myself.
But even as he felt a sense of accomplishment, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. There were always more goblins, always more orcs. The village was safe for now, but who knew what other threats were lurking in the shadows?
Max (Internal): One battle down... but there will be more. I need to be ready.
With that thought, Max turned his gaze back to the horizon, wondering what other challenges awaited him—and how he would overcome them.
Max (Internal): This was just the beginning. There will be more battles, more challenges. But we won today, and that's what matters.
Max (Internal): At least I don't have to fight them myself... yet.
He turned his gaze toward the horizon, knowing that the war was far from over.
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This chapter focuses on the attack by goblins and orcs, showing Max taking charge of the situation and ordering his army to protect the village.