Signs of War

The tension from the challenge had settled, but the fire it ignited in the goblins had not. They trained harder now, each warrior pushing themselves to be stronger, to fight faster. The humans had been watching the fight as well, though they hadn't intervened. I knew they had their own doubts about following an outworlder, just like the goblins had, but now they had their answer. I wasn't just in charge because I had summoned a Guardian or because I had some mystical system backing me. I was in charge because I had earned it.

But there was no time to revel in my small victory. The real fight hadn't started yet.

I walked through the camp, watching as the goblins continued sparring. The training grounds had been one of my smartest investments so far, and the effects were undeniable. The goblins no longer fought as wild scrappers but as warriors. The humans, too, had started integrating more, learning from the goblins' raw aggression while sharing their own refined combat techniques.

Gorak stood near the training pits, watching as two goblins circled each other, their wooden clubs striking against each other in rapid succession. He nodded in approval as one of them feinted, drawing the other into overextending, then delivered a solid strike to the side, sending his opponent to the ground.

"They're learning," I said as I approached.

Gorak grunted. "They must. The weak die."

I nodded, but before I could respond, the Shadeborn woman appeared beside me, silent as ever. Her presence had become so familiar that I barely flinched anymore when she suddenly materialized from the shadows.

"We have a problem," she said.

I stiffened. "What kind?"

"Carridan's scouts," she answered. "They're close. And they're looking for you."

The air around us seemed to grow heavier. I had been expecting this, but not this soon.

"How many?"

"Five," she said. "Spread out, moving carefully. They're not a raiding party. They're here to gather information."

I exhaled, my mind already racing through possibilities. If Carridan was already sending scouts, that meant he had caught wind of my presence in some way. Maybe deserters had whispered rumors of a rising force in the wild lands. Maybe his outpost guards had noticed strange movements in the area. Either way, he was aware enough to investigate.

I turned to Gorak. "Get our best warriors ready. If these scouts make it back to Carridan, they'll bring word of us. That's not an option."

He bared his tusks in approval and immediately started selecting warriors. The humans overheard the conversation, their leader stepping forward.

"If you want them taken out quietly, we're better suited for that," the scarred scout said. "Let us handle it."

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. A direct fight would be loud, and if we failed to kill all five, the survivors would rush back to Carridan with reports of an organized force. But if the scouts could be eliminated without being seen, we could keep the advantage a little longer.

The Shadeborn glanced at me. "I will guide them."

It was a solid plan. I nodded. "Do it. But make sure none of them escape."

The group melted into the darkness, vanishing among the trees. I remained behind, watching the firelight flicker across the growing settlement. The tension in my chest refused to settle.

This was the first real test. If Carridan's scouts were eliminated before they returned, we would buy more time. If even one of them escaped…

We wouldn't be able to hide anymore.

Minutes stretched into an hour. I paced along the outskirts of camp, watching the trees, my mind filled with calculations. Should I start building defenses? Should I strike the outpost now, before Carridan could prepare?

Then I heard a faint whistle from the forest. The Shadeborn's signal.

I strode toward the tree line, my goblins parting for me as I moved. The humans and the Shadeborn emerged from the shadows, moving with silent efficiency. My eyes flicked over them, counting heads. All present. No losses.

The scout leader wiped his blade against the grass. "All five taken care of. No one got away."

I exhaled, tension easing from my shoulders. That was the best possible outcome.

The Shadeborn stepped closer. "They were looking for proof of an organized force. They weren't sure yet, but they suspected something."

I frowned. "Did they say anything useful?"

She nodded. "Carridan hasn't committed to action yet, but if more scouts go missing, he will notice. He's not a fool."

That meant our time was running out.

I glanced at my system screen, scanning my resources.

Current Gold: 1,480

Passive Income: 38 Gold per Minute

I had enough gold to make my next move. If I wanted to expand my forces or establish defenses, now was the time.

Gorak approached, his expression serious. "We should attack before he does."

I knew that was coming. I had been planning to take the outpost eventually, but now the question was whether to strike before Carridan could react.

The Shadeborn folded her arms. "You have two choices. You either take the outpost now, securing a forward base before Carridan is fully aware of you, or you dig in, fortify your position, and prepare for the war that will come."

Gorak crossed his arms. "Waiting is for the weak."

The human scout leader shrugged. "Attacking too soon is for fools."

I considered my options carefully.

1. Attack the Outpost Now: This would let me seize valuable territory and resources before Carridan could react, but it would reveal my existence fully, forcing his hand.

2. Fortify the Settlement: This would buy time to grow, increase my forces, and build defenses, but it would also allow Carridan to reinforce his position.

Either way, a fight was coming.

I glanced toward my goblins and humans, both waiting for my command. The weight of leadership pressed down on me. This was it—the moment when I decided whether to strike first or prepare for war.