The First Strike

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. My forces were growing stronger, my warriors were training harder, and now Carridan's scouts lay dead in the forest, their mission of reconnaissance silenced before it could reach him. This was the moment where hesitation could cost me everything. I turned to Gorak, to the Shadeborn, to my human scouts who had proven themselves in eliminating Carridan's men.

"We attack now," I said, my voice steady. "Before he realizes we exist."

Gorak bared his tusks in satisfaction, his fists clenching in anticipation. The human scout leader, arms crossed, gave a slow nod. "Fast and clean. No time for them to call for reinforcements."

The Shadeborn studied me for a moment before speaking. "Then we must move quickly. We have the element of surprise, but that won't last long."

I turned to my system, opening my gold reserves and selecting my next upgrades.

Current Gold: 1,480

Passive Income: 38 Gold per Minute

I scanned my options, knowing that this attack had to be calculated and devastating.

[Available Upgrades]

Upgrade Guardian Unit (750 Gold) – Enhances its rank and combat ability.

Recruit Advanced Goblin Warriors (450 Gold per unit) – Stronger fighters with better armor and weapons.

Establish War Camp (750 Gold) – Increases military training speed and unit efficiency.

I selected two Advanced Goblin Warriors, spending 900 gold to bring my best fighters into the battle.

[900 Gold Deducted – Summoning Advanced Goblin Warriors…]

A pulse of golden light rippled through the camp as two larger, heavily armored goblins materialized, their bodies reinforced with thick plates of scavenged metal. Their weapons—massive cleavers and curved blades—gleamed under the torchlight. They looked down at the regular goblin warriors, who stared in awe.

[New Units Acquired: 2 Advanced Goblin Warriors]

- Higher durability and combat skills

- Greater resistance to wounds

- Passive leadership boost to lesser goblins

With my remaining 580 gold, I reinforced my Guardian, upgrading it once more.

[500 Gold Deducted – Enhancing Guardian Unit…]

A deep hum filled the air as my B-rank Guardian pulsed with renewed power. The armor thickened, growing sleeker and more refined, its glowing runes intensifying. Its massive greatsword took on a sharper, more menacing edge, now laced with etheric energy.

[Guardian Upgraded to A-Rank]

- Increased Durability and Combat Strength

- Ether-Fused Weapon (Energy damage on strike)

- Commanding Presence (Nearby enemies suffer morale penalties)

The shift in my forces was immediate. My warriors stood taller, my goblins moving with more purpose. This wasn't just a ragtag group anymore. This was an army preparing for war.

I turned to Gorak. "Gather the warriors. We move now."

He nodded and began barking orders. The two Advanced Goblin Warriors took positions beside him, standing like war generals, while the human scouts armed themselves with bows and daggers. The Shadeborn gave me a final glance before vanishing once again into the darkness, already moving ahead to scout the outpost's defenses one last time.

Within minutes, my force was assembled. Thirty goblin warriors, three human scouts, two advanced warriors, and my towering Guardian. It wasn't a large army, but it didn't need to be. This was a strike force.

We moved through the forest, our footsteps careful, our approach silent. The outpost was still nearly a mile away, positioned near the river. It wasn't a fortress, but it was reinforced enough to withstand a casual raid. That wouldn't matter.

Because this wasn't a raid.

This was a takeover.

We moved as shadows beneath the trees, sticking to the paths the Shadeborn had shown me before. I could hear the distant chatter of guards as we neared. They weren't expecting us.

Good.

The Shadeborn reappeared beside me, speaking barely above a whisper. "They have twenty men inside. Seven guards are posted at the perimeter. The rest are inside, near the barracks."

"Defenses?" I asked.

She nodded toward the walls. "Light fortifications. Wooden spikes, but no real traps. The gate is locked, but the smuggler's route remains unguarded."

I exhaled. "Then we go in through the smuggler's route. We take out the sentries first. No alarm. No survivors."

Gorak grinned. "A slaughter, then."

I ignored him and turned to my human scouts. "You three take the perimeter guards. Kill them quietly."

The scarred scout gave a single nod before disappearing into the darkness, his men following. I turned to my goblins. "Wait for my signal."

Minutes passed like eternities, the night growing still as we waited. Then—a faint rustle in the trees, followed by the dull sound of bodies hitting the dirt.

The perimeter guards were down.

I gave the next signal, and my warriors moved forward. We slipped through the smuggler's path, entering the outpost from the side where no one was watching.

Inside, the enemy was relaxed, sitting near the fire pit, drinking and laughing. They had no idea death was coming.

I raised my hand.

Then, I brought it down.

The attack began.

My warriors surged forward, their blades cutting through unsuspecting throats and backs before the first screams even rang out. The human scouts fired arrows, taking down those who tried to run. The Advanced Goblin Warriors tore through their ranks, their massive cleavers hacking through men as if they were made of paper.

The chaos spread in seconds. By the time the enemy realized what was happening, half of them were already dead.

I stormed forward, my Guardian crashing through the barracks door, sending shattered wood flying. The remaining soldiers scrambled for weapons, but it was already too late.

One of the outpost's officers—a man wearing a chainmail vest and wielding a longsword—stepped forward, his expression a mix of fury and fear. "Who are you? What do you want?"

I didn't answer. I let my Guardian do the talking.

With a single swing of its ether-infused greatsword, the officer was cleaved in two, his body falling apart in the torchlight. The rest of his men broke instantly. Some tried to fight. Most tried to run. None succeeded.

Within minutes, the battle was over.

The outpost was mine.

A system notification echoed in my mind.

[Outpost Captured: +500 Gold, +Increased Regional Influence]

[New Structure Unlocked: Military Staging Ground]

I stood in the center of the outpost, surrounded by bodies, weapons, and supplies now under my control. My warriors stood victorious, my forces stronger than ever.

But even as I surveyed my victory, I knew what this meant.

Carridan would learn of this. And when he did, he wouldn't just send scouts.