Striking First

The air in the outpost was thick with tension. Every warrior, goblin, and human alike, could feel the weight of the decision that loomed over us. Carridan's forces would come—it was just a matter of when. I had to decide whether we would wait behind these walls, hoping to withstand whatever force he sent, or if we would strike first and dictate the pace of this war.

I already knew the answer.

"We're not waiting for Carridan to act first," I said, looking out at my assembled forces. Gorak gave a sharp-toothed grin of approval, while the Shadeborn's violet eyes flickered with interest. "We hit him before he has a chance to organize. If we strike one of his supply lines, we can buy ourselves time and force him to react to us."

The human scout leader crossed his arms, nodding slightly. "A smart move. If we disrupt his logistics, he'll have to divert men to secure his supply chains instead of attacking us outright."

I turned to the scout who had followed the rider. "Did you see any supply caravans moving in or out of his stronghold?"

The scout scratched his chin, thinking. "There was one supply camp near a river crossing about four miles east of his keep. Looked like they were stockpiling weapons and food. Could be a staging point for future attacks."

That was exactly what I needed to hear. If Carridan was using that location as a forward supply hub, taking it would cripple his ability to send a full force at us.

I opened my system, checking my resources.

Current Gold: 1,280

Passive Income: 42 Gold per Minute

It was enough to add reinforcements before we moved out. I quickly scrolled through my available upgrades, selecting the most strategic choices for an assault mission.

[Available Upgrades]

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

Summon Additional Guardian Unit (1,000 Gold) – Another powerful defensive unit.

Upgrade Human Scouts (600 Gold) – Enhances stealth, tracking, and ambush capabilities.

The Guardian was tempting, but this wasn't a defensive fight. We needed stealth and overwhelming speed before Carridan could react.

I made my selections.

[900 Gold Deducted – Summoning 2 Advanced Goblin Warriors]

[600 Gold Deducted – Upgrading Human Scouts]

A faint pulse of energy rippled through the outpost as the two new goblin warriors materialized, their armor thicker, their weapons gleaming with new sharpness. They joined Gorak's side, their expressions unreadable but eager for battle.

The human scouts stood still as their bodies shuddered slightly, the system enhancing them in ways even they didn't fully understand. Their movements became sharper, their eyes more focused, their hands steadier.

[Human Scouts Upgraded: Enhanced Tracking, Silent Kills, Increased Awareness]

The scout leader flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. "That's… different."

I smirked. "You'll need it where we're going."

I turned back to the gathered warriors. "We move out now. We travel light and fast. We take their supply camp, burn their stockpiles, and vanish before they can send reinforcements."

Gorak let out a guttural laugh. "Finally, we strike."

The Shadeborn stepped forward. "I will scout ahead. If there are unexpected defenses, I will let you know before we walk into them."

I nodded. "Do it."

The strike force formed quickly. I took twenty goblin warriors, four advanced warriors, three human scouts, and my B-rank Guardian. A small force, but one meant for speed and devastation.

We moved into the night, slipping through the dense forest, our presence hidden beneath the thick canopy. The Shadeborn vanished ahead, a flicker of movement in the shadows. The only sound was the rhythmic footfalls of my warriors and the faint rustling of leaves as we advanced.

The trip was swift. Within an hour, we reached the river crossing.

The supply camp was built on the far side of the water, positioned near a wooden bridge. The camp itself was surprisingly large, with rows of supply wagons, crates of weapons, and nearly two dozen soldiers guarding the area.

I crouched near a fallen tree, my warriors gathering behind me as we surveyed the camp.

The Shadeborn reappeared beside me, her voice a whisper. "They are lightly armored, but they have bows stationed on the higher ground near the wagons. If we approach openly, they'll cut us down before we reach them."

I nodded, formulating the plan. We needed to take out their ranged fighters first before the melee troops even realized what was happening.

I turned to the human scout leader. "You and your men take out the archers first. Silent kills. We can't let them raise the alarm."

The scout nodded. "Consider it done."

I turned to Gorak and the goblins. "Once the archers are down, we charge in from two sides. I'll lead one group from the river's edge while Gorak and the advanced warriors hit their flank."

Gorak grinned. "We will spill their blood quickly."

The Shadeborn whispered, "I'll slip in and sabotage their wagons. When they realize what's happening, they won't be able to retreat with their supplies."

I exhaled. "Then let's begin."

The attack started in silence. The human scouts moved first, slipping between trees, their enhanced skills allowing them to creep undetected toward the watchmen. I watched as one scout drew a knife across a soldier's throat, another silently impaled an archer through the back. One by one, the eyes of the camp were removed.

Then, the real attack began.

I gave the signal, and we surged forward.

I led the charge from the riverbank, bursting into the camp with goblins at my sides, weapons flashing. The first enemy barely had time to react before I drove my spear through his chest.

On the other side of the camp, Gorak's force slammed into them like a hammer, their heavier weapons cleaving through flesh and armor.

The Shadeborn struck like a phantom, setting fires, cutting ropes, slashing throats in the chaos. The moment their supply wagons were set ablaze, panic spread.

The soldiers scrambled, realizing too late that they were being wiped out. Some tried to run toward the bridge. My Guardian moved forward, swinging its ether-infused greatsword in a devastating arc, cutting through two men at once.

The battle was over in minutes.

The last enemy fell at Gorak's feet, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. Around us, flames crackled as the supply wagons burned. We had taken everything from them—food, weapons, armor, even their means of retreat.

I scanned the field, my warriors breathing hard but victorious.

A notification chimed.

[Supply Camp Destroyed: +600 Gold Earned, +Increased Regional Disruption]