The Siege Begins

The horn's call faded into the night, but the message was clear—Carridan's forces were coming. I stood atop the outpost's newly fortified walls, gripping my spear as I watched the distant torches flicker between the trees. There were too many for this to be a simple scouting party. This was a strike force.

Below, the camp shifted uneasily. Goblins whispered among themselves, eyes darting to the darkness beyond the walls. Some gripped their weapons with white-knuckled fists, others glanced at Gorak, who paced along the perimeter, barking orders in his native tongue. The human scouts checked their arrows, their expressions tense as they took their positions in the towers. Even the Shadeborn stood still, her usual amusement absent as she gazed into the distance.

Carridan wasn't waiting. He had seen the smoke, heard the reports, and now he was coming to crush me before I could grow stronger. I had forced his hand, and now the war had truly begun.

I opened my system, quickly scanning my resources.

Current Gold: 1,220

Passive Income: 42 Gold per Minute

Not enough for a major game-changing upgrade, but enough to reinforce what we already had. I needed every advantage before the enemy arrived.

[Available Upgrades]

Deploy Traps & Barricades (600 Gold) – Adds hidden spike pits, reinforced barricades, and caltrops around the outpost.

Summon Additional Advanced Goblin Warriors (450 Gold each) – More elite warriors to hold the line.

Increase Archer Capabilities (500 Gold) – Enhances human scout accuracy, range, and rate of fire.

Emergency Resource Surge (800 Gold) – Provides instant materials for building and repairing defenses.

I made my decision.

[600 Gold Deducted – Deploying Traps & Barricades]

A ripple of golden energy pulsed through the ground as hidden defenses materialized. Beneath the trees outside the outpost, sharpened wooden spikes sank into the soil, their lethal tips hidden beneath layers of leaves and dirt. Jagged caltrops were scattered along the approach, waiting to tear through careless feet. Inside the walls, reinforced barricades formed, turning key choke points into death traps for any enemy who managed to breach the gates.

[Outpost Defenses Enhanced: +20% Effectiveness Against Infantry Attacks]

The goblins near the walls gaped at the sudden appearance of traps, their awe quickly shifting into eager anticipation. They liked the idea of the enemy impaling themselves before even reaching the fight.

I turned to Gorak. "We're forcing them into a choke point. They'll have no choice but to go where we want them."

Gorak grinned, his fingers flexing over his axe. "Good. Makes the killing easier."

Next, I turned to the human scout leader. "Your men need to be deadlier. Take this."

[500 Gold Deducted – Increasing Archer Capabilities]

A faint shimmer surrounded the scouts as their bows strengthened, their hands steadier, their eyes sharper. They would fire faster, farther, and with greater accuracy.

[Human Scouts Upgraded: +15% Accuracy, +Increased Firing Rate]

The scout leader nodded approvingly as he tested his new grip. "We'll make sure they don't get close enough to regret it."

The Shadeborn spoke softly from behind me. "They will test our defenses first. Probe our weaknesses. If they are smart, they will not attack all at once."

I nodded. "Then we punish them for every step they take."

The outpost was ready.

Then, the torches began to move forward.

A war horn sounded in the distance, its deep note rolling over the trees like thunder. The goblins on the walls tensed, gripping their weapons tighter. The human scouts steadied their bows. I could see the firelight glinting off approaching figures—dozens of them.

Carridan's forces had arrived.

The first wave was exactly what I expected—skirmishers. Lightly armored men carrying swords, shields, and bows. They weren't here to break the walls. They were here to test us, to measure our strength before the real attack came.

I raised my hand. "Hold."

The skirmishers moved cautiously, spreading out as they neared the outpost. They didn't know about the traps waiting beneath their feet.

The first pit trap triggered with a sickening crunch as a soldier screamed, impaled by the hidden spikes. Another man let out a sharp yell as his foot was shredded by caltrops. Then another. The careful formation broke almost immediately as men stumbled, some falling into traps, others pulling back in confusion.

"Archers!" I barked.

A volley of arrows loosed from the towers, slicing through the chaotic ranks. The newly enhanced human scouts worked like executioners, their arrows finding gaps in armor, punching through exposed throats and eyes.

The first wave collapsed within minutes, their attack never even reaching the walls.

From behind me, Gorak let out a barking laugh. "That was pathetic."

But I wasn't fooled. This had only been the beginning.

The second wave approached, this time heavily armored. Shields raised, formation tighter. They moved more carefully, stepping over fallen comrades and avoiding obvious danger.

"Here comes the real fight," I muttered.

I raised my hand again, waiting for them to get just a little closer. Then I dropped it.

"Goblins, charge!"

With a wild battle cry, my goblins surged forward, leaping from hidden gaps in the walls, pouring from side passages. They didn't wait for the enemy to come to them. They struck first.

The clash was brutal.

My Advanced Goblin Warriors tore through the enemy lines with brutal efficiency, their cleavers cutting through shields and armor. The B-rank Guardian waded into the fray, its massive greatsword carving through multiple enemies in a single swing.

Even as the battle raged, I stayed near the walls, watching, analyzing. This wasn't just about winning this fight—it was about understanding how Carridan fought.

Then, something unexpected happened.

A second horn blast echoed—but this one came from a different direction.

I turned sharply, scanning the opposite treeline.

Torches.

Dozens of torches.

Another force was approaching.

Not Carridan's men. Someone else.

The Shadeborn stepped beside me, her expression unreadable. "It seems your war has drawn even more attention."

I gritted my teeth. This was bad. I could handle Carridan's forces, but if a third party entered the battle right now, everything could fall apart.

"Can you tell who they are?" I asked.

The Shadeborn narrowed her eyes. "Not yet. But we will find out soon enough."

I looked back toward the battle raging at the gates and then toward the unknown army approaching from behind.