Striking First

The sun dipped below the treetops, casting long shadows over the outpost. The air was tense with anticipation as my warriors prepared for the preemptive strike against Carridan's vanguard. If we could hit them before they reached our walls, we could stall the siege and cripple their offensive before it even began.

Vaelin stood beside me, arms crossed as he watched the forces assemble. The battle-hardened commander was already evaluating every unit under his command, making quiet adjustments, repositioning fighters, ensuring everything was set for the ambush.

"We'll move under cover of darkness," he said. "They'll be traveling light, trying to set up a forward camp before their main force arrives. We take them out before they can dig in."

I nodded. "What's the plan?"

Vaelin motioned to the map spread across the wooden table before us. "Their route is predictable. They'll be following the old trade road that runs through the eastern woods. The terrain is uneven, lots of dips and blind corners. Perfect for an ambush."

Gorak grunted in approval. "Good. Traps?"

Vaelin smirked. "Already working on it. Your goblins are fast with their hands. We're setting tripwires, spike pits, and oil barrels in key locations. When the first riders hit the traps, we'll cut through them before they have time to react."

Draven tapped the map with one gloved hand. "They'll have scouts ahead of their main group. If they spot us too soon, they'll retreat and warn Carridan. We can't afford that."

The Shadeborn leaned forward slightly, her voice a soft whisper. "I'll handle the scouts."

No one argued. If anyone could eliminate threats before they were noticed, it was her.

I exhaled, glancing at the warriors assembled before me.

Thirty fighters. A mix of goblins, mercenaries, and scouts, all ready to move. The outpost's defenses were solid, but if we failed this strike, we'd be forced into a full siege much sooner than planned.

I clenched my fist. Failure wasn't an option.

I turned to Vaelin. "Lead them well."

He smirked. "I always do."

With that, he and the strike team moved into the trees, vanishing into the approaching night.

The waiting began.

I remained at the outpost, standing on the reinforced walls, my gaze locked on the distant treetops where my warriors had disappeared. Every moment that passed brought Carridan's army closer. If Vaelin succeeded, we'd buy ourselves precious time. If he failed, we'd have to hold against a full-strength force without warning.

The Shadeborn had already disappeared into the night, hunting down the enemy scouts before they could spot the ambush.

I checked my system again, scanning my resources.

Current Gold: 1,040

Passive Income: 42 Gold per Minute

I didn't have enough for another major upgrade yet, but once Vaelin returned, I'd need to make a quick decision on where to invest next.

The minutes stretched into an hour. Then another. The night deepened, and still, no word.

Then, finally—a faint horn blast echoed through the trees.

It wasn't a call for retreat. It was a victory signal.

I exhaled sharply, relief mixing with satisfaction. They had done it.

A few minutes later, Vaelin's force returned, moving swiftly through the outpost gates. I met them near the fire pit as they gathered, their armor splattered with blood, their expressions fierce but triumphant.

Gorak was grinning, his axe still dripping red. "They didn't see it coming."

Vaelin wiped a streak of blood from his cheek and smirked. "We crushed them. Caught them just as they were setting up camp. The traps worked perfectly—half of them were dead before they even realized what was happening."

Draven leaned against a nearby post. "Tried to run, but we cut them down."

I turned to the Shadeborn, who had returned as well. "And the scouts?"

She tilted her head slightly. "Taken care of. None escaped."

I nodded, feeling the tension in my shoulders finally ease. "Losses?"

Vaelin sighed. "Five dead on our side. A few wounded, but nothing critical."

A costly victory, but one that had bought us time.

The system chimed.

[Ambush Successful: +600 Gold Earned]

[Carridan's Advance Delayed: +24 Additional Hours to Prepare]

I exhaled slowly. We had done it.

Carridan's siege would still come, but now he was off balance. He had just lost his vanguard. That meant he would have to reorganize, rethink his approach.

And we? We had time.

I opened my system and checked my gold reserves again.

Current Gold: 1,640

Enough for a significant reinforcement.

I turned back to my war council. "We have one more day before Carridan regroups. That's enough time to strengthen our position."

Gorak smirked. "What's the next move?"

I scanned my upgrade options carefully.

[Available Upgrades]

Summon a Second Guardian (1,000 Gold) – A new frontline defensive unit to protect the outpost.

Upgrade Warrior Training (750 Gold) – Improves goblin combat effectiveness.

Construct Siege Weapons (1,000 Gold) – Adds ballistae and catapults for long-range defense.

Reinforce Outpost Defenses Again (1,500 Gold) – Further strengthens walls, adds additional defensive layers.

I knew Carridan would come in greater numbers next time. That meant I needed to break his forces before they reached the walls.

[1,000 Gold Deducted – Constructing Siege Weapons]

A deep rumbling filled the outpost as two massive ballistae materialized atop the walls, their massive wooden frames reinforced with steel. The system-generated defensive emplacements had precision targeting and enough power to punch through even the toughest armor.

[Siege Defenses Added: Increased Long-Range Attack Power]

The goblins below let out awed whispers, their eyes locked on the newly-formed war machines. The human scouts immediately began adjusting their tactics, moving toward the ballistae to test their mechanisms.

Draven whistled. "Well. That's a game changer."

Gorak bared his teeth. "We will turn their army into corpses before they even reach our blades."

I smirked. "That's the plan."

We weren't just defending anymore.

We were preparing to destroy them.

Now, when Carridan's forces came, they wouldn't be facing a desperate band of survivors.

They'd be facing a fortress, an army, and a force ready to carve its name into the world.