The Storm Breaks

The outpost was no longer just a fortified checkpoint—it was a stronghold. The reinforced walls stood firm, lined with sharpened wooden stakes and hardened stone barriers. The newly constructed ballistae loomed over the battlefield, their massive frames primed to unleash devastation. The air crackled with tension, warriors sharpening blades, fletching arrows, and adjusting armor as the final hours before Carridan's arrival slipped away.

I stood at the highest watchtower, staring out toward the treeline. They would come soon.

The distant sounds of marching boots and creaking wagons had begun to carry through the forest, faint but unmistakable. The enemy was assembling, moving closer with every passing hour. This was no longer just a raid or a skirmish. This was the beginning of a war.

Below, Gorak stood with the goblin warriors, checking their ranks. The Iron Fang mercenaries stood apart from the goblins but not separate, their disciplined formation a stark contrast to the wild aggression of my orcish second-in-command. Draven watched his men carefully, his eyes betraying no emotion, but I knew what he was thinking. Would this be worth their price?

Vaelin walked along the walls, barking out adjustments to positioning. The old war commander had already proven invaluable, guiding both goblins and mercenaries in battle formations that would maximize our strengths.

The Shadeborn appeared beside me as silently as ever. "They are coming," she said. "Larger than before. More organized."

I didn't react. "Numbers?"

She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "At least three hundred."

A cold weight settled in my stomach. Even with our defenses, traps, and siege weapons, we were still outnumbered nearly three to one. This wasn't going to be a simple defensive battle—it would be a test of endurance.

I checked my system, knowing this was my final chance to reinforce before the battle began.

Current Gold: 1,080

Passive Income: 42 Gold per Minute

Not much left, but enough for one last investment.

[Available Upgrades]

Summon a Second Guardian (1,000 Gold) – A massive frontline unit to reinforce defenses.

Warrior Enhancement (750 Gold) – Improves goblin and mercenary combat efficiency.

Emergency Supply Cache (500 Gold) – Provides instant replenishment of arrows, weapons, and medical supplies.

Defensive Spell Wards (800 Gold) – Enhances resistance against magical attacks, if the enemy has magic users.

I considered my options carefully. The Second Guardian was tempting, but I wasn't sure if raw strength would be enough. Carridan's forces were organized, meaning I needed precision and endurance.

I selected Warrior Enhancement.

[750 Gold Deducted – Enhancing Combat Readiness]

A faint pulse spread through the outpost, washing over my warriors like a subtle force of energy. Their grips on weapons tightened, their movements became sharper, more disciplined. The goblins stood taller, the mercenaries shifted slightly as new battle instincts settled in.

[All Combatants Gain +15% Effectiveness]

The goblins watching me let out excited snarls, sensing the change. Even Draven nodded in approval.

Vaelin cracked his knuckles. "Now they're ready."

I exhaled. The battle was inevitable. Now, it was just a matter of how we played it.

A low horn blast echoed from the forest. Then another.

My pulse quickened. They were here.

The trees shifted as movement surged forward. Figures in dark armor, bearing Carridan's banner, emerged from the treeline. The first wave wasn't a reckless charge—it was a calculated advance. Shields up, weapons drawn, moving in a disciplined formation.

"Steady," I murmured.

I could hear Gorak growling with anticipation below. The goblins around him shifted, their natural aggression barely held back. The Iron Fang mercenaries stood firm, their expressions cold and focused.

I raised my hand.

The enemy moved closer, their steps slow but steady. They were testing us.

Fifty meters.

Forty.

Thirty.

"Ballistae!" I shouted.

The first massive bolt launched from the tower, whistling through the air before slamming into the enemy line. A shield shattered, a man was impaled, thrown backward with a scream.

The second ballista fired, striking two men at once, pinning them against the dirt.

The disciplined formation broke.

I dropped my hand.

"Fire!"

Arrows rained from the walls, cutting through the exposed enemies. The human scouts, now enhanced, fired with deadly precision, picking off commanders and shield-bearers with practiced ease.

The enemy hesitated, but only for a moment. Then, their commander roared, and the charge began.

"Hold!" I barked.

The first enemies hit our traps. Hidden spike pits, exploding oil barrels, and concealed barricades tore through their front lines, but still, they pushed forward.

And then, they reached the walls.

The battle exploded into chaos.

Carridan's men slammed into our gates, battering rams striking against the reinforced wood. Ladders were raised, soldiers climbing, trying to breach our defenses.

Gorak led the first counterattack, meeting the climbers head-on, his axe cleaving through the first man to reach the wall.

The Iron Fang mercenaries held the flanks, cutting down enemies as they tried to swarm the walls.

I spotted the enemy commander near the back, shouting orders.

If he wasn't removed, this battle would turn into a siege.

I turned to Draven. "Get me an opening. I'm taking him out."

Draven raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "You heard him! Open a path!"

The Iron Fangs pushed hard, driving back enemies just long enough for me to leap from the wall, landing in the fray below.

I charged.

The enemy commander saw me coming. He turned, raising his sword with a sneer. "So, you're the outworlder."

I didn't answer. I just attacked.

Our blades met in a flash of steel, the impact jarring up my arm. He was strong, trained, but he didn't have what I had—enhanced speed, enhanced instincts.

I slipped past his guard, driving my spear into his side.

He stumbled, gasping.

I didn't hesitate. I spun the spear and drove it through his throat.

The battle shifted.

The soldiers around us saw their leader fall. Fear rippled through them.

And then, they broke.

"Push!" I roared.

The goblins and mercenaries surged forward, forcing Carridan's forces into retreat.

The siege had failed.

But I knew this wasn't over.

Carridan had sent an initial attack force, testing our strength. Now that he had seen what we could do, his real army would come next.

I turned back toward my war council, breathing hard.