Pressing the Advantage

The battlefield was littered with bodies, the ground soaked in blood and the remnants of shattered weapons. The enemy had retreated into the trees, their formation broken, their morale shattered. My warriors stood atop the walls, weapons raised, howling their victory into the night. But I knew this was just the beginning.

Gorak leaned against his axe, breathing hard but grinning. "They run like cowards."

Draven wiped blood from his sword and let out a short chuckle. "Because they are. But they'll be back."

I stood atop the reinforced walls, scanning the battlefield. The first attack had failed, but Carridan wasn't a fool. He had sent a probe force, testing our defenses. Now he knew what we were capable of.

And that meant he would come back stronger.

I turned to Vaelin, my war commander. "How long before Carridan regroups?"

Vaelin's face was unreadable as he studied the tree line. "Depends on how much of his force he committed to this first wave. If this was just a test, he'll attack again by morning. If it was an overextension, he may have to regroup, which would give us a day. Maybe two."

A day. Maybe two. That wasn't enough time to rebuild everything. But it might be enough time to strike first.

I checked my system.

Current Gold: 1,460

Passive Income: 42 Gold per Minute

I had resources, but not enough to sit back and wait. If we stayed behind these walls, we were letting Carridan dictate the next move. That was not how I planned to fight this war.

I looked at the commanders gathered around me. "We're not waiting for Carridan to come back. We strike first."

Gorak let out a pleased growl. "Finally."

Draven smirked, but his expression was calculating. "Risky."

Vaelin gave a sharp nod. "Smart. If we move now, we might catch them before they reorganize."

I turned to the Shadeborn. "What can you find out?"

She tilted her head slightly. "If they've fallen back to a secondary position, I can locate it. If they're retreating all the way back to Carridan's main hold, we'll know how much time we have."

I nodded. "Do it."

She vanished into the night.

Now, it was time to prepare for our own attack.

I opened my system and scanned my options.

[Available Upgrades]

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

Recruit Elite Raiders (750 Gold) – Goblins trained for hit-and-run attacks, ideal for preemptive strikes.

Enhance Mercenary Armaments (800 Gold) – Increases damage output and armor quality of the Iron Fang warriors.

Deploy Tactical Strike Team (900 Gold) – A special operations unit designed for sabotage and assassination.

I needed speed and precision.

[750 Gold Deducted – Recruiting Elite Raiders]

A low hum of energy rippled through the camp as a new group of goblin warriors emerged from the shadows. They were smaller than standard warriors, but faster, their armor lighter, their weapons sharper. These were not line fighters—they were predators, designed for hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, and lightning-fast destruction.

[New Units Acquired: 10 Elite Goblin Raiders]

- Increased Speed and Evasion

- Higher Damage Output in Ambushes

- Able to Set Traps and Sabotage Enemy Forces

Gorak inspected them, nodding in approval. "Good. These ones know how to spill blood properly."

Draven raised an eyebrow. "You really want to go with raiders? That means you're planning a fast strike, not a prolonged battle."

"That's exactly what I'm planning," I said. "We're going to harass them, strike at their weakest points, and keep them from ever regrouping properly."

Vaelin crossed his arms. "That's a good strategy. Carridan's forces are larger, but if we keep hitting them before they're ready, we never have to fight their full strength at once."

A whistle from the darkness made us all turn.

The Shadeborn had returned.

She moved like a shadow, silent even as she stepped fully into the firelight. "I found them."

I tensed. "Where?"

She pointed toward the east. "A ruined fort, about three miles from here. They're regrouping there, setting up supply lines and defensive positions. If we hit them now, we catch them off guard."

I didn't hesitate. "Then we move out now."

Vaelin nodded. "Agreed. The longer we wait, the stronger they get."

Gorak bared his tusks. "Time to finish what we started."

Draven smirked. "Fine. Let's bleed them dry."

The Raid Begins

Our strike force moved quickly through the trees, using the darkness and terrain to our advantage. The Elite Goblin Raiders moved ahead, slipping through the underbrush like ghosts, their blades glinting under the moonlight.

We reached the ruins within the hour.

The enemy had already started reinforcing it, with makeshift barricades and a small patrol circling the perimeter. They weren't expecting an immediate counterattack.

I turned to the Shadeborn. "How many?"

She observed for a moment before answering. "About eighty. Lightly armored. A few archers on the walls, but nothing serious yet."

Eighty soldiers. If they had time to dig in, that number would feel like two hundred.

I turned to my commanders. "We strike hard and fast. The raiders take out the patrols first. Once the signal is given, we move in. We kill their leaders first, break their command structure, then let chaos do the rest."

Vaelin nodded. "Classic decapitation strike. I like it."

I raised my hand. The raiders vanished into the night.

Minutes passed.

Then—a scream.

I dropped my hand. "Go."

The assault hit them like a thunderclap.

The first soldiers never even saw us coming. The raiders cut them down in the shadows, slipping between targets with terrifying speed. Arrows rained down from our scouts, striking through exposed throats and armor gaps.

The main force charged.

Gorak led the goblins into the breach, their war cries shaking the ruined walls. Draven's mercenaries flanked, cutting down disorganized soldiers before they could rally.

I moved straight for the enemy commander, a man clad in black armor, shouting orders.

I sprinted through the chaos, dodging an arrow, parrying a sword strike before driving my spear into a soldier's gut.

The commander spotted me too late.

I slammed into him, knocking him back. He swung a heavy blade, but I ducked under the strike, spinning behind him. Before he could react, my spear found his spine, piercing straight through.

He choked, eyes wide. Then, he fell.

The soldiers saw their leader fall.

Their formation broke.

The battle was over in minutes.

The system chimed.

[Enemy Encampment Destroyed: +700 Gold Earned, +Extended Time Before Carridan Can Attack]

We had done it.

Carridan's army was scattered, disorganized.

Now, we had the upper hand.

I turned to my commanders. "We're not stopping here. We take the fight to him."

This wasn't just about defending anymore.

This was about crushing Carridan before he had the chance to strike again.