Chapter 20: Battle (9)

The goblins, having been given their own respective tasks, were diligently carrying it out. Didi in particular have been tense because he didn't know what would happen in just a few moments' time.

While giving out orders and watching over the goblins to make their own preparations, he too made his preparations in his own way.

'Finally...This day will be the day of do or die.'

Didi was still hell-bent on proceeding with his revenge however he realized that the lives of his people are more important. The dead will be respected and the living will be prioritized. That was his mindset for today and most likely, from now on.

Besides, he had his king to take revenge. He knew how strange and out of this world that being was. Being able to influence the blessings was one thing but his killing of the wolf while being a baron...No matter how Didi thought about it, that goblin was a special being.

No, he wanted to believe it so. He had seen him in a regard that he was the 'king' of the legends!

While he was strengthening his resolve, the Elder came up to him.

"Didi."

He called out.

Seeing the face that took care of him, Didi felt something that he normally didn't feel. It was the mixture of emotions.

"Elder..."

The Elder put up a faint smile on his face.

"You've become a good man."

As he said that, he had the look of a parent. It was as if he was proud of his son for reaching heights that he didn't even expect in the first place. Of course, this was influenced by the king but the one who made the efforts was Didi. He couldn't help but

feel proud.

For some reason, Didi felt anxious. Several thoughts swirled around his mind. In this battle, every goblin will be fighting. The Elder too will fight.

He couldn't understand his feelings of why he felt anxious of the Elder having to fight.

He clenched his fist and looked straight in the eye of the Elder.

"I...With this battle, I will be the man I have dreamed of."

The Elder didn't respond to his words. He just gave him a light tap on his shoulder and went away.

Looking at the withered body of the old goblin, he could only feel sad that the once dependable back was nowhere to be found.

Didi, having steeled his resolve, turned around to look at his surroundings and gave an order.

"Set out!"

****

While Didi was preparing the goblins to do the attack, Karkas is currently looking down on the ground from a huge tree.

After the goblins finished eating, they immediately got up and disappeared in the forest. Karkas' unit followed them soon after. The trees passed by a fraction of a section and the humming of the wind could be heard. The sunlight peeks out of the leaves and brings warmth to the skin.

As he treads on the path, his surroundings became familiar as the trees pass by. He felt like he has been here before.

'Just what is this place...'

He started to worry about something. He started to think why this place would be familiar to him. And when the goblins reached their destination, Karkas realized what it was making him feel nostalgic about it.

'It's my village!'

He bit his lower lip. The other goblins that followed him also put on anguished expression.

As they sneakily looked down on the ground, they noticed that the supposed-to-be-houses of the village were missing. Not one thing remained as it was from before.

The broken trunks of the houses lay sprawled on the ground. The chief's or the biggest house was utterly destroyed. There were even dead remains on the ground!

Most importantly, a figure was taking a leak on the sacred ground of a village; the graves of the previous chiefs! That is considered sacrilege on goblin's terms.

"W-what the hell happened here!?"

Karkas tried to remain calm but after seeing what happened here, that's expecting too much. The chiefs of the past may have some bad history about them but they all lent a hand to bring peace on this land.

As if to answer Karkas' question, the figure who took a piss turned around and walked towards the center of the village. What he saw was the face of his hatred enemy, Raen!

Karkas instinctively tried to kill the figure but his reasoning kept up with him when he saw Raen's face.

Swish.

A noise came from the sides and when Karkas' group looked down; they saw a goblin looking back at them!

Karkas is a Goblin High that boasts an all-around attributes; Strength, speed, and dexterity. It is a good thing however if you look at it objectively, that's all he has. He doesn't have something that makes him special.

In a way, he was a goblin that his only striking point was his blandness. In exchange for that blandness, he was blessed with his mind. He had something up there that the other goblins didn't have.

His ability to concentrate on a single point was amazing yet he could even make lightning-fast decisions on the spot. That is why the reason why he accepted the king's rule without lashing out complaints.

And now, his intuition as goblin and his lightning-fast decision making are going to be tested.

"C-chweee!!!"

"Run!!"

Karkas and the goblin below screamed at the same time. As if to compete, the two groups moved almost at the same time.

"Chase them! That's Karkas!!"

One of Raen's adjutants spoke and while he was speaking, Karkas' group is already making their way out.

"Oy! Is that really Karkas?"

The large black goblin spoke.

"Yes king. There's no way there is another Goblin High here, is there?"

The one who gave the order to chase Karkas replied. He spoke in an almost condescending tone.

"Good! Follow me!"

With that, he took off and chased after the group.

Meanwhile, Karkas was panicking. He expected it somewhat that Raen is already around here but he didn't expect that they'll be in his former village and that caused his mistake.

'Shit! At this rate, the plan the king had in mind will be put to no use!'

The king planned for a blitzkrieg, in a sense that they'll just swiftly attack and then have the king take the head of Raen. Once the head goes out, the body will soon follow.

The situation however escalated to the worst possible scenario. Raen's goblins will bring the attack to them. The element of surprise is no longer a factor.

"They spotted us! What should we do!?"

"..."

The goblins asked Karkas but seeing that he wasn't answering, they became anxious. A mission was given but in this case, it could be said that they failed.

Karkas regained his wits and spoke.

"It is fine! The king wants to attack and our forces are prepared. The distance is quite far but we can still take them!"

Karkas declared but in truth, he was in dismay. This battle was so disadvantageous to them that one mistake will take all of their lives. Done wrong, even the king will die.

'At least if we cross path, we won't have to mind the goblins near Raen!'

"Karkas!"

A voice called out to him. As they were running in full speed without regard for stealth, they already reached the place where they departed from.

There, the king was wating.

"What happened!?"

Karkas kneeled in front of the king.

"I am sorry, my lord! They spotted us!"

"What? Hmmm."

After some moments passed, Karkas voiced his opinion.

"My lord, I believe this is for the better."

"Alright then we will continue."

"Eh?"

Karkas believed that the king held him in doubt. In a lord's point of view, it wouldn't be strange for a subordinate that failed on his mission to suddenly talk about whatever to try save their face.

That is why he was in a conflict between telling him of the benefits of the situation or just shut up about it. And when he did tell him, the king just went on with "Alright."

'H-he trusts me this much?'

Before Karkas could continue his inner problems, Didi appeared behind the trees and called out to the king.

"King! All 90 goblins are here!"

The king turned around and looked at the goblins. He looked at them with pride. These were the people, though the time was short, that he lived with and he also taught them many things.

---I've come this far. Come to think of it, this is my first time fighting with an ally.

Brushing his thoughts aside, he spoke.

"The enemy already knows of our presence. Our attack will no longer be in surprise."

The mood became tense about their plan known to the enemy. After all, the enemy was superior in many ways and the plan that was supposed to be their ace in the hole was shut down even before the battle started.

The king spoke in a powerful voice.

"However! Karkas told me that we are in a better position rather than before! Stay with your groups and do it as you practiced!"

Of course, the king didn't know how the situation was better or something like that. Even so, he still announced it as such.

The king then spread his arms wide as if to hug the entire group of goblins.

"There is no reason to cower in fear! Crush them! Pound them! Trample them! Kill whatever is in front of you!"

The king turned around and raised his fist high in the sky.

"In exchange, I will give you victory."

He pointed a finger towards the unseen enemy.

"All forces, march!!"