Chapter 63: Count (3)

Dawn gave the order for the goblins to rest, but he didn't give them much time.

He only let them rest for an hour or so before giving the order to set out.

After all, Dawn wanted this to end, and if he wanted it to end, it was better to make it early.

It was possible that uncertain factors would come later if they dragged this out, and Dawn wanted to make sure that even the Blessings of the Battlefield or even a God cannot save them.

And besides, with Didi and the others being noisy when they conquered this village, the third village probably knows what's going on and was on their way to launch an attack.

Will they defend their village, or will they attack Dawn while he was marching?

Either way, Dawn didn't know.

And while they were marching on, Una asked Didi.

He was the sole adjutant of Didi and the vice commander of almost 200 goblins.

Because of Didi's recent achievements, getting two villages on his own, Razta's and Womo's, he was allowed to lead Dawn's whole village.

"Hey, I thought we were going to have a formation? Like who gets to smash the enemy first?"

"Ah, that? I heard the king got pumped up and wanted to crush the enemy head-on! So here we are, in a straight line."

Dawn changed the plan and formation that Karkas planned to use for the final battle.

Initially, the new goblins would be at the front, while Dawn's would be at the back.

This way, Dawn's original and core goblins would be safe while disobedient ones could be destroyed together with the enemy.

All of them accepted it, even Dawn. But, it changed when Dawn imagined meeting head-on with a strong enemy.

He changed it into one where the enemy could see Dawn's whole forces once they looked from their villages.

He spread the goblins into four parts: Front, left, right, and center.

Needless to say, Dawn's goblins were at the center, and at the very center of it was Dawn.

It was to demonstrate his power and might to the village chief that he has yet to meet.

After all, one of the reasons why he came to the south is to look for strong enemies.

Womo was strong, but once Dawn was able to use Aura, he was a small fry that didn't even deserve his time.

Vadu doesn't even need to be mentioned, while Gago could only injure Dawn because Dawn let his guard down.

There were no real fights.

At most, Dawn could describe them as skirmishes.

And now, Dawn expects that his battle with this village would be a fight.

"I heard the king wants to fight one on one? Will the enemy chief accept it? I mean, normally, one would fight with their goblins, right?"

"That's why the king changed the formation. If the enemy village chief spots us, he will get scared. I bet he hasn't seen a force of this size before."

"Ohhh. Now that you mention it...the king really is special!"

The goblins weren't able to organize themselves in a big group or organization.

Even the Clan Leaders of the Five Great Clans could only meet each other.

That was why seeing a force of almost a thousand goblins is rare for anyone.

Being able even to gather these goblins is almost an achievement that is difficult to accomplish.

"Yeah. Anyway, here we are. I can see them already."

"Eh? I thought the distance was still a bit more...? Ah, I see."

Una nodded his head when he turned his eyes towards where Didi was looking.

And of course, since they could see it, Dawn could see it too.

Watching intently at the shadows of the night, Dawn shouted out loud.

"They chose to attack us! HAHAHA!!"

Dawn's hideous laughter resounded out in the whole goblin forces.

****

"Tsk. So we were late."

"That's not just the problem. Those guys are looking for a fight!"

"Can we even win? Those numbers...I don't think we can."

"Who is the leader? Have you seen him?"

"Nope."

8 goblins were talking with each other as they looked at the goblins who were almost within their reach.

After just another minute of walking, the two sides of the goblin will meet.

However, these goblins weren't particularly worried about that.

They were here just to scout the enemy forces and also to ascertain if they could win.

And the answer they came to was...

"Yup, we will never win this."

"What will we do now? Do you think this is something to breeze about?"

"How about we kill the head? That'll make the body useless."

"Do you think we can kill the head of a force of that scale? I think he's even stronger than our chief."

"Really? I mean, the chief can't beat us all, so maybe our strength would be just the same."

"Hmm." All of them hummed as they thought about it.

If their chief can't beat the enemy goblin, then maybe they can.

After all, if they were together, the chief couldn't even fight back.

"Why don't we just surrender? I think that would be good. If that goblin also plans to conquer the other forces further down the south, we would be able to join him as one of his forces."

"That's true...Ah, how about this..."

The goblin then proceeded to tell his plan to his other comrades.

"Hmm. That depends on that goblin."

"Well, considering that he was able to get them, I think it would be fine."

"Yeah. And the backup plan that Third mentioned is good too."

"So, is it decided?"

"Decided!"

And so, the goblins retreated back to their village to get their forces and their chief.

It didn't take long to convince the chief into attacking the enemy forces. To be honest, the chief was already planning to surrender.

However, because of the 8 goblins' persistent persuading, he reluctantly gave up.

The 8 goblins did whatever they could to have the chief go with their plan.

After all, the chief was crucial to their plan.

The preparation didn't last for too much time. They only got their swords and some other stuff before proceeding with their plan.

Then they ran at full speed to get to where they were before. Of course, their forces were behind them, and their village chief was with them.

"So, what you want me to do is to challenge their village chief?"

"Yes, chief. Don't worry, if he dies, you'll be able to get his subordinates."

"Then, what if I die?"

"..."

"..."

The 8 goblins couldn't answer the village chief's question. Why would they know the answer to that? Is what their faces seem to be saying.

"Ah. You fools, you plan to sacrifice me, don't you."

"N-no! Why would we sacrifice our chief?"

"That's right! We'll die to protect you!"

"Yeah!"

The goblins protested as much as they could, but when the chief spoke again, they fell silent.

"Then, we fight together. How about that? We will definitely win if we fight together against their village chief."

When his subordinates didn't answer, the village chief murmured, 'I suspected it.' as he shook his head.

"Do you think he would accept a poison? I don't think so. So, why do you think you could join him after I die?"

"Haaah. I've been sheltering you guys for so long. That's why you don't know the matters about the outside world."

The chief pointed to the goblins in front.

"Their chief would have adjutants like you. You think they would let you in? You're getting too arrogant."

"..."

"Now, let's go and die. We can't stop that no matter what we do. So, it would be better for me if you repent in hell for tricking me."

The village chief added, 'Ungrateful bastards.' but he didn't say it out loud.

"B-but, chief. We will die, so how about we run?"

"Stupid. I'm just kidding. But it's true that you better repent in hell. Cause I don't know who will die."

"Kidding...?"

The goblin who asked that had some hopeful tone. After all, if he was true in the latter part, then in the former part...

"Yeah, if what I'm thinking is right, we have a chance—a big chance at that."

"A big chance? Why do you know?"

"Yeah. How come we don't know?"

"Fucking bastards. That's why you are too arrogant. Just follow me, and I'll at least save one of you."

Then, as if they didn't care about one another, the 8 goblins raised their hands all at the same time as they shouted one by one.

"ME! Save me!"

"I'm strong! You need me chief!"

"No, he needs ME!"

"Fuck off, it's me!"

"I'll kill you all!"

"Huh? You think you can!?"

"Chief! Just let them die and help me!"

"Quiet! The one who will survive is me!"

As he watched this show of betrayal right in front of each other, the village chief shook his head.

Although they were useful when it comes to battles and fights, they were useless in anything else.

They even brought trouble to him at times. So losing them isn't really a big problem for the village chief.

"Now, let's go! You fuckers should just stay quiet!"

"Yes chief!"

And they said with strength as they, with their subordinates, went to confront the goblin army before them.