I was scanning the cavity under the dragon. Not really. Was looking for more loot. I think I got it all.
No.
He sighed dramatically.
Your pain must be intolerable, I said, raising my arms pointedly to display the layer of leeches all over me.
There were no scales left behind. Instead, I gathered a few of the broken crystal pieces and placed them in my inventory. I imagined I could later find some interesting use for something that negated spells around them. But as soon as the mana sponges entered my inventory, I was suddenly overcome with a sense of light-headedness. I struggled to expel the shards from my inventory and felt better as soon as they were out. It looked like I wouldn’t be carrying any of them with me.
Let’s get out of here. I turned back toward the tunnel.
You’ll see.
I waded through the tunnel, taking extra caution when I had to squeeze through narrow sections to avoid damaging the engorged leeches. I kept my eyes peeled until I found a niche that had a relatively small amount of crystal formations.
I repeated my trick with the void crystals, inhaling the mana, and quickly disengaged six of the manaleeches, gently placing them on the ground. Even though the tunnel wasn’t as swarmed under as the chamber, there were still plenty of leeches around to take the place of those I removed. I moved some distance away from the niche, bent down to pick up a loose rock, and threw it inside.
The ensuing explosion caused a shower of stone and crystal to spray out of the niche, clearing the immediate area of the annoying leeches. I hurried into it and saw my plan had worked; the explosion had broken away the crystal formations, leaving normal stone walls behind.
I had to expend a level 200 void crystal next – the lowest one I had remaining – to replenish my mana. I wasted no time in pushing it out of my body, trying to cast teleport. I could still feel the draw from the crystals outside the niche, but they were far enough away for me to channel sufficient mana into the spell to trigger. I was whisked away by the shadows, leaving the infernal prison behind.
***
It was already morning when I appeared out in the open, next to the original mobile shrine that was near the first outpost we’d built. I’d purposely teleported to this deserted area since I knew what I had to do next.
Channeling my rapidly draining mana, I severed the leeches’ link, starting with those around my face, and hurled them away from me. The manaleeches exploded with powerful detonations, showering me with dirt and gravel. I took some minor wounds but ignored it all as I continued to rid my body of the devilish creatures. My mana had nearly bottomed out by the time I yanked off the thirtieth leech. I prepared to use up another void crystal when I finally felt a trickle of mana pour into me.
I grinned, finally allowing my lips to part. The number of leeches had dwindled enough so that my natural mana regeneration, strengthened by the proximity to the mobile shrine, was strong enough to overcome the drain. I continued hurling the leeches away from me, and with each one gone, my mana surged back up faster.
I finally threw down the last leech, feeling the many puncture wounds beginning to heal, bringing my health back to full.
“Chief, is that you? We heard explosions and …”
I looked up at a group of hobgoblins that was closing in on me. “Orrq. Yes, I had to get rid of some—”
What? N—
Oh, what the hell, I thought. “Sweaty … balls … of suction.”
The hob’s jaw dropped as he stared at me.
Remember, you owe me for that, I said, fighting down a smile. A big one.
“So.” I turned back to the hob. “Any more problems from the bandits?”
The lieutenant shook his head. “A group of them tried coming down again yesterday, but we spotted them before they made it halfway down the ravine.” He cracked a grin at me. “We set a fire at the bottom, and it acted like a chimney. I think half the bandits died from smoke inhalation. The rest fled.”
I chuckled. “Good work. Keep it up.”
He brightened. “Yes, Chief.”
“Well then, I’ll see you later.” I teleported the short distance away into the outpost’s temple and stepped through the portal and back to the army.
Interlude: War Games
“That was humiliating,” Malkyr muttered as the beaten army trudged back to their base along the border.
“There’s no shame in retreating in the face of a superior enemy,” Sullivan said. “We can’t win every skirmish. We knew in advance the odds were stacked against us.” He turned to the goblin beside him. “You’ve handled our retreat admirably well, General. I noticed how the tanks covered our rear while the healers brought our injured back up. Not a single soldier was left behind.”
“Savol serves Chief and Princess,” the goblin replied. “Me make them proud.”
“Speaking of our green overlord,” Kyth said, “has anyone seen him?”
“I messaged him a few minutes ago,” the army strategist said. “He said we should stay back and recover until his return.”
“Something tells me we’re not going to do that,” Malkyr said.
Sullivan nodded. “We weren’t prepared for the enemy’s strength and tactics. But I have their measure now. We’re not going to sit around like good kids waiting for daddy to come and bail us out.”
“But—”
“Hell yeah, let’s bring on the pain,” Ragnar cheered.
Sullivan ignored both players and addressed the soldiers. “General, gather our bosses. Lieutenants, reform the divisions and have the archers restock on arrows. If we still have any wounded, get the healers to bring them back to full health. I want everyone to rest up and prepare to fight. We march out as soon as the sun sets.”
“Damn, he’s kinda hot when he takes charge like this,” Misa whispered to Raystia – loud enough for everyone to hear.
Sullivan’s jaw clenched, ignoring the comment. “Any questions?”
“Sir,” one of the goblin adepts piped up, “some of the soldiers have lost limbs and were able to survive – thanks to our many healers – but they can’t fight.”
The strategist’s face clouded. “Can we do anything to help them recover?”
The adept shook his head, but a growling, menacing voice made him freeze. “There is another way.” An emaciated gray-skinned creature stepped up. “What good are soldiers who can’t fight? Sacrifice them on the master’s altar; their deaths will bring him the glory they can’t provide in life.”
The nearby players murmured indignantly, but it was Savol who said, “No. These are my soldiers. Savol will take care of it.” He drew a sword from his cape and stepped away.
“That’s not ominous at all,” Malkyr said before throwing a suspicious look at the demented priest. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought the chief grounded you.”
The ex-dwarf snorted. “I obey the master’s will. The hi
gh priest’s authority is … transient.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Instead of a reply, Kuzai muttered a short incantation and disappeared.
“Creep,” Malkyr said before turning to the strategist. “So what’s the plan, man?”
“We’re going to split into four divisions,” the player said. “We’ll surround their settlement, draw them out, and force them to spread out.”
“We’ll need to keep loose formations to avoid being devastated by their hurlers,” Hoshisu said.
“Exactly,” Sullivan said. “We took a beating before because we didn’t know what we were up against. A prepared force of five or six hundred should be able to handle several bouldite squads. We’ll use a hit-and-run tactic, keep the soldiers rotating while the archers focus their fire on specific targets. We’ll draw them out in smaller groups, and each division will only engage if their commander thinks they can win.”
“We’re still going to lose a lot of soldiers, kid,” Kyth remarked.
“I know, but it was always a given. I know we can do this.”
Ragnar snapped his vicelike claws. “Sounds like fun.”
***
The evening was still young when the GreenPiece army arrived at the site of its former defeat.
“Holy shit,” Malkyr said when the army came within viewing distance of the outpost.
The building had been reduced to rubble with only the obsidian foundation still relatively in shape, though the stone itself was cracked in many places.
“Alright,” Sullivan said. “As we planned, split into four divisions. Savol, take one. Julee will be your liaison. Malkyr, Hoshisu, Kyth, you each take another. Circle the ravine and be ready to engage or run at a moment’s notice. I’ll take care of coordinating the attack, so pay attention to your messages. Wolrig, you’re with me.”
“You sure you want to take only 60 Ogres and a hundred kobolds?” Malkyr asked doubtfully, staring at the group of crossbow-wielding brutes standing behind the strategist.
Sullivan nodded. “It makes the most tactical sense. I know we can do this. Now go – and good luck.”
The army broke off into four large groups, leaving behind their strategist along with a few dozen Ogres and kobolds.
As planned, the divisions spread out, keeping a good distance from the ravine that housed the bouldite settlement as they closed in on it from different directions.
“Alright,” Sullivan said, turning to address the troops behind him. “Our turn. Try to be as stealthy as possible.” He led the way forward, cringing at the large brutes’ every step.
They soon arrived at the destroyed walls of the outpost and climbed over the piles of rubble, finding just enough space to stand clear. The Ogres dumped the loads they were carrying, and the ground was soon filled with piles of wood, metal, and stone bricks.
“Wolrig?” Sullivan asked.
The constructor narrowed his eyes as he examined the structure. “We have brought enough material. Restoration can be rushed.”
“Good.” Sullivan let out a sigh of relief. He opened his message interface and typed in a single word.
***
‘Begin.’
Julee stared at the message for a few seconds then turned to the goblin next to her. The 500-strong group they were leading had snuck next to the far side of the ravine north of the bouldite settlement. “Sullivan told us to start.”
“Savol understands,” the general said. With a few quick signals, the force under him started to advance; Ogre Mages led the way in, followed by the other melee units, while the scouts and ranged units hung back to open up gaps.
The bouldite settlement came into view below them. Having taken out the enemy’s patrols, their group wasn’t detected until they reached the very edge of the ravine.
Then a roar pierced the night and a horde of bouldites streamed out of their isolated stone lodgings, charging up the ravine.
“Fire!” Savol shouted.
The scouts unleashed their arrows, shooting straight down.
Dozens of hurlers instantly retaliated, sending heavy boulders flying up toward the invaders. The high-level monsters’ range and accuracy were incredible, and every stone that landed instantly killed a scout. But this time, the boulders didn’t sail through tight formations. The soldiers’ loose ranks took care of that problem. The ten forward-facing Ogre Mages raised their mana shields, intercepting some of the fire. A boulder hit a shield, making it flicker out of existence, then another one followed, throwing the heavy Ogre back.
The giant spellcasters were quickly overwhelmed by a hail of boulders, but despite being outleveled, their boss status made them tough enough to survive the volley. The division’s 30 goblin healers leaped over their giant fallen allies, their magic quickly restoring them to full health.
Savol nodded in approval. They’d lost over 20 scouts, but none of the Ogres were killed. In return, the scouts’ return fire had brought down four bouldites. The rest of the enemies, over a hundred strong, were rushing up the ravine walls.
“Retreat!” he shouted. “Fall back!”
***
Sullivan listened intently to the sounds of battle far below. “Sounds like it’s time. Wolrig – do it.”
The goblin constructor nodded, shut his eyes, and concentrated.
The outpost’s devastated walls suddenly sprouted a ghostly visage of the completed structure. Then the piles of rubble and new building materials flew up by themselves, filling in the gaps, quickly restoring the building to its former glory.
“To the battlements!” Sullivan bellowed and started running up the stairs, following his own orders.
The lumbering Ogres roared and ran up behind him, holding their giant crossbows at the ready.
From his higher vantage point, the army strategist was able to observe the entire battleground.
On the far side of the ravine, a large force of bouldites was closing in on Savol’s division, but the intelligent goblin had already ordered the retreat, baiting the enemy away.
Sullivan turned his gaze closer. Two more divisions were closing in from either side of the outpost, while the last one, Malkyr’s group, was coming in from the far side, opposite the general’s force.
Sullivan brought up his messaging interface and quickly typed several instructions.
‘Malkyr, start shooting down the ones chasing Savol.’
‘Kyth, there’s a squad heading your way – engage.’
‘Hoshisu, the path is clear. Take the ravine walls and provide cover for the others.”
The show was on.
***
“Archers, fire!” Malkyr shouted, pointing at the horde pursuing Savol’s forces. Two hundred scouts reacted at once, raining arrows on the faraway enemies.
A group of 50, half of the main force, split away, heading back to intercept them.
“Spread out, watch for the boulders,” Malkyr yelled. “Ogre Mages to the front, melee units, stand back; be prepared to hit in waves.”
***
The goblin general ran next to his men, fleeing the pursuing giants.
“They’re splitting up,” Julee cried out.
The goblin grinned. “Savol says stop!” he commanded. “Soldiers, spread out, engage!”
The fleeing soldiers instantly turned around, keeping perfect ranks. Ogres moved to intercept the now much smaller force while the scouts peppered them with arrows.
Five hundred against 50. It wasn’t great odds, but the goblin general was going to take it.
***
“Looks like Malkyr and Savol’s groups have engaged,” Sullivan muttered. “Damn, they should have waited to fight smaller groups.”
He glanced back toward Kyth’s division, which seemed to have drawn most of the remaining tribe. Over a hundred bouldites were roaring after them hurling boulders, each one snuffing out a hob’s life. Even the Ogre Mages – bosses who wielded magic protection – couldn’t hold back the barrage. Two of the brutes were
already dead despite the mana shield, having been struck by several boulders at once.
Kyth was ordering his forces to retreat, Sullivan noted. That was good.
His eyes lit up as he noticed something else and quickly typed a message.
‘Hoshisu, 30 are approaching your position from the west. Engage.’
***
“Damn, damn, damn,” Kyth cursed as boulders crashed all around his fleeing group.
They were running at a slight curve around the distant outpost. The loose ranks the soldiers had been keeping were the only thing that saved them from being massacred. But even then, every thrown boulder was claiming a life and they couldn’t increase the distance. If allowed to go for much longer, his entire force would be killed without being able to retaliate.
“New orders,” Kyth bellowed. “I need 50 tanks to hang back and stop the pursuit.”
Fifty hobs wielding shields instantly stopped running, forming a loose line at their back, bracing themselves for the bouldite charge.
A volley of boulders turned half of them into bloody mists, but the others got into melee range. The hobs fought valiantly, their enchanted weapons scoring tough, rocklike skins, but they were like children poking at a bull with toothpicks. The bouldite smashers and a lieutenant led the charge, beating the hobs into bloody pulps within seconds, but the objective had been achieved. The hobs’ sacrifice allowed their main force to put enough distance between them to get out of boulder range.
The 150-strong bouldite force kept on the pursuit for a few more moments before deciding to disengage and get back.
A tall, shining fortification stood in their way.
***
“Fire!” Hoshisu shouted, drawing her bow.
Over 200 archers rained arrows down on the 30 charging bouldites. Several boulders were hurled back, but the lives they claimed weren’t enough to thin out the incoming volley of arrows.
Life Reset: Salvation (Life Reset - Neo Book 6) Page 26
