Fixing mistakes from the last battle

Chu left the workshop, hastening his steps towards the new rampart constructed in front of the barn. Residents ran in different directions, either carrying loads of some kind or shouting out instructions clearly. He walked through this ordered chaos, with Lucy in tow.

His face remained grim while suppressing the memories that threatened to overwhelm him with emotions. Ming, after all, held the status in this world like his own brother. They had suffered together, hunted together and so risked their lives together.

Chu never understood what a bond formed between ‘blood brothers’ meant until he arrived in this world.

“Let’s deal with this first, then we will head out.”

He said.

Shedding tears in this world did not invoke pity from any adversary. Rivals and enemies here all wanted to see blood in the end. He had to ensure the safety of the living first, before grieving for the dead.

When he became the leader of this company, the weight of all these lives fell on his shoulders. He did not plan on saving the world, but he did care about his family. Since he migrated here, one of his first goals had always been to have a group of trustworthy friends.

Climbing up the newly built ramp placed strategically in front of the barn, he surveyed the outlying area. With no sign of the goblins, he then turned to Miki who leaned over the wooden banister, squinting at the forest edge. He inhaled some deep breaths and cleared his throat by coughing.

“Status.”

“North Tower ready, Chong and Finn. West Tower ready, Doug and Bon, South Tower ready, Singh and Halter, East Tower now only with one guard, because Rugol and his group are busy helping the others in setting up quickly.”

“Excellent, and the markers?”

The girl double checked by scanning the surrounding grasslands within sight. Spotting the wooden stakes, topped with the dyed red cloth that jutted out in isolation like small islands in the sea of green, she then replied with a thumbs up.

“Horses?”

“Secured inside.”

He then remembered something important.

“Who is out watching the guards of the Prickus House in the south?”

“Dyna. Jill was supposed to head out, but then this issue came up.”

Chu remained silent pondering on the current situation. According to Lucy, the goblins burst out of the cave and rampaged eastwards through the forest. They did not focus on the Prickus camp but chose to steamroll across a wide area of the forest.

If the goblins decided to vent their rage on the humans, then that large wave would certainly sweep towards the farm. Their position as the last farm south of the village meant the goblins would need to crush him on their path to the north and east.

But what about the guards to the south?

Unless someone survived out of the forest, they would not know what happened. There was a high probability that the goblins would have not been aware of them. But if the goblins did attack, he would end up losing scores of horses. He wanted a victory to make Ming proud.

“Send Jill on horseback with a message, if the goblins attack the corral, take out the escaping guards while trying to save as many horses as we can. If nothing happens, then remain until we arrive. It is important that no survivors return to Limerock.”

Miki scampered down the ladder, heading to the Dormitory to find the armed Jill. Unless the threat that materialized proved overwhelming, Chu would not abandon the farm. He did have wagons within the walls ready to rush out of the eastern gate if they needed to escape.

Under the fading sun, the shadows under the trees seem to grow darker and spring alive. As if being compressed, the shadows flickered and then popped like a balloon. Faint high-pitched yells and screams breezed towards his ears, as the trees belched out goblins.

Chu smiled while seeing the scattered horde emerging from the trees, slowly converge while moving briskly towards the single camp. No matter how large an army, they had to come together to assail the farm.

The goblins did not plan on encircling the farm but looked as if they wanted to overrun him from the west. Given their numbers, such an attack seemed understandable. The approaching clusters intended to scale the walls from the north, west, and south. Like a wave battering a sandcastle, they would hit the western wall and then engulf him.

The sight might have shocked him, but the recent news killed the butterflies in his stomach.

Big mistake, they should have spread out from a greater distance before trying to swarm him.

“What do you think?”

Chu asked Miki who had just returned and now scanning the intended battlefield. Below this command deck, stood a few girls waiting patiently to deliver instructions. All of them had either a crossbow or a short sword for protection. His calm demeanor in the sight of the overwhelming enemies rubbed off on her.

“The numbers are concentrated to the west but when they come closer, they will fan out to attack from all around. Before they spread out, they will enter the multishot range. In this scenario, I would wait until the majority fall inside, then bombard the flanks at the north and south.”

She placed her finger to her lip in thought as the goblins began passing the markers indicating entry into the multishot zone.

“Funnel them to concentrate their strike in the west, then wipe them all out with a massive shower.”

The goblins had slowed their advance, with the ones at the back, trotting up to meet the front liners. Like a coiled spring, they compressed themselves, priming for that deadly charge. With this number and method, not even the village would have a chance at surviving.

If Pug had been here however, he might have bolted since his bowels would have warned him of the expected disaster. Twice he had witnessed the way the devils behind those walls reaped lives as if harvesting grain.

Some of the remaining archers from the last attack stepped forward on shaking legs, but the comforting numbers, and the thought of their mighty leader Lord Pocong besides them renewed their confidence. Halfway inside the multishot zone, the farm finally acknowledged the Raiders.

“Attack!”

Chu commanded.

“Attack!”

The words echoed out from the towers and the raised decks that housed a multishot. The north and south multishots opened fire, releasing a volley of arrows into the sky. The arrows flew into the open sky, unimpeded, as they gradually drifted apart. Soon they turned from aiming at the heavens, returning to the earth.

Below the ramparts, Old Hodge busied himself with instructing a crew who handled four movable multishots. A young girl had delivered the message from Miki and waited at his side. He climbed a ladder peeping over the west wall as he guided the firing crew down below in preparation for their strike.

Near the command deck, Rose led a group of three fighters, all outfitted with leather armor and swords. She would provide backup to the small teams of fighters gathered under the respective towers. In the barn, Mrs. Thomas and those who never focused on fighting guarded the second-floor windows with crossbows, ready to lend support.

The Medic station had moved to the ground floor of the barn, as well as the bucket brigade. Ms. May, along with two other women finished their rounds, informing Miki that the wood for the bonfire, as well as the torches placed high on the walls, were checked and ready.

Sue stood below the rampart, scanning the checklist, and informing Miki of any oversight.

The cogs of the farm spun freely.

Chu nearly lost four companions as the price for his shortcomings.

He would not waste this second chance.

***

The horse galloped across the open grassland, churning up the dust on the road to the south. After some time, Jill slowed the animal to a trot, leaving the road. She dismounted and secured the horse to a familiar lone birch and walked towards a small knoll.

A little girl lay on her stomach, looking up from the short grass to glance ever so often over the hill. Clad in a plain dress that hid a suit of leather armor, this carefree looking red-head, seemed out-of-place, yet also seemed to fit naturally along with the lonely landscape.

At the side of this lone human figure out on the plains, a large wolf stretched out, sitting comfortably perpendicular to the girl, with its massive head and paws facing the girl. Jill knew better than to be fooled. Underneath that drooping and sleepy eyes lay a cunning, ever-ready beast, guarding its owner.

“Huh, Jill? How come you’re here so early?”

Dyna asked without turning her head.

Jill dropped to a crouch and crawled up the little incline. Over the grassland, the sounds of neighing floated towards her. She positioned herself on the other side of the two sentries, glancing towards the small building in the distance.

“The Boss sends a message. Goblins are about to attack. If they do strike here, the priority is to kill all the guards. No survivors must be allowed to escape. The second is to rescue as much of the horses as possible.”

She answered while staring at the wooden tiles on the lichen. She glanced at the tile marked friend, pulled to the side, closer to a large paw. Jill realized how Dyna knew she came without even turning her head. Since the start of this operation, Jill had a general idea of this person's character.

“Should we kill them now?”

“No, we wait. Boss’s orders.”

Chu had Jill pair with the little wasp, so as to keep her in check. Dyna moved like her wolves, patient, cunning and coordinated perfectly as a pack. But left alone, she would butcher anything or anyone she considered a threat.

If she had found out about Ming, then the chance of her rampaging through the forest would be high. Only he, Lucy and Sakura could control this devil when she turned angry. Jill as a person with experience in the Capital, and as a grown-up, played the role of the little angel sitting on the shoulder.

***

Lord Pocong raised his head on the shouts coming from the direction of the barn, following the whizzing noise. Looking on he witnessed countless arrows raining down from the dotted sky. Sounds of screams filled the air as the goblins who had strayed to the north and south became caught in the downpour.

"By the Bones, why are there so many human guards here?"

He grabbed the neck of a Bloodwood archer screaming in fear while trying to escape past him. Suffocating the little creature with his larger fingers, he tossed the archer on the ground. He gazed around before roaring

“Stupid fools, can’t you see their attack is limited? Charge like the crow flies. Attack the front wall now before the archers can take aim!”

Lord Pocong commanded his heavy voice permeating through the mass of goblins concentrating in front of him. Many scampered from the sides, leaving the dead or the critically injured who whimpered on the grass.

"Stupid humans, your luck runs out today. Most of my warriors are in this group heading straight towards you... haha!"

“Goblin Tide!”

“Goblin Tide!”

Came the chants as the goblins bolted towards the western gate of the farm. The roar of Lord Pocong, coupled with the shrieking shouts of the morale boosted goblins drowned the gurgling screams of the dying goblins.

The vanguard general issued a roar of victory, as he trotted behind, heroically wielding his large bladed sword. A lifeless head hung from a vine on his shoulders. Before the humans could regroup and fire again, his army would pierce through the front.

“Stupid boars! do human scum think of matching the greatness and intelligence of this General?”

Lord Pocong roared the question, filling the fanatical minds with goblin superiority.

“Goblin Tide!”

“Goblin Tide!”

“Lord Pocong is the greatest... huh?”

A black swarm burst into the air, swooshing towards them. Like a swarm of angry bees in response to the provocation it buzzed, stinging the now concentrated group of goblins now caught unaware.

From the first volley of arrows-- to Lord Pocong strategic reply-- to the thunderstorm created from four multishots, slightly more than a minute had passed.

Less than two minutes to determine life and death.

Less than two minutes to determine the outcome of a battle.