Chapter 38: Second Offensive

It was busy everywhere. Dwarven soldiers and engineers are working day and night to prepare for another offensive.

Of course, my skeleton workers work day and night, too, Literally.

Dwarven Engineer: "Oiiii! How is it going over there?"

Dwarven Soldier: "We're good to go!"

Dwarven Engineer: "Hurry it up and load the siege weapons on the carts!"

The dwarves had this mana powered pushcarts. They lent it to us and made carrying siege weapons into battle a lot easier.

We were already preparing for the second engagement of the Seventh Goblin War.

Everyone was lining up in neat formations. Right now, I had around 800 soldiers.

Two hundred of them were Skeleton Dwarves, and the others were made up of various skeletons.

The Bone Behemoths were still being restored since most of the bones in their bodies were broken.

My army looked professional now. They wore matching steel armors made by our new blacksmiths.

The bones we got from our journeys before were also raised now.

We used to use them to restore our bodies if our bones break, but I believe we have more than enough spare bones.

We also got more mages from the goblin's side. When we raised their mages from the dead, they were still able to cast spells, so it was great since we have few mages before.

We are waiting outside Warg because right now, King Wargh is also preparing his army for battle.

A few minutes passed, and you could hear the marches of a thousand soldiers. More soldiers came from their capital just a few days ago because, after the news of the successful first battle, a lot of recruits showed up.

The dwarven soldiers came out in a line formation and went to our side.

We would discuss the operation for the last time before we go out to battle.

King Wargh: "Nice weather, isn't it, Lord Idmon?"

Idmon: "(t)It is."

King Wargh went to us, still carrying his weapon Diamond. He also had Master Urah, and Granpa accompanies him as his royal guard.

Urah: "Hello, Lord Idmon."

Idmon: "(t) Hi there, Urah and Granpa"

Granpa: "Hmmph."

Now that we got the greetings done. For these kinds of discussions, I improved my to be able to deliver messages in a group.

Idmon: "(t)So, King Wargh. Are we still going through with the two-way attack on Gargan?"

Gargan was the original capital of the Goblins. It was a big fort made up of stone and wood. The fort was not well made, but it housed at least ten thousand goblins.

King Wargh: "Yes, unless they grew a brain and had some other plans for us... I know this is the best strategy."

Idmon: "(t)I agree."

Indeed. Attacking from two fronts is a good strategy. The first army will draw out the enemies by harassing the enemies from afar.

They don't have a lot of ways to shoot back when fired from afar. They will send their hordes towards the first army.

Then after that, the second army shall storm the fort and kill everyone left inside and after that, regroup with the first army to rout the remaining enemy forces.

Idmon: "(t)The Searcher, any opinion on this matter?"

The Searcher was one of my advisors now. His extensive knowledge makes his advice much more reliable.

The Searcher: "Don't forget the possibility of a third army and what moves will they make next. It could make your whole operation fail."

Idmon: "(t) Noted. I got that one covered. Bon, Lina?"

Bon: "Nothing as of this moment."

Lina: "None, Boss."

By the way, Lina's been glowing blue for a while now. Is that the new spell? Something like a mantle made of ice?

Also, I saw her talking to Ran sometimes. Even though Ran never says a word. Weird.

King Wargh was looking at me closely.

Wargh: "Hmm... You're glowing, Lord Idmon."

Idmon: "(t) Huh? Ah, yes. It is part of my evolution process."

Wargh: "You'll evolve into something stronger!?" King Wargh seems concerned.

Idmon: "(t)Oh, it's not that big a difference. I might grow taller or become more buff. I wish."

Wargh: "Oh, okay..."

I don't know why he is so worried about that. I got a question in mind. I'll ask The Searcher later.

The evolution was delayed since I used a lot of energies at the raising of the dwarven heroes. In this battle, I would stay behind and issue orders from afar.

If needed, I'll go in and deal some physical damage.

Wargh: "If there's nothing else, Let's move out!" King Wargh shouted.

Everyone: "Yes!" Everyone said in unison.

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While we were traveling to reach our position according to the plan, I asked The Searcher some questions.

Idmon: "(t) The Searcher, I've been wondering. I know the phenomenon for humans because it was mentioned in the books. It is described as a god-given gift given to them to beat their oppressors."

He floated near to me and nodded.

Idmon: "(t)How about the dwarves? How do they grow stronger?"

The Searcher: "It's the same, but the timeframe is different. Dwarves live a lot longer than humans. The downside is that it takes them years to normally whereas a human can in a month."

Idmon: "(t)Oh... So, strong dwarves are usually the oldest ones, then?"

The Searcher: "Yes."

Idmon: "(t) And about the , It's absurd. Do the books that you've read about it have the details?"

The Searcher: "Yes. And I have memories and records when I was alive. I also had occasions where I in the span of my life as a human."

Idmon: "(t)Oh..."

The Searcher: "As for their effects. Yes, they are true. Wounds are instantly healed. I could remember having my leg cut off when I was a human. It grew back after I leveled up."

Holy-

The Searcher: "Stats increase too. They have an overall increase and also given To put it in a specific stat. They can opt to be a Strength-based human or an Intelligence-based. Hybrid ones also exist."

He kept talking on and on. How overpowered is this level up thing?

The Searcher: "Lastly, their magic energies or also known as mana, is fully restored. Abnormal statuses are cured. They can also class change if they reach a certain level. They can evolve in the middle of a battle, which is the most dangerous perk they have if you ask me."

He had to stop to say this line, to emphasize the importance of this point.

The Searcher: "And they can choose what class they want to evolve. Unlike us."

Idmon: "(t)Hmm. That's the worst. So, how do they get these phenomenons to happen?"

The Searcher: "Experience points."

Idmon: "(t) How do they get that?"

The Searcher: "From what we have in the records... It's basically everything that involves human effort. Fighting, Studying, Smithing, Teaching, Crafting, Hunting, Fishing, and even just Writing. There's a lot more, but I think you got the idea."

We stop for a moment to look at where we are right now.

The Searcher: "We still got hours so... For the Fighting option, there are unique factors. One is the stronger the enemies, the higher the experience. Another factor is that if they train, they tend to get experience too. Sometimes, great humans have titles that give them a perk that allows them to get more experience when killing a certain race of monsters or a certain number."

Idmon: "(t)I see. Thanks for the lesson, The Searcher."

The Searcher: "No problem! I love getting new info, but I also love getting questions!"

Idmon: "(t)I do have one more concern..."

The Searcher: "What is it, Milord?"

He made a bowing gesture while floating.

Idmon: "(t)It's about Lina, why is she glowing like that? Is that a spell you know about?"

The Searcher: "Oh... I'm not sure about that one. I haven't encountered a lot of Banshees. Even back then in the time of the Skeleton King."

He tried using .

The Searcher: "We do have some records that the phenomenon of a monster glowing blue is for evolution. These records are for Ice Giants, though, which are located in the north region. The record was also from hundreds of years ago. When the North and the South were still trading."

Idmon: "(t)Okay..."

So, it wasn't a new spell.

The Searcher: "Is there a problem, Milord?"

Idmon: "(t) Nope. Let's move on."

The Searcher: "Ahhh... Curiosity! It is really exciting, is it not!? What I like most is discovering people's secrets and using it against them! The thrill of discovery and blackmail is- Amazing!!!"

I let the last remark pass by me. He's weird like that.

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While we're traveling, I used this time to talk to the Dread Heroes.

Idmon: "(t) Hello there."

Dread Captain: "Ah. Greetings, Lord Idmon."

One of them spoke for the group. I appointed him as the Dread Captain

because of that.

Idmon: "(t) I'll just tell you guys straight. I want to know who do you pledge your loyalty to? Since you've been given free will. It's okay if you want to serve the Dwarf King."

Dread Captain: "We pledge our loyalty to you, Lord Idmon. The main reason is that we have a lot of regrets back when we were still alive. Now we have a chance at fixing those things before we go back to eternal rest."

Idmon: "(t) I understand."

I accepted their reason. I subtly removed the spell on them that I could've to use anytime to order them.

I've got to trust my soldiers if I want them to trust me.

For me, this was the biggest mistake of the Skeleton King. He should have connected with his army more, improved it.

Maybe, just maybe. The Skeleton King could've won the war.