The rest of the day and the next day were comparatively quiet. Of course, there were some skirmishes between goblins and humans, but both sides were too busy preparing for the next phase of the siege. Stella's forces were improving their own defense while goblins and nagas were regrouping with new reinforcements that started arriving around the middle of the night.

Almost immediately when new groups of fresh goblins arrived, their camps wallowed into the new phase of activity. A glance at them and trees near to the hill was enough to realize that they were preparing a new portion of siege equipment.

Of course, the increase in enemy numbers didn't go unnoticed and some tensions rose inside the camp when members of the 5th special realized that they were still battling against an enemy three times greater than them. They also had around 300 wounded recuperating, and only around one thousand could still fight, not counting around 200 golems and puppets.

However, noticing such an atmosphere Stella and other officers shared the news that another special squad under the commander's sister command is nearby and rushing to help. In short, the news that the help is coming and that they just needed to hold for several more days eased up a lot of pressure, and resolute gazes prepared for death turned for the hopeful ones.

Furthermore, Stella also ordered to create some obstacles in the outer defense perimeters and sent her scout groups from time to time, showing goblins that they shouldn't consider that territory as their own yet.

...

..

.

It was the midnight of the 2nd day since the start of the siege when armored Theo and his group of water porters had a night shift, helping patrol on the walls. By the way, several groups of battle alchemists and enchanters also ended up together with the night shift. So, Theo was busy listening to Edward who suffered from boredom, and was happy to meet his assistant with who he could share many of his stories which he didn't hear yet unlike Maul that already knew them from tooth to tooth.

"When I saw how goblins used their goblin dust yesterday, I fell laughing till I almost ended up dying from laughing," said Edward, looking at Maul, "Maul, do you remember my teacher, he would have blasted them and their ashes for such ineffective use of explosions,"

"Ahh, you mean that one who misled you from normal alchemy and introduced you to his experiments?" asked Maul, raising his brow.

"Fortunately, he had only a year to teach you and showed only the basics," muttered Maul in a quiet tone, "If he spent more time with you, I am sure this crazy guy would have already blasted me in one of his experiments,"

So, Edward didn't hear his words and just nodded and continuing sharing his stories about his teacher and sharing his wisdom about rare alchemy ingredients in the process.

Theo who already got used to that trait of his character didn't say anything and continued listening to him and learning new things.

In short, Theo learned that his teacher was called Deidara, he was the traveling alchemist who stopped for some time in Edward's family house and accidentally showed his skills. As a result, he ended up becoming his personal alchemy teacher for a year, helping him catch Maul - intelligent earth elemental and placed it into his puppet before leaving and continuing his journey.

Edward had a huge sense of gratitude towards his teacher for showing him his mission in this life. Only after many years when he left his family territory did he learn that his teacher was a famous defector of the prestigious alchemy clan on the south and earned a name for himself as "Scorcher" for his burning bombs which compared to advanced fire spells.

Theo and even some nearby people had some fun listening to his stories when suddenly something started to happen in their section of the wall. Scouts with the keenest eyes started running towards towers.

The scout captain, responsible for this tower gave his torch and concentrated his glance in the darkness of the night.

At first, there was no reaction on his face, but his face changed several moments later as he paled in the process looking at his people.

"Enemy attack!"

A loud battle signal was like a bucket of cold water for sleeping, and almost immediately the whole camp that was sleeping woke up and wallowed inactivity.

...

..

.

"Form and prepare, goblins are already here!" cried the scout captain, looking into the darkness of the night.

As if to prove his words, the first groups of goblins atop of the wolves appeared in that range in which not only scouts with keen eyes could see them and started poring them with their arrows while other groups followed after them.

The night storm started!

Unlike before humans didn't let goblin archers freely move on their wolves and continue pouring them with their arrows, their fire mages started burning the fields near the walls, creating smoke and forcing them to hold some distance from walls or approach with a risk of being killed with opponent's arrow.

However, other groups of short goblins behaved a bit different than their comrades and were busy running to the walls with several boxes on their backs.

"Ed, is it what I think?" asked Maul.

"Yes, that's goblin dust, they most likely want to use the same tactics they used in the outer walls," said Edward before starting to laugh.

"Idiots and their race invented the goblin dust, what a disappointment,"

His opinion was also supported by several other alchemists, enchanters, and experienced knights that looked disdainfully at those goblins.

Unlike before when goblins used their goblin dust against the wall that was constructed a day before the attack and more than half of the strengthening work wasn't done yet, this wall was different. Enchanters and blacksmiths spent a significant portion of their time to strengthen and improve it, making their previous tactics almost futile.

...

..

.

The battle continued and with each passing moment, more goblins and nagas appeared, as Edward said their exploding tactics ended up futile, there was almost no significant damage to the walls, and after several failed trials those goblins switched to climbing the walls or pushing siege equipment.

More ladders and mini-towers appeared with each passing moment, and enemies started slowly appearing on the walls.

Sending another icicle, and hiding in the tower, Theo noticed how Leonardo was also attacking goblins and nagas with ice spells while Robin continued to shoot at them. Ryan was killing goblins that stepped on their wall perimeter, helping patrol. In short, Bell, Nora, and other water porters were supporting their forces.

However, now was absolutely different battle than before. There were much more defenders, better positions, and much more qualitative warriors on the defense side, but enemies didn't stop on that and just continued to send new group after another.

Just as their forces finished dealing with most of the enemies at the walls, the first batch of nagas appeared on the walls near Theo's perimeter, led by Hessa himself, and almost immediately problems started appearing.

Those nagas were the elite of the 2.000 warriors he led and it was difficult even for silver knights to pierce through their skin and as a result, enemies started to push back them and capturing walls.

However, the situation changed when reinforcements started arriving and Anthony, one of Stella's adjutants entered into the fierce battle with naga while his reinforcements started dealing with his nagas, wallowing that wall into the fierce battle.

Releasing a relieved sigh, Edward smiled before moving his glance at the Maul.

"Seem like we can still hold, assist while I deal with their siege towers," said "Blasting alchemist", taking several small objects from his space ring, "Let me show them that they should continue their research on goblin dust usage,"

Noticing that his master was planning to join the battle, Maul didn't say anything and just used the earth and iron below his feet in the wall to create a basic broad iron sword and big shield. After finishing his transformation, Maul became taller, black-colored armor protected his body. In short, he became one of the widest and biggest opponents their enemies could meet here. Finishing with preparation, Maul jerked, following after Edward.

Edward looked too attractive in his light clothes of the alchemist, in comparison to armored knights and robbed, but dangerous mages, was quite popular on that wall, and many goblins or nagas considered him as easy prey.

So, there was nothing strange that enemy arrows and many opponents sent several of their attacks at him.

However, his advance was unimpaired because Maul as his protector hid him with his shield or killed approaching enemies with a broad sword or earth spikes he used to deal with irritating goblin archers that aimed at Edward.

In such a way, the duo easily reached that section of the wall where three enemy siege towers were, and where there were more enemies than on other wall sections.

Smiling when Maul dealt with another goblin that wanted to chop his head off, Edward used his battle energy before throwing those small objects right inside the siege towers from which goblins and nagas were coming.

"Don't you think it's an ideal time for my teacher's favorite phrase?" asked Edward, looking at Maul.

Maul was too busy to answer and just continued to defend him.

"Well," said Edward before smiling and mimicking his teacher.

"Art is an explosion," cried Edward in a crazy manner.

Just as he finished his telling his phrase, several big bangs resounded, coming from those towers that immediately started to crumble killing many in the process.

When others saw what has just happened they ceased their actions and looked in Edward's direction just to see a crazy-laughing alchemist that started throwing at goblins and nagas with smaller bombs in his arsenal.

While Maul continued to protect him and also assisted with his earth spikes from time to time.

A shiver passed through the spines of the spectators from both sides and some of them remembered about the infamy of the so-called "Blasting alchemist" in the expedition army that once almost ended up blasting the whole street in the rear camp.

However, many of them were thanking the heavens when they saw how that crazy duo was methodically clearing a section of the wall which they almost lost to the enemies.

Seeing such a scene, Theo smiled when Leonardo looked strangely at him.

"Remind me not to offend your boss when the battle is over," said the youth with clear awe on his face.

Besides, he wasn't the only one who noticed how Edward dealt with enemies. So, Nora also released a sigh before looking at them.

"Seem like we are already late," said Nora, leading a small group of knights and mages that arrived as reinforcements.

"Theo, and others, stay here and assist Edward, we will move further," said Nora, signaling to her people behind her and those knights to move to the next section of the wall.

Without paying any attention to her, Bell unleashed his two short swords and jerked, starting another fight with naga. he used his unique battle energy, slowing its movements and reaction and as a result, it ended up dead when one of his swords pierced its eye socket, killing it in the process.

Ryan also unleashed his spear and hurried to assist Maul that started to have some problems against many opponents crazy for revenge. Even some friendly forces next to him couldn't block their advance on this section of the wall.

Theo, Robin, and Leonardo were attacking their enemies with long-distance attacks, Theo unleashed "Fire snakes" at his enemies, Leonardo used icicles and wind slashes while Robin ordinary arrows, concentrating mainly on the goblins.

In short, everyone here tried their best to stop the enemy while many spells, advanced techniques continued to appear throughout the battlefield on the walls.

...

..

.

The storm continued for the whole night and it was already dawn when new enemy leaders started appearing on the battlefield, starting new fierce battles. Gillo and his groups ended up meeting with Suthan, Gerra met another high-ranking officer and only Linek and Gallus haven't appeared yet.

Stella was looking at the battlefield from the top of the hill watching as the battle continued.

She was wondering why goblins and nagas continued to send their groups in such a foolish manner, sacrificing many of their forces in the process. It was obvious that their next layer of defense was much stronger and it was idiotic to think that their previous tactics would work this time. Besides, she also knew that the enemy had a comparatively good strategist that was able to unite goblins and nagas into the replica of the army, using well their strong sides.

However, the more she thought about that, and the more she saw how new enemy groups perished on the walls, the more she furrowed her brows, pondering about the whole situation.

She already spent several hours thinking, and only now when it was dawn, she finally realized what their enemy was planning when she looked into the disposition of her forces.

Almost all her units were engaging in battle and only the reserves, resting groups, and wounded were left behind.

Those forces behind the walls that have just returned from the active battle were exhausted and were resting. Now, only her reserves were battle-ready and could stop a surprise attack if one appeared on the battlefield while wounded or exhausted wouldn't have enough strength for that.

Remembering that goblins were ambush masters and remembering that enemy tactics were comparatively stupid since the beginning of the night storm, a shiver passed through her spine.

The enemy planned to make a rear attack! The whole night storm was just a distraction to exhaust and distract her forces!

Besides, she forgot that short goblins in the enemy army weren't only famous as good archers, but as good diggers too! They had many secret techniques for how to quickly create tunnels, which they used to mine and connect their underground cities.

Quickly giving orders, a special signal resounded across the battlefield right at the moment when several small bangs appeared inside the 2nd layer and goblins appeared from them.

The enemy dug under the hill and their walls while they were too busy to notice that and appeared in four different locations inside the 2nd layer!

Jumping off the tower, Stella quickly climbed on her horse before moving in a certain direction with around fifty knights, following after her while the rest of her army that hasn't joined the battles yet change their expressions and started regrouping.

...

..

.

Linek and other goblins expected to take enemies off guard when they appeared beneath the ground inside the humans' camp but ended up surprised when they quickly realized that enemy forces seemed to know about their arrival. So, their 1st plan to make a blood bath was automatically canceled, and all the leaders of goblin groups that sneaked to the camp ordered the command to capture the closes gate.

These goblin groups were among the best warriors they had and none of them doubted that they would have any problems, fighting with fewer, wounded, or exhausted opponents.

...

..

.

Hearing a special signal, many expressions of the wounded and exhausted knights and mages changed and many of them prepared certain pills before starting to regroup and sorting and leaving to battle. The reserve groups also started moving all over the 2nd layer, starting the hunt after the goblins and looking for the tunnels they appeared from. It was a speed race!

Besides, there was another signal, dedicated to forces on the walls, and it ordered half of the groups on the walls to join the battle inside the camp, leaving half of their forces on the walls and golems with puppets near to each gate.

...

..

.

With the departure of most of Stella's forces, the battle moved to the inside of the 2nd layer, her forces tried to kill as many goblins as they could, annihilating the tunnels they came from while goblins strived to capture gates to let nagas that were too big for their tunnels and wolf riders inside.

At the same time as battles started inside the camp, the enemy outside increased pressure by sending more groups to the walls.

In short, half of the groups of knights and mages that left to hold back entered into the fierce battle with a much more numeric enemy.

...

..

.

Releasing another fireball and running out of his mana, Theo ended up killing a goblin that almost reached Edward.

"There are too many of them," cried Theo, "We have to retreat to the towers and the most significant wall sections and try to hold them there while our archers and mages deal with enemy groups here,"

Hearing his words, the captain, responsible for this section nodded before gathering his battle energy in his mouth.

"Fall back to towers, and main walls," cried the captain.

Hearing his words, knights and mages, Edward, Maul, and others started to slowly retreat as the mages in the towers sent their advanced spells at the enemies that wanted to chase after them.

As a result, a short time later, the battle moved to the main walls near the towers and now Theo was forced to join into the melee, using his "Bursting step" in combination with his light armor enchanted to increase his speed together with other knights and warriors while mages gathered mana for then next wave of spells.

...

..

.

On the other hand, the situation was different inside the camp, Stella's forces were literally hunting after goblins and killing them.

Goblins never expected that even wounded and exhausted humans would swallow certain pills if the situation became too severe and inflicted serious damage on them.

Even those groups that were lucky to meet only such groups and didn't suffer much ended up stopped in front of the gates because golems and puppets jerked at them when they appeared. While those who were unlucky ended up meeting fresh reserves that made sure to swiftly kill them and continue their hunt.

As a result, Stella's sword and armor were covered in red blood, and now not only she but a small group of knights that followed after her were fully covered in the same color of their commander's hair.

Such a situation continued for two hours, and when the active battle inside the camp started to calm down, a group of goblins led by Linek finished dealing with the group they spend this time fighting to and finally reached the western gate.

The quite damaged golems and puppets, that not only stopped the inside enemy but also fought against the outside enemy, weren't in the best battle condition. So, it wasn't difficult for Linek and his elite tall goblins to quickly deal with them before clearing a group of knights and mages that were in the same condition as golems.

The attack from two fronts changed the overall situation for the knights there and even swallowing the pills didn't help and a half an hour later of the fierce battle when Linek killed their captain, they started to crumble.

As a result, Linek gave a horn signal, opening the western gate at that time when Stella and her subordinates were already approaching the western gate.

Groaning to the fact that she was late, Stella increased her horse speed and a short time later a group of goblins information appeared before her with Linek in the front.

Those goblins raised their spears, ready to meet her group, and moments later the fierce battle between goblins and cavalry started. Her subordinates easily pierced through the 1st four rows and started slowing down only at the 5th while Stella jerked towards Linek to finish their previous duel.

...

..

.

Noticing that goblins captured the western gate, Gallus smiled before giving a horn signal and moments later many comparatively wolf riders and nagas moved out to launch another storm. Besides, he didn't forget to send some groups to finish with resisting human forces on the western side, leaving behind only those responsible for prolonging pressuring other fronts to engage humans so that they couldn't change the situation on the west.

Finally, it was the siege phase when reserve forces from both sides joined the battlefield!