(Almost half a day later)

We have already reached the fallen temple and it is true to its name. It is essentially a ruin. At the very least most of the basic structures are still functional. We might need to fix a couple of things, but it could be made into a pretty significant base.

Well, I have more pressing concerns than the location of our present base. the night wolves did not disappoint in their attacks. We have been attacked three times in our journey and it worked out as I had expected. Fighting in the swamp is nearly impossible. Every time I swing my greatsword I can feel myself slipping, it is very hard to stabilize myself in the swamp. The other soldiers had it even worse than me. Soldier three who is the largest of us even slipped and fell so many times during the journey.

Anyway, Soldier three is nearly dead and soldier two has been very highly injured. Soldier seven has been poisoned. And I have lost my left hand in this entire tussle, with no possibility of repairing it any time soon. The combat power of the entire group is at an all-time low. Now, I am worried that the benefit we get from a more defensible position will not be enough.

The first attack on us was when we were removing a leech from soldier six's back. It was one of the magical kind that could not simply be ripped out. If that were to happen, then the soul of the victim would be damaged. Jack had to pass his mana into it to slowly kill it from the inside. Turns put his mana is not exactly darkness mana but a variant of death mana.

They were like ghosts, the way that they suddenly attacked. I had my full focus on my surroundings, expecting an attack. yet, I could not detect them until the very last moment right when they were about to strike. Thankfully we were already expecting an attack and we were ready for them. I don't think they were expecting us to be so ready for their attacks. I think that is why there sent only five wolves to deal with us or these are early scouts who are supposed to tenderize us for the main force of the enemy.

Well Even then, they caught us too suddenly. I lost my left hand from a bite from one of the wolves. It just appeared in front of me, inches from my face, trying to bite my head off. It only hit my arm due to me blocking It instinctively. I also managed to plunge my greatsword into its throat, effectively killing it.

That bite attacks of there's is too scary. They cleanly bit through my armor. My armor is not exactly sturdy, but it can handle getting bit, at most, there would be a few holes. This one was some kind of a mana Infused bite.

Anyway, we managed to crush that group. The night wolves are not very good at long drawn-out fights and it is something that the goblins tend to be pretty good. Still, we could not kill all of them, other than the one that I have killed only another wolf was killed and that was due to Jack's magic. They are like slippery ghosts, the way they handle themselves.

Well, It makes sense, if these guys wanted to retreat, there is little that we can do. Soldier seven and soldier six could try and attack them from a distance, but that can only be done if we can somehow detect them. The only time that they ever came in view was when they were attacking and we could not detect even when they came right next to us. Years of instincts cant help me deal with the limitations of the flesh. With all my magics as a world hopper, these night wolves would have been detected so easily, but most of them are already gone.

The second attack that we faced happen when the group had been resting. I had gone a bit of distance from the group, to repair my left arm. Bone king is a relatively quick ability and I am not comfortable fighting without my left arm. This body is just a bit too fragile. Though, I can feel it growing stronger every time I use bone king. The effect is not as much as I have hoped.

They suddenly attacked the group, but this time we were caught unaware. They tried to ambush jack, but jack already had his shield spell ready and he could stop most of the damage. Thankfully, in this attack, they focussed every bit of their magic on jack. Any of the other goblins would have died under that assault.

They used darkness bolts too rather than physically attacking us. That meant that they could disappear before we could even locate their location. If it was me I would have done the same. Their very first attack had heavy losses. I don't think they will engage directly anymore. Hit and run are safer for them for now.

Honestly, I expected jack to be more effective in a fight. He is a first step being after all. I always did wonder why a first step being even needed the support of my troop.

I am surprised by how fragile that shield spell of his is. I was expecting it to be even more powerful. Granted, I have yet to see the true power of a first step being, so I can't tell if my thoughts are true or not.

Well, I were to get hit by the number of darkness bolts, I would be full of holes. Then again if I were to be full of holes then the elder would have to interfere in the matter and he is stupidly powerful.

The third attack was the most destructive for the group we had been traveling for a very long time and the journey was not easy.it was not even the night wolves. Moving about in this swamp is not in the least easy for us.

Having to be ready for the night wolves did not help in the area. The thing is when Something is stalking you, even her slightest motion makes you very jumpy especially, when the night wolves could be right next to us and we would not know, but keeping that level of vigilance can be very exhausting.

The attack began with an attack on soldier three. One night wolf suddenly appeared behind him and used one of its night bites (self-named) on it. It bit into his shoulder, completely removing a chunk of flesh.

He had taken the full brunt of the attack and you could see that the damage was done. A darkness bolt went right through his chest too, courtesy of another of the night wolf. The other members of the troop had already become alert, allowing soldier two to dodge an attack, but he still ended up getting hit by a darkness bolt. In this entire process, me and jack are not even touched, owing to their previous failure I believe.

Before any of us could counterattack, they had already disappeared.

I quickly reach soldier three, who had already collapsed into the swamp, nearly choking on the water.

Me - soldier seven, take a look at soldier three.

I command soldier seven to apply basic first aid to soldier three. His archery won't be of too much help here and the medics of the groups are actually fighting too.

While he was stabilizing soldier three, one of the night wolves suddenly appears behind him. I react as quickly as I can but that wolf manages to take a bite out of soldier seven, thankfully out of his arm.

Thankfully, the attack was not directed towards any of the soldier sevens vitals, so I attacked the enemy's wolf, but this one is pretty slippery and escaped before I could even hurt it, disappearing again.

Normally I would be chasing the wolf, but I have a liability behind me. I gestured a couple of soldiers, to guard soldiers three and seven.

Once I confirmed that soldier three and soldier seven( soldier seven has lost his consciousness, which we would later discover due to it being some kind of a poison) are safe, I look at the other enemies.

Other than soldier three and soldier seven, soldier one was the one that was attacked the third. He somehow managed to dodge that attack and quite impossibly, plunge a spear into the enemy wolf's mouth, essentially skewering it.

The enemy retreats again, leaving us quite helpless. Well, we're quite close to the fallen temple and we reached it soon enough.

(Meanwhile)

At the same time that the group reached the fallen temple, about half a day's journey from the fallen temple, a massive for made of ice and rocks could be seen. Under this fort, there is a massive network of tunnels.

The ones that want to invade it have a single name to call it, "Ice rock castle". Well, it is not a very intimidating name but to those that invade it, they would find it nearly impossible to conquer.

Anyway, deep inside that fortress, a massive wolf is sitting on a white throne made up of bones. His name Is the night King and this is his throne room. The room is empty, almost creepily so. Only the night king and a couple of night wolves are in that location.

Night king - have you failed, poison fang.

The two night wolves who had been hiding behind in the shadows were pulled forward by the very mana that they were using to hide.

Night king - young brats, do you think that you can hide from me using your weak skills, I am your king.

Poison fang- we dare not to be so arrogant, my lord.

Night king - well, you had only one job, poison fang. You have failed in completing even that. You were supposed to keep the goblins far away from the fallen temple. All you have done is push them even closer to it. Now they occupy the fallen temple. Tell me what should be your punishment.

Poison fang - my lord, there is nothing that I could have done. I tried to kill them before they reached the fallen temple, but the goblins were very strong. We lost three of our brothers against them. They seemed to be too interested in that location.

Night king - well, we will see about that. Where is the night soldier who is supposed to be watching over you.

Poison fang - he has been spying on the goblins. I believe that he shall be appearing in front of us soon enough, my lord.

Night king - you are dismissed until then.

(After about half a day)

In the throne room, there is a deep silence, almost like the last time but this time there are only a couple of wolves standing in our base.

Night king - are the young ones any good, night hunter.

Night hunter - no, my lord. They have very little experience in hunting. Just taking the earlier case. The group essentially lead the enemy to the fallen temple.

Night king - I know that you night hunters don't like to deal with the other families, but we need them for now.

Night Hunter - I know my lord, otherwise I would have already killed the young brats. The goblin troupe was far away from the fallen city. They were going to our present borders with the water wolves, based on their route. Their intent was to cross it. If they had not been disturbed, we would have no need to deal with them. The group messed up and should be punished for their crimes.

Night king - the goblins are getting quite predictable. The goblins always target us within our borders. Well, I can't punish poison fang and his servant, they have already undergone quite a heavy loss, and right now, the other families are on the verge of rebelling. no need to provoke them any further.

Night hunter - my lord, they messed up in such a crazy manner. There should be some form of punishment or the night Hunters will not remain quiet for long. We follow your command, not of the families that you seem to be so keen on serving.

Night king - just do me this one favor. For now, we have to deal with the goblins. For now, just send one of your troops to deal with them. Don't put too much of our troops there. We don't need any attention on that spot for now.