A rain of crude arrows lanced through the air, aiming at the rushing goblin riders in an attempt to deter their charge. Luka gripped his sword and observed the battlefield as the faint whistle of arrows sang in his ears.
'This is good.'
His heart throbbed, pupils dilated as the arrows descended.
"Griggik!"
On the opposite side of the battlefield, the hobgoblin unleashed a rough, feral growl.
Instantly, the two rows of goblin riders raised a small round shield blocking their shoulders, upper chest and head.
Thunk!
The first arrows struck the wood, with a dull sound, swaying as the goblin managed to avoid the deadly shots.
"..."
Luka held his breath, biting his lip upon seeing the goblins suddenly using uniform tactics. A dreadful weight sank in his stomach as the two rows lapped around the wooden walls, only five or six of them falling to his archers.
From the corner of his eye, the men's faces filled with dread as their weapons trembled in place.
'Damn it, the enemy is better than I thought.'
"Do not falter!" He bellowed.
There was no time to dwell on the failed volley or danger. He raised his sword, grabbing one of the heavy rocks he'd had them drag onto the battlement in advance. "Ignore their crafty ways! Grab a rock, toss it and destroy their shoddy defences!"
As the goblin riders came within ten metres of the walls, their foul gurgling voices defiled the wind. They held their blades loosely in their hand, while always protecting their bodies with a shield.
Nevertheless, Luka struggled with a weighty rock, tossing it off the wall.
It flew with a short arc before smashing into the leading goblin's shield, shattering the dried wood and crushing its face. The goblin flew from its mount, and the enraged wolf snarled as it snapped down on the small green creature's head, devouring it.
[Oblivion Absorbed the Goblin's soul]
[EXP: +2]
"Look!"
"Arrrrgh!" The first to throw a rock was Zack. His large figure was able to toss a boulder twice the size of Luka, landing directly on the head of a goblin rider's wolf.
Crack!
The rock crushed the wolf's skull, which tossed the goblin through the air.
"Grrrriiiii!"
The goblin squealed before smashing into the thick, wooden walls. Its body deformed with a sickening snap as it perished.
[Oblivion Absorbed the Goblin's soul]
[EXP: +2]
Unlike usual, he didn't gain more desire from killing goblins.
But the fading glow of his sword regained its brilliance, and a hot, comfortable current gushed through his muscles and limbs.
The side effect of renewing his [Will of the Forsaken] buff.
"All of you, prepare for battle! Archers fire at will, Vaun with me! Galatea, prepare for melee combat! Gerard, I leave the knights to you!"
The amount of experience exploded as his men began to attack.
[Oblivion Absorbed.....]
[EXP: +24]
A rush surged through Luka's body, like pure electricity filled his veins as he grabbed rock after rock, sometimes hitting, other times missing... he watched the goblin riders bypass their main wall, rushing for the less guarded western and eastern gates.
He jumped from the wall, floating through the air until Furia snorted below him from under the walls. Her muscular back tensed the moment he landed, bouncing before taking her reins and snapping them.
Galatea followed behind him, mounting her beautiful white steed.
"Luka!" She called out to him.
Her voice was half drowned by the adrenaline-filled shouts of the men on the walls.
Vaun gave the archers one final instruction before elegantly hopping down the stairs and mounting his grey horse.
.
.
.
As the trio flew towards the eastern gate, Iris launched a spear, penetrating a goblin rider's shield and face from atop the wall. "Brea! The number of enemies is thinning, they're aiming for the weaker gates!"
She spotted horses riding from the north wall, out of the corner of her eye and gritted her teeth, unable to believe she was slower than Luka.
"That idiot's rushing to the east. We should send some troops to the west!"
Brea raised her brows before nodding with a faint smile. "Yes, My Lady." With a small bow, she scooped Iris off her feet and leapt from the wall. They landed with a dull thud, which revealed Brea's thick, muscular legs spread in a horse stance.
"Brea! Don't be so reckless in the future... hurry!"
Similar to goblins, the Amol tribe mounted wolves, their lower gravity and more agile movements suiting battle in the forests much better.
"Follow me! We cannot let this place fall."
Behind her, Brea and the other warriors grinned at their princess.
This was an uncharacteristic action.
But they remained silent.
.
.
.
Luka reached the eastern wall moments later, and the lack of human voices sent a tingling chill through his spine. 'The guards are missing...' He scanned the area, trotting ever closer while listening for the faintest of noise.
Thunk!
"!!!"
His eyes widened, and he kicked Furia's sides. "Yah!"
"Luka?!"
"My Lord?"
The pair rushed towards the gate, the strange sound growing louder, as he hopped onto the battlement, dashing to the wall.
He yelled back, "They're cutting down the walls! Hurry, we must stop them!" Luka reached for a rock, but found nothing... the people guarding this side must've slacked off. A surge of heat gathered in his chest when thinking of such a betrayal.
"Damn it..."
His heart pounded faster with each strike as their axes gnawed and ripped through the makeshift walls. He counted twelve goblin riders that dismounted to hack at the walls while another six held back, to support them whenever ready.
The clang of Galatea's armour came from behind him, along with her breathless gasps as her heavy armour took its toll on her young physique.
"Luka, what should we do?"
Galatea's voice, although rough, showed no signs of fear or confusion. She stared at him with her vivid, ice-blue irises, focused on him.
"Will you follow me, even if it seems stupid and suicidal?" He asked, catching his breath.
The rush of experience continued as his knights faced off at the north walls. Nor did he know of Iris and her attempts to hold the western wall either.
A sense of pressure ground down on his shoulders, yet Luka felt elated.
Even more so, when he saw Galatea taking a knee, her sword planted with both hands, clasping the blade.
"I will follow you into the depths of hell, My Liege."
'Why...?
No, why or how doesn't matter! I must use everything I have.'
He couldn't think of a reason, but wouldn't reject it either!
"Bring those men to the gate and upon my signal, ride out with them and join me!"
"W-What do you mean?!" She asked cocking her head to the side, ever scanning and observing his expression with those innocent shining eyes.
Luka, however, stood atop the sharp wooden log with a single foot when he glanced back at her with a wide grin. "Of course, I am going to hunt goblins!"
"-WAIT!"
Her scream reached deaf ears as he launched himself off the wall, with both hands raised, only the distant goblins noticing his attack.
"Gikiki!"
However, nothing else mattered to Luka.
Because all he saw and heard was the nostalgic voice of a certain system.
[You have Levelled up!]
[Gained 10 Bonus Attribute Points]
[Sin Energy Increased: 35 -> 45]
[Skill Awakened: Lord of the Fallen Dormant --> Active!]
With all of his heart, he screamed, 'TEN PONTS TO STRENGTH!'