Connor's POV
Luckily, I arrived before the fight began, but even from here I could see that the others weren't well. Pale, breathing heavily, and trembling, even from here I could sense something too.
Some hint of something unnatural, something that shouldn't be here, not in the same "normal" way things are in the Ordeal. It was something else... from the other side.
In the world, there are gods and belief in them. There used to be a religion, but for some reason it was largely forgotten. Now, the closest thing to a religion is the teachings of the Great Temple.
And one of its main teachings is how death is a respite for those who lived. And why violating death is almost as great a crime as any vile act against the living.
With a dead person removed from their neglect, they become nearly unstoppable, except by a few specific methods to return them to earth. But until then he, or they for that matter, would continue to cause more death in retaliation for his deranged disregard.
That's why the teachings also talk about identifying those who disturb them so they can be hunted down and eliminated before they cause too much damage.
But would I know what these methods were, or what the people who do them look like?
Obviously not, but I'm sure a certain person in our group would. The only thing I could do was try to help as best I could with my bow.
Nocking the arrow, I activated the ability I gained right there in the Ordeal, [plasma shot], and sent it toward the goblin/meat puppet closest to Max. My shot was accurate, and the goblin's head disappeared and its body fell, like a puppet with its strings cut.
The sound of both the small explosion and the goblin falling to the ground seemed to wake the others; they quickly recovered and began to attack. However, it quickly became clear that even with an attack, they wouldn't go down easily.
Cuts to the arms, torso, or even the neck did not make them retreat, they only slowed them down, and if they got within range of the short swords, they were cut brutally, and unexpectedly quickly considering the speed at which they moved.
The only blows that stopped them were those to the head. But even in this state, the goblins still demonstrated enough intelligence to recognize their own weak point, always dodging or blocking head strikes somehow.
'If things continue like this, we won't lose, but we won't win either. But they won't make things easy for us.'
Just as I thought this, I heard the howls of mounted goblins coming from the flanks.
'What?! The only gates were the ones we were throwing stones at.'
My bewilderment didn't change the facts; soon, several mounted goblins appeared from the trees. Not quite several, just a few, maybe at least 10 on both sides, but during a battle where you're focused on the enemy in front of you, any attack from the sides is bad.
They didn't attack us, however, and went straight to our rear, perhaps trying to thin our numbers or simply cut off our escape route. I don't know, but either way it would be a huge problem for us.
Fortunately, we were with someone who already had experience dealing with large-scale battles, including attacks from the sides.
As the mounted goblins approached the group behind, already tired of throwing boulders, a loud, slightly hoarse voice shouted.
–RISE NOW!!
Mr. Andreas shouted, and instantly some of the noncombatants pulled a hidden rope, and wooden stakes rose from the ground, immediately impaling almost all of the mounted goblins.
Taking advantage of the confusion of those who hadn't been caught, two of Mr. Piqval's subordinates quickly dealt with them and ensured the safety of the others.
Mr. Andreas had already anticipated an attack on the group at the back. So he used the logs that hadn't been used for the "carts" or "rails" to make them.
He used Mr. Piqval's non-combatants, who had no experience building anything, to make them and hide them in the ground (actually, they just made them and threw them on the ground, and since it was night, they believed the goblins wouldn't notice).
Mr. Piqval initially disliked the idea, thinking it would expose them to unnecessary danger, but it turned out just as Mr. Andreas expected, and there was indeed an ambush. Even with this small amount, the goblins' strength must have diminished, but we can't be happy just yet.
The tattooed goblin who revived the bodies is still inside the village, along with the weed-wielding goblin who can heal the goblins. If we don't deal with them quickly, we won't win.
Running and firing arrows, I quickly went to Mr. Andreas to explain what I had seen.
********************
Andreas' POV
'It's always worrying when things go exactly as expected.'
I've heard repeatedly from superiors, colleagues, and even subordinates that I have a tendency to think negatively. More often than not, my superiors always say that things going exactly as you predicted only proves that you have good instincts, good judgment, and a shrewd mind (as well as a certain amount of enviable luck).
'Still...'
Something just doesn't add up. If I have a good instinct, then that instinct is telling me something bad is just around the corner. And at least on this point I am forced to agree with the others that I repellent have a good instinct.
Shortly after we "opened" the main gate to the goblin village, a group of mounted goblins performed as I had predicted and were quickly eliminated. It couldn't have been more than two seconds after their bodies disappeared that young Connor appeared with a serious expression on his face.
As soon as I saw that expression, I knew my pessimistic instinct was right once again. But it wasn't that hard to imagine something like that; even from almost 40 meters away from the fight, I could see the wounded goblins fighting ours.
Wounds serious enough to incapacitate them, but they continued to move with purpose in their bright, cold eyes. I can't say I know magic in depth, but I can say I know a little from my threats throughout the kingdom, even outside sometimes.
But things are worse than I expected.
According to what Connor said, the main goblins left the main house and they were responsible for this. Two of them, mainly one healed the "less injured" goblins and the other reanimated the dead.
'Tsk, things aren't going to look good for us.'
The surest strategy is the most obvious: eliminate both goblins and then go after the goblin chief, as Connor calls him.
'But that's easier said than done.'
Thanks to the ball I threw with the help of Piqval's mages, not only was the main gate destroyed, but it was also widened. The debris from the boulders in front was also sent back, likely hitting a few more goblins.
But even that didn't help much. With each passing moment, more revived goblins and some healed ones appeared, the revived ones forming a wall that advanced and attacked, while the coradosais behind them threw stones and even arrows with their hands.
In the mere moments that Connor arrived to give me the report, the entire entrance was already swarming with goblins.
If things go on like this, not only will we tire ourselves out. But we may also have to deal with the others creatures of the Trial and possibly more goblins loose here, and perhaps even the Baron's forces, who obviously didn't view us favorably.
–Sir, what should we do?.
One of my subordinates, who had recently learned to use Aether, asked. Connor also looked at me, waiting for an answer. But I didn't have one.
The original idea was to tire the goblins, thin their numbers, and launch a three-pronged attack, catching the leader off guard and eliminating him without any problems. But with these two "new" goblins, that strategy has already gone out the window; not only here, but other areas must be under attack as well.
'I wish I could fight this goblin leader, but it looks like I won't get the chance. A real shame.'
I thought, looking up at the strange night sky of the Ordeal.
-Connor!
-Ah! Y-yes!
He responded with an involuntary salute.
-You've fought this Chief before, right?
A frown briefly crossed the young man's face, but he still answered firmly.
-Not me, sir, my master Diem, but I saw the fight he and the captain of a group of knights engaged in up close, sir.
–And you think you can do better than them?
Connor paused for a few seconds, his eyes wide, before answering.
–Wh–wha–whu—
–We don't have time for this now, Connor. Answer differently. Do you think you can do better than your master and the leader of that order of knights, yes or no?.
I asked forcefully.
–I... I don't know. But even if I tried, sir, weren't you and Miss Yaou supposed to fight him?.
'Yes, that was the initial idea, but things have changed now.'
–Yes, but tell me, were you and your friends able to hold off all those goblins, plus the ones that should be arriving soon?.
–I don't think we can.
–I am, so I'll take care of this. While you and your friends go take care of him.
–But—
–And that's something you want, too, isn't it?
He swallowed whatever he was about to say and gave me a look that was half-atomic, half-confused, half-grateful.
It wasn't hard to understand; anyone raised by their master would want the chance to avenge them, but for the sake of greater gain and to make their master prouder. Connor was willing to leave the duty of eliminating the goblin leader to me, some of my most loyal subordinates, and Miss Yaou.
In the week we spent preparing, I saw both their discipline and their friends' ability. The synergy, camaraderie, and understanding they share isn't something you often see even among members of the order for years, and I know that, unfortunately.
–I'm sure you can do it, and if not, well... It's not like I have to keep cleaning up this mess forever. Besides, we still have to hear from our "friends" back there. So why not give these young people a chance to prove themselves once and for all? That way, even the vultures circling you will go away, right?.
Connor looked at me again with the same mixed emotions, mostly surprise this time. But the one that stood out even more was gratitude.
–Understood, sir, then I'll have to ask you to hold things down here for a bit.
–You'll be fine, but you better be quick. I don't intend to let the younger ones leave me behind so easily.