A great army set out from the vast plaza in grand formation, swiftly marching along the smooth road toward Lake-town.
Mixed within were a few dwarves who, by coincidence, happened to be able to help.
"Why didn't they call us?"
"It's just a bunch of goblins. Perhaps they figured it wasn't necessary."
"True enough."
Inside the Lonely Mountain, the dwarves were enthusiastically discussing the earth-shaking call to arms, speculating when the allied army from Dale would return. The atmosphere was lively.
But not everyone shared the excitement.
"I have something I need to report to the King."
A dwarf in charge of industrial matters walked toward the council hall.
"The King is not here."
Balin, standing guard at the door, stopped him. "Let me handle it."
"But..." The dwarf hesitated.
"Our King handed all affairs over to me before he left. If there's something, just say it."
Still in armor, Balin sounded a bit bitter.
"Where is the King?"
"Your curiosity could do with a little restraint."
---
"I'm glad to fight alongside you again, Garrett."
"I wish we had more times like this."
Beneath the Sky Road, or rather, the massive decorative support pillars of the towering elevated bridge, Thorin looked up as groups of soldiers ascended in order via the lift platforms, feeling a wave of emotion.
"Haha! My aim's never let me down. I hope those bastards give me a proper challenge," Dwalin said as he swung his dual throwing axes.
Fíli chimed in, "Same here. I've been training too long with no orcs nearby to fight. At this rate, my sword will start rusting."
"Ahaha! My axe grows restless!"
"Alright, settle down, Glóin,"
Garrett raised a hand, gesturing for the dwarves before him to calm down.
"What's wrong?" Glóin asked from behind.
Garrett turned around in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"Where else would I be?" Glóin replied, puzzled.
"Then who is that...?"
Garrett turned back, pointing to the overly excited dwarf in front of him who looked like he might leap into the air at any moment.
Glóin slapped his forehead. "Oh! Look at my memory. Forgot to introduce you, this is my son, Gimli. He recently moved here from the Blue Mountains. Heard you were attacking Goblin-town and insisted on coming to fight for you."
"I see. Full of spirit, he's bound for great things." Garrett said as he looked at the young Gimli.
"Let's talk about the assault plan instead."
"What's there to discuss? Isn't it all decided already? Goblin-town has only a few main entrances. You and Bard know them well. We just storm in and chop those goblins into bits."
"Haha, I know, of course, it won't be difficult..."
Routes, paths... those weren't the problem. Even if they didn't blast open the mountains, there were other ways.
Garrett glanced at his map, on it, there was an option labeled 'Cave Map.'
The so-called "Cave Map" recorded the underground terrain. Not only Goblin-town, but Moria's paths were all noted there, ensuring they'd never get lost in areas they'd already explored.
And as for Goblin-town, they'd already covered more than half of it last time when pursuing the Great Goblin.
"Did everyone bring enough food?" Garrett casually changed the topic.
"Of course! No one's short. Everyone brought enough rations for many days, long-lasting ones too."
"Good."
Garrett reminded everyone again, "Remember to come find me if you get injured. We're not lacking in medical supplies."
As long as they didn't die, everyone in this army could be saved.
Minor matters quickly passed.
Judging by the map, if they were to advance on the Misty Mountains by land, accounting for all kinds of obstacles and potential issues, it would take at least a couple weeks, maybe even a month, but that was a thing of the past.
They hadn't felt much when building the roads, but now that they were being used in earnest, the efficiency shocked everyone.
A road that crossed all rugged terrain and obstacles, capable of eliminating any interference from unexpected factors, pure and unhindered.
There was no particular rush. Advancing at a steady pace, the army covered nearly 500 kilometers in just a few days. And this was without using minecart transport or other tools, otherwise, it would've been even faster.
Boom!
The soldiers stood neatly in formation at the end of the road.
From the moment the tunnel to Goblin-town was dug to the time the army assembled at its gates, only a few days had passed, so few, in fact, that the goblins inside hadn't even had time to react. Garrett stepped beyond the army ranks and connected the road to the mountainside.
Moments later, a series of explosions echoed out.
Rumble!
---
That day, the goblins suddenly discovered that even underground, light from the outside could break in.
They woke up to a world that had collapsed.
"Get up, you worthless scum!"
At a single barked command, the dazed goblins snapped out of it and scrambled to organize a defense. They poured out from cave ceilings, underground chambers, and every crevice imaginable, like a swarm of ants wielding rusty weapons, flooding toward the road.
At a glance, their numbers were at least twice that of the Dale army.
The battle erupted suddenly.
Facing the onslaught of shrieking, feral goblins, many first-time soldiers couldn't help but grip their weapons and shields tighter, terrified of faltering in the heat of combat.
This wasn't like training, one mistake here meant the difference between life and death. No one could stay completely calm.
Tension brewed within the ranks, until, standing at the massive break in the mountainside, a dark figure holding a sword appeared, splitting light from shadow. He raised a longsword glowing with radiant blue light and shouted:
"Prepare for battle!"
And just like that, the people found their anchor.
"Charge with me!"
Garrett roared and rushed forward ahead of all others.
Bard froze for a moment before his face shifted in alarm. He turned and shouted, "Wait, don't—!"
The timing's wrong! Don't charge yet!
They're all coming out already, don't run in there alone!
But it was too late.
The soldiers, fired up, raised their weapons and screamed with fury, surging forward behind that solitary figure. All fear and uncertainty turned into fighting spirit, and faith.
Bard gritted his teeth hard. He swore that once this battle was over, even if it killed him, he'd drag this lord of his aside and give him a proper lecture.
But seeing the charge was unstoppable, he had no choice but to draw his sword and rush in with the rest.
"Fine then."
Thorin helplessly shrugged, pulling out the sword he had forged himself from his belt.
"We're going in too!"
"For peace and safety!"
Boom!
Goblins at the front were sent flying.
When Garrett drew his sword, the goblins immediately recognized him. And when he alone crashed into thousands of them, many began to falter, even stepping back in fear.
Their charge was stopped cold, by one man. Some even showed signs of breaking and retreating.
"You useless trash! Anyone who takes one more step back, I'll chop you into mince!"
That same commanding voice from earlier barked again from the rear.
The goblins were stuck, unable to move forward or back. In the end, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and try to circle around the black figure, hoping the army behind him would be easier to deal with.
And so, a huge vacuum formed around Garrett, an exaggerated radius devoid of goblins. Like magnets repelling each other, they avoided him entirely, forced to pass around his edges.
Garrett took several steps deeper into the cave, trying to locate the goblin giving orders, but couldn't find them.
Whoosh.
Suddenly, an arrow flew past him from behind, whistling through the air and piercing deep into the cave.
The voice didn't speak again.
"Got him!" Bard shouted from the rear.
"Nice shot!" Garrett waved back in response.
Once again, Bard the Bowman had proven the truth of his title. At that moment, the bulk of the goblins who had tried to bypass Garrett finally crossed the distance, short, but not insignificant, and clashed head-on with the Dale army.
"For our Lord!!"
The soldiers raised their weapons high and swung them toward the enemy with a mighty battle cry.
Why are they so strong?!
The goblin vanguard stared in terror at the fully armored elite troops before them. In their hearts, they cursed the idiot commander who had led them into this reckless charge.
Rushing out of the cave like that, it was madness.
Boom.
The first goblin wave ended. After their initial clash, the two sides quickly plunged into a brutal melee, relying on raw power.
"Urahh!!"
A soldier was surrounded by more than five goblins, slammed to the ground, and battered. Sharp pain flickered across his body.
Was he going to fall here?
No!
"For our Lord Garrett!!"
Courage surged in his heart. The soldier roared and rose again. When Garrett's name rang out, the goblins around him visibly flinched, paralyzed by a sudden wave of fear.
Even though Garrett wasn't even nearby.