The Rustfang Mountains were giving off the scent of blood. In the midst of snow and cold winds, this was a tough environment to live in. Those who could survive were either strong predators such as dire wolves, with strength varying from E to D rank for the leaders of packs, or smart species like goblins.
The White Lion Tribe's odds looked grim.
[Graeuth – Lv. 3 Goblin]
[Aeruth – Lv. 4 Goblin]
[Tyreuth - Lv. 3 Goblin]
As they were marching towards the Fire Wolf Tribe settlement, a small village made of wooden logs and rocks, Gurk had plenty of time to assess the White Lion Tribe's army.
30 Goblins ranging between level 2 and 5. 15 ranging between level 6 and 9.
As for goblin warriors, including Grunty, there were only 11 of them.
In other words, they only had around fifty armed goblins, against a tribe that possessed 100, and probably many more warriors.
However, Grunty was not completely dumb. He did not plan on attacking the Fire Wolf Tribe in a chaotic war. He planned on wearing them down. A war of attrition, in a territory they knew better than anyone.
Unlike the White Lion Tribe which had been around for years, the Fire Wolf Tribe came from the Red Forest. They had been driven out by the Blood Dagger Tribe. In other words, they chose to abandon their home territory and cowardly escape.
Perhaps this was the reason why Grunty felt like he could attack the Fire Wolf Tribe. If they had run away, then it must mean they were weak. At least from a willpower perspective.
"Gobnir, Gurk, Aeruth, Tyreuth. You will be under Pereuth's command", Grunty ordered.
His strategy was simple. In a war of attrition, he would divide his army in squads of five goblins, led by a single goblin warrior. Together, they would hunt enemy patrols, slowly bringing their numbers down.
Gurk looked at the team in front of him.
[Aeruth – Lv. 4 Goblin]
[Tyreuth - Lv. 3 Goblin]
[Gobnir – Lv. 5 Goblin]
[Pereuth – Lv. 12 Goblin]
[Gurk – Lv. 6 Goblin]
They were decent. Not the weakest, but far from the strongest squad of goblin.
The war of attrition would only work if the White Lion Tribe goblins were individually stronger than the patrols of the Fire Wolf Tribe.
Such tactics, however, far exceeded Gurk's expectations
'This is not a regular dungeon…If goblins were capable of such tactics, there would be no way regular D-rank hunters would survive such a hell. Even if they are weak, if there is a commander capable of such a concept, then even a team of C-rank hunters would struggle', Gurk analysed
It was not like he lacked experience. Back when he was a hunter, the number of dungeons he had cleared numbered in the thousands. He was accustomed to low-rank dungeons. Wolves were capable of joint hunts, but that was the extent of it. Antmen could communicate and raise alert to the whole nest, but they were not capable of strategy.
As for goblins…He had never encountered a tribe so well established that it was capable of breeding animals, or strategy.
'It seems like goblins are like humans. The older they are, the wiser they become. For seven generations, the White Lion Tribe survived, meaning they managed to get basic knowledge and experience, besides strength…', Gurk thought, 'This…this is amazing…If I become chieftain, I could create a whole civilisation of goblins'
For the first time, Gurk thought long-term.
He had an edge against regular goblins. His experience as a hunter. Even if he was under-equipped, with a mere wooden stick instead of a sword, he possessed D-rank swordsmanship.
[Name – Gurk (Yeol Park) | Lv. 6 Goblin (10 / 150 EXP) [E]
Attributes:
Strength: 10 (↑) | Agility: 12 (↑) | Vitality: 10 (↑)
Perception: 9 (↑) | Mana: 2 | Charisma: 2
Perks: Goblin Eyes (Nocturnal Vision) [E], Wilderness Instinct [E]
Skills: Swordsmanship (D)
Items: Wooden Stick (F)]
For some reasons, the skills he had practiced for years had disappeared from his status window. It was not that surprising. His centre of gravity, his muscles, his bone structure…Everything had changed. It was only upon hours of training that he managed to get a basic sense of balance and re-awaken the swordsmanship skill.
It was different than what he had been taught in the academy, but the same principles were there. Minimal, efficient strikes to kill the enemies.
Pareuth was the first to talk: "We will take the eastern flank. Stay behind me, younglings, and everything will be fine. You have received the White Lion Blessing after all"
Gurk nodded. Even if they were not high level, a 6-points increase in attributes was an amazing boost of strength. Perhaps this was the secret behind the White Lion Tribe's survival over seven generations.