....
"Sir Calvin, what's your plan?" Bart asked.
Calvin stayed quiet as he monitored a group of goblins guarding the entrance of a cave. Calvin and his squad were crouched beneath a bush as they watched the guards.
"Tell the archers to shoot the guards down. I want this attack to be a surprise while also minimizing casualties on our side. I want to take them out in one fell swoop. Ooh and tell the mage to be on standby we might need there healing and buff"
"Okay, Sir Calvin," Bart replied as he slowly retreated to convey Calvin's message to the rest.
The silence of the forest was suddenly broken by the rhythmic humming of magic being gathered. Behind the bushes the mages got to work, their hands glowing a mirage of different colours.
"Buffs on," a mage of blue attire whispered as a ripple on magical energy coiled around Calvin and the army, sinking into there flesh and making there equipment shimmer.
"Archers, get ready, on my mark," Calvin signaled his eyes narrowed as he watched every moves of the demons.
"Rain hell!"
A rain of black feathered arrows hissed through the air blocking the sun.
"Huh? Is it going to rain?" A goblin asked as he looked up only to be met by an arrow through the head. His body collapsed to the floor before he could recognise what killed him.
"We are..."and arrow shot past it neck tearing his vocal cords and drawing blood.
"Warriors attack!"
Calvin charged behind him the small army followed.
They quickly did quick work on any goblins who wasn't killed by the arrows.
"Push on!"
They descended into the cave, ready to bring hell to there enemy.
.....
"Mom,when is dad coming?" Ajax sat on the chair his hands on his jaws.
"He will be back soon, honey," kael smiled over at Ajax.
BOOM!
A loud sound resounded in the cave followed by a bright beam of light.
"Ahhh," Ajax screamed in fright. "Mom what's that?" He covered his eyes.
BOOM!
The sound came again rocking the house and making dust to fall from the ceiling.
GONG...GONG...GONG
A loud bell rang in the distance.
Kael eyes widen in shock and fear. "We...we are being under attack, by...by Humans,"
"Humans." Those words made a hidden scar in her memories open anew.
She lunged across the table as she grabbed onto Ajax.
"Mum, I'm scared," Ajax clutched onto his mother's neck. He had never seen his mother this scared before.
"It's okay, Ajax. No need to fear; I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
BOOM!
This time the explosion was near; the force threw her against the walls as a section of the stone house collapsed.
Kael stood up; she had used her body to shield Ajax from the debris. "Are you okay?" Blood trailed down the side of her lips.She picked him up and continued running.
"Mum, you're bleeding,"
"Don't worry Ajax, I'm fine,"
BOOM!
The explosion came again, its force sending ripples everywhere.
Ajax looked up; all around, bodies were scattered and everywhere was burning, smoke rising high into the cave ceilings.
"Mum—"
"Hush, Ajax. Be quiet."
...
In the mines, the two friends sat together. It was their break, so they were currently eating the food Kael prepared.
"Oh... oh my... oh my... wonderful... lovely," Joe moaned as he ate.
All around him, his fellow miners glared at him as they wished that they were the ones eating that food now.
"Hey, Hrad," Joe called out to a goblin sitting beside him.
"Yes?"
"Do you want a bite?"
Hrad's eyes widened. "Really? You would let me have a bite?"
"Of course; after all, we are buddies, right?"
"Yes, we are," Hrad had tears at the corners of his eyes.
"Come on, take it."
Just when Hrad reached his hands to take it, Joe quickly shoved it into his mouth.
"Hahaha! Look at him! He... he thought that I would give this delicacy to him? Let me tell you something, filth like you doesn't deserve to eat this heavenly meal; it would be the greatest sin if I gave it to you."
"Fuck you, Joe, you asshole."
BOOM!
"What's that?" The silent Grom shot up as he looked outside the mine.
"What was what?" Joe asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The explosion sound."
"Explosion sound? What explosion sound? You must be tired; come eat," Joe waved dismissively.
"I clearly heard an explosion—"
Joe looked around. "Grom, you must be hearing things. There was no explosion."
Just when Grom was convinced that he was hearing things and was about to sit down, a loud bell sound rang.
GONG... GONG... GONG
The sound echoed through the mines.
BOOM!
This time, everyone heard it.
"My family!" Grom screamed as he took off running.
Panic immediately set in; they all knew what that bell sound meant. It meant that their homes were being attacked by humans.
"Grom! Grom!" Joe yelled as he chased Grom from behind.
Grom's lungs burned as he sprinted through the narrow mining tunnels, his heavy work boots pounding against the jagged, moss-covered floor. The thought of his family dying sent a deep fear sinking into his heart. An image flashed in his mind of him arriving only to find the lifeless bodies of his wife and son held together in a final embrace.
"I have to make it on time!"
"Grom!"
....
"Call for backup from the bottom layers!" a muscular goblin shouted. "Get into formation and kill these invading bastards! Tear them apart, let their filthy blood feed the ground, let them know the might of the goblins!" He struck the side of his sword against the rim of his shield.
"Charge!!"
"Haaaaaa!" the goblin soldiers screamed. They bared their teeth to the invaders, their weapons wrapped tight in their hands. These monsters had barged into their home, killed their people, and destroyed their sanctuary.
"Kill!" they all shouted in unison. The bloodlust in the air was so thick that the dark cave almost took on a reddish hint.
A human warrior came charging towards a goblin with the shield. He swung his sword...
CLINK...
A metallic sound rolled over as the goblin used his shield to block, then swiftly swung his sword, cutting the human warrior in half. His eyes scanned the surroundings. "These pests," he hissed.
A goblin civilian was on the floor; a sword was sent flying towards his head.
CLINK!
"Stand up."
The goblin was still in shock; he had thought this was his end. Slowly, he looked at his savior. A tall goblin with a shield and sword stood there.
"I said get up and run. Go deeper into the caves."
"Sir Gallagher," the civilian's eyes were wide with shock and admiration.
"Get up!" This time Gallagher's voice came out stronger. Frightened, the man quickly stood up and ran.
Gallagher scanned the area as he headed for those individuals giving the goblins the most trouble.
"Hmmmm," Armin hummed, his head tilted.
"What has caught your interest, Armin?" Eren asked from the side, his brows raised.
"Him," Armin pointed at Gallagher with his jaw. "He's a problem that needs to be cut down."
Eren looked toward where Armin pointed. "Ah, I see. He is definitely much more skilled than the rest of his peers."
"Do you think the Little Prince would be able to take him?"
"Certainly. He might be tough, but he is nowhere as skilled as the Little Prince."
"You seem to have a lot of faith in the Little Prince," Armin glanced at Eren with tired eyes.
"Indeed I do," Eren shuddered.
"You know the orders, right? Even if the Prince is dying, do not intervene."
"I do know, Armin. I was there when the King gave that order, you know."
"Good, I just wanted you to remember. I'll stop you if you try helping the Prince out."
"Hahahaha," Eren let out a loud laugh. "Surely you jest. We both know that I'm stronger than you, but sure."
Armin stayed silent as he gazed at Gallagher, who was currently being attacked by a group of fire mages.
"Hold formation! Kill that goblin with the shield; he's causing trouble!" A group of fire mages in red robes came together and took formation. The air hummed as fire magic gathered; their arms glowed red as waves of mana flooded into the spells they were casting.
"Fireball!" A huge fireball appeared in the air, sending heatwaves all over the battlefield. The area was suddenly drowned in light.
Gallagher felt the heat. Turning around, he saw the mages.
"Oh no you don't!"
"He's coming our way! We need time to condense the fire or else it will detonate on us!" a mage shouted. They could hear Gallagher's heavy footsteps; the man was moving like a tank.
"You imbeciles, stop him!" a mage shouted at the soldiers.
The soldiers ran towards Gallagher, brandishing their weapons.
"Alright, surround him! He is slow. Jacob, you're our tank; do you think you can take him?"
"Yes sir, I can," Jacob said. He was dressed similarly to Gallagher, but he had heavier armor and used a huge hammer instead of a sword.
"Good. Creed, Ronny, you are our fastest; circle around and look for a weak spot. The rest of you are with me. We attack from the side, got it?"
"Got it!"
Jacob held his shield tight as he ran towards Gallagher like a charging bull.
"Foolish move." Gallagher reciprocated, charging with even more force.