Chapter 75: Ploy
“There are three possible battlefields. Lizard hill. Lizard valley and the forbidden ridge." Scitus’s voice echoed in robins head as he remembered all the plans Scitus had prepared for them. It had taken several weeks for him to memorize everything and even after so long Robin wasn’t entirely confident he could make the right calls in the midst of battle, but that was the point. Scitus wouldn’t always be a guiding hand, there would be a day when Robin would have to do the planning, a day when he would have to choose the battlefield.
After some thought, Robin quickly led his subordinates towards Lizard hill. Lizard hill had been named by Scitus who noticed that from his divine sight, the hill was in the shape of an enormous lizard. Lizard valley was a large valley that extended from the tip of lizards hills tail, all the way to a few hundred yards from the Guardia city walls.
“Forbidden ridge is too far from the city and it’ll make our retreat difficult, " Robin thought as he dug the flag in his hand into the earth. Forbidden ridge was a small, yet sharp, hill peak that bordered the forbidden territory. The landmark was established a month or so prior by Scitus. its purpose was a warning to his citizens to not pass the ridge. Beyond the ridge was the forbidden territory and all the monsters in his city knew that no one must enter the forbidden territory.
"Start digging," Robin ordered his assassin knights to begin digging. Teal Quickly ordered his unit to dig and soon after everyone was digging. One foot, two feet, three feet. They dug until they had made a hole six feet deep. The soldiers then followed their next orders and began to cover the large five by five holes with support beams and ceilings along with some makeshift trap doors. The small group made a total of five large holes, deep enough for all of them to fit in and soon they opened holes large enough to travel between the five holes.
The moved earth was then used to make mud people which were then outfitted with spears and makeshift armor. All of the weapons were handed to the dummies with none remaining for the soldiers. the dummies were built all across the grassy hill and in the morning light, they were obviously false soldiers.
"Now its time to lure them here.” Robin solemnly said as he called out to his army of less than one hundred. “we’re moving out, they should be close by now.”
It didn't take long for the small group to find the massive force of 10,000. Killing even a single solider would prove difficult, though his subordinates were filled with confidence, Scitus had explained their situation. "the opposing army is well equipped and probably well trained. Using Sia as a reference, I can roughly estimate their ability, our goblin and kobold forces are almost no match. We have to little combat experience and training. But that's what this plan is for Robin, don't hesitate to attack when the time comes."
The assassin knights were not army scouts but they served the function best for what Scitus had planned. Robin took a rock from his satchel and threw it as far as he could into the enemy army, the others followed suit and suddenly a hail of stones befell the large army.
Stones clinked of their armor while an unfortunate few were bruised by the stones that head their faces. After several seconds it was obvious that their attack had no effect on the enemy.
“Retreat!!!” Robin telepathically shouted to his subordinates as he threw one last stone. Robin silenced his steps with a special skill and soon activated an agility skill to speed his movements forward. they fled towards lizard hill.
“after them!!!” a commander from the first army force shouted. Soon everyone in the first force heard the command and chased after the attackers. The second force commander hesitated for a moment. “Damn that fool.” The second force commander said under his breath. Before quickly ordering his army to follow close behind the first force.
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“Mages, cast Search!!! Archers Ready your bows!!! ” the first force quickly began shouting commands as they chased after the small group of goblins.
A mage next to the commander quickly relayed the information he received from his subordinates. "86 hostiles, all goblins." the first force commander grinned with anticipation. "Last reports we heard from Mern was that the god only has a few hundred goblins under his domain. This might be his entire force.” The First force commander manically laughed.”
The chase continued for several minutes and then half an hour. By that point the second force commander had entered the first force commanders area of control. “what are you doing here.” The first force commander grumbled. “we need to be more cautious! Hold your men!!!” The second commander shouted much to the disdain of the first commander. “do you really think that these dirty and pathetic goblins are worth out caution!!!” the first commander shouted back.
The second commander looked at the subordinates around before turning back to face the first commander. The Second commander quickly used a short distance whisper spell to explain their situation, “you fool!!!, haven’t you been informed that the red witch is aiding Scitus!!!”
The first commander's eyes suddenly widened to the size of golf balls "hold!!!!" he shouted to his army in a matter of seconds the entire army stopped moving. "that's not possible. She doesn't work with anyone." The second commander growled with his response, "maybe not with humans."
"Are you sure that information is accurate." The first commander gazed into the second commander's eyes demanding a direct yes or nor answer. “on my life, from Merns very lips.” The second commander growled with discontent.
"He seems to believe that the red witch alone is enough to stop us from destroying that weak little god."
"The goblins have stopped sir." The wizard suddenly interrupted their secret conversation. The first commander straightened his back, "where are they." He demanded, the wizard meekly nodded his head and pointed to a large hill up ahead. Sprinkled across the hill were dozens of mud men armed with wooden spears and armor made from something similar to leather.
“perhaps Mern only wanted to frighten you.” The first commander said as he looked at the pathetic display in front of him. looking at the pitiful spectacle, the second commander was almost inclined to agree but he couldn’t shake the strange feeling in the back of his mind. it was warning him that something wasn’t quite right.
“archers… fire!!!” the first commander shouted as a hail of arrows fell upon the hill. “they are at the top of the hill commander.” The wizard quietly informed. Quickly the whole army was informed of their location and another hail of arrows pelted the hilltop. "they are still alive sir." The wizard said with some surprise.
"once more!!!" the first commander shouted. "something isn't right here." The second commander muttered. "I'm returning to my army, I’ll wait right behind you.” The first commander did not appear to acknowledge him but the second commander understood that his words were heard.
“commander, I have something to report.” As soon as the second commander reunited with his army, his second in command quickly brief him on information he had gathered.
“I sent some scouts ahead as you requested.” The vice commander grimly said.
"and? Spit it out!!!" the second commander shouted. "we've lost contact, sir." The vice commander quickly answered.
“what was their last message to us.” The second commander clenched his fists, he was fearing the worst.
“Unfortunately it seems the enemy used an anti-communication spell. Only one scout managed to escape its radius, his last words were. Min… before he went silent”
“I don’t know what it means sir.” The second commander thought for a minute or two before he finally realized what the scout was trying to say.
“Minotaurs!!!” the second commander shouted as he got on his horse and ordered his army to ready for battle. “you!!!” the second commander pointed to a solider, “warn the second commander that minotaurs are likely to attack us.” Just as he finished explaining he heard the powerful shouts of a large force. Despite being so far, the force felt like it was several hundred thousand strong as it echoed and made the trees tremble.
“WAH!!!!!” an ear-piercing horde of shouts overwhelmed every other sound, even those soldiers who did not fear the goblin army couldn't help but tremble at the overwhelming forces. 100 hundred goblins were easy to deal with, even 1,000 wasn’t a problem but 100,000; even imperial armies would sweat a little.
From atop lizard hill, hiding in their small underground bunkers, the assassin knights sighed with relief. “it's your turn, William." Robin whispered as he and his men readied to escape.