As Alaster rode towards the Lord’s army he observed his surroundings, plotting different strategies and methods of attack. The hills were rocky, with numerous cliffs, though none were taller than thirty feet. Taller than the Ogres or Trolls could climb, though depending of the weapons, if any, they used, they might still be able to reach the tops.
Alaster considered releasing his Undead, but the larger the force, the easier it would be for the enemy to spot. Right now, they didn’t know Alaster was approaching, nor that he had the intention to attack them.
That allowed him much greater ease with scouting. And the more he knew about his enemy, the easier it would be to destroy them.
Cresting a hill, Alaster finally spotted them. Despite how Azameer described them, they were still Monsters. A Human army, and Alaster suspected Dwarven and Elven as well, would build defenses and shelters once they came to a stop. But this army didn’t do either.
The army numbered perhaps around a thousand. A staggering number, if they were affected by the System. But while it was still a number worthy of respect and even fear, not nearly as much as Adepts would have. If any of the Monsters had access to Spells or other Abilities, they would be few and far between. The Monsters would only have their own physical might.
The little greenery that could survive in the rocky hills was all torn up from the countless feet and claws that trod over it.
There was a very clear hierarchy, that seemed to be based simply on size and strength. Goblins, Wolves, and what looked to be large rats were at the edges, avoiding the three meter tall Trolls and the four meter tall Ogres. There were only a few dozen of the larger Monsters, but their strength could not be ignored.
The trolls were smaller and weaker than the Ogres, but they could regenerate from their wounds at a visible rate, and they were more agile, if only slightly. Their hairy backs, head, and chests were highly flammable, and fire halted their regeneration.
Past the larger monsters, of which Alaster also spotted three large Bears, standing at least four meters tall, Alaster saw the core of the army. It was comprised of Bugbears, and Hobgoblins.
Unlike their weaker cousins, Hobgoblins stood straight and powerful, the heads reaching the necks of most Humans. They were strong and fast, capable of using even complex weapons with precision and accuracy. He could even spot most of the Hobgoblins wielding large powerful looking bows.
The few Hobgoblins and all the Bugbears wore dull but strong looking armor and wielded a variety of melee weapons.
At the center of the large rough circle, Alaster spotted two dozen Hobgoblins, all as tall as Humans, a few likely even taller. They stood proud, wearing heavy polished armor, in disciplined lines. Surrounded by these powerful Hobgoblins, upon a crude throne, was the Goblin Lord.
Though the title did not suit it anymore. It was no longer a Goblin. It was a Hobgoblin, and with the light armor it wore, and the staff leaning against the throne, it could use Magic.
Alaster did not know what it was doing, whether it was napping, or it was plotting. He could not see that well at that distance.
Turning away from the army, Alaster observed the terrain. The battle that was about to happen would be too large for a single choke point. The numerous cliffs sections areas, while others just overlooked areas. The rocks were numerous, but not enough that Alaster was worried about footing.
Alaster ducked behind the hill and walked back to his Stallion. Climbing up, he rode a hundred meters away before summoning all his available Undead. They marched out of his Summoner’s Ring and [Soul Domain] or fading into existence.
The Sergeants immediately got to work silently organizing their Undead Soldiers while the Lieutenant watched from behind. The other Summoned Undead, without a commander or orders, stood there like statues.
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Within mere moments, Alaster had organized lines of one hundred seventeen Undead. All of whom were much stronger than the average Goblin. Working together in small groups, Alaster suspected they wouldn’t have much of an issue with the Trolls, Ogres, and Bugbears.
The Hobgoblins, however, were completely unknown to him. He had heard about them of course, but he didn’t have firsthand experience with them. It did not ease the young man’s mind that they were all almost exclusively archers.
Against the thousand of Monsters he was about to piss off, a mere one hundred seemed tiny and foolish. But Necromancers became much more powerful as the battle progressed. And Alaster wasn’t some fragile Mage. He was a Lord of Death. And it was time to rain it down on the enemy.
Alaster positioned the Undead around the hills and cliffs. Once he was satisfied with it, he rode forward, cresting the hill. He was immediately spotted, but his Magic was already soaring through the air.
Three maximum powered [Dead Bomb] descended on the horde of Goblins. Dozens were vaporized, more injured. A mere drop in the bucket, but his goal had been accomplished.
Their attention was completely on him, and they swarmed toward him as he retreated back down the hill, his [Meditation] already recovering his spent Mana. His Undead separated to let his Stallion pass before quickly remaking the lines.
The Goblins, Trolls, and Ogres were not far behind him. Nor did they falter upon seeing the Undead. It only seemed to frenzy them more than they already were.
Alaster’s Undead braced their spears, leaning into them. His ranged Undead began loosing their arrows. The single Heavy Bowmen Undead was the slowest to fire, but its heavy and large arrows caused even the fat Ogres to stumble, clearly injured.
Once in range, the Skirmisher also began throwing its javelins. They were inaccurate, but even the Goblins that were not killed were missing large chunks. And the Trolls hit by the javelins were staggered.
But against the swarm of Monsters coming at them, the few projectiles did little. Alaster readied his [Horde Legion] Bonus. Ready to cast it once the Monsters clashed with his Undead.
The Goblins were better equipped, with actual spears tipped in what looked like crude bronze and wearing thick furs. The Trolls had their sensitive hair cut short, which would help against fire, but not entirely. Their sharp claws didn’t need a weapon. And the Ogres wore hides over their fatty bodies and carried large branches that might have been tree trunks.
The Goblins, much faster than the larger Monsters, pulled ahead and were the first to engage. Three ranks of Goblins were impaled on the spears before their momentum halted. The spears were pulled back, dropping the corpses, before they were pushed forward once more, thrusting into the mass of Goblins stopped by the large shields.
For a moment, it was an organized chaos, but then the Trolls arrived, crashing into the line, and disrupting it. There were no more clear lines.
Alaster ordered his Summoned Soldiers forward and began casting [Necrotic Bolt] into the mess. From the cliffs above, the Mage and newly summoned archers began to rain down on the Monsters. Within moments, more Goblins had taken a different path that took them up to the ranged Undead, only to face the Melee Summoned Undead, minus the soldiers.
Within just a few minutes, the battle had extended to encompass several cliffs and the areas below and around.
It was the perfect time for [Horde Legion], which Alaster capitalized on. Goblins stood up again, grabbing their weapons and lunging at their once comrades. Trolls stood up, some still burning from Alaster’s fiery bolts. Ogres once again grabbed their clubs, even with their intestines spilling out.
It was turning in Alaster’s favor, but it was not a victory. The Core of the Monster Army had not arrived yet.
Just as Alaster thought this, a volley of arrows announced their arrival. The arrows slammed into the mess of combat, slamming into the Undead with incredible accuracy. Very few arrows hit the still living Monsters. Despite piercing weapons having minimal effect on the Undead, Alaster saw a few of the Legion fall once more.
Alaster looked atop a cliff across the small valley, seeing orderly off set lines of Hobgoblin archers, already nocking another volley.
In the middle of the cliff and staring right back, Alaster saw the Hoblord, standing there with its staff, surrounded by its bodyguards.
It stared back at Alaster calmly, but Alaster could sense the rage hidden behind its eyes. It raised its staff. Alaster could sense the Mana moving to strengthen and reinvigorate its allies, focusing on the Hobgoblins.
Only a moment later, a stream of Bugbears charged down into the valley, slamming into the conflict, even at the cost of several living Goblins being trampled underneath.
Another volley was released, to be matched by Alaster’s own volley of [Necrotic Bolt]. Similar numbers fell on either side. Alaster’s own army was constantly refreshed by more of the fallen.
Alaster suspected that this battle would be decided on who had more Mana, or who had more Monsters.
“Let’s settle this feud, shall we?”