I had a month's time before the Great War. I didn't waste it one bit. I trained and trained determined to get stronger everyday. I thought about the things I had to protect and live for. I thought about my grandma who trained hard with a single focus everyday for thirty years straight.
Now that my stats have improved, I had to practice and put my skills to use. I'm learning efficient ways in which I could potentially use them. Till now, I hadn't maximized the use of my perks. Perks were equally important to skills. In a battle where the stats were equally matched, perks were the deciding factors. Well, they were called ‘perks’ for a reason.
Then, finally I did maximize my potential. I maximized the use of my skills, perks. I practiced various battle formations under the guidance of my grandma. I learned when to attack or when to run away. Timing the attacks were crucial too.
Basically, I did a lot of work and was quite busy during this month. Not only me, the entire world was preparing for the Great War. The defense was already in place as the war occurs every year after all.
The portals appeared all over the world and were closely monitored by the Intelligence Agencies of the countries.
The hospitals were restocked with the necessary supplies and the houses were provided with sufficient food and first aid kits to prevent the worst case scenario.
And finally, two days before the big day, all of us were summoned at the academy one last time.
The principal, like usual, gave his usual motivational speech reminding us of our duties and responsibilities. Once that was over, we entered the portal in our school to the Final Battlefield.
The place was just an open expanse covered in greenery. The area was so vast that you couldn't see any signs of buildings or trees in the vicinity. Just grass.
In the distance, portals emitting a greenish-red aura could be seen. The ominous magical energy caused me to flinch a bit.
The portals were massive. About the size of five adult humans standing atop each other.
This was the battlefield which would determine the survival of humanity. If even a single country fails to eradicate and clear out the mutant goblins, then that country would collapse along with the neighboring unprepared ones.
We soon enough unloaded our supplies and set up camp.
The academy pupils were basically reserve military personnel. If even the military and the academy fail, then all capable men and women have to fend for themselves. All of us had systems after all. So, strength couldn't be measured with just physical appearance. A grown man could be weaker than a child if his stats were low.
There were numerous other Academies also gathered here. All of us gathered together to represent the ‘Academy forces’.
The Defense Organization’s forces were gathered here along with our Academy forces. The Defense Organization's forces numbered approximately to three thousand and our Academy forces numbered to approximately one thousand. It seemed like a good number but I was getting anxious.
The principals of all the Academies appeared at the main camp and everyone gathered there.
“Okay, everyone. Listen here carefully. This is going to be our plan. I won't accept any confusions later on, so clear your doubts right this second. This here…”
One of the principal spread open a map of the surrounding area and explained the battle strategy.
I'll summarize it down below.
There are a total of three portals in the area, so our forces will be split according to that. The portals will be named ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’.
The western portal which is the Portal ‘X’ will be marked by the Defense Organization's forces. While the middle portal, which is the Portal ‘Y’, would be taken care of by the Academy forces. Lastly, the Portal ‘Z’ will also be marked by the Defense Organization.
The Defense Organization will split up its elite units to cover both the portals and additionally provide backup and support if necessary to Portal 'Y'.
Finally, after the initial wave is successfully resisted against, ‘they’ would appear. And when ‘they’ appeared, every single person on this battlefield would attack ‘them’ simultaneously with all their might.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The two days went by like this: careful planning, increasing morale and revising battle formations.
On the other side, there was the state military. They weren't fighting the mutant goblins, but were defending against the neighboring countries’ invasions.
Why were all the countries fighting even when the world was about to fall? No one knew the answer to that.
Now, at present, all of us stood facing the ginormous, menacing portal.
Dun!
A sound resembling a drum was heard.
Dun!
Another one.
Dun! Dun! Dun!
It just repeatedly resounded.
Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun!
Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun!
After the ear-shattering noise of drums ended, complete, dead silence enveloped the area.
Then, a bluish-green arm emerged from within the portal. The people’s faces hardened.
Multiple arms emerged. Then the figures the arms belonged to also appeared. They looked like normal goblins but had blue or red vine-like patterns engraved all over their bodies. They growled immensely like impatient dogs.
The Academy force’s morale dropped rather quickly and some even began screaming. Some lost strength in their legs and fell to the ground, while others pissed their pants and cried out loud. It was a disturbing sight.
But then, someone stepped forward. It was one of my teachers. Not just my teacher, but plenty of other teachers too stepped forward.
“For Humanity!”, they screamed at the top of their lungs.
It was only two words. But right then, the ones who fell, stood up; the ones whose spirit shattered, wore determined faces; the ones who were vigilant, made up their minds.
The goblins continued pouring out of the portal like moths. Soon, more than a hundred thousand mutant goblins emerged. Our teachers have given us guidance and instructed us about these creatures since our early years. We’ve also watched and experienced countless wars of the same kind. But during those times, we were the ones being protected. Now, it was our time to protect what’s precious to us.
Grr!!!
The mutant goblins began swarming the battle ground, prompting the principals to issue their order to attack.
“Everyone, charge!!”
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The ones standing at the forefront were the first to move. They clashed with the mutant goblins and cut them down with a strong grunt.
Slash! Slash!
The place became chaotic in just a matter of seconds. They continued cutting down the ranks of the mutant goblins, but then a table turning event occurred.
The mutant goblins, strengthened by their numbers, began using it to their advantage. Five mutant goblins could be seen slashing a pupil with their claws. Some even used water magic or fire magic. The color of their vine-like pattern pointed out their magic type. For example, blue patterns were for mutant goblins capable of using water magic and red was for fire.
One could even tell that mutant goblins were normal goblins which could use magic. Which made them all the more deadly. But, that wasn’t all. Their power lies in their intelligence. Although not comparable to that of a human’s, the mutant goblins were smarter and possessed better cognitive abilities than normal goblins.
Looking at the Portal ‘Y’ battlefield from above, we can tell that it wasn’t looking good for the humans. Although a few made it past the formations of the goblins, the goblins steadily pushed them back. The battlefield was vast and far from the civilization, but if this continued, then they would soon reach the nearest village or town.
“Don’t give up! Keep pushing forward!”
The principals who were each equal to an elite unit soldier, cried out in order to raise morale. It did, in fact, work. The mutant goblins could be seen pushed back on multiple points.
The pupils roared and swung their blades. The ones who possessed a staff instead of a sword, stood at the back of the line while casting magic. The pupils belonging to the ‘Shielding Unit’ protected the ones in the front line. The ‘Healing Unit’ stood far from the battlefield and took care of the wounded brought by the ‘Rescue Unit’. Each unit did their jobs flawlessly. This enabled the ‘Combat Unit’ to push forward without second thoughts.
Skrksksk!
Even if all of them did their jobs perfectly, there was no such thing as a perfect plan. A plan existed to go wrong. The goblins screeched out and whistled. Hearing their whistles, green goblin hounds appeared out of thin air. They began tearing away at anything and everything they saw.
The pupils struggled against their ferocious teeth and many lost their lives while being trampled on by the chaos.
Sksrkskrk!
The goblins screeched again and some raised up their hands.
Kekekeke!
A swarm of goblin bats were summoned in a split second out of thin air.
The ranks of the humans quickly dwindled. As they stood face-to-face against despair, one pupil stepped forward.
“Ah, it’s finally my time to shine.” She yawned and continued, “I was placed in the middle so it took some time for my chance to come.”
The girl dropped one knee and slammed her right hand on the ground. “Come. Bane Wyrm.”