“Orcs!!!! Royal Guards!!! With me!!”

That was what Rick yelled out the second he noticed the approaching Orcs. His Royal Guards heard his shout and responded in kind. They quickly changed their formation and lined up behind him as he moved to the front of the group. Geedi was behind him and to his right while another guard flanked his left. The rest of them filled on either side behind him, forming what looked to be a wedge or arrow formation.

Of course, this was something Rick and Velora came up with, when faced with the conundrum of fighting together with his Royal Guards. Their entire purpose was to protect him, and it wasn’t a reach to expect them to die for his sake. In fact, in most places, it would be considered an honor to die protecting your Liege.

Though that was not a thought Rick had preached to his Goblins, but despite that they still understood that they should be protecting him at all costs and when it was time for them to finally follow Rick around the forest, they ran into the problem of trying to protect Rick and not allowing him to fight the way he wished.

But it was more than just that. Rick didn’t necessarily want anyone dying for his sake. He didn’t think he was worth anyone dying to protect him, which created the problem. Rick wanted to fight for himself, and protect his Royal Guards, while Geedi and the others wanted nothing more than to be the ones doing the protecting.

Thus, the arrow/wedge formation. Rick would be the point and the lead, while the others would be right there with him.

Of course, this didn’t include Loruk and Surgsha, but Rick didn’t forget them.

“You two! With me! Protect our wings!”

They weren’t part of the formation, but they were seasoned fighters. Loruk went to the left of the formation and Surgsha moved to the right. Now with weapons drawn, formation situated and Kris and Krel rapidly approaching, the Orcs themselves could finally be seen by all, and every last one of the Royal Guards tensed up a bit.

They were used to fighting monsters in the forest and sparring with each other. But fighting another race like Orcs? One’s that wielded weapons? Ones that were bigger than all of them? This was new, this was different, and despite all of their training in the forest, it would be a miracle to expect them to be truly battle hardened warriors that won’t cower in the face of a superior force.

Rick noticed this as well, and it was at this moment Loruk, Surgsha, Kris, Krel and even the Orcs saw something they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

“Do not fear them! You’re with me!”

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After saying that, Rick who had a wooden spear fit for his size in his right hand, turned his left palm down to the ground and then beautiful yet absolutely deadly flames sprung out from his palm. It poured out until it reached the ground and then spread out to his sides and rear as it covered the entire group of Goblins.

They felt stronger, braver, and their brodies grew limber and ready to strike.

Everyone other than the Royal Goblins who have seen and felt this effect before, were shocked down to their cores. Although Kris, Krel and the Orcs couldn’t feel the effect, the Orcs felt a primal fear deep within them.

Something about the flames evoked a deep fear from the core of their beings. A few knees almost buckled as they ran, and their charge appeared to slow down for a bit before another yell was heard.

“Petty tricks from weaklings!!! Kill them all!!!”

It was an Orc at the front of the charging group, who ran with a large mace in his hand.

Though apart from helping to refocus his fellow Orcs, that shout caused an already Rick to reach a boiling point, and as his anger rose, so too did his flames.

They surged and grew around him and the group as he yelled out once more.

“Charge!!!! Leave none alive!!!”

Although he didn’t realize it at the moment, his words were imbued with mana and the presence of a Royal. Speaking of presence, it roared out into the surroundings as the anger of a Royal made itself known. How could a born Royal be normal? How could their anger be regular?

It was far from it.

Rick took off running, with a few Goblins in tow, all of whom could feel the anger of their leader which began to weigh in the atmosphere. It didn’t affect them in the slightest physically, but it seemed to also make them angrier than usual instead.

Now with the empowerment from the flames and presence of Rick wafting through the atmosphere, the Goblins followed after their leader with invigorated shouts.

No one knew the Tiers of the approaching Orcs who numbered in the 10s at least, but none cared. Especially not Rick, who didn’t even bother sparing Kris or Krel a single glance as he blazed past them at his full speed, and once he felt like he was in range, he leaped over 7 feet in the air towards the encroaching Orcs, and with a spear coated in green fire, came crashing down as he roared at the top of his lungs.

“ARGHHHHH!!!!!”

A cloud of green flames immediately spread throughout the area and the screams of Orcs could soon be heard throughout the forest.

The exact number of Orcs present numbered 15 and now two of them were dead. Their bodies lay scorched at the feet of Rick.

Though he didn’t dwell on his small victory as the other Goblins rushed in behind him, with Geedi giving out orders as she entered the fray.

“Triangle!!!”

Another practiced command, which called for 3 Goblins to surround one opponent with one on three different points around the target, forming a sort of triangle. Of course, it wasn’t enough of them to do that with every Orc present, but they weren’t alone. Loruk soon rushed in, with sword unlike anything Rick’s tribe could produce, and Surgsha wasn’t too far behind with a pair of short swords dancing within her fingertips.

Rick himself quickly realized the leader of the Orcs wasn’t one of whom who died to his preemptive strike and he dashed towards his direction. Only this time he had no spear as it broke in the previous clash.

Wala and Dran were definitely able to improve their weaponry, but they still lacked the ability to make something that could truly withstand the force of a Tier 4 Goblin.

So, Rick only rushed ahead with his fists as his main weapons.

They were coated in green flames.