Rise of the Horde

Goblin corpses soon piled up all around Xiao Chen and the warriors of the White Tiger group. Wave after wave, goblins assaulted their tight box formation, clashing against their large shields to get through but to no avail.

Within the formation, the orc warriors continuously shifted their formation after each goblin wave. Precise, quick and disciplined maneuvers. The orc warriors at the outermost of the formation was replaced by the one behind him after every assault of the goblin, the swapped-out warrior would then be at the center of the formation, catching a breather.

Swapping in fresh warriors to replace the ones at the outer part of the formation enabled them to remain steady and strong. The tight box formation stood still and didn't budge at all against the endless wave of goblins.

"Ready...Steady...Switch!!!"

Xiao Chen kept giving commands as he push back the last goblin in front of him with his large shield, knocking it down to the ground before giving it a quick stab on the face, ending the little creature quickly.

The new system of fighting of the Yohan First Battalion enabled them to fight in all directions unlike the phalanx which is only effective in engaging on one side only.

"Kiek...ki....ki...Weaklings!!! How come you haven't killed them yet!!!"

An angry hobgoblin commander angrily yelled at his subordinates as he kicked one of the closest goblin near him due to his frustration. Its gaze was blazing with anger like the dancing fire during a great bonfire, his hooked nose flaring up and his face was twisted and scary like that of a demon.

The common little goblins at the bottom of the hierarchy can't do anything against the hobgoblin since he is bigger, tougher and stronger than them.

"Kiek...ki... we saw wagons... just past the strong orc warriors"

A goblin scout rushed in and reported to the angry hobgoblin, its eyes trembling in fear as he watches the hobgoblin approach him.

"Where are the wagons?"

The hobgoblin asked, his interest was piqued by the report of the wagons, since wagons means wealth or treasure.

"Past the fierce orcs, along the path. They are idling around at a place due west of here."

The goblin scout answered quickly fearing that the angry hobgoblin commander might not be pleased with his report.

"Kulkul! Take a thousand with you and take those wagons. I want them all, none should be missing"

The hobgoblin yelled towards one of the bigger common goblins, it was almost as big as the hobgoblins but yet to evolve into a real hobgoblin.

Kulkul rallied a thousand goblins and sprinted past Xiao Chen and the White Tiger group as they were still busy with the current goblin wave that was upon them.

Staring at the back of those goblins that just bypass them, a small smile emerged from Xiao Chen's lips. He was glad that they aimed for the wagons, the displeased Drae'ghanna could at least alleviate her displeasure of being left behind with the help of those goblins.

"Is that all you got!?"

Gur'kan shouted towards the goblins, taunting the spectating hobgoblins who were directing the attack.

"See this!!!not a drop of sweat!!! We aren't even trying!!! Am I right boys!?"

"Awooh!!! awooh!!! awooh!!!"

Gur'kan continued to taunt the hobgoblin commanders as his White Tiger group warriors responded to his taunting.

Infuriated, the hobgoblin commander ordered a more massive wave of attack than the previous ones. Thousands upon thousands of goblins descended from behind the tree lines, shouting their shrieking battle cries as they charge forward.

"That's more like it! Boys!!! Don't let the chief kill more than us!!!"

Gur'kan bellowed and chuckled at end of his sentence, with his left hand tightly gripping the handle of his shield, his right clutching his iron spear that dripped with fresh goblin blood.

Chaos again ensued as the goblins tried to overcome the large shields to get its wielders within their own weapons' range but to no avail. The goblins were shorter than the orcs and the ever-present large shields, keeping them at bay, they were slowly being pierced to death by the iron spears that were thrusted now and then.

Xiao Chen was now covered with blood all over his body, his eyes started glowing red. Something was brewing up within his mind, he was thirsting for more blood, he craved to see more blood spilled.

Slowly his reasoning became clouded as he yelled a battle cry, moving forward to get more kills, to feel more of the hot blood that splattered his body. The warm blood of his enemies, he wants them all.

Gur'kan was puzzled by the chieftain's actions, he was slowly separating himself from the formation that he so strictly trained them to follow. Signaling his warriors to cover for the chieftain, the tight box formation slowly inched forward near the chieftain.

Relishing at the feeling of the warm blood that soaked his body, Xiao Chen continued on carving a bloody path through his enemies.

"More!!! more!!! more!!!"

He muttered continuously as he pierced a goblins torso before carrying its corpse up in the air and flinging it towards the other goblins, his large shield discarded behind him.

Battle cries soon sounded from behind the tree lines as the Black Tortoise and Azure Dragon group engaged the goblins among the trees. They slowly pushed them towards the clearing where Xiao Chen and the White Tiger group was at with the help of their shields. They herded the goblins like cattle, the hobgoblin commanders shouting commands to the goblins but to no avail, their morale was already broken and they are on a full rout.

Noticing the arrival of their comrades, the White Tiger group fought with more vigor, slaying any unlucky goblin that came their way.

Gur'kan was keeping a close eye on the chieftain, he was worried that something might have happened to him.

Xiao Chen was standing still and didn't move a muscle, his eyes glowing with intense red as he gaze far into the distance. The goblins were running away from the battlefield just beside him but it was like he didn't see them at all, he was like a log. He wasn't responding at all anymore, unlike before where he fought with such ferocity that the goblins started distancing themselves from him.

*****

Somewhere just passed by the battlefield where it was littered with goblin corpses, Drae'ghanna saw the goblins charging in with their shrieking battle cries. A smile formed upon her lips and look to those under her command.

"Battle formation!!! The enemies, delivered themselves to us!!!"

"Prepare javelins!!!"

She roared in command, with a tint of excitement upon her voice. Grabbing a javelin from one of the warriors near her, she raised it up above her shoulder at a throwing stance.

She wasn't aiming for anyone particular, any of the goblins will do. Judging that the distance was sufficient, she threw the javelin which soared through the air with a whooshing sound. Those of the Vermillion Bird group followed suit and peppered the goblins with their javelins, felling those unlucky enough to be aimed at.

After the rain of javelins, the initial charge of the goblins was dissipated, their momentum broken. A wall of large shields welcomed their messy assault.

The goblins tried ramming the shields with the use of the momentum of their charge but to no avail, the large shields didn't even budge a little. The bigger and stronger orcs behind the shields just chuckled at their futile attempts.

Some goblins tried jumping over the large shields only to be met with a pointed end of a sword. It was no suspense; the goblins weren't able to get through the wall of shields which sometimes opens up only to strike them upon their faces or knees.

Aro'shanna stared at Grogus who was watching the goblins get mercilessly slaughtered by the warriors of the Vermillion Bird group.

"Hey...sneaky weasel...want to help your brethren?"

She mocked and tempted the little Grogus to do something, so that she can justify her actions of cleaving him into pieces. Grogus just shook his head and continued spectating on what was going on.

"Humph... you're no fun"

Aro'shanna snorted and joined Grogus in watching the battle happening up ahead. Kul'tha and those in charge of the logistics just sat back in a relaxing mood, cheering for the warriors of Vermillion Bird as they fell the goblins in great numbers.

Kul'tha and his men were keeping the Thyrians steady as they watch. Aro'shanna glanced at them for a brief moment before returning his attention on the goblin by her side.

The relentless assault of the goblins upon the wall of shields eased up, they were no longer excited as they were before. The goblins were distancing themselves from the orcs who were hidden behind their shields.

"Half-step!!! March forward!!!"

Drae'ghanna shouted as she noticed the number of goblins trying to get through their shields less and less. Disciplined and synchronized the large shields moved forward, inching slowly towards the wary goblins who didn't know what to do anymore.

They can't get through the wall of shields, no matter what they did. As the wall of shields advance, the goblins backpedaled until it became a full rout, the goblins ran away for their lives.

Breaking formation, Drae'ghanna and her warriors gave chase and fell down the slow-footed ones. They pursued them through the trees and easily killing the goblins who were more focus on retreating and not putting up any resistance at all.