Arad flew above the forest in the middle of the night, searching for any place that could host the goblins, but he found nothing.
“They might be hiding the entrance in the trees or with thick foliage. We need to search on the ground,” Jack suggested, looking at Arad’s head.
“That’s why I said we need a small army,” Lydia looked at Jack and Arad, “Let’s get back to the village and request armed help to search the forest.”
“The closest city that has a decent army is a fair distance away. We won’t make it time,” Aella replied with a worried face, “I want to get the elves inside out as soon as possible.”
“But we can’t act rashly,” Arad added, “Let’s keep looking from the sky,” He kept flying silently above the forest, hiding in the night darkness.
As a void dragon, his deep dark scales barely reflected any light, camouflaging him in the dead of the night. From a ground observer, it was almost impossible to spot him unless he noticed the one or two stars disappearing as he flew below them.
Unsurprisingly, void dragons are nocturnal hunters by nature. They can use the night to their advantage. Even if Arad didn’t know it consciously, he could feel more at ease looking at the forest in the dark.
“Goblins don’t have magic, do they?” Arad asked as he saw a dot of magic in the middle of the trees.
“Goblin shamans can cast spells, albeit primitive ones. This might be lead,” Lydia replied.
[She’s right, but don’t get too close. Fly away and have Aella take the shaman down if it was one,]
Arad slowed down and started circulating around the blob of magic, “It doesn’t look stable,”
“I hear fighting, swords clashing with bones. Let’s hurry,” Aella tapped Arad’s back.
Arad flew down, landing a short distance away, and transformed into his human form as everyone jumped down from his back.
“Let’s hurry,” Lydia rushed forward.
“You will alert them,” Arad called her.
“They are already fighting. We have to assist!” Lydia replied as she rushed forward with her sword drawn.
“Damn it,” Jack growled, running after her.
Arad and Aella looked at each other, nodding as they chased after the two. “Aella, get up to the trees. I will take the front with Lydia and let Jack pull the injured from the battlefield or sneak attack the big targets.” Arad’s draconic brain quickly spat a rough plan.
***
“Charge!” Isdis shouted, pointing her sword forward as the knights rushed with shields, bashing the hordes of wolves into the trees.
“They are coming from the back! Spearmen, take a stance!” The captain shouted, “Arrow formation!” He pointed at the two large forest giants glaring at them.
“They are too big! Crossbowmen, assist!” The spearmen shouted, seeing the giants standing taller than six meters with muscular bodies.
Isdis rushed to the front, “Stay behind me!” She shouted, seeing the giant swinging a tree trunk at her.
BAM! She jumped back, dodging the strike, but the dust almost blinded her. “How annoying,” She pointed her sword at the giants. [Frozen Flesh]
CREEK! The giant’s muscles cracked as small crystals of ice formed in his legs.ραпdαs `n?ν?| сom ．
“She bought us a chance! Kill him!” The spearmen shouted, rushing beath the giant and lifting their spears, wanting him to fall on them.
CRACK! The giant stomped forward, keeping his balance and swinging his frozen leg. THWACK! His kick sent the spearmen flying.
The captain gasped, seeing the ice in the giant’s leg healing.
“We can’t win with the wolves distracting us,” He shouted and looked back, “Everyone, focus on the wolves first,”
Isdis rushed toward one of the giants, rolling beneath its tree trunk swing. SLASH!
With a single swing from her sword, she cut a deep wound into the giant’s torso, but that quickly started to heal.
Isdis turned around and jumped. BAM! The tree trunk hit the ground, so she got above it and ran to the giant’s head, stabbing at his face.
“Freeze!”
The giant swung his fist, hitting her in the guts, and sent her flying. “Your Highness!” The captain guard shouted.
The giant swung his tree trunk off the barely moving Isdis.
CLANG! Lydia stood between Isdis and the giant. The tree trunk bounced off her sword as she glared forward with glowing golden eyes. [Holy Smite]
Thud! The giant jumped back, dodging her swing, and ran into the forest. “Don’t bother with the ones running!” Arad shouted, standing between the captain and the second giant.
PEW! PEW! PEW! Arrows fell from the trees, dropping the wolves one after the other.
One of the guards opened his eyes, feeling several slaps on his face. “Hey, you. Finally awake?” Jack smiled, fastening the bandages on the soldier’s wound. “I gave you a weak healing potion to stop the bleeding. Keep putting pressure on the wound and retreat to the carriage,”
“Who are you?” The guard barely moved.
“We talk later when the fight end, about healing you and the nice words you’re leaving about us in the royal court.” Jack smiled, helping the man stand, and then rushed to the next one.
Arad glared at the giant, and it stopped moving. He could understand that Arad wasn’t a human, so he shifted all of his focus onto him.
Thud! Thud! The giant started walking to the side, keeping his eyes on Arad.
Arad did the same, making sure to not let the giant get behind his back. It was like two cats about to fight, growling at each other.
BAM! The giant made the first move, swinging its tree trunk at Arad.
Arad saw the tree trunk coming. He stepped to the side and swung his sword up. [Void dragon fang] SLASH!
CRACK! Arad’s sword didn’t fully cut the tree trunk, only reaching to the middle, but deflected it up with a shock wave.
The giant gasped. He was pushing down with all his might, yet this small man produced enough force to deflect the attack.