Raid (2)

"Yngrave Forest is - as everyone is intimately aware of - a breeding ground for Goblins and other monsters, and each year, during the midst of the sweltering heat of Summer, their population spikes to new highs, putting Qingrad and other cities in severe danger. We aren't the only city nearby, but we are the closest, and it falls to us to contain the threat of Yngrave so that the other cities can continue to prosper.

This year, we're joined by Valrock once more to quell the Goblin threat before it can swell. Our comrades from Valrock, you have the thanks of the Qin Family, and the thanks of the citizens of Qingrad for once again answering the call to arms!"

Young Master Qin turned to look at Hildrai and the other Talonmaster from Valrock City, his dazzling smile and gratitude doing little to elicit any expressions from the stoic soldiers, though to his credit he never faltered as he continued to speak.

"We have another two squads coming to our aid from Qingrad at the end of the day, and they should be accompanied by a half squad of Animus Wardens as well. So the raid truly begins tomorrow, after we have our full forces armed and gathered. Today, however, we are going to begin our cleansing of the Goblins by heading into Yngrave and attacking three separate monster Dens that were located before this Raid. We're going to destroy those Dens and deal a significant blow to the monsters of Yngrave before the sun sets today. Now, what I'm sure more of you care about is pay. Nothing gets someone riled up like some good ole fashioned coin eh?"

The soldiers chuckled, and I raised a brow as I saw the Valrock soldiers pay more attention now that payment had been brought up, especially when Young Master Qin said "Your usual rates are going to be tripled for the Raid, and depending on how quickly we finish up and the types of monsters we encounter, you can look at having your total pay doubled and perhaps tripled depending on everything. Additionally, depending on the materials we find as well, I'll have the smiths of Qingrad forge personal arms and armor for everyone. Soldiers of Valrock, that extends to you as well! A mountain of coin and some new gear each!"

The stoic faces that stared back remained the same, but considering their eyes were shining with greed and determination now, Young Master Qin nodded his head, smiling still as he looked back towards the elites around him, muttering something to them that made them all nod back.

"Alright, let's head out! The sun has just risen, so we have many, many hours to make use of! I want at least three Dens cleared out and burnt to the ground before the sun falls! Understood?!"

A determined shout rang out from the assembled soldiers, and without any more fanfare we began our march into Yngrave, our weapons held at the ready as we entered the red forest, intending to paint it a deeper shade of scarlet with the blood of the Goblins that waited for us deep inside its depths.

The journey into the forest was uneventful, the presence of so many different soldiers of varying levels of strength keeping most of the other monsters away from us, and any Goblins we did see were dealt with swiftly, arrows flying through the air at incredible speeds that almost pierced completely through the red skinned bastards flesh, killing them quickly.

Reaching the first of the three Dens just took some time, the sheer size of Yngrave making itself known as we trekked through the hot, humid forest and reached the large rocky entrance of our first objective, which Young Master Qin seemed pleased about.

"Gerard, take point. Bunia, with him; Mister Poik, after you."

The older man with the shield walked in without hesitation, followed by the Bearkin woman and then the mage, with Young Master Qin stepping in next, the Noble deciding to lead by example instead of hiding behind the soldiers, something that seemed to make those from Qingrad both proud and even more determined as they marched in afterwards.

Valrock's soldiers maintained their stoicism, but when we entered the Den and found ourselves facing a large horde of Goblins, we got to watch as that stoicism was turned into a lethal weapon as they brandished their weapons and worked together like a well oiled machine, their Talonmaster's not needing to give orders verbally as they marched forwards, meeting the waves of red skinned Goblins and all their evolved variants that stormed towards us, screaming for blood.

With the new wooden blade in my hands, I stuck with Alessia's squad and fought alongside Paci, swinging the sword and cracking it against the skulls and arms of the Goblins that rushed towards us without issue, the blunt force more than enough to kill, though as soon as my Nature Mana was introduced...

Coating the wood in a haze of green, I swung the blade again and stared in awe as the slight edge cut into the flesh of the Hobgoblin, slicing into its flesh and cleaving its head from its shoulders, a shower of blood spurting from its neck as the Hobgoblin stumbled forwards before crashing to the ground.

Not letting my awe consume me, I decided to treat the sword like my falchion and feel the difference, so I stabbed it forwards and blinked as it pierced the shoulder of a Goblin, sliding easily from the wound and allowing me to attack again quickly as I slammed the blade against its skull, cutting it open and dropping the monster to the ground.

Taking a hand from the sword, I summoned a root from the ground and stabbed it into the foot of a charging Ogre, causing the monster to stumble and fall as it suddenly lost control of one of its limbs, allowing Paci to leap forwards and stab it in the skull with her sword.

As she stood over it, yanking her blade free, I cast the spell again and pierced the stomach of a Hobgoblin that was charging at her, giving her a moment and allowing her to leap back into the fray without worry, something the red head caught as she winked back at me in appreciation.

Taking a breath, I mirrored my carefree companion as I rushed into the horde alongside the other soldiers from Qingrad, fighting not as a cohesive, meshed unit like the soldiers from Valrock, but instead fighting loosely together as we played to our individual strengths and supplemented the weaknesses of our comrades, allowing us to push forwards and cut down many Goblins without issue.