Three days later.
A vast plain stretched for hundreds of kilometers under a sky cloaked in darkness. Stars glittered above, dimmed by a thin, shimmering membrane that supported this entire fragmented plane.
The land below was a deep, unsettling red. There was no trace of grass or greenery, only strange crimson vines creeping across the cracked earth like veins beneath scarred skin.
At the edge of the plain stood a massive teleportation gate—ten meters high and a hundred meters wide—humming with light. Suddenly, a dark shadow soared out of the portal, circling high above the plain like a predator surveying its prey.
Heavy infantry in obsidian-black armor followed in rapid formation, emerging from the gate with practiced discipline. They fanned out swiftly to secure the area.
"So this is another dimension?" Ye Zhan muttered, frowning. "The spiritual energy is so thin here. Cultivating into an extraordinary warrior in this place would be next to impossible."
"It's nothing like the energy-rich lands of our tribe," the deputy general said, glancing around. "Are we sure there are even any living creatures here? It doesn't feel suitable for humans at all."
"There will be enemies," Ye Zhan replied firmly.
Before he could elaborate, a mounted soldier came galloping in at full speed. Ye Zhan gestured to the guards to let him through.
The soldier dismounted and saluted hastily. "General, a group of green-skinned monsters is approaching our front lines—nearly ten thousand of them."
"Green monsters? Those must be the goblins the chieftain warned us about," Ye Zhan said thoughtfully. He turned to his officers. "Sound the alarm. Prepare for battle. They're coming."
"Yes, General!"
For this operation, the Night Tribe had deployed 30,000 troops—every one of them an extraordinary warrior. Only about 6,000 were seasoned veterans, distributed among the various legions to reinforce leadership and coordination.
In the Night Tribe, becoming extraordinary was no longer rare. The absolute minimum requirement to enlist was to step into the ranks of the extraordinary.
Thanks to the tribe's abundant resources, anyone with decent aptitude could ascend to that level within three months. Those without talent, however, were discouraged from trying. The tribe couldn't afford to waste resources on mediocrity.
Power mattered. Su Xingyu had made that clear. Everything else—willpower, technique, coordination, equipment—could be trained or acquired. But raw strength came from within, a gift of nature and bloodline.
Even if some among the rejected could rise to greatness later in life, Su Xingyu had no regrets. He had limited time and vast responsibilities. One day, perhaps, there would be ways to uplift even the untalented—but not now.
In the distance, the enemy finally came into view: a surging green tide of goblins, numbering in the thousands.
"They're charging headfirst into our formation... Do they even know how to think?" Ye Zhan frowned at the scene.
But thoughtless or not, he had no intention of showing mercy.
"Archers, ready!"
The Night Tribe had already prepared their formation. Shieldbearers and swordsmen held the front, archers formed ranks at the rear, and cavalry flanked both sides in a wide semicircle.
As the goblins neared, the front-line warriors could finally see their foes clearly—short, emaciated creatures with sallow green skin, pointed ears, red-rimmed eyes, and barely any clothing. They looked more like malnourished humans than fearsome monsters.
"Gahwaaaa!"
The goblins let out a shrill cry, trying to intimidate the Night Tribe warriors.
"Fire!" came the order.
A blackened storm of arrows screamed through the air, descending with deadly precision.
The goblins had no armor, no shields—only a few scattered leaves tied to their frail bodies. In an instant, hundreds were pierced through, collapsing in grotesque silence as green blood soaked into the red soil.
The onslaught didn't stop. Another volley was loosed, and the goblins shrieked as more fell, pierced like ragdolls nailed to the earth.
After just two waves of arrow fire, the goblin horde had lost nearly two thousand.
True to their cowardly nature, they didn't hesitate. The moment fear overtook them, they turned and fled in all directions, shrieking and scrambling in panic.
Ye Zhan blinked. "What... that's it?"
He had fought in countless battles over the years, facing disciplined armies, vicious beasts, and cunning warlords—but this was new. Charging headlong, getting decimated in seconds, then retreating in chaos? It was suicidal.
The deputy general looked just as stunned. "General, should we pursue them?"
"Of course. Send Guo Li with the cavalry. Cut them down. I want as many of them dead as possible."
With a sharp nod, the order was given. Four thousand cavalry surged forward in unison, thundering across the red plains like a tidal wave of steel and fury.
The goblins, already scattered and broken, never had a chance. Their stubby legs couldn't hope to outrun warhorses.
Within moments, the cavalry caught up. There was no organized resistance—only disjointed shrieks and terrified scattering. One by one, the green monsters were sliced down.
Swords gleamed in the dim starlight, flashing like the scythes of death. Each swing reaped another soul.
Curiously, when the goblins realized they couldn't escape or fight back, they dropped their weapons and knelt in surrender. Their gestures were universal—palms up, heads bowed.
But Guo Li had his orders. There was no room for mercy today.
By the time the killing ended over an hour later, the blood-soaked earth was littered with goblin corpses. Green ichor mixed with the red soil, forming grotesque pools across the field.
Ye Zhan surveyed the battlefield. His cavalry had taken no casualties.
"They really were that weak?" he muttered. It felt unsatisfying. He had come for battle, to test his warriors and forge their mettle. But this had been more of a slaughter.
The captain of his personal guard nodded. "Some enemies just aren't worth fighting."
Ye Zhan exhaled slowly and looked over the field again. Perhaps the real challenge still lay ahead.
After all, in this fragmented, chaotic dimension, the goblins were only the first wave.