The afternoon sun hung mercilessly overhead, scorching everything beneath it. The wind carried no comfort only waves of blistering heat that made the air ripple like a mirage. And beneath that sweltering sky, the smell of blood was thick and heavy, coating the battlefield like a suffocating fog.
Across the clearing, forty goblins gathered in a jagged line. Their green skin glistened with sweat, long noses twitching as they snarled and shrieked. They slammed their spiked clubs against the dirt in a frenzied rhythm, like savage war drums echoing through the plains. Opposite them, fifteen knights of the Kingdom of Cailux sat atop restless warhorses their steel armor blazing under the sunlight, lances aimed forward like a row of gleaming spears.
The goblin tribes of Solana Greenlands and the knights of Cailux were ancient enemies. Logic and mercy had no place here. Only hatred remained and it was about to be unleashed.
Carlos, captain of the knights lowered his lance and roared, "Knights of Cailux! For the Kingdom and for Ares, the God of War—charge!"
"For the Kingdom!" the knights bellowed in unison.
They spurred their horses forward. Hooves thundered against the dry earth sending up clouds of dust. The goblins answered with screeches rushing headlong to meet the charge with reckless abandon.
The two forces collided with devastating impact.
Lances pierced through goblin flesh, shattering bones and tossing bodies aside like broken dolls. Warhorses slammed into the goblin line with crushing force trampling anything in their path. A knight's lance skewered a goblin clean through the chest lifting it off the ground before it fell lifelessly. Another knight's horse crushed two under its hooves, their cries cut short in an instant.
The clearing erupted into chaos. Goblins swung their crude weapons wildly, landing glancing blows against shields and armor. Knights responded with precise, disciplined strikes cutting down their foes with practiced efficiency. The air filled with screams, roars, and the metallic ring of steel meeting bone.
Carlos led from the front. His lance shattered as it skewered a goblin, and in one smooth motion, he drew his longsword. "For Cailux! Show them no mercy!" he shouted, cleaving through another creature's neck. Blood sprayed across his armor, but his gaze burned with righteous fury.
The knights roared back. The name of Ares filled their lungs like fire, their strikes growing fiercer with each cry. Goblins, overwhelmed by the relentless assault, began to break. Their formation crumbled, their desperate shrieks turned into screams of agony as the disciplined cavalry cut them down one by one.
Within minutes, the battlefield was a grisly tableau. Broken bodies littered the grass, blood pooling in dark patches beneath the relentless sun. Those who tried to flee found no mercy the knights split into smaller groups, hunting down stragglers and cutting off escape routes.
Four panicked goblins bolted toward the barbarians stationed nearby, hoping to slip through. But the barbarians stood like a wall of muscle and steel. With grim precision, they raised their massive longswords. The goblins didn't even reach them each one was struck down mid-sprint, their bodies collapsing before they could scream.
Leon watched the entire battle from a slight rise in the terrain. In the world he'd come from Clash of Clans was just a game but here, every swing, every scream, every death was real. The savagery was raw and terrifying.
And then—
[Ding… All enemies are downed after the slaughter.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Ambush Your Enemies]
[Reward Acquired: Bat Swarm Skill Book]
[Comment: This was a furious and exhilarating battle. Although the battle was fought by your allies, it was your victory, nonetheless.]
Leon let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "Bat Swarm, huh?"
A glowing dialog box appeared before his eyes, displaying elegant script and illustrations of flapping wings.
[Bat Swarm: Summon a swarm of enraged bats anywhere on the battlefield. Deploy aerial reinforcements to overwhelm enemies.]
[Origin: Night Witch]
[Mana Cost: Low]
His eyes lit up. "This… is actually perfect," he muttered. For someone like him, who had barely any mana to spare, a low-cost summon was invaluable.
While Leon examined the new skill, Carlos approached, his armor splattered with blood and sweat. "Your Lordship," he said, breathing heavily, "The field is clear. Not a single goblin left alive."
"Good." Leon nodded firmly. "Everyone, back to camp. We're not lingering in this heat any longer than we must."
The knights, exhausted from the clash and baking under the merciless sun, began their retreat. Even the warhorses snorted and frothed their flanks heaving from the effort. If they didn't rest soon, heatstroke would strike faster than any enemy blade.
"Water the horses and set up camp," Carlos ordered.
They made their way to the lakeside, setting up tents and tending to their wounds. The mood was tired but victorious until a sudden shout broke through the calm.
"By Ares! Look to the north!"
A knight at the rear pointed with a trembling hand. Everyone turned.
There, on the distant horizon, half-shrouded by haze, stood the jagged remnants of towering stone walls. Time had cracked and weathered them, but their shape was unmistakable.
Leon's breath caught. "The Ruins of the Solace Kingdom…" he whispered, his grip tightening on his sword.
Excitement rippled through the knights like wildfire. Cheers erupted. "Hurray!" they shouted, voices echoing across the plains. After nine long days of travel, their destination was finally in sight.
Leon didn't cheer. His gaze remained locked on the ruins, his expression hardening. He could feel it in his gut this was no ordinary ruin.
He rested his blade on his shoulder and turned to his men. "Settle down and eat. We'll approach once we've rested. Whatever waits for us there… we'll face it at full strength."
Carlos nodded, rallying the troops.