The king and queen initiate the first attack. It was not something fancy or remarkable. Unlike the three hobgoblins, the king and queen have their own different weapons. For the king, he was wielding a scimitar in his dominant right hand whilst holding a bark shield in the other.
A scimitar is a short sword with a curved blade that broadens towards the point whereas the bark shield or gweagal shield is usually cut off from the bloodwood of mulga trees or from a bark of a red mangrove tree.
Based on the condition of the king's scimitar and bark shield, he must
have got it from somewhere or someone they killed.
"Monsters these days would use whatever means or form of the weapon just to survive. A bark shield suits his figure."
On the other hand, the queen has a bow in her hand. Around her shoulder was a custom-made quiver appropriate to her size. Also, the recurve bow was slightly larger than the normal ones. Each bow has a sharp stone arrowhead in it and the shaft was made from no normal wood.
Being a ten-foot-tall monster whose broad figure can be seen as an easy target didn't even hinder their abilities to express such subtleness.
The two goblin's unskillful initiative confused the knights.
"Is that it? Or they are just testing us even after seeing the skirmish with the three hobgoblins?"
"Guess it's the latter, huh?"
The initiative was more of a greeting than testing them out with a few lame attacks. The king and queen see them with mockery and pity in their eyes. Although they can't verbally express their thoughts, the goblins would show what they mean to say with their actions.
"Prepare for battle. He's charging!"
Straight on, the king goblin pushed forward the knights' diamond formation. Over his shoulders, the image of the queen pulling the bowstring after pulling an arrow out of her quiver.
"His expression alone is enough to discern that he's the king in his group."
He was different from the normal hobgoblins that do unnecessary growls or utters. Instead, he was surprisingly calm and focused.
His calmness, the unwavering expression, was something the knights shall not neglect or disregard.
"Dealing with the king goblin will be quite difficult with the queen taking shots from behind!"
The knights were aware of their disadvantage with an archer on the other side whilst a berserker tanks them. Therefore, Eugeo prioritized taking out
the queen first.
"Their aim is to make us become preoccupied with the king goblin tanking the front wherein the queen can support him from afar."
Xenon understood what Eugeo meant, "then Draco, Finral, Krugman, and I will hold the king goblin!"
Eugeo and the other three also charged forward not to engage in a head-on fight against the but to prevent the queen from supporting the king and taking her out first.
On their way, they were met with the shoving force of a bark shield swinging
at them. Halting midway was inevitable otherwise they will be pushed back.
The four dispersed in all directions, making it pretty hard for the king goblin to stop them all at once.
When he realized that it can't be helped, the king goblin chose to block Eugeo's way, imposingly standing in front of the six-foot-tall Eugeo.
"Huh... I'd say that you have taste in men. I'm sorry but I don't intend on fighting you for now."
Xenon, Draco, Finral, and Krugman took over Eugeo's place. The latter agilely slipped past the king goblin, rendezvousing with the other three as Xenon's group kept the king goblin entertained.
"This bastard's not even the slightest bit concerned for his partner."
Never had the king goblin look back or turn back to protect his queen.
"Incoming arrows!"
They run in zigzags without colliding with each other and avoiding the whizzing arrows which are strong enough to shatter their armor and pierce through it.
Drawing the arrows and shooting them at the approaching enemies seemed like an easy thing to do for the queen goblin. However, none of her arrows hit the four knights, and they just kept pushing forward until she was forced to jump back when Eugeo's attack range reached her.
"Half-assed retreat like that isn't enough to escape my grasp."
Support from one knight behind him helped him abruptly get pushed onward upon placing a hand on his back. The wind guided Eugeo towards the queen who was still in mid-air.
"I got you, bitch."
With the thrust of his sword, using both of his hands to exert more force and the support Eugeo got from his comrade, it reached and pierced cleanly the goblin's body. But...
"Where did this chump come from?!"
Who Eugeo stabbed with his weapon was not the queen goblin but one of her underlings that came out of nowhere.
Once again, the little goblins, who were hiding from the shadows, had revealed themselves in order to become a meat shield for their queen.
"Eugeo, watch out!"
The knight was pushed to the side upon hearing those words. And the next thing he realized was that he fell to the ground, staring at the wounded comrade who saved him from an arrow shot at him just a few feet away.
"Potter, get a hold of yourself!"
Saving Eugeo from the arrow took a toll on Potter. His right shoulder was hit by the arrow, rendering his whole arm unmovable. The speed of the arrow and its piercing ability managed to punch a hole in Potter's armor, thus wounding him.
"I-I am fine, Eugeo. It's just a scratch."
"Hey, sir! We need a helping hand! There's just too many goblins!"
No one lowered their guards. They were cautious and aware of the capabilities of their enemies, and yet they received damage from the goblins which just tells them that they should not be doing a half-assed job or it might really cost them their life.
~