Irene, at the forefront of the battle, shouted "Charge!" as she discarded her bow and swiftly drew the twin daggers from her waist. Surveying the scene around her, she noted with a pang of sorrow that many of her fellow elves had fallen. Yet, amidst the chaos, a few had begun to manifest their abilities, spurred on by the intensity of the fight. "Whatever Ivan did to them," Irene thought grimly, "he didn't just impart knowledge but also facilitated their adaptation to their newfound powers."
And it was good… It felt good. Irene felt new and powerful as if she could do anything and everything. There was a sense of invincibility pooling in her heart. She was becoming arrogant, and she knew it, yet she could not help but embrace it.
As lightning crackled around her, Irene felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins, multiplying her reflexes several folds. "This bioelectricity," she mused, "it's incredible." The concept of bioelectricity was foreign to her but somehow the knowledge that she had gained from the Memory Packet that Ivan gave to her had adjusted filling up gaps in her memories as to how to use her gift more efficiently and effectively.
With renewed vigor, she lunged forward, her daggers flashing in the dim light of battle. "Stay close, everyone!" she called out to her comrades, her voice ringing out above the clash of weapons and the roar of magic. "We can win this if we fight together! On me, my sisters!"
The forest heard the cry of the elves and the moans of the defeated—
The goblins roared indignantly as more of their numbers fell by arrows, blades, and all kinds of powers. Irene, at the forefront of the battle, shouted for the second time "Charge!" as she exploded with electric power.
"The goblins' logistic lines were crumbling bit by bit," noted Mayne, her voice carrying through the chaos. "They are scattering, some of them might come at the village!" She used wind powers to redirect her arrows and enhance her natural speed, ensuring that her shots were precise and deadly amidst the fray.
The forest echoed with the clash of arms and the crackle of magic as Irene and Mayne fought fiercely against the goblin horde. "They are scattering, some of them might come at the village!" Mayne's voice cut through the chaos, her wind powers deflecting incoming projectiles with precise control. With a swift motion, she countered with her own arrows, each finding its mark with deadly accuracy.
Irene electrified with newfound power, unleashed paralyzing bolts of lightning at the more dangerous goblins, ensuring their swift defeat. "Ivan can protect the village, have a little bit of trust in him, Mayne!" she shouted over the din of battle, her words laced with determination.
"He doesn't really inspire confidence, considering the mystery around that elf, I tell you…" Mayne's voice trailed off as she seamlessly slid from one patch of ground to another, her agile movements were a dance of death. Leaping into a nearby tree, she unleashed a barrage of arrows, each one finding its target under her precise guidance.
"The village will be fine, we need to push more, and expose our sisters at the vanguard… We need to escalate. The more of our sisters awaken their gifts, the better chance we'll have in the long run," Irene declared, her body enveloped in crackling electricity as she darted across the battlefield, saving more of her fellow elves from certain doom.
Mayne's voice rose above the chaos, carried by the wind itself. "You will be sending them to their deaths! I have the Gift now, and so are you! And look, some of our sisters have awakened their powers already!" She gestured toward a distant elf who moved with incredible speed, releasing arrows and darting around the battlefield, while another elf was seen burying goblins with surprising strength.
Irene's expression hardened as she surveyed the scene, her eyes flashing with determination. "No, we need more Gifted. It would be for the best in the long run." With a swift motion, she dispatched four goblins wearing assassin attire in an explosion of electric fury, her daggers crackling with power.
Mayne frowned, her concern evident in her eyes. "But at what cost, Irene? We cannot afford to lose more of our kin."
Irene's jaw tightened as she continued to fight, her movements swift and precise. "We must endure the sacrifices now for the greater good later. Trust me, Mayne. This is the only way to ensure our survival. Like I said— we need more Gifted."
Mayne nodded reluctantly, her gaze flickering between Irene and the advancing goblin horde. "I will trust in your judgment, Irene. But let us make sure their sacrifices are not in vain."
With a shared understanding, Irene and Mayne plunged back into the fray, their powers combining in a dance of elemental fury. As they fought side by side, they knew that the fate of their village rested on their shoulders and the awakening of their sisters' powers.
It was reckless, heartless, and something that even left a bad taste in Irene's mouth, but she trusted Ivan's words and her own instincts. For all she knew, the small elven village was at the precipice of something great, and she'd not let the chance slip by, being soft and doing nothing.
Mayne's voice cut through the chaos of battle, her concern evident as she addressed Irene's earlier remark. "Long run? What? Is it just me, or are we going to bring the war on the Goblin Kingdom far south?" She complained, her frustration mounting as the forest floor became increasingly stained with blood. Despite her reservations, she continued to unleash a barrage of arrows, dispatching two more goblins with lethal precision. Amidst the chaos, her keen eyes spotted a familiar figure lingering at the backlines of the goblin horde. "Steph, you are still alive!"
Steph, hidden amidst the dense foliage, responded tentatively. "I… Yes…" Her voice trailed off as she busied herself setting up more traps, crafting pit traps lined with sharp spikes underneath. With a quick prayer, she faded into invisibility, darting away to set up further defenses.
The elves had been excellent forest dwellers and competent hunters, but in some ways, they were better than others in most like Steph who excelled in trap-making… Strangely enough, the traps that Steph left didn't victimize any elves. It maybe had something to do with the Memory Packet that Ivan gave them— Irene realized Ivan might not be as heartless as she made him to be.
Irene, electrified with newfound power, interjected with determination at her friend. "Mayne, trust me on this one… We need more Gifted, and with Ivan's help, we now have more Gifted in our ranks… Push forward! Ignore stragglers! We'll raze their supply lines and run back on the village!"
Mayne hesitated, torn between her instincts for self-preservation and Irene's conviction. Despite her reservations, she nodded in reluctant agreement, understanding the urgency of their situation. With a shared resolve, they pressed forward into the heart of the fray.
As Irene surveyed the chaotic battlefield, she realized the extent of the goblins' cunning. Their supply lines were far more advanced and dispersed than she had anticipated, with scattered camps and boar-driven caravans spread throughout the forest. Frustration gnawed at her as she struggled to discern which camps were mere outposts and which held strategic importance.
"Sigh... These goblins are more organized than I thought," Irene muttered under her breath, her annoyance evident in her tone. With a grim determination, she issued orders to the gifted elves, instructing them to lead teams of five and circle back to their village. It was imperative to secure their home base before attempting to dismantle the goblins' operations for good.
Hopefully, Ivan kept his promise and didn't hold back in protecting the village.
"We need to regroup and fortify our defenses," Irene declared, her voice cutting through the clamor of battle. "Once our village is secure, we can focus on disrupting the goblins' supply lines again, and maybe scout for their leaders."
With a sense of urgency driving her actions, Irene led the charge back toward the village, her fellow elves rallying behind her. Out of nowhere, Irene was flung by an invisible force.
As Irene was flung by an invisible force, she found herself airborne, her senses reeling as she struggled to regain her bearings. A goblin riding a wolf and wielding a staff loomed before her, flanking their retreat. Meanwhile, Mayne dashed back to provide cover fire with her arrows, her movements fluid and precise amidst the chaos of battle.
The goblin, speaking in the common tongue, introduced himself as Kark, his voice dripping with malice as he issued a challenge to Irene.
"I am Kark, son of Lark, Wolf Shaman of the Kingdom of Bgorr! I challenge you, long ears of lighting in a duel to the death!"
With a tense expression, Irene gripped her daggers tighter, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. Kark's ability to intercept Mayne's arrows mid-air with what seemed like telekinesis sent a shiver down Irene's spine, reminding her of the powers Ivan had once used.
Irene had no delusion she could win this fight as it was clear the goblin had more experience than her when it came to using their gifts.
As more wolves appeared, surrounding Kark, Irene knew that engaging in a direct confrontation would be foolish. With a swift command, she ordered her comrades to pull back and retreat, her voice ringing out above the chaos of battle. Despite the goblin's provocation, she refused to be drawn into a reckless fight, recognizing the need for strategic withdrawal.
"Back to the village! Ignore the goblin, and retreat!"
Bounding across the tree branches with agile grace, Irene prepared to make her escape. With a fierce determination, she pounced towards a nearby tree, utilizing her surroundings to evade the advancing goblin forces. Each movement was calculated, every leap bringing her closer to safety as she led her fellow elves in a hasty retreat from the encroaching threat.
"Coward," snickered Kark.