The battlefield, still littered with the corpses of beasts from the previous waves, fell into an eerie silence. The villagers, bruised and bloodied, stood frozen, gripping their weapons tightly as they caught their breath. Then, a sound cut through the quiet like a dagger—a shrill, bone-chilling screech emanating from deep within the forest.
It wasn't a roar of a beast or the guttural growl of a predator. It was high-pitched and unsettling, carrying with it an air of malice and cunning. The villagers instinctively clutched their weapons tighter, their knuckles white as the sound seemed to come closer, echoing off the trees and surrounding them like a sinister chorus.
"What… was that?" one villager whispered, his voice trembling.
Before anyone could respond, the trees at the edge of the forest rustled violently, and from the shadows emerged a small, hunched creature.
The first goblin stepped into view, its green skin glistening in the fading light. Its beady red eyes darted around as it grinned wickedly, revealing sharp, yellowed teeth. In its clawed hand, it held a crude blade that looked as if it had been pieced together from scraps of metal.
Then, as if signaled by the first goblin, dozens more burst from the treeline, their screeches filling the air. They swarmed from all directions, their twisted forms scuttling across the battlefield with terrifying speed. Some carried makeshift weapons—rusty daggers, sharpened bones, and crude clubs—while others wielded nothing but their clawed hands and malicious intent.
The goblins moved like a chaotic tide, their shrill cries driving a dagger of fear into the hearts of the villagers.
The villagers stared in stunned silence, their faces pale as the goblins charged toward them.
"They're... smaller than the other beasts," one man stammered, gripping his pitchfork. "But why do they feel so much more terrifying?"
"Look at their eyes," another villager whispered, his voice shaking. "They're... intelligent. They're planning something."
Rodrick and Lily, standing among the villagers, exchanged terrified glances.
"There's so many of them," Lily said, her voice quivering.
Rodrick swallowed hard. "Aiden's out there. He's fighting... we have to trust him."
Aiden stood at the edge of the battlefield, his sword gripped tightly in his hand. The screeches of the goblins sent chills down his spine, but he forced himself to focus.
With a deep breath, Aiden launched himself forward, his body glowing faintly with mana as he reinforced his speed and strength.
The goblins at the forefront barely had time to react as Aiden closed the distance. He swung his sword in a wide arc, the blade slicing cleanly through the lead goblin's neck. Its head tumbled to the ground as its body crumpled, but Aiden didn't stop.
He pivoted on his heel, dodging a club swung at his head, and retaliated with a downward slash that split another goblin from shoulder to hip. Blood sprayed across the battlefield as Aiden pressed forward, his sword a blur of motion.
Despite his size and age, Aiden moved with precision and efficiency, cutting down goblin after goblin.
On the western flank, Ayleen raised her staff high into the air, her eyes glowing with power. "You filthy creatures will regret stepping onto this field," she said coldly.
She channeled her mana into a massive light spell, her body radiating a brilliant golden glow. Moments later, the battlefield was engulfed in a blinding flash of light. The goblins screeched and stumbled, clawing at their eyes as they were temporarily blinded.
Taking advantage of their disarray, Ayleen unleashed a chain lightning spell. Bolts of electricity crackled and arced from one goblin to the next, frying them instantly. Dozens of goblins fell, their bodies smoking and lifeless as the remaining creatures regrouped.
On the southern front, Orin gripped his sword tightly, his golden aura blazing around him. With a sharp exhale, he summoned a second blade made entirely of condensed aura energy.
"Let's see how you handle this," he growled.
Orin moved like a whirlwind, his dual blades cutting through the goblins with terrifying speed. He spun and slashed, his movements fluid and precise as he beheaded goblins left and right. The creatures shrieked and tried to overwhelm him with sheer numbers, but Orin's aura created a barrier that kept them at bay.
"You're nothing but pests," Orin muttered, driving his aura blade through a goblin's chest.
On the northern and eastern flanks, Seven and Eight fought back-to-back, their coordination keeping the goblins at bay.
Seven slammed his palms into the ground, summoning walls of earth that rose to funnel the goblins into narrow choke points. "Let's see how you like being herded," he said with a grim smile.
Eight nodded, raising his hands as green mana swirled around him. "My turn," he said, launching a massive wind blade down the narrow path. The spell tore through the tightly packed goblins, slicing them apart in droves.
"Not bad," Seven said with a smirk.
"We're not done yet," Eight replied, already preparing his next spell.
Despite the efforts of Aiden, his family, and the specialists, some goblins managed to slip through the defenses. These creatures charged toward the village center, their red eyes gleaming with malice.
The villagers froze in terror, their earlier courage faltering. But as they watched Aiden—a mere five-year-old—fight with unrelenting determination, something stirred within them.
"We can't just stand here!" one man shouted, gripping his pitchfork.
"If that boy can fight, so can we!" another villager yelled.
Fueled by a mix of fear and desperation, the villagers charged toward the oncoming goblins, wielding farming tools and makeshift weapons.
But the goblins were fast and cunning. They dodged the villagers' clumsy attacks, countering with savage efficiency. Screams filled the air as several villagers fell, some gravely injured while others were killed outright.
Despite the mounting losses, the villagers refused to give up, fighting tooth and nail to protect their families.
Aiden, still fighting on the front lines, caught glimpses of the chaos unfolding behind him. He gritted his teeth, frustration boiling within him.
As the battle raged on, a new sound emerged from the forest—a deep, guttural growl that sent shivers down everyone's spines.
The goblins paused for a moment, their heads snapping toward the trees as if waiting for something. The villagers froze, their faces pale with fear.
"What… what now?" Rodrick whispered, his voice trembling.
Ayleen and Orin exchanged grim looks, their expressions heavy with dread.
"This isn't over," Ayleen said, her voice firm but filled with unease.
Even Ciara, was on edge. Her fur bristled, and she let out a low growl, her golden eyes fixed on the forest.
Aiden tightened his grip on his sword, his heart pounding. "What else could there possibly be?"
The answer came moments later as a shadow emerged from the forest—a figure far larger and more menacing than the goblins.