Chapter Twenty
{ Fallen Village }
Five healthy youths…
Ian assigned them as soldiers immediately, but this time… he made them archers.
The army was starting to take proper shape now… there were the warriors… and now the archers. And soon there would be cavalry. Then support units… then a beast army… and then… and then many other things.
Similarly, three more wolves appeared, bringing Ian’s total forces to the following:
Titan Village
Human Forces: 16 { Chris, Liu, Noa… }
Goblin Forces: 42 { Tory, Boban… }
Non-combatant Humans: 4 { Yora, Aliano, Martin, the elder }
Non-combatant Goblins: 5 { … }
Total Population: 67
General Loyalty Rate: 79%
Ruler: Lord Ian { not counted among military or workers }
Among them were four individuals at Level One… and the rest were all at Level 0.
Then came the beasts:
The White Tiger (Level One, Stage Five)
Six Strong Wolves (Level 0)
Ian’s forces had expanded, pleasing him— even diversifying a bit…
His only regret now was labor. But he couldn’t make the youths workers…
This was the weakest period for the village, so how could he provide labor and reduce the army…
Especially since changing professions later was very difficult… requiring a Purification Stone, something that wouldn’t appear until the Science and Research Building reached intermediate level.
More importantly… jobs were meant for middle-aged men or the elderly, not hot-blooded youths. Meaning every young worker was a loss for Ian. And Ian would do everything possible to compensate for this shortage himself until he had enough workers in all fields.
The army gathered while Ian was plowing the soil in preparation for farming.
Soon he would transfer all the crops from the medical garden to the land and make the garden focus on its main purpose… medicinal herbs.
A village… with no medicinal herbs.
What nonsense.
The entire force was assembled before the village in an orderly scene Chris personally arranged.
Chris wore the silver armor, placed the rare sword at his waist, and walked in front of the soldiers and the seven beasts, inspecting them with eagle eyes.
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No one dared speak…
“It is time.” Ian finished and set the axe aside, then took the bows and arrows on his back…
Four bows and a large quiver of arrows… in case he needed to use his skills. (Moment of Glory)
Yora personally helped him, her eyes filled with tears. “Thank you, my lord.”
Ian wiped her tears, understanding what she meant, and smiled.
“I am the lord… everything here belongs to me… and you are my people… so how could I not care about you? I will leave the village in your care… don’t forget what Noa told you about how to act in case of danger.”
Yora nodded.
“Are you ready?” Ian stood before the army and asked.
“Yes, sir!” the soldiers shouted, shaking the air.
Ian smiled and looked toward Chris. “Let’s go.”
Ian mounted the White Tiger, which cut its way toward the fallen village.
“Move out!” Chris shouted, and the forces began to march.
**
As soon as they left—
“A human village,” a voice smiled from behind the trees.
It was a strong Orc with two axes strapped to his back.
He walked toward the village with confident steps.
Everyone in the village capable of challenging him had left…
He wasn’t only Level One, but was naturally strong by birth.
All races— humans, orcs, goblins— each had something unique…
Humans were not naturally strong, but the Orcs were. That is why they were known as the Kings of the Common Level…
Whatever level they were in, they would be its unmatched rulers.
He entered the village confidently but… he didn’t take a single step before falling into a deep pit— ten meters deep— and a group of wooden logs slammed shut above him.
“He has fallen,” Yora smiled, walking above the pit and shouting in Orc language, “Welcome, traveler from afar… do you like the village?”
“Cursed human… get me out of here!” the Orc roared.
The space was too tight for him to move… the pit was extremely narrow, making it impossible for him to gather his breath, let alone jump or climb out. Not to mention the large pile of wood that fell on him…
All of this was Noa’s doing.
Porto and Liu were watching the scene from afar before descending and rejoining the group.
“What do you say about having a little chat about the strength of your village… in detail… and about the reason behind these excessive scouting patrols?” Yora asked.
Their surroundings were not safe… so why were they roaming outside in such large numbers?
Perhaps they were trying to subdue another group of villages… or searching for something…
Ian believed he was the second target, and for that reason he set up an ambush— especially after learning he was being watched from Liu.
Even so, he left nothing to chance and left Liu and Porto observing the scene from behind until he felt assured.
**
On the other side.
A Fallen Village.
The concept of falling refers to a curse placed upon the place… or a brutal massacre that occurred here, leaving neither living nor dead intact… and in the end, after many long years, the corpses here turned into malicious intent that filled the land, or skeletal remains craving living flesh.
From afar, Ian observed them.
It was a village with collapsed buildings and structures.
A gloomy atmosphere surrounded the village, with a large growth of harmful weeds filling every inch.
A number of skeletons moved aimlessly…
Warriors… archers…
The village stretched more than two miles, and because of the natural obstacles (the weeds and rocks) and the unnatural ones (the collapsed buildings), dealing with them would be easy…
“To kill the skeletons, there are two methods… the first is to destroy the eyes with a killing arrow to extinguish the death flames animating them… the second is to cut off the head,” Ian said firmly.
“Archers, we will rely on you… I know you haven’t had enough training… but I want you to pull the skeletons away from the soldiers… I want no injuries while the soldiers learn and kill them… Chris, Liu, Tory— you will deal with the Level One targets. Porto, you will handle all the archers alone… no arrow is allowed to reach the troops… I will take the tiger and the wolves and serve as distraction units for you.”
“This is dangerous, my lord,” Chris objected.
“We are all taking risks here,” Ian smiled. “And also— I am the lord. There is no objection to my orders.”
“I am only worried about you, sir,” Chris said.
“I know… but since when has the general’s heart become this soft?” Ian laughed, easing the tension among the soldiers. “Let’s begin.”
Howl.
The six wolves dashed west, where the terrain was densest, and they quickly drew away a group of skeletons— estimated at six.
Rar.
The White Tiger appeared behind them, with Ian on its back, surrounding the skeletons.
“Archers, fire!” Chris commanded.
“Warriors… engage them!” he ordered again.
Clang.
Sounds rose instantly, and a one-sided slaughter began.
,,,,
( Tomorrow is my free day, so there is no any update )
