Although it took a month for the 10,000 troops to be organized, it would take a bit longer than that for them to actually arrive at the borders of the Dark Lands of Mir. Particularly the Demi-Human contingent of the group.

  They were months of regular travel away from the borders.

  Of course they had other means of hastening their travels, but it wasn’t something that would be done overnight, and it wouldn’t be for the group.

  There were some that would be using their own personal means to reach not only the lands of Humans, but eventually the Dark Lands of Mir.

  It was the dark of night and a few members of one particular group were currently paying very close attention to the road before them. It was a dreary stretch in the road, as this point was far from any town or village in either direction.

  There were no lamps to light the way, and the only form of illumination came in the form of the moon.

  Something that that the small group in the area preferred.

  “Chief, there is something wrong here. I can feel it in my nose.”

  “Your nose hasn’t been trustworthy in years…but in this moment it might be right for once.”

  The Chief in question was a proud member of the Black Wolves. A tribe of Wolves that specialized in being silent hunters. So much so that as the years passed on and their skills grew along with them…they began to apply their prowess in other fields that were best practiced in silence…

  He was a Wolf-kin of the Sixth Tier, and he along with the members of his team were currently investigating a trail that had seemingly gone cold.

  It all began two days ago.

  The members of the Black Wolf Tribe had been tasked with a few different objectives. Travel north and gather information on the Goblins, this was to be expected. They were about to engage in war with these Goblins so information was a must.

  Now prior to all of this, entering the Human lands would’ve been a mission of upmost secrecy, only sanctioned by the highest forms of power in the Wolf-kin tribes and perhaps even the Demi-human lands as a whole.

  Something like a member of the Black Wolf Tribe being caught in the lands of the Humans would’ve normally been immediate grounds for retaliation if not outright war. Especially with how things were just a few months ago.

  So why not take the opportunity and complete a few other objectives while it would be an open secret that the Black Wolf Tribe would be moving through the Human lands?

  Along with scouting the Goblins, they were also to take any chance they could to investigate the nations of the Human lands. Under the guise of Goblin investigations, they would do their best to scout out their real enemies.

  All of them were taking the threat of the Goblins seriously. A Goblin King could not be allowed to rise to real power. Goblins were far too numerous of race and combined with rapid growth, they would become a power far too great if left unchecked.

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  To add to that, they were not seen as a reasonable and sentient race. They were seen as nothing but common monsters to be hunted…so they were all taking it seriously, but all of them knew or at least thought the threat was temporary.

  No matter how bad or gruesome the war with the Goblins would be, it would pass. When 20+ Tier Seven beings clashed with no room for peace or ceasefires, then entire biomes would get an update they didn’t plan for.

  The amount of power on display and the ensuing amount of death it would cause would be nothing short of staggering, but…it would pass.

  What would still remain would be the humans. They weren’t going anywhere anytime soon and as soon as the threat of the Goblins passed in full, and some time for recovery had been given…things would soon be back how they were prior.

  That was how Humans were. For as long as the Demi-humans could remember, human beings were not the type of creatures that could let bygones be bygones. They were vengeful and filled with the unbridled desire to see another group as below them.

  They even did it to each other.

  So while traveling to the north to look for Goblins, the Black Wolves had taken a few small liberties to investigate any small and large towns they came across.

  Of course it still wouldn’t do well for them to be caught snooping around places where they had no business being, so proper caution was taken for every action they committed.

  And things were all within expectations until one night when they caught wind of something that shouldn’t have.

  The scent of Goblins.

  Smelling them wasn’t the problem. There were a few small pockets of Goblins that were dotted around both the Human lands and even the Demi-human lands. But the nose of a Black Wolf, especially one of real strength, was not one to be taken lightly.

  At certain levels, they could quite literally smell the power of a being.

  And smelling the scent of what should be a Tier Seven Goblin deep into the lands of Humans, was more than enough reason for alarm.

  So this squad of Black Wolves immediately shifted their focus entirely. No more were they trying to find information on the Humans, but instead on tracking down the potential threat.

  Goblins of that level weren’t supposed to be anywhere near here, which raised some serious concerns.

  The scent was then both thoroughly and extremely cautiously investigated. They took their time. Clinging to the shadows and investigating every single possible tidbit of information that could lead them to their target.

  Something they’ve been doing over the last two days.

  Until it led them right here.

  This very road.

  And it was here that they found absolutely nothing.

  Not a single clue, not a single sign of anyone of significance much less Goblins passing through this area.

  Now it could’ve easily been something of a mistake to think assume the scent they picked up on was tied to a Tier Six Goblin hidden in the shadows, but the Chief was also of the Sixth Tier.

  He was confident that his nose wouldn’t have got cold this soon on someone in his Tier. Not after decades of experience.

  No…this was definitely a Tier Seven Goblin.

  One that was not only deep in Human lands, but one that was clearly familiar with a life hidden in the dark of night.

  This fact alone would change everything.

  Even if not a single drop of blood was shed between any covert forces, there could still be devastating consequences.

  Something the Black Wolves knew all too well. All it took was learning something small…there would too many safeguard in place, to learn the exact plans for the words of a high ranking General, but a low level soldier?

  One taking a piss in the woods?

  Complaining about the fact they had been marching west for 7 straight hours…

  There was real danger in saying a group was marching for west…but for 7 straight hours? That alone could be used to plan an effective strategy.

  Those were tired soldiers…they would need rest, they would need provisions, and most of all…they wouldn’t be fit for a battle sprung on them in the early parts of the night when they had just taken off their boots for a rest.

  ‘Goblins hunted in the dark.’

  That was the message being passed around the Black Wolf Tribe.