Unfortunately for the Goblins, it would take more than one preemptive strike to completely rattle the forces that have invaded their lands. There was a reason why they dared to do so in the first place.

  This is not like the Orcs who lived in the Iris River Plains who essentially never had to fight a real war.

  These were seasoned troops who had more than enough information to not be caught unawares by the plots of the Goblins. This was showcased by the fact that the advancing party never actually stopped moving forward despite the catastrophic abilities being thrown towards them.

  Of course, it wasn’t as if the attack of Chiefess Jluug in particular didn’t cause damage, it definitely did. More than just a few humans would not be returning from the battle as a result of said attack but lives lost were a part of war.

  The advancing party knew to not only keep moving unless otherwise ordered to not, but they also knew how to throw attacks of their own.

  “Use your mana to see! Saven deal with the water! All mages fire at will! And nobody stop moving! Our enemies have laid out a welcome for us, so let us return it in kind!”

  The Spear of Touval.

  As the most senior person entering the battlefield, there was little argument in entrusting her with the role of overall field commander of the entire attacking force. Each individual faction still had their own leaders, but if there were more than one central voice trying to command the entire force, then it would it quickly fall to chaos.

  The ferocious and likewise honorable woman simply wouldn’t stand for such disarray among any battlefield she took part in though. If the chosen commander was a fool in her eyes then they would have to either taste her spear or obediently step down.

  Thankfully it did not come to that since the others in the meeting suggested her for the role in the first place.

  She skillfully barked out orders to groups as well as individuals and on her command the mages of the GES troops immediately began to unleash a rainbow of magic so profound and filled with mana that it seemed to fight back against the darkness that clung to lands of Mir.

  The Goblins defended against the onslaught as best as they could with the Chiefs themselves being the frontline protectors.

  But that wouldn’t work forever.

  They had battles of their own they had to fight.

  “Balarians! Battle Plan Alpha!”

  She called out a predetermined attack and this one was catered to the riders of North Balarian. A group who were now entirely mounted and trailed patiently behind the advancing party who was soon nearing melee distance with the Goblins.

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  Grafai, who has been sitting atop a massive Harkenian waiting patiently, raised the lance he rode with in the air and roared out.

  “WE RIDE!”

  That was all he said, but his voice boomed so loudly that the onslaught of thousands of troops storming forward, all manner of magic being unleashed, and the yelling of many Goblins, Elves, Humans and whatever else, didn’t drown it out at all.

  Gone was the reserved man who deferred everything when it came to his Uncle, gone was the man who would rather not see a form of crowd, nor give any sort of public speech, nor accept any type of leadership position.

  This was a warrior.

  This was a general.

  This was what it meant to be a High Hark of North Balarian.

  The group of riders split into two groups and flanked alongside the main force on the left and the right respectively. Grafai hung to the left and his mount stroke out with ferocity to the waiting Goblins.

  Whether it was bushes, uneven ground, broken trees, craters from the magic, lingering water yet to be dealt with, none of it posed an issue for the powerful legs of the Harkenians. The group sprinted forward and the presence that began to leak out of Grafai began to weigh down on the area.

  It was a presence that only grew in its weight the closer and closer he got to the Goblins. Mana even began gathering along the blade of his lance.

  But the Goblins weren’t just sitting still watching this happen.

  Of course, there were no riders among the Goblins, so they would be at a disadvantage there, but since when did Rogur, Chief of the Raguur Clan care about such things? He was a Goblin of duty, honor, and war.

  He left the ranks of the Goblins and took off in a mad sprint towards the force of riders approaching him. The most powerful flames he could produce blazed into life and covered his sword in a ferocious fire.

  There was no one running out behind Chief Rogur.

  Although Grafai had many riders behind him, the Goblins simply couldn’t spare the type of force necessary to properly take them on when there other groups baring down on them as well.

  Chief Rogur would have to hold the line by himself for now.

  And he relished it.

  “FOR THE KING!”

  “ATTACK THEIR FLANKS, I WILL HANDLE HIM!!”

  Since both Grafai and Rogu were beings in the Seventh Tier, they could both understand the gist of what each other was saying. In Grafai’s case, perhaps if it was another one of the Tier Sevens apart of the GES, they would have heard ‘For the King’ and asked where he was, but Grafai would much rather battle.

  He pulled on the reins of his Harkenian, and the powerful beast made a sharp turn to the left as Rogur neared so that Grafai and his lance could have direct access to rushing Goblin.

  Meanwhile Chief Rogur, who has been watching and listening even as he charged gritted his teeth before doing something that the other 13 Chiefs would normally think was shocking in 9/10 scenarios.

  He stopped his charge dead in his tracks and instead of striking out the approaching Grafai, he blasted his flaming sword in the ground in front of him.

  Unfortunately for Chief Rogur who would much rather drive his sword straight into the chest of the man before him, he was not fighting for himself, nor was he even fighting for his Clan. He was fighting for his King.

  There could be no selfishness when it came to fighting for the King.

  He had one job and one job only. To buy time for the return of his King whilst keeping as many of his brethren alive as possible.

  That didn’t include engaging in one battles with the enemy when troops were running past him. Not if it could be avoided.

  Dust and debris flew up in droves as the effects from a powerful strike of a Tier Seven Goblin showed itself. Grafai and his mount pulled up at the unexpected action from Rogur but they quickly repositioned for a follow up attack, only to see him moving in a different direction and preparing another attack, only this time it was towards the other riders.