As the rest of the platoon muttered softly, peering through the darkness in an attempt to make out where they were, a burst of light illuminated the cavern, as a small orb of light appeared above Alistair's head.

"We're currently at a hidden teleportation array of the Nova.n.a.lban military. Do your best to leave as few tracks as possible as we leave. It would be best if this place remained undiscovered," Alistair said harshly, leading the way out of the narrow cavern.

Emerging into the light, Eric scrunched his eyes as a raindrop landed on his nose, shaking his head slightly to rid the water from his face. Unfortunately, this was only the first drop among many, as the rest of the platoon discovered as they followed Alistair out into the forest. Donning a cloak from his storage, Eric threw the hood over his head, doing his best to stay dry as the platoon began to march through Stillwood Forest.

Alistair led the platoon in a brisk march, making great time as they traversed the scar in the land between Stillwood Forest and Lichfrost Forest. Unlike the last time Eric had entered Lichfrost Forest, there was no warning. Instead, an unnatural stillness greeted the Crowsea Platoon as they marched into Lichfrost Forest. On the way, they encountered a few goblin scouts, but the scout unit's forward scouts dispatched the small patrols quickly and effectively, ensuring the platoon's safe pa.s.sage through the woods.

Raising his fist, Alistair called the platoon to a halt. Just in front of them, the treeline came to an end atop a small ridge leading down into a cleared out plain. There in the middle of the plain was the goblin base that Eric, Turk, and Aria had stumbled upon in their first adventure into Lichfrost Forest. Clenching his fist tightly, a vision of the hobgoblin who'd pursued them rose unbidden in his mind, the monster's sabre rushing towards him to deal the finishing blow just as it had back then.

No, Eric thought, shaking his head. This time, it would be different. He was stronger now, more experienced. Even if the hobgoblin had him totally outmatched, he refused to lose. No, Eric swore. He couldn't lose. Until he got his revenge on Hydrus, he would again never bow down before another's strength. Even if it cost him everything, he would win. Without realizing it, Eric's fingernails had dug into the base of his palm, leaving b.l.o.o.d.y furrows in the skin. Unclenching his fists, Eric wiped the blood discreetly on his pants, silently plotting his revenge as Alistair addressed the platoon.

"Just behind that ridge is the goblin base. Remember, I will lead the vanguard in a charge. The militia is to follow along behind us. Scout Units one and two, you're in charge of neutralizing any ranged hostiles. Units three and four are to spearhead the charge with me. Units five and six are to follow behind and cleanup any kills we miss. Mage unit, no need to refrain from using fire spells. Pelt them with ice and fire. Militia squads, follow behind us and guard the flanks. Let's move!"

Gripping a large claymore, Alistair left the cover of the trees as he charged down the hill towards the goblin base. Behind him streamed the scouts, each carrying a short sword and a large shield. Two squads carried bows, loosing arrows towards goblins on the walls of the base.

As the first goblin spied the a.s.sault force, it tried to raise the alarm. Before the cry could even leave its throat, a goose-feathered arrow cut it short, toppling the goblin silently from its post. Several more cries were cut similarly short before an alert goblin avoided the arrow aiming for its chest. Gripping the shaft that now grew from its shoulder in pain, the goblin let out a loud warning cry as it snapped the arrow in half, leaving a part of it inside its shoulder as it raised the alarm.

"Schwiiit! Schwiiit!" The cry was taken up, as the goblins inside the base rushed to respond to the a.s.sault.

With a grim look in his eye, Alistair rushed towards the main gate, where two goblin sentries were slumped by the entrance, the mult.i.tude of grey-feathered shafts emerging from each of them a testament to the deadly aim of the scouts. Rushing inside, Alistair's claymore flashed, sending a pair of goblin heads flying as the defenders struggled to get into formation just inside the gates. Behind him, the scouts rushed forth, their short swords flashing in the grey light as they engaged the goblin forces.

As Eric charged down the hill with the rest of the militia, he observed the goblin base. The base had grown bigger since he'd last seen it, with large fifteen foot tall palisade walls enclosing a base that was several hundred metres in diameter. Behind the base, numerous tents could be seen, where toiling goblins wielding axes were slow to react to the attack, still hard at work chopping trees to use for reinforcing the base.

Focusing on the charge, Eric and the rest of Squad Four followed the scout unit inside setting to work reinforcing the elite scouts. The scouts worked in squads of five, each squad reinforcing their fellows as they carved their way inside the goblins formation. Clearly used to working together, the scouts had a.s.sumed an arrowhead formation, with Alistair's squad at the tip, driving a wedge into the goblins ranks.

Without being given time to prepare, the goblins' shaky formation collapsed as the platoon's arrowhead formation dug into their ranks. The scouts blades made quick work of the first ranks of goblins, thrusting and cutting at exposed goblin flesh as the unit advanced. At the head of the formation, Alistair's claymore flashed repeatedly, each swing sending goblin heads flying as he charged forward, supported by two grim-faced lieutenants at his sides who ensured that no goblins could flank their captain.

Spreading out, the militia squads did their best to support Alistair and the scout unit. Under Owin's command, the militia searched for goblins who attempted to flank the scouts, killing any goblins who made it past the arrowhead formation. Leaving Jun and the rest of the ranged squad to hold the gateway, Owin commanded the militia squads to press forward, following Alistair's advance closely as the goblins were routed. As the scouts reached the middle of the compound, the rest of the goblins broke and ran, fleeing towards a large tent at the opposite end of the base.

"Don't chase!" Alistair roared. "Burn the barracks - we make for the command centre. Keeneye, you and the militia are to hold the centre. Ensure that any goblins who attempt to make their way in are unable to prevent our mission."

"Yes, Captain!" the scouts roared.

With a roar of flames, the scout units mages began to cast spells, each mage conjuring an enormous Flaming Spheres, which they sent soaring toward the nearby buildings, sending the goblins barracks and living quarters up in flames. Seeing this, Alistair began to lead the advance towards the command centre at the opposite end of the compound, an enormous tent with the image of a b.l.o.o.d.y wolfpaw visible above the entrance.

"Squad Five, reinforce the ranged squad at the gate. Remaining squads, clear the areas around the buildings and watch for ambushes," Owin warned. "Goblins love to hide in wait, and we still haven't seen any hobgoblins."

Fanning out, the militia squads began to search near the burning buildings, killing any goblins they came across. Leading Squad Four, Eric dispatched any goblin he could find, searching through the oily smoke that was beginning to fill the base. So far, the a.s.sault was going just as planned. Alistair and the scouts had routed the goblin formation and were pursuing, closing in quickly upon the the command tent at the other end of the base. The militia were cleaning up any goblins that had managed to escape the initial a.s.sault, carrying out their grisly task with a brutal efficiency.

Dispatching a goblin with a swing of his falchion, Eric paused. Beside him, Seryllia buried her axe into the skull of a goblin who'd just emerged from some hidden hidey-hole beside the burning barracks in front of them. Ryan and Zwei were accounting themselves well too, each showing off their swordplay as they fenced with any goblins daring enough to reveal themselves to the party. Only Kifax wasn't moving, looking around with a concerned look on his face.

"Something the matter, Catclaw?" Eric asked, wiping the blood off the blade of his falchion.

"I'm…not sure," Kifax replied.

Eric c.o.c.ked an eyebrow, "What does that mean?"

"My intuition is telling me that something bad is about to happen."

"Your intuition?"

"Yes. I was a Tidescout. I've survived many battles due to my intuition. I learned long ago to heed its advice."

"Could it be wrong? We seem to be winning handily," Eric asked.

Kifax looked uncertain. "Maybe. I've never had to deal with northern goblins before. I was always stationed to the south."

"Mmmmh. Either way, better safe than sorry. Pay attention to your surroundings guys, make sure that we don't get ambushed," said Eric, turning to warn the rest of the squad.

Ryan and Zwei both responded enthusiastically, while Seryllia flashed him a glare. With a shrug, Eric turned back towards the goblin barracks, ready to resume his grisly task.

And, as if hearing Kifax's thoughts, the world in front of them exploded.