Chapter Sixty: The Goblin Hero

Watching Wall and Sun Licheng walk away, Martin looked at his father with a face full of confusion.

“Are you wondering if I’m too easygoing, agreeing so readily to let Sun Licheng form his own tribe?”

Adolf smiled warmly at his son and spoke slowly.

“Yes, Father. Why did we agree to let Sun Licheng create his own tribe? I just can’t understand it,” Martin said, nodding.

Adolf chuckled, beckoned his son to sit, and continued, “Did you notice that Sun Licheng’s demeanor is much more mature than Wall’s? He’s not even older than you, by the way.”

Martin frowned, thought for a moment, and nodded.

“Sun Licheng is not simple. His name is unusual, and his behavior is nothing like a young man’s; he’s steadier than people of your age. With people like him, making things complicated is counterproductive. Straightforwardness and clarity work best; after all, everyone is just after what they need. When you reach my age, you’ll see that clever tricks are pointless—results are all that matter.”

Adolf picked up the cup on the desk and took a sip, then explained further.

“Oh, so that’s why your discussion with him was so direct,” Martin realized aloud.

“Exactly. It’s wartime, so let him serve our cause. Even if he forms his own tribe, it won’t grow strong in the short term. But the Silvermoon Tribe is different—they’re the ones we must guard against. With Sun Licheng gone, let’s see how Silvermoon handles things.”

Adolf continued with a cheerful smile.

“I see—this weakens the Silvermoon Tribe. And even if Sun Licheng forms his own tribe, he’ll still be subordinate to the Star Moon Tribe, with us as the alliance leader. So he’s still under us. Father, your strategy is brilliant,” Martin exclaimed, grasping Adolf’s intent and praising him sincerely.

“Yes, you’re doing well. Always use your head and think things through. This position will be yours one day; managing a vast Moon Alliance requires more than brute force. When Sun Licheng becomes part of our alliance, anything you want will be within reach. Remember, son, brains are always more valuable than muscle.”

Adolf was very pleased with his son’s performance, and spoke with earnest affection.

The two exchanged smiles, then burst into hearty laughter.

Before dawn the next day, both sides mobilized again. Soon, two armies appeared on the small plain at the Cloud Mountain pass.

This time, every soldier of the Moon Alliance was deployed, clearly preparing for a decisive battle, with the Silvermoon Tribe positioned at the center, ready to support the vanguard.

As yesterday, both sides advanced to the sound of drums, quickly closing the distance to about fifty meters. Just as Sun Licheng expected they would soon begin hurling their ranged weapons, a wild boar rider appeared at the rear of the goblin formation.

The rider sat astride a massive wild boar, both clad in leather armor, wielding a long blade. He stood out among the goblins like a sharply dressed executive among a crowd of beggars.

Sun Licheng was puzzled. Suddenly, the wild boar rider raised his blade and swept it across the air. All the goblins and ogres shimmered with fish-scale patterns on their skin, which flashed briefly and then faded.

“That’s a group spell!”

Sun Licheng’s pupils contracted. The opponent was a hero, and the spell resembled the protective skin enchantment from Heroes of Might and Magic.

But it didn’t end there. Next, a bloodthirsty ghostly face appeared on the goblins and ogres. After the spell, their eyes turned crimson, their bodies radiating fierce hostility, making them look far more savage.

“That’s Bloodlust?” Sun Licheng cried out.

Then, the wild boar rider swung his blade again, and it seemed as if stirring music echoed across the land. Golden light showered the goblin ranks, and their morale soared so high that even Sun Licheng, watching from the hillside, could feel their burning fighting spirit.

“Incredible! In just a moment, he cast three group spells: Protective Skin, Bloodlust, and Morale Boost. Who is this opponent?”

Staring at the transformed goblin army, Sun Licheng murmured to himself.

With the power of three spells, the goblin army changed its usual tactics and launched a fierce assault on the gremlins.

Rocks and arrows rained down on the gremlin ranks, bringing forth clouds of blood mist.

When the armies closed to twenty meters, the goblins didn’t pause to regroup but charged wildly, screaming as they crashed into the enemy. The two forces collided violently.

From the very start, Sun Licheng saw the difference: the goblins’ defense and attack had greatly improved. Even with a large force of bear gremlins holding the line, the gremlins were forced to retreat.

At that moment, the ogres surged forward, pulling huge stones from their pockets and hurling them like cannonballs, breaking the gremlin line to pieces. Then they swung their clubs and smashed into the fray, sending gremlins flying through the air. The situation at the front was perilous.

Sun Licheng, even without much battle experience, could tell that the gremlins were about to lose.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked from above, striking an ogre dead center. With a boom, the charred ogre collapsed.

Sun Licheng quickly turned to look and saw the gremlin shamans casting magic attacks. But their numbers were too few, and each spell required rest to recover; their efforts were like pouring water into a sieve.

The thunder of hooves pounding the earth caught Sun Licheng’s attention. The Moon Alliance’s deer cavalry was gathering.

“Alas, if they were heavy cavalry, they might have been effective. But these deer riders have average fighting strength—it’s hard to turn the tide,” Sun Licheng sighed.

Once assembled, the deer cavalry, led by Martin, moved swiftly—not toward the battlefield, but toward Sun Licheng.

Soon, Martin reached Sun Licheng.

“The chief commands: Sun Licheng is to join the cavalry!” Martin called out breathlessly.

“What’s our mission?” Sun Licheng asked, confused.

Martin pointed at the wild boar rider. “We won’t join the battle directly. We’re to strike the enemy command and eliminate their hero.”

Sun Licheng thought it over and realized it was indeed a sound plan. The deer might lack offensive power, but their speed made them perfect for raids.

“We’ll keep the goblin rabble occupied. You ride your grey wolf and take down the hero. What do you say?” Martin’s words startled Sun Licheng—it was a solo mission.

Before Sun Licheng could reply, Martin continued, “The chief said: If you kill their hero, he’ll report your request to form your own tribe and vouch for you. Are you in?”

Sun Licheng considered it, gritted his teeth, and nodded. All for the sake of returning home—he’d face not just a goblin hero, but even a deity if needed. A man should never say he can’t!

Seeing Sun Licheng agree, Martin quickly rode back to his troops. The entire cavalry surged like a tide, skirting the battlefield and advancing toward the goblin rear.

Of course, the goblins wouldn’t let them approach so easily. A squad of about twenty wild boar riders rushed to intercept.

In the face of the enemy, Martin demonstrated impressive command skills, sending small groups of cavalry to distract the boar riders, while the main force pressed on undeterred.

“Who’d have thought he was this capable?” Watching Martin’s adept leadership, Sun Licheng couldn’t help but admire him. Though both were second-generation leaders, Martin far surpassed Bilud and the others.

Martin’s deer cavalry soon shook off the boar riders and rushed into the forested valley, where the deer leapt and bounded, exploiting their natural advantage. After about thirty minutes, they reached the ambush point.

The goblins, having discerned the gremlins’ intentions, were deploying their forces, with many soldiers hurrying back. Most were still en route, but a group of goblin guards were already shielding their hero at the center.

“Sun Licheng, are you ready?” Martin soothed his panting deer, then turned to Sun Licheng.

Seeing Sun Licheng nod, Martin continued, “We’ll scatter the goblin rabble and make an opening. You ride your grey wolf straight in and kill the wild boar rider. That’s our victory.”

“No problem!” Sun Licheng drew his mountain-cutting blade from his back and signaled to Martin that he was ready.

Martin nodded, swept his gaze over his troops, saw their resolve, and raised his blade.

“For the Moon Alliance! For the glory of the cavalry! Charge with me!” Martin shouted, urging his deer forward. Behind him, nearly a hundred deer riders brandished their weapons and charged ahead.