Bab 19: Traveling in the Forest

Gobusuke took the black leather armor pieces from Gray and swiftly distributed them to each goblin in the elite unit. The goblins quickly scattered in different directions to put on their new armor.

A few moments later, all of them had returned, now looking even more menacing in the night. The black leather complimented their small frames, making them appear sleek and stealthy.

Gobusuke approached Gray and reported, "All goblins have received their armor, my lord. We are ready to begin the attack."

Gray observed the goblins with a critical eye, nodding in approval at their improved appearance. "Not bad, not bad at all," he said with a small grin."You guys went from being easy targets to stealthy ninjas."

"I will tell the plan now, listen carefully" Gray said with a serious tone

"I will now explain the plan, so listen carefully," Gray announced with a tone that demanded attention. The goblins gathered around, their expressions attentive and focused. Gray took a deep breath and began to lay out the strategy.

"Here's the plan. You guys will be divided into two teams. I won't be able to participate in the ambush for now as I have to stay and protect the territory, but I promise, I will join you in the next fight against the orcs. Now, back to the main topic."

He paused for a moment, scanning their faces to ensure that they were paying attention. "The first team will be led by Goburus. Your task is to launch a surprise attack from the east. Your mission is to create a diversion and draw the Lizard Men's attention away from the main attack team."

"Once you have their attention, you can take out some of them while running. This will create chaos and confusion, making it easier for the second team to infiltrate and attack."

Gray continued, "The second team, led by Gobusuke, will attack from the west. Your goal is to infiltrate the Lizard Men's stronghold and kill their leader. Once you have their leader, the Lizard Men will be disorganized and easier to defeat. This is a crucial mission, and I am counting on you guys to succeed."

To clarify the team composition, Gray continued, "The first team will consist of:"

- Goburus, the Scythelord Goblin

- Gobryx, the Dual Arcane Pistolero Goblin

- Gobrielle, the Beastcaller Goblin

- Gobshin, the Assassin Goblin

"And the second team will consist of:"

- Gobusuke, the Lightning Samurai Goblin

- Gobius, the Shadow Sniper Goblin

- Gobbie, the Scout Goblin

- Gobulus, the Shadow Blade Goblin

"Are there any questions?" Gray asked, looking around at his elite goblin unit. He waited a few moments, but no one spoke up.

"Good! Remember, the safety of our group comes first. If there are any problems, retreat immediately. We can always try again later. Understood?"

The goblins nodded in agreement, their faces serious and focused.

Gray then added with a little smirk, "But don't worry, I have faith in all of you. You're all smart and resourceful, just like me... well, except for that one time when I tried to cook dinner and ended up creating a small bonfire instead."

Gray's joke brought a moment of levity to the tense atmosphere, and the goblins couldn't help but chuckle. As the laughter subsided, they seemed to be left with a clearer mind and renewed determination.

Gobulus stepped forward and cleared his throat, catching Gray's attention. "My lord," he began, "If I may speak candidly, it's true that your cooking skills might need some improvement. But when it comes to leading this group, your skills are truly unmatched."

The other goblins nodded in agreement in Gobulus statement.

Gray couldn't help but chuckled, appreciating Gobulus's honesty. "Thanks for the input, Gobulus," he said with a smile. "I'll make sure to stick to leading and leave the cooking to someone else."

"Now, let's show those Lizard Men what we're made of!"

The goblins cheered in response, pumped up and ready to carry out their mission at the moment.

Gobusuke let out a fierce battle cry, and the goblins echoed his call with equal intensity. "Let's go!" he shouted, leading the group towards the exit of the territory at a brisk pace.

The goblins followed closely behind Gobusuke, their determination and energy fueled by his leadership. Gray watched proudly as they charged forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. "That's my summons," he thought to himself, feeling grateful for their loyalty and courage.

Upon arriving at the edge of the forest, Gobusuke wasted no time in instructing Gobrielle, the Beastcaller Goblin to summon an animal that could help them scout ahead and identify any potential enemies. "Gobrielle, summon a bird that can help us survey the area," he ordered.

Gobrielle quickly began to chant and cast his spell, summoning a flock of ten Common Swifts to the group's location. The birds flew around in circles, chirping and tweeting as they communicated with one another. The goblins watched in fascination as Gobrielle instructed the birds to fly ahead and search for any signs of danger.

The Common Swifts had a striking appearance with their jet-black feathers that were difficult to distinguish in the darkness of the night. Their wings were long and pointed, perfectly adapted for swift and agile flight. As they flew around in the air, their forked tails trailed behind them, adding to their sleek and streamlined appearance, which was barely visible in the dim light.

[ Common Swifts ] ( x10 )

: The Common Swift (Apus apus) is a small, aerial bird that is considered to be one of the fastest birds in the world, especially at night. They are nocturnal creatures that can fly at incredible speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (112 kilometers per hour) during the day and can maintain a speed of around 36 miles per hour (58 kilometers per hour) at night, thanks to their streamlined body and long, narrow wings that enable them to maneuver through the air with ease. In addition, they have large eyes relative to their body size, which allows them to gather as much light as possible in low-light conditions, making them effective hunters even in the dark.

As the flock of common swifts flew back to the group to report their findings, Gobrielle listened closely, interpreting their chirps and calls to decipher their observations.

"According to the birds, there are no signs of any enemies in the immediate area," Gobrielle reported to Gobusuke and the rest of the group.

Gobusuke nodded, "Good work, Gobrielle. Let's continue to move forward, but keep a sharp eye out for any signs of trouble. If anything happens, let us know immediately."

With Gobrielle and the Common Swifts keeping watch overhead, the group continued on their journey towards the Lizard Men's territory. Gobbie, the Scout Goblin, took the lead, guiding the group through the forest with ease. His keen senses and natural tracking abilities were a valuable asset to the group, allowing them to move swiftly and efficiently towards their destination. The rest of the goblins followed closely behind, their weapons at the ready in case of any unexpected encounters.

"Be alert, everyone," Gobrielle signaled to the group. "There are five Flameboars up ahead."

Gobusuke quickly assessed the situation and turned to Gobius, the Shadow Sniper Goblin. "Gobius, take them out quietly," he ordered.

"On it, captain," Gobius replied, drawing his sniper rifle and creeping silently towards the direction of the Flameboars. He then quickly climbed a nearby tree and positioned himself on a sturdy branch that gave him a clear view of the Flameboars. He took a deep breath, steadying himself and lining up his shot.

With his sights trained on the unsuspecting Flameboars, Gobius squeezed the trigger, firing a single silenced bullet that flew through the air with a barely audible hiss. The bullets hit each of the Flameboars with deadly precision, striking them in vital areas and taking them down almost instantly. The boars didn't even have time to react, let alone make a sound.

After the last Flameboar fell, Gobius quietly climbed down from the tree and rejoined the group. "It's done captain," he reported to Gobusuke.

"Good job, Gobius," Gobusuke praised him.

"Goburus, go harvest the souls of those Flameboars," Gobusuke commanded the Scythelord Goblin.

Without a word, Goburus approached the fallen Flameboars and raised his scythe. With a swift motion, he reaped the souls of the creatures, absorbing their essence into his own.

After a few minutes, Goburus finished his task and rejoined the group. "Now, let's keep moving. We don't want to waste any more time," Gobusuke said.

The goblins continued their journey, moving with the grace and precision of a hunting panther. Their footsteps were barely audible, like the gentle rustle of leaves underfoot, and their black leather armor was as stealthy as the wings of a bat in the night. They blended seamlessly into the shadows of the forest, becoming one with the darkness as they moved closer to their destination.