Chapter 28: First Taste of Battle

Jayce looked behind him, grabbing their attention and whispered, “Archers, get ready to loose your arrows. Colin, after they shoot I need you to take the vanguard with the swordsmen in tow, just like we practiced.”

Colin and the few swordsmen nodded, everyone looked nervous apart from Colin who was wearing a resolute expression. It looked like the large man was not only determined, but also confident in his ability to protect the party.

One of the archers, a young man named Ethan, trembled slightly as he struggled to keep his composure. His hands shook, making it challenging for him to nock an arrow. Beside him, a mage named Lily clutched her staff tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

Jayce saw this and quietly approached Ethan placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Stay calm, Ethan. Remember your training. We’ve prepared for this. Breathe slowly, and when you’re ready, take aim.”

Ethan nodded, trying to steady his breathing and regain control of his nerves. Slowly, he followed Jayce’s instructions, taking a deep breath and steadying his hands. With newfound determination, he nocked an arrow and drew his bow, ready to fire.

Lily still seemed frozen, seeing the Goblins in person seemed to affect her psyche the most out of everyone. This time it was Lianna who moved to calm the nervous mage down, her trust in Jayce had allowed her to relax in the face of danger.

It seemed to work, as Lily finally stopped shaking. Jayce happened to look back and see Lianna smiling back at him and giving him a thumbs up. He nodded briefly and tried to hide the red blush of his cheeks.

“Archers, Mages, be ready. On the count of 3, we’ll send the first volley and move into our melee formation. If you miss, don’t panic.” Jayce said in a low voice, not waiting for confirmation from the team.

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The two Archers let loose their arrows, the sound of rushing air flew past Jayce’s ears and towards the unaware Goblins.

The anticipation in the air was palpable as the arrows soared towards their targets. However, to Jayce’s dismay, both Archers missed their shots. Panic flickered in their eyes as they realized the dire situation they were in.

Thinking quickly, Jayce barked out orders, “Mages, follow up! Jackie, Lily, focus your attacks on the Goblin to the left. Amber, hit the one on the right with your fire spell!”

The mages nodded, their confidence bolstered by Jayce’s commanding presence. Jackie, the frost mage, unleashed a powerful Ice Lance that struck the left Goblin, encasing it in ice and rendering it immobile for a while. Amber, the fire mage, conjured a blazing Fireball that hit the other Goblin, scorching its skin and causing it to howl in pain.

But even as the mages succeeded, the situation was far from ideal. The Goblins had now spotted the intruders and were advancing with malicious intent. Jayce’s heart raced as he realized they needed to reorganize quickly.

“Colin, with me at the front! Swordsmen, form up on our flanks. Archers, focus on providing support fire from a distance! Mages, continue with your spells!” Jayce’s voice rang out with authority, guiding his team into position. 𝗈𝐯𝓵xt.𝒸𝑜𝗆

Colin, ever the dependable Guardian, moved to the front of the formation, his massive kite shield held firmly in hand. Jayce stood beside him, his Sashimi knife held tight. The three swordsmen spread out, creating a protective barrier around the mages and archers.

As the Goblins closed in, Colin executed a taunt, drawing the attention of the enraged creatures. The Goblins rushed towards him, their sharp claws poised and ready to strike.

“Now, swordsmen, focus on one Goblin at a time! Take them down swiftly and efficiently!” Jayce commanded, his eyes sharp and focused.

With their leader’s direction, the swordsmen coordinated their attacks, striking with precision and skill. After some persistence they managed to fell one of the Goblins, decapitating it with a final strike.

However, Jayce noticed that the mages and archers were a bit slow in reacting to the changing dynamics of the battle. Lily’s hands trembled, making it difficult for her to cast her spells accurately. Thankfully, Jackie seemed to be accurate enough to make up for her mistakes.

Jayce was in the middle of the vanguard, overseeing the battlefield. Colin seemed to live up to the name “Divine Shield” that the system had given him. Despite having 3 Goblins all focusing their attention on him, it seemed that none of their attacks would get through.

The big frame and large kite shield he wielded was like an indomitable castle wall that could never be breached, knocking back the foul creatures and keeping them at bay. While this was great for their formation, guardians were generally incapable of dealing large amounts of damage.

If things were to keep up as they were, Colin may get too exhausted to hang on. Jayce turned around, seeing that their backline seemed to be in disarray. Frowning, he called out, “Mages, archers, get into position and attack from a distance! We need your support!”

Jackie quickly grabbed Lily who was still struggling to get over her fear, and adjusted their positions, finding better angles to target the remaining Goblins. A loud slap resounded through the battlefield, however it was quickly drowned out by the sound of claws and swords colliding.

Arrows and spells flew over the heads of the swordsmen, piercing the remaining Goblins and knocking them back. Howls of pain and blood curdling screams rang out as the Goblins writhed in pain. “Swordsmen!” Jayce yelled, prompting them to run in and finish the job.