Lord: Starting with Summoning the Regular Army of Earth

Time passed second by second, and the night grew deeper.

Finally, a faint, chaotic sound of footsteps and a sharp, unpleasant roar came from the direction of the bushes to the west, growing ever closer.

By the dim moonlight and the afterglow of our own torches, a patch of shadowy green figures could be seen emerging from the bushes like a tide.

At the very front of the group were two exceptionally tall, strong, and muscular figures—the Big Goblin.

They let out a deep roar, wielding huge wooden mallets to drive their kind behind them.

"Awooo—" With a piercing shriek, the wild goblins let out an attack howl and charged chaotically toward Emberstone Ridge.

They had no formation whatsoever, relying entirely on instinct and numerical superiority, attempting to swarm forward.

"Hold on! Let them get closer! Let them have a taste of the appetizers first!" Zhao Gang growled in the trench, his eyes icy.

The wild goblin completely disregarded the seemingly randomly placed, sharpened wooden barricades in front of it, and had no idea that various traps and tripwires were hidden in the soil.

"Now! Tripwire!" Zhao Gang gave the order, seizing the opportunity.

Several soldiers hidden behind the earthen ramparts suddenly pulled on the ropes in their hands.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Several tripwires made of tough vines, hidden under the grass and loose soil, suddenly sprang up, tripping and tumbling over more goblins who had rushed across the barricade area.

The goblins at the front lost their balance and crashed solidly into the sharp barricades, where they were instantly pierced and let out a shrill scream.

The goblins who followed couldn't stop in time and were tripped up in groups, halting their charge. The dozens of goblins in the charge were completely thrown into chaos.

"Archers! Free fire! Prioritize taking out the big goblins and the smaller leaders who are trying to regroup!" Zhao Gang gave the order as soon as he saw the opportunity.

"Buzz—"

The bowstring twanged.

Ten powerful bows and three repeating crossbows that were just completed today were fired simultaneously.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"

The crossbow in Wang Xun's hand emitted a unique, continuous, and rapid firing sound, with three short arrows shooting in a triangular pattern towards a goblin that was trying to swing a tripwire to regain its footing.

One arm was parried by its thick arm, but the other two plunged deep into its shoulder and thigh.

"Ouch!" The goblin roared in pain, but the crossbow's power was not fatal to the thick-skinned goblin.

He ripped off the tripwire, smashed through the barricade with his body, and let out a roar, seemingly warning his companions to rush past him.

However, the next second, an arrow came flying through the air at great speed, whistling as it accurately struck the goblin's eye socket and exited directly through the back of its head.

It was an arrow shot by Sun Xiaochuan.

"Awesome!" Wang Xun turned to look at Sun Xiaochuan, who was drawing his bow and arrow again, and said.

However, Sun Xiaochuan remained focused and calm, like a natural hunter. Before the goblin's massive body had even fallen, the second arrow had already been fired.

With a "thud," another goblin that had just crossed the barricade area collapsed to the ground with a mournful cry.

Thus, as soon as the battle began, the Emberstone Ridge side firmly seized the initiative by relying on pre-prepared fortifications and precise long-range firepower.

The wild goblins suffered heavy losses and were thrown into extreme chaos before they even reached the edge of their defensive positions.

At the same time, many firefly-like points of light flew out from the bodies of the dead goblins and headed towards the location of Sun Xiaochuan, Wang Xun, and the other crossbowmen.

This scene was familiar to Wang Xun and Sun Xiaochuan, and since the battle had just begun, everyone's attention was focused on the charging goblins, and they didn't pay much attention to the points of light.

At the same time, another goblin trampled over the corpses of its companions and broke through the barricades.

"Aim at that big guy! Focus fire!" Wang Xun shouted from the tower.

Almost simultaneously, all the crossbows aimed at it.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—"

Arrows whistled in from different directions, and the second goblin was instantly riddled with arrows, but under its cover, more than ten goblins successfully broke through.

"Spearmen, hold the line!" Zhao Gang immediately gave the order when he saw goblins charging towards them.

The spearmen behind the trenches and earthen ramparts roared in unison, thrusting their three-meter-long hardwood spears fiercely out of the firing ports.

Those goblins who had finally managed to break through the rain of arrows and get close to the fortifications were immediately riddled with holes by the dense forest of spears.

The goblin, riddled with arrows, staggered to the vicinity of his colleague, but finally collapsed to the ground.

Seeing that both large goblins had fallen, and that seven or eight out of ten of their companions had also been killed or wounded... the remaining wild goblins finally broke down completely.

Extreme fear overwhelmed their greed and ferocity. They let out incomprehensible, desperate screams, completely losing their will to fight, and turned to flee like headless flies.

Just then, three short and sharp whistles pierced the night sky.

Li Yuangang, who was lying in ambush on the flank, roared excitedly, "Finally, it's our turn! Commando, all of you, kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

"Kill!" The long-suppressed fighting spirit erupted like a volcano. Li Yuangang, carrying a thick-backed machete, took the lead, like a ferocious beast breaking free of its chains, and led the group of flanking assault teams that had been eager to try, surging out.

They were like red-hot irons cutting into solidified grease, instantly tearing the fleeing goblin horde's weak rear defenses to shreds.

The blades flashed, and waves of blood surged.

With each goblin slain, white specks of light escaped and merged into the body of the slayer.

"The time for revenge has come! Follow me!" Almost at the same time the whistle blew, Old Sam, who had been anxiously waiting on the second line, suddenly turned red in the eyes. He thought of his son and daughter-in-law who had been killed by these monsters, and the hatred and humiliation that had been building up for many years finally erupted at this moment.

He raised his sword, roared with all his might, and was the first to charge out of the relatively safe second-line position.

"Avenge our dead loved ones!" Carl, Bob, and the other young men were also infected by this atmosphere. Their long-suppressed fear turned into a burning rage for revenge. They took their crude weapons and followed Old Sam, charging towards the defeated and disoriented goblins like a flood bursting its banks.

Perhaps driven by a thirst for revenge, Old Sam burst forth with astonishing speed, like an agile leopard, darting through the fortified area and catching up with a goblin attempting to escape.

With a swift stroke, he cut the goblin to the ground, decapitating him.

Karl followed closely behind, his eyes red, desperately hacking at a fallen goblin with his wood-chopping axe, as if trying to vent all his fear and anger.

This was a chase with no suspense whatsoever.

The well-trained commando team cut through the enemy like butter, while the militiamen, filled with hatred, vented their years of suffering in the most primitive way.

The surviving goblins, like headless flies, ran frantically through the trenches and barricades, only to be caught and killed one after another.

When the last goblin was torn to pieces in despair, only heavy breathing and the overwhelming stench of blood remained on the battlefield.

The people of Emberstone Ridge achieved a complete victory with zero casualties, annihilating all the invading enemies, including two tough-skinned goblins who were once the most feared creatures of Emberstone Ridge.

After a brief silence, the still-feverish soldiers erupted in deafening cheers.

However, the loudest shouts came from Old Sam, Carl, Bob, Eric, and other residents of Emberridge.

This was the first time they had faced these green demons without resorting to desperate hiding, fleeing in despair, or watching their loved ones being slaughtered. Instead, they had won a glorious and complete victory with the blood and corpses of their enemies.

"We won...we won!" Old Sam leaned on his blood-stained sword, his chest heaving, gazing at the goblin corpses scattered on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

These tears were no longer the salty water filled with bitterness and despair of the past, but a torrent washing away all the hatred and humiliation in his heart.

Carl, Bob, Eric, and the others hugged each other, pounded each other's backs, and cheered, cursed, and cried incoherently.

Their pent-up fear, hatred, and anger, which they had suppressed for so long, were finally released in their most complete form at this moment.

In the past, goblin attacks meant death and loss, but today, victory belongs to them.

Jinshi Ridge is truly different now!

Li Yuangang wiped the blood splattered on his face, looked at the group of people who were excited to the point of madness, and swallowed back the joke he had originally wanted to make. He just grinned and showed an understanding smile, and patted Zhao Gang's shoulder hard.

Zhao Gang also put away his spear, looked at the scene, and exhaled a heavy breath of turbid air with the smell of blood. A sense of pride as a soldier and satisfaction in protecting something important welled up within him.

Inside the trenches, the soldiers excitedly discussed the results of the battle, their faces filled with a sense of lingering satisfaction.

"These goblins are too weak; they've all been wiped out so quickly."

"Yeah, I haven't had enough fun yet."

"Be content, at least you killed one goblin. I didn't even have a chance to lift a finger, and you all wiped them out!"

"Haha, I wish there were more."

"Don't worry, you'll get your chance to kill to your heart's content sooner or later!"

"Hey, by the way, did you guys notice those glowing spots?"

"I saw it. I don't know what it was, but it flew out from those goblin corpses and merged into my body. But I don't seem to feel anything special."

"Yes, I noticed that too, but I don't know what it is."

"I've heard Lei mention it; it's probably like experience points in a game."

"Really? Does that mean if we kill more goblins, we'll level up and maybe we'll turn into that big guy?"

"Haha, you actually took it seriously!"

"Who knows? It's hard to say. Team Leader Lei asked Team Leader Sun, and it seems that Comrade Matthew didn't know what was going on either."

Just then, Sun Zhengwu arrived with Lei Hu and the others.

"All teams, move out immediately!" Sun Zhengwu calmly ordered. "Team One, clean up the battlefield, collect all spoils, and dispose of the goblin corpses as instructed by Professor Zhao and Professor Zhang. Team Two, strengthen vigilance to prevent any stragglers or new threats. Team Three, tally casualties... no, tally equipment damage and minor injuries, and report immediately. Also, those who were originally scheduled to return, assemble in front of the lord's mansion."

Once the order was given, everyone immediately calmed down from their euphoria of victory and efficiently threw themselves into post-war work.

News of the victory at the front quickly reached the lord's manor. When the old, weak, women and children heard the news, they were all moved to tears and shouted "Long live the lord!"

This victory undoubtedly wiped away the last trace of fear and worry in their hearts, making them even more convinced that this lord could truly protect Emberstone Ridge, protect them, and even lead them to a peaceful and prosperous life.

On the roof of the lord's manor, Shirin and the black cat returned from the battlefield. Her bright eyes, hidden beneath her hood, gazed at the western side of the territory, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "This is truly incredible."

The situation was now crystal clear: those goblins were extraordinary. She didn't understand why, but everything she had seen tonight had overturned her understanding built up over a hundred years.

All of this can only be attributed to the magic of the sacred object.

"The legendary relics are indeed incredible; no wonder those guys are so obsessed with finding them," Shirin exclaimed again.

"Bring it back, and we'll have another force to fight those false gods," the black cat said indifferently.

"No, this is what those people depend on to live. We can't do that," Shirin said firmly. When she followed Matthew here, she did indeed intend to steal the sacred object.

But after seeing everything at Emberstone Ridge, she changed her mind, because she knew very well that if the young lord lost the help of the sacred object, he and his people would probably only face certain death.

At least for now, she absolutely cannot deprive those people of their means of survival.

"But if those hypocritical guys find out later, not a single person will be left alive, not even a fly," the black cat added.

The black cat's words silenced Shirin. It was indeed a cruel reality; that extraordinary relic should not exist here, nor in the possession of that weak lord.

……

Inside the lord's manor, after Matthew listened to Sun Zhengwu's report on the front lines, he finally felt at ease.

Although he had full confidence in these regular troops from his homeland, this was his first defensive battle since arriving at Jinshi Ridge, and it felt like a surprise exam, so he was a little nervous.

Now that the dust has settled, with zero casualties, forty-three goblins were wiped out, including two large goblins.

Although this battle was not an earth-shattering or epic one, it was absolutely a battle to prove himself and establish his own foothold.

After tonight, the people's loyalty and confidence in themselves will reach unprecedented heights.

At this moment, the people waiting to return to Blue Star had already gathered in front of the Lord's Mansion. After listening to Sun Zhengwu's report on the battle situation, Matthew dispelled the summoning magic on everyone.

As the returning person's body merged into the crystal pendant, Matthew noticed once again that many unknown energy particles had appeared in the pendant, like drops of blood, merging with the previous energy particles to form a larger energy droplet.

Matthew was no longer surprised by this; he already knew that these energy particles came from the goblins that had been killed, but he didn't know what their purpose was.

However, just as Matthew was making wild guesses in his mind, he noticed a strange ball of light inside the crystal pendant again. Upon closer inspection, he could sense a figure inside the ball of light.

"Big Goblin!" Matthew's eyes widened instantly, as if a flash of inspiration had struck him, and he felt as if he had found the answer.

……

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