CHAPTER 543: CHAPTER 284: THE MOST THREE KINGDOMS-LIKE EPISODE

Of course, we can’t wait until they’re at our doorstep to resist.

Thus, the goblin tribe leader Buwana, while planning to resist the Esper Kingdom’s punitive army, pushed the battlefront to a much earlier position.

So, how far ahead is this battlefront?

To avoid implicating the Demon Realm and exposing its location, Buwana decided to push the battlefront against the Esper Kingdom’s army as far forward as possible, at least over a thousand kilometers away from the Demon Realm, which would put it beyond the border city of Ueldo City.

According to some shepherds outside of Ueldo City who were lucky enough to see the goblin army marching, the goblins didn’t seem to be resisting forcefully; instead, they appeared to be the side initiating the attack.

Indeed, the goblin army has already passed beyond Ueldo City, penetrating deep into the eastern heartland of the Esper Kingdom!

Morning.

A scout team returned to the main camp.

"Report! Lord Buwana, we’ve spotted the enemy. They’re on this main eastward path, approximately 100 kilometers away."

Esper constructed main avenues in the four cardinal directions to connect the major border cities within the kingdom.

"As expected, they’re heading towards Ueldo City via this main path. After all, they’re a formal army and don’t need to conceal their tracks."

As Buwana spoke, he surveyed the surrounding terrain and issued orders for the goblin army to camp there.

"Scout again and report back."

"Yes!"

A distance of 100 kilometers. Given the physical fitness of the kingdom’s soldiers, they could cover it in half a day to a day during regular marching.

This place is already far from the Demon Realm.

Buwana decided to make this the battleground.

Buwana looked at the tens of thousands of goblins behind him and drew his Long Sword.

"Set up camp!"

The number of soldiers on both sides was about ten thousand each. Normally, a fully-equipped human soldier is far superior in strength to a goblin.

Otherwise, in goblin history, there wouldn’t be professionals like the "Goblin Slayer," who dared to charge into goblin nests armed only with armor and a Long Sword.

The Goblin Slayer profession still exists in some areas today.

But Buwana didn’t have time to think about how to deal with the Goblin Slayer.

What he needed to consider now was this war ahead of him.

A human soldier’s combat strength is much higher than that of a goblin warrior.

With equal numbers, ten thousand goblin warriors wouldn’t stand a chance against ten thousand human soldiers.

What’s more, the Esper army was led by Mason, who had previous experience and was sure to come well-prepared.

Buwana looked at the mass of green goblins in front of him, his brow gradually furrowing.

"This will be a tough battle. At this moment, the only thing that can turn the tide is relying on the commander..."

Buwana clearly realized that if they wanted to win this war, it would rely solely on the commander’s strategy. Victory must be achieved from a strategic standpoint.

"Lord Buwana, the latest scout report. The Esper army has deviated from the main path and is headed for another small city."

"Bring me a horse. I need to see for myself."

Buwana mounted a horse and quickly formed a scout team, heading in the direction of the Esper army.

Behind a low hill and thicket, Buwana saw the aggressive Esper army confronting an unknown small city.

Mason, sitting on his horse but not entirely seated, paced back and forth in front of the formation while the army flags behind him fluttered in the wind, making the air feel heavy.

"Little city lord, how dare you refuse to pay the annual tribute to the court, and don’t open the city gates to welcome the Royal Capital’s army? Are you planning to revolt?!"

Mason’s chastising voice echoed above the small city.

"Report! Lord Buwana. We’ve clarified the situation. Mason, while on his way back to reclaim Ueldo City, received the king’s order to conveniently subdue this small city that does not pay tribute."

"Very well. Scout again and report back."

In a moment.

"Report! Lord Buwana. More new intel. The small city lord resolutely refuses to surrender. Also, Mason recently developed a hemorrhoid."

"Goblin scout, how can you gather all this information? They’re still confronting each other, and you’ve already concluded the small city won’t surrender! This last piece of intel even involves personal privacy!"

A goblin lieutenant holding a large curved blade exclaimed in surprise from behind Buwana.

"Very well, Goblin Scout. Your bravery will be remembered in the Goblin Hall of Heroes. Scout again and report back!"

"Yes!"

Buwana looked ahead.

As expected.

The small city was determined not to surrender.

Mason, at the forefront, stopped wasting words. King Delarosa had only given him a week to reclaim Ueldo City.

If the task wasn’t completed, he would either become a fugitive bandit or meet his end.

"Attack!"

Facing the small city before him, Mason’s eyes showed no sympathy as he waved his hand.

Instantly, several fireballs emerged from the sky behind him, tracing a lethal arc and crashing onto the small city’s walls.

Rumbling, rumbling. Blooms of black gunpowder and brick and blood blossomed on the small city’s walls.

Soon, the entire city wall was reduced to ruins.

Buwana’s pupils widened as he looked toward the trebuchet units at the back of the army.

"Archers, clear the obstacles! Cavalry, break the final line’s formation! Infantry, enter the city!"

Mason shouted, and instantly tens of thousands of soldiers surged towards the small city like a tide, a white flag slowly rising above the city walls.

The entire battle was a crushing defeat.

With a heavy heart, Buwana led the scouting team back to the goblin main camp.