The first goblins approached the duo slowly and tentatively. Cheese was surprised, as he had expected a rush of bodies to press through the gate. The fear of the lizards had held them back before, what was it that held them back now? Was it Cheese and Gelrock?

  Yet come they did. The first goblin was a small thing hardly more than a half meter tall and its tag read [Goblin: Novice]

  This was the first goblin with that rank that Cheese had seen. That somewhat surprised him, as one would assume many of these creatures would be at that lower level. Strangely though none of those who came before had been at such a low level. They had been at the apprentice level at the very least. The small being walked forward propelled by his peers and Cheese stepped into it, deciding to go with a backhanded fist instead of a strike with his axe. It was a strange decision, but Cheese felt as if this goblin almost insulted him with its presence, so he struck it down. He did not imbue any mana into the strike. The creature's head did not care as it caved in and exploded into a gory mess. Cheese looked at his hand in shock and then looked up at the wall of spears before him and smiled. As he did so a shout rang out from above.

  "Don't fucking waste time, kill 'em" Came Tompson's plea as he threw a stone down into the throng of goblins.

  In response Cheese lifted his axe overhead and brought it down, imbuing it with power as he activated Chop.

  The skill cleaved down several goblins and Cheese stepped forward to close the gap with the remaining ones. As if sensing his intent Gelrock stepped back and let him take the lead.

  The gatehouse was a semi-large construct, but it was no great gate like the ones on Fairhaven's wall. It held no portcullis, no killing boxes. It was simply a large double door set into an even larger stone construct that the gate was bolted to. Cheese would not have been able to fill the entire gate in a true castle, however here in the walls of the mill, his larger form was enough to fully take the flow of bodies. That is what Cheese did now, he stepped forward and began pushing into the mob of goblins who screamed and tried to flee as they were cut down. Their small forms were unable to flee properly as Cheese activated Chop many times in quick succession. The skill began to tick up as he sliced away at his foes. Cheese could feel the drain on his core, yet it was not a large drain. The more massive of the lizardfolk that he had slain had almost fully replenished it, and Cheese was being sparse on his use of the Observe skill.

  He was using the axe like one might use a scythe to cut down wheat, and in quick order, he found himself inside the gate. The goblins who had earlier fled from him were now dead, their allies pressing them into the throng, and Cheese decided to activate Observe as a fresh force closed with him. Their number was cut down right before they reached him as a flurry of javelins and arrows flew over Cheese's shoulders. He heard Gelrock say "Be careful lads, don't hit the man" and then raised the axe above his head, bringing it down to sever a [Goblin: Apprentice] in half.

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  Cheese was sure now as he saw this, they were sending the weakest of their host in first. The lizards had taken the lead for whatever reason, but the goblins were settling into the same pattern as earlier today. Why had there not been any of the earlier novice-leveled goblins in the day's first attack?

  Cheese took his axe and began slicing down from above onto the heads of the smaller forms. His axe skill ticked up again as he killed another goblin. [Axe: 49].

  he had finally gotten there. The wall before Expert level. Cheese lifted the axe and let out a laugh and then stepped backward, inviting the press of bodies to advance inward.

  As he did so he yelled behind him "I need a Drink" he turned his eyes forward and saw that the goblins were resisting the urge to advance, and a few of the larger ones began pushing the throng forward.

  Cheese heard Gelrock laugh and shout back "Do you need a swap boy?"

  "Aye" He yelled in reply "Like I need more rats underfoot, just give me a drink!"

  He turned and caught the wine in one hand and put it to his lips. After a moment of peace, he felt the goblinoids press in, propelled by their kin and Cheese dropped the wineskin. He had retreated to the close side of the gatehouse, and as he brought his axe into a horizontal slice he killed four of the goblins who had decided to press forward. Cheese saw over their heads, and noticed the first Orc. hovered above its head, and it paced back and forth some twenty meters behind the throng of goblins. Cheese set his sight on the creature's head. It was a large figure and had the head of a boar. Around it stalked many larger goblins who helped the Orc press the mob forward.

  An arrow that had been shot from the ramparts impacted the Orc, and a thin veil of mana popped into existence. It deflected the arrow sending it into a nearby goblin.

  An idea formed, and Cheese stopped his passive almost mindless sweeps of his Blade across the nearby goblin ranks. He sent out a series of three Chops and then quickly raised the axe overhead. The Larger form was turned away directing his force, and Cheese took the opportunity to throw his large Axe end over end at the beast. It soared in a low arc, nearly hitting the top of the gatehouse, yet the axe flew true.

  The mana materialized, but there was no reaction from the Axe. It sunk deep into the chest of the creature. The Orc looked at Cheese, disbelief in its eyes, and then down at the Axe. It put a hand on its chest and then touched the axe head.

  Cheese activated Spiritual Binding and the chest of the orc exploded outward. A notification pinged, and Cheese felt a warmth fill him as he leaped across the gap into the realm of an expert.

  [Axe: 51]

  He smiled to himself and laid back into the mass of fodder that had so kindly been laid out in front of him.