My Goblin System : Levelling up with my SSS Class Devouring skill-Chapter 310

She turned to her force commanders. "Begin integration with settlement forces immediately. Teach them to fight alongside corruption zones. Coordinate psychological warfare tactics. Establish protocols for every engagement scenario."

To the settlement leadership: "We have approximately two weeks, possibly less. Every hour counts. But we are not victims waiting to be slaughtered. We are predators defending our territory. Let’s remind the humans why they should think twice before they plan to attack us again."

The speech landed perfectly. Some who’d been scared were now looking determined. This wasn’t just survival anymore—this was about sending a message. About establishing that Satou’s settlement wasn’t easy prey but a force to be reckoned with.

[Late Afternoon ]

The planning continued for several more hours. Seraphina’s experience was proving invaluable—she identified problems in minutes that would have taken the settlement leadership days to discover on their own. Her direct, no-nonsense approach cut through hesitation and uncertainty.

But then everything changed.

Kelvin entered the war room quickly, his expression tense in a way that immediately commanded attention. "We have a situation. Scout just returned—he’s wounded, exhausted, barely able to stand."

"Bring him in immediately," Seraphina commanded, her voice sharp with authority.

The scout was a young hobgoblin named Rikkar, one of Kelvin’s most reliable operatives. He’d been part of a long-range reconnaissance team monitoring human military movements far to the south—the dangerous work of getting close enough to enemy forces to gather accurate intelligence.

Now he limped into the war room, one arm bandaged and held close to his body, his face showing exhaustion and fear. He’d clearly pushed himself beyond normal limits to return with his information.

"Report," Lyra said gently but firmly, moving to help support him.

Rikkar took a shaky breath, his words coming in exhausted bursts. "The human army... they’re moving faster than we thought. Much faster. And they’re larger than intelligence suggested."

The room went completely silent. Every eye focused on the wounded scout.

"Explain," Seraphina commanded, her voice cutting through the sudden tension.

"They began mobilizing four days ago," Rikkar said, accepting water that Jessica provided. "Before Lord Satou even received TheReaper’s warning. They’ve been preparing longer than anyone realized."

"Four days head start," Vex’ahlia said quietly, her tactical mind already calculating implications. "That explains the speed."

"How much larger is the force?" Ssk’thar asked, his sibilant voice carrying urgency.

Rikkar’s expression was grim. "At least three thousand five hundred soldiers. Possibly four thousand. Multiple kingdoms are contributing forces—this isn’t just one nation attacking, it’s a coordinated coalition."

The number hit like a physical blow. Four thousand troops was significantly more than the three thousand they’d been planning to face.

"That matches what we observed during our travel here," Ssk’thar confirmed. "Human military activity has increased across multiple territories. We thought it was normal border security, but if they’re coordinating..."

"When will they arrive?" Lyra asked, though her voice was steady, her hands had clenched into fists.

Rikkar met her eyes, and everyone saw the answer in his expression before he spoke. "Two weeks. Maybe less. They’re mobilizing siege equipment now—trebuchets, battering rams, siege towers. The four heroes are already en route to join the main force. Conservative estimate puts the entire army at our gates in fourteen days."

The room erupted in controlled chaos. Two weeks instead of three or four meant everything had to accelerate dramatically. Training schedules, fortification construction, supply gathering—all of it compressed into an impossibly short timeline.

Seraphina’s hand slammed onto the table.

The sharp crack of her palm hitting wood silenced everyone instantly. Every eye turned to her.

"Focus," she commanded, her crimson eyes sweeping the room with absolute authority. "Two weeks is manageable. Barely, but manageable. We do not panic. We do not despair. We adjust our timeline and work smarter."

She looked at each leader in turn, making rapid decisions with the confidence of someone who’d commanded armies for centuries.

"Vex’ahlia—your forces move to double shifts on fortifications. I want outer walls fully reinforced within ten days. Use earth manipulation specialists around the clock if necessary. Quality remains important, but completion takes priority."

"Understood," Vex’ahlia acknowledged immediately.

"Ssk’thar—the Scaled Brethren begin twenty-four-hour patrol rotations starting immediately. I want three concentric perimeter zones with overlapping coverage. No human scout gets within five miles of this settlement undetected. If they do, I want to know about it instantly."

"It will be done," the lizardfolk chief confirmed.

"Urgak—orc warriors train in six-hour blocks with four-hour rest periods. Push them hard but don’t exhaust them. I need them fresh for battle, not burned out from overtraining. Focus on formation coordination and stamina drills."

"Understood," Urgak rumbled.

"Kelvin—expand the scout network immediately. I want hourly updates on human army movements. Deploy long-range teams to track their advance. Map their route, identify their rest stops, document everything. Information is our advantage."

"Already planning deployment," Kelvin said.

"Grimnir—weapons production prioritizes quantity over quality. Better to have adequate weapons for every defender than perfect weapons for half the force. Commission additional blacksmiths if necessary. Use settlement resources freely."

Grimnir nodded grimly.

"Jessica—medical preparations accelerate. Train every person with even basic aptitude in field medicine. I don’t care if they’re barely competent—we need bodies who can stabilize wounds, stop bleeding, and provide triage. Set up multiple medical stations throughout the settlement."

"I’ll organize additional training sessions immediately," Jessica confirmed.

"Lyra—supply distribution becomes top priority. Everything moves to decentralized locations starting tomorrow morning. Create independent stockpiles for each defensive zone. If sections become isolated during battle, they need complete self-sufficiency."

"Understood," Lyra said, her mind already reorganizing logistics.

Seraphina straightened, her wings spreading slightly. "We adjust our timeline but we do not compromise our standards. The humans want us to feel rushed, to make mistakes out of fear and panic. We will not give them that satisfaction."

Her voice carried absolute conviction. "Two weeks is enough time to prepare if we’re disciplined and focused. We have more defenders than they expect. Better defensive positions than they anticipate. Capabilities they’ve never encountered. And we’re fighting for our homes, our families, our right to exist."

She paused, letting that sink in. "The humans are fighting because they were ordered to. Because some king or church official decided we’re inconvenient. That difference matters. It matters more than numbers or equipment or training."