My Goblin System : Levelling up with my SSS Class Devouring skill-Chapter 357

Commander Elric began Day Two exactly as Lyra predicted—with careful reconnaissance.

But this time, the human probes were more sophisticated.

Instead of simple advance-and-observe patrols, Elric deployed coordinated reconnaissance teams using tactics developed from yesterday’s lessons.

Each team consisted of:

Ten soldiers with interlocking shields for arrow defenseTwo battle mages providing mobile shield spellsOne sapper with trap detection equipmentThree archers for counter-battery fireOne signal officer with communication crystals

These weren’t probes designed to draw fire—they were intelligence gathering units built to operate under hostile conditions while minimizing casualties.

Six teams deployed simultaneously across different sectors, each advancing to specific observation points with overlapping fields of view. They moved in coordinated timing so that if settlement defenders engaged one team, the others could observe the response patterns.

From Second Line’s central tower, Lyra watched the deployment through far-seeing lenses and felt a cold respect for Elric’s tactical evolution.

"He’s adapted," she reported through the network. "Look at those formations—shield discipline, magical protection, detection specialists. These aren’t yesterday’s probe teams. These are hardened reconnaissance units."

"Do we engage?" Captain Vex asked.

Lyra calculated rapidly. Yesterday’s tactic of selective engagement wouldn’t work against units specifically designed to survive arrow fire. But letting them observe freely would give Elric perfect intelligence on Second Line’s defenses.

"Engage, but differently," she decided. "Don’t waste arrows on shielded soldiers. Target their specialists—sappers and signal officers first, then battle mages. Make their reconnaissance missions expensive in terms of critical personnel."

"Understood."

The human reconnaissance teams advanced to three hundred yards from Second Line walls—well within archer range, but protected by interlocking shields and magical barriers.

Settlement archers opened fire.

The first volley crashed against shields and magical barriers with minimal effect. But settlement defenders weren’t firing mass volleys anymore—they were using precision targeting.

Individual archers selected specific targets: the sapper slightly exposed while operating detection equipment, the signal officer whose hands were occupied with communication crystals, the battle mage who had to drop shield coverage momentarily to cast a detection spell.

Eight arrows flew. Three found targets.

One sapper went down with an arrow through his shoulder. One signal officer took a shaft in the leg and collapsed. One battle mage’s concentration broke as an arrow grazed his temple—non-lethal, but enough to disrupt his spellcasting.

The reconnaissance team’s magical protection flickered and weakened.

Immediately, settlement archers exploited the gap. Fifteen more arrows targeted the now-vulnerable unit. Four more casualties.

But the reconnaissance team didn’t panic. They executed a practiced fighting withdrawal, covering each other with disciplined shield work while dragging their wounded back to safe distance.

Across all six sectors, similar engagements played out. Settlement defenders inflicted casualties on specialist personnel, forcing human teams to withdraw or operate with degraded capabilities.

After thirty minutes of careful observation and calculated harassment, the human reconnaissance teams withdrew.

Casualty count: Eleven wounded (three sappers, two signal officers, two battle mages, four regular soldiers). Zero deaths—the heavy armor and magical protection had prevented lethal hits.

But in Elric’s command tent, the intelligence gathered was being processed with methodical precision.

"Second Line archer capabilities exceed First Line," reported Lieutenant Thorne, marking observations on tactical maps. "Firing from elevated positions with overlapping fields of fire. Estimated archer count: two hundred to two hundred fifty based on volley density. Accuracy is excellent—they’re targeting specialists specifically."

"Defensive works?" Elric asked.

"Walls are twelve feet high, constructed from reinforced timber with stone foundations. Crenellations provide arrow coverage while protecting defenders. Three main towers offer elevated firing positions. Two gates visible—eastern and western approaches. Both appear heavily reinforced."

"Magical defenses?"

A battle mage commander shook his head. "None detected. Their defenses are purely physical—engineering and archery, no magical enhancement we can identify."

"Which means either they have no magical support," Elric mused, "or they’re hiding it very effectively." He studied the updated maps. "What’s our casualty ratio for this morning’s reconnaissance?"

"Eleven wounded, zero dead. We gained comprehensive intelligence on their Second Line layout and archer capabilities. Acceptable trade."

"Agreed. But note—they’ve adapted their tactics. Yesterday they fired mass volleys at probe teams. Today they’re using precision targeting against specialists. They’re learning as fast as we are."

"Orders, sir?"

"Continue reconnaissance through midday. I want trap mapping between First and Second Lines. Also send teams to probe from multiple angles—I need to know if their archer coverage is equally strong across all sectors or if there are weak points."

"And if we find weak points?"

"Then we test them with something more substantial than reconnaissance. But carefully. Always carefully."

Over the next three hours, a tactical pattern developed that resembled a deadly chess match.

Elric would send reconnaissance teams to probe specific sectors. Settlement defenders would engage with precision archery, targeting specialists. Human teams would withdraw after gathering intelligence, having paid a price in wounded specialists but obtained useful data.

After each probe, Elric would adjust his approach based on what he’d learned. Settlement defenders would observe the adjustments and counter-adjust.

The result was escalating tactical sophistication on both sides.

Human Evolution:

Initial probe: Standard reconnaissance teamsSettlement counter: Precision targeting of specialistsHuman adaptation: Specialists positioned in center of formations, protected by outer shield wallSettlement counter-counter: Archers aimed for legs beneath shields, forcing teams to close ranks and reducing mobilityHuman counter-counter-counter: Teams moved in staggered formation so shield walls could rotate while maintaining coverage

Settlement Evolution:

Initial defense: Precision archery from fixed positionsHuman counter: Counter-battery teams identifying archer positionsSettlement adaptation: Archers fired from rotating positions, never shooting from the same location twice in successionHuman counter-counter: Multiple observation teams triangulating archer positions across timeSettlement counter-counter-counter: Dummy positions with decoy archers drawing fire while real archers shot from concealed angles

Lyra coordinated the settlement’s tactical evolution through Seraphina’s network, making real-time adjustments as human tactics evolved.

"Eastern sector—they’re mapping your archer positions. Rotate firing points every third volley. Western sector—they’re trying to draw you into extended engagements to deplete your arrows. Limit yourself to precision shots only, no suppression fire."

"Southern sector reporting they’re probing our wall foundations," came a report. "Sappers are using detection equipment on the base structures."