Arthur knew that while infrastructure was important, survival was paramount.
The threat of the Orc Disaster was the ultimate catalyst for the nation's growth, and an early warning was the key to victory.
Rimuru was currently in a deep sleep, recovering her magicules after the massive expenditure from the naming process.
Arthur stood guard, observing the newly evolved Hobgoblins and Tempest Star Wolves.
They were strong, but raw and undisciplined.
The moment Rimuru's core reserves stabilized enough for communication, Arthur gently roused her with a mental nudge.
"Rimuru, I know you're exhausted, but we don't have time,"
Arthur's telepathic message was urgent.
"Your first real test—an existential threat—is rapidly approaching. You must prepare your forces now."
Rimuru's consciousness stirred.
"Whoa, urgent tone, Arthur! What's happening? Did someone steal my cool new Wolf?"
"It's far worse than that. An army of tens of thousands, known as the Orc Disaster, is currently marching toward the Great Forest of Jura. If they reach this village before you're ready, they will consume everything and everyone here,"
Arthur explained, omitting the details about the Orc Lord to keep the focus on immediate action.
"We need to begin training and scouting immediately."
Arthur's revelation instantly sobered Rimuru.
She quickly absorbed his gravity and, using her Great Sage skill, began to organize the training, with Arthur acting as her strategic advisor and occasional drill sergeant.
1. Scouting and Intelligence
Arthur first tasked the Tempest Star Wolves with fanning out across the forest. These intelligent, fast creatures were perfect for reconnaissance. Their mission was to establish a perimeter and confirm the speed and direction of the Orc army. This immediately ingrained a culture of military intelligence and vigilance into the new nation.
2. Tactical Discipline
For the Hobgoblins, Arthur focused on transforming the fiercely loyal but disorganized group into a coherent fighting unit.
* Formation Drilling: He insisted on basic shield walls and group maneuver training, teaching them how to fight as a cohesive unit rather than individual skirmishers.
* Skill Mastery: Arthur guided Rimuru to use her analytical skills to teach the Hobgoblins how to better harness the abilities they gained from their evolution, focusing on group attack coordination.
3. Arthur's Role
Though he refused to step forward as the leader, Arthur made it clear that he would not simply stand by if the village was truly at risk. His primary goal was to ensure Rimuru took ownership of the defense, but he offered crucial, timely interventions:
* Aura Conditioning: Arthur occasionally released a small fraction of his terrifying Dragon aura during training exercises. This wasn't meant to empower them, but to acclimate the Hobgoblins to immense pressure, making them less likely to panic when faced with the sheer dread of the Orc army's magical power.
* Strategic Blueprint: He provided Rimuru with a basic defensive blueprint, leveraging the forest's terrain to funnel the enemy and create advantageous choke points.
Within days, the frantic training transformed the Goblins. They were still physically weaker than the Orcs, but they now had discipline, loyalty, and a strategic mind guiding them—Rimuru.
The final report from the Tempest Star Wolves arrived, confirming Arthur's fears: the Orc army was less than a week away.
The time for training was over; the time for diplomacy and war had begun.
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