The forest fell silent in the wake of the toppled trees, the air still shaking from the Chieftain's roar. Yoshiya's team had retreated, each member battered, bloodied, and trembling. Yumi's wand flickered with magic, Omina's short sword dripped with goblin blood, and Kokoro's great sword left gouges in the soft earth as he staggered forward. Dorobo's dual daggers were slick with gore, but his focus remained sharp.
Yoshiya planted his **shield** and leaned on his **staff**, chanting a soft incantation. A faint shimmer of mana coated him as **Guard** strengthened his defenses. Then he whispered **Heal** on himself, closing the worst of his wounds before kneeling to touch Omina's leg. The wound from the rear attack slowly mended, though a scar of pain remained.
Yoshiya surveyed the terrain. "We can't fight it in the forest. Too many trees. We'll lead it into the clearing ahead. That way everyone can move freely, and archers can strike safely."
The team nodded, limping forward under his guidance. Kokoro and Yoshiya formed the front line, Dorobo and Omina flanking, and Yumi stayed at the rear, wand ready. Seikaku's team was already in position in the open field, crossbow leveled, archers prepared, ready for hit-and-run tactics.
A leader from another team shouted instructions, voice carrying across the clearing:
* **"Long-range damagers! Hit, then relocate!"**
* **"Healers! Prioritize healing and running!"**
* **"Tanks! Protect the archers and mages!"**
* **"Others! Set traps and distract the Chieftain!"**
The strategy was clear: slow the Chieftain with traps, harass it from range, and keep it off-balance until the team could finish it.
The Chieftain stomped into the clearing, massive and towering, its iron club ready, eyes scanning for targets. Its pace was slow, but each step rattled the ground.
Seikaku loosed the first bolt from his **crossbow**. It struck the Chieftain squarely in the shoulder. Another arrow followed, piercing its leg. The creature roared, swinging its club wildly, but every swing met a coordinated defense: tanks intercepted, dodged, or absorbed the attacks.
"Move! Hit and relocate!" the leader shouted again. Arrows and bolts flew from multiple directions. Long-range mages, including Yumi, fired from the back, weaving spells between trees and traps Dorobo had planted.
Omina darted to the rear, slashing at goblins that attempted to flank, while Yoshiya moved alongside Kokoro, casting **Guard** whenever a swing came too close. He whispered **Heal** over Kokoro's shoulder as the great sword wielder staggered from a heavy strike.
The Chieftain swung its massive club at Dorobo. The dual-dagger fighter leapt aside, cutting a shallow line across the monster's ankle before retreating behind Yumi's barrier of spells. Each attack forced the Chieftain to overextend, buying precious seconds for the archers to reposition.
Omina and Dorobo lured the Chieftain toward spiked caltrops, hidden pits, and fallen logs. Each trap slowed its advance and caused it to stagger, giving archers and Seikaku another opportunity to fire.
The team moved like a well-oiled machine. Tanks absorbed punishment, mages and ranged fighters struck from distance, and Healers kept everyone alive. Yoshiya's **Guard** pulsed like a shielded heartbeat, taking blows that might have killed him or Kokoro. Every retreat was measured, every attack coordinated.
"Focus your attacks!" the team leader shouted. "We keep it moving! Don't let it pin anyone down!"
The Chieftain's roars echoed across the field, shaking the earth and scattering debris, but the adventurers kept up their rhythm, refusing to break.
Finally, after what felt like endless strikes and retreats, the Chieftain slowed, exhausted by the constant harassment. Seikaku leveled his **crossbow**, a cold, measured expression on his face.
"Now," he muttered.
The bolt flew true, piercing the Chieftain's chest. Its roar cut short. A second bolt from one of the archers struck the neck, and a third punctured the temple. The creature staggered, its massive club dropping to the ground. With a final, earth-shaking thud, the Goblin Chieftain collapsed, lifeless.
The forest fell silent once more. The clearing was littered with broken trees, splintered traps, and the remnants of goblin minions.
Breathing heavily, the adventurers lowered their weapons. Yoshiya cast **Heal** one final time, closing wounds and restoring stamina to those who could still stand. Kokoro leaned on his great sword, nodding at Yoshiya. Omina wiped her short sword clean, limping slightly but proud of her contribution. Dorobo wiped his daggers, prepared for the next encounter, while Yumi quietly recast minor shields and wards to stabilize the group.
Seikaku and his archers sheathed their weapons, nodding once at the victorious team. The battle had been brutal, but the coordinated hit-and-run tactics had turned what could have been a massacre into a clear, decisive victory.
Yoshiya exhaled, looking across the clearing at the fallen Chieftain. "We survived… because we worked together."
The adventurers shared weary but relieved glances, knowing the next challenges would be even greater—but for now, the Chieftain was dead, and their teamwork had proven its worth.
As the group began to rest, Yoshiya moved among the wounded, casting **Heal** over those who still needed it. His hands glowed faintly with restorative mana when he noticed a familiar figure sitting quietly nearby—**Lia**, one of the guild members. She had sustained injuries but was still smiling faintly.
"Oh—you're here too? In the raid?" Yoshiya asked, slightly surprised.
"Yeah," Lia replied. "It's important to contribute. Guilds grow stronger when members join raids like this. The effort counts a lot."
Yoshiya nodded, taking in the scene. "And the reward?"
Lia's smile widened. "It's good. Both for the individual and the guild. Everyone who fights alongside us… their work is recognized."
For a moment, the exhaustion faded, replaced by a quiet sense of accomplishment. The battle was over, but the bonds forged in it—and the rewards waiting—made all the hardships worthwhile.