Earth Dungeon 71.1

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Chapter 71.1. Takeda's Army

It had been several months since the appearance of the Core Store. Later, the people of the abandoned city saw military vehicles moving for the first time in a while. Armed soldiers took control of the Core Store, conducted an investigation for several days, then left. It seemed they were checking if what was sold inside matched what was in the inner town.

Since then, the Core Stores had multiplied rapidly, and now there were countless ones in Tokyo alone. They always seemed to appear near dungeons, just like dungeons used to appear in the past. So, the government concluded that it wasn't something artificial like skills but evolved dungeons.

And so, people recognized what was known as the Core Store, finally emerging as humanity's hope. With the increasing variety of exchangeable items and the fact that people could obtain food by defeating monsters, the world had changed dramatically, at least for the residents of the abandoned city.

The abandoned city. The asphalt was cracked, with weeds peeking through the gaps. Buildings lay in ruins, half-collapsed, and reduced to piles of rubble. There were no shelves, broken windows, and a dirty convenience store with nothing left. About 20 people had gathered in the depths of houses being overtaken by weeds, near the dangerous area where monsters roamed,

"Milord! Enemies are approaching!"

A lookout man shouted from the shadows of a collapsed building, confirming the front.

"Yes. Everyone, get your spears ready! If they attack, thrust your spears out!"

In the center of it all, Shingen, with a fierce gaze, looked ahead. Katsuyori, his son, came riding on a horse from the front.

"Old man, it's a new dungeon. About a hundred Goblins. There are 3 knights and 3 shamans!"

Upon hearing the report from his son, Shingen nodded quietly and rose from his resting place.

"Target Shamans with Shadow Tiger! Once Shamans are down, focus on the knights!"

In the ruins, Goblins began to approach in a haphazard formation from the shadows of decaying buildings.

At first glance, it might seem like they were gathering and walking, but Shingen understood it was different. Perhaps archers had moved along the walls of the ruined buildings, aiming to shoot at them. Goblins were cunning. Shingen understood that many of his comrades had been killed by them. It would be impossible for about 20 soldiers to contend with them, but things are different now.

Goblins were approaching in a disorganized manner. That was advantageous for them.

"Fire!"

"Ha!"

With a resounding shout, 3 soldiers aimed their compound bows and let loose. These individuals had been training with bows for the past few months. They released powerful arrows, flying towards the goblins in waves and piercing through them. But it wouldn't be enough to kill them. Goblins have the strength of adults and wouldn't die so easily unless they got hit in the head.

"Gya?"

"Gyakya!"

As Goblins got attacked, they panicked and immediately started rushing towards the source of the attack, making thunderous footsteps.

Shingen's subordinates held their spears horizontally, assuming a spear formation. But, with their numbers. Goblins would overrun the approximately 20 soldiers. Among Goblins were Hobgoblins, individuals with far greater strength than human adults.

But they had known this from the beginning. They expected it.

While looking at the goblins running towards them, Shingen shouted again.

"Cavalry, charge!"

"Alright!"

"Haha!"

"Charge!"

From behind the buildings, about 10 cavalry appeared and charged towards the startled goblins. That was Shingen's skill, [Cavalry]. The skill allowed him to create 15 horsemen and produce spears and armor. The cavalry carried out the ambush.

This skill had a fatal weakness: it had no horsemanship, and the horsemen had no spear skills. Horses created by the skill were exceptionally intelligent, not kicking even when there was a loud noise behind them, and understanding human speech well. Therefore, riding was easy, but horsemanship was required for combat.

That meant that these horses, stronger and more robust than thoroughbreds and Western warhorses of old, were charging into the goblin horde and trampling them, with no riders on their backs. The riders were providing support from the rear.

The individuals in this unit couldn't ride while fighting yet, making it a challenging task. Nonetheless, the cavalry trampled Goblins in a matter of moments. Goblins got crushed, and Hobgoblins had their torsos stomped on, their organs rupturing, killing them. In general, creatures with animalistic traits were stronger than humanoids. Moreover, these were magic horses unafraid of death.

Realizing the abnormality, Knights rushed out, and Shamans tried to cast support magics. However, 3 Armed Shadow Tigers pounced on them with incredible speed. In one breath, they split the shamans' heads open with their long, metallic claws. As the charging Knights attempted to turn around and raise their swords, the agile Shadow Tigers soared through the air and crushed them, tearing their heads off.

"Gegge!"

Then, Archers from the windows of the ruined building were strangled by Shadow Snakes. They struggled and fell, their lifeless bodies spewing fresh blood upon hitting the ground.

With the battle situation deteriorating for Goblins, they attempted to retaliate against Shingen's forces.

"Spear formation!"

Shingen's voice echoed, and before long, the Goblin horde got annihilated.