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

"Based on what evidence?"

"Based on tactical analysis of his constraints and rational command decisions." Lyra’s mental voice was confident. "He can’t afford to wait. Every day we raid his camps and bleed his specialists. He needs to end this before attrition destroys his army’s combat effectiveness."

"So you’re guessing," Kelvin observed without judgment.

"I’m predicting based on putting myself in his position and asking what I would do." Lyra moved to the tactical map, her hands already positioning defensive markers. "And if I were facing a one-week deadline with an enemy that controls night operations, I’d commit everything to breaking their main defensive line immediately."

"What if he doesn’t?"

"Then we’re over-prepared for an assault that doesn’t come and we’ve wasted some defensive positioning. But if he does commit heavy forces and we’re not ready, we lose Second Line and probably the entire settlement." Lyra’s strategic risk assessment was clear. "I’d rather be wrong about over-preparing than wrong about under-preparing."

Mental acknowledgments rippled across the network as commanders accepted her reasoning.

"So what do we prepare for?" Vex’ahlia asked.

"Everything. Siege towers—he probably has them being built at First Line. We need concentrated archer fire positions to target towers before they reach the walls. Artillery bombardment—we need evacuation plans for wall sections that come under heavy fire. Alchemical weapons to clear defenders—we need rotation schedules so we’re not bunched up as easy targets. Mass infantry assault—we need kill zones prepared and reserve forces ready to plug breakthrough points."

Lyra’s tactical mind was already three steps ahead, planning for contingencies and counter-contingencies.

"Thrak, can you prepare additional defensive works overnight? Anything that makes mass assault more costly?"

The demon engineer’s gravelly voice responded. "I can strengthen wall sections, add more spike barriers in the approaches, position oil barrels for dropping on siege towers. Won’t be perfect, but it’ll help."

"Do it. Jessica, medical status?"

"We’re critically low on supplies. If tomorrow is as bad as you’re predicting, we’ll be doing triage within hours. Save the ones we can, let the others die."

"Brutal but necessary. Prioritize fighters who can return to combat over those who can’t. We need every blade on the walls."

"Understood."

"All section commanders—check your defensive positions, redistribute arrows to maximize coverage, get as much rest as you can. Tomorrow is going to test everything we have."

"What if Second Line falls?" someone asked.

"Then we fall back to Third Line in controlled retreat and hold there. But we don’t give up Second Line easily. Elric will pay in blood for every yard."

Hour Twenty-Three:

Deep into the night, long after all the raids had concluded and all the wounded had been treated and all the strategic planning had been finalized, sentries on both sides maintained their watches.

On the human side, soldiers stood guard with fearful eyes scanning darkness, jumping at every shadow, knowing that serpentfolk assassins could be anywhere. The terror of night raids had fundamentally changed how they viewed the darkness.

On the settlement side, defenders manned the Second Line walls with grim determination, knowing that tomorrow would bring the worst battle yet. They sharpened weapons, checked armor, redistributed arrows, and prepared themselves mentally for what was coming.

--------

In the human command tent, Elric sat alone with his maps, planning tomorrow’s assault with the methodical care of someone who knew lives depended on getting the details right.

The cautious approach wasn’t working. Time to change tactics.

"Three siege towers positioned here, here, and here," he murmured to himself, marking positions on the map. "Artillery bombardment starting at dawn to soften defenses. Alchemical fire bombs at hour two to clear wall defenders. Main assault at hour three when walls are damaged and defenders are disorganized."

Two thousand soldiers. Half his army. Everything he could commit while maintaining defensive positions at First Line.

It had to work. It had to break Second Line. Because if it didn’t, he’d have lost a thousand soldiers for nothing and the settlement would still be standing, still bleeding him with night raids, still holding out until reinforcements might arrive.

"Tomorrow we end this," Elric said to the empty tent. "One way or another."

---------

At Second Line, Lyra stood alone on the central tower, staring out at the human campfires dotting the darkness like malevolent stars.

Seraphina materialized beside her in that unnerving way demon lords had, simply existing where she hadn’t been a moment before.

"You should rest."

"Can’t. Too much to think about." Lyra gestured at the human camps. "Tomorrow Elric throws everything at us. I’m betting on two thousand soldiers. Siege towers. Fire bombs. Artillery. It’s going to be the worst day yet."

"You’re predicting, not knowing."

"I’m predicting based on sound tactical analysis." Lyra’s voice carried both confidence and exhaustion. "But yes, I could be wrong. He might send light probes again. Might decide to wait another day. Might try a completely different approach I haven’t anticipated."

"But you don’t think so."

"No. I think he’s out of time and patience. I think tonight’s raids pushed him past the point where cautious siege tactics make sense." Lyra’s golden eyes reflected firelight from the distant human camps. "So tomorrow he commits everything. And we either hold or we break."

"Intelligence only matters if we have the strength to use it."

"Which is why I’m worried." Lyra’s voice carried exhaustion beyond physical fatigue. "Two days of combat. We’ve lost forty-four dead, fifty-six wounded. We’re down to eight hundred seventy-three effective fighters. And tomorrow I’m predicting we face two thousand soldiers backed by every advantage Elric can muster."

"Numbers aren’t everything."

"They are when the gap is this wide." Lyra turned to face the demon lord directly. "I’m buying time with people’s lives. Every tactical decision I make costs fighters their lives. Twelve dead tonight to stop the warehouse raid. Was that worth it? Did saving our food supplies justify twelve deaths? I don’t know anymore."

Seraphina was quiet for a long moment before answering.

"Satou chose you for this because you have the mind for it. Yes, you’re making hard choices. Yes, people are dying. But they’re dying fighting for something they believe in, led by someone who’s keeping more of them alive than anyone else could."