Storm and the others rushed to where the captain indicated they should meet.
He found his uncle's team already there with the Captain Hoarfrost and his elite, handpicked retinue.
The captain eyed Orian's group of friends.
"What are these kids doing on my battlefield!!?" Asked the dwarf.
"It's a long story. Is the path back to the Gatehouse cleared?" Asked Storm.
"Most of the nests are taken down. Path should be clear." Stated Hoarfrost.
"Then they will be returning home now!" Stated Storm.
"I don't understand? If the nests are cleared, then why are we here?" Asked Razor.
"I called you all because of that!" Stated Captain Hoarfrost.
He pointed ahead to what Storm at first thought was a pillar of some kind.
But as Storm studied it closer, he realized it was another goblin nest. Only, this one was titanic in size. It was a massive tall spire easily as big as a small mountain. The veins growing from it's base was as wide as the trunks of ancient oak trees.
Storm stared at the structure with dread.
"Nests can grow that big!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"That's not a 'nest'. That's a 'hive'. The central heart of a massive infestation. Not only can they release an army of goblins in moments, they are also capable of defending themselves.
Using their tentacles, as well as regularly placed acid bile launchers. We'd need an army to take that thing down." Stated Hoarfrost.
"Should we retreat? Come back at a later time?" Asked Aurora.
The Dwarven captain immediately shook his head.
"If we did that, they'll simply rebuild the nests and all our work from earlier will be for nothing.
Only thing we can do is press on." He said.
"How are we even supposed to destroy that thing!!? Even Pyros and I wouldn't be able to put a dent in that thing!?" Exclaimed Storm.
"Fortunately you won't have to. Hives usually have 4 smaller nest like organs that powers the defenses in their quarter of the hive.
These 4 organs protect the central 'heart' from invaders. Standard operation is to target and destroy the 4 organs, before taking out the heart.
Without the heart, the entire structure withers and dies. Along with any other nests outside the structure that's connected to the Hive.
"I trust you have a plan?" Asked Storm.
"We call up your army and assault it together.
You and your fliers hit it from the air, while we assault it from the ground.
We enter the complex and hit any organs we encounter before meeting up at the 'Heart'." Explained Hoarfrost.
"Sounds simple enough." Stated Storm.
"Trust me, there's nothing 'simple' about assaulting a goblin hive!" Stated Grimm.
"One other thing, dragon. You'll encountered winged Goblins called 'Gargoyles' when you attack the Hive. They're vulnerable to light and turn to stone when exposed to it. Remember that when you assault the Hive." Said Hoarfrost.
"Razor! Take the children with you back to the city and call for reinforcements. Have everyone meet us here.
"We can help!!" Exclaimed Orian.
"Trust me, kid!! You're not ready for a Hive assault yet!!" Stated Grimm.
Orian stomped his foot.
"You WILL return to the city with your friends!!
Is that clear?!!" Stated his father.
Orian looked like he wanted to argue further , but Lavander grabbed him from behind.
"You know they're right, Orian!! There will be other opportunities!!"
Orian sighed and nodded his head.
They left with Razor and an hour later, the remainder of his troops was assembled in the field in front of the Hive.
He took flight with the dragons and Griffins while the remainder of his forces advanced on the Hive on foot.
Swarms of flying creatures left openings near the top of the hive as his forces closed on the structure.
At first Storm thought they might be bats, but as he got closer, he realized the creatures were roughly the same size as a adult dwarf.
Remembering the advice Hoarfrost gave, Storm channeled his Light magic and a wave of bright light left his scales.
Normally the light would only illuminate the area and blind enemies. But the gargoyles all turned to stone as the light reached their skin and the whole group fell to the ground like meteors.
Storm watched as several sharp spines grew out of the structure.
"Brace yourselves!!" Called Storm.
The spines fired at rapid speed a moment later.
He tucked in his wings and rolled to the side to avoid the projectiles. All the other flyers did the same except for one griffin that reacted too slowly.
He screeched as the spines pierced his wings and chest and fell out of the air towards the ground far below.
Once he hit the ground, the goblins swarmed his body. Less than a minute later nothing was left but a bloody smear on the ground where he fell and some scattered, broken bones.
As the army on the ground came closer to the hive. Several of the tentacles on the ground broke free and rose up and began to batter the troops on the ground.
At the same time, several toothy maws opened on the Hive and began to spit globs of green acid at the troops.
The assault halted as the ground forces were being held back by the combination of Goblin troops and the Hive's defenses.
"Cover the ground troops, they'll need help to reach the Hive!!"" Ordered Storm.
He dived down at the goblin front line with two other dragons and together they strafed the goblin frontline with their fire breath.
Allowing his troops to advance a few more feet.
A shadow passed over Storm and he looked up to see a massive tentacle raised to swat him out of the air.
"MOVE!!!" Shouted Storm.
He and his fellow dragons just barely managed to avoid the massive tentacle as it slammed into the ground. He twisted around and fired a explosive blast at the base of the tentacle.
Severing the limb in the process.
Pyros passed overhead and his chest opened as the cannon began to charge. He fired a ball of supercharged energy at one of the acid maws. Blowing it up and disabling the launcher.
"Storm!! We can't stay out here much longer!!
These defenses are slaughtering us!!" Came his mental voice.