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

[Author Note; i made some edit on Chapter 376, please read Chapter 376 before you read Chapter 377 so as not to get confused , thanks for reading ]

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"Then I reassess. If the situation becomes genuinely untenable—if we’re at risk of losing our entire assault force—I deploy the heroes." Elric’s expression hardened. "But we try it the human way first. Order the reserve infantry to advance immediately. All three sectors, coordinated assault, maximum pressure. Break those demon warriors through sheer weight of numbers."

"Yes, sir." Thorne saluted and moved to carry out orders.

Captain Marcus lingered. "Commander, permission to speak candidly?"

"Granted."

"The men... they respect your tactical brilliance. Your forty years of experience. Your victories against demon lords when most commanders failed." Marcus chose his words carefully. "But they also wonder if maybe... if the pride that drove those victories is now preventing you from using every tool available."

Elric met his gaze steadily. "Are you suggesting I’m letting pride influence tactical decisions?"

"I’m suggesting that what worked twenty years ago—human forces grinding through demon positions with casualties as the price of victory—might not be the optimal approach when we have alternatives. The heroes were summoned by divine will. Using them isn’t weakness. It’s... utilizing available assets."

"Assets we didn’t request and don’t control," Elric countered. "The Pope summoned them, yes. The Church blessed them. But they answer to their own judgment, their own codes, their own divine purposes. They’re not soldiers in my chain of command. They’re... independent operators who happen to share our enemy."

"But they’re on our side—"

"For now. Until their divine mandate tells them otherwise. Until Gattychan decides that our military methods are too brutal and withdraws support. Until Seraphelle declares that civilian casualties—which are inevitable in urban warfare—violate her healing principles." Elric’s voice carried decades of experience with unreliable allies. "I’ve fought alongside mercenaries, sellswords, adventurers, and summoned champions. And I’ve learned one universal truth: the only forces you can truly rely on are the ones under your direct command who follow your orders without question."

Marcus absorbed this. "So this is about maintaining command authority."

"This is about maintaining a functional military force that doesn’t crumble the moment otherworldly support is withdrawn." Elric returned to his tactical map. "But I’m not suicidal about it. If the battle genuinely requires hero intervention, I’ll use them. I just want to try the conventional approach first."

A messenger burst in, breathing hard. "Sir! Eastern wall report—the demon warriors just withdrew! All of them, simultaneously. Pulled back from wall positions and retreated toward settlement interior."

Elric and his officers exchanged surprised looks.

"Withdrew? Under what circumstances?"

"Unknown, sir. One moment they were fighting, the next they disengaged in coordinated fashion. Our assault troops are pursuing but the demons are retreating in good order."

"Interesting." Elric studied the tactical map. "Why would they withdraw? They were holding the walls effectively."

Captain Marcus offered a theory. "Perhaps they sensed our reserve infantry approaching. Recognized they’d be overwhelmed by numbers and chose tactical withdrawal over being surrounded."

"Or," Thorne suggested, "they detected the heroes preparing to deploy and retreated to avoid engaging them."

Elric considered both possibilities. "Either way, their withdrawal means our reserve infantry will face reduced resistance. The walls should collapse within the hour without demon warrior support. This might end faster than expected."

"Should we still prepare the heroes for deployment?" Thorne asked.

"Keep them on standby. If a demon lord appears, we’ll need them immediately. But if this is just demon warriors retreating..." Elric allowed himself a slight smile, "...then we’ve proven the point. Human forces, with proper tactics and sufficient numbers, can break demon-supported defenses without otherworldly intervention."

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Hour Twenty-Eight:

In a pavilion tent set apart from the main human encampment, four figures had been waiting with varying degrees of patience for two days.

Gattychan sat sharpening his sword with mechanical precision, his face set in grim determination. At twenty-four years old, he looked like a recruiting poster for human heroism—strong jawline, noble bearing, eyes that reflected absolute certainty in his cause. His armor bore the symbol of the Church of Light, marking him as a divine champion.

His Villain’s Bane ability made him the ultimate demon hunter. Any being with demonic, villainous, or "evil" nature had their powers reduced to one-tenth normal effectiveness in his presence. Simultaneously, Gattychan’s own combat abilities increased proportionally—the more "evil" his opponent, the stronger he became.

Seraphelle knelt in prayer, her healing magic creating a soft golden glow around her. At twenty-two, she was the party’s heart—compassionate, devoted, unwavering in her faith. Her Divine Sanctuary ability could create zones of absolute holy protection where demonic magic simply failed to function. Her healing powers worked at 300% effectiveness, allowing her to restore critical wounds to full health in seconds.

Mikazelle studied tactical maps with intense focus, her spatial manipulation abilities allowing her to see the battlefield in dimensions others couldn’t perceive. At twenty-three, she was the tactical genius—analyzing, calculating, finding weaknesses. Her Absolute Zone: Dimensional Prison could trap enemies in sealed spatial bubbles that prevented escape or external intervention.

Rindelle checked her bow and arrows with archer’s precision, each movement economical and practiced. At twenty-one, she was the youngest but perhaps most dangerous—her Catastrophic Amplification ability multiplied her attack power by one thousand times. An arrow that would normally wound became an arrow that could punch through castle walls.

A messenger arrived at the pavilion, breathless from running.

"Hero Gattychan! Commander Elric requested I give you this letter and also told me to tell you that Demon warriors confirmed on the battlefield. Purple-skinned corruption magic users fighting on the walls. The settlement has revealed its supernatural backing."

Gattychan stood immediately, hand going to his blessed sword.

"Finally. Combat. We’re deploying."

"Wait," Mikazelle interrupted after opening the letter and reading the message. "Commander Elric requests we prepare for deployment, not deploy immediately."

Gattychan’s face darkened. "Prepare? The demons are on the battlefield right now. What’s there to prepare for?"

"The message specifically says to stand ready but await deployment orders." Mikazelle’s spatial perception allowed her to observe the battlefield from their position. "The demon warriors have already withdrawn. They’re retreating from the walls."