Duke Pendragon

Kyaaaooh!

Dozens of lycanthropes charged furiously toward the dense formation of the Pendragon soldiers with their claws raised high. They were a type of monster created by combining humans and wolves.

Papapat!

But numerous quarrels fired from behind the solid line of shields, and the monsters’ bodies were quickly filled with the projectiles. Some cried out and fell to the ground after having their heads pierced. However, their skin and muscles were thick and firm, so the remainder kept charging towards the soldiers even though they looked like hedgehogs.

“Up!”

The large iron wall of shields lifted together at Killian’s cry, and the Ancona Orc warriors made their appearance. The orcs were three or four heads taller than the human soldiers and their arm muscles were bulging massively.

“Kuwoooooh!”

Along with a powerful roar, two-foot long battle axes left the orc warriors’ hands and flew through the air.

Thud! Thuud!

Every single axe found their targets, and all of the lycanthropes collapsed with either their skulls cracked in half, or with blood spewing from their chest area.

“Kuuuuagh!”

The orc warriors became elated upon seeing the enemies’ blood, and they let out a passionate roar. But this was just the beginning, and the remaining monsters easily outnumbered them.

Kieeehk!

With a crow-like cry, the harpies shot up into the air. Unlike the harpies that resided in the Pendragon Duchy, the counterparts of the Great Forest were larger. They were almost as big as humans, and bones jutted out of various locations on their wings. It was quite intimidating to see more than a hundred sets of wings descend at the same time.

However, the Pendragon Duchy’s soldiers and knights were not the only allies present.

“Beeep!”

Kyaoooh…!

In the absence of Isla, Theo Milner took charge and blew on his whistle to conduct the griffons. At the sound, the majestic creatures robed in iron kicked off the ground and ascended into the air.

Kwakwakwang!

The harpies and the griffons collided in the air. Although there were twice as many harpies, it was impossible for them to defeat the griffons. After all, the Pendragon Duchy’s griffons were heavily armed with iron armor and they were able to fly in strategic formations according to their riders’ orders.

Kieeeehk!

The griffons pecked away at the hearts of the harpies, and many harpies’ joints were broken and twisted when they came into contact with the griffons’ large wings. The harpies started falling to the ground with terrible screams.

However, it was too early to relax after repelling the attacks of the harpies and the lycanthropes.

Kuwuagh!

With the ogres and trolls at the front, an army of hundreds of goblins and lizardmen were advancing with their weapons held high.

“We will take care of the big ones. Krrrr!”

Karuta spoke as he scattered a red light from his eyes. His Orc Fear was being fully expressed to its limit. Karuta and the Ancona Orcs had their gazes fixated on the larger monsters like the trolls and the ogres.

Such high-level monsters did not exist in the Ancona Forest. Of course, that wasn’t always the case. A few of them had resided in the Ancona Forest until a few decades ago. However, after taking residence in the Ancona Forest with Gordon Pendragon’s goodwill, the Ancona Orcs had exterminated all of them in less than a year.

The orcs responsible for the great feat belonged to the senior generation of the orc warriors standing here now. As a young orc, Karuta had been envious and grumpy whenever the older orcs of the village proudly recounted their battles with trolls and ogres.

But today, he finally had the golden opportunity to display his strength and courage to the world. The opponents in front of him were not the weak scarecrows, nor the orcs from the inland sea that they had fought thus far. His enemies were dozens of powerful, ferocious creatures that he could finally fight while crossing the boundaries of life and death.

“Kukakakakakakak!”

In anticipation of blood and slaughter, Karuta’s entire body was covered in a red flame, an expression of the strongest Orc Fear he had ever exuded.

“Hey, you orcs! Today! We finally met proper bastards to fight! Chew on their hearts today! Cut off their heads! Let’s slaughter and toast to our victory!”

Karuta shouted while holding a large, steel mace in each hand.

“Kuwwwooooh!!!”

Karuta and the Ancon Orc warriors began their assault with eyes filled with madness.

Kiyaaaahk!

A griffon skimmed over the orc warriors, and someone jumped off the creature’s back and began to run in step with Karuta.

“I will come with you!”

When he saw the dazzling silver-white armor, a huge grin appeared on Karuta’s face.

“Kuhahaha! Good! Good!”

It was obviously Raven. He had joined their assault in order to deal with the larger creatures like the trolls and ogres. The orc warriors ran in a wedge-formation centered around Raven and Karuta. The sight was reminiscent of a charging group of knight order clad in heavy armor.

Shhhhk!

Arrows shot by the goblins and lizardmen flew past Raven and Karuta. None of the projectiles were able to penetrate the White Dragon Armor, and Karuta wielded his maces in a frenzy, deflecting the arrows.

Kwakwakwakwa!

The goblins and the lizardmen thrust forward their spears and swords at the sight of the orcs rushing in like waves.

Booom! Boom!

However, Raven and the orcs did not slow down and ran past them, striking away all of the monsters’ blows. They were risking being surrounded by the monsters, but Raven was not worried at all. The goblins and the lizardmen would be taken care of by the troops of the Pendragon Duchy under Killian’s command.

All he had to do was deal with the larger monsters along with the Ancona Orcs, as ordinary knights and soldiers would have difficulty facing them.

“Kiryaaah!”

Karuta kicked off the ground with a loud shout.

Whoooosh!

He jumped nearly 15 feet in one leap. In front of Karuta was a Swamp Ogre with yellow fluid dripping from its open mouth. The creature swung a big stone axe towards Karuta. In an instant, Karuta’s arm muscles swelled massively, and a steel mace split the air while leaving behind a dark-red trail of Orc Fear.

Boooooom!

A blow containing Karuta’s enormous strength collided with the stone axe of the Swamp Ogre. The ogre was not weak by any means, but its opponent was the strongest warrior of the Ancona Orcs. Moreover, Karuta’s steel mace weighed nearly 50 pounds, and it was meticulously crafted by the best craftsmen of the Pendragon Duchy.

Kwakwakwakwa!

The Swamp Ogre’s stone axe shattered into dozens of fragments.

Fwoosh!

However, the steel mace’s momentum did not dissipate at all after destroying the stone axe, and it still carried a terrifying spirit. The mace twisted like a giant, black serpent towards the wrist of the ogre holding the remnants of the axe.

Thuudd! Kuwooooooogh!

The Swamp Ogre cried out in pain. Its arm wasn’t cut nor broken, but literally burst when Karuta’s steel mace made contact with it. With a beastly instinct, the Swamp Ogre swung its opposite arm towards Karuta.

Whoo!

Even though Karuta was equipped with thick armor, it seemed like he would be splattered if the ogre’s strike made direct contact. However, Karuta had always been known to be the most agile and strong among the Ancona Orcs since he was a child. The ogre’s attack was yawningly slow.

“Kuhat!”

Karuta’s bloodlust had been stirred further after seeing blood, and he alternately swung his two steel maces toward the palm that was flying towards him as if he was beating a drum.

Puckk!

The sharp nail protruding from the end of the maces tore the palm of the Swamp Ogre. It continued down, ripping apart the ogre’s muscles and crushing its bones before finally exiting at the elbow.

Kuwwwwugggh!

The ogre cried with two bloody arms. But Karuta did not pause. He pivoted around the ogre’s body and beat the two maces upward towards the creature’s groin, which was covered with animal hides. His eyes exploded with Orc Fear.

Thud!

With a dull sound of a rupture, the Swamp Ogre's large body, which was as heavy as the weight of several bulls, lifted into the air for a brief moment.

Hududuk!

A portion of the ogre’s spine and internal organs had completely ruptured. Dirty manure and blood, mixed with mashed organs, started to pour out from between the creature’s legs.

Kwuooo… Boom!

The Swamp Ogre collapsed. It was a pathetic sight. Both of its arms had been smashed into a bloody mess and its crotch resembled a dark, red mop. After devastating the Swamp Ogre in a few short breaths, the strongest warrior of the Ancona Orcs swung his mace towards the fallen creature’s head. Karuta’s mace was already covered with blood, flesh, and filth.

Puck!

Gray fluid burst out from the creature’s head, and the Swamp Ogre drew its last breath.

“Krrruk…!”

The strongest Ancona Orc resembled a beast. He licked the brain fluid and blood that splashed his face with his tongue, then turned around.

“More… Moreeee!!!”

The bloodthirsty incarnation of slaughter charged towards another enemy without hesitation, swinging his steel maces covered with blood and flesh.

Shuah!

A sword containing the Spirit of the Dragon carved a dazzling line through the air. Along with a bright flash, blood started to spew like a fountain.

Kuwwwwek!

A troll collapsed on the ground with a loud sound. Both of its legs were cut from the thighs. Without delay, Raven stabbed the back of the monster’s head. Soon, the troll’s brain melted without a trace in the face of the Spirit of the Dragon, and it died as dark blood flowed from its seven orifices. The troll did not even have a chance to exercise its regenerative powers.

“Hoo...!”

Raven quickly caught his breath, then looked around to observe the battlefield. An abysmal chaos was unfolding around him. The Ancona Orc warriors attacked the ogres and trolls in groups of two or three, turning the enemies into bloody slabs of meat.

The trolls and ogres were being crushed to death by steel maces. It was a grotesque sight, and one would almost wish a quicker death for the monsters with swords or spears.

Of course, the Ancona Orc warriors had suffered damage as well. As they entered into a confrontation with the most powerful of monsters, five or six warriors had already suffered injuries. However, the Ancona warriors had already entered into a frenzy after entering into the fiercest battle yet.

As they fought against stronger opponents, and as they saw more blood, their Orc Fear and frenzy increased exponentially. Any battles they had fought until now were nothing more than a warm-up. Now, they were fighting their first ‘real battle’ since they left the Ancona Forest.

Even if their limbs fell off and their ribs were smashed, the dark red glow did not dissipate from their crazed eyes. If they could not use their arms, the orcs rushed in like an animal and chomped down on the throats of the monsters and drank their blood.

A similar situation was unfolding at the rear with the Pendragon Duchy’s soldiers at the rear. They were desperately fighting against the lizardmen and the goblins. The monsters outnumbered the soldiers by two or more times.

The soldiers pushed them back with shields, stabbed their stomachs and chests with swords and spears…

When one side collapsed, the others rushed in to fill the death of their colleagues and continued to battle. After killing all of the harpies, the griffons rushed in and used their large beaks and sharp claws against the lizardmen, goblins, and the lycanthropes.

Madness.

The madness of a real battlefield, which Raven had experienced several times in the past, dominated the entire hall.

“…..”

Perhaps absorbing the madness, Raven’s eyes also glimmered with a blue light. Then he looked up towards the beings in the air. They were confronting each other as if they had nothing to do with the chaos that was unfolding on the ground.