Rise of the Horde
Chapter 376 - 376

It was nearing noontime, and the sun was in its full glory, letting the mortals down below feel the full wrath of its power. On the walls of the fortress, the sentries patiently endured the heat while keeping watch for the movements of the orcs.

"What do you think are the orcs up to?", one of the sentry near the gates of the fortress asked his partner. The two were taking cover under the shade provided by what remains of the battlements on the walls. "I find it odd that they haven't stormed the fort already."

"How would I know? I ain't no mind reader and am sure am no orc." The tone of his reply was filled with irritation. He grumbled some inaudible words, then wiped the sweat that was gathered on his forehead with his forearm. "When will those assholes deliver our food? My stomach has been protesting for half an hour already."

"No idea... I am not the cook, nor the one distributing the food."

Just then, a horn blared in the distance, interrupting their conversation. The sentries looked at each other with a sense of urgency. They knew what this meant; the orcs were coming, again. They quickly grabbed their swords, made their way to their positions in the fortress walls, and sounded the alarm to alert their allies.

As they reached the top of the wall, they could see the rocks soaring through the air. Their foes were at it again, throwing rocks at them.

The sentries watched in horror as the rocks smashed against the walls, destroying anything vulnerable in their path.

A few unlucky soldiers got very intimate with the rocks, throwing them off the walls, and some got outright killed.

"To the walls!"

The officers shouted, rallying their men towards the walls.

As the soldiers climbed up the walls, they were greeted by the sight of the orc army. They were standing a safe distance away from the range of the archers and artillery pieces on the walls.

The orcs were always a terrifying sight. They were big and muscular, with varying skin color, from red, brown, gray, and green, and tusks protruding from their mouths. What was more terrifying with the orcs that they were up against was the fact that they were wearing proper armor and not crude ones which they expected.

The soldiers knew that they were outnumbered. But they also knew that they couldn't let the orcs take the fortress. It was the only thing standing between the orcs and the capital. If the fortress fell, the heart of the kingdom would be next.

The horde slowly advanced towards the walls while rocks kept hammering the walls and forcing the Ereians to take cover.

"Prepare to defend the walls with your lives!" Barika shouted while taking shelter behind one of the towers. He was the only one who knew among those inside the fort that they had reinforcements not far away.

The plan was to lure the orcs in and the fort and its defenders would hold them in place while their reinforcements would then strike them on the rear or flanks, depending on the situation — a hammer and anvil strategy.

"Send in the ogres..." Sakh'arran emotionlessly ordered. He was given overall command of the assault on the enemy fortress, while the chieftain would just watch from the rear. Khao'khen just gave him the overall direction, and it is up to him how to get there.

The Yurakks and the Verakhs halted in their tracks, still outside the range of the range weapons of their foes. Just like what happened during the previous assault, war cries broke out among them.

"Be at the ready!" the officers on the side of the Ereians shouted towards their men who were taking cover in what remained of the battlements. They were waiting for the rain of rocks to stop.

"Look! They are retreating again!" one of the sentries shouted, pointing in the direction of the orcs. The bulk of the Yohan First Horde that slowly advanced a few moments ago began moving away from the walls.

"What are these orcs planning?" Barika complained as he exited from behind the tower that he was taking shelter on. His grip upon the hilt of his sword tightened as he ground his teeth together.

"Better take cover, sir. Rocks would come raining down once again on us if the orcs are following a certain pattern, just like in the morning." An officer suggested while approaching Barika. Barika nodded his head in response and, as they had expected, the rain of rocks came once again.

"Inform the soldiers to withdraw from the walls. Another false attack," Barika ordered. He was convinced that the orcs were following a pattern and, according to the pattern that they knew, there wouldn't be a follow-up after the last rain of rocks.

As the Ereian soldiers on the walls began to go down from the walls, the sentries began shouting, "Enemy attack!"

"What attack?" Barika turned around, confused. In the distance, towering figures were sprinting towards them. Dust and sand were trailing behind the figures as they raced through the sands.

"Archers! Quickly!" He ordered in a hurry.

The archers sprinted back towards the walls.

Barika quickly issued orders to the archers, directing them to focus their fire on the ogre that was nearest to the walls. Archers aimed and let loose a barrage of arrows, but the ogres were incredibly resilient. Most of the arrows bounced harmlessly off their armor.

As the ogres drew nearer, the archers began to realize just how futile their attacks were against the ogres.

"Focus your attack on the leading ogre!" Barika directed towards those who were manning the artillery pieces on the walls. A shower of bolts rained down upon the leading ogre and halted it in its tracks. Most of the bolts were deflected by the ogre, but a few managed to find their mark.

"Reload! Quickly!" The sentries began to panic as the ogres were getting dangerously close to the walls.

Barika assessed the situation and concluded that their artillery wouldn't be enough to halt the ogres. "Mages to the walls! Now!" he shouted.

Four cloaked figures appeared on the walls out of nowhere.

Barika recognized them as the mages that were sent by the capital to aid them. He had never seen them in action before, but he had heard rumors about the extent of their magical powers.

Without hesitation, the mages began chanting incantations. The surrounding energy began to swirl, and the air began to shake with the amount of mana being gathered.

"By the fury of the storm and the power of the skies, I call upon the lightning to heed my cries. With a flash and a roar, with a thunderous jolt, Bring forth the lightning as destructive bolt. Lightning Bolt!"

A bolt of lightning shot out from one of the mages and hit the leading ogre directly in the chest. The ogre roared in pain and stumbled, but it didn't go down.

The other mages joined in, unleashing their spells upon the ogres. Fireballs, wind blades, and arcane energy erupted from their hands or staves, bombarding the ogres with deadly force.

"By the flames of ancient lore, In my hand, a ball of fire I implore. Ignite the sky with burning might, A fiery orb, a radiant light. I summon, to take flight. Fireball!"

"Whispered winds, rise and rend. Craft blades of air, my will to defend. Invisible steel, swift and keen. Obey my command, let power be seen. Wind Blade!"

"By the power of the ancient stars and the depths of the mystic well, I call forth the spear of magic, where mystic energies swell. With words of power, and will of might, let the arcane power take flight, To cleave through the night, and banish shadows from sight. Arcane Spear!"

A few ogres fell, but most of them continued to advance even with their armor destroyed because of the attack from the mages.

The archers and artillery crews took advantage of this and unleashed a devastating barrage. Arrows and bolts rained down upon the now armorless ogres.

"Looks like our foes have a lot of surprises for us," Khao'khen muttered. His sight focusing on the parts of the walls where the enemy mages were positioned. "One of their valuable pieces got quickly exposed. They would have one less card to play."

It didn't take long for Sakh'arran to command for a retreat. The ogres were slowed down enough and turned vulnerable enough by the enemy mages for the enemy archers and the enemy artilleries to take them down.

The ogres continuing with the assault would be futile since they were just giant targets for the enemy to strike. Them being able to lure out the enemy mages to make a move would already a win for their side.

Barika watched as the ogres retreated, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. The defenders had managed to hold off the assault, thanks to the mages that had been sent to aid them. He turned to them, gratitude etched on his face.

"Thank you for your help," he said, bowing slightly.

The mages nodded in response, their faces expressionless. Barika couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by them. They were obviously powerful, and he didn't want to get on their bad side.