The Outbreak of War
That day, the orcs army filled the marshes with thousands of troops.
However, those present were only a small part of their army. The orcs decided to invade by circling around the lake.
However, a commotion rippled through the swarm.
And that was the cause for the outbreak of war between the orcs and the lizardmen.
The rulers of the marshes–the Lizardmen.
Hiding among the grass, they approached the orc army, and attacked undetected.
He had locked up the previous head in an underground chamber, reorganized the army, and had them relocate above ground.
Gabil was not completely incompetent. He did lack the ability to see the bigger picture, but he certainly could lead a squad in battle.
The Lizardmen respected strength.
Gabil idolized an individual. For his sake, he had to display his competence.
He left a thousand warriors to guard the main chamber.
For that reason, he had been sending 500 extra troops at a time to the main chamber.
Having cleared thus relocated the troops, Gabil obtained control over the entire army.
That was his fighting strength.
And leaving the bare minimum for defense, he deployed everyone to battle.
They successfully divided the enemy and landed a devastating attack on their flanks.
Following Gabil’s orders to the letter, the troops performed exceedingly well.
The success of the attack could thus be attributed to the ideal cooperation of individual units.
Behold!
Father has gone senile. Thus he worried needlessly.
After seeing my heroic feats, he will surely recognize me as the next head. For that end, we must clean up the orcs at once.
A cry for joy filled the field.
Proud of his work, Gabil observed the battlefield.
Having lost many soldiers, the orcs must have been walloping in despair.
But Gabil did not know, the terror of the Orc Lord.
That the Head had known, the terror of the Orc Lord.
That difference now bared its fangs.
*Guchaguchaguchagucha*
The orcs were walking on the dead.
They were not walking on them, they were eating them. A gruesome sight.
A sinister aura wrapped around the orcs.
Without missing this chance, the orcs swarmed the warrior.
Since the war had begun, he was the first casualty.
The orcs that were devouring stranded soldiers gradually obtained their abilities.
Nonetheless, they absorbed the lizardmen’s power to some degree, and shared it among those in their domain.
They were as much one swarm as they were an individual. Again, quiet similar to the shared evolution of the fang wolf species.
For the sake of not allowing the orcs to develop any further.
For example, the ability of the lizardmen to move freely through mud and swamp.
This kind of trivial changes they could do.
However, that is how they can quickly change the tide of battle.
「Fear not! Show them the power of the high and proud Lizardmen!!!」
The lizardmen regained their morale from Gabil’s cry.
Their were still faster than the orcs, that much they were sure of.
However!
The orcs movements have gotten faster.
Without the advantage in speed, they were now surrounded by many orcs.
And they pressed their attack.
Perhaps if the orcs were not under the influence of their lord, Gabil’s group could have endured this predicament.
As ants block of their prey’s escape, so the orcs swarm them.
How could that be? Gabil could not understand.
However, the Goblins have lost formation out of panic, and the Lizardmen trembled in worry.
To gather them all under his banner, he had forced the warriors to vacate the caverns.
The goblins who would be running in first would obstruct their escape.
If they instead ran into the forest… they would be pursued and slaughtered.
Gabil understood that well.
Just how much of an idiot was I? Thought Gabil. But there was no time for regret now.
Right now, Gabil had only one thing he could do. Increase the morale and lessen the worries of his comrades.
「Guwahahaha! What a worried face you all make! I am here! There is no way I can lose to some orcs!」
Yes, to encourage his allies by saying something he himself did not believe.
Their fate had been decided…
Ah…
He was full of regrets.
No, he had mentioned it at other occasions. However, the fact that he failed to convey his terror now caused the Head endless regret.
But now it’s too late. With a sigh, he cast such thoughts away.
His kind, gathered in the main chamber, looked anxious.
The orcs could not come from the escape route… probably. It was a direct route into the forest. This was the only route that you couldn’t get lost in; one that they had dug themselves.
The units fighting in the tunnels slowly withdrew and reassembled in the main chamber.
On the other hand, the orcs are numerous.
Hopefully, the remaining soldiers will return before they do…
With all their brethren gathering, the large chamber now feels very tight.
Perhaps they need to begin evacuating small groups at a time.
However, even if they escape into the forest, the orcs will discover them sooner or later.
Because of that, the Head could not order the evacuation.
Whether they come or not, he doesn’t know; but, he still bet all on the reinforcements.
The Head’s suffering seemed as if it would continue on forever.
Lizardmen’s Guard Captain escaped into the forest.
Though the lizardmen boasted of high mobility in the marshes, the same could not be said about the forest.
However, he had to keep running.
And like that he continued for three hours.
He was well aware of the fact.
Whether he would agree to help, he also did not know.
That thought crept from the dark corners of his mind. However, he refused to entertain the thought.
He had known that Gabil desired to be recognized by the Head.
He was also one of those who respected Gabil.
If he stopped, he would not be able to run again.
Thus, he pressed on.
There was someone who saw this desperate sprint.
That being pursued the Captain soundlessly from branch to branch.
After it had ended, he nodded once.
And,
「Your will be done. I will act as you have commanded.」
Muttering thus, he swooped down in front of the Captain!