Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 31: The City of Honor, Geor

In days gone by, Mount Asusus, with its temple perched atop the peak, the shaman's dwelling nestled halfway down, and the orc tribes that had safeguarded the sacred mountain for centuries at the foot of Asusus, by the shores of the Holy Lake, was a realm imbued with tranquility and serenity. There was no clamor, no cacophony; only an ineffable solemnity prevailed.

However, those familiar with the surroundings of Mount Asusus would be astonished to find that the tranquility of yore had vanished. While the solemnity remained, it was now infused with an astonishing fervor and vitality!

This fervor and vitality emanated from the countless orcs bustling about, and as a testament to their industriousness, a city, though seemingly crude, yet exuding an imposing grandeur, was rising at the foot of Mount Asusus, beside the Holy Lake!

Geor City-The City of Honor-was being constructed as the capital of the newly reborn orc kingdom, following a millennium of chaos, under the prophecy of the shaman and high priest of the Beast God, Sazu, and by the command of Gruuman, the chieftain of the Enrim tribe, who had long protected Mount Asusus.

With earth as their walls and timber as their homes, Geor was taking shape, revealing signs of burgeoning life. As the first subjects of the orc kingdom, the orcs, though still grappling with hunger and calamity, were invigorated by a long-lost sense of pride and honor that ignited an unimaginable enthusiasm within these wise beings of the plains!

What further fueled their excitement and loyalty was the event that transpired on the day the walls of Geor City, spanning forty miles, were completed. On that day, the dry winds that had blown from the distant east shifted direction!

The great Beast God had witnessed their efforts; the change in wind direction was irrefutable proof! Look, clouds are gathering on the horizon; rain is about to bless our plains!

"It's going to rain! A gift from the Beast God! Should we hold a sacrifice, High Priest Sazu?" Outside a rugged tent that still bore the marks of simplicity, a tall and robust orc inquired.

This orc gazed skyward, his eyes brimming with pride and fervor, while his muscular frame and resolute visage exuded an unmistakable aura of kingship. This orc was none other than Gruuman, the newly crowned king and chieftain of the Enrim tribe!

Beside the king stood another imposing orc, who also looked skyward. However, as he stared at the increasingly heavy clouds, his gaze revealed not only excitement but also a glimmer of wisdom that set him apart from Gruuman.

"No, my king, that is a need of the gods worshipped by humans. The great Beast God does not require constant veneration. Our finest tribute to the Beast God should be on the plains! On the battlefield!"

High Priest Sazu spoke slowly, his gaze shifting from the clouds to the vast horizon. Beyond the sight of the orc shaman, a human cavalry regiment was nervously resting, preparing for the final moments before battle!

Though unable to see the human soldiers, who were equipped far beyond the orcs, High Priest Sazu was certain of the cavalry's position and intentions!

Gruuman shared this clarity, for within his line of sight, before the shaman, a wisp of smoke was shifting into strange shapes, and within that smoke, figures identical to the human cavalry were moving!

Elemental Sight, a tenth-tier spell that relied on the omnipresent elemental forces to track enemy movements, allowed Gruuman and Sazu to clearly perceive the sudden threat. In the next moment, the king issued commands to his kin, and soon, amidst the thunderous drums of war, an orc army equipped with iron weapons surged forth from Geor City under Gruuman's leadership!

"May the great Beast God bless you! May the spirits of our ancestors protect you! May the omnipresent forces of nature aid you!" murmured High Priest Sazu at the entrance of the tent, as countless orc warriors continued to charge out of Geor City. On the vast plains, the orcs had just formed a wide attack formation.

"For honor, freedom, and glory! Lok'tar!"

The war erupted fiercely, and those who sought to ambush were instead ambushed! Despite the wild roars of the orcs, the thunderous bellows of the war kodo, and the reconnaissance cavalry of the Dragon Legion revealing their movements, all human cavalry, including General Matteus, found themselves embroiled in a bitter struggle.

Damn it! We haven't even approached the orc city; how did those beasts still detect us? With sword raised, he struck down heavily, propelling himself forward as his steed galloped, as Darn broke through a group of orcs once more.

Just thirty minutes prior, Darn had been anxiously preparing for battle with his comrades. However, with the urgent horn of the advancing reconnaissance cavalry, the brief respite for all cavalry, including Darn, was abruptly over.

Yet for the Dragon Legion, whose average strength was at the third tier and whose steeds were exceptional warhorses born from magic crystals, the long trek did not significantly impair their combat effectiveness. What concerned the soldiers and officers more was that the enemy they intended to ambush was not only prepared but had also taken the initiative to strike!

For cavalry, the element of surprise is paramount for securing victory in battle. If the enemy is prepared, the cavalry must exert far more effort, and if the enemy is not only prepared but also of comparable number and quality, then it would be better not to engage at all.

Thus, as Darn and his comrades hastily mounted their steeds and formed an attack formation, upon seeing the approaching orcs, they collectively entertained thoughts of retreat.

With the thick-skinned, immensely strong tauren as infantry slowly advancing, and the agile wolf riders flanking from both sides, every orc that appeared before the human cavalry, whether tauren or wolf rider, was clad in armor. Though that armor lacked any iron and was merely rudimentary leather, it still astonished Darn and the other cavalry.

What truly shocked the Dragon Legion was the weaponry in the hands of these orcs!

They were all iron weapons! Though crude in craftsmanship, consisting of hammers and axes, the orcs were indeed wielding something far beyond mere wooden clubs and bone spears!

Retreat! We must retreat immediately! The orcs' situation has far exceeded our expectations; their equipment and numbers are beyond what our thousand-strong cavalry can contend with! After a cursory glance, Darn made his judgment, and then he heard the exhilarating sound of the horn, signaling-charge!

Damn it! The officers have gone mad! General Matteus has lost his mind! As he found himself amidst his comrades, charging like an arrow towards the oncoming orcs, Darn couldn't help but glance at the forefront, where the normally reclusive commander was radiating a brilliant white aura, leading all the cavalry!

Not only General Matteus, but in fact, at the forefront of the Dragon Legion's spontaneously formed triangular assault formations, stood the officers with the highest levels of combat aura, each pushing their own aura to the limit, causing every cavalry charge to emit a dazzling brilliance that stirred the blood!

Alright, alright! Since the commander is at the forefront, I can only pray for the highest god's blessing, may Helios' omnipresent light shine upon me, and let us-slay those orcs!

With a heart full of conflicting emotions, Darn reined in his gaze and summoned his own aura. As the speed of his steed increased, the tauren ahead became clearer. When Darn could discern the faces and fur of the tauren, along with their blood-red eyes, he hurled a spear with all his might.

Alongside Darn, countless charging cavalrymen also cast their spears, and as a dark cloud of spears pierced the sky and struck the earth, the great battle commenced!