Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 39: Pursuit and Escape

Like a tempest, the human cavalry burst forth from the encirclement of the orcs, charging into the vast Nagran grasslands. Before them lay an expanse devoid of any orc, and as long as they continued southward, the cavalry's longing to return home would soon be fulfilled!

However, just as the cavalry erupted in cheers, celebrating their miraculous escape, an astonishing event unfolded that left them all in shock!

Without any warning, the once-mighty General Mattheus, who had inspired courage in all, suddenly swayed and fell from his steed. In an instant, the brilliant aura that had emboldened everyone vanished, leaving behind only the countless orc corpses and the smoldering remnants of their campfires, silent witnesses to the once-thundering spirit of battle!

"What has happened to the general?"

"Protect the general!"

A cacophony of voices erupted as a group of human cavalry reined in their horses, resolutely turning back. The remaining cavalry hastily lifted General Mattheus onto a warhorse, fiercely guarding the unconscious general as they galloped desperately southward...

The thunderous war drums resounded once more, and the awakening orcs surged forward again. The group of human cavalry left behind to intercept the enemy quickly vanished into the sea of orcs, not even a ripple left in their wake.

The proud orcs were, astonishingly, frightened by a single human-a solitary individual! This was a disgrace for all orcs! Such humiliation must be avenged! It must be avenged!

With flushed faces, the minotaurs and wolf riders panted heavily, their eyes ablaze with rage. They felt shame for their past cowardice and regret for their retreat! Now, the singular thought consuming every orc was to catch up to the human cavalry and slay them, even the wisest shamans among them howled in pursuit!

Amidst the entire orc army, only one orc remained calm, composed, and even bore an expression of admiration and respect-Grumman!

"All infantry cease combat! Wolf riders are permitted to continue the chase! However... they must not pursue them beyond the grasslands! If they cannot intercept the humans before they escape the plains, they are to return to Nagran immediately!"

Watching the retreating figures of the human cavalry, Grumman suddenly bellowed, and with the roar of the orc king, his command was swiftly relayed to all orcs!

Though reluctant, and despite their pent-up shame and anger, the orcs obeyed Grumman's orders, for it was the command of their king, to whom they had sworn loyalty, and the decree of the great hero to whom all shamans had pledged their allegiance!

However...

"My esteemed king, those human cavalry are on the brink of collapse. Their greatest support, that valiant human general, poses no threat now. Why not eliminate them completely? Even if we chase into the human kingdom, we have nothing to fear!" a respectful orc shaman inquired, his eyes filled with confusion and reluctance.

The shaman's words echoed the sentiments of all orcs. The human kingdoms had battled the grassland orcs for centuries, each side launching raids and plundering the other. Now, with the orcs of Nagran finally united under their own king, there seemed no need to show weakness to the humans!

"Indeed, we have nothing to fear! All orcs are brave and fearless warriors! However..." Sitting upon his throne, Grumman gazed deeply southward, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.

"That human general has employed techniques far beyond his capabilities; he cannot survive much longer! Once he is dead, whether we annihilate the remaining human cavalry becomes inconsequential, for we can demonstrate to the human kingdom just how powerful the newly established orc kingdom is through the death of their mightiest general!"

"My esteemed king, you speak wisely, yet I still believe we should not let those human cavalry escape. They have inflicted too many casualties upon us..."

"Are we to go to war with the human kingdom over a handful of cavalry?" Grumman's gaze fixed on the still reluctant orc shaman.

"Have we not already suffered enough losses? Continuing the fight with the human kingdom will only lead to more sacrifices among our kin! What we must do now is not to battle, but to..."

Turning his gaze from the orc shaman, Grumman looked at the orc army busy clearing the battlefield, and he could not help but sigh, recalling the words of the High Priest Sazu regarding the disparity between humans and orcs.

Our orc army is still too disorganized, far from matching the well-trained human forces. Just engaging a single cavalry unit has cost us dearly; how many of our kin would perish if we were to wage full-scale war against the humans!?

Gazing at the scattered remnants of swords and the countless severed limbs, stained red upon the grasslands, Grumman spoke solemnly.

"Too much blood has already been shed upon these plains, and our war with the humans has dragged on for far too long. If possible, I wish for our kin to live in peace, even if only temporarily. Only then can we restore the strength and glory of the orcs!"

Run! Run! Do not stop! Darn urged fervently in his heart, his eyes fixed ahead as the freshly sprouted green shoots of grass rapidly receded beneath the pounding hooves. Darn surged forward like the wind.

Yet the winds of the grasslands did not share Darn's impatience, nor his fear, and certainly not the dread of being pursued by a horde of enemies!

It had been three days since General Mattheus had displayed his prowess, carving a path for the remaining cavalry of the Lionheart Legion. The relentless flight had continued for three days, yet the cavalry remained far from the Kingdom of Bylins, so distant that no one knew if they could endure until they reached home.

If only they had not ventured deep into the Nagran grasslands, if only they had not pressed on into the orc's sacred territory! Had they merely circled the edges of the Nagran grasslands, they might have already reached the capital of the Ditlan Province!

Occasionally, such thoughts crossed Darn's mind as he glanced back at the relentless orc wolf riders, drawing ever closer. All the human cavalry felt a twinge of regret for their earlier audacious raid, but as their gaze fell upon General Mattheus, who lay unconscious between two horses, all regret and complaints transformed into profound helplessness and sorrow.

Since bursting free from the orc encirclement, General Mattheus had not awakened, protected by the human cavalry as they fled. Though each time they paused for a brief respite, they found his breathing steady and strong, the pallor of their commander's face grew increasingly grave, and the cavalry knew that General Mattheus's injuries were worsening day by day.

How could they not worsen? The commander had already been injured in battle against the orc king, and the powerful techniques he had unleashed to break free had further exacerbated his condition. Now, deprived of medicine and rest, he was forced to march on under the relentless pursuit of the orc wolf riders!

If only our General Mattheus had not been injured! If that were the case, they would not be in such dire straits, and perhaps they could have shown those orcs a thing or two!

Casting a worried glance at their unconscious commander and then at the arrogant orc pursuers behind them, the weary human cavalry could not help but entertain unrealistic fantasies. Yet, after such daydreams, each one, including Darn, had to continue galloping southward.

Even as they pressed on without pause toward the human kingdom, the distance between the human cavalry and the orc pursuers continued to shrink. The human cavalry had to constantly navigate around the newly formed orc kingdom, heading toward the Holy Mountain of Asusus to pledge allegiance to King Grumman, all while remaining wary of the orc tribes that might take advantage of their plight, seeking to use the human cavalry as trophies.

More importantly, the injured and unconscious General Mattheus forced the human cavalry to slow their pace, restraining their speed.