At the top of the seven meters tall cliff stood Asher, right on top of Sirius’ back. His golden eyes reflected the silhouettes that covered the horizon.
“It hasn’t even been a solid hour.” Nero’s voice rang from behind.
“We should be thankful that we had that hour.” Asher responded. He knew his men needed rest, at least a proper night’s sleep to restore the energy they had spent marching for days but their enemy was right before their eyes.
Behind him was an army of eight thousand saints!
Though fatigued, they won’t fall easily.
“As long as we draw breath, we shall fight…to the last of us.”
Galanar of Edom, commander of the grey knights uttered. His voice, deep and unwavering.
The gray knights behind him responded with an affirmative nod that showed their unshakeable faith in servitude.
“My lord. Beyond this cliff is a lake.”
Asher’s eyes narrowed. “What?!”
“It acts as the boundary. During other sessions, no one dares come close because a winter dragon lives at the bottom of it. A month before winter, this lake freezes.”
Galanar looked at Asher.
“It’s the best fighting ground against a that flaming orc. Should we stand on the cliff, they could easily leap to the top and then we’ll be cornered in the forest.”
“It can be turned into a flaming hell for us.” Moses completed what Uthred meant to say.
“I did not plan to fight defensively from the beginning. We shall meet them head on.”
Sirius leaped and landed with a heavy thud on the snow seven metres below. Asher looked at his men who were above.
“The snow above it is thick enough to cushion your weight. Jump!”
Four hundred meters away, an orc with reddish skin, a hair made of flames and eyes of fire stretched its great sword.
Twelve thousand orcs roared at the top of their lungs. In the next moment, those on giant wolves dashed forth, followed by the infantry.
“Brothers…”
Asher said, his words shocking his men to their core while he drew his sword.
Euodias glimmered under the light of the sun as it was pointed at the sky.
“…Send their souls to their maker!”
“Hooo!”
The greatest roar Asher had ever heard in his life fell into his eardrums. Even the Adeptus Paladins had their force bursting out of them and in that moment, Gray Knights, shot forth.
Due to their powerful legs, they were Ashbournes best sprinters.
And Asher witnessed it that day. Thousands of them ran through the snow plain on all fours, their speed matching that of an elite light cavalry!
At the forefront of the Gray Knights was Galanar. Snow flew in all directions as he raced through the plains, drawing closer and closer to the orc cavalry.
His black eyes took in the sight of their ugly expressions and bone decorations on their leather armour.
Then, he stopped using his hands to run as they went for the great sword hung at his back.
Shing!
The moment he pulled it out, the orc cavalry was before him!
Grunting heavily, Galanar swung the great sword horizontally, cutting off the forelimbs of two wolves!
They collapsed head first, throwing the riders off.
Galanar left them for his brothers and spun his sword once more, cutting down the wolves in droves.
An orc threw his axe at Galanar but the Gray knight stretched forth his hand and grabbed it. Shockwaves spread out!
‘Filthy abyss beast. Die!’
In spiteful fury, Galanar launched the axe, watching it cleave through the orc’s chest and burst another orc’s head!
“For Lord Asher!”
His voice reverberated as he raised his sword high!
Gray knights ran past him, slaying orcs with swift precision. Galanar dashed forth to join them.
As he closed the gap with the gray knights at the front, an orc whose wolf was suddenly slain tumbled through the frontline.
By the time it lifted its head, a sword was coming down.
Puchi!
Galanar pulled out his sword, burst forward with a single force empowered step and swung his sword upward.
That strike took off the head of a wolf while another Gray knight decapitated the rider!
Working as a unit, the gray knights caused havoc. Their 270 degree vision and teamwork made it impossible for an orc to sneak up on them or launch a strike from their blind spot.
Galanar pulled out his sword from the head of an orc only to see a gray knight pulled apart by an 8 foot tall orc.
This orc had a bald head, bushy beard, bulging stomach, impressive arms that had lots of scars and wielded twin axes.
Currently, those axes were stained with the blood of a Gray knight.
Another Gray knight attacked. The orc deflected the great sword with the first axe and cleaved the gray knight’s head, right off!
This was no ordinary orc.
It was an orc commander!
Galanar’s eyes narrowed. Lifting his heavy sword, he approached the orc commander with bold, slightly hurried steps.
Upon seeing him, the orc commander dashed toward him and swung the left axe downward.
Obviously with the intention of splitting his head open.
Galanar swung his great sword upward. Both weapons clashed and separated.
The orc commander’s expression changed as it didn’t expect the strength Galanar revealed. Changing its strategy, it went for his abdomen but to its shock, the axe bounced off!
Galanar swung his sword downward, almost hitting the mark but the orc blocked it, grinning menacingly.
Galanar struck his abdomen with his powerful leg. The impact sent the orc commander flying backwards as blood spilled from its mouth.
Sprawled on the ground, the orc commander, unable to muster the strength to stand, watched Galanar’s sword inch closer and closer until…
Puchi!
Crackle!
Blue light flashed and Galanar turned. His black eyes reflected a Scarlett Templar Knight, Omar!
Lightning pulsed out of his left hand, electrocuting three orcs. All three of them charred black, collapsed to the ground and Omar picked up his Warhammer from the midst of blood and flesh splattered around the Dothanite.
“Templars…”
His deep voice rumbled. He pointed the Warhammer at Asher who went past the cavalry and now faced the orc infantry with his paladins.
“… We cannot be so far behind our Lord. Charge!!”