Rise of the Horde

The battle raged on with the left and right flank of the Rakshas competing on which side can advance more. Without Isma and Menna holding the orcs at bay with their strength, they were sure that there lines would certainly be overrun.

Infuriated, "You asked for it!" Isma grunted as he began utilizing his battle energy to fight. A thick aura of sharpness shrouded his figure. Every swing of his weapon was accompanied by hundreds of almost invisible sword arcs made out of his battle energy. He began his rampage and started pushing back the orcs who were crowding towards him.

"Strong…" the orcs can't help but praise the rampaging enemy. Although they were praising his strength, they have no plans of shying away from an awesome fight. Isma was doing his best to frighten the orcs by showing his full power in his current state. He slashed left and right and moved with swiftness. Moving like a ghost, he appeared and disappeared among the orcs and kept sending them flying away.

Many suffered deep cuts from his strikes. The shield and armor of the Rakshas wasn't capable of deflecting the full power behind the attacks of Isma and their equipment were scarred with cuts and cracks.

"He is not the only one that you should be careful of." Menna grunted then also began making use of his battle energy. An aura filled with an unsettling feeling of erosion made its presence known on the battlefield. Many of the Rakshas turned their heads towards the location of Isma as soon as he began his rampage.

This made Menna mistake the look of the orcs towards Isma as a look of apprehension against a strong foe.

Every strike that Menna released was accompanied by the power of erosion. Flesh or metal, it didn't matter, they all fell prey to the power of corrosion. The orcs who were on the receiving end of Menna's strikes felt their flesh burning as it sizzled. The awful of smell of decay began to dominate the scent of the battlefield on the leftmost side of the Rakshas.

The two powerful enemies caused the Rakshas to break out into a thundering cry of excitement. Fighting against a powerful foe gave them a surge of adrenaline and the glory of defeating such a powerful foe further increased their excitement.

Isma and Menna had perplexed look on their faces. Their powerful strikes should have frightened the orcs into backing off but it had a very opposite effect. The orcs began fighting with the aim of getting to fight them. Those who they have sent flying away came back towards them with a happy grin etched on their faces as they fight their way towards them.

"What in the name of the light is going on?" Isma mumbled as he sent another group of orcs soaring. The actions and reactions of the orcs were new to them. It had turned their understanding of the way of battle upside down. Instead of being frightened by a strong foe, they were getting excited.

"More enemies are coming!" someone shouted among the Ereians after noticing silhouettes in the likeness of the orcs heading their way.

The Yurakks surged forward at full speed. They marched with great haste, afraid that they might miss the chance to fight if they tardy in their march. The right flank of the Ereian army was thrown into disarray after the Yurakks joined the fray.

Like a hammer against a clay pot, they shattered the right flank of the Ereians with ease. Fearing that they would be encircled, some of the Ereians began deserting and fled for their lives.

It was already starting to get dark. The horde began capitalizing on their advantage of their vision not being affected by darkness. The Ereians battle line began to be skewed and turned like a hook to defend against the newly arrived enemies.

Menna who was fighting on the right flank was sweating bullets, his breathing hurried. He didn't know what sort of sin he had committed against the orcs because they were all flocking towards him. Just dealing with the spear-wielding orcs was already enough to have his hands full but with the addition of the sword-wielding orcs, he began to falter.

His most powerful attack was nullified by the circumstances. He can't get himself free from the entanglement of the orcs in order to accumulate his battle energy to release the attack. The attack needed him to focus all his attention for at least a few breathes but the orcs weren't giving him that chance.

With the Yurakks finally joining the battle, the ogres shifted their position on their battle line. They all gathered towards the left flank of their foes and began to be on the defensive. It was their task to ensure that the Rakshas won't be encircled by the numerically advantageous foes. The hulking behemoths trampled the Ereians.

*****

"What's taking them so long?" Barika began to worry of the reinforcements being able to come to their aid. His soldiers were losing morale and if this continues, they would begin to disobey commands and just flee.

The Drakhars began wrestling control of the walls and the gateway against the defenders. Ladders made out of vines cling to what remains of the fort's walls. Crude ramparts made out of rock were positioned against the walls. The shamans who were hiding their presence finally made their move.

Since the mages of the defenders were too scared to show their faces again, thanks to the trolls of the Kani'karr corps, the shamans started their rampage.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Barika was met face to face to Zaraki.

"There you are. It seemed that you still have the balls to stay," the old man taunted as he pointed his blade towards Barika.

"And who are you?" Barika can't help but ask. He had no idea who the old man was.

"Just a nobody." Zaraki replied then charged forward.

Sparks flashed after Barika parried his attack then shoved him away as he overpowered him. Zaraki followed up with a few more slashed but every one of his attacks was deflected and he even suffered a small cut on his stomach after failing to evade one of Barika's counter attack.

"You are brave for someone who is way too weak." Barika mocked his opponent. At first he thought that the old man was someone who was strong since he was brave enough to come at him alone, but after assessing his power, he was glad that he was not.

Zaraki chuckled, "Who said that I am alone?" and the shamans began unleashing their spells towards Barika.

"D*mn it! Cowards!" He protested after being engaged three against one. Utilizing his battle energy, he was able to deflect the spells of the two orc magicians but he wasn't unscathed. His arms felt numb after defending against the attacks of the two orcs.

"Well, you said it yourself. I am too weak to handle you alone, which is why I brought friends with me," the old man stated as if it was the most righteous thing to do as he shrugged his shoulders.

"It isn't my fault that you don't have any friends to fight with you. Especially with that temper of yours." Zaraki taunted as he charged forward with more confidence. With the two shamans backing him up against Barika, he was confident in taking down the commander of the Ereian Royal Army.

Although the man was an unpleasant fool and full of pride, he had the ability to back it up. Even with the aid of the two shamans, Zaraki have a hard time taking down Barika.

"Sh*t!" the old man cursed after misjudging the direction of Barika's slash which sent him reeling back. His body was defenceless after being forced back and his opponent didn't miss the chance to make use f it. Barika's sword came crashing down towards him.

"Oh no you don't!" one of the shamans exclaimed as he made a move against Barika. Accompanied by a loud crack like that of a whip, a thick long vine knocked Barika from the walls. With a hard thud accompanied by the sound of painful moans, he crashed against his soldiers who were engaged against the Drakhars on the wrecked gateway.

Zaraki expressed his gratitude towards the shamans in saving his life. The shamans just smiled at him.

From his vantage point, Zaraki scanned the crowd below but was unable to locate his foe. No matter how many times and hard he searched, Barika was nowhere to be seen.

"Don't tell me that he fled," he exclaimed in disbelief.

Zaraki was spot on. Barika was already headed towards the gate on the other side of the fort. Struggling further against their foes would just result in him being captured or worse killed.

It didn't take long for the Drakhars to push their way inside the fort. With the two shamans present, the defenders gave up after seeing many of them being helplessly entangled by vines and surrounded by a stone prison.

Although they have taken control of the fort, it was in ruins and the enemy commander manage to escape.