Lucien's face was grim. He could see, before his eyes, their well-crafted plan was crumbling like a house of cards with the appearance of this new enemy. He looked to Lorian, hoping for any idea; this strange 'idiot' prince often had out-of-the-box ideas to deal with issues, offering a perspective that felt, in some ways, not of this world. Lorian caught his gaze and offered a wry, depressed smile, "You thought the pirate Empress's army would be full of fodder? That we would mow them down like Starship Troopers massacring a bug army?"
Again, strange words that have no meaning, Lucien thought, though he understood the sentiment. He nodded, signaling the Lord to continue.
"These Orcs are, of course, her trump cards; she released them to end the deadlock and force an opening. But what I am curious about now is how many more such cards the Empress is hiding up her sleeve."
"But, Milord, while we deliberate, our brothers are dying!" Rena spoke anxiously.
So, now you are suddenly worried about the senseless death of our people? Lorian mused, though he kept his tone sharp, "Any move we make out of pure emotion will only increase our casualties."
He tilted his head back to think for a moment before continuing, "If we recall all the archers from the South Alley, we are simply giving the pirates a free pass to cross the cityscape."
Kaelen sounded excited, "Well, that could actually be better. If we squeeze the vast number of enemies into a single path, we could effectively funnel them and kill them more efficiently."
Lucien shook his head, "No my boy, no! We can no longer discount our enemies as petty criminals; it would be a crime to take them for granted. If the pirate command has any sense, they won't hit the Gold Wall like- as the Lord said- mindless bugs. They would circle around the buildings and close in on the western cityscape, killing the archers and securing their rear before they begin the siege."
"Exactly!" Lorian nodded, "I have questions, and they need answers before we commit to a decision."
"Like?" Lucien asked.
"I'll explain, but first, let's save our men from being butchered!"
Lorian ordered the entire contingent of 530 Throne Guards to descend into the South Alley and finish these orcs once and for all. He specifically ordered Jax, Zara, and Kaelen to target the leader and neutralize him immediately. This was not the time for chivalry; it was time to end the orc menace as quickly as possible before more of their archers were slaughtered or fresh reinforcements arrived.
The Throne Guards were tasked with overwhelming the orcs with superior numbers, butchering them before the Pirate Empress could send another dangerous anomaly as reinforcement. The three champions were charged to kill the Orc Leader at any cost, and only then would they be allowed to return. Lorian had a hunch the Pirate Empress might have sent the orcs specifically to lure the Veridian troops out from behind the safety of the Gold Wall. If that was the case, Lorian was not going to play her game; instead, he would make her pay for the gamble with the life of her own trump card.
On Lorian's command, the guards rushed out from the Gold Wall amidst the cheers and prayers of the people.
The orcs were scattered in the middle of the South Alley, near the second intersection. Past the third intersection, the path opened into a straight road leading to the Circular Road that wrapped around the Gold Wall. The rest of the pirates remained at the first intersection, busy looting the houses that the orcs had cleared of defenders.
Suddenly, the orcs saw their enemies charging on horseback at high speed. Before they could react, the horsemen were upon them. And from three different directions, three shadows pounced on their leader- two beastmen from the left and right, and a human soldier in plate armor wielding a heavy claymore.
The 530 Throne Guards moved as a single, devastating unit and hit the orc line like a landslide. The Orcs were strong, but they were exhausted. They had been fighting for hours, clearing houses and climbing rooftops. Now, they were caught in the middle of a street with nowhere to run. The Throne Guards slammed into them with the force of a moving wall. They were efficient, precise, and relentless. Spears leveled, they pierced through the orc ranks in the first few seconds. The Throne Guards, the elite force of Veridia, swung heavy maces and swords, crushing orc skulls and shattering their bone.
The orcs fought with savage, desperate fury. They gripped their jagged choppers and swung wildly, trying to drag the riders from their saddles. But they were at a disadvantage. They were on foot while the Throne Guards were on horseback. Whenever an orc grabbed a horse's bridle, the guard would instantly decapitate him with a single stroke. Blood sprayed the white stone walls of the city in thick, crimson arcs. It was no more a battle of tactics and strategy; it was a pure, cold-blooded slaughter.
Further ahead, the battle reached a frantic, blood-soaked buildup. Bor'Zarg'Torag was standing in the center of the intersection, his eyes were burning with demonic rage. He was flourishing his two heavy choppers as if they were extensions of his massive, scarred arms.
Jax and Zara moved like flashes of dark lightning. They were agile and lethal, were moving low to the ground, darting in from the sides to slash at Zarg's hamstrings and shoulders. Kaelen on the other hand was fighting like an anchor of the trio. Clad in thick, shining plate armor, he was standing like a fortress. His heavy claymore whistled through the air, carving through any orc who dared to step forward to protect their leader. He was fighting like a unbreachable wall of steel, holding the orcs at bay while his two companions hunted their prey.
Zarg was a beast himself. He blocked Zara's blade with his left chopper and countered with a crushing swing of his right, forcing Jax to flip backward just in time. The orc's strength was terrifying. Every time he swung, even the very air seemed to moan. But o his disadvantage, he was alone, fighting an unfair fight against three of the deadliest warriors in Veridia.
Zara lunged, and her sharp claws raked across Zarg's chest, tearing through his leather armor. Jax followed instantly, his blade finding a gap in the orc's defenses and cutting deep into his thigh. Zarg roared with a chilling sound of pure, unadulterated hatred, and swung his choppers in a wide, lethal arc. The trio danced out of range.
Kaelen now stepped forward, his claymore coming down in a vertical strike that would have split a lesser man in two. But Zarg was no lesser man. He was chief of his Black Corsairs. He instantly parried. But the force of the blow pushed him to his knees. The ground beneath the orc cracked.
"The reinforcements are coming!" a voice screamed from the distance.
One of the Throne Guard commanders signaled to the trio, "Fall back! Enemies incoming!"
The trio however did not look back. They had given their word to the Lord. They were not leaving until Zarg's head was claimed.
Zarg saw his chance. He lunged at Kaelen; his choppers aimed at the knight's neck. Kaelen caught the blades with his claymore. The sound of metal scratching against metal echoed through the alley. Their faces were inches apart. Kaelen could feel the orc's breath which was hot and smelled of copper.
Jax and Zara didn't hesitate. They saw the opening. Jax surged forward, driving his blade through the back of Zarg's neck. Simultaneously, Zara leaped over Kaelen's shoulder and buried her daggers into the orc's throat.
Zarg stood frozen for a heartbeat. His eyes dimmed, the fire of his life fading into a dull, empty stare. His choppers clattered to the stone. He crashed forward, face-first into the bloodied dust.
Jax moved with blinding speed, severing the leader's head. He grabbed it by the thick, matted hair, holding it high.
"Retreat!" the commander roared again, his eyes were wide as he looked toward the horizon where the new, dark shapes were emerging.
The Throne Guards did not wait. They wheeled their horses around, leaving the remaining few orcs in the dust. The trio followed the retreating Throne Guards and vanished into the narrow streets, disappearing into the shadows of the city with their prize. The South Alley was silent again, save for the heavy, rhythmic thud of the new enemy approaching the intersection where lifeless corpses of Black Orcs were scattered unceremoniously.