The dense forest seemed to tremble under the weight of heavy footfalls.

The pungent stench of Ogre musk saturated the air, making even the hardy Orc warriors wrinkle their noses in disgust. But the scent also carried with it the thrill of another challenge.

Volk, standing at the forefront, his crimson gauntlet gleaming ominously, raised his hand to silence the murmurs among his horde.

“They’re close,” Volk announced. His voice, like the growl of a predator, sent a ripple of anticipation through the Orcs.

The sound of snapping branches echoed from deeper within the forest, accompanied by guttural growls that sent birds fluttering from the treetops.

The Orcs tightened their grips on their weapons, their fingers brushing against the newly reinforced armor that gleamed even in the dim light.

Volk’s gaze was sharp, his piercing eyes scanning the shadows as the vibrations beneath their feet grew stronger.

“Steady,” Volk commanded, his voice low but firm.

From the dense underbrush, four Ogres emerged. Each was more imposing than the last.

Their bulging muscles, covered in patchy, grime-caked skin, flexed as they stepped forward.

Each carried a crude weapon: one swung a massive spiked club, another wielded a tree trunk as though it weighed nothing.

The third clutched a massive boulder, and the fourth’s bare fists were as large as an Orc’s entire torso.

The Orcs bristled but did not falter. They had faced Ogres before. This time, they were better prepared.

“Form up!” Volk barked.

The horde moved with an efficiency that had been absent in their earlier skirmishes.

Shields locked into place, and spears pointed forward in a bristling line.

The front row crouched slightly, creating a defensive phalanx. Behind them, archers knocked crude but deadly arrows.

The Ogres roared, their guttural cries shaking the very ground. One charged forward, its tree-trunk club swinging downward in a devastating arc.

WHOOSH!

“Brace!” Volk shouted.

The shield wall held firm as the club slammed into it.

BOOM!

The impact reverberated through the horde, but the Orcs stood their ground. The Ogre snarled, confused by the resilience of its smaller foes.

“Now!” Volk commanded. “Pierce its flank!”

Two Orcs darted out from the sides, their movements swift and precise. Their spears glinted as they stabbed into the Ogre’s exposed ribs.

SHUNK!

SHUNK!

The beast howled in pain, swinging its massive arm to swat them away.

“Evade!” Volk barked.

The Orcs rolled away just in time, the Ogre’s arm crashing into the ground where they had stood moments before.

Meanwhile, the second Ogre hurled its boulder toward the formation.

“Scatter!” Volk yelled.

The horde split like water, the massive rock landing with a thunderous CRASH! that sent dirt and debris flying.

“Regroup!” Volk’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “Archers, aim for the eyes!”

The archers loosed their arrows in a coordinated volley.

TWANG! TWANG!

The arrows flew true, striking the second Ogre in the face.

THUNK!

THUNK!

The beast roared in agony, clawing at its eyes as it stumbled backward.

“Push forward!” Volk shouted, his gauntlet glowing faintly with an intimidating red aura.

The Orcs surged forward, their blades flashing as they targeted the second Ogre’s legs.

SLASH!

CRACK!

The beast fell to its knees, its towering frame shaking the ground as it collapsed.

The third Ogre, enraged by the sight of its fallen comrade, charged directly at the horde. Its spiked club swung in wide, devastating arcs, scattering the front line.

“Do not break ranks!” Volk bellowed. “Surround it! Shields up!”

The Orcs rallied, circling the rampaging Ogre. The beast’s wild swings glanced off their shields with deafening CLANGS! but did not break them.

“Go for the knees!” Volk ordered.

Four Orcs rushed forward, their axes and swords biting into the Ogre’s legs.

THUD!

The beast crashed to the ground, flailing helplessly as the Orcs swarmed it.

The fourth Ogre, seeing the tide turn against its kin, hesitated for a moment before letting out an ear-splitting roar. It charged at Volk directly, its massive fists raised high.

Volk stood his ground, his crimson gauntlet pulsing with a fierce light.

“Come to me, then,” Volk growled, his voice dripping with challenge.

The Ogre’s fists came crashing down.

BOOM!

Volk sidestepped at the last moment, the ground where he had stood exploding into a crater. He raised his gauntlet, channeling its power into a concentrated strike.

WHAM!

The gauntlet connected with the Ogre’s arm, sending a shockwave rippling through its massive frame. The beast stumbled, its balance momentarily broken.

“Now!” Volk roared. “Take it down!”

The Orcs pounced, their weapons sinking into the Ogre’s flesh like a pack of wolves tearing apart their prey.

SLASH!

STAB!

CRUNCH!

Within moments, the forest was silent except for the ragged breathing of the victorious horde. The Ogres lay defeated, their massive forms sprawled across the battlefield.

Volk surveyed the scene, his sharp eyes taking in the bloodied but triumphant faces of his warriors.

“You’ve done well,” he said, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction. “You fought as one. Efficient, ruthless. This is what it means to be a horde.”

The Orcs, still catching their breath, exchanged glances. It seems their Warchief was satisfied and it was satisfying for them too.

The forest grew eerily silent as Volk’s horde pressed onward.

Their confidence had grown with each victory, and the energy among the warriors was palpable.

The scent of blood lingered in the air, mingling with the damp, earthy smell of the dense woods.

Volk led the way, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows for movement.

Every creak of the trees, every snap of a branch, sent a ripple of anticipation through the horde.

“Stay alert,” Volk commanded, his voice a low growl that carried authority.

The Orcs moved as a unit, their steps synchronized, their weapons gleaming in the faint shafts of sunlight breaking through the canopy above.

The armor they wore seemed to hum faintly, resonating with their collective determination.

It wasn’t long before the faint sound of guttural grunts and heavy footsteps reached their ears.

Volk raised a fist, and the horde froze. Ahead, the underbrush rustled, and the ground trembled ever so slightly.

“They’re close,” muttered one Orc, his grip tightening on his spear.

“Form up,” Volk ordered, his tone calm but firm.

The Orcs moved quickly, shields raised, weapons ready. The front line crouched slightly, creating an impenetrable wall of steel and muscle.

From the shadows emerged another group of Ogres—five this time, their brutish forms even more imposing than the last group.

Their skin was a mottled mix of gray and brown, their eyes small and pig-like, yet filled with a savage intelligence.

Each carried a weapon more terrifying than the last—a jagged metal club, a spiked chain, and even a boulder the size of an Orc’s torso.

The Ogres snarled, their breath coming out in visible puffs as they eyed the horde.

“Steady!” Volk barked.

One of the Ogres let out a deafening roar and charged, its massive feet shaking the ground with each step.

BOOM!

BOOM!

“Hold the line!” Volk shouted.

The horde braced themselves, shields locking together as the Ogre barreled into them.

CRASH!

The impact was thunderous, but the Orcs held firm.

Their reinforced armor absorbed much of the force, and the Ogre, momentarily stunned by their resilience, stumbled back.

“Flank it! Spears to the sides!” Volk commanded.

Two Orcs darted from the formation, their movements precise and practiced.

SHUNK!

SHUNK!

Their spears pierced the Ogre’s thick hide, drawing a bellow of pain.

Another Ogre, enraged by the attack on its companion, swung its spiked chain in a wide arc.

“Duck!” Volk roared.

The Orcs dropped to the ground as the chain whipped overhead, tearing through the air with a sharp WHOOSH!

“Counterattack! Aim for the legs!”

The horde surged forward, their weapons targeting the vulnerable joints of the massive creature.

SLASH!

CRACK!

The Ogre roared in pain, its knees buckling as it fell to the ground. The Orcs swarmed it, their weapons flashing as they delivered blow after blow.

Meanwhile, the third Ogre hurled its boulder toward the center of the formation.

“Scatter!” Volk commanded.

The horde split apart like water, the massive rock landing with an earth-shaking THUD!

“Archers, focus fire on that one!” Volk pointed toward the boulder-throwing Ogre.

The archers nocked their arrows and loosed them in unison.

TWANG! TWANG!

The arrows struck true, embedding themselves in the Ogre’s face and neck.

THUNK!

THUNK!

The beast staggered, its hands clawing at its wounds as it let out a pitiful howl.

The fourth Ogre charged into the fray, swinging its jagged club wildly. Its attacks were powerful but unfocused, each swing tearing through trees and sending splinters flying.

“Draw its attention!” Volk ordered.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep