The air grew heavy as the monstrous bird stretched its rejuvenated wings. It towered above the Horde, its already colossal form now even larger. Its metallic feathers gleamed with an eerie brilliance, and the sheer size of its shadow seemed to engulf the warriors entirely. The ground trembled under its shifting weight as it stepped forward, its talons digging deep into the earth.

Volk tightened his grip on his blade, his crimson eyes narrowing as he scanned the creature. This wasn’t the same beast they had nearly defeated. It was larger, faster, and emanated a palpable aura of malice. “Stay together!” Volk bellowed, his voice carrying over the sound of the creature’s wings beating once more. “We face it again! Form ranks!”

The Horde moved swiftly, their fear suppressed by discipline honed in countless battles. Ogres hefted their massive weapons, standing at the forefront as the first line of defense. Orcs tightened their grip on spears and axes, their eyes flickering between the beast and their leader. The archers notched arrows, their fingers trembling slightly as they pulled the strings taut.

Then, without warning, the bird lunged forward.

THUD! CRASH! Its massive talons slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield. The Horde staggered but held their ground.

“Attack!” Volk roared, charging forward with a burst of speed. His blade gleamed in the dim light as he led the assault, slicing through the air toward the creature’s exposed leg.

The Ogres surged behind him, their war cries echoing like thunder. BOOM! CLANG! Massive hammers and axes crashed against the bird’s legs and wings. The metallic clang of their weapons striking the beast’s armor-like feathers echoed across the canyon.

But this time, the bird retaliated with ferocity. Its wings swept outward, creating gusts of wind so strong they sent Orcs flying backward. WHOOSH! THUMP! Bodies hit the ground hard, some skidding across the dirt as they scrambled to regain their footing.

An Ogre swung his hammer in a wide arc, aiming for the bird’s knee. The weapon connected with a deafening CRACK! But the beast barely flinched. Instead, it reared back and lashed out with its talons.

SQUELCH! One talon tore through the Ogre’s shoulder, sending blood spraying into the air. The massive warrior staggered, his hammer slipping from his grasp as he fell to one knee.

The archers loosed another volley of arrows, their projectiles whistling through the air. THWIP! THWIP! The arrows struck the bird’s wings, but most bounced off harmlessly. Only a few embedded themselves in the thinner, membranous sections of its wings, drawing black ichor that hissed as it hit the ground.

Volk darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a sweeping talon. His eyes darted over the beast’s form, searching for the weaknesses he’d identified before. But its movements were faster now, its strikes more precise. The weak points they had exploited earlier were harder to reach, buried under layers of glowing, regenerated flesh.

“Regroup!” Volk shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. “Ogres, focus on its legs! Archers, aim for the joints in its wings! Orcs, keep it distracted!”

The Horde adjusted their tactics, moving with renewed coordination. Ogres swung their massive weapons with brutal force, their strikes aimed at the bird’s legs. Orcs swarmed around the creature, their movements quick and agile as they slashed at its sides and underbelly.

But the bird was relentless.

KREEEEEEEEE! It let out a piercing cry, its sound vibrating through the air and into their very bones. The warriors faltered, some dropping their weapons to clutch their ears. The bird took advantage of their momentary weakness, its massive beak snapping down toward a group of Orcs.

SNAP! The ground shook as the bird’s beak slammed into the dirt, narrowly missing its targets.

Volk seized the opening, darting forward with his blade. His sword flashed as he aimed for the bird’s knee joint, driving the weapon deep into the exposed flesh. SLASH! Black ichor sprayed from the wound, splattering across Volk’s armor and face.

The bird screeched in pain, its injured leg buckling slightly. But instead of collapsing, it reared back and spread its wings wide. With a powerful WHOOSH!, it beat its wings, creating a windstorm that sent warriors flying in all directions.

Volk was thrown off his feet, landing hard on his back. THUD! The impact rattled his bones, but he rolled quickly to his feet, his blade still in hand.

He scanned the battlefield, his mind racing. The Horde was struggling. The Ogres were being pushed back, their massive frames no match for the bird’s newfound strength. Orcs were scattered, their attacks unable to penetrate the beast’s reinforced defenses. The archers were running out of arrows, their quivers nearly empty.

Volk’s jaw tightened. He had fought countless battles, faced enemies far stronger than this beast. But something about this fight felt… different. The bird’s regeneration, its increased size and speed—it defied logic.

“Leader!” one of the Ogres shouted, his voice desperate. “We can’t hold it much longer!”

Volk’s eyes narrowed. He gripped his blade tighter, his mind working furiously to find a solution. But no matter how he analyzed the situation, one question lingered in his mind.

Why was the bird growing stronger?

The creature let out another deafening cry, its body glowing faintly as it lashed out with renewed vigor. The Horde fought valiantly, their attacks relentless, but they were being overwhelmed.

Volk’s crimson eyes locked onto the beast’s form, scanning it for any signs of weakness. Then, something caught his attention—a faint glow emanating from the bird’s chest, pulsing in time with its movements.

His eyes widened. Could that be its core?

Before he could act, the bird let out a guttural howl, louder and more powerful than before. KRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! The sound reverberated through the canyon, shaking loose stones from the cliffs and causing the ground to tremble.

Volk stumbled, his vision swimming as the sound rattled his mind. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay upright. But as he steadied himself, a new thought crept into his mind—one that filled him with unease.

Why did it feel like the bird was fighting with purpose? Why did it feel… like it was toying with them?

The bird’s glowing eyes locked onto Volk, and for a brief moment, it felt as though the creature was looking directly into his soul.

Volk’s eyes snapped to the hulking forms of the Ogres amidst the chaos. Their immense strength, which had been barely holding the bird at bay, was now the key to turning the tide. His mind worked rapidly, formulating a strategy that could exploit their brute power.

“Ogres!” Volk’s voice boomed across the battlefield, cutting through the screeches of the beast and the clamor of battle. His commanding tone was sharp, urgent, brooking no argument. “Use the stones! Anything large enough to crush its wings—throw them! NOW!”

The Ogres exchanged quick glances, their eyes narrowing with understanding. One of them, a massive brute named Goruk, let out a guttural growl. “We hear you, Leader!” he rumbled. His massive hands reached for a jagged boulder nearby, hefting it as if it weighed nothing.

The other Ogres followed suit, their massive frames lumbering toward the scattered debris of the battlefield. Some grabbed loose boulders, while others tore chunks of stone straight from the mountainside, their raw strength sending fissures spidering across the rocky surface.

“Keep it distracted!” Volk barked at the Orcs and archers. “Don’t let it focus on them!”

The Horde sprang into action, their weapons striking the bird’s legs, wings, and underbelly in a relentless assault. CLANG! CLASH! Axes and swords rang against the metallic sheen of its feathers, keeping the beast’s attention divided.
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The first boulder flew through the air with a thunderous WHOOSH! Goruk’s mighty throw sent it hurtling toward the bird’s torso. CRASH! The rock collided with the beast’s chest, eliciting a pained screech. The bird recoiled, flapping its wings violently in an attempt to steady itself.

But the Ogres were relentless.

Another boulder followed, this one aimed at the bird’s right wing. THUD! The impact sent feathers flying, and the beast staggered. It screeched in defiance, its glowing eyes narrowing as it spread its wings wide.

Volk’s sharp gaze tracked its every movement. The beast’s resistance was fierce, but he could see the subtle shifts in its posture—the way its once-fluid movements were growing sluggish, the faint tremble in its legs as it struggled to maintain balance.

“Again!” Volk roared, his voice cutting through the cacophony. “Don’t stop until it falls!”

The Ogres redoubled their efforts. WHAM! CRASH! Boulder after boulder rained down on the giant bird, each one striking with bone-shaking force. The ground beneath their feet trembled with every impact, cracks splintering across the rocky terrain.

At first, the bird seemed unyielding. Its screeches grew louder, more defiant, as it lashed out with its talons and wings. One massive claw swiped at an Ogre, narrowly missing as the brute ducked and rolled to the side. WHOOSH! The sheer force of the strike sent a gust of wind rippling across the battlefield.

But the relentless assault began to take its toll.

The bird’s movements grew jerky, its once-mighty wings faltering as the weight of the attacks bore down on it. THUD! Another boulder struck its left leg, causing the creature to buckle slightly. Black ichor seeped from multiple wounds, hissing and steaming as it hit the ground.

“Leader, it’s weakening!” Goruk shouted, his voice booming with grim determination.

Volk’s eyes remained locked on the beast. “Keep pushing!” he ordered, his tone sharp. “Break its spirit! Show it no mercy!”

The Ogres roared in unison, their voices echoing through the canyon as they continued their assault. The bird’s cries of defiance began to shift, the sharp notes of anger giving way to something else—pain.

CRASH! A particularly large boulder struck the bird’s back, forcing it to the ground. Its massive frame heaved with labored breaths, its wings trembling as it struggled to rise. But the Ogres didn’t relent. They pressed their advantage, their massive hands hurling stone after stone at the wounded beast.

The bird let out a final, heart-wrenching cry, its voice filled with anguish as its body collapsed under the relentless barrage. KREEEEEEEEH! The sound echoed through the canyon, fading into a haunting silence as the beast’s head hit the ground with a resounding THUD.

For a moment, the battlefield was still. The Horde stood frozen, their weapons lowered as they watched the massive creature’s body lie motionless before them. Its glowing eyes dimmed, the fiery light extinguished as its chest rose and fell with slow, shallow breaths.

Volk remained rooted in place, his crimson eyes locked on the fallen beast. His hand gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles white with tension. Despite its apparent defeat, he didn’t move closer.

Finally, the massive bird let out a faint, pitiful groan before falling completely still.

The tension in Volk’s shoulders eased slightly, though his sharp gaze remained wary. “Hold,” he commanded, his voice steady but low. “Stay alert. This thing has surprised us before.”

The Horde remained on edge, their breaths heavy as they waited for any sign of movement. But the bird lay still, its once-mighty form reduced to a battered, lifeless heap.

Volk stepped forward slowly, his blade gleaming in the dim light. His eyes narrowed as he approached the beast, his sharp instincts scanning for any sign of life. He paused a few feet away, his expression unreadable as he studied its massive frame.

And then, without warning, he looked up, his mind racing with a question he couldn’t yet answer. Why had this creature fought so fiercely? What had driven it to such lengths, even in the face of overwhelming odds?

But for now, the battle was over. And the Horde’s leader, ever watchful, remained ready for whatever came next.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep