Rise of the Horde

Artanos got bored watching the demonic swarm going around in circles down below. With the orcs forcing the gates of the inner walls close, the demonic swarm had nowhere else to go. The bugs were not intelligent enough to make use of the stairs along the walls to go over it.

"Typical bugs," he muttered to himself then leaned against on the roof. He was waiting for the orcs to comeback and deal with the demonic spawns, since he was certain that they won't just leave them be.

Down below, the enormous Infested One finally exited the protection of the Sand Palace, and was now standing in front of it. It was busy giving out commands to its underlings.

The supposed defensive measures of the inner walls, the four magic towers, now became an additional passage for the demons to receive reinforcements.

"What's taking that bastard so long?" Artanos complained. He was still waiting for the master of the demons to cross-over from whatever world he was currently at. His goal was to try and capture that Lord of Agony if he can, and if not, then he would just send him back to his origin world, where he would need a few years to recover.

He was well aware that the demons, specifically those who hold titles can't be truly killed. Their deaths weren't permanent no matter how many times they were slain, unless someone was capable of erasing their origin or their link to their home world.

Artanos was very much aware of the demon race's unique trait, a false death. Their avatars or their current bodies might be killed, but their souls would just travel back to their original world, where they would regenerate or build a new vessel for their souls.

It was one of the reasons why he captured the demoness instead of killing her. Killing her would just free her from her current vessel, and she would certainly make a return as soon as she has a new vessel to use.

*****

Outside the inner walls, the shamans of the horde, and the mages among the Ereians were gathered. Their numbers was too few to be considered a powerful force, but they had to make do of what was available to them.

Two elder shamans, namely Hekoth and Gunn, and twenty shamans from the different tribes that had joined the orcish horde. Twenty three mages of varying levels with the strongest only on the Fourth Circle of Magic.

Khao'khen scanned the main attacking force against their new foes, "We will push through the southern gate of the inner walls. The Rakshas and Yurakks will deal with the insects, while you lot," his gaze focused on the group of shamans and mages, "Will have to deal with the Infested Ones. Conserve your mana and wait for the vanguard to get your targets within your range," he ordered, his voice loud enough for them to hear him.

"What about us chieftain?" Elara questioned in confusion, she and her sisters were proficient in using magic and archery, and they have far greater range than the shamans and mages.

"You and your sisters will occupy the walls as soon as the vanguard pushes the enemies back. Your role would be to support the front line as much as you can." Khao'khen quickly replied, "The Verakhs and the Drakhars will be standing close by in order to ensure that no demon would be able to approach your ranks."

Khao'khen had arranged it like that since he was still wary of the dark elves. He can't have all his warriors push through against the demons without anyone keeping an eye out for their new allies. There was still a possibility that they might hit them in the back while they were busy dealing with the demons who were in front of them.

Upon hearing the arrangement of the chieftain, Elara had a wry smile upon her lips, but she took it back. Replacing her wry smile was a look of understanding.

"As you wish, chieftain," she said then headed towards her sisters.

"Why do we have to cooperate with these brutes?' Syvis questioned, "We can easily deal with the demons by ourselves," she coldly muttered.

The dark elves could easily wipe out the demonic swarm from a distance with their archery and magic. Syvis was confused on the reason of why they should work together with the orcs to deal with the enemies that they could deal with by themselves.

"It's because that bastard is still around. It might be watching the chaos from somewhere nearby," Elara swiftly answered. She was still wary of that creature from the skies that had arrived in the capital.

Elara was certain that it was still within the capital.

"What bastard?" Syvis' confusion heightened. She can't understand what Elara was talking about.

"That winged snake, he is still around. I can still feel his presence, I just can't determine where exactly." Elara muttered while scanning the surroundings. "That Avarield is still around," she continued.

"One of those flying scoundrels?" Syvis muttered while gritting her teeth. Among those who had hunted them down, one of the most active ones were the Avariels.

The forcibly close southern gate of the inner walls was once again opened, the Rakshas spearheaded the advance and drove through the ranks of the insect like demons.

"Break them! Drive through their ranks! Create a path!" Arka'garr roared while skewering a few of the bugs which were directly in front of him.

The Rakshas pushed through the swarm of demons, their tight formation offering no opportunities for their foes to make a counterattack in the narrow gateway.

"Quickly! Take positions!" Sakh'arran roared.

The Rakshas dismantled the demons who were near the southern gate and managed to get inside the inner walls, the Yurakks who were waiting for their comrades to make a breakthrough against the ranks of their foes stormed in.

Orcs poured in once again inside the inner walls through the southern gate.

"Oh! That was quick," Artanos exclaimed, he rose from where he was at to have a better look of what was happening down below. "Hmm... They are really fighting in a very different manner than what I expected," he muttered after observing the fighting style of the orcs. In all the years that he have been alive, this was the first time that he had seen orcs fight in such a disciplined manner.

He thought that it was just a fluke before, but now he was certain. These orcs are really different from the normal orcs that he had observed before.

"Elara! It's your turn," Khao'khen said and gave a quick glance at the dark elves who were waiting to join the fray.

"We will now make our move, chieftain," Elara muttered, then she and her sisters easily scaled the walls. They quickly took their positions and a barrage of magically imbued arrows rained down upon the ranks of the demons.

A mighty roar echoed out, the giant Infested One was starting to make its move. It slumbered forward, its footsteps so heavy that it was creating miniature quakes as it move.

"Get ready! The big one is making a move," Sakh'arran roared after noticing that the biggest one among their foes was heading towards them.

"This is not good," Khao'khen muttered. "Elara! Focus your attack on the big one, take it down if you can or just slow down its advance," he shouted towards the dark elves who were raining down destruction upon the ranks of the demons.

"Oh, they are working together very well, I see," Artanos muttered with interest. This was the first time in a very long time that he had witnessed orcs and dark elves working together. The last time that he had witnessed such a scene was more than a hundred years ago already.

Artanos glance at the demoness who seemed uninterested in the battle down below, "Why don't you watch, and you might learn a thing or two," he said.

"What's the use of learning something new about them. I am still your captive and won't be able to make use of what I might learn," the demoness responded with her voice filled with helplessness.

"Tsk...You're no fun," Artanos clicked his tongue as he turned back his attention on the battle that was happening down below.

The barrage of the dark elves tore through the enormous figure of the giant Infested One, its body blown to bits, as it staggered to move forward with difficulty. Although its body was wrecked in many places, it didn't take long for it to recover back into its original form. The wriggling maggots kept moving around its body, building new limbs for it and restoring it back to its original state.

"Throw everything you got at it! I won't believe that it wouldn't make any difference in the long run!" Hekoth shouted as he bombarded the ranks of the demonic swarm while hurling his most powerful attack at the giant Infested One.

Magic explosions kept bombarding the ranks of the demons, demon parts, dust, stones and dirt kept flying everywhere.