Chapter 43 – Another Monster Horde

[Ironneedle Pauldrons (C)]

Pauldrons made of an Ironneedle Hedgehog’s leather and adorned with its needles. Enhanced with Dryad’s blessing, increasing natural damage dealt by 20% while in forests and areas rich with thick natural energies.

Any defensive skill used while this item is equipped will reflect 10% of the damage received.

[Thornvine Gloves (C)]

Gloves made from woven Heartthorn Rose’s vines, treated with the blood of a Sawneedle Mosquito, and soaked in a spirit pond for two months.

When worn allows for bare-handed attacks to siphon 5% of damage done as healing.

Once a day, if you receive more than 40% of your health as damage from a single attack, release bloodsucking thorny vines at your enemy and heal back 20% of the damage received, provided that the attack lands.

[Raven’s Cowl (C)]

A cowl created out of a Stalker Fiend’s hide and Ruby Eyed Raven’s feathers.

It contains the skill Night Vision, which activates once the cowl is worn in dark environments.

While cloaked by darkness or invisible, damage done is increased by 15%, and footsteps are muffled.

Applies to shapeshifted forms as well.

“Well… this will be difficult.” He exhaled slowly. “All three will be useful in the Wildlands, but once I leave, only the Cowl remains consistently valuable. The gloves are strong, but I don’t fight that often with my hands…Either the Pauldrons or the Cowl…” He muttered, standing still as he stared into the screens, idly humming a soft melody.

“Cowl it is! It will work perfectly in Cat Form, and it will remain useful even beyond the Wildlands!” he said aloud as he reached out and selected the item.

The moment he chose, the cowl materialized within his grasp, its dark feathers faintly shimmering. He tied it loosely around his neck, letting it rest against his back.

Once he was finished with everything, he sat down to eat the same meal as the night before and wanted to rest for a while, but just as he settled, the sound of war horns echoed across the land. The ground began trembling, and even the river started spilling over its banks, forcing Silex to rush out in a hurry.

“What the hell is going on?!” Silex growled, scanning the surroundings.

“Looks like the Monster Horde has started. Let’s go and see what’s happening.” Maximus said as he shifted into his Cat Form. “Silex, Vesper, Sprout, let’s go. Stay low, stay careful, and do not engage before I give the order.” Maximus commanded as they rushed toward the distant, rising chaos.

***

In the kilometers of fields stretching south of the Bastion of Hope, large portals split the land as green-skinned orcs spawned, marching in tight formations of five by five. They all wore simple leather armor and carried long iron spears, their steps heavy and synchronized.

Alongside each of the formations walked five wolf riders with long, curved blades sheathed across their backs, each one currently blowing into a war horn as new portals tore open before them.

From one of them, a massive three-meter-tall orc stepped through. The giant carried a brutal, jagged greatsword and barked something in orcish that made the entire horde roar with savage fury.

Observing all of this was Franko, who gulped heavily as his grip tightened. “Do we have any of those bombs?” George asked, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding in the distance.

“Maybe two…” Franko replied with a strained sigh.

“I bet you regret leaving things like that with the Druid.” George chuckled dryly, though his eyes never left the advancing army.

“What are you laughing about? We are all probably going to die!” Franko snapped, his voice rising with panic.

“Chief, not all of us have something against dying. Not like life outside is any better than this, well, at least for me.” George shrugged, his tone oddly calm. If he could survive, he would, but if not… He had no real complaints about dying as things were.

“Fucking psycho. Go gather everyone who is left. I’m not letting us die without a fight!” Franko said, his voice dropping into something colder and more resolute.

“What about Maria?” George suddenly asked, glancing sideways.

Franko frowned before replying, “She will fight… though she might try to kill me first.” He let out a quiet sigh. She still refused to speak to him after what had transpired.

***

“What do you think?” Maximus asked as the trio lay low in the grass, barely visible among the swaying blades.

“They don’t smell that strong. Only the big one at the front could be a problem.” Vesper appraised calmly.

“There are too many. It’s suicide.” Silex complained, his voice tense.

“How about we let the humans fight them first, and then we go in and wipe both groups out?” Vesper advised, his tone disturbingly casual.

“That’s a bit much… Let’s observe first. I can always toss a few poison bombs if needed.” Maximus said coldly.

***

The orcs charged toward the village, avoiding the holes and ditches left behind by Maximus’s previous traps.

Franko and the mages cut down as many as they could, tossing remaining bombs, but it wasn’t enough as the first ranks that survived began slamming into the gates with brutal force.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Everyone, fall back deeper into the village and raise the barricades!” Franko ordered as they retreated, leaving the orcs hammering against the gates.

“Let’s go. I think that we can gain much from this.” Maximus whispered, and the trio, along with Sprout, moved forward through the grass. Once they were close enough, Maximus shifted into his human form and tossed a couple of poison bombs into the back lines of the orcs.

The bombs ignited and exploded in rolling waves of thick black smoke that swallowed the two rear formations, which had begun grouping after suffering losses from the ranged attacks.