Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

Chapter 84  No other option

Upon Henry's command, Zahra and the others on top of the slope sprang into action. The archers skillfully nocked their arrows, pulled back their bows, and locked their eyes onto the desperate enemies' backs. They slightly adjusted their bows, pointing them upwards, calculating the trajectory, while their breaths slowed down.

"Loose!" - Zahra shouted the command, causing arrows to whistle through the air, arcing toward the enemies' backs.

"AHHHH" Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"THEY GOT ME!"

"HELP!"

"DON'T LEAVE ME!"

Painful screams echoed through the mountain as the arrows perfectly found their marks, not missing a single target. Luak's soldiers dropped helplessly to the ground, some even lifelessly rolling down the mountain and causing those in front of them to also tumble like dominoes.

"Go!" – Zahra issued the command towards the close-quarter soldiers, ordering them to pursue the enemies.

Seemingly already accustomed to Zahra's leadership, they left their defensive positions and dashed toward their enemies. They wanted revenge. In a matter of seconds, they closed in on the foes, mercilessly eliminating the defenseless soldiers first, those who had fallen and were laying on the ground. They raised their swords and brought them down, either beheading their targets or piercing their hearts. They wanted to ensure that no one was left alive. Stahl's soldiers were not in a hurry to pursue them. The enemies had nowhere to go, and they would soon fall to their swords. And, they were right, Luak's soldiers had no way out.

On their way down, the enemies once again found themselves at a massive precipice, where Henry had chopped down a boulder that served as a frozen bridge. They had no way to descend from this part of the mountain, and the height left them with little to no chance of survival.

Luak soldiers' desperate eyes darted around, frantically seeking an escape from their precarious situation. They were stuck on a part of the mountain with steep drops on all sides, leaving them with two options: leap into the abyss or confront the approaching Black Demons. The sound of their pursuers' boots crunching through the snow was drawing nearer, enveloping them in a palpable sense of desperation. Their eyes flickered between the unforgiving precipice and the treacherous slope, where they could already see the shadows of the Black Demons.

"Get a hold! We outnumber them!"- One of the soldiers yelled. This person was well-known among their group but held no significant influence in Luak's rankings.

Shring

He drew his sword and glanced at the soldiers before issuing a command - "Do you want to die? Draw your swords! There's no way out for us." - His eyes scanned the surroundings and noticed that at least six soldiers carried bows on their backs - "You, with the bows, fall back and prepare to shoot. The rest of us will confront them head on."

Those words seemed to trigger something deep within their minds, prompting them to unsheathe their weapons while the archers stepped back. They all felt their hands trembling in fear, aware that death was closing in. At the same time, a spark of determination ignited within them. If there was no escape, they would make sure to take at least one enemy down with them. They were like a cornered rat, ready to struggle until its last breath.

Unconsciously, they drew closer to one another, forming a tight arrow formation with the archers positioned just behind them, hidden from the Black Demons' sight. In front of them was the self-proclaimed leader, the one who ordered them to unsheathe their weapons.

Stahl's soldiers soon emerged before them; their weapons stained with red as blood dripped from their blades. Zahra stood at the front, gripping a small, bloody dagger with a bow strapped to her back. She watched them with anger, still haunted by the battered image of Grok. Initially, she had looked down on that barbarian, deeming him nothing more than a thoughtless brute driven by muscle alone. However, over the past few days, she realized that he was only a brute with unwavering belief in the so-called Barbarian code, someone fiercely loyal to his comrades and unafraid of battle. The barbarian was someone who could easily jump in front of a spear if it meant protecting his brothers and sisters.

Noticing the tight enemy's formation, Zahra raised the bloodied dagger in her hands and shouted – "Halt!" - Though furious and eager to see their blood staining the mountain and getting her revenge, she wasn't foolish enough to put her soldiers in harm's way

She took a few seconds to analyze their position and realized their only option was to ascend the mountain. They were cornered and were probably going to fight fiercely to escape this situation. Zahra only had fifteen soldiers by her side and understood that a full-force confrontation was risky. It would be wiser to weaken the enemies' strength from a distance.

"Archers!"- She called out, leading some six soldiers to step out of the group and stand beside her. They placed their sharp weapons on the ground and held their bows firmly, already nocking an arrow, leaving them with only four arrows left. However, Zahra was confident that it would be enough to deal with the enemies – "Take your positions!"

The archers lined up across the horizon, raising their bows. However, just as Zahra was about to give the command to fire, five arrows suddenly shot towards them, cutting through the could air and leaving her with a surprised expression.

Thud

In the blink of an eye, one of the archers fell dead beside Zahra, with an arrow sticking out of his forehead, while the other arrows fell on the warriors behind her, who managed to protect themselves. She had no chance to react and protect her soldier. The exciting and happy shouts coming from the enemies seemingly intensified the fury present in her eyes. She wanted to gut them out.

"Focus on the archers!"- She shouted in anger.

They had the high ground, which gave them an advantage and a clearer view. Zahra quickly drew her bowstring and released an arrow at the enemy, targeting the archers in the back of the group.

"AHHH!"

Painful screams filled the air as a barrage of arrows rained down, either killing the archers instantly or causing severe injuries, incapacitating them. These soldiers had trained under Olaro, a general who learned the true value of archery from Henry. Because of that, they had practiced relentlessly with moving target, and some in the Second Stage even trained their abilities while riding horses, creating bow experts.

Witnessing the archers being taken down in an instant, the new leader of Luak's troops had no choice but to give a desperate command – "Charge!" – He screamed and took the lead, dashing upwards.

Luak's soldiers exchanged glances, as if bidding farewell to their fellow comrades. Despite many of them being strangers, having only been together for a few hours, they felt a strong bond, considering themselves like brothers. They were prepared to face death together. Amid the desperation, there was a peculiar feeling that wasn't sadness or sorrow; it was an acceptance of their fate, a sense that they were okay with it.

They smiled at each other and charged at Zahra's troops. They were prepared to die. Unfortunately, Zahra and her archers never missed a single shot.

-x-

At the top of the mountain slope, Henry gazed down at the barbarian who had risked everything for his comrades. He held complex emotions for this man, someone he hadn't made much effort to get to know over the past few days, and who had stopped disobeying him after the night he had spent hanging on top of the house, exposed to the freezing winds.

Unknowingly, the barbarian was channeling all his mana into his Tribal Tattoo, using his last breaths in an attempt to heal his body. Unconsciously, he hoped that the regenerative powers of the White Orcs would help him mend the gaping wound on his torso, where a part of his intestines was exposed. It was a miracle that he was still alive.

Witnessing the scene, Henry couldn't resist asking, though he knew the man was likely beyond hearing and near death - "Do you want to live that badly?"

There was no response.

Henry shook his head and walked to the man's great axe, picking it up and placing it in his hands. Then, he knelt down, placing his sword's tip above the man's chest as he said – "You were a great warrior and deserve to rest with your ancestors by the bonfire. Rest well…barbarian! I will honor your death with their blood."

However, as he was about to pierce through his heart, Grok's hand twitched, his grip on the great axe tightening. It was as if his determination was rejecting death, insisting that he was a warrior who wouldn't die on this frozen mountain. He believed he should meet his end bathed in the blood of his enemies. This action made Henry pause instantly, causing only a few drops of blood to emerge from the man's chest.

The man wanted to survive and as a king, he wouldn't send his subjects this early. He could still be used.

"I understand," Henry replied, placing his sword to the side. "I'll do my best to help you. Hang in there!"

Henry placed his hands on Grok's chest and channeled his Mana into Grok's body. It was a risky move, especially considering that Grok's Mana lacked an elemental affinity with fire, which could potentially harm him further. However, Henry was gambling that Grok's regenerative abilities would outpace any damage with the additional Mana. Furthermore, he would attempt to minimize the damage as much as possible, soothing the fiery characteristic.

-x-

Down the mountain, Leier watched the group carefully as they placed traps in the clearing. She remembered the positions of each one as she counted the number of dangerous enemies, those who could probably wipe out a small platoon.

There were at least a thousand soldiers, among them, five Fourth Stage Warriors. It would be a tough battle. She knew that they wouldn't be able to face them, not even if the king showed up. Only Luther's appearance could they be more at ease, but even then, it would be dangerous.

"We must fall back. There's no other option." – Leier thought – "I have to notify my king."