"Compact formation! Concentrate around the goblin unit. Protect the goblins while breaking through the Orc encirclement!" Having repelled the Orcs, Gabiru now could only adopt the formation most likely to ensure survival.
If he abandoned the goblins, the Lizardmen could perhaps escape. But these goblins were his own recruits. Though they had proven of little use, he would not casually discard them.
Looking at the Orcs steadily closing in, Gabiru encouraged his men. Then, he sensed a terrifying aura emanating from the Orc before him.
"You there, Orc! You are the Orc Lord, are you not? I am the Lizardman chief, Gabiru! Face me in single combat!" Seeing no avenue of escape, Gabiru challenged the Orc before him to single combat, seeking a slim chance of survival.
"I am not the Orc Lord. I am the Orc General, far beneath the Orc Lord." Hearing Gabiru's words, the leading Orc spoke calmly.
"Not the Orc Lord? Possessing such immense power, yet still far beneath the Orc Lord?" Hearing the Orc General's words, for the first time, Gabiru perceived his own insignificance.
"Single combat, is it? How intriguing. I accept." Subsequently, the Orc General nodded at Gabiru's proposal.
Gabiru wished to minimize casualties. The Orc General, still possessing some rationality, also felt sorrow at his comrades' deaths. Yet this situation was not within his control… it was dictated by their King.
While the Orc General and Gabiru fought, in the forest, Laplace and Gelmud encountered the forest's guardian, the Treant, Treyni.
"Who goes there!" Hearing a sudden voice interrupting them, Laplace demanded.
"I am Treyni. I shall not tolerate schemes and conspiracies within this forest." Hearing Laplace's words, Treyni spoke calmly.
"This is troublesome. Gelmud-sama, she is the forest's guardian, a Treant!" Hearing Treyni's self-introduction, Laplace swiftly recognized her. However, with his own considerations, Laplace feigned weakness.
"I hereby banish you on charges of disturbing the forest's order. Spirit Summoning, Wind Maiden!" Treyni wasted no words and directly unleashed her ultimate technique.
"Wait, wait... You are far too hasty!" Seeing Treyni show no mercy, Laplace grew anxious.
"Judgment time! Repent your sins and pray! Atmospheric Compression Rupture!" Treyni spoke, coordinating with the Wind Maiden to unleash a powerful skill.
Instantly, their combined mana formed a special attack. Leaf-shaped light particles assailed the two. Laplace hastily deployed a defensive barrier, but due to the hurried defense, Atmospheric Compression Rupture penetrated his barrier and severed one of his arms.
Unlike the panicked Gelmud, Laplace appeared somewhat helpless, yet remained remarkably composed.
"Goodness, how reckless. She refuses to listen to explanation. No matter. Our objective is already achieved. We shall take our leave now. Farewell!" Looking at Treyni, Laplace produced four smoke bombs and activated them. Taking advantage of the smoke, he and Gelmud vanished before Treyni.
"They have escaped. I leave the rest to you, Nara Takeru-sama." Looking at the night sky, Treyni spoke softly. As she finished, she and the Wind Maiden disappeared.
…
Back on the battlefield, a single, simple axe strike from the Orc General effortlessly sent Gabiru flying several meters.
"Ah! Whirlpool Spear Hydroflow!" Sensing the absolute disparity in power, Gabiru refused to await death. He expended his maximum mana, unleashing his strongest skill.
Vast quantities of water enveloped his Water Vortex Spear, concentrating into an attack on the Orc General.
Yet facing the rapidly spinning aquatic technique, the Orc General merely swung his axe, forming a special tornado that repelled Gabiru's Hydroflow.
After a brief struggle, the collision of the two energies erupted in an explosion. In this exchange, they were evenly matched.
"Chaos Eater!" Subsequently, the Orc General unleashed his special skill. Blood-red energy coalesced into three serpentine, demonic heads.
Each snake head, as if possessing its own consciousness, lunged directly at Gabiru, seemingly intent on devouring him entirely.
Seeing this peculiar attack, Gabiru sensed extreme danger. He swiftly backstepped, evading the three snake heads' successive bites.
"You seek to devour me?" Watching the writhing, menacing snake heads hovering above the Orc General, Gabiru frowned.
"Heh heh, how long can you flee?" Observing Gabiru evade the first assault, the Orc General's tone remained unhurried.
"G-Gabiru-sama!"
"We'll help!"
Seeing Gabiru at an absolute disadvantage, his three confidants anxiously spoke.
"Do not interfere! This is single combat!" Hearing their words, Gabiru hastily forbade them. They were now completely surrounded. If he recklessly broke the rules, the encircling Orcs might swarm them and devour them all.
"How manly, Gabiru-sama!"
"Gabiru... Gabiru!"
Unaware of Gabiru's concerns, his confidants merely saw him fighting valiantly for them and, like ardent fans, began frantically cheering his name.
Hearing their shouts, Gabiru again felt strength surge within him. He charged forward. Yet courage could not compensate for the disparity in power, especially when the gap was so vast.
Soon, facing Gabiru's assault, the Orc General merely allowed his Chaos Eater to attack. Though Gabiru struck the demonic faces several times, he could not damage them in the slightest. Instead, one snake head struck his abdomen, sending him stumbling back several meters, falling to one knee.
This attack left Gabiru critically vulnerable. The three snake heads lunged at him simultaneously. Gabiru was in extreme danger.
"Such attacks... Agh!" Pushed to his limits, Gabiru erupted once more. Nimbly evading the snake heads, he shattered the serpentine energy constructs with his Water Vortex Spear and charged directly at the Orc General.
Watching Gabiru rapidly approach, the Orc General unhesitatingly swung his battle axe. Yet at the moment of proximity, Gabiru leaped, soaring above him. Evading the Orc General's strike, he created a perfect attacking opportunity.
"What?!" This unexpected development caught the Orc General off guard. However, he rapidly reacted. As Gabiru descended, he raised his left-arm shield, precisely intercepting the attack.
Bang!
The collision of Water Vortex Spear and shield sent water splashing below. Yet facing the immense power disparity, Gabiru's charged strike was effortlessly blocked.
The instant he blocked, the Orc General swung his battle axe at Gabiru. Though Gabiru reacted in time and blocked with his spear, the immense force sent him flying once more.
"Lizards suit the ground. Die!" As Gabiru struggled to rise, the Orc General was already before him.
Clang!
Just as Gabiru resigned himself to death, a blade intercepted the Orc General's axe. The newcomer was Gobta, who had just arrived on the battlefield.
"Ah! You are the true master of that village, are you not!" Seeing Gobta's familiar form, Gabiru stared at him in shock.
"What is this person saying?" Hearing his words, Gobta was stunned.
"Have you come to aid us?" Gabiru then asked nervously.
"He is Captain Gobta of the Tempest Wolf cavalry!" Ranga, observing Gabiru's utter failure to grasp the situation, pointed out Gobta's identity with slight exasperation.
"You are the Tempest Wolf..."
"I am Ranga, dispatched by Rimuru-sama's command to provide reinforcements!" Hearing the astonished Gabiru, Ranga spoke calmly.
"But... how did you possibly get here?" Despite Ranga's words, Gabiru remained bewildered as to how Ranga and Gobta had appeared.
"Shadow Movement. Do you possess no capacity for learning?" Hearing his words, Ranga lightly mocked him.
"Hmph. Rimuru. I know not who this country bumpkin is. But if he obstructs us, do not blame me..." Before the Orc General could finish, a massive explosion erupted behind him.
Turning, he witnessed a sea of black flames erupting amidst the Orc army. The Orc troops engulfed in the black flames wailed in agony.