“Your ‘High-tide Rider’ leap is as impressive as always.”
“And your ‘Steel Cleaver’ technique has not dulled at all. I would welcome another chance to measure our skills.”
They said as they rose at the same time. Shaking the blood from their blades, they stood shoulder to shoulder and glared at the shocked humans.
The blade in his hand was heavy and sharp. It had been carved from a sea dragon’s horn by a master craftsman of the Kuna tribe.
He had honed his skills constantly in order to not be outdone by such a weapon. He wanted to wield it naturally as if it was a part of his own body.
That was why he hated everything about these humans.
“Controlled by a god. Motivated by miracles. Watch as they stumble and run!”
As he shouted, the clashing of blades from their allies seemed to grow louder.
“Don’t think you can stop my sword with cheap tricks and borrowed power!”
He spat. And then with Largan’s red form at his side, he charged straight into the enemy ring.
Once again, a soldier’s head went flying into the air with a spray of blood.
“Let us continue to take their heads!”
“Aye! We should compete to see who can take more!”
The force of their charge threw the encirclement into disarray. The wall collapsed, and the allies changed from fighting defensively to the offensive.
“All of you! Now is the time to avenge our fallen lord! Move forward!”
Powerful warriors leapt through the air, sprinting across the ground, lashing their tails, and flashing their blades as they rampaged in every direction.
“Fire the signal arrows! Nadare and Watari!”
One of his subordinates launched the signal skyward. A moment later, an answering whistling arrow, Kodama, came flying from the mountain behind them.
Pleased by the response, he barked out the next order with a triumphant grin.
“All of you, follow me!”
Cutting down the light cavalry scrambling to block his path, Kuna Nakra kicked off from the backs of the startled mount and vaulted to a height from which he could look down over the entire battlefield.
Ahead were dense ranks of spear infantry. And below, cavalry were being driven back by the ferocity of the assault.
And from deep within the forest behind the enemy lines, he could see the forces they had kept hidden rising and moving toward them.
He was nothing more than bait. The true strike force was the pack of magical beasts held in reserve.
“But there is no rule that bait cannot devour the prey!”
Straight as an arrow, Kuna Nakra flew toward a cluster of stunned infantry. But as they leveled their spears and tried to stab him, he burst into laughter.
“I am Kuna Nakra, The Steel Cleaver. Retainer of the Sea Demon General Zelnante! Witness the edge of my blade and let it be your offering to the road of death!”
And then his sword fell, cutting down spearpoints and human necks together. It spared nothing in its path.
—
Salia watched everything that unfolded beyond the water mirror with bated breath.
The situation at the center remained a deadlock, with neither side gaining any ground. Still, fatigue was beginning to show among the ogres, and they were slowly being pressed back.
Just then, a murmur of excitement rose from the gods stationed on the left wing.
“Oh! The lizardfolk have broken through the formation!”
Breaking through the cavalry encirclement, fewer than two thousand lizardmen surged toward the infantry. And in spite of having endured such a fierce assault, almost none of them appeared wounded.
“More reinforcements are emerging from the forest! This time it’s a pack of magical beasts!”
At their head was a black, dog-like magical beast enveloped in flames, and there were others that resembled black panthers.
“A fire-breathing dog and a cat that vanishes to devour its prey… Still, they look rather paltry as a fighting force.”
“A motley collection, thrown together just to fill up the numbers. They are hardly impressive as reinforcements.”
The gods spoke freely. They were senseless remarks of spectators that she had no time to refute.
Bonus chapter courtesy of Photo. Thank you so much!!