Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of heavy thuds echoed from behind.
The Orcs that reached the wooden barrier first were relentlessly pounding it with their crude weapons.
Though sturdily built, the barrier began to crack and splinter under the ferocious assault.
At this rate, it wouldn’t hold for long before collapsing entirely.
The Afua tribe atop the barrier hurled stones with their small hands, but the Orcs paid them no mind. Their strength was insufficient to pierce the Orcs’ tough hides.
The Golems were rushing toward the barrier with all their might, but arriving in time seemed impossible.
Despite Sang-woong and the Golems fighting desperately, defeat felt like a matter of time.
CRASH!
With a deafening roar, the barrier finally gave way, splintering under the Orcs’ clubs and axes.
The moment the sturdy defense line fell, it seemed only a matter of time before the Orcs would storm in.
But they froze at the sight beyond the broken barrier.
Another robust wooden barrier stood firm.
It had been constructed in layers from the start.
When Sang-woong minimized the defended area, he’d had excess barriers. Deeming it wasteful to leave them unused, he’d purchased additional ones from the shop without hesitation, creating a double-layered defense.
This strategic decision proved to be a masterstroke in this critical moment.
As the Orcs charged to destroy the second barrier, the nimbler Wood Golems reached it before the bulkier Stone Golems.
“ROAR!”
As the Wood Golems appeared, hundreds of Orcs let out fiercer battle cries, charging with bloodthirsty rage.
Their menacing faces bared sharp fangs, driven by madness, swinging their weapons wildly.
But most attacks were deflected harmlessly by the Wood Golems’ massive wooden shields.
The Golems countered with their giant axes, clubs, and spears, striking the Orc horde with ferocious force.
Crack! Smash! Thud!
With dull bursts, Orcs fell powerlessly.
The Wood Golems’ attacks were devastatingly effective.
Despite their tough hides and resilient vitality, the Orcs were crushed or impaled helplessly before the Golems’ immense strength.
Normally, Orcs would have faltered under the Wood Golems’ overwhelming power, but under the Red Moon’s sway, they seemed to forget fear, charging blindly.
In this process, their numerical advantage began to show.
The endless waves of Orcs became a growing burden even for the sturdy Wood Golems.
Their sharp swords and axes relentlessly battered the Golems’ solid armor.
Thud! Crack! Smash! Bang!
The sound of wood and metal clashing rang out ceaselessly.
Even the toughest armor would eventually crack under dozens or hundreds of relentless blows.
Just then, the massive Stone Golems arrived, their heavy footsteps resounding.
Advancing steadily, they formed a living wall, shielding the Wood Golems.
Unarmed, their stone bodies were destructive weapons in themselves.
They barreled into the charging Orcs or swung their massive arms, sending them flying.
Crunch! Snap!
Bones shattered with horrific sounds as Orc bodies broke apart.
Those struck head-on by the Stone Golems were often crushed beyond recognition.
Some Orcs exploited the Stone Golems’ slow movements, darting around to target their ankles.
But the stone ankles didn’t break easily. Instead, the failed attackers were trampled mercilessly, vanishing without a trace.
The battlefield was a gruesome slaughterhouse.
Orc blood, splintered wood, and shattered stone littered the ground, staining it crimson.
The Wood Golems held their formation steadfastly, fulfilling their roles, while the Stone Golems excelled as both shields and devastating weapons.
Despite the overwhelming numerical disadvantage, the Golems’ superior organization and strength gradually overpowered the Red Moon-crazed Orcs.
Sang-woong breathed heavily through clenched lips, his resolute gaze fixed on the charging Orc horde.
The stench of hundreds of Orcs and their deafening roars filled the battlefield, but all he heard was his own pounding heartbeat.
Raising his sword high, he charged toward the Orc King with Aria and Leon, his momentum unstoppable.
The first Orc swung a heavy club, but Sang-woong dodged it like a breeze, his blade flashing to sever the Orc’s thick neck.
Blood sprayed onto his face, but he didn’t flinch, swinging at the next Orc.
As two more attacked simultaneously, he danced through their strikes with precision, his blade slicing through their crude armor and flesh like paper.
At his side, the fierce Leon stood firm.
Gone was the usual gentle smile; he bared sharp fangs, growling ferociously.
“GROAR!”
With a mighty roar, Leon pounced on the nearest Orc, his claws piercing its tough armor and his jaws crushing its arm.
The Orc screamed in agony, staggering under the unexpected assault.
Other Orcs charged, but Leon dodged their attacks with agile movements. His massive body spun, his tail whipping like a tornado, knocking Orcs down effortlessly.
Leon was no mere beast.
His fierce determination to protect Sang-woong and battle-honed experience shone in every move.
Guarding Sang-woong’s back, he lunged at any opening, disrupting the Orcs’ attack flow.
Thanks to Leon’s valor, Sang-woong evaded their relentless assaults, calmly cutting down enemies one by one.
Even the frail Aria didn’t stand idle.
Despite the strain of continuous spellcasting, she monitored the battlefield, expertly weaving magic.
Hovering above Sang-woong, she conjured tough vine loops at critical spots, binding the Orcs’ feet or slowing their advance, supporting him in every way.
Sang-woong pressed through the Orc horde relentlessly, his sole target clear.
His blade traced crimson arcs, leaving a trail of fallen Orcs in his wake.
The Red Moon-driven Orcs charged fearlessly, but Sang-woong’s unstoppable momentum rendered their numbers meaningless.
Finally, he stood before the Orc King.
Brandishing a massive horned mace, the Orc King swung with ferocious force, but Sang-woong swiftly dodged, slicing deeply into its thick flank.
The Orc King roared in pain, glaring fiercely, but Sang-woong’s cold, blazing eyes burned even fiercer.
Gathering his last reserves of strength, he raised his sword high.
Like lightning splitting a tree, he struck the Orc King’s grotesque head without hesitation.
BOOM!
With a tremendous crash, the Orc King’s head shattered, its massive body collapsing lifelessly.
As expected, its death transformed the battlefield.
Without their commander, the Orcs descended into chaos, scattering aimlessly.
They were no longer an organized army.
“Now… let the hunt begin,” Sang-woong muttered, eyeing the frenzied Orcs.
As he said, the battle was over; only a one-sided slaughter remained.
Leon led the charge, his suppressed beastly instincts unleashed as he tore through the Orcs with terrifying speed.
Sang-woong followed, his blade carving through fleeing Orcs’ necks mercilessly.
Despite losing their leader, the Orcs resisted desperately, but without organization, their efforts were futile against Sang-woong and Leon’s overwhelming power.
The Wood and Stone Golems, like unleashed beasts, swept through the blood-soaked battlefield.
The Orc numbers dwindled visibly, and as the last one fell, a heavy silence settled over the vast battlefield.
Simultaneously, the crimson Red Moon faded, regaining its usual gentle glow as it vanished into the darkness.
“Haw! HAW HAW HAW!”
The Afua tribe’s triumphant cheers filled the night sky.
Having endured countless losses to ferocious monsters, this victory was an unparalleled moment of joy and emotion.
It wasn’t just a win.
For the Afua tribe, it was as if a new world had opened.
They danced with uncontainable joy, some shedding tears of overwhelming emotion, unable to speak.
Others shouted endless gratitude to Sang-woong.
But he couldn’t celebrate yet.