Rise of the Horde

Chapter 352 Chapter 352

It was almost the fourth night after receiving the order of the duke for a full retreat. Commander Trakaros rode beside their leader to make a report. A trace of alarm could be seen on his face which was further highlighted by the few rays of the setting sun.

"The rear-guards suffered casualties again?" the duke was already aware of what was happening on the tail end of his army. Although, his army was suffering casualties on a nightly basis, courtesy of their foes who were trying to annoy them and goad them into a full battle.? A hundred soldiers every night seemed to be a good trade if he can drag the king and his army to the war. His plan of rising to the throne would only work if he could exhaust the military power of the current king.

'No your Grace…The entire rear-guard vanished." General Trakaros also can't believe what he had seen. Thousands of soldiers just vanished last night and they didn't notice it. If he didn't went and check on them, they wouldn't have even known about it.

Shocked was written all over the face of the duke. Just like Trakaros, he was also in disbelief that the entirety of the rear-guard just disappeared.

"Prepare to make camp…" he commanded then with his trusted commander and his personal guards by his side, he headed towards the tail end of his army.

Upon arriving at the rearmost of his army. It was as what Trakaros had reported, the entire rear-guard was missing. Orders soon were sent out to investigate what happened. Soldiers were being called to serve as scouts to find out what happened to the missing rear-guard but no one volunteered because of fright. If the entirety of their rear-guard could be wiped out silently by their foes, then what more can a few of them can do against their foes.

Since no one was volunteering to do the investigation, Trakaros assigned a few fellows to be the one to do the task. The faces of those who weren't chosen were that of relief while those who were unluckily chosen by him had resignation written all over their face. They were very much aware that disobedience would certainly mean their death which is why they'd rather choose to act upon the task given unto them or act like they were acting upon it where they might survive or find a way to survive.

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"It seems that we have caught their attention…" Khao'khen commented after seeing that the enemy army halted and started erecting some defences around the place where they stop. Their action of silently dispatching the entire rear-guard of their foe was no easy feat as they needed the assistance and cooperation of the ogres along with the help of the two cavalries of the horde and the shamans.

"Tell the Verakhs to prepare and infiltrate the enemy camp… Same objectives like before… Destroy their supplies and cause chaos." The chieftain of the Yohan tribe commanded then headed back towards their camp which was not far away from the place where the duke and his army set their camp. Following after Khao'khen was the Warghen Cavalry and the Cavalry of their allies along with their highest commander, Cledus. All the three chiefs of the Yohan First Horde were also around.

Sakh'arran, Grogus and Trot'thar came to take a look at the setup of the enemy camp since they would be one leading the assault troops that will distract the enemy army in order for the Verakhs to have a higher chance of infiltrating the enemy camp.

It was close to midnight and the soldiers of the duke were very thankful that they were finally able to have some proper rest. More than two days of no sleep took a lot of toll on their body and their sanity. Almost everyone was already peacefully in their very own dreamlands when the sound of alarm from the sentries kept coming.

"Enemy army spotted!"

"Prepare for combat!"

Shouts of alarm resounded throughout the camp and the soldiers quickly dragged their bodies away from the comfort of their beds or if you can call the ground a bed. Tired and still wanting to go to sleep, the soldiers of the duke line themselves up sloppily.

"Wake up you idiots! The enemy is almost upon us!" General Trakaros shouted in annoyance after hearing the sound of snore from someone among the troops that were lined up in front of him. Although he could understand their situation, such recklessness would cause them their lives.

All the warbands of the Yohan First Horde participated in the assault and even the Troll Skirmishers were also participating. Khao'khen's warriors had two paths to take, if the enemy breaks easily then they would launch a full assault but if they will mount a stalwart defense then they would retreat and the Verakhs would do what they were supposed to do.

The orcish warriors had no plans of launching an unexpected attack, not that they plan to for the night. A half kilometre away from the enemy camp, the orcish warbands halted in their advance and began shouting their battlecries to alert their foes and awaken them. All sorts of noise were coming from the battle formation of the orcs as they waited for their enemy to form their own battle formations.

Since their foes erected a camp, they can no longer refuse their call for battle less they want to abandon all their supplies and belongings and continue on their path of retreat which was very unlikely.

Under the stern gaze and roaring voice of Trakaros, the half sleep soldiers dragged their bodies for battle. The booming voice of their commander seemed to have scared their drowsiness away.

Commander Trakaros and the soldiers under his command were having a hard time to locate the exact positioning of their foes due to darkness but it seemed that their foes had no intentions of making use of their advantage during the night as they continued to roar with their battle cries.

Trakaros wanted to thank their foes for their idiocy of giving up their advantage.

"Shield infantry up front! Ready your shield!"

"Spears at the ready!"

"Prepare to reinforce the frontlines!"

Orders came out from the mouth of Trakaros one after the other. He was apprehensive of the enemy army since he was yet to figure out the enemy composition. Breathing out heavily, he was trying his best to have vision of the enemy army but alas, the darkness was not his friend and he was still yet to see the frontline of the enemy.