485  Chapter 485

    Deramis, his face streaked with grime and sweat, scanned the battlefield. The crimson tide of Threian blood was a grim testament to the failing defense. To his left, the remnants of the Threian Infantry, once a proud shield, were crumbling under the relentless advance of the orcish horde.

    Their once-bright armor was now dull with blood and mud, their formations shattered, their organized ranks reduced to desperate pockets of resistance. To his right, the situation was no better. The other supporting troops, renowned for their unwavering loyalty and martial prowess, were fighting a desperate repelling action, their disciplined lines wavering under the sheer weight of the orcish onslaught.

    The orcs, unlike any he''d encountered before, were a terrifying sight. Their uniforms, a stark contrast to the chaotic appearance of typical orcish warbands, were surprisingly uniform – dark, greyscale armor adorned with crude but effective symbols.

    Their discipline was unnerving; they moved as a single, monstrous entity, their advance unwavering, their attacks precise and brutal. This was not the disorganized savagery of a typical orcish raid; this was a calculated, systematic slaughter. They wielded uniformed, and effective, weaponry – blades that cleaved through armor like butter, spears that found their marks with chilling accuracy, and surprisingly well-crafted shields that deflected even the most powerful blows.

    Deramis''s own men, the seasoned Threian Marksmen, fought with courage born of years of training and countless battles. But against this meticulously disciplined force, their famed "boomsticks", typically devastating at range, proved inadequate. No?v(el)B\\jnn

    The orcs closed the distance with terrifying speed, their superior strength and resilience overwhelming the Threian soldiers. The "boomsticks", reduced to mere clubs in close quarters combat, were little match for the orcs'' brutal weaponry. The clash of iron, the sickening thud of the smashed fallen, and the agonizing cries of the wounded filled the air, a symphony of death that resonated with chilling effectiveness.

    The order to retreat was a desperate gamble, a last-ditch effort to salvage what remained of the army. The sight of his men, exhausted and bloodied, falling back in disarray was a bitter pill to swallow. Deramis''s heart ached with the loss of his comrades, the faces of the fallen blurring into a grim panorama of destruction.

    14:18

    The Yohan First Horde, under Sakh''arran''s command , was a brutal spearhead piercing the Threian lines. They were a force of nature, a torrent of iron and rage. Their movement, while undeniably brutal, displayed a surprising degree of organization. They were not without losses, but they pressed forward with relentless aggression, pushing through any resistance with cold efficiency.

    The Rock Bear and the Black Tree tribes, normally notorious for their undisciplined ferocity, also exhibited a level of control that surprised even Deramis. Their training, though undoubtedly harsh, had yielded results.

    The chaos of battle was tempered by a surprising degree of tactical awareness, their movements coordinated in a way that hinted at rigorous drilling. While their savagery was undiminished, it was now focused, channeled into an effective killing machine.

    The rhythmic cadence of their march, once a testament to their discipline and training, was now ragged and uneven. Many limped, their injuries both visible and hidden beneath tattered tunics. Some supported their wounded comrades, their faces grim with the burden of their duty and the weight of their losses.

    The terrain was unforgiving. Loose scree threatened to send them tumbling into the abyss below, while jagged rocks clawed at their already worn-out boots and armor. The flickering light of the setting sun cast long, distorted shadows, giving the already menacing landscape an even more ominous feel. The oppressive darkness of the chasm pressed in on them, a tangible representation of the despair that threatened to engulf them.

    Deramis knew that their escape was far from certain. The orcish pursuit was inevitable. The sounds of their guttural shouts and the clash of their weapons, though still distant, provided a chilling soundtrack to their desperate flight. Every rustle of the wind, every snapping twig, set their hearts racing, heightening their already frayed nerves.

    He considered his options, his mind racing. There was no time for rest, no opportunity for regrouping. They could not afford to slow down; every moment was a battle against time and the relentless advance of their pursuers. His gaze drifted to the soldiers trailing behind him, each one a reminder of the heavy price they had already paid.

    The weight of command pressed down on him, a crushing burden. He had vowed to bring them home, to protect them from the horrors of war, but now he could only offer the fragile hope of survival. He had to be strong; he had to maintain his composure, to inspire them, even in this darkest hour. He had to be the shield between them and the brutal reality of their impending doom.

    As darkness enveloped the Narrow Pass, casting an impenetrable cloak over their surroundings, a fresh wave of dread washed over Deramis. The distant sounds of pursuit were growing louder, closer. The relentless pursuit, like a predator stalking its prey, added another layer of tension to their precarious situation.

    He clenched his jaw, his resolve hardening. There would be no surrender. They would fight to the last breath, to buy whatever meager chance of survival remained. They were soldiers, and they had to remain resolute, their backs against the wall, and their minds set on their goals even when the situation seemed hopeless.

    The narrow passage offered little room for maneuvering; their retreat became a grim struggle against the unforgiving terrain and the relentless pursuit of their enemies. The sounds of their approaching pursuers were now a constant, agonizing reminder of their impending fate. Their hopes seemed to diminish with each passing moment.

    Deramis felt a tightening in his chest, a combination of exhaustion and dread. He glanced at the faces of his men—faces etched with fear, pain, and grim determination.

    He knew that they were nearing a point of no return, and that the end of the line was not far ahead. Yet, he could not allow himself to falter, not yet. He had to hold on, for their sake, and lead them through the inevitable trial that awaited them.

    The weight of his duty, the responsibility for their lives, was a heavy burden, a heavy responsibility to bear in the face of the darkness that surrounded them, a darkness that was both literal and figurative. His only solace was in his hope for survival, even if it seemed like a faint and distant star in the darkness of their predicament.