"A-a-algamors."
One of the miners stuttered while speaking up, caught the attention of Azaworth. Intrigued by the name, he decided to go ahead and ask the miner some questions despite also being afraid of the impending horde.
"What is an Algamor?"
The slave miner snapped out of his fear, but still showed hints of it, and faced Azaworth.
"T-they are beasts that hunt in a pack...and they have a strength that can easily demolish anything in its path, whether it be structures or hardened things."
'Well, that is to be expected since I have probably a higher chance of dying here than making it back...'
"And they are hard to kill, as it usually requires 20 people to kill one of those things. They even ravaged and destroyed my homeland...and I-I....ended up here as a slave."
The miner looked down in sadness and fear, which made Azaworth feel pity for him, but he couldn't say anything with nothing on his mind to comfort him.
It was not until then that a few guard with silver armor drew their horses back. And they galloped towards a few of the caravans to assist the other guards that had lack of guards. To the guards, surprised, the algamor's horde suddenly approached the first few caravans at the back at a fast pace.
One of the guards who protected one of the caravans immediately unsheathed their blade and struck at the algamor. And to Azaworth's surprise, the strike inflicted damage to the Algamor. The blade that the guards had was reflecting light as if it were glass, but it also had a material of something more advanced than iron.
The algamor that got hit grew enraged and suddenly jumped high in the air. In a matter of seconds, it landed on top of the moving caravan and a few guards who were on their horses. Large blood stains were splattered everywhere on the dessert sand.
The scene horrified the slaves in the caravan and including the guards, but they continued moving forward. Azaworth witnessed the sight, and he immediately fell backwards in fear due to the scene. He had never experienced this many deaths before, but this realm was even worse than his world.
Soon, the horde kept coming forward and much faster, and they jumped on each caravan and each guard on the horse, spilling blood stains everywhere on the sand, and they continued charging forward after recovering.
"Fools! Don't charge in blindly by yourself! Even on horses, they'll still be able to target you! Retreat and stay together in groups!"
The higher commanding officer's command was loud and clear to the soldiers, as they began retreating, and some even left the slave caravan to be unattended, causing even more deaths to the slaves.
Azaworth noticed that the guards who rode alongside the caravan, he and the other slaves, began moving out. It was at that moment that he realized that they're gonna be scapegoats to be used against the horde of algamors.
He turned his head and looked at the slaves in the caravan and the children behind him. Despite not having enough education, he at least had some common sense. And he tried to think of a way to avoid being killed.
He looked around his surroundings and noticed that some guards were preparing to leave their caravan. Immediately, an idea appeared in his head and he poked his head out a bit to one of the guards.
'Please work!'
"Hey guards! In here!"
Azaworth's yelling caught the attention of the guard near him, and he rode near the caravan.
"What is it, slave? I'm preparing to head forward, so make this quick!"
Hearing that he had enough time, he opened his mouth.
"Could you and your buddies help out my slave and get them to the caravans in the front so they don't die?"
A surprised look was made on the guard's face.
"No way! Why should I help out slaves?"
Hearing this response, Azaworth replied to the guard.
"Well, what if your group needs slaves at our unknown destination? Do you think they'll accept no slave once you get there?"
After hearing it, the guard thought for a moment. He looked back at the hordes of algamor that were rapidly approaching. After a moment to think, he would sigh.
'"Alright fine, we'll get the slave into the front. But better not do anything suspicious or else we'll drop onto be a feast for them."
Hearing this, Azaworth should sigh a relief and nod at the guards. Afterwards, the guard would leave their side.
"Troops! Get slaves off the caravan that is soon to be destroyed by the algamor's! We can't afford to lose them to the Algamors! And those available, grab your bows and distract the algamor while we get the slaves!"
The command confused the guards, but they decided to comply with it. Azaworth was shocked that the guard he had just communicated his idea to was a commanding officer, as he didn't even notice the crest embedded on the guard's armor until now. Azaworth started feeling a bit prideful that he somehow managed to convince someone of high rank to help all the slaves, including him.
"Woah, kiddo, you managed to get them to save us! Tell you what? Once this is over, I'll tell you a few life survival lessons later, alright?"
Azaworth looked at the elderly slave man, despite being annoyed at him during their first meeting. He would just nod at the old man. It would be very valuable if Azaworth learned a thing or two about this realm to survive and get back. He would also notice Alphiues smiled at him.
Soon after, the guards managed to help each slave from different caravans onto their horses as they rode to the front caravan and placed them on the caravan with support from the caravan wood to avoid falling, and they rode back to repeat. Unfortunately, due to not having enough time, the many caravans that still had remaining slaves inside were crushed by the algamors. But the driver of the caravan managed to flee with the horse, as only the back caravan was destroyed.
Afterwards, the guard on their horses began surrounding the caravan Azaworth was in, and they began transporting one slave at a time on the horses. Azaworth and Alphiues guide the slaves onto the horses one by one. And soon, they managed to get them all in time luckily. Azaworth helped Alphiues up onto the horse and the guard took him to the front. Before long, it was just Azaworth and the elderly slave miner left.
As one of the guards began to help the elderly man slowly, and was almost up onto the horse, suddenly, an algamor jumped in the air and landed on the horse, and the guard and horse were killed. The scene shocked Azaworth and the old man, who fell and moved back a bit in fear. Blood stains were left on the wooden surface of the caravan.
'How?! It wasn't even that clos-'
Suddenly, the algamor that got back up after killing both started charging forward as its speed got quicker, which horrified the old man even more.
'Shit! There are no other guards nearby!'
Azaworth thought to himself as the situation grew even worse than it had been. And it's also impossible to do things by himself as his chain is still tied to the elderly slave man's leg. Both could only watch as the impending doom was soon to kill them.
Another suddenly popped into Azaworth's head, but it is quite stupid to him and could only pray it works.
"Old man! Do what I do on the count of three!"
"What are you talking about-"
The slave elderly turn his head to him but his word were cut off and had no choice but to listen and waited for the countdown.
"Three....Two....One...."
They got ready for the countdown as the algamor suddenly used its mouth and began biting down on the caravan.
"Go!"
The signal was given, and both Azaworth and the old slave rushed and jumped out of the caravan. As they jumped forward, their chains were caught onto the horn of the back of the algamors, and they were stuck on the back of the algamors.
"Azaworth!"
Alphiues called out from the front caravan as he witnessed what happened. Now, Azaworth had to quickly think of another way to get to the front caravan safely with the old slave man.