Awooooo⎯⎯!
The wolf tribe's beast warriors leaped beyond the bushes, emitting long howls.
Green magical beasts spewing fire from their mouths appeared. The beast warriors who charged together thrust their iron spears into the bodies of the magical beasts.
The magical beasts, with their backs to the bushes, were helplessly defeated, pierced by the spears of the suddenly appearing beast warriors.
"The beast-people have finally arrived!"
"Waaaah!"
As the beast warriors launched a surprise attack on the rear of the magical beasts, the Dwarves fighting them head-on cheered.
They had been holding off the magical beasts' offensive by relying on barriers and fortifications, but were reaching their limits.
Thanks to the beast warriors who arrived just in time to divert the magical beasts' attention, they could finally catch their breath.
"Defeat these filthy magical beasts!"
Lexil shouted as he swung his halberd widely. The heavy axe blade cut through the air threateningly with a whooshing sound. An Orc's head was smashed, and Goblins were swept away in droves.
The beast warriors began to push back the magical beasts in a coordinated effort. Though the Orcs spewed fire from their mouths, the warriors didn't even blink, instead thrusting their spear tips into those very mouths.
Screeeech!
Goblins, similar in size to Dwarves, charged in groups. The beast warriors pressed their backs against each other and shook off the Goblins.
As they wielded short axes and clubs from their waists, the Goblins fell one after another.
"Now's our chance! Drive out the magical beasts!"
"Quickly, bring the arrows!"
The Dwarves shouted. They countered the magical beasts by firing crossbows continuously. The Dwarves' crossbows had precise aiming devices, so they rarely missed the beast warriors.
Thanks to the wolf beast warriors' efforts, the Dwarves, who had briefly regrouped, released arrows with considerable ferocity.
The magical beasts were unable to overcome the Dwarves' barriers and fortifications and had no choice but to retreat.
But the battle wasn't over yet. The magical beasts were still numerous, so they had enough strength to counterattack against the joint assault of the Dwarves and beast-people from front and rear.
Grooooar!
Under the leadership of exceptionally large Orcs, the magical beasts launched a counterattack.
Several Orcs broke through the Dwarves' rain of arrows while letting out terrible roars. At the same time, other Orcs spewed streams of fire with all their might, hindering the beast warriors' approach.
As hot flames erupted, the beast warriors instinctively had to hesitate. During this pause, the magical beasts tried to overcome the Dwarves' barriers and fortifications.
"Hold on! Hold on with your life! If we endure this crisis, we'll be fine!"
The Dwarves gritted their teeth and exerted every ounce of strength. As they somehow endured the magical beasts' counterattack, beast warriors from various tribes arrived one after another and joined the battle.
Beast warriors from various tribes with animal ears and tails bravely leaped over the flames. They growled with sharp teeth and struck with axes and metal clubs.
The magical beasts, ultimately unable to overcome the Dwarves' barriers and fortifications, were now completely in crisis.
In front, the Dwarves poured down arrows, and behind, the beast warriors rampaged fiercely. The magical beasts died, struggling desperately.
'They truly are beasts. Like swift and fierce predators.'
Xu Xin inwardly admired the beast warriors' performance as he watched.
He was observing from a distance without joining the fight. The beast warriors were so well-coordinated that he felt he would only interfere if he joined in.
'The Dwarves don't know me, so if I stand among them, I might get hit by arrows.'
For this reason, Xu Xin quietly observed the situation without rashly stepping forward.
One-on-one formal combat and chaotic many-against-many battles were completely different in nature.
He had no experience with such chaotic battles throughout his previous and current lives. So it was quite unfamiliar, but he could vaguely discern the situation.
'The beast-people and Dwarves have already gained the upper hand. If they maintain this momentum, they'll win easily.'
But just as Xu Xin was optimistically assessing the situation, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
※※※
Grooooar!
An exceptionally large Orc, as if making a final struggle, charged toward the Dwarves' fortifications.
The creature cleverly used Goblins as shields to block the Dwarves' rain of arrows as it advanced. Then it spewed fire with all its might.
The fortification was half-burned by the flames it spewed, and several Dwarves turned into charcoal.
Groooar...
The creature, with arrows stuck all over its body like a porcupine, smiled, revealing hideous protruding teeth. Its pale massive body, having lost too much blood, leaned across the half-burned collapsing fortification.
And at that very moment, the flames burning from the remnants of the fortification suddenly engulfed the creature and began to shoot high into the sky.
Everyone momentarily stopped fighting as the flames surged ominously.
The beast warriors and Dwarves looked at the flames with disbelieving expressions. In contrast, the magical beasts trembled with joy, not knowing what to do with themselves.
The flames that engulfed the Orc gradually subsided. From within the flames, an Orc that had grown incomparably larger walked out.
KWAAAAAAAA!
A roar of terrifying volume exploded throughout the area. The beast warriors and Dwarves staggered, covering their ears with their hands.
"Did it transform into an Ogre after sacrificing the Dwarves..."
Someone muttered with a grim expression.
KWAAAA! KWAAAAA!
The Ogre, letting out consecutive jubilant roars, looked down at the Dwarves' barriers and fortifications with its newly enlarged height.
Streams of bright red flames spewed from the Ogre's mouth. The tremendous heat created shimmering air.
In the blink of an eye, the burned barriers and fortifications collapsed. The Dwarves inside became ashes without even having time to scream.
After contentedly observing the horrific scene, the Ogre turned its head. Its gaze swept over the beast warriors. Instinctively intimidated, the beast warriors lowered their ears and tails.
"Throw your spears!"
Amidst everyone's dismay, Lexil, the wolf tribe chief, was the only one who didn't lose courage and shouted.
As he let out a long wolf howl, the beast warriors who had lowered their tails in fear suddenly came to their senses. As if ashamed of lowering their tails before even fighting, the beast warriors blushed.
Soon after, led by Lexil, the beast warriors began throwing their spears.
The Ogre responded to the beast warriors' throwing spears by spewing fire. The spears that were flying through the air melted in its flames. However, a few spears broke through the flames and lodged in its body.
The Ogre's ugly face contorted wildly. The metal skewers thrown with all might by the beast warriors couldn't be deflected even by the Ogre's thick hide.
With iron spears stuck in various parts of its body, it glared at Lexil, the wolf tribe chief.
Such skewers couldn't cut the Ogre's tough lifeline, but pain was another matter. After pulling out the iron spears stuck all over its body, it howled with hatred and resentment.
Eventually, it charged toward Lexil.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Ogre's massive body shook the earth. Deep, large footprints were stamped into the ground.
"Run, run away. Everyone run...!"
The beast warriors scattered, screaming in panic. It was a charge that they could never stop with their strength.
But Lexil couldn't flee like the other warriors. The Ogre was charging directly at him, so if he ran and mixed with the other warriors, it would only increase casualties.
'When it gets right in front of me, I need to quickly throw myself sideways to dodge.'
Lexil made a cool-headed judgment.
"Father!"
"Dad!"
"Brother!"