That afternoon, a "well-equipped" merchant caravan, led by Kane, the Knight Commander of Red Maple Ridge, meandered toward the Red Maple Woods.
Calling it a caravan was a stretch; the guards were all strapping men with sharp gazes, and the weapons at their waists far exceeded the standard for ordinary merchant protection. Knight Kane wore inconspicuous leather armor and rode a common brown horse, blending into the middle of the group. If this were a battle between two human armies, such a rudimentary disguise would likely have been seen through, but for creatures like Ogres, it was more than enough.
"Commander Kane, do you really think those idiots will take the bait?" a young knight whispered, leaning closer to Kane. He was trying his best to look like a veteran guard, but his eager eyes betrayed him.
Kane looked straight ahead. "Ogres are greedy and hot-tempered by nature. Seeing a 'fat sheep' like us, there's no reason they won't take a bite. Stay sharp and follow the plan."
As the caravan entered a narrow valley flanked by dense trees, a nauseating, foul wind suddenly blew, accompanied by crude roars from the woods.
"They're here!" Kane barked softly.
A dozen Ogres clutching crude stone axes and wooden clubs burst from the forest, salivating as they lunged at the "caravan." Their skin was a filthy grayish-green, and their eyes glinted with cruelty.
"Protect the cargo!" Kane shouted, drawing his knight's longsword and charging forward. Behind him, the "guards" bared their weapons, forming a disciplined defensive array.
Without needing much effort, Kane and his knights easily broke the Ogre squad. They did not pursue; these fleeing Ogres would soon bring detailed reports of the human caravan to the Chieftain's ears.
Sure enough, in less than fifteen minutes, the ground began to vibrate slightly. Heavier, more violent footsteps thundered from the forest.
"Steady everyone, the big one is coming!" a veteran knight growled, tightening his grip on a great axe.
An Ogre far taller than its kin, wielding a massive spiked mace, burst out first. Its muscles were knotted and corded, radiating a savage aura—the Ogre Chieftain. Behind it followed thirty elite Ogre warriors, their eyes glowing red, clearly ready for a slaughter.
"ROAR!" The Chieftain let out a deafening howl, seemingly furious at the earlier incompetence of its subordinates. Its eyes locked onto Kane instantly, identifying him as the leader.
"Now! Signal!" Kane shouted.
A whistling magic arrow soared into the sky, exploding into a brilliant cloud of red smoke.
"KILL!"
Instantly, battle cries erupted from the dense woods on both sides of the valley. The Red Maple knights and the "Raging Rock" mercenaries charged out like tigers descending a mountain, instantly cutting the Ogre unit into isolated pockets.
"Haha! Idiots, your Grandpa Buck is here!" Commander Buck led the charge, his heavy sword whistling through the air. Each strike carried a thousand pounds of force; an Ogre attempting a sneak attack was sent flying, dead before it even hit the ground.
Seeing this, the Chieftain was enraged. It abandoned its attack on Kane and charged at Buck, who appeared to be the greater threat.
"Bring it on!" Buck didn't retreat. He met the Chieftain head-on.
CLANG!
The heavy sword and spiked mace collided with a violent crash, sending sparks flying. Buck felt a massive surge of power; his arms went numb, and he was forced back half a step. He was inwardly shocked by the Chieftain's raw brute strength.
"Commander Buck, I've got your back!" Knight Kane flicked his sword, the tip thrusting toward the Chieftain's flank. Knowing the creature had thick hide, he targeted its weak points.
Though massive, the Chieftain was not slow. It swept its mace horizontally, parrying Kane's thrust. However, the combined pressure of two Earth Knights was immense. Kane's attacks were like a venomous snake, always finding openings, while Buck's strikes were wide and powerful, forcing the beast to divide its attention.
The Chieftain was immensely strong and fearless, holding its own against the two for a time. Each swing of its mace whistled through the air, smashing deep craters into the earth. Yet, Kane and Buck worked in perfect harmony—one attacking while the other distracted—firmly maintaining the upper hand.
During the heat of the battle, Buck spotted a gap. He ducked low to avoid a horizontal swing of the mace and swung his heavy sword in a diagonal slash. The blade traced a fierce arc and bit deep into the Chieftain's lower leg.
CRACK!
With a crisp sound followed by an agonizing roar, the Chieftain's leg was severed by Buck's blade! As the massive body crashed to the ground, a light flashed in Kane's eyes. Seizing the opening, his longsword became a streak of cold light, thrusting precisely into the Chieftain's wide-open maw, buried up to the hilt!
The Chieftain's massive frame stiffened and then slumped heavily to the ground, completely motionless.
"The Chieftain is dead! The Chieftain is dead!" The remaining Ogre warriors, seeing their leader slain, fell into chaos and fled in all directions with panicked shrieks.
"Don't let them escape!" Ed and his Pegasus Knights appeared at the edge of the battlefield. They had been circling the area, waiting for this exact moment. They squeezed their mounts' flanks, and the Pegasi let out clear neighs, diving like white lightning toward the fleeing Ogres.
The speed of the Pegasus Knights was far beyond that of the clumsy Ogres. Their lances glinted in the sun, each precise thrust claiming a life. Within moments, every fleeing Ogre had been cut down.
The valley was thick with the scent of blood. Viscount Baker ordered the army to rest for a day to recover strength, tally the spoils, and treat the wounded.
The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke through the thinning mist, the coalition followed the path of the Ogre retreat to their lair. The camp was situated in a mountain hollow, appearing quite crude. The perimeter was a fence made of thick logs, crooked and showing signs of frequent repair. Behind the fence were disorganized shacks, and further in was a deep cave entrance, pitch black like the gaping maw of a giant beast.
"These idiots sure know how to pick a spot," Commander Buck grinned and spat.
Viscount Baker raised his hand. The army quickly deployed outside the camp: shield-bearers in front, archers in the center, and the remaining cavalry in the rear as reserves. Several soldiers stepped forward carrying baskets of dark brown ceramic jars, their mouths tightly plugged with oilcloth. A pungent smell of fire-oil faintly permeated the air.