The first battle was upon them.
Ashar stood at the top of the stronghold, his heart pounding as he watched the Orcs approach in full force. The enemy army stretched across the plains, a terrifying sight of thousands of monstrous figures marching with ruthless precision. The war drums echoed like a heartbeat, thundering in the night air, as if the very earth was shaking beneath their weight.
The stronghold had been built to withstand siege, but Ashar knew that a single breach could spell disaster. His people had worked tirelessly to prepare, reinforcing the walls, setting traps, and ensuring that every soldier knew their role. But the Orcs were not to be underestimated. Their numbers, their brutality, and their ferocity were unmatched.
"Sir, they're almost in range," Karis said, approaching Ashar with a tense expression. "We've got no more time."
Ashar nodded. "We hold the line. They come at us with everything they've got. We stand firm, or we fall together."
***
The first volley of arrows from the Orc archers rang out, cutting through the air like a deadly storm. The men on the walls shouted in warning, and Ashar quickly signaled for the defenders to return fire. The sharp sound of crossbow bolts snapping through the air mixed with the screams of fallen soldiers as the arrows rained down on the stronghold.
Ashar's mind was sharp, his every instinct on alert as he moved through the battlements, giving orders to the commanders stationed there. He could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him, but he pushed it aside. There was no time for doubt. Not now.
"They're breaking through the southern wall!" shouted Darius, running toward Ashar with urgency in his voice. "We need reinforcements!"
Ashar's gaze flickered toward the southern perimeter. The Orcs were coming in waves, their sheer numbers overwhelming the initial defenses. The traps had slowed them, but only for a moment. They were too many.
"Send Karis with the reserve force," Ashar ordered quickly. "Tell her to hold the line at all costs. If they breach that wall, we're done for."
Darius nodded and rushed off to carry out the order.
***
The battle raged on as Ashar fought to keep his forces organized. He moved through the chaos, barking orders, rallying his soldiers, and making sure that every defense was holding. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and blood, the ground slick with mud and gore.
Ashar's sword flashed as he cleaved through an Orc warrior that charged at him. The sheer force of the blow sent the creature sprawling, but he didn't pause. He couldn't afford to. His men needed him.
But even as he fought, his mind was focused on the larger strategy. He knew that the Orcs wouldn't just be attacking—they were testing their strength, probing for weaknesses. The true battle had yet to come. And if Ashar didn't make the right moves, they would lose everything.
The Orcs were pushing forward relentlessly, and Ashar could see the commanders at the front of the Orc army, their figures towering over the rest. They were leading the charge, and Ashar knew that taking them down would break the Orcs' morale.
He turned to Rylah, who had been moving in and out of the fray, directing the archers and crossbowmen with a fierce determination. "Rylah!" he shouted over the din of battle. "I need you to take out the Orc commanders. If we can disrupt their leadership, the rest of them will fall apart."
Rylah nodded, her face grim. "I'm on it, Ashar."
She disappeared into the chaos, moving with a swiftness that was almost unnatural. Ashar trusted her to complete the task. She had proven herself time and time again. But even as he watched her disappear into the fighting, a gnawing fear settled in his chest.
***
As the hours passed, the situation grew direr. The Orcs were pushing them harder than Ashar had anticipated, and despite their best efforts, they were beginning to lose ground. The southern wall had fallen, and the Orcs were flooding into the inner compound. Karis's reserve force had held them for a time, but it wasn't enough.
Ashar gritted his teeth as he saw the walls crumble under the weight of the Orcs' assault. His forces were being overwhelmed, and there was nothing more he could do on the front lines. It was time to use the last resort.
"Rylah!" Ashar shouted again, his voice hoarse from the constant shouting. "Activate the traps on the inner perimeter! We'll draw them into the narrow pass and hit them with everything we've got!"
Rylah appeared next to him in an instant, her eyes narrowed with determination. "The narrow pass? It's a risk, Ashar. The Orcs will be waiting for that move."
"I know," Ashar said, his voice tight with frustration. "But if we don't, we'll lose this fight. We need to force them to retreat. Now."
Rylah nodded, giving a sharp whistle to signal the archers. Within moments, the traps were triggered—hidden pits, spikes, and makeshift barricades sprung to life. The Orcs, already pushed into the narrow passage, found themselves caught in a deadly trap.
The resulting chaos was immediate. Orcs screamed as they fell into pits or collided with walls of sharpened spikes. The archers fired into the confusion, taking down stragglers as they tried to break through. For a moment, the tide seemed to shift.
But the Orcs were not so easily defeated.
***
From the rear of the Orc army, a larger force emerged—reinforcements, led by a towering figure in black armor. Ashar's heart sank as he recognized the leader of the reinforcements. It was Gorn, one of the most feared generals in the Orc army.
Gorn was a beast of a warrior, his body built like a mountain. He wielded a massive war axe that could cleave through the strongest of shields. As he led the reinforcements into the fray, the morale of Ashar's forces began to plummet.
"We can't hold them off much longer," Darius said grimly, appearing at Ashar's side. "Gorn is too powerful. We're losing men by the minute."
Ashar clenched his fists. He had known this moment would come. The Orcs would always have a trump card, and Gorn was theirs. But he couldn't let this be the end. Not after everything they had sacrificed.
"Rylah!" Ashar shouted again, his voice desperate. "We need to take out Gorn. Now!"
Rylah's face hardened as she readied her bow. "I'll need cover. Get your men to hold off the reinforcements for just a few minutes."
Ashar nodded, his mind racing. They didn't have much time. Gorn was a monster of a warrior, and if they didn't take him down, their stronghold would fall, and all their efforts would have been in vain.
***
As Rylah took her position, Ashar turned back to his forces. "We fight for our homes!" he bellowed. "We fight for our future! Push them back!"
With a roar, his soldiers surged forward, launching themselves into the fray with everything they had. Ashar moved with them, his sword cutting through Orc after Orc as he made his way toward Gorn.
The battlefield had become a blur of chaos, but Ashar's eyes were locked on the massive Orc general. Gorn was cutting through his men like they were nothing, but Ashar could see the exhaustion on the beast's face. He was a force of nature, but even he had limits.
"Rylah," Ashar muttered under his breath. "It's now or never."