Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Ogre Chieftain

That afternoon, a ”well-equipped” merchant caravan, led by Kaine, the Knight Commander of the Red Maple Knights, slowly made its way toward the Red Maple Forest.

It was called a merchant caravan, but in reality, every guard was robust and well-built, their gazes sharp, and the weapons at their waists were of a much higher caliber than those of ordinary caravan guards.

Knight Kaine wore an inconspicuous suit of Leather Armor and rode a common brown horse, blending in with the middle of the procession.

If this were a battle between two armies in the Human World, such a simple disguise would most likely be seen through. But against creatures like Ogres, it was more than enough.

”Commander Kaine, do you really think those idiots will fall for it?”

A young Knight lowered his voice and sidled up to Kaine.

He tried his best to look like a seasoned guard, but the eager look in his eyes gave him away.

Kaine stared straight ahead.

”Ogres are greedy and violent by nature. When they see a ’fat sheep’ like us, there’s no way they won’t take a bite. Stay sharp and stick to the plan.”

The procession advanced into a narrow valley, flanked by dense woods.

Suddenly, a nauseating, foul wind swept through, and a few savage roars echoed from the forest.

”They’re here!” Kaine barked.

A dozen or so Ogres wielding crude Stone Axes and wooden clubs swarmed out of the woods, drooling as they charged straight for the ”caravan.”

These Ogres had filthy, grayish-green skin, and their eyes gleamed with a cruel light.

”Protect the goods!”

Kaine shouted, drew the Knight’s Longsword from his waist, and charged forward to meet them.

The ”guards” behind him also drew their weapons and formed a defensive line with practiced discipline.

Without Kaine exerting much effort, the Knights he led easily defeated the small Ogre squad, forcing them to flee.

They didn’t give chase. These fleeing Ogres would soon report the details of the human caravan to the Ogre Chieftain.

Sure enough, less than fifteen minutes later, the ground began to tremble slightly, and the sound of heavier, more frenzied footsteps echoed from the woods.

”Everyone, be careful! The big one’s coming!”

An experienced Knight growled, tightening his grip on the Giant Axe in his hands.

An Ogre, far taller than its kin and wielding an enormous Wolf Fang Club, was the first to charge out of the woods.

Its body was a mass of gnarled muscle, and it radiated a ferocious aura. It was the Ogre Chieftain.

Behind it followed more than thirty elite Ogre warriors, each with eyes glowing red, clearly ready for a major fight.

”ROAR!”

The Ogre Chieftain let out a deafening roar, as if enraged by the incompetence of its subordinates.

It locked its eyes on Kaine at a glance, clearly identifying him as the leader of the ”caravan.”

”Now! Signal!” Kaine yelled.

A shrill Magic Whistle Arrow shot into the sky, exploding in a brilliant burst of red smoke.

”Kill them!”

In an instant, battle cries erupted from the dense forests on both sides of the valley.

The Red Maple Knights and the ”Nu Rock” Mercenary Corps charged out from their ambush spots like tigers descending a mountain, instantly cutting off and surrounding the Ogre troop.

”Haha, you idiots! Your Grandpa Buck is here!”

Captain Buck led the charge, his Heavy Sword whistling through the air with the force of a hurricane. With every strike carrying immense power, an Ogre that tried to ambush him was sent flying, its life extinguished in mid-air.

Seeing this, the Ogre Chieftain flew into a rage. It abandoned its attack on Kaine and instead roared, charging toward the more threatening-looking Buck.

”Bring it on!”

Instead of retreating, Buck advanced, meeting the Ogre Chieftain in a head-on clash.

”CLANG!”

The Heavy Sword and the Wolf Fang Club collided violently, creating a deafening, piercing sound as sparks flew in all directions.

Buck felt a colossal force travel up his arms, making them go numb. He was forced back half a step, inwardly shocked by the Ogre Chieftain’s brute strength.

”Captain Buck, I’ll help you!”

Knight Kaine flicked his Long Sword, its tip stabbing straight toward the Ogre Chieftain’s flank.

He knew well that Ogres had thick skin and tough flesh, so he specifically targeted its less-defended areas.

Though massive, the Ogre Chieftain’s reactions were not slow. It swung its Wolf Fang Club sideways, batting away Kaine’s thrust.

But the combined assault of two Earth Knights still put it under immense pressure.

Kaine’s attacks were as cunning as a venomous snake, always finding openings in its defense, while Buck’s attacks were wide and powerful, forcing it to split its attention to deal with them.

The Ogre Chieftain possessed limitless strength and was fearless in the face of death. For a moment, it was locked in an inseparable struggle with the two men.

Every swing of the Wolf Fang Club in its hands was accompanied by a whistle of displaced air, and it smashed deep craters into the ground.

However, Kaine and Buck coordinated seamlessly. With one on the offensive and the other providing support, they steadily held the upper hand.

In the heat of battle, Buck spotted an opening. He suddenly dropped into a low stance, dodging a sweeping blow from the Ogre Chieftain’s Wolf Fang Club. At the same time, his Heavy Sword swung in a vicious diagonal arc, ruthlessly slashing into the Ogre Chieftain’s calf.

”CRACK!”

A sharp crack echoed, followed by the Ogre Chieftain’s agonized roar. Buck had actually severed its lower leg with a single strike!

Having lost a leg, the Ogre Chieftain crashed to the ground. A glint flashed in Knight Kaine’s eyes. Seizing the opportunity, his Long Sword became a streak of cold light, plunging precisely into the Ogre Chieftain’s gaping mouth—opened wide from roaring—all the way to the hilt!

The Ogre Chieftain’s massive body stiffened abruptly, then slumped heavily to the ground, falling completely still.

”The Chieftain is dead! The Chieftain is dead!”

Seeing their leader killed, the remaining dozen or so Ogre warriors fell into disarray, shrieking bizarrely as they scattered and fled.

”Don’t even think about escaping!”

Ed, leading the Pegasus Knights, appeared at the edge of the battlefield.

They had been circling the battlefield the entire time, waiting for this very moment.

The Pegasus Knights squeezed their mounts’ flanks with their legs. The Pegasi beneath them let out clear, sharp whinnies and shot forward like streaks of white lightning, chasing after the fleeing Ogres.

The speed of the Pegasus Knights was far beyond what the clumsy Ogres could match, and they quickly caught up to the deserters.

The Knights’ Long Spears glinted coldly in the sunlight. Each precise thrust claimed the life of an Ogre.

In just a few moments, all the Ogres who tried to flee had been cut down.

The scent of blood filled the valley.

Viscount Baker ordered the entire army to rest for a day to recover their strength, take stock of their spoils, and tend to the wounded.

At first light the next day, the morning mist had not yet fully dissipated.

The fully reassembled Allied Army followed the Ogres’ path of retreat straight to their lair.

The Ogre camp, built in a mountain hollow, appeared quite crude.

The perimeter was a crooked fence made of thick logs, with signs of repairs visible in many places.

Behind the fence were a few disorderly hovels. Deeper inside was the entrance to a dark cave, pitch-black, as if it were the gaping maw of a Giant Beast.

”These idiots sure know how to pick a spot.”

Captain Buck grinned and spat on the ground.

Viscount Baker raised his hand to signal. The army quickly formed up outside the camp: Shield-bearers in the front, Archers in the middle, and the remaining cavalry in the rear as reserves.

Several soldiers came forward carrying baskets filled with dark brown clay pots. The mouths of the pots were sealed tightly with oilcloth, and the pungent smell of lamp oil faintly permeated the air.