Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Jared was stunned. “Did you just say…a thousand?”

Ronan nodded with a grave look. “Yes, my lord. With the speed of their march, they will be here before nightfall.”

Jared’s expression darkened. He agreed to come here because of the rewards promised by Baron Nathan. Who would have thought that things were actually so dire?

I shouldn’t have agreed to come here.

He thought bitterly in his heart. Unfortunately for him, it was already too late to retreat. If he left Alverton now, he would definitely be punished by the baron and he would also be labeled as a coward.

“What preparations have you made?” Jared asked while feigning calmness.

“We dug some trenches yesterday. It’s not noticeable since the snow has covered the holes we dug. It should slow them…” Ronan told him about the preparations they made for this defensive battle.

Jared frowned.

It looks like this will be a tough battle.

He sighed in his heart.

While he was inwardly regretting his decision, Ronan’s voice resonated in his ears. “Do you have any instructions, my lord? I will arrange it immediately.”

The Elite Knight shook his head. “Not for now. Be on standby and wait for my commands.”

“Yes, my lord!”

…

Soon, a few hours passed and the sky turned even darker.

“They are here! The orcs are coming!” A scout who was sent out to observe the orc army shouted as he headed toward the western gate on his horse.

His words was like a bomb that awakened the warriors.

Everyone immediately gathered atop the walls, looking over in the distance with solemn faces.

At this moment, Jared narrowed his eyes. With his enhanced vision, he saw a large number of shadows within the woods.

“Archers! Be ready! Enemies are coming!” He shouted while keeping an eye on the woods.

The archers tightened their grip upon hearing his commands. They didn’t have his powerful vision so they still couldn’t see the approaching orcs.

It was then that a loud horn resounded from the forest.

The warriors were startled by this abrupt noise and some even unconsciously grabbed their weapons.

Roar! Roar!

Roar! Roar!

In the next moment, the orc warriors finally came into view. Their large statures and fearsome roars intimidated the town guards. Even the seasoned warriors under Jared Paxley were alarmed.

“Archers! Nock your arrows!” Jared shouted at the panicked warriors.

The archers immediately placed an arrow into their bowstring, ready to aim at his signal. Some men took some time to nock their arrows because of the intense shaking of their arms caused by their nervousness.

No one laughed at them since they all felt the same.

“Aim!” Jared shouted once more as the orc army approached.

The archers lifted their bows while pulling the bowstring to the limits.

When the orc army crossed the archers’ range, Jared shouted. “Release your arrows! Continue shooting your arrows!”

“Cavalry, prepare to charge with me! Don’t let them enter the town!” Jared jumped down the wall and climbed on his horse.

The arrows rained down from the sky, hitting some unlucky orc warriors.

Suu! Suu! Suu! Suu!

Suu! Suu! Suu! Suu!

A few orcs fell and died after being shot in the head, but most of them survived the first wave of arrows.

Roar! Roar!

Roar! Roar!

The orc warriors roared furious at the death of their brethren. They charged recklessly, fearless of the approaching arrows.

Suu! Suu! Suu!

More orcs fell under the heavy barrage of arrows, but they didn’t retreat. The death of their comrades only made them even more enraged.

Fueled by anger, the orc warriors sped up their charge.

Meanwhile, inside the town, Jared pulled his sword and shouted. “Open the gates!”

As soon as he gave the command, the warriors opened the gates, while the cavalrymen pulled their weapons.

Jared took a deep breath.

Please guide me, Aru!

In that instant, his eyes flashed with ferocity as he pointed his sword forward.

“Charge!”

He squeezed his legs, urging his horse to move forward.

The cavalrymen immediately followed him, roaring at the top of their lungs to shake off their fears.

The archers stopped firing their arrows the moment the cavalrymen stepped out of the town.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The fearsome clash between both sides finally erupted.

The momentum of the cavalrymen crushed the scattered orc warriors, killing dozens in the blink of an eye.

However, their speed slowed down as more orc warriors appeared.

To prevent his soldiers from being surrounded, Jared employed a hit-and-run tactic.

More orc warriors died under their hands, but some cavalrymen also fell.

It’s not looking good for us! There are too many of them!

Jared’s expression abruptly changed upon seeing the unfortunate ending of some cavalrymen.

“Don’t slow down! Keep up with me!” He shouted at the faltering warriors.

“Yes, my lord!”

Suddenly, a loud ‘boom’ echoed from behind them.

Boom!

Jared turned his head and saw a large orc about twice the size of a normal orc warrior.

Its left chest was covered in strange black tattoos and it had horns on either side of its head.

An Orc General!

Jared’s eyes widened at the sight of this towering monster.

It was a Fatal-grade monster nearing the realms of the Disaster-grade! Its power was comparable to that of Elite Knights, making it one of the most fearsome beasts among the orcs.

The Orc General brandished its weapon, an incredibly huge two-handed axe.

Whoosh!

Boom!

One unlucky cavalry rider was crushed into meat paste and even his horse was cut in half!

Despair flashed in everyone’s eyes when they saw this scene.

It was a monster that no ordinary warrior could hope to defeat.

“Don’t move away from our formation!” Jared shouted as he pulled the reins, instructing his horse to turn around.

“My lord, what are you doing?!” Ronan was surprised when he saw this.

With a grim smile, Jared uttered. “I have to block that thing. You guys go first! I will follow soon!”

The cavalrymen hesitated, but when they saw his stern face, they immediately squeezed their legs and prompted their horses to move faster.

“Be careful, my lord!” Ronan muttered before he left with the rest.

After they left, Jared eyed the Orc General and bellowed. “Come at me!”