Free Web NovelChapter 201: Chapter 174: Beastmen’s Roar
"What are those things?" Bo Yang asked, feeling a surge of shock as he stared at the dozens of behemoths in the distance.
This was the first time Bo Yang had ever seen these beasts of war on a battlefield—literal, living beasts of war.
Their bodies were nearly five to six meters tall, and a dozen or so Beastmen sat on their backs, pounding on large drums.
Even from miles away, the sound was still thunderous when it reached Bo Yang’s ears.
"Kodo Beasts. Standard issue for the Beastmen. Don’t worry," Robson said.
Robson had recently learned all this from the book Prince Noah had given him.
While reaching the Golden Tier didn’t provide a terrifying memory boost, it was important to remember that Robson was also a Mage.
Since he had been unable to reach the Golden Eighth Tier or an even higher level in a short time, Robson had turned his focus to Magic. Through Lord Robson’s unceasing efforts, he had now reached the level of a Fifth-rank Mage and wasn’t far from the sixth rank.
The main issue was that Robson was accustomed to killing with his battle aura and rarely used Magic. Less use meant less experience. At his current pace of cultivation alone, it would likely take another two or three years to reach the next rank.
Of course, this pace was still astonishing by the standards of the entire Human World. After all, Mages were different from Knights; it was the difference between a scholar and a soldier.
A Knight’s battle aura required excellent physical conditioning and an indomitable, forward-charging spirit in battle.
Mages, on the other hand, needed years of accumulated knowledge and had to be able to calm their minds at any moment. This was the fundamental difference between the two paths.
"Notify Magic Crystal Cannon Teams One and Two. The moment the Kodo Beasts enter firing range, open fire," Robson commanded.
Kodo Beasts were little more than window dressing. With targets that large, it would only take a few cannon shots for Robson to teach them a lesson.
The only thing he worried about now was the enemy’s Extraordinary Team, which had yet to reveal itself.
According to previous reconnaissance, this army’s Extraordinary Corps numbered as high as one thousand. Including their Officers, the total could possibly be one or even two thousand.
And right now, Robson had a mere eight hundred Extraordinary fighters under his command—and that was only after including the unruly nobles from Thermopylae.
The number Robson could actually mobilize was around seven hundred and fifty. This included Valentino’s Fengman Knight Order, some of the nobles who had followed him from Sirich City, and Prince Noah’s Royal Guard Knight Order.
Prince Noah had been quite generous. He kept only two Personal Guard Knights for his own protection, entrusting the rest to Robson. This group had an average strength of the Silver Tier, with the weakest being at least Bronze Third Tier; they were by no means a weak force.
Unfortunately, the enemy Officers were far too cautious, giving Robson no opportunity to exploit an opening.
’If those Extraordinary fighters revealed themselves now, I could give them a proper greeting with the Magic Crystal Cannons and let them witness the beauty of art.’
’However, based on my understanding of the Beastmen, they’re sure to initiate a war charge soon. Once they use that power, they won’t be able to hide even if they want to. After all, the difference between Extraordinary Beastmen and Mortal Beastmen is obvious during a war charge. That’s common knowledge on the continent.’
’They wouldn’t just skip the war cry to hide their Extraordinary Beastmen, would they?’
’That would be a scenario I’d be happy to see.’
....
"ROAR! Long live the Empire! Charge!"
As the Beastman Corps drew ever closer to Thermopylae, Wood, the captain of the Extraordinary Team at the very front, raised his battle-ax and let out a furious roar.
With Wood’s roar, his eyes instantly turned blood-red. Of course, unlike Gnolls or werewolves, the Beastmen’s war cry doesn’t make them lose their intelligence!
In other words, they could continue to fight while remaining completely lucid.
This was why, in the historic struggles against ancient foreign races and the Dwarves, the other Beastman Tribes had been driven east of the Demon Beast Mountain Range. They were forced to eke out a living in the Central Desert, where Magic Power was chaotic, while the Purple-blooded Beastmen alone managed to establish a vast Beastman Kingdom.
"For His Majesty! May His Majesty Kemal share eternity with our God!" Wood roared again. He then unleashed his Silver Sixth Tier Extraordinary talent, and in an instant, the Beastman Standard Armor he wore was torn in two.
"For His Majesty! May our King share eternity with our God!"
Following Wood’s roar, the Extraordinary Beastmen around him all revealed their power. Suddenly, their numbers were clear—a staggering four hundred of them!
Griff had actually placed the Beastman Extraordinary Corps at the very front of the army! This was a do-or-die position, one with absolutely no path for retreat!
It seemed the Beastmen were truly getting desperate; their desire for a swift battle was plain to see.
"For His Majesty! For our God!"
Following the unified roar of the Extraordinary Beastmen, the Mortal Beastman Soldiers also roared toward the heavens.
An earthy-yellow dust began to spread throughout the Beastman Military Array; their Extraordinary Priests were casting Magic. Although the Beastman war charge was an innate-type skill, much like the Gnolls’ killing mist...
...for the Beastman Race as a whole, this talent was not congenital but acquired. Legend told that it was a special gift from the Beast God, bestowed upon the Purple-blooded Beastmen for their outstanding performance in ages past.
The truth of this legend was debatable, but to maximize the effect of the war charge, the blessing of a Beastman Priest was essential.
The Beast Emperor’s authority might have been wavering among the high command of the Beastman Empire—after all, they all understood Kemal’s true capabilities and the real situation within the Empire. But among the rank and file, his authority was absolute.
The vast majority of Beastman Soldiers still remembered the Beast Emperor from the era when he had led them south to plunder and feast. They remembered how he had covered the army’s retreat, even when facing the shameless humans who ganged up on them.
It had to be said that while Kemal might not have a good grasp on the affairs of the Beastman Empire, he was a master at unifying the factions within the Beastman Royal Family.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
As the Warriors of the Beastman Empire began their fearless charge, they had already crossed the one-mile warning line for the Magic Crystal Cannons.
With just a little training, the Magic Crystal Cannons could accurately strike targets within a mile.
At that moment, the sound of Magic Crystal Cannons firing rose one after another from all directions within Thermopylae. Energy Balls streaked across the sky, their light not blindingly bright in the daytime sun.
Though they weren’t blinding, Wood had no doubt about the destructive power held within the massive, magic-formed Energy Bodies inside those Energy Balls.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Before Wood could react, the sound of three more cannon blasts echoed from the west, followed by more from the east, and then the west again.
The roar of the Magic Crystal Cannons was incessant.
’So many!’
Wood looked to the sky. Nearly twenty blue Energy Balls already hung in the air, and the sound of cannon fire from Thermopylae continued unabated.
’How can there be so many?!’
This thought wasn’t Wood’s alone; many Beastman Officers were thinking the same thing. Over twenty blue Energy Balls formed a pale blue screen, eclipsing the golden sun. It was as if more than twenty small, pale blue suns had risen in the sky, simultaneously blending in and standing out.
BOOM!
The first shot from a Magic Crystal Cannon landed, followed by a continuous, overlapping series of explosions.
"Divine punishment! This is nothing short of divine punishment!"
Wood didn’t know who had shouted that, but he had to admit they had a point.
....
"ROAR!"
Wood could no longer tell how many Magic Crystal Cannons the enemy had fired; the entire world had dissolved into a deafening roar. But he had no time to dwell on it. He shouldered a long siege ladder and, with a roar of his own, charged toward the human castle.
The Extraordinary Beastman Soldiers around Wood did the same. Their speed was so great it actually surpassed that of the falling cannon shots—this was the terrifying power of the Beastman Infantry Corps.
Suddenly, Wood faltered for a moment. He tilted his head to the sky, alarm bells screaming in his mind.
’How is this possible?’ Wood was stunned. ’I initiated the war charge right at the cannons’ warning line. The distance was perfect; by the time the Beastman Soldiers reached the walls of Thermopylae, I’d be able to unleash my maximum power.’
’Secondly, it was to evade the human’s Magic Crystal Cannons. They take time to reload. Empowered by the war charge, and with the inherent strength of an Extraordinary Beastman, covering that one-mile distance would only take us three to four minutes.’
’Once the humans fired their first volley, they wouldn’t get another chance to threaten the Extraordinary Beastman Infantry with their cannons. But these shots... they’re clearly aimed right at us!’
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
