NOVEL NEXT Chapter 188: Faceoff
Naledi looked at Cat, " You have to go back, please.," Cat turned to her, " No, we're not letting you fight alone."
" We?" Suddenly the others came running from the city. Behind them was an army of over 30 000.
Naledi panicked when she saw them. " Cat please, you have to get everybody out of here now, they'll die."
Cat sighed, " You can be an idiot sometimes you know that?" She took a large gulp from her gourd.
Blue wine that released freezing cold mist poured out. This was her new wine, she called it the cold wine, which was uncreative.
She continued talking. " I know you made it your duty to protect everyone and I know how stubborn you are.
You're willing to lay down your life to fulfil your duty, that's the type of woman you are and I admire that about you.
But did you ask what we want?" Naledi didn't know what to say. " You're their leader, they follow you because they trust you and admire you.
You might not believe this but without you, everything we've built would crumble. So don't you go trying to get yourself killed, that's not helping anyone."
Naledi sighed, " I'm sorry." She had let her fears cloud her mind, she wasn't alone, she never was.
As Alex told her before, if she wanted to create a better world for humans, she will need humans, she couldn't do it by herself.
The others arrived shortly after. " So what the plan boss?" Ndu asked in a deep voice, the big guy rarely spoke.
Naledi smiled at him, " You take care of their army, leave the big red to me." Cathra chimed in, " I thought you said you can't defeat him."
Naledi nodded, " I can't, but I mean no offence by this, you would all be a liability." Cat felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
She hated being weak and helpless, she turned and looked at her friend then smiled bitterly, " A liability huh?"
Suddenly they were disturbed by a deep voice, " Truly surprising, this world might have more to it than we expected. To think it could give birth to so many strong warriors.
However, it's a pity all of you will have to die" he raised his hand and lowered it slowly. " Attack." He ordered his army.
The army behind him moved like a wave. The Xnodals were fewer and weren't fighters so they retreated back.
The orc army, Although outnumbered 30 to one, they were still stronger. Each soldier was at least rank 3 and they had 30 rank 4 warriors.
Ice Lotus City's army on the other hand was composed of mostly rank 1 soldiers with around 6 thousand rank 2 and around 500 rank 3.
They only had 8 rank 4, there was a newly risen rank 4 soldier named Chiko. He broke through during the wave.
Fortunately for him, stabilizing rank 4 is easier and shorter. He was not at full power yet but he can at least use his power unlike Naledi.
However it didn't matter. He was still very weak for a rank 4. General Ndlovu ordered him to stand back and provide support for the army.
They would have to face the orcs themselves even though they were outnumbered by a lot.
Fortunately for them, Orcs were prideful, if not ordered by their superiors, they would never gang up on one opponent.
As a warrior race, that was disgraceful but on the other hand, they were also conquerors, if to fulfil their duty they were willing to.
So war rules were created amongst their people. During a war of conquest, there were no rules.
They could gang up on strong opponents and they can even attack those weaker than them.
However they would rather not if they could help it. The human army did not know this of course.
They expected a full out battle and they were tense. The lower ranked humans were wielding massive mech guns with enough power to threaten a rank 3.
These guns were incredibly heavy so only vessel holders could wield them but even then, it would still take a lot of effort.
The recoil might even hurt a rank 1 vessel holder unless they are the body enhancement type vessel holder.
As the army stood tense with their fingers on the trigger, the orc leader raised his hand and his army stopped. A single orc stood forward. He was massive standing at over 4 metres tall but he was still small amongst the others.
The average orc soldier appeared to be standing and 5 metres tall, though shorter he was more muscular. The warrior orc introduced himself and issued a challenge.
"Any human brave enough to challenge me." The place grew silent, this was not what they had expected.
A few seconds passed, general Ndlovu turned to look at the army. "Is there not one of you brave enough?" His voice was cold.
A single man came forward. He was wielding a spear and dressed in Ibheshu. " I'm Mfundo,I accept your challenge."
Mfundo was a rank 3 warrior as well, he wielded an iron spear. He stood facing the massive orc.
Not even half the giant's size. The orc pulled a massive hammer and dropped it to the ground.
The ground shook but the ice didn't even crack. " Wait." Ogaba stopped the fight before it could start.
He turned to look at Naledi, " I will give your people a chance in respect for you. We will each choose 5 warriors to fight.
If your warriors win more fight than mine, I will take my army and retreat for a day, that will also give you a chance to retreat without worry, do you agree?"
Naledi looked at her army. Although not weak, individually they were weaker than the orcs, the chances of winning here were low.
" Are rank 4's allowed to join?" She asked, placing her hopes on her friends. The orc leader looked around.
Then shook his head, " No, only them." He pointed at the army of rank 3 humans who tensed up when he did.
Naledi sighed, this wasn't fair but she had no cards to play here, they were at a massive disadvantage, she had no choose but to agree.
" Fine, I agree." She looked at her army hopefully, ,' Don't disappoint me.' she said in her head.