Chapter 111: Breach of the Iron Maw
The sky above was perpetually overcast, casting a dreary pall over the battlefield. King Kraggul\'s army had settled into a rhythm of relentless pressure, their strategy clear: wear down the defenders until they could no longer resist.
When Kraggul finally decided the time was right, he gave the signal. His mages, who had been silently working in the background, stepped forward.
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These were no ordinary spellcasters but masters of arcane arts, their robes shimmering with enchanted runes. For two days, they had been meticulously dismantling the magical wards protecting the walls of Iron Maw, unraveling the enchantments thread by thread.
As they took their positions, a hush fell over the battlefield. The mages raised their staffs, and a palpable energy began to gather around them.
The air crackled with anticipation, and even the most battle-hardened warriors felt a shiver of awe and fear. The ground beneath their feet seemed to hum, vibrating with the sheer power being summoned.
With a single, thunderous roar, the mages unleashed their combined might. A blinding flash of light erupted, followed by a deafening explosion that shook the earth. The sound was akin to a thousand storms breaking loose at once, echoing for miles around.
The walls of Iron Maw, which had stood for centuries, groaned under the immense magical pressure. Spider-webbed cracks spread across the stone, and with a final, resounding boom, the walls crumbled into rubble.
Dust and debris filled the air as the Gate of Iron Maw was breached. The once-imposing fortification lay in ruins, a testament to the devastating power of Kraggul\'s mages.
The path into the heart of the Orc\'s lair was now open, and the defenders, though brave and resolute, were left standing amidst the wreckage of their last line of defense.
"Attack!"
Kraggul\'s army surged forward, their battle cries echoing through the shattered gate. The siege had reached its climax, and the defenders steeled themselves for the brutal onslaught that was sure to follow.
However, the Hobgoblins found the other side empty, with the Orcs already stationed in their positions hundreds of meters away.
A smirk curled the edge of Kraggul\'s lips. "So that\'s how you want to play it. So be it! Generals, take your positions! We will crush them once and for all!"
The battlefield was a rugged plain, dotted with jagged boulders, hills, and dead trees, the uneven terrain littered with the remnants of past skirmishes.
The Orcs had devised a strategy to penetrate the heart of the Hobgoblin army and slay King Kraggul. The Orc central army was led by General Thorgar, commanding 4,000 Orcs. Behind them, the Orc HQ was fortified with 1,000 elite warriors, led by none other than Warchief Kargoth himself.
To their right, 4,000 Orcs were under the command of Generals Frukin and Grommash, while to the HQ\'s left, 1,000 Orcs were led by General Helliana.
In retaliation, the Hobgoblins mobilized their troops. Their central army comprised 10,000 Hobgoblins led by General Drakthor. Behind them, the Hobgoblin HQ housed 10,000 warriors under King Kraggul\'s direct command.
To their left, 30,000 Hobgoblins were led by Generals Gralnok and Morzog, while on their right, 10,000 Hobgoblins were commanded by General Vargash.
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Kraggul\'s strategy aimed to penetrate the Orc headquarters\' right flank and into the main base where Warchief Kargoth was located. The Orcs, having anticipated this, deployed 4,000 warriors and two generals in that sector to intercept the 30 000 strong Hobgoblins.
On the other side of the battlefield, the Hobgoblins\' right and the Orcs\' left were isolated from the rest by numerous obstructions, adding to the tension.
Everyone knew the decisive factor in this battle would be the clash on the Orcs\' right flank rather than the center. The Hobgoblins\' main offensive thrust lay in their left army of 30,000, while the Orcs\' main offensive would come from their center.
General Helliana\'s role was to keep General Vargash occupied, preventing him from reinforcing the Hobgoblin center.
General Gralnok the Vicious and General Morzog the Relentless led 30,000 Hobgoblins against General Grommash the Barbarian and General Frukin the Shaman with 4,000 Orcs.
General Drakthor Bloodfist, with 10,000 Hobgoblins, faced General Thorgar the Berserker and his 4,000 Orcs.
General Vargash Ironclaw, with 10,000 Hobgoblins, squared off against General Helliana and her 1,000 Orcs.
King Kraggul the Warlord, with 10,000 Hobgoblins, and Warchief Kargoth and his 1,000 elite Orcs waited at the back.
The stage was set, and everyone relied on their generals to achieve victory. The air was thick with anticipation, the fate of the wasteland hanging in the balance as the armies prepared for the final, climactic battle.
A tense silence enveloped the battlefield, the air so thick with anticipation that it felt like it could be sliced with a knife.
No one knew who struck the first blow, but suddenly, chaos erupted. Warriors from both sides clashed, attacking their enemies with everything they had.
General Gralnok and General Morzog swiftly directed their Hobgoblins to encircle the Orcs, aiming to surround and crush them from all sides. The Hobgoblin forces moved like a tide, relentless and overwhelming.
At the front, General Grommash led the charge, wielding his fearsome war club — a massive metal bat studded with spikes, capable of shattering bones with a single blow. He was a whirlwind of destruction, his every swing leaving devastation in its wake.
In contrast, General Frukin stayed back, protected by a guard of a hundred Orcs. She was not one for close combat; her strength lay in her spells, which required time and concentration to cast. Her guard ensured that no enemy could disrupt her incantations, forming an impenetrable wall around her.
In the center, it was a deadly game of cat and mouse between General Drakthor and General Thorgar. Among the 10,000 Hobgoblins, more than a hundred looked like General Drakthor, making it nearly impossible for Thorgar to identify and strike down the enemy general.
This clever tactic bought time for Generals Gralnok and Morzog to push through the Orc lines and attempt to penetrate their base, where Warchief Kargoth stood.
On the other side of the battlefield, General Helliana faced a stalemate. General Vargash had not moved from his position, giving her no reason to engage. She held her ground, ready to act as reinforcements for the center if the situation took a turn for the worse. Her strategic patience was a testament to her leadership, ready to tip the scales should the battle demand it.