Yoshihiro had led his War Hogs through the forest to meet the giant and the lion on an open grassy plain which was just beyond the forest. Through the forest was a quicker route and due to the heat, the ground of the open plain would be firm and the War Hogs could exercise their heavy weapons and mounted cavalry without the fear of slippery soil, grass and puddles that would slow them down like vengeful quicksand.
Despite the mass trees and thick brush, deep within the forest was sparse and allowed for comfortable travel for the thousands of soldiers and horses, the ground was of soil, dry and firm and there were no desecrated trees or inconvenient streams that could hinder travel. Yoshihiro and Hiroki remained in the forest and oversaw the travel of their soldiers before them, whilst Ragrim, Archie, Crow and Jadar had also waited behind, Tatsuya had led two thousand men to the open plain to prepare for battle and establish a formation. Now, only five hundred War Hogs remained in the forest and they had just been given their orders to join their comrades and Tatsuya on the battlefield past the forest.
Hiroki had just finished eating a small apple pie, he took the last bite and savoured the sweet doe, biting slowly and swallowing reluctantly as he knew this would be his last treat for some time. Hiroki looked up into the sky, the sun was blocked by the trees which allowed for a cool temperature on the hot day and made the forest feel more like a sanctuary of calm and relaxation the last time I felt this relaxed and calm I was with her, Angelika. I wonder how her journey has started with Astaroth, Bellethiel and Jessie. I hope their okay pondered Hiroki.
Hiroki’s thoughts made him smile until he was abruptly disturbed by Yoshihiro. “Prepare yourself boy, one of our men approaches.”
Hiroki turned to see an elite soldier approaching on foot, he seemed relaxed but held a small message in his hand. He was fully armoured in a black steel breastplate, pauldrons, gauntlets, cuisses and greaves, the red hog had been engraved onto the breastplate and this was the standard armour of all the War Hog foot soldiers and elite warriors. The soldier looked familiar, though Hiroki couldn’t quite place him.
“Yoshihiro, I have the scouts report. The lion and the giant’s men have begun assembling on the plain. They await your company and wish to offer you a chance to surrender,” declared the soldier who smiled at Hiroki as if he knew him.
Yoshihiro roared with laughter and rose from the log he was sat upon. “Those scumbag warlords know full well there will be no surrender, they merely wish to play mind games before battle, very well, show me the message.” The soldier presented the scroll to Yoshihiro which read,
Great swordsman Yoshihiro.
You face the Bronze Giant and the Raging Lion; we do not wish to battle you.
Step aside and allow us to take Darius’s lands.
If you refuse, you will be slaughtered, and your men will be tortured for days until they beg for death. They will be skinned alive, burned, and their fingers and toes will be cut off one by one, then their limbs will follow. You cannot defeat our combined forces.
Step aside and retreat.
Yoshihiro smiled. “I would listen to this warning . . . but they never said please!”
Hiroki and the elite soldier laughed, Yoshihiro’s warrior mindset could be comedic as well as volatile and Hiroki had always admired that about Yoshihiro, he had the ability to lead men, boost morale and say the right thing at the right time.
Hiroki locked eyes with the soldier again and couldn’t help but ask, “Sorry, I mean no offense, but I can’t help but feel I know you, am I correct?
The soldier smiled. “You are correct. The battle against Tariq! I threw you over the shield wall at your command. You killed two men which allowed us to breach and attack. Even though you were a mere boy, you were brave and clearly gifted.”
“That’s it!” bellowed Hiroki, he approached the warrior and embraced him. “It’s been some time, but I still remember your face . . . and your height. You must be a few inches over six five, we don’t have many as tall as you. What’s your name?”
“My name is Terrance; I was promoted to elite rank by Astaroth before he left.”
Yoshihiro also joined the conversation. “Terrance has been a brave warrior and has fought for many years, your rank is justified Terrance. Astaroth always had a good eye for loyalty, bravery and skill.”
Terrance bowed humbly. “You honour me Yoshihiro, thank you. Hiroki, when the battle is won, we shall eat together, no doubt we have much to discuss.”
Terrance was tall and looked to be in his mid-thirties, he had long brown hair which was tied back, brown eyes and a small scar above his right brow, he looked strong and broad in his armour he looked handsome, he was the perfect silhouette of a warrior ready for battle.
“I’d like that,” responded Hiroki cheerfully.
Yoshihiro bestowed new orders upon Terrance. “Take the last five hundred men from here and lead them to Tatsuya on the front line. I will give the warlords their audience but there will be no surrender, soon we fight! Terrance bowed and left.
The forest had now emptied as the War Hogs had been assembled on the battlefield, all that remained in the forest was Yoshihiro, Hiroki, Archie, Ragrim and Jadar. Hiroki and Yoshihiro stood alone in silence as the battle had approached, the silence was interrupted as the commanders who appeared from the brush mounted on horseback.
Ragrim rode a black palfrey, and covering his usual green kimono was gold dwarven armour. The breastplate had imbued rubies, the shoulder guards were spiked, and his rerebraces and vambraces were also gold but had flawless carvings of dragons. Ragrim’s greaves and sabatons were also gold and bore the carvings of dragons.
“The time has come,” roared Ragrim as he removed his gold half hem, the top of it was forged into the head of a dragon. “My hammer is ready and its power surges through me. As always Yoshihiro, I will ride by your side at the rear and my hammer will crush every cunt that comes forth.” Red sparks of lightning surged through Ragrim’s hammer which brought a smile to Yoshihiro’s face. Ragrim smiled at Hiroki before placing his gold half hem atop of his head, one giant ruby shone as it kissed a ray of sun that had protruded through the forest.
Archie was mounted on a mighty white and black spotted destrier, he bore his usual traditional knight’s amour made from meteorite, the breastplate looked thick and impenetrable, his shoulder guards were large and offered much protection and his rerebraces and vambraces were immaculate. Archie’s greaves and sabatons were sturdy and strong and hanging from Archie’s back, adjoined to his shoulder guards Hiroki noticed a black cape with a hog sewn in red.
Archie removed his thick knight's helmet which covered his face and said, “I await your command Yoshihiro for what will be our last battle before the East inevitably invades. We will savour this last battle and look back on it in years to come as our defining moment, a time in which we slain two indominable warlords!”
“Too fucking right, then the East will fall next. Fuck their numbers!” roared Crow. Mounted on a tanned destrier, Crow was armoured differently in a way that tailored his fighting style. Crows red dreadlocks were now tied back, and he wore a sleeveless leather jerkin that was covered in black steel with matching black steel gauntlets on his forearms, his tight black breaches were covered in squared layers of leather.
Crow wielded a big silver claymore sword therefore his armour had to be light to enable quick movement.
Jadar followed on a small, stocky, black and white speckled palfrey. She excelled in hand to hand combat, and she fought alongside her comrades on the ground on the front line, so she had no need for a war horse.
Jadar’s armour was magnificent and had been crafted by Ragrim some years ago. The breastplate, pauldrons and gauntlets were carved from green jade stone and covered an underlayer of black leather as were her jade greaves and sabatons. There were visible engravings of snakes etched onto the armour which was fitting due to her poisonous magic baring spear.
Jadar grasped her golden spear and the poisonous razor-sharp e
merald tip sparkled, her shield was tied to the palfrey’s saddle and Hiroki could make out the etched viper on the shield glaring at him, like Archie, she bore a black cape with the red hog sewn in. “Tatsuya must be on the front line already; I’ll join him now.”
Yoshihiro nodded and laid out his last commands. “Our first wave will consist of foot soldiers led by Tatsuya and Jadar, you will be in command of a thousand men armed with spears, charge hard and strike true, and remember the trap, halt your first charge when in distance so our archers can rain down explosive ruby tipped arrows. The explosions will decimate their first wave but don’t get caught in the crossfire!”
Ragrim had helped forge arrows with razor sharp ruby tips that were also covered in explosive powder. Humans cannot wield the magical essence of rubies, though thanks to Ragrim’s dwarven abilities, he had secreted the magic from the stones and covered them in black explosive powder created by grinding down onyx, all the humans had to do was fire!
“It will be done,” declared Jadar with a fierce smile.
Yoshihiro continued, “The second wave of thousand men will be led by Archie and Crow on horseback, archers will also be amongst them, when needed, charge and attack with our mounted cavalry and only dismount when we are in control, I don’t want you on the ground whilst ferocious land lions are attacking, Tatsuya and Jadar will signal you.”
Crow turned to Archie. “You can sit this out brother, your illness has gotten worse, and so have your nosebleeds. You don’t look well today my friend.”
“I’m fine, I don’t need your care or advice!” Archie’s tone reflected frustration; he did indeed seem weaker than usual.
Yoshihiro diffused the tension as any leader would. “It's Archie’s decision! That’s the end of it.” The fierce swordsman then continued, “Ragrim and myself will hold back with five hundred of our best soldiers, we will join the fray when the time is right.”
“Considering we fight on an open plain, we are still superior. Victory will be ours,” declared Jadar.
Yoshihiro turned to Hiroki, placed one hand upon his shoulder and bestowed upon him the most important command of the battle, a command that would no doubt decide the fate of the War Hogs. “Hiroki, you will lead a thousand men west of the open plain, there is a secluded woodland there for you to hide, you are to charge into battle from the side with your men and deal the finishing blow when you see an opening. The giant and the lion won’t see you coming, if you strike quick and swift and you will be able to crush them.”
Hiroki’s heart began to pulsate, and his warrior aura began to surge through his body, he was ready. “Understood, sensei.”
Yoshihiro continued, “My friends, this is it, our last battle. After this our focus will be on the East, not before we rid the lands of Darius of course. When the battle is over, we will return to Cutthroat’s Grasp and slaughter Darius and his men. We will have the power cube, so he won’t expect an attack and if he does, Vanya will be waiting!”
An awkward silence befell the allies until Crow said, “Yoshihiro, we know of your love for Vanya, we all love her . . . but are you sure we can place our lives in her hands? We will be fatigued and possibly wounded from battle, if she doesn’t show or if the elven king and queen forbid her to help, we will be sitting ducks.”
Yoshihiro pondered on Crow’s comments for he knew he was right, Yoshihiro spoke again. “We loved each other once, I trust her with my life. She will be there with her elven attack force, she may even bring her dragon!”
Archie smiled and continued Yoshihiro’s reassurance. “If our leader trusts her then so do I. Come, let us march forth.”
Ragrim, Archie, Crow and Jadar charged off through the forest to join the War Hogs on the battlefield leaving Hiroki alone with Yoshihiro one last time. Yoshihiro placed his helmet atop of his head and mounted his white palfrey. Yoshihiro was dressed in traditional swordsman attire and looked formidable.
The armour was crafted by Ragrim and consisted of black onyx gemstones, polished black iron, and thick layers of leather. His kabuto helmet was black and there were two giant black dragon wings that sprouted from either side of the helmet, the thick leather arm spaulders were also covered in onyx which seemed to sparkle like his armoured sleeves, his cuirass and gauntlet were both of smooth thick leather, and his tassets and leg greaves were also of black leather and onyx. The butterflies’ razor was secure around his waist and the diamond carving also sparkled, he turned to Hiroki and smiled.
“Now, go west! Your men await you!” Yoshihiro dashed off through the forest to the battlefield leaving Hiroki on his own with a horse that was waiting and tied to a tree.
Hiroki withdrew a flute from his pocket which was made from silver and gold. The longer silver flute was wrapped in gold which imitated a dragon's body, black scales were carved into the gold dragon body of the flute and at the bottom, a matching gold dragon head revealed an open mouth, this is where the sound would emanate from when used, it was a dwarven flute crafted by Ragrim, he had made Hiroki the flute when he was a mere child, it was the first gift he received when he was taken in by the War Hogs, Hiroki blew a soothing melody, a roar was heard from afar and Hiroki smiled as Thunder approached!
Upon hearing the charming melody played by Hiroki on his gold and silver dragon flute, Thunder flew to his location deep within the darkened forest. Thunder soared through the sky at tremendous speed like a golden shooting star, he divebombed into the forest, expertly avoiding the trees and a rough landing and as he looked set to hit the forest floor, his wings spread wide displaying their rich red underside colourings and he propelled himself back into the air and flew towards Hiroki.
Thunder had been waiting, flying locally and keeping himself well hidden until called upon by Hiroki, they had planned this summoning method via the dragon flute some time ago, though Thunder’s ears and his senses were not developed enough to hear the calming melody from afar, that seemed to had changed now as clearly Thunder was maturing at an impressive speed. Thunder continued to glide through the sparse forest as Hiroki continued to play his melody, Thunder smiled seemingly impressed by his own improved abilities and plumes of green fire erupted from his nose. Closer and closer he approached Hiroki, following the alluring melody and sensing Hiroki’s life force until he saw Hiroki standing in wait. Thunder picked up speed and raced towards Hiroki through the air at impossible speed, it seemed as though he was due to crash into Hiroki and the young swordsman stopped playing his tune and seemed uneasy at the speed of which Thunder approached, and as an inevitable collision was due, Thunder laughed and came to a halt a few yards away from Hiroki.
Hiroki seemed mesmerised at his dragons' improved abilities, Thunder had halted expertly which seemed impossible due to the speed at which the young spritely dragon flew at, and the wind from the swift stop from Thunders wings blew into Hiroki like a fearsome tornado.
Hiroki approached his dragon who sat waiting for his belly and head rubs with a beaming smile which revealed his pearly white razor-sharp teeth, Hiroki petted Thunder on the head who growled playfully before rolling onto his back for his belly rubs. Hiroki tickled and rubbed Thunder who giggled with laughter and the sight seemed to replicate an interaction between a farmer and his herding dog rather than of a fearsome warrior and a dragon.
“You can hear the flute from afar now Thunder, impressive!”
Hiroki’s praise made the dragon smile more and as a result his gold scales began to glow.
Thunder sat back up on his hind legs and Hiroki caressed his glowing scales, upon inspecting the scales it seemed as though they had changed slightly, the scales seemed thicker and more sturdy and the gold had darkened slightly, each individual scale seemed to sparkle and upon looking closely, it seemed as though diamond dust had been infused within each scale. Thunder’s body seemed heavier and indeed the maturing dragon seemed to be growing. “Your power is increasing, you grow stronger and stronger day by day, your senses have clearly heightened, and your flying and speed now
seems perfected!”
“Davorin told me to practice and harness my energy, he thinks I can be the most fearsome dragon that ever lived,” boasted Thunder.
Hiroki sat by Thunder’s side who had recently flown across the open plain of the battlefield. Thunder explained that he had seen the Bronze Giant and his men standing in wait, the men donned thick bronze armour and the giant roared ferociously, rallying his men up and encouraging them with his war cries and speeches.
The Raging Lion and his men had also emerged; they were armed with fearsome battle axes and many hundreds were mounted on land lions who’s roars reflected hunger and the desire for human flesh. The Raging Lion Jerome Gillie was mounted upon his giant land lion and Thunder confirmed the lion of which Jerome was mounted upon was indeed as big as a horse.
Hiroki smiled; the battle excited him. “Well, it seems we have quite the battle on our hands. Are you ready to join me Thunder?”
Thunder began to glow even more, and his red eyes sparkled as they seemed to become soulless rubies, Thunder’s body became tense and Hiroki could feel mass power surging through Thunder’s body. “I’m ready for war, I’ll slaughter them all!” declared Thunder coldly.
Hiroki rose and glared off into the distance, past the forest and into the soon to be battlefield, he turned to Thunder and explained the battle strategy set out by Yoshihiro, Hiroki also told of how Thunder would be used, the plan was private and not even the War Hogs new of how Hiroki would command his dragon in this battle. Hiroki explained to Thunder he couldn’t quite shake the feeling that the giant and the lion were hiding something, true they were warlords that prospered from raids, skirmishes, rape and slavery but It felt odd to Hiroki how they were so carefree about clashing with the War Hogs.
It was agreed throughout the Centre Plate that the War Hogs were the dominant fighting force and all settlements, towns, villages and kingdoms feared their savagery, but the giant and the lion seemed to want to meet them head on, what secret weapon did they have lying in wait? Throughout the years there were times when the War Hogs had been outnumbered but with the combined efforts of swordsmanship, dwarven craftsmanship, poison and magic they always emerged victorious from battle, and now more than ever with the Eastern threat, Hiroki knew it would be down to them to also unify the Centre Plate and rally against the East when this battle was over.
Killing Monsters Page 21