Age of Heroes

LAND OF THE DRAGONS

ARIAL VERMONT

Arial sighed as he once again come out from the camps and prepares to move.

They have set camps many times in the day because of the heat when they enter the Land of the Dragon.

Behind him is a party of a total of four hundred people. Some of them explore in team around the vicinity to search for any threats.

Some others were responsible for the supplies.

Arial also followed their patrolling and he thought it would be safe here especially if they arrived to the next point in the morning.

They went patrolling and searching around this narrow pass not too far away from his main camp.

He wants to first gain better understanding of his mercenaries' troop and he wanted to gain their trust.

After all, Orc is hard to share their trust outside their clan. But if he were to have a chance in defeating the dragon, Arial need trust of his group.

If there is one thing he had learn in the military, it is this.

Trust between comrades is essential in accomplishing a mission successfully. In Knight Academy he has Kyle, Lisa and Helia.

In the military he has Massey, and Oliver.

They patrolled around the time when monster roam here in the Land of Dragons. Usually it is night around the Anvali continent but here it is in the middle of the day.

Mikael has warned him before saying that this area is teamed up with monster and urges him to exercise caution before he went patrolling.

They were looking for some berries or some easy game for supplies. Their supplies from the Capital are dwindling.

Then as they were patrolling Arial heard a sound.

The sound of hooves startled their group and the ground trembles with the ferocity of the beats of these hooves.

Arial turns around and his face fell.

'Fuck' he cursed, his mind quickly made a decision. The group also looked and they saw what is coming to them

'OPEN A PATH' Arial yelled as he leapt toward the big boulder around the vicinity while the Orcs and Elves quickly respond and roll around the charging area.

Those who are late in response, got trampled, their bones being broken with every step the horses took, their face turns into a pool of smashed meats.

They were attacked by Firehorse, a flaming horse with a black horn on their head and their horde dashed right through them.

Arial quickly look around to assess his troops that he has right now. He is with twenty orcs and two Elves. The other is at the campsite or too far to hear him right now

And the Firehorse is not stopping anytime soon.

They neighed with great ferocity, turning back trying to ram them and pierce them with their horns. The sound of their hooves invites fear to some of the elves.

In one leap they gained tremendous speed and with each steps their hearts beats with fear.

They are nearly twice as big from normal horses and with fire coming out of their mouth and nose that does not help in calming one's nerve

The horde of Firehorse is angrily rushing towards Arial troops. This must be their territory and they might have accidentally trespass it.

Arial shook his head. He could see some of the horse is about to dash to the bolder he is standing on.

Arial only smirk

'You think I am afraid?' he muttered. After all, he is hunting a dragon. Such problem should have been anticipated.

And this is nothing compared to the beast that he had to face later.

'Take cover!' Arial yelled again and his troops take cover near the boulder

Some of them take cover behind huge boulders but everyone could see how powerful these creatures are.

With their speed and their horns, they rammed the rocks and it exploded into pieces

and anyone who is late in dodging the attack get pierced by the sharp horn and died in the spot.

Some of the elves throw fire from their hands, utilizing magic, into the horse which only serves to anger them.

'DON'T THROW FIRE TO THEM. THROW WATER' Arial yelled. Panic overtaken them and they attack a creature name Firehorse with a fire.

Logically such a creature must be doused with water. But Arial was not surprised. In his time of war, he has seen fair share of men who would do stupid things when in a panic

'There is no wate-' an Elven was about to said when his chest was pierced by the horn of the Firehorse.

The Firehorse neighed happily and the Elven chest was ripped apart by their force of attack.

'Fuck!' Arial cursed once again

It was a terrifying assault by the horses. Most of the monsters that the groups have encounter before are not at this level of power so it shocked everyone a little.

One elven is dead and also two Orcs

Now they only have nineteen people. Arial was not in despair. Since he can handle this. He shouted, ordering his group.

His orders were simple. Fighting a creature that does not have strategies, it would be a waste of time to set up war formation or military tactics.

Sometimes, in this kind of situation, the simpler the order, the more effective it is.

'The Orc Fera will command eight under him. Orc Derval will order the rest. Divide, Destroy. And smash. Block the horses, kill the horses. Whatever happens, make sure they're dead'

The Orc yelled 'YAHH' as a sign that they have received the order.

The Orc are accustomed to fighting in formations after all Orcs is the military backbone of Anvali other than Kobold race.

Demon Lords are the administrator and the law. They all have their role in Anvali.

'How about you my lord?' one of the elves remarked as he leapt toward him.

The Elven is worried that no one is ordered to stand by around him. After all, Arial is the employer. If he dies, where would all these people get their golds?

Arial only grin hearing the question. At least this monster will provide a little challenge. He thought to himself.

It has also been a long time since he had a time to practice his martial arts.

'I will go at it alone. Use your shields' Arial reminded them.

After all, he had bought them the shields, though at the time he had expected them to use it against the dragon.

'Let us charge these horses and eat them for dinner! Gouge their eyes, skins their meat, eat their flesh!' The Orc yelled and that yell were replied with a resounding roar.

The horses instead of retreating, once again they charge them with renewed determination.

'STONE WALL' Arial yelled and the Orc who is adept in military formations, endure the assaults. Thankfully the shields are not broken.

These creatures... are daunting. Arial thought to himself.

Around the bodies of the Firehorse heat is generated that distort the space around them when something of high temperature is being burned.

He could see some of the metal sheet around the shield become red. Arial did not have too much time to look at all of these. There is an opportunity right now.

This is an opportunity created by his mercenary troops.

They may not possess the discipline of his army but he at least has tried to teach them to work in a team instead against each other.

Arial is not boasting but he is the strongest among them, there is no doubt in that fact. And if he couldn't stop these horses now nobody in his group right now could.

The one elven that survives the charge is flailing using the shield but Arial know that the elven won't last long like that. Elves are not proficient in the battle of arms.

It is magic. Magic is their strength.  Arial leapt toward the horses that is trying to push through the shield wall and with one slicing motion, he cut one of the horse's head.

Blood spluttering like a fountain coming out from its decapitated neck

Now there is water. Arial thought.

'You!' He yelled at the Elven who still looking awkward defending using shield.

They are not humans and they lack certain things that human possess but human also lack certain things that they possess.

But they have their own strength. Magics, Old Dark Magics, Ancient weapons. They are different. And he should treat them differently.

'Make the land muddy.' He shouted

'No wate-'then Arial point out at the blood. The Elven widens his eyes and nodded and understands what Aria is thinking

As the Elven is preparing, some of the horses turns their attention towards him. The Elven focused on his work as he began chanting some words.

The ground where the blood flows slowly trembles and spirals. It turns muddy. It was not enough but it is muddy enough.

Arial know that hiring elves was the right thing to do.