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52.81% Lord of the Rings: Warriors / Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Dignity of Ranger

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Dignity of Ranger

"Hu… hu…" Elenthor leaned against the wall, panting heavily, his eyes filled with sorrow. 

The orcs had launched over a dozen assaults, yet the defenders of Loshanier City had barely managed to slay a quarter of them. 

Aside from the orc vanguard that had been mercilessly shot down by the starry elf cavalry, the casualties from the other feints were minimal.

"How is it with King Aranthor?" Elenthor turned to the guard beside him.

"The situation is grim. Their knights are beginning to suffer casualties…" The guard hesitated, aware that even noble knights were falling on the battlefield, let alone the warriors and ordinary soldiers.

"How about our kin?" Elenthor asked darkly.

"Your Majesty, our situation is not optimistic. If the orcs launch another wave, our soldiers will no longer be able to draw their bows!"

"Has it become this dire?" Elenthor murmured to himself. 

The cunning Azog was an experienced opponent, fully aware of the cost of a direct assault on a city guarded by an elven army. 

Thus, he directed his orc troops to continuously wear down the elves' stamina and morale. 

But Elenthor could not take this lightly; once they showed any weakness, Azog's feints could swiftly turn into a main assault!

"Does Your Majesty still not need me to act?" Elandor looked at Elenthor, observing the chaos in the skies over the western wall caused by Caslow.

"It's not the final hour yet. I cannot use our trump card to exchange for the orcs' ace… That would be too much of a loss." 

After contemplating the consequences, Elenthor decisively rejected Elandor's idea of engaging.

"Tell everyone to prepare for close combat!" The killing intent radiating from Elenthor made Elandor shudder.

"People often say elves are not good at close combat… Heh, if we are not adept at it, how did we win the last Alliance War? We just don't want to sacrifice ourselves…" 

Elenthor looked around at the elven archers and rangers clad in fine chainmail and armor, feeling a profound sorrow.

"Your Majesty…" Elandor also closed his eyes in pain. Only those of their kind who had endured the crushing defeat at the Black Gate understood this deeply ingrained pain and hatred.

"No need to say more. I will not leave… We have never betrayed our allies, and now we will not betray them!" Elenthor said firmly to Elandor, who was showing signs of retreat.

Bang!

"My sword will be aimed in the direction you point. My soul and body will fight for you until the very last moment! My King!" Elandor knelt on one knee and declared with sincerity.

"Rise." Elenthor replied lightly.

"Clang!" The sharp elven curved blade was slowly drawn by Elenthor.

"For our ancestors! For our beliefs! For our homeland! For our kin! Noble stary elves of Singray! We will never yield!" Elenthor stood on the city walls, exuding a tragic heroism.

"Kill!" The rain of arrows fell again behind him…

"Have you made a decision?" Lance gazed at his king.

"Yes! My allies are fighting fiercely! We cannot stand by idly; if they fall, we will be next!" Rynar declared resolutely.

"Then… go and take your chance! I swear by my honor and my life that I will protect the safety of Riverguard until your return… regardless of success or failure." The city defense officer Marcus bowed deeply, his words filled with sincerity.

"This is also my answer, Your Majesty." Lance knelt on one knee respectfully.

"Then… What do you need to defend her? Marcus!" Rynar said slowly.

"More Dunwenian Swordsmen, Zaltarion city guards, Battanian archers, and light infantry reinforcements. They are too few; there's no problem holding the city, but they would disrupt command in an open battle." Marcus contemplated for a moment before speaking.

"Bang!" Lance struck his chest.

"As a rightful noble of Zaltarion, I will lead my Rapid Infantry Legion to clear away all obstacles before you. 

Only death can end my promise to you!" Lance's eyes shimmered with loyalty.

"May the Dragon God bless you all!" Rynar concluded this heavy discussion.

"Reynard… assemble the knights! And call for Radir and Aivy; we will need them for this war." Rynar waved his hand, giving orders.

For this support to Loshanier City, Rynar planned to mobilize only the Rapid Infantry Legion and the Order of Dawn Knights; other troops were too mixed and would be difficult to command on the vast battlefield.

Rynar donned his gilded lord's plate armor and mounted his tall Shire warhorse, quietly waiting at the western gate of Riverguard for the gathering of his forces. 

His gaze was cast toward the west, shadowed by unspoken worries.

As the saying goes, man proposes, but heaven disposes. Rynar had initially planned to lie low on the eastern shore and wait for the right time, but he was utterly defeated by nature. 

If they lost now, it would truly be a misfortune of nature! Can you imagine? It's so vast! So wide! 

River Running had actually been frozen by the cold front sweeping in from the north! 

Just last night! After learning this news, the previously calm Riverguard immediately entered a state of maximum wartime alert. 

Marcus had patrolled the walls in full armor all night… The frozen River Running was like the Goddess of Victory dropping her skirts to beckon the orcs!

Come! Come! Come and strike me! Riverguard now called out to the orcs, and Rynar did not believe he could withstand Azog's returning army. 

The only plan now was to take the initiative! Rather than waiting for the orcs to besiege the city, they might stand a chance by attacking the orcs!

"Hu~ hu… what a tough fight!" Elenthor gasped for breath, just having shot his first arrow aimed at a orc!

He had aimed for the eye but it grazed past its neck instead. Elenthor stared at his trembling hands, forcing a bitter smile. 

Even the elven king, known for his archery skills, had missed; one could imagine how fierce the battle was! 

Thanks to the elves' long lifespan, 2,000 elves, all professional fighters, were still able to suppress the orcs for now. 

The continuous rain of arrows prevented the orcs from advancing, so the army of stary elves had yet to suffer any casualties.

"Rynar! I can't hold out much longer…" Elenthor silently lamented in his heart.

"Your Majesty! The orcs are charging again!" a ranger shouted.

"Can you still draw your bows?" Elenthor looked around, his heart sinking.

"Your Majesty! We will fight for you until the very last moment!" The trembling elven rangers and archers drew their curved blades and short swords, demonstrating their loyalty through action.

"Very well, prepare for close combat!" Elenthor's anger flared up; did they really think the elves had good tempers? 

Just wait! orc scum, today you will feel the fear that the elven army instilled 3,000 years ago.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" 

Orcs stomped over the piles of corpses to cross the moat, hundreds of crude ladders erected as if heralding a dawn of victory, and the orcs surged forward to climb the ladders.

"For the dignity of our elven rangers… Singray elves! Kill!" Elenthor roared as he spotted the ugly orc heads emerging from the city walls.

A blue crescent moon emerged behind Elenthor, and in the next second, blood light burst forth! The Moon of Hunt activated!

"Swish!" The elven rangers standing before the elven archers suddenly drew their curved blades in unison.

With the movement of the rangers' arms, the exquisite curved blades began to dance, forming a solid wall of blades atop Loshanier City.

As they swung in unison—dawn broke!

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Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Dance of Blades

The curved blades of the rangers spun from front to back, unleashing a dazzling blade light, marking the start of the rangers' core skill—Dance of Blades. 

The brilliant light illuminated the dim sky, and the terrified face of the orc could be seen clearly reflected on the glinting blades.

Thud thud~ Over a hundred bodies plummeted from the sky, the very orcs that had just ascended the city walls.

"Ah!"

"Ugh~"

"Ugh…"

The anguished screams of the dying orcs echoed across the battlements, and the raining corpses crushed the morale of the orc army, causing their assault to falter.

"Damn it! Those cowardly elves! They're huddled in the city like pitiful insects!" Azog roared in fury, clearly taken aback by the elves' resistance. Their tenacity moved him.

After all, they were a contingent of elves who had participated in the Last Alliance War! 

The glory of their ancestors burned brightly in their hearts, reigniting the once-cooled blood within them. 

They were warriors who had faced the Black Gate! They were brave fighters who had charged into Mordor! They were the Singray Star Elves! They were the children of the stars!

"Why haven't they exhausted themselves yet?" Azog watched as the lively, agile elven rangers mowed down the emerging orcs like a whack-a-mole game, the only difference being they were slicing with knives…

If Rynar were here, he would surely scoff at Azog. The orc didn't understand the underhanded tactics of the elven army, having never fought alongside them. 

(During the first battle at the Lonely Mountain and the skirmishes against the woodland elves, the elves entered the Vale without the time to ascend the walls, so Azog had the fortune of not witnessing their dirty tricks.)

Once the elven army had formed their ranks, their attacking method became predictable. First, they would use their extremely long-range arrows to wear down the enemy. 

If the elves were fatigued or the enemy closed in, their spear-wielders and rangers would quickly take up positions for close combat. 

But here's the catch! Fatigue doesn't mean their fighting spirit or magic is depleted! 

Many times, the rangers and druids would be exhausted from shooting, but their fighting spirit or magical energy would still be brimming… 

If you thought they were fish on a chopping block… then you'd see the dazzling elven Dance of Blades and druid transformations. 

After all, skills don't require physical energy to unleash. This elven strategy is simple yet incredibly effective.

Having played games for so long, Rynar had never seen many who could fare well against a well-prepared elven battle formation unless your knight brigade or sky knights could crush them, but obviously, Azog didn't have that.

Watching the blades swirling with radiant energy dance across the flesh of orc soldiers, Azog's heart was bleeding! 

The first batch of attackers were solid second-tier orc warriors! And they were being chopped down like vegetables…

"Send in the cannon fodder to wear them out!" Azog commanded, for he could not afford the loss of so many professionals! This would undermine his authority and intimidation.

Thus, the elite orc professionals retreated, and ordinary orc cannon fodder surged forward…

"Tsk! They're getting smarter!" Elenthor's expression changed. 

It was known that cutting down professionals and ordinary orcs yielded similar results, but the elves were clearly at a blood loss! Their precious fighting spirit would be wasted on ordinary orc scraps.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~" The ogres, carrying siege wood, rushed toward the city gate at a rapid pace.

"Shoot it!" The resting elven archers, seeing these moving meat mountains, sprang up as if invigorated, and without hesitation, drew their bows!

"Boom!" Dozens of heavy bodies crashed to the ground, dragging deep scratches in the earth several hundred meters from the city gate. The ogres, now under the aim of hundreds of bows, quickly became giant pincushions.

"Deploy the catapults!" Azog waved his hand again, issuing another command.

"Boom!" Dozens of ogres, each carrying small catapults, slammed their fists into the ground, stopping a kilometer away from Loshanier City, while several orcs began loading stones.

"Idiot!" Elenthor's lip twitched. Did he look down on the range of elven archers? Azog's embarrassment was palpable, and Elenthor felt secondhand embarrassment for him.

Without Elenthor needing to direct them, the keen-eyed archers spotted the stationary targets…

"Explosive arrows! Fire!" Under the command of various squad leaders, a rain of skill-infused arrows poured toward them. 

The elven archers, after releasing their arrows, didn't even feel the need to shoot again.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" 

The sounds of explosions echoed as arrows struck flesh, and when everything quieted down, only the large footprints on the ground told of the ogres that had once stood there…

"Roar!" Azog raged impotently! 

Alas! The poor orc king thought everyone lived in the Vale! Could those archers under Bard compare to the elves? Who gave him the confidence to stand before the elves as a target…

"Surround them!" Azog finally let out a furious cry! He no longer wished to consider whether that damn knight brigade would suddenly emerge, as he had just received a piece of news…

"Woo~woo~wooooo~!" The unique horn of the orcs sounded from the west!

"Holy crap!" Aranthor, entangled in battle with human soldiers, saw the black tide and orc totem rising on the western horizon and felt a chill in his heart.

"By the Dragon God!" Caslow, dodging the ground attacks from the dragon-slaying crossbows while holding off the orcs, felt his hands and feet go cold as he looked at the rolling tide of orc troops!

"Have the woodland elves been wiped out? How are they protecting the west?" Elenthor, who had also heard the commotion, cursed at the sight of the black tide.

After more than a month, the orc army led by Bard had successfully bypassed the Woodland Realm! They had arrived at the heart of the battlefield.

All the orcs ceased their attacks and methodically retreated to a safe area, and as they slowly formed a semi-circle around Loshanier City, a shadow fell over the hearts of Elenthor, Aranthor, and everyone on the battlements.

Why hadn't Azog surrounded the city before? Because he feared Rynar's holy knights, always thinking that this knight brigade was hiding in the city, ready to deliver a fatal blow. 

With around twenty thousand troops, Azog didn't dare to encircle the city from all sides, but the arrival of the Bolg army shifted that balance! Azog now had the confidence to confront the knight brigade.

"Annihilate them! Tear them apart! The age of the orcs is about to arrive!" Azog screamed frantically, waving his remaining arm, excitement radiating from him.

Having crossed the frozen river, Rynar led his army and the holy knights to the west bank of theRiver Running. 

At that moment, they were behind a hill several dozen meters high, having heard the earlier commotion. 

Calmly, Lance immediately advised Rynar to halt the march. They climbed the hill to get a look. 

Due to the thick ice on the river, they had traveled north for over ten kilometers, where the ice was even thicker, allowing heavily loaded warhorses to tread upon it. 

From their vantage point, they could just see the orc army surging in from the west.

"...What the hell, the Woodland Realm is gone?" Rynar finally blurted out after a long pause.

"The biggest joke of the year… The dwarves have become prophets…" Rynar stared blankly, suddenly recalling what Thorin had told him… he didn't trust the woodland elves…

"It seems the orcs really did breach the woodland elves' defenses! I hope it's not what I'm thinking… that the elves just stood by and watched…" Rynar's expression turned grave.

"Your Majesty…" Lance hesitated to speak.

"Let's retreat…" The knightly spirit-practicing Reynod was the first to suggest retreat.

"We can't put you in danger…" Radir said seriously.

This battle was different from the first battle at the Lonely Mountain; the vast disparity in strength left Reynod unable to even entertain the thought of resistance. 

This wasn't just about abandoning allies! This was about self-preservation!

"Buddy… is this your so-called easy fight?" The sharp-eyed Vanervi clearly saw the well-equipped orc warriors.

"No! We still have a chance!" Rynar rejected everyone's suggestions.

"Don't forget! The star elves have dragon knights, and dragon knights represent… at least one forbidden spell!" A smile appeared on Rynar's face.

Instantly, the expressions of the others shifted from gloomy to bright. Yes! Dragon knights! The nuclear bombs of Middle-earth, alongside the sages? 

If these orcs were positioned tightly, one forbidden spell could wipe them clean…

"Roar!" A clear and stirring dragon's roar echoed through the sky! A magnificent blue dragon, sparkling with starlight, roared upwards from the city!

Elenthor no longer dared to hide. Originally just playing around, but Azog wasn't playing fair! He was doubling down! If he was ready to show his cards, then they'd have to make their final stand…

"Fire!" A chorus of commands resonated across the walls. 

The remaining orc army had yet to recover from the sudden change in their surroundings. 

The cannon fodder charged from both sides while the more capable orc warriors sought safety in the thick foliage, ignoring the incoming arrows from above.

Then…

Boom! The explosive arrows fired in volleys ignited the battlefield, mixing red flames with the air, illuminating the entire battlefield.

"Rumble!" The orcs who had finally regrouped roared fiercely in anger as the elf rangers poured fire down from the ramparts.

This was just the beginning! The elven rangers had indeed been waiting for this moment! 

Rynar's deep voice boomed forth, "Sons of the stars! Gather the courage of your forefathers! Dance for the stars!"

The rangers unleashed their remaining magic, illuminating the area and instilling hope in the hearts of the elven warriors!

The Dragon Knights took flight. 

"Charge! Charge! Charge!" The holy knights who had been silent for days leaped into action, rallying alongside the remaining elves.

"Stop them! Don't let them reach the edge!" Azog roared, only now realizing that the battlefield had shifted again. 

"Bring me the sorceress!" The orc king was furious, "How dare those elves play this trick on me!" 

An entire brigade of orc warriors rushed toward Loshanier City, aiming to crush the warriors in their way…

"The end is near!" 

With a heart-wrenching shout, the swift rivers had turned into a rolling tide, setting forth a storm of chaos and change across the horizon.

.

.

.

Guys, do leave some power stones and reviews.

🤞patreon.com/MythosWriter🤞

If you guys enjoy this story, you can support me on Patreon and get access to Advance Chapters, it really helps me to work on new chapters.


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